I'm a huge fan of cajun food. I am crazy about gumbo, I go bananas for fried okra, and poboy sandwiches make my tastebuds sing. With that said, it's probably no surprise that The Gumbo Shop, located on Manchester Road in Rock Hill, is one of my go-to spots for great food. The tiny shop has been a neighborhood mainstay for more than 10 years, when Sid and Mary Roberts first opened the restaurant. Although the reins were recently handed over to Jon and Holly Kercher, the menu and tastes have remained the same. Customers adore The Gumbo Shop's take on fried oysters, crawfish etouffee and even …

I may not be Catholic, but that certainly doesn't stop me from enjoying a fish fry or two (or three!) during this Lenten season. Thankfully, Maplewood and Brentwood churches host fish frys every Friday to keep this hungry girl interested. These fish frys are open to the public, regardless of religious affiliation. However, if you're craving something else, then read on because I have something for you as well. Fish Frys at Immaculate Conception This Maplewood parish hosts the dinner from 4-7 p.m. on Fridays. Dinners of fried cod, baked cod, shrimp and catfish are served with your choice of …

It's finally April, which means I'm done with the Vegan Challenge I did for the month of March. And while the challenge was certainly interesting (and I learned a lot!) I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to consuming meat, eggs and dairy again. Here are some of the businesses in Maplewood and Brentwood that I've missed the most. I can't wait to sink my teeth into some of the delicious eats these places have to offer. Actually, I may or may not be drooling right now. OB Clark's Oh, OB Clark's. You have absolutely nothing on your menu that is vegan, and you make no apologies for it…

My month-long vegan challenge is drawing to a close and several different emotions are rising to the surface: happiness is definitely a strong feeling that I have now (I can’t wait to eat meat again!) but a sense of accomplishment is also there. I never thought I’d make it through a week, much less a month, and now it’s almost over. It’s a good feeling. With that said, I thought I’d reflect over the things I learned during the vegan challenge. And trust me; I learned a lot. Being vegan is not easy. During my regular life as an everything-tarian (did I just make that word up?), I was very …

Last week I talked about cooking at home while vegan. During my Vegan Challenge, I've definitely improved my skills in the kitchen (and I've chopped up more onions and garlic than I'd like to admit), but sometimes you just want to relax and let someone else do the work for you. Thank God for takeout. While researching for the challenge, I discovered that many restaurants in Maplewood and Brentwood offer vegan options. Foundation Grounds in Maplewood has a number of delicious vegan sandwiches and wraps. Nosh in Maplewood has an appetizing Tempeh Provencal that is a great vegan option for …

I'm one week into my Vegan Challenge, and things are looking good. As someone who loves going out to eat, cooking at home has been a challenge; add the vegan requirement into the mix, and things have been a little crazy around here. But I've managed to stick to the challenge with no hiccups. And while not every meal I've cooked this week has been delicious--Vegan black bean burgers? Excellent! Vegan corn and potato stew? Not so excellent--it's certainly been fun getting to know my way around the kitchen. One of the best things I made this week was the thing I was most concerned about: vegan …

Last week I announced that I was starting a vegan challenge. Well, this week I finally get to put all of my research to the test. One of the biggest worries that I had going into this challenge was what I would eat on a day to day basis. In my non-vegan life, I never planned meals or organized a grocery shopping list; I just bought what looked good. However, with a more restricted diet, I have found that it is essential to have a plan of action. Both vegan cookbooks that I picked up from Borders suggested compiling a meal plan and grocery list at the start of the week. Easy enough, right? I …

So, it's no secret that I love food. But one thing you don't know about me is that I enjoy Oprah. Okay, I love her. And when I heard about her recent Vegan Challenge where she and 378 of her staff members went vegan for an entire week, I was immediately intrigued. I watched the show, and while there were some interesting points made, I was a little disappointed with the way the challenge was accomplished. The cameras followed Vegan author Kathy Freston as she went on a Whole Foods shopping excursion with an Oprah staffer. I watched as Freston piled the staffers' cart high with loads of vegan …

Not to toot my own horn or anything, but when it comes to food, I know what I’m talking about. I can wax poetic about ganache, cavolo nero, and remoulade all day long. I know the difference between ceviche and sashimi. And who doesn’t love a tasty amuse bouche? Okay, so maybe I’ve just watched one too many episodes of Top Chef; however, my point still stands: I know food. Wine, on the other hand? I’m embarrassed to say that I know absolutely nothing about this fancy beverage. It’s a shame, really. The alcoholic delight often accompanies conversation about food; it’s the yin to food’s yang, so…

If you've driven through Maplewood recently, you may have noticed a new addition to the Maplewood Commons area: Planet Sub. This sandwich chain is popular throughout the Midwest, with stores in Iowa, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and its founding state of Kansas. And while St. Louis boasts two Planet Sub locations downtown, this new spot in Maplewood is the first in St. Louis County. I stopped by the other day for a delicious Tijuana Taxi sub, and it was good. It made me think of all of the great sandwich shops Maplewood and Brentwood has to offer—and there are several! Let's talk sandwiches. Jimmy …

Love is in the air. Bring on the roses, chocolates and mushy cards (and while we’re on that subject—head to Walgreens now so you can get a jump on the good cards before they’re all picked over). Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Hopefully you’ve already made Valentine’s Day plans—trust me, those restaurant reservations go quick—but just in case you haven’t, here are some great places to take your significant other on that special day. Oh, and for all the single ladies (and fellas!) out there? Don’t fret. I threw in some ideas for you too. Monarch Restaurant This fantastic restaurant…

Earlier this month, the St. Louis Yelp community celebrated the anniversary of its first year to burst onto the scene. The appropriately titled "Burst"day Party featured live music, food and drink from local vendors as well as interactive entertainment. More importantly, the event allowed for the introduction of St. Louis Yelp's newest community manager, Aimee Knebel. Yelp is an online social network that empowers users to offer reviews of restaurants, bars and venues to other potential patrons. As a community manager for Yelp, Knebel's job is to grow the number of users in St. Louis by …

Last Wednesday night, Acero transformed from the upscale sit-down restaurant locals have come to know and love into a buzzing hotspot filled with anticipation and excitement. The third round of St. Louis Chef Wars was set to begin, and the crowd of hungry foodies could barely contain its excitement. This exciting competition, created by chef and owner Jim Fiala, has a style similar to Iron Chef, a popular Food Network show. During Iron Chef, two chefs compete to create the best meal with a secret ingredient. A time limit is involved, and the chefs are forced to create a five course meal on …

For eight years of its existence, Monarch Restaurant has portrayed itself as an upscale establishment; one reserved for special occasions and celebrations. While Monarch is known for its groundbreaking cuisine, food of this scale certainly doesn't come cheap. So it came as a surprise to many when Monarch announced that, during select dates in January, it would adopt a new payment option for its customers. “Every Monday and Tuesday this month we’re letting customers pay what they think is fair for their entrees,” owner Jeff Orbin said. Patrons will be presented with two checks at the …

Foundation Grounds is a lively neighborhood coffee house with a lot of character. This establishment, located on a busy corner in Maplewood, is known for its fresh ground Goshen coffee as well as its varied menu. But the coffee shop is making a few changes to its menu in 2011. I spoke with owner Pedro Abbate, who was eager to share details about the new items rolling out over the next few weeks. "We're getting ready to revamp the menu for the new year," Abbate said. "We're going to add a few more vegan selections to the menu." One such selection? The Lacy. This uniquely-named sandwich starts …

As the end of December draws near, Maplewood and Brentwood residents can begin focusing on planning for New Years Eve celebrations. When it comes to ringing in the New Year, no one does it quite like local businesses in Maplewood and Brentwood. Whether you're into a raucous party or a low-key celebration, these local spots have got you covered. Schlafly Bottleworks Everyone's favorite brewery in Maplewood is hosting a New Year's Eve party to remember. Ring in 2011 with local music, delicious beer and a midnight toast featuring Schlafly's own Black Velvet. This beverage is a rich mix of …

Jim Callahan is not your average entrepreneur. This music maven owns recording studio Jupiter Studios and admits to hanging out on the trendy Washington Avenue for drinks and entertainment. And he acknowledges that Who Framed Roger Rabbit, his favorite movie, is the inspiration for his newest business idea: a dinner theater venue set to open in Maplewood.   The Jumpin Jupiter is the working title of the theater, scheduled to open sometime in April 2011, Callahan said. The theater will fill the space left vacant by Jive and Wail. "I love the location. The building is huge; it will fit 200 …

Now that the holiday season is approaching, some Brentwood residents may be scrambling to create a dinner menu for their holiday celebrations. This seemingly simple task is not quite so easy. In many cases, it's an arduous chore that involves hours of menu planning, recipe gathering and grocery shopping. Factor in the cooking and cleanup, and it's no wonder why some residents dread this yearly undertaking. But there is a simple solution that sits right under the nose of Brentwood and Maplewood residents: Time for Dinner. This cooking center, owned by Paige Ohliger, along with co-owners Karen …

Maya Cafe, which offers the standard Mexican fare of tacos and chips and salsa, will begin introducing its Christmas-themed offerings in mid-December. One item to look forward to: Pollito a la Manzana. In this innovative dish, Rock Cornish hens are marinated in spices and slow cooked with apples. The dish is served with apple and brandy sauces with blueberries, cinnamon and mashed potatoes. In addition to the Christmas offerings, Maya Cafe will continue to have its standard menu available. Regulars can expect such curiosities as "Aji de Gallina" ($16.95); this Peruvian dish combines grilled …

Located on busy Brentwood Boulevard, Applegate's Deli has been serving its variety of soups, salads and sandwiches for more than 25 years. This popular deli is known for not only providing great food, but supporting local businesses as well. At Applegate's, you'll find many St. Louis favorites: Jilly's Cupcakes, Dad's Cookies, Fitz's Root Beer, and treats from St. Louis Frozen Custard Factory. With the cold winter season approaching, customers are craving a little less custard and a lot more soup. Applegate's Deli heard the call loud and clear. They are now rolling out a variety of warming …