STL's Most Delicious Holiday Traditions

Holiday traditions. All of us have them. In this episode, hosts George Mahe and Cheryl Baehr dive into a few holiday essentials for St. Louisans—the dishes, the drinks, the places, and the feel good stuff we look forward to experiencing every year. Get the dish on classic traditions including:

Where to find the best baked goods in town—for gifting, or indulging yourself
The most festive spots in St. Louis to soak up the holiday spirit
Classic Christmas Eve dinner options
The coziest fireplaces for warming up on chilly nights
Why fruitcake deserves a second chance
… and plenty more seasonal delights!

Tune in and get ready for some memorable—and delicious—holiday fun! Listen and follow Arch Eats on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever podcasts are available.

“You know what I like that hardly anybody else does at Christmas time? Fruitcake. I will pay money for the fruit cake, and they’re not cheap. The two pounder from Assumption Abbey in Ava, Missouri. They’ve got the trappist monks down there. Six days a week, they make fruit cakes. They make 40,000 fruit cakes a year.” –George Mahe

This episode is sponsored by Gateway Arch Park Foundation and supported by St. Louis Symphony Orchestra . Winterfest, presented by Bank of America and World Wide Technology, is open downtown through December 31. Experience ice skating, s’mores, igloos, food and drinks, and more. Learn more.

Have an idea for a future Arch Eats episode? Send your thoughts or feedback by emailing [email protected].

Hungry for more? Subscribe to our Dining newsletters for the freshest coverage on the local restaurant and culinary scene. And follow George (@georgemahe) and SLM on Instagram (@stlouismag).

Interested in being a podcast sponsor? Contact Lauren Leppert at [email protected].

Mentioned in this episode:

Clementine’s Ice Cream: Multiple locations.
Missouri Baking Co.: 2027 Edwards, The Hill, 314-773-6566.
Anheuser-Busch Brewery Lights: 1200 Lynch, Soulard, 314-577-2626.
Grant’s Farm: 10501 Gravois, Grantwood Village, 314-843-1700.
Sam’s Steakhouse: 10205 Gravois, Grantwood Village, 314-849-3033.
Our Lady of the Snows: 442 S DeMazenod, Belleville, 618-397-6700.
BEAST Craft BBQ: 20 South Belt West, Belleville, 618-257-9000.
Tavern on Main: 301 East Main, Belleville, 618-233-6246.
Grüv Wine Bar & Bistro: 223 E Main, Belleville, 618-416-2471.
Candy Cane Lane: 6500 Block of Murdoch Avenue, St. Louis Hills.
holidaylighthopping.com
Ted Drewes: Multiple locations, 314-481-2652.
Peno (Feast of Seven Fishes dinner): 7600 Wydown, Clayton, 314-899-9699.
Bolyard’s Meat and Provisions: 2733 Sutton, Maplewood, 314-647-2567.
Kenrick’s Meats and Catering: 4324 Weber, Affton, 314-631-2440.
Yen Ching: 1012 S. Brentwood, Richmond Heights, 314-569-3463.
The Cheshire: 6300 Clayton, Richmond Heights, 314-647-7300.
Basso: 7036 Clayton, Richmond Heights, 314-932-7820.
Fox & Hounds: 6300 Clayton, Richmond Heights, 314-647-7300.
Cyrano’s Café: 603 East Lockwood, Webster Groves, 314-963-3232.
Tucker’s Place: Multiple locations.
Del Pietro’s: 1059 South Big Bend, Richmond Heights 314-224-5225.
SqWires: 1415 S 18th, Lafayette Square, 314-865-3522.
Sasha’s: Multiple locations.
Edera: 48 Maryland Plaza, Central West End, 314-361-7227.
Assumption Abbey: 2860 State Highway OO, Ava, Missouri, 417-683-5110.
Collin Street Bakery (Texas): Multiple locations, 800-267-4657.
toogoodtogo.com

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About The Hosts

George Mahe

George Mahe has spent most of his life immersed in the restaurant industry, owning and operating establishments before delving into food journalism. He began reviewing restaurants for St. Louis Magazine 35 years ago under the pseudonym “Arnie Boye” (a tribute to his dog) and became the magazine’s first dining editor in 1992. His fair and balanced approach spawned a local restaurant consulting company, and further ventures in ownership. In 2006, he returned to SLM. George spearheads the magazine’s dining coverage, curates the weekly Dining Out newsletter, and co-hosts the Arch Eats podcast. George lives in University City with his wife, Suzi. Send your dining questions to [email protected].

Cheryl Baehr

Cheryl Baehr has been telling the story of the St. Louis dining scene since 2013, drawing upon her decades-plus experience in the industry and her passion for food and the people who make our city so delicious. A graduate of the University of Missouri St. Louis and the University of Denver, Cheryl left a career in government in Washington, DC to return to her hometown to write about food, first as longtime dining critic for the Riverfront Times and now as a staff writer, co-host of the Arch Eats podcast, and editor of the Dining In newsletter at St. Louis Magazine. When she’s not celebrating the St. Louis food scene, you can find this proud Florissantonian and recent University City expat sipping on coffee at her home in Wildwood with her daughter, Coretta, her partner, Nick, her step-dog, Van, and her beloved Great Pyrenees, Chloe.