From August 3 through August 9 I suggest you answer this conundrum by choosing to live to eat.

St. Louis's Downtown Resaurant Week returns next Monday through Sunday for its 5th year. Over 25 delicious and diverse destinations will take part in this year's event.  Stop by downtown hot spots like J. Buck's, The Drunken Fish, Clark Street Grill, 400 Olive, Lucas Park and Mosaic for a special 3-course dinner menu for $25 per person plus tip and tax. Check here for a list of participating restaurants. [morelink]

Since there are no passes to buy, coupons to carry or cards to punch, St. Louisans can choose to attend any participating restaurant any night during the week long event.  Gorge yourself on some of St. Louis's best food all seven nights of the week or dine out  just once, it doesn't matter.  Over 15,000 diners participated in the event last year and just as strong of a turn-out is expected again. Organizers suggest making reservations in advance in order to make sure you secure a table at the restaurant you want to visit. 

Downtown Restaurant Week is also a great opportunity to give back to a local charity that helps the St. Louis community. When paying your check you can offer an "extra helping" to Operation Food Search, the largest distributor of free food in St. Louis that helps over 100,000 people each month at over 250 food pantries. An extra helping will add $5 to your bill and to the event's donation to Operation Food Search.

Remember, you are what you eat, so eat well during Downtown Restaurant Week.

For such an important date, I decided to search for an ice cream parlor that was making the day extra special. It didn’t take long to find the Webster Groves’ beloved ice cream spot, Serendipity.

“Serendipity suggests that what you have found isn't just a ‘happy accident’ but better than you could ever have imagined,” owner Beckie Jacobs said.

And true to Jacobs's word, Serendipity was better than I could have ever imagined. Serendipity is known for its great variety of flavors that are added and changed on a regular basis. On any given day stop in to try ice cream flavors such as Bailey’s Irish Cream, apple, cinnamon, cantaloupe, egg nog, dulce de leche and even Blow Pop. All the ice cream is homemade and Jacobs can experiment with flavors a lot. [morelink]

“Flavors are born out of a creative flash like Cookie Monster, or an attempt to create a ‘favorite’ flavor in ice cream, like gooey butter cake,” Jacobs said.  “Still others come from our chef clients who want a special flavor for their restaurant or wine dinner. Once they no longer want it on their menu, we are free to create it for our shop.”

“Chef clients” are part of the wholesale business side of Serendipity. According to Jacob’s almost 100 of the “best” local restaurants, clubs, hotels and ice cream parlors buy Serendipity’s ice cream.

“I enjoy the work with the chefs and knowing that almost no matter where a person chooses to eat, they could be eating Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream,” Jacobs said.

Though the wholesale business makes it easy to find Serendipity ice cream throughout St. Louis, going into the actual ice cream shop is always the recommended way to go.  Serendipity has a great atmosphere and location. The shop has a small parlor as well as a great outdoor porch for guests to sit and enjoy their treats.  Also, Serendipity hosts some fun, family friendly events.  For National Ice Cream Day Serendipity ice cream lovers stopped by to listen to live music played by The Dangers and get a balloon creation from balloon artist Silly Jilly.  As I overheard one visitor say, Serendipity was the “hotspot” of historic Webster Groves on Sunday night.

Also another great part about going into Serendipity is that guests always get what they want.  Whether in size of scoop or in how many samples you try first, Serendipity is there to make sure you are in control of your ice cream destiny.

Serendipity’s slogan is “Life is uncertain...Eat dessert first.” After visiting Serendipity I would have to agree, make sure to eat dessert first and make sure it’s ice cream from this great St. Louis spot. [gallery5]

“I was around for the kick-off and development of Chicago Green Drinks and really missed it when I moved back home,” Durlas said.  “I have a professional and personal interest in the environment and wanted to find out what was happening in the green scene in St. Louis. “

Durlas realized St. Louis lacked any organized gatherings for green friendly people, so she asked her friends Huda Zada, a bartender at the Bottleworks, and Carry Fathman, the gardener of the Bottleworks, to help her set up a Green Drinks program like the one she was a part of in Chicago.

Green Drinks is an event held every month for people who work in the environmental field or who are just interested in green ideas to meet up at informal sessions. The lively mixture of people from NGOs, academia, government and business all share ideas and a few drinks at a local bar. [morelink]

“The goal was always to not just inform, but to give participants practical steps they could take away to make their lifestyles or businesses more sustainable,” Durlas said.

St. Louis Green Drinks held its first event on Earth Day in 2005. Durlas had no clue what to expect, however an attendance total of 75 guests gave her a clue that the St. Louis community was receptive to supporting the Green Scene.  Today, St. Louis Green Drinks still brings in a good crowd and a variety of people from the community.  Organizers typically host the monthly event at a St. Louis bar, typically Schlafly Bottleworks, so the atmosphere is kept “super casual” and comfortable.

"St. Louis is a pretty insular place, and it's sometimes tricky to get the mingling off the ground.  But there are enough regulars around to get the conversations going,” Durlas said. “I always remind the shy first-timers that everyone comes to the events to meet likeminded people, so jump right in.”

Originally a panel discussion was always the main part of the meetings, but Durlas came to realize that some of the coolest outcomes came from the organic interaction and conversation before or after the panels. The connections people began to make even led some to new jobs and new businesses.

Current St. Louis Green Drinks organizer Terry Winkelmann was inspired to open her store, Home Eco, after attending the events. Now, according to Durlas, her store is a real “green hub here in town." Another outcome was that Angie Brown started the St. Louis Organic Garden Club.

“I think more than anything, Green Drinks helps people see all the possibilities and gives them confidence to try something new,” Durlas said. “Hearing panelists stories help people realize that if you have an idea, go for it.”

If you would like to attend a St. Louis Green Drinks meeting or event check the schedule at www.stlgreendrinks.org and sign up for the e-mail list.

This time around, we thought a post-holiday theme would be appropriate...and reindeer pate seemed to fit the bill. For the less refined segment of our audience, reindeer pate is a pasty concoction of reindeer liver, reindeer fat, flour, and assorted spices. The crew at edible.com describes it as an "arctic delicacy best served on buttered toast." We're purists, though, so just hand over a hunk of fatty reindeer organs and we'll go to town, cholesterol be darned.

Knowing traditional goose pate is a delicacy among the elite, we shoestring budget folks were downright excited to indulge in a winter treat we couldn't afford any other day of the week. Our excitement soon turned to nausea, however. Click [tab:trav_video] to watch the taste test.

Winter brings the opportunity to read, watch my favorite shows, and get lost in all the movies I missed over the summer. Needless to say, I grab for something to munch on as I try to escape the drearies. This combined with all the rich holiday food can be detrimental to my waist line, so I am looking for healthier alternatives when reading or enjoying a flick.

One alternative I often enjoy: Instead of microwave popcorn, I grab a bowl of my favorite cereal and eat it dry, piece by piece just as I would a bowl of popcorn. It satisfies my munchies and I feel healthier having not ingested butter, salt, and oily residues.

I love my movie cereals, however, I would like to change it up a little. Got any suggestions? What is your favorite movie snack? Is it healthier than micropop?

Editor's Note: For more information, photos and our award winning video of "A Sad Hot Dog Goes to the Supermarket," head to the past post.

Well, the Tour de Frankfurter has wrapped up and we're now able to share with you our thoughts and experiences after eating 24 hot dogs at 24 St. Louis locations (see the list below) in 24 hours. Though I'm not sure this adventure advanced humanity in any way (I'm actually quite certain we knocked humankind back a notch,) this is definitely an experience we'll never forget, despite out best efforts to do so. Thanks to the magic of the internets, you can experience the whole trip with us again and again (aren't you excited?!?) The gallery tab above offers a selection of shots from the trip, and we'll bring you the video soon. Meanwhile, [tab:video] takes you on a trip with Margo to buy the hot dogs we cooked in the vehicle. We thought it'd be helpful to share a few lessons learned from the day, just in case you're considering attempting the feat yourself (for God's sake, DON'T!)

No matter how big your car is, you'll manage to smell it up. The folks at Lynch Hummer were gracious enough to loan us a Hummer with hot dog-colored seats for the day, so there's no doubt we rode in style. That said, there's something about a couple dozen hot dogs that causes your body to expel the smell of processed "meat" from every pore and opening in your body. Needless to say, a "fresh pine" deodorizer didn't quite do the trick and the ride progressively smelled worse throughout the day.

Vienna Beef is everywhere. If I see one more Vienna Beef/Chicago Style Hot Dog poster, I'm going to vomit on the spot. Every single place with hot dogs as the focal point of their menu had this poster. C'mon Vienna, you've got a few bucks, how about a little poster variation?

Restaurant owners love to brag. Why shouldn't they, right? However, after cramming the last dog down our throats, a server's hot dog selling points ("It's all-beef!" "It's huge, 1/3 pound!" and "We add bacon and cheese to ours!") seemed more like a litany of stuff we'd be forced to ingest than a reason to purchase the item. That said, there are some tasty dogs in this town!

People love to watch other people suffer. If we had a nickel for every time someone stopped to ask us if we were "those hot dog guys I heard about," we'd have...several nickels. Thanks to the Riverfront Times, St. Louis Magazine, the Post-Dispatch, The Suburban Journals, The Arch City Chronicle, The West End Word, FOX 2, KMOX, and KPLR, every time we walked into a hot dog joint along our route someone was there who'd seen our plight and was there to witness the insanity firsthand.

There's so much more to say, so much more wisdom to spew, so many more exmples of what we did and why you shouldn't do it, but I can only blog for so long after being awake for a day and a half straight. Check out the tabs above for more and watch for the video soon!

Tour de Frankfurter Schedule

9.11.08

6:00am - Courtesy Diner - 1121 Hampton Avenue

7:00am - Denny’s - 1515 South Hampton

8:00am - Gingham's - 7333 South Lindbergh

9:00am - Gus’ Pretzels - 1820 Arsenal

10:00am - Sonic - 8124 Manchester

11:00am - Carl’s Drive Inn - 9033 Manchester

Noon - Woofie’s - 1919 Woodson Road

1:00pm - Pam’s Chicago Dogs - 6016 Delmar

2:00pm - Surf Dogs - 137 Chesterfield Towne Center

3:00pm - Foxy’s Red Hots - 11658 Dorsett

4:00pm - Al Hrabosky’s - 800 Cerre Street

5:00pm - Busch Stadium (Cards/Cubs Series!) - 700 Clark Avenue

6:00pm - Blueberry Hill - 6504 Delmar

7:00pm - Fitz’s - 6505 Delmar

8:00pm - Café Manhattan - 511 South Hanley

9:00pm - Chris' Pancakes & Dining - 5980 Southwest Avenue

10:00pm - Tropicana Lanes - 7960 Clayton Road

11:00pm - Sportsman's Park - 9901 Clayton Road

Midnight - Tiffany’s Diner - 7402 Manchester

1:00am - Courtesy Diner - 3155 South Kingshighway

2:00am - QuikTrip - 3410 South Kingshighway

3:00am - Uncle Bill’s Pancake House - 3427 South Kingshighway

4:00am - Cooking hot dogs in the car en route to next location (not because we're out of places to eat, but because it's a funny thing to do.)

5:00am - Eat-Rite Diner - 622 Chouteau Avenue

Melody ~

I tried mowed the steak sandwich, cooked medium-rare, on foccacia, melted with cheese and sauteed onions.  I was so impressed with how perfectly it was cooked that I kept showing Mike and Margo the gapping holes left in the sandwhich after each bite, and repeatedly told them how impressed I was (with my mouth sufficiently full of course).  Margo's french-fries were so good that the waiter felt compelled to ask if I was finished before he removed her plate... I hung my head in shame as he took her plate and I watched as some of the best french-fries I have ever tried meet a fate other than inside my belly.  The place is pretty swanky for a ball player's joint.  I half expected to see a few jerseys and a bunch of sports gear on the walls, but the decor was modern and polished, and the only nods toward Jimmy's day job were a few screens behind the bar, and his co-owner's shirt that read, "Show Jimmy some love." 

Margo ~

I'll be frank, I didn't know what to expect when walking into 15 with Mike and Melody.  The restaurant had upscale written all over it, and I was sure that I was going to get kicked to the curb the moment I walked in.  I was pleasantly surprised to be received with a big smile from Paul, our waiter, as he seated our group.  Browsing the menu, I found absolutely no wieners, hotdogs, or franks of any kind.  After speaking with the Chef, a corn-battered entree with fries was the best choice for me.  The fries at 15 were the best I have ever had; perfect seasoning and crunch.  As for the corn-battered entree, the Chef must have had it out for me - it was indeed one of my cousins, Corn Dawg.  He was really good and quite filling, but I mourn the loss .  Apparently corn dogs aren't on the menu at 15, so I guess I am the lucky one.  Sorry friend, but I have to recommend the food.  So Long!  

After parking ourselves in the outdoor dining area (no dogs inside…c’mon ya gotta follow health codes,) our server promptly brought out a dog bowl of ice water for Fletcher.  After downing a cold InBev Light and browsing a massive menu laden with Irish (albeit Americanized-Irish) favorites, we decided on a bison burger.  For those of you who haven’t made the switch to bison, man (or woman) up and give it a shot.  It’s incredibly similar to beef, but about 80% leaner.  Also, not only does it save your waistline, but you get more bang for your buck out of bison.  Since most menus list their burger weights precooked, beef usually shrinks significantly during cooking as the fat melts.  So a ½ pound beef patty ends up being a bite-sized snack.  Not the case with bison…it’s lean and retains size well, so this one filled the plate nicely.

Yes, they're hairy, but they're also quite tasty!

Feeling a bit frisky, we kicked in a buck to sub our fries for onion rings and, pardon the tangent, but holy Vidalias were these things massive!  I’m talking, the cook got lazy and just dropped a whole onion in the fryer massive!  A healthy (well probably unhealthy) smearing with beer batter puts these things on my list of items with which I’d like to procreate (move over Catherine Bell.)  Seriously, if it’s physically possible to have these onion rings’ babies, I will do it in a heartbeat…I have several calls into surgeons, so I’ll let you know.

These are the onion rings that God eats...I asked.

I’m trying to find something less-than-flattering to say about this place to balance out the review, but it’s tough.  The beer’s cold and cheap, the Main Street setting can’t be beat, and the food’s exceptional and fairly-priced.  Our bison burgers came topped with bleu cheese (an optional add-on) and were cooked perfectly medium.  If you’re looking for starched linens and a cigar and brandy room, this isn’t your place…though they DO have vinyl tablecloths and ashtrays available outside if you’re so inclined. No, this is more of a throw-some-darts-and-gnaw-on-a-massive-hunk-of-meat place (PETA, stay away.)  Though they had to roll me out in a wheelbarrow (for a lanky white boy, I can pack it away.) I’ll be back. Here’s their info. If you want to tag along.

Drank bills itself as an anti-energy beverage promising to “slow your roll” with a dose of melatonin and some other plants and weeds. With big-time celebs giving it a popularity boost via grammatically incorrect song lyrics , Drank caters to those looking to take the edge off of a day spent putting the edge on. Some speculate Drank’s purple can is a nod to the slighty more elusive and notably more dangerous, Purple Drank, a cough syrup cocktail popularized in hip hop lyrics. Whatever it is, if you’re looking to relax and you’re tired of lugging all that hard-earned cash around, Drank is for you!

-Carefully place a dozen or more zucchini in a large, sturdy black plastic trash bag, then add a couple layers of unwanted clothing. Drive to nearest Goodwill or Salvation Army, hand over bag to nearest volunteer. Politely refuse any offered receipt. Leave quickly.

- Buy a large roll of freezer paper--the kind that sub shops use to, you know, wrap up their subs & other sandwiches. Then proceed to wrap each zucchini which has managed to grow to a foot or more in length. Next time your child has a fundraiser, send him or her out supplied with these phoney subs. Tell child to drop them off with neighbors or relatives and leave quickly. It's advisable that a responsible adult hover nearby in a get-away car.

Missouri churns out its fair share of the veggie, so submit your own suggestions here and for goodness' sake, Happy National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day!

Cary is likely to tell you the name is about reviving comforting foods, good friends, and great conversation. So far Revival has been a smashing success on all accounts. He's done time in Nashville and spent four years cooking with Wolfgang Puck, but for the last decade, McDowell has become a St. Louis fixture.

Cary decided to take a shot at teaching me how to make an amazing Leg of Lamb. Click on [tab:trav_video] to see the results! The recipe is below!

Name: Boneless Leg of Lamb Date: 7.23.08

Klondike is holding a contest called, what else--What Would You Do For a Klondike Bar. You have to upload a video showing what you would do for the yummy ice cream treat. They're offering a prize of $100,000 for the best video!

If you don't want to submit a video, you can sign up to watch and rate other videos. They'll pick one person from that group to win $25,000! (I'm all over it)

Some of them are so stupid, they're kind of funny!

Here's the official site.

Buffalo Wild Wings is opening its newest location in St. Peters on July 31st.  The first 100 people throught the door on the 31st will get free wings for a year!!!!

It opens at 11am on July 31st. You are encouraged to get there early. You must arrive before the 11am opening and stay for the opening ceremony to be qualified.  If you win the Free Wings for a Year prize, you'll get a coupon book with 52 vouchers for six free wings--one order for every week of the year.

The St. Peters store is located at 179-C Mid Rivers Mall Drive, St. Peters, MO 63376.

Good Luck!!