Two Cents’ Worth

  • Cakespeare: Bard + Birthday

    It's the big 450 for William Shakespeare, and in honor of that occasion, the Victoria & Albert asked people to bake him a cake. Herewith a collection of them, via the Telegraph. More tweeted under the hashtag #Cakespeare. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/william-shakespeare/10782067/Cakespeare-in-pictures-Shakespeares-birthday-bake-off.html  

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  • RIP Herb Cray

    What a great example of How Things Ought To Be Done he was. It really won't be the same without Herb. http://www.stlmag.com/Blogs/Relish/February-2014/His-Stairway-to-Heaven-The-Passing-of-Tonys-Herb-Cray/

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  • An Excuse For a Road Trip

    I am so sick of this winter that it warms me up just to think about this. It's time for the annual vertical Norton tasting at Stone Hill in Hermann.

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  • Pastry Classes

    It's totally by accident that this series of posts have turned things into Carbohydrate Parade. But some things are, as I've said, too good not to share. If you're a serious baker, or want to be, here's something to make sure you attend. Simone Faure of la Patisserie Chouquette is beginning to give classes on

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  • The IRS and Your Dinner Check

    Surely you've come across, at the bottom of your check after a meal, those pre-figured percentages for suggested tips. The first time I saw it, I figured it was a nudge at foreign tourists who often don't know how the American system works. But then it began popping up at places I wouldn't have expected

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  • Interested In Cooking For a Crowd?

    Always wanted to try your hand at cooking for a large group? Family gone and you still have the itch to get back in the kitchen – not that I would know anything about that? Try this.   http://www.stlmag.com/Blogs/Relish/December-2013/Home-Cooking-for-a-Cause-Haven-House-in-Creve-Coeur/

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  • Trains, Trains, Trains

    Enter we now the season of rituals. The soul loves them, with their feeling of security. It's a smell of cookies baking, the annual decorations hauled out and the stories about them re-told. I still have the tree-topper my parents bought as young marrieds, and I hope my kids tell their kids about it. And

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  • Harvest Dinner

    Pay attention: Do you miss Kirk Warner who used to cook at King Louie's? You probably know he's doing private catering now with Kirk's Traveling Kitchen. Well, here's your chance for chowing down on his good food. The University City Children's Center Family Organization is having a harvest dinner and he's cooking. No word on

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  • Sentimental Stuff

    I wrote about the late and much-lamented King Louie's for St. Louis Magazine, and you can read about it here. More stories gratefully received.

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  • St. Louis Chefs Wine Country Barbeque

    September brings to mind lots of things. In many ways, it really is the beginning of a new year. Besides the backpacks and the resumed schedules and the last gasp0 of sun blocker, for many years it's been the month for another ritual. The St. Louis Chefs wine country Barbeque at Mount Pleasant Winery in Augusta will

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