The Friday Edit
A weekly rundown of the people, places and things I've been loving recently.
This week, I was delighted by the small things: a new pop-up, lunch with friends, a tiny backyard dinner, the coziest lunch, a little treat. This is what got me from Point A to Point B this week — maybe you’ll find something new to love, too.
I introduced this series last week: if you missed it, it’s got some solid suggestions. Find it here.
John Messbarger’s new project, The Mess Hall, inside 2nd Shift Brewing
The longtime executive chef at Peacemaker Lobster & Crab just made a big move over to his own project inside 2nd Shift Brewing, which made its debut pop-up style this weekend. The menu is pub fare to the core, with classic British-style fish and chips, roast beef on Kemmelweck (there’s a roasted mushroom version too) with horseradish dipped in jus, bowls of chili, fried burrata (!) and more. The verdict? I laughed when I took my first bites of both the fish and the roast beef; it’s that good. He’s rolling out the goods again this Saturday and Sunday, and I suggest you hustle in: follow The Mess Hall and 2nd Shift Brewing on Instagram for updates on times, dates and the menu.
Tacos at El Morelia Supermercado
Although I’ve been a longtime fan of El Morelia Supermercado (and its taco stand), I hadn’t made it out to visit their new location until recently. It’s a thing of beauty, stacked wall-to-wall with provisions, produce, a bakery, a meat counter and so much more. The best part? Rico’s Tacos is now a permanent fixture and operates all week long with specials on weekends. If you haven’t been, they’re easily some of the best tacos in St. Louis, but the menu is far more than just that: chilaquiles, birria, a burrito California, carne asada fries and more await you.
Alley Cat and the importance of small dining
I can’t stop thinking about Alley Cat, the when-will-it-happen-next dining project from Ben Brennan (Fordo’s Killer Pizza) and Amelia Lytle (Sidney Street Cafe). I spent a near-perfect night inside the outdoor dining pop-up they’ve created a few weeks back, and it reminded me of how the idea of small dining and one-off experiences with incredible food and lots of heart can be transportive, even if you’re spending it in a friend’s backyard. I loved the specialness of it, and the drive of two people who love food so much they take time out of their already-overloaded schedules to bring something like this to life. Although there are no set dates planned for the future, I can promise you I will be back when there are.
The perfect meal at Press Pizza & Pasta
There’s no wrong way to go at Press Pizza & Pasta, really, but in all my time spent there, I stumbled upon one of my favorite meals yet. Although carryout is a wonderful way to go here, I’d encourage you to sit in, because it’s got one of the best vibes around. Start with an order of marinated olives — my favorite version in the city — and a cocktail of your choosing. I love the grapefruit-mint NA right now, but there are no wrong moves with Corey Moszer’s beverage lineup, ever. Although my love for the Big Mac pizza is eternal, it’s the killer pasta lineup for me right now. The cavatelli — with mushrooms, kale, pistachio, stracciatella and a balsamic drizzle — will be at the top of my list all winter long.
A trip to Mr. Wizard’s Frozen Custard
Lines tend and our frozen custard stands as the weather turns; I see this as a missed opportunity. I contend that there’s no better time to eat frozen custard than in the cold, because the soft-solid texture holds far longer than it would during in heat; that’s just science. Christmas decorating is in full force right now, so grab your family, get in the car, get Mr. Wizard’s, and then drive around looking at lights; it’s the seasonal self-care we all need right now. My favorite flavors: Reese’s peanut butter cup (forever), banana pudding (banana, nilla wafers) and my own custom chocolate chip pretzel combo.
This apple cider pull-apart bread
I’m leaning into the chilly winter mornings with hot tea and baking projects, and this has become one of my favorites, especially since you start it when you want — up to 2 days before — and let it hang in your fridge until you’re ready to bake it off. Pull-apart breads are found all over, but if you’re a novice baker and want a forgiving recipe that bakes into something extrordinary, this one is for you. It’s a giant, snackable apple-cinnamon bun, and it puts that leftover apple cider to good use; what more could you want. This one may be a contender for my Thanksgiving morning breakfast.
Sneak Peek | Next Week
Next week, I’m exploring Extra Wavy through the story its dishes are telling; I’ll take you on a food-and-things weekend trip to Nashville, Tennessee, and we’ll go behind the scenes of Sidney Street Cafe’s media shoot and it’s stunning lineup of dishes hitting them menu. And, of course, another installment of The Friday Edit.
In other news, The Big Dig: Thanksgiving Edition will arrive next week in the “Recipes” section. I was the Thanksgiving girl for years at the magazine, so I’ve pulled a few of my favorite collections and a few adjacent recipes to live here. You may remember some of them: I’ll publish a master article with links to all of them next week.
ICYMI on my Instagram stories, this is my favorite tree pic of the week (and yours too!)
xoxo,
s