And now, as the old Monty Python title goes, for something completely different. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, dark because of the virus, is putting out a series of four cooking-and-music videos. They’re being released on successive Fridays, the first one, which I’m going to talk about, already out, the next on Friday, December 18, and so on right through the fourth episode debuting on New Year’s Day.
The first installment gives us the creations of David Kirkland , chef-owner of Turn Restaurant in Grand Center. Kirkland, who many came to know from his time at Cafe Osage before he opened Turn, lightens and modernizes traditional foods. (No one else in town, for instance, is selling a flight of biscuits.)
The show opens with Tonina, singing and playing the bass, accompanied by guitarist David Gomez. Over the course of the 45 minutes of the program, we hear some tasty-to-the-ear stuff, a little Christmas, and then other things, including a number called Serpiente 2, which is a marvel.
The menu Kirkland demonstrates begins with French toast made from panettone, the Italian Christmas bread that’s become increasingly common in the last decade or so and a nice fruit compote to go over that. And if you’ve ever looked at ground turkey and wondered what on earth can I do with that, Kirkland has the answer, turning it into breakfast sausage. Finally, he has a how-to on biscuits including just what the texture should be combining flour, rising agents and butter before adding liquid, and the technique for layering the dough. Very worthwhile if you’re wanting to duplicate what the ancestral kitchen wizards probably did.
And finally, there’s a brief cocktail lesson using Big O, the St. Louis-based spirit.
There are details here. One ticket allows for two viewings of your chosen show for $15. All four shows cost $60, and include recipe cards. Rep subscribers can redeem a flexpass for access to all four shows. All shows will be viewable on line until the end of January.
The next episode, which will be available tomorrow, December 18, shows off paella with Frank Schmitz of Barcelona Tapas, with music from Paige Alyssa.