STLCheesegirl Top Posts of 2019

Once again, 2019 was a slow blogging year, with the same amount of posts as the year before. I guess that makes sense as we made it through year two in the house. Also, it's a real good thing that we have a standing monthly beer dinner at PW Pizza as that is most of my blog posts.

Talking to a blogger friend of mine recently, blogging doesn't seem to be such a hip thing anymore and for a second I thought about putting the blog on the shelf. I just don't have as much down time these days and do people still read blogs anymore? I know my friends are tired of waiting for us to take a picture of their food before they can eat.

Yet, there is another full season of beer dinners coming up and reservations made for 2020. Not to mention a whole slew of new restaurants that we have not yet been to and hope to try out. I love to brag about our food scene as it continues to grow. And people STILL ask me where I have eaten lately.

So here are my most popular blog posts from last year. My page views took a big hit when compared to previous years, but I blame social media algorithms.

Deschutes PW Pizza Beer Dinner - https://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2019/08/pw-pizza-deschutes-beer-dinner-2019.html
Deschutes is a huge brewery so I'm sure all their beer fans were the ones to check this post out. It was cool to try some of their newer summer beers that I've never had, but they still finished the beer dinner with their popular (and Patience's favorite) Black Butte Porter.

58hundred - https://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2019/03/58hundred.html
I love neighborhood joints - eat local! (I am also hoping everyone will also check out Stone Turtle, which I just posted about today.) Not all of my friends have had the same experience as I did, but I haven't had any issues and enjoyed their food both times I've gone. Hopefully the high page view count means you all checked out this place!

The Boathouse - https://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2019/05/the-boathouse-at-forest-park.html
Always a popular St. Louis destination and the new menu is a big hit. I hope you all get a chance to try it out or enjoy a beverage in front of the water.

Hamilton's Urban Steakhouse & Bourbon Bar - https://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2019/01/hamiltons-urban-steakhouse-bourbon-bar.html
The Hamilton's have a winner with this restaurant and my parents loved it when I took them for our second time.

Civil Life PW Pizza Beer Dinner - https://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2019/05/pw-pizza-civil-life-beer-dinner-2019.html
I shouldn't be surprised by the popularity of this blog post because Civil Life is one of the most popular breweries here in the STL. I was happy they served their Irish Red since I don't know of many local "red" beers being produced. I recently had a coworker in town and recommended their Brown Ale to him. He drank two!

Grand Tavern - https://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2019/02/grand-tavern.html
This was a much hyped restaurant and I ended up going back there for a second time for my stepmom's birthday. We had the same server so she really rocked it for us again. At least we knew to stop at one cocktail at those prices, and we probably won't go back because of it.

Great Divide PW Pizza Beer Dinner - https://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2019/07/pw-pizza-great-divide-beer-dinner-2019.html
I did not know anything about this Colorado brewery, so all their beers were new to me. I enjoyed three out of four and they had a summer beer called "Roadie"!

Jollibee - https://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2019/07/jollibee.html
Patience is obsessed with this restaurant and now wants to go every time we are in Chicago, since it's the closest one. I don't normally blog about out of town restaurants, nor "fast food" places, so this was really out of the norm for me. Of course we went back over Thanksgiving on our way out of town. I even tried a regular chicken sandwich, and it still tasted weird to me.

Frisco Barroom - https://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2019/04/frisco-barroom.html
This is such a cool place in downtown Webster and we went back to meet friends for a late night cocktail. I really need to eat there more. So much fun to hang out with friends there.

Cork & Rind - https://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2019/03/cork-rind-irish-cheese-class-2019.html
While I don't love the drive to St. Charles, it makes me really miss attending cheese classes. We haven't been able to make the drive since last summer, but I do love seeing my friends and Coach Cheesemonger Kinney.

STLCheesegirl Top Posts 2018

Another year, even more excuses for fewer posts this year.

At the end of last year, Patience and I bought a house together, so this means less going out and more eating at home. We still kept our PW Pizza Beer Dinners on the schedule as that is one of our favorite activities each month.

Several new places, one old, and some unique stories were the most popular posts for this year, and I'm always thankful to those who put these blog posts over the century view mark!

The Clover and the Bee - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2018/05/the-clover-and-bee.html
Olive & Oak is busy every night and so it's no surprise folks wanted to know more about their sister restaurant next door. Still great food and service, but more casual and a little easier to get into.

Vero Pizza and Pasta - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2018/03/vero-pizza-and-pasta.html
I'm a huge fan of Katie and was a backer for her Rock Hill location of Katie's Pizza and Pasta, so we had to try her "pizza box line". It was quite a fun mess and they make a great gift or family activity. Even though we were the ones playing "chef", it still turned out quite delicious!

I Fratellini - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2018/02/i-fratellini.html
You can never go wrong with one of Zoe's restaurants and this one is my favorite. Her new restaurant, Billie Jean (http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2018/08/billie-jean.html) almost made my top ten list as well.

PW Pizza Firestone Walker Beer Dinner - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2018/04/pw-pizza-firestone-walker-beer-dinner.html
I didn't know much about this brewery, but I guess they have a big following?

PW Pizza Brooklyn Brewery Beer Dinner - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2018/05/pw-pizza-brooklyn-brewery-beer-dinner.html
Now this brewery I am a big fan of so I was happy to see they DO have a strong following.

Rack House and Big O Cocktail Dinner - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2018/05/rack-house-and-big-o-cocktail-dinner.html
I love supporting the Big O even if it means I have to drive to St. Charles County! Hopefully they'll do more pairings like this in the future!

PW Pizza Sierra Nevada Beer Dinner - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2018/03/pw-pizza-sierra-nevada-beer-dinner.html
Sierra Nevada feels like they have been around forever so this makes sense to me.

Polite Socity - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2018/03/polite-society.html
One of the new restaurants that recently opened in Lafayette Square. I'm not sure when we'll go back though, but definitely worth a try if you like NOLA-style cuisine.

Benevolent King - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2018/06/the-benevolent-king.html
One of the BEST new restaurants to open last year and I really hope we go back again sometime because they're so close to us.

Making the Big O - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2018/03/making-big-o.html
Helping out my favorite company was a huge honor and I was thrilled to get to do my part to create the next batch of the Big O!

STLCheesegirl Top Posts 2017

I admit that I did not post as much last year due to a reduced amount of dining out and I now have a personal chef living with me full time!

While I may not be having as many food adventures these days, it is wonderful that there are so many new places to try here in St. Louis!

Readership is up overall so that makes me feel good too. So here are the top posts from 2017!

Tapped - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2017/12/tapped.html
This post may have benefited from being new and my last post of the year. I'm sure everyone is curious about it, and I hope it lasts longer than "A Pizza Story", which I loved dearly. We tried to go a third time this past week, but they were full! I hope they can keep it up.

Evangeline's - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2017/10/evangelines.html
I finally took Patience here for her birthday since it is a NOLA/Cajun-themed restaurant and we needed to go since she hadn't been since it was the Brazilian restaurant. They nailed it. Great owners, great wait staff, great food, and a great birthday. I hope everyone who read the review also went themselves.

Ludwig Farmstead Creamery - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2017/11/ludwig-farmstead-creamery.html
This was a "sponsored" post as I was approached by one of their representatives and given free cheese in exchange for a review. It made me happy to support a small cheese company located in Central Illinois. This situation was really a "dream assignment" and I hope there will be more in the future!

Vicia - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2017/05/vicia.html
I'm sure it's no surprise that the top-rated new restaurant for last year made my list as well. You need to go there. I can't wait to go back again. No further discussion necessary.

Snax Gastropub - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2017/05/snax.html
I am guessing folks were curious about the strangely-named restaurant, but I really do enjoy this new version of the restaurant as I had reviewed it once before. Now, it's a lot more casual and everything on the menu is a hit. Although I recommend going later in the evening when the kids aren't around.

Louie's Wine Dive - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2017/05/louies-wine-dive.html
While this is a chain, I see that it is a well-loved wine bar and I think they hit the jackpot by placing it in downtown Clayton. I find it to be a little high-priced, but I love how knowledgeable the staff is when I go in there.

Modern Brewery PW Pizza Beer Dinner - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2017/11/modern-brewery-pw-pizza-beer-dinner.html
We made it to (almost?) ALL of the PW Pizza Beer Dinners this year and we just love them. (Which is why most of my posts are from these dinners.) We sign up for the whole year now so we don't have to worry about reserving a spot as they do sell out quickly. You only pay that night for each event. I highly recommend them and feel free to call PW Pizza or email me for more information. It's been a great way to try each brewery's beer and have tasty food pairings as well! By the way, Modern Brewery is looking for a bigger location so hopefully they can have more serving days!

Cleveland-Heath - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2012/11/cleveland-heath.html
We finally made it there for a regular sit-down dinner and had the best service. If the restaurant was closer, we would have definitely gone a lot more. Jenny Cleveland is so wonderful and she and her husband will be missed as they move to Utah. The restaurant will still be there, although in my heart, it won't be the same without them.

Old Baker Beer PW Pizza Beer Dinner - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2017/10/old-bakery-beer-pw-pizza-beer-dinner.html
A local favorite! We drove by the brewery while on the "Great River Road" and hopefully we can make it a destination one of these days soon.

Two Brothers Brewing PW Pizza Beer Dinner - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2017/09/two-brothers-pw-pizza-beer-dinner.html
Since Two Brothers Brewing is based out of Chicago, we were able to stop by their brewery while up in the area visiting for Thanksgiving. Great beers and hopefully they'll be more beers available in the St. Louis area soon, but check on the east side for now.

STLCheesegirl Top Post 2016

While I didn't have as many reviews this year, I actually hit an all time high for my top blog post. 

I also didn't hit as many PW Pizza beer dinners nor as many cheese classes, but each year brings something new as I am now a regular at Larder & Cupboard for their classes, and there were a lot of new restaurants coming out.

St. James Winery - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2016/05/st-james-winery.html

A friend from my "growing up" is now a fellow wine geek and got a job at the winery. So of course a road trip was required. I'm not sure the last time I had gone to that winery, but it's all grown up and has a brewery on the property as well. I'm not sure if Megan shared this post on her blog or what, but I had a ridiculous amount of page views.

Fondue Class at Larder & Cupboard - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2016/05/fondue-class-at-larder-and-cupboard.html

After recently celebrating their one year anniversary, the Fondue Class is its most popular class as it sells out very quickly each time. Unfortunately, the class size is limited, but this month alone there are two seatings! Be sure to check the events page on their website. Additional classes include Beer and Cheese pairings and Whiskey and Chocolate pairings.

Olive and Oak - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2016/03/olive-oak.html

One of the hottest new restaurants of the year...you should definitely make it a date night at least once. Just be sure to make a reservation way in advance!

Retreat Gastropub - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2016/02/retreat-gastropub.html

This was my birthday dinner with great friends and another hot, new restaurant. Be sure to check out their brunch too!

Taste of St. Louis Wine Class - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2016/06/taste-of-st-louis-wine-class.html

I finally made it to one of Mike Ward's classes...he's such a great wine expert and teacher, and I always learn something new from him. Unfortunately, his classes are a bit far south for me so this was the only class I made it to. 

Whiskey and Chocolate Pairing at Larder & Cupboard -  http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2016/06/whiskey-and-chocolate-pairing-june-2016.html

Another winning combination and there will be more of these this year!

PW Pizza Cathedral Square Beer Dinner - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2016/06/pw-pizza-cathedral-square-beer-dinner.html

I am a loyal customer of the monthly PW Pizza Beer Dinners. These dinners are a great way to try beers from craft breweries around the country, as well as the local area. The list for this year is out so sign up EARLY because these dinners book up quick!

Grapeseed - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2016/01/grapeseed.html

This restaurant was introduced to us by fellow foodies who were regulars at one point. Another great date night location.

Mellow Mushroom - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2016/08/mellow-mushroom.html

Not only did we get an IKEA, but we now have a Mellow Mushroom! We are on the map! I probably should have waited until the hype died down, but definitely a family friendly environment with the level of noise. I was eating that pizza for days. 

The Preston - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2016/05/the-preston.html

Another new restaurant that I got to enjoy for Mother's Day. This is a special occasion place for sure.

STLCheesegirl Top Posts 2015

It's that time of year to do the Top 10 posts of 2015 and there was definitely a beer theme that stood out the most as well as repeat top ten location from last year!

Some cool facts: This was my busiest year with 62 posts with March being my busiest month with 12 posts! Funny thing is that is when I changed jobs and started working on putting my condo on the market with less trips to the gym. More time for dining out I guess? I'm definitely paying for it now!

This year I went to several "cheese and beer pairing" classes at Dierberg's Des Peres that was new this year and those posts were very popular, probably due to the rise of craft beers. Although at this point, I am not sure you can still call Goose Island and Sam Adams craft beers, but I really enjoyed the pairings because you don't normally think to add cheese when you're chillin' with a beer!

Hopefully, there will be more cheese pairing class in 2016!

Dinner Lab - Crawfish Boil - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2015/03/dinner-lab-crawfish-boil.html
This was my first Dinner Lab and this was a great way to try one out even though we weren't members. I had heard about it from fellow food blogger Whiskey & Soba, which I read religiously. Since crawfish is one of Patience's favorites, it was worth the price to try this out and they kept bringing out MORE crawfish until we cried uncle. If you're a foodie, definitely worth trying out at least once.

Cheese and Beer Pairing - O'Fallon Brewery - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2015/04/cheese-and-beer-pairings-ofallon-brewery.html
I'm sure folks wanted to support a local brewery and there was a lot of hype about the new location being built in Maryland Heights. It was nice for me to finally get to try all their beers since I was only familiar with their Wheach.

Cheese and Beer Pairing - Sam Adams Part 1 - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2015/02/cheese-beer-pairings-at-dierbergs.html
This was the first of three Sam Adams pairings, which surprised me because I didn't realize they had so many beers! This first one covered their year-round beers, while the later two focused on their seasonal selections.

Cooper's Hawk Winery - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2015/09/coopers-hawk-winery.html
The winery is a big hit since you can have your own decanter at your table. It is super cool to watch and the service was right up there with the ambiance. Oh, and we started in the lobby with a wine tasting while we waited for our reservation. My friend was right, a destination spot for any wine lover!

Cheese and Beer Pairing at Larder & Cupboard - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2015/04/beer-and-cheese-tasting-at-larder.html
This pairing class was held at Larder & Cupboard to help feature their cheese case and it was hosted by The OG: St. Louis Women's Craft Beer Collective as well as Femme Ferment. After sampling 11 beers, I really hope they'll do another one. Definitely a good time was had by all and I learned a lot from these ladies!

Cheese and Beer Pairing - Urban Chestnut - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2015/01/cheese-beer-pairings-at-dierbergs.html
This was the first class in the cheese and beer pairing series and again, a local brewery was featured. I also quickly learned that I would be full just on cheese for these classes!!!

Libertine Clayton Restaurant Week - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2015/07/the-libertine-clayton-restaurant-week.html
Libertine was the top post of 2014 for me where I talked about their fried chicken. This time, the Libertine has a new chef and a new menu so we had to check it out and support Chef Matt Bessler. Even with all the changes, it's still one of the top restaurants I recommend to people here. Their cocktail program is still killer.

Cheese and Beer Pairing - Sam Adams Part 2 - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2015/06/cheese-and-beer-pairings-sam-adams-part.html
For the second Sam Adams pairing, we got to taste their summer seasonals and they included Angry Orchard in the list as well. Plenty of porch pounders!

O'Fallon Brewery - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2015/07/ofallon-brewery.html
I wanted to go and support the opening of the new O'Fallon Brewery right away since it was right in the backyard of my condo when I lived in Maryland Heights. Opening night was insane, but I was able to attend a couple of weeks later. I love all the space for happy hour and plenty of tables for sit down dinner. Definitely upscale bar food and plenty of TVs for Cardinals baseball. Maryland Heights is very lucky and I wish I still lived over there to visit more often.

LuLu's Local Eatery - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2015/03/lulus-local-eatery.html
This small, vegan-friendly restaurant was recommended to us by foodie friends and it took us a couple of tries to get there after the winter, but it was worth it. Now I know what the hype was about and I was really impressed with the whole place. It's small and busy on the weekends, but it's a place you feel good about supporting.

STLCheesegirl Top Posts

I was going to do a "Best of 2013" blog post listing out my highest-viewed posts about my "food adventures", but my second highest-viewed post is actually from 2012.

Going over my posts from the past four years, only had a handful of views for those first few posts so it's fun to see how far this blog has come. Thanks to a mailing list of loyal friends and family, as well as using social media and Patch.com blogs, I get quite a few more page views.

But there are still a few posts that have gotten a ton of views...some make sense, like my adventures to top St. Louis restaurants like Niche and Robust Wine Bar. Yet, there are quite a few surprises so you might want to check them out...

Robust Wine Bar MX - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2013/08/robust-wine-bar-mx.html
This is my top most-viewed post and I wonder if it's from a following of the restaurant as well as a popular wine spot. I definitely recommend this as a date night because you can combine it MX Movies (another top post) either before or after the show.

Astoria Kabob House - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2012/10/astoria-kabob-house.html
Astoria has been in my neighborhood for a long time and I had never gone there for dinner until a friend needed to try an ethnic restaurant for a school assignment. I went there on the same night as a wedding reception so the tables were close together and service was a bit slammed. Other reviews I have read have also complained about the service, but hopefully people have been willing to try it out for themselves and maybe even used that Groupon for it?

Tenacious Eats Sideways - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2013/03/tenacious-eats-sideways.html
This was one of my more favorite Tenacious Eats viewings because it included a wine pairing to coincide with the wine-themed movie. It also helped that a lot of my wine friends were able to attend since it was hosted by the American Wine Society, which I will be joining this year.

Hemingway's Zen Garden - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2013/03/hemingways-zen-garden.html
My good friend, Cherie, Moery-Metzka, decided to take on a new challenge as Executive Chef at a quaint wine bar and restaurant over in downtown O'Fallon, IL. I found myself driving over the river and through the woods (well, really along the highway) a couple of times a month because of her. Cherie used to tease her Facebook friends with her home cooking and this was a way for me to finally taste her cooking. Let's just say her sea scallops are the best ever...

Niche - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2013/02/niche.html
This restaurant speaks for itself but I finally got to go once it moved to Clayton and I went for my birthday. Definitely worth it for a special occasion.

MX Movie Theater - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2013/03/mx-movie-theater.html
I was a couple of months late celebrating my birthday with a friend, but this was a fun activity to try something new in the city. While I'm never the first one to try a new trend, I do get there eventually. Pretty much the best meal I have ever had at a movie theater...

Mission Taco - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2013/03/mission-taco.html
Thanks to STLwinegirl hosting her "business birthday party" in conjunction with a soft opening of Mission Taco, we got a first peek and taste at the latest restaurant from the Tilford brothers. Needless to say I have been back MANY times and it's a great place to get a bite before a show at the Pageant.

A Good Man is Hard To Find - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2013/04/a-good-main-is-hard-to-find.html
This was the first physical restaurant that John Perkins started after his underground dining under EntreSTL. Here is an updated website for Juniper, the latest and permanent version of the restaurant. I hope to get back there to taste more southern cooking: http://junipereats.com/

Mia Sorella - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2013/03/mia-sorella.html
I was surprised to see this one on my most-viewed list since I really haven't seen much press for it. I figure you can go wrong with Trattoria Marcella’s sister restaurant and I this is one of the last dinner's that I had with my best friend before she moved out of town. Parking, with snow on the ground, made it tough but the food and company was wonderful.

Tenacious Eats Soul Food - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2013/02/tenacious-eats-soul-food.html
This was my first time at Tenacious Eats so I was really blown away by the whole production. I love the creativity of the idea and Executive Chef, Elizabeth Schuster. You should try at least once, even though it makes for a late night. Or host your own party...

Nico - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2013/02/nico.html
Now this one really surprises me because Nico has not gotten the best reviews so perhaps people were wanting more opinions? Regardless, this makes me want to try Franco very badly.

Food Media Forum 2013 - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2013/11/food-media-forum-2013.html
Now this one makes me feel very guilty as I wrote about my two-day conference experience SEVERAL months late. It probably helps that this was a food blogger's conference and so I made a lot of connections, but I do appreciate everyone who stopped to read some of this post even though it was quite outdated.

STLVegGirl Vegetarian Party - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2013/11/stlveggirl-vegetarian-party.html
One of my favorite experiences was getting to hire my friend, Caryn Dugan, aka STLVegGirl to cater Patience's birthday party since so many of her friends are vegetarian or special diets. You can't get that kind of service from just anyone. I hope a lot of vegetarians are following her now!

SLeeK Lobster Extravaganza - http://www.stlcheesegirl.com/2009/05/sleek-lobster-extravaganza.html
While this is NOT one of my most-viewed posts, I had to add it in at the bottom of this post because THIS is where STLCheesegirl got started. The restaurant SLeeK is now defunct, but at least I can say I met Hubert Keller and I am STILL good friends with Angela Ortmann, aka STLwinegirl.