About this column:
Suzanne Corbett is an award-winning writer/producer and culinary teacher, but her passion is as a food historian. She has written for Better Homes & Gardens, and was the radio host of Hot Plates, which aired on KSLG. She is the author of the award winning, "Pushcarts & Stalls: The Soulard Market History Cookbook."It’s the new year and Gold’s Gym in Fenton is packed. It's not uncommon considering losing weight and getting in shape is the number one resolution made each year. “The new year always brings more people into classes with the commitment to exercise more, eat healthier and lose weight,” said Gold’s fitness instructor Cathy Schlotte, who teaches pilates. “Exercise is important but so is eating healthy. The only way you lose weight is to burn more calories that you take in. You have to have a balance of both exercise and diet to be successful.” Since you have to burn more calories or take …
New Years Eve parties large and small usually have one thing in common – drinks flow freely. It's a fact that is a challenge for hosts who wish to offer something beyond coffee or Coke for their non-drinking guests and designated drivers. Local liquor stores such as Friar Tuck's or the expanded beer, wine and beverage aisles at Dierberg's Fenton Crossing offer a variety of non-alcoholic alternatives. Choices include the mainstay Anheuser-Busch low-alcohol brew O'Doul's, that contains half of one percent alcohol by volume (ABV). In the U.S. anything with a 0.5 percent ABV is considered non-…
After watching the iconic 1983 film A Christmas Story I always get hungry for Chinese food. Partly because of the Chinese restaurant scene where Ralphie's family goes for dinner after their dog steals the turkey off the dinner table, but mostly because I'm craving Chinese cuisine. Chinese food offers a welcome break to the traditional heavier holiday fare we've been eating since Thanksgiving. Fenton's Mandarin Cuisine located at 972 S. Highway Drive (eastbound outer road of I-44 across from the old Chrysler plant) can satisfy that craving for fresh cooked Chinese foods. Whether you have time …
Love it or hate it, the often ridiculed fruitcake is making a comeback. Some credit for the rise in fruitcake sales is attributed to the Slow Food movement, which promotes traditional food products and vintage preparation methods. I think there’s a simpler explanation for the renewed appreciation for this seasonal delicacy -- fruitcake tastes good, especially when laced with whiskey, rum or brandy, as are the fruitcakes at Slice of Heaven Bakery, 2099 Bentley Plaza, Fenton. www.catherinesconfectionary.com “There’s been a lot more interest in fruitcake cake this year,” said Catherine Kidder, …
Last month's deer season yielded a record in Missouri with 248,862 harvested statewide of which 3,057 were tagged in Jefferson County. That's a lot of meat, with most of it on stored in freezers waiting for creative cooks or sausage makers. While many hunters opt and go the summer sausage route, consider other culinary options. Use venison to create meals fit for a king. After all venison was the ultimate gourmet meat once reserved for royal tables and those deemed worthy to share in such a delicacy. Venison still ranks high among gourmets and gourmands alike for its flavorable meat and …
Filling the glass with holiday cheer is something Jon Lane takes seriously. Lane is Friar Tuck's store manager at the Gravois Bluff location where he's been fielding calls and in-store questions on what to pour during the holidays. With hundreds of wines, liqueurs and seasonal beers picking the right drink to serve and satisfy your guests can be tricky. Consumers want to know the options, learn what's new and have the opportunity to compare flavor differences. Thanks to Friar Tuck's, Saturday afternoon tastings you can sample a variety of libations and learn food-pairing tips from vintners or…
Russell Ping and his family have always possessed a passion for food. It's passion that fueled the opening of Russell's Café & Bakery four years ago in Fenton's Brookwood Center. Russell and his parents operate what's become a gourmet hot spot and makes Fenton a foodies' destination. The café and bakery have become well-know, especially having won numerous culinary honors, including the Best Dessert at the Clayton Art Fair for a Dark Chocolate Port Wine Torte. Such creations are the result of Russell's professional training. Before joining his mother, Katie Ping, in the daily operations of …
Keep your eyes peeled when driving Highway 30 west from Fenton and into High Ridge and chances are you'll catch a glimpse of a wild turkey. "Any place where there's woods you can find wild turkeys," said Dan Zarlenga, Missouri Department of Conservation's media specialist. "Throughout Missouri the numbers of wild turkeys have been increasing over the years, so it's no surprise you'll see them along the roadside or even in your own backyard." According to Zarlenga, Missouri is considered one of the best areas in the country for wild turkeys. In fact, out of Missouri's 114 counties Jefferson …
Michael Viviano learned the basics from his grandparents: Don't overcook the pasta, put enough olive oil in the salad, keep the place clean and offer customers the best Italian foods in the city. Good advice that Michael Viviano followed when he opened Viviano's Festa Italiano seven years ago. But one wonders: How a nice Italian boy found his way from the Hill to the Fenton valley. "It was an opportunity to serve another part of the community–southwest St Louis and Jefferson counties. And the Fenton area was perfect," Viviano said. "We were able to bring something unique the area by bringing…
