Podcasts / Arch Eats / Essential summer dishes in St. Louis

Essential summer dishes in St. Louis

From peak-season tomatoes to Maull’s-drenched pork steaks, George and Cheryl discuss what you should be eating in St. Louis this summer.

by SLM Staff July 23, 2025 at 7:00 AM July 31, 2025

Arch Eats hosts George Mahe and Cheryl Baehr at 4 Hands + Peacemaker Lobster & Crab in Kirkwood — George Mahe and Cheryl Baehr at 4 Hands + Peacemaker Lobster & Crab in Kirkwood

The heat and humidity may be taking your breath away, but they aren’t the only indicators of summer in St. Louis. Everywhere you look, produce aisles, farmers market stands and restaurant tables are brimming with peak-of-the-season ingredients that make you understand why many consider this to be the best time of the year for food. In this episode, hosts George Mahe and Cheryl Baehr scour the menus of some of their favorite St. Louis restaurants to bring you a guide to the city’s essential summertime dishes. From peaches and tomatoes so ripe they drip down your arm to pork steaks so tender you could cut them with a butter knife, they’ve put together a celebration of the season that is guaranteed to make this your most delicious summer yet.

“Can you have summer in St. Louis without a pork steak? That is not up for debate at all. There are several places to get great pork steaks—namely anyone’s backyard who has access to Maull’s and Busch Beer.” –CB

This episode is sponsored by Kranzberg Art Foundation’s MATI and supported by STAGES St. Louis. MATI returns September 12–14. Enjoy live music, art exhibits, food trucks, vendors, and good vibes, all in the streets of the Grand Center Arts District. Grab your passes.

New to podcasts? Follow these instructions to start listening to our shows, and hear what you’ve been missing!

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:

Pretzel Boys, Multiple locations & phone numbers.
Peacemaker Lobster & Crab, Multiple locations & phone numbers.
Yellowbelly, 4659 Lindell, Central West End, 314-499-1509
Tony’s Family Farms, 36 Four Seasons Shopping, Chesterfield, 314-882-4637
Parker’s Table, 7118 Oakland, Richmond Heights, 314-645-2050
Katie’s, Multiple locations & phone numbers.
Little Fox, 2800 Shenandoah, Fox Park, 314-553-9456
Bartolino’s, Multiple locations & phone numbers.
Pizzeria da Gloria, 2024 Marconi, The Hill, 314-833-3734
Louie, 706 De Mun, Clayton, 314-300-8188
The Daily Bread, 11719 Manchester, Des Peres, 314-909-0010
Eckert’s Cider Shed in Belleville, 951 S Green Mount, Belleville, 618-233-0513
Crushed Red, Multiple locations & phone numbers.
Grand Pied, 3137 Morgan Ford, Tower Grove South, 314-743-6533
BEAST Craft BBQ, 20 S Belt, Belleville, 618-257-9000

You may also enjoy these SLM articles:

Be the first to hear new episodes of Arch Eats.

Make sure to follow Arch Eats where podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever podcasts are available. And sign up to receive emails when new episodes drop.

We will never send spam or annoying emails. Unsubscribe anytime.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

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.