Ann Lemons Pollack

  • The Big Meal

    William Grimes, who was for several years the restaurant critic for the New York Times, has left that beat. But not, to a certain degree, very far; in today's Times he has a story about "The Big Meal", a play that's set in a restaurant about three generations of a family's life. The foodish among

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  • Dao Tien Vietnamese Bistro

    Olive at Woodson and McKnight seems to be becoming a culinary hot spot. Only the gas station on the southeast corner escapes gastronomic action. Dao Tien, in a building that began life as a Dairy Queen, sports a lime green and red-orange interior and a nice, clean fish tank, the latter a nice change from

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  • Stone Hill Norton Vertical Tasting 2012

    Saturday night was the 24th annual Norton Vertical Tasting at Stone Hill Winery. It’s always a fun night, full of people interested in wine and in having a good time. This is a 10-year vertical tasting beginning with the most recent harvest, so it ran from 2002 through the new vintage of 2011. After considerable

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  • Changes to Facebook

      In response to some people who were uncomfortable seeing Joe's face appearing on Fb with a blog post, I'm getting ready to switch things to my newly-created Facebook account. All postings will appear there as well as on St. Louis Eats and Drinks. I acknowledge that I haven't taken his name off the blog.

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  • Medianoche

    Mexican food in the non-fast-food division has returned to central St. Louis County with a flourish we haven't seen since the Gallardo Grill opened at the St. Louis Galleria. Mike Randolph, who gave us Half & Half for breakfast and lunch in this spot, changes gears after he closes in the afternoon, waves a wand

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  • Brunch: Hot Wok Cafe

    So what's the difference between "Chinese brunch", the phrase Hot Wok Cafe uses for its Saturday-only repast, and dim sum, which is what most Chinese food lovers think of when the subject of weekend mid-day Chinese food comes up? Dim Sum is dumpling-centered and this meal isn't. And while there aren't carts – which actually

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  • Hot Wok Cafe

    Sometimes traveling to a new restaurant is known territory, a trip down Gravois or up Lindbergh. But every now and then things get more interesting. A tip from The Old China Hand sent us out on the somewhat more complicated trail that would lead to the Hot Wok Cafe. Located behind a couple of '70's-kitchy-looking

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  • Joe Pollack

    By now many of you gentle readers will have heard our sad news. My dear Joe has left us, far more quietly than was his usual style. I am stunned by the sheer volume of condolence messages, kind words and compliments this has caused in the community of people interested in food, wine, theater, film,

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  • We Need to Talk About Kevin

      The title of this very disturbing movie, "We Need to Talk About Kevin," is about 15 years late. We, or his parents, should have been talking about Kevin at least a decade ago. It's far beyond solution now. The damage has been done and we, or his parents, are not only paying for it,

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  • Friends With Kids

    Young people often take an unrealistic, or downright negative, approach to the fact that one always must take responsibility for his/her actions. Avoiding it only moves pay-up day down the road. And not realizing that it will happen, come what may, is a sure sign of arrested development. Of course, it happens, and "Friends With

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