Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Hangar Kitchen + Bar

While my birthday season is over with, I luckily still have friends that want to meet up for dinner, which is good since my list of "new restaurants to try" keeps getting longer.

I was able to cross another one off this month as my friends and I met up at Hangar Kitchen and Bar. I have been to Momo's several times for brunch, right next door, and my brunch friends recommended it.

The weird thing about Hangar is the eclectic menu, which made it hard to narrow down my choices. So I just went ahead and picked from two different categories. The best part about it, is that there is something for everyone this way. 

I don't normally choose the "spicy" sushi roll, but I wanted more than just the vegetarian version, so when I got my Spicy Ahi Roll, I kicked off the jalapeños.

Spicy Ahi Roll

My Tempura Cod Tacos were also a winner, and were quite filling even though they looked small.

Tempura Cod Tacos

There were a lot of small plates and appetizers to share, which you could definitely make a meal out of, so we shared Da Goat for the table. Goat cheese with lots of crostini.

Da Goat

My friend chose the Caesar salad and Seared Scallops for her dinner. I thought it was interesting that they paired scallops with shiitake mushrooms on top, but it was still delicious.

Seared Scallops and Caesar Salad

Patience went all out and ordered one of the few large dishes - a Braised Short Rib on top of goat cheese mashed potatoes and vegetables. Probably the best dish of the evening.

Braised Short Rib

I definitely want to go back to try more things!

Resources:

Hangar Kitchen + Bar = https://www.hangarkitchenandbarstl.com/

Photos by Patience Scanlon

Friday, January 31, 2025

Esca

Since I love the major restaurateurs here in St. Louis, it has been my goal to visit all their restaurants, so Esca was high on my list. I had been planning to go for my birthday for MONTHS. 

The whole first page of the menu was dedicated to beverages and I knew I wanted a cocktail. They all were so pretty and made me feel fancy. I ordered a Vesper and my friend ordered the Gibson just to name a couple. There were multiple rounds of cocktails honestly.

Vesper

Gibson

This is definitely a place where you want to study the menu in advance and have some friends to help as well. There are quite a few "Appetizers", but really, they are small plates to be shared and can easily be a meal.

There were two I wanted for sure and my friends were willing to help order a few other items.

The shrimp oreganata and the gnocchi were high on my list. 

Shrimp Oreganata

Gnocchi

My friends ordered the lamb meatballs and fire baked polenta with a Ragu Bolognese on top. Both of those really stood out...

Lamb Meatballs

Fire Baked Polenta

We did order some vegetables as well...the fire roasted broccolini.

Fire Roasted Broccolini

There are only a handful of main dishes, if you prefer to go that route, and Patience succumbed to the special of the day: lamb shank over barley

Lamb Shank with barley

Regardless of my desire to try as many appetizers as possible, you really need to save room for dessert. We ordered four of them and they were amazing.

Of course I chose the chocolate truffles, but I did share.

Chocolate Truffles

We also shared cannoli, which were quite creamy.

Cannoli

They served the highly popular vanilla gelato drenched in olive oil with a touch of salt. The olive oil definitely makes it creamier, but without any chocolate in it, I was good with one bite.

Vanilla Gelato with olive oil and sea salt

Patience loved her lemoncello tiramisu. SO dense and lemony. 

Lemoncello Tiramisu

And you can always drink your dessert as well. Beth's expresso martini was so pretty.

Espresso Martini

Just a heads up that the tables are pretty crammed together and it was very warm in the restaurant. We all had trouble reading the menu with the low light and small font. Hopefully, those are details that can be easily resolved.

Beverage menu

Dinner Menu

Resources:

Esca = https://bengelina.com/esca

Photos by Patience Scanlon

Thursday, January 23, 2025

Jovick Brothers Burgers

As part of my birthday celebration, I met a friend at a hole in the wall, neighborhood corner joint, Jovick Brothers Burgers. I rarely go out for burgers and was really wanting to treat myself. 

My friend was willing to split a smash double cheeseburger with cheese and a chicken sandwich.

They pile on the toppings and give you plenty of crispy tater tots if that's the side you choose...

Double cheeseburger with tater tots

The chicken sandwich had honey mustard sauce dripping off, so it was tasty, but not near as good as the burgers. I ordered cheese curds and got a bunch! You could even have them added to your sandwich too! (I think they'd roll right off, but who am I to keep anyone from putting cheese curds where they want!)

Chicken Sandwich with cheese curds

There was no beer for sale, but saw lots of families come through.

Resources:

Jovick Brothers Burgers = https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095096595906

Monday, January 6, 2025

Chez Panisse

I know I previously stated that I didn't like to make blog posts about restaurants in other cities, but this was another full circle moment that I wanted to remember.

Ten years ago, I visited my cousin for the very first time in Berkeley, CA, and she pointed out Chez Panisse to me as we walked around. The trip was a 40th birthday present to myself, so I took a lot of pictures.

From 2014

I wanted to redo the trip for my 50th because I enjoyed California so much, but THIS time, I wanted to actually eat inside of Chez Panisse. We didn't go overboard and just ate upstairs in the café.

Me in 2024

But it was still a meal worth reporting!

I ordered the Northern Halibut...it was so soft and melted in my mouth.

Northern Halibut

Patience got the pasta with wild mushrooms.

Pasta with wild mushrooms

My cousin ordered one of the two pizzas on the menu and it was perfect for one person.

Pizza with bacon, capers, and hot peppers

Her husband ordered the chicken, and he cleared his plate as well.

Grilled Chicken al Mattone

Menu

Hopefully I'll make it back in another ten years and actually eat in the main dining room!

Resources:

Chez Panisse = https://www.chezpanisse.com

Photos by Patience Scanlon

The Matheson in Healdsburg

Normally I don't blog about food adventures from other cities, because that's a total tease, but this one is pretty special, so I wanted to write about it so I can remember it always.

I didn't realize it until I went to the website to make a reservation, but The Matheson is a Michelin star restaurant! And I picked it for New Years Eve when they had a Prix Fixe menu. While it was the most expensive meal I've ever had, it was pretty epic. You only turn 50 once!

One of the best things about a prix fixe is that you don't have to make ANY decisions...well, we did have to decide on adding a wine flight (that we shared) and passing on any caviar or Dom Perignon. (Such choices!)

Also, we got the best seats in the house in front of the kitchen and it was so cool to watch all the action. 

Best seats in the restaurant watching the kitchen!

It was literally... All. The. Hits.

Lobster - Let's just say I would have been happy with one of the 16 ounce containers full of this stuff. I think some caviar is on top there. YES!

Lobster

A5 Wagyu Beef Tartare - Loved the capers added to this! And the full egg yolk on top... just gorgeous!

Beef Tartare

This is what Patience calls, the money shot, which she took...

Close up on the egg yolk...

Agnolotti - One of my most favorite pasta dishes...and with Peking duck inside! In consume! I would highly recommend ordering this by itself.

Agnolotti

Ahi Wellington - That's right... you heard me! Wellington! I've never had it before either...and I think this might have been my winner of the night!

Ahi Wellington

Filet - It was cooked perfectly and came with Dungeness crab on top. And a potato-tallow pave, which Patience had to show me how complicated it is to make. We decided to pass on the upgrade to A5 Wagyu and I think it was amazing already.

Filet

Chocolate cake - Did they know I was coming??? I wanted to lick the plate.

Chocolate cake

If you're ever in Healdsburg and need a recommendation, here you go! Best meal I have ever had.

Satisfied customers

My birthday card and menu

Resources:

The Matheson = https://www.thematheson.com/