Fondue for Two from Nathaniel Reid...

Sweeties for my sweeties...

Happy Valentine’s Day and Friday, friends. ❤️

18 Wonderful Years...

Fun fact: When my youngest blows out his candle each year...

...so does my real estate license! I passed the Missouri Realtors test while he was in utero, as with his arrival, we were outgrowing our starter home.  18 amazing years. ❤️

PS: thank you to Nathaniel Reid Bakery for such a delectable birthday celebration!

Nathaniel Reid Birthday Creation...

Nothing says "Happy Birthday"...

... like a delectable goodie from Nathaniel Reid?!  The "Ruby" is a red-glazed chocolate sponge cake with layers of raspberry cream and a mousse made with raspberry tea. Surrounded by crunchy candied hazelnuts, the cake is topped with chocolate flags, fresh raspberries, and edible gold leaf flakes. 

You can actually find the recipe for this yummy right here if feeling brave, or head to his shop in Kirkwood. 

Life is short, friends and you only turn 46 once.  Welcome it with flare!

Just for Fun: Peach Pie at the Smokehouse

It is peach season, friends... 

...which calls for my annual sweet surprise for the family. If you have never had a piece of peach pie from the Smokehouse at Annie Gunn's, you are missing OUT, St. Louis.  It is stuffed with firm fresh peaches and is on the tart side as they don’t bog it down with too much sugar. They allow the peaches to speak for themselves.

This beauty was still warm and fresh out of the oven when I picked it up. 🍑💕

NITTY GRITTY:

Annie Gunn's and the Smokehouse Market
16806 Chesterfield Airport Road
Chesterfield, MO 63005
636/532.3314
Web: http://www.anniegunns.com/

See my other St. Louis Hidden Gems HERE.

HIDDEN GEM: Russell's Cafe and Bakery

I am no food blogger, though I know a delicious lunch when I have one, St. Louis. Russell’s moved in down the street from our house not long ago, and we have been itching to try it...

The seasonal Beet Salad was lovely and well, their biscuits?  Leave your diet at home as they are SO worth the calories, accompanied by fresh jam, honey, and whipped butter!   If you have never visited a Russell's, they boast 3 locations: Russell's on Macklind, Russell's Cafe and Bakery in Chesterfield, and Russell's Cafe and Bakery in Fenton.

Learn more here about their menu and three locations : https://russellscafe.com/

See more of my St. Louis Hidden Gems HERE.

Just For Fun: Happy Pi Day, St Louis style.

It is Pi Day (3.14)! A quick run by the historic Smokehouse Market at Annie Gunn's in the Chesterfield Valley...

... to surprise my family with one of their famous Deep Dish Apple Pies, piping hot out of the oven. Never been?  It is a must!  This little gem has been in business, heavily trafficked, and pretty much unchanged since 1937 for a reason!

NITTY GRITTY:

Annie Gunn's and the Smokehouse Market
16806 Chesterfield Airport Road 
Chesterfield, MO 63005
636/532.3314
Web: http://www.anniegunns.com/

See my other St. Louis Hidden Gems HERE.

Hidden Gem: Nathaniel Reid Bakery in Kirkwood

St. Louis Hidden Gem Alert!  There is nothing more special...

 ... than a delicate little treat from Nathaniel Reid Bakery in Kirkwood.  Scrumptious as it is pretty! This particular itty-bitty bursts in your mouth with lemon and raspberry, topped with a white chocolate flower. ❤️ 

If you have never been, St. Louis... hurry, hurry, hurry! Our family favorite? Their deliciously perfect chocolate croissants.

Nitty Gritty:

#11243 Manchester Rd
Kirkwood, MO 63122
(314) 858-1019

Web: http://www.nrbakery.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanielreidbakery/

See my other local hidden gems HERE.

Hidden Gem: Jilly's Cupcakes has a new ice cream bar!

You watched them dominate "Cupcake Wars" on the Food Network and have seen them featured in numerous national publications ever since! Unless you are local and have been living under a rock since 2007, you have indulged in one of their ridiculously decadent goodies...

...at one time or another. 

Jilly's Cupcakes, at Delmar and McKnight, has gotten sweeter just in time for summer by adding ice cream to their repertoire. Word on the street has been that they have managed to transform their popular cupcake flavors, such as Bee Sting, 24-Karat Cake, and Space Monkey, into ice cream ON homemade waffles cones made from cupcake batter.

I know.

The Nenonen family dropped by the new Jilly's Ice Cream Bar over the weekend to check it out...

Gooey Butter Brownie Batter Ice cream on a Red Velvet Cupcake Waffle cone. 

 

Enough said. 

 

Leave your diet at home for the afternoon and just do it, St. Louis.

Nitty Gritty:

Jilly's Ice Cream Bar

8509 Delmar Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63124

314.993.JILLY (5455)

Mon - Thu: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Fri - Sat: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Sun: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Connect with the new Jilly's Ice Cream Bar ...

Web: http://jillyscupcakebar.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillysicecream

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jillysicecream

 

Check out my other "Hidden Gems" HERE.

Hidden Gem: Pint Size Bakery in South City

On Watson (near Chippewa) in South City, sits an itty bitty bakery with a large, growing reputation!  The owner is a former pastry chef for St. Louis notable Sidney Street Café, and is knocking out scrumptious delights done the old-fashioned way in this cute little stand-alone bakeshop.

Their motto:  "Small Batch - From Scratch - Fresh Daily"

While tending to business in St. Louis Hills last week, and after months of following their Instagram feed of daily temptation, I finally popped in for a visit.  A peek at the fun...

A surprise for the boys when they returned home from school...

Red velvet baseball cupcakes with cream cheese icing! 

Overall, the location is accessible, the space is cute, the staff is friendly, and the treats are creative and tasty!  What more can you ask for?  Worth a visit, St. Louis- a true hidden gem that lives up to its DOZENS of raving online reviews!

See more of my "Hidden Gems" HERE.

Nitty Gritty...

Pint Size Bakery
3825 Watson Road
St. Louis, MO   63109
(314) 645-7142

Web: http://pintsizebakery.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pint-Size-Bakery-Coffee/291199224269821
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PintSizeBakery

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/pintsizebakery/

Instagram:  http://instagram.com/pintsizebakery#

Hidden Gem: La Patisserie Chouquette

I adore Foursquare and Instagram for a plethora of reasons, though notably, they are powerful avenues to learn about the hot new places in town.  Both apps allow me to see the establishments that my friends frequent, view the photos of their experience, and read their reviews.   As a result, I have a "must-do" list in a number of cities.  Invaluable information from the people who I trust most. 

Anyhoo, friend after friend has been "checking in" to this establishment recently, sharing photos of the most delectable-looking treats! As I was in Tower Grove on Saturday morning, and in need of a hostess gift for a party that evening, I figured it was the ideal time to pop in.

Located at the corner of McCree and Tower Grove, in the sweet little spot of the city nestled between the Shaw neighborhood and the Grove, is a hidden gem that boasts to be "A Sweet, Chic, and Unique Boutique specializing in French Pastry, Couture Wedding Cakes, and Wow-Your-Date Desserts"...

Indeed!  I could easily ramble on about my lovely experience at La Patisserie Chouquette, though I will instead let my photos do the talking.  I will preface, however, that the entire experience (and it IS an experience) from the space to the treats - as pretty, charming, delicate, and delicious as it looks. 

Note:  Our choice to share, the "Great Gatsby", could be renamed the "I have possibly just died and gone to heaven via creamy lime and candied ginger-layered crepe goodness".  Highly recommend.

 

I have been blessed to enjoy delectable hand-crafted goodies on the streets of Paris.  This is by far the closest thing to that experience that I have found here in St. Louis.  As soon as you cross the threshold of La Patisserie Chouquette, you are transported to another time and place.  Everything that you see- pretty.  Everything that you smell- wonderful.  Everything that you taste- sinful.  La Patisserie Chouquette is an experience that every local needs to have at least once.  Incredibly special, this little hidden gem is.

If you are in the neighborhood- drop by and plan to stay for a bit.  If you aren't in the neighborhood, it is worth the journey, I promise.

 

NOTE: for those of you with allergies, the bakery is ALSO gluten and peanut FREE.

 

Nitty Gritty...

1626 Tower Grove Avenue

St Louis Mo, 63110 

314-932-7935

 

Store Hours...

 

Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5pm

Web:  http://www.simonefaure.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chouquettestl
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/chouquettestl

See my other "Hidden Gems" HERE.

Hidden Gem: Strange Donuts

After months of buzz and super hype in both print and social media...

Strange Donuts in Downtown Maplewood FINALLY opened its doors on Friday!  Since then, this has been the scene...

Lines not only out the door, but down the street! 

The kids were away for the weekend on a Scout camping trip, so Steve and I popped by this new local spot during their late Saturday night hours to pick up a surprise for their return. 

A peek at our adventure into the world of Strange Donuts...

 

We came, we saw, we got a little strange with a sampler of their creations...

Gooey Butter Cake,  Reese's Peanut Butter Cups,  Fruit Loops, S'mores, chicken and waffles complete with a Porter's chicken strip topping.

 

My husband, Steve, did have a bone to pick, however.   He is a donut purist and was not thrilled to find their chocolate long john is in fact named the "Fat Steve". Talk about dietary guilt when ordering one of THOSE at 10PM on a Saturday night. Ha ha.

 

All kidding aside, Strange Donuts is a fun adventure!  The donuts were fresh and delicious.  The line?

Well worth braving!

 

Nitty Gritty...

Strange Donuts
2709 Sutton Blvd
Maplewood, MO 63143
(314) 932-5851

HOURS:

Daily: 6AM-Noon
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 9PM-Midnight

WEB: http://www.strangedonuts.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/strangedonuts 
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/strangedonuts

See more of my local Hidden Gems HERE.

Hidden Gem: Missouri Baking Company

In the heart of a tight knit Italian community, aka...

Sits a little bakery that has been around since 1924...

There is always a line...

But it is worth the wait...

The Missouri Baking Company offers  wide array of goodies done the old fashioned way: cakes, breads, cookies, and delicious Italian treats like homemade biscotti and cannolis ...

This week, I picked up goodies for our neighbor who extended major kindness when I was in a jam...

I, of course, also picked up a little something for my 2 favorite Cardinals fans as well...

It is a St. Louis MUST!

NITTY GRITTY:

7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

On Sundays, they're open from 7 a.m. until 12 p.m.

They are closed on Mondays.

Missouri Baking Company
2027 Edwards St.
St. Louis, MO
314-773-6566

Hidden Gem Alert: Rue Lafayette

Located at #2026 Lafayette Avenue in Historic Lafayette Square, overlooking the park and beautiful 100+ year old Victorian mansions, sits a true hidden gem… Part cafe and part boutique showcasing rare vintage finds, Rue Lafayette offers a cozy yet cool place to enjoy a cup of coffee, light lunch, or delicious french pastry.

A teeny peek at my recent visit, before a Saturday AM run to Soulard Market...

The interior and patio are charming, the view is spectacular, the coffee and nibbles are delicious, and the french macaroons are to DIE for! If you click HERE, enjoy a coupon for a free coffee with the purchase of a pastry.

Enjoy! =)

NITTY GRITTY:

Rue Lafayette
2026 Lafayette Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63104

314.772.CAFE (2233)

HOURS:

*Closed on Mondays
Tues-Fri: 6:30am-5:00pm
Saturdays: 8:00am-5:00pm
Sunday: 8:00am-3:00pm

Twitter: http://twitter.com/RueLafayette

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=67030252596