Small Plate #3: Acero Executive Chef Adam Gnau

Four Courses Podcast

Four Courses has had a lot of exciting changes in the past year. From our new guest hosts to joining the STL Vernacular Podcast Network, we've been really please to be expanding our mission. And now, let's expand even more with our very first interview with a member of the St. Louis food scene!

In Episode 22, guest host Chris Romer and I talked about Acero. Several hours before we arrived to settle in for what turned out to be a fantastic meal, Chris got the opportunity to sit down and talk with their executive chef, Adam Gnau.

Chef Gnau was very generous with his time, so go on over to the Four Courses page and give Chris' interview with him a listen. Enjoy!

Nuptial Libations and the Lentil Seduction

Four Courses Podcast - Episode 22

November's runaway food train continues into December. With company holiday parties, cookie exchange parties, family get-togethers, and New Year's Eve celebrations, there seems to be no end to the feasts we enjoy at this time of year. Four Courses heartily supports this tradition, and we hope you'll help us close out our second year with some chatter about some interesting culinary subjects! Hop on over to the Four Courses site and give Episode 22 a listen!

Topics include Acero, the sweet touch of honey, a rousing talk about holiday bread traditions, and how to stem the tide of food waste. We also welcome guest host Chris Romer, who is the first guest to actually prepare some of the food under discussion to bring to the recording. This practice is highly encouraged. Enjoy!

Child-Repellent Delicacies and the Neanderthal Cupcake Hankering

Four Courses Podcast - Episode 21

Ah, November. The month when we really put on our Eatin' Pants and go to town on some truly impressive meals. More than any other month, this is when discussions about food and drink traditions really come to the forefront. And to that end, hows about you take a jaunt over to the Four Courses site and give Episode 21 a listen?

Topics include Farmhaus, the majesty of paprika, a chat about the Thanksgiving customs we enjoy or disdain, and a royal side-eye given to the trend of gluten-free diets. We also welcome guest host Dana McDonough, who is equal parts lovely and intimidating. Enjoy!

Small Plate #2: The Great British Baking Show

Four Courses Podcast

Our first Small Plate was a game, but this time, we're going for a review. Hey, remember how much I loved the first season of The Great British Baking Show? Well, that love cannot be contained to just the written word, so guest host Tiffany Greenwood (Episode 20) and I take this opportunity to talk about what makes this program so special.

Interested in a television show that will nourish your soul, plays a siren song for your sweet tooth, and gives you a good giggle all at the same time? Go take a listen to the review here. Then go find Season 1 on Netflix and get started! You won't be sorry.

Pita Hoarding and the Environmental Booze Hounds

Four Courses Podcast - Episode 20

Despite a bundle of new work duties and a persistent head cold, nothing could keep me from this month's Four Courses. There are always so many wonderful food topics to explore, and this month, we tackle some of the yummiest. Hows about you wander over to our site and take a listen to Episode 20?

Topics include Olympia, an unhealthy obsession with pickles, our go-to selections when it comes to bread, and the trend of rapidly-disappearing cork in favor of wine bottles with twist-off caps. We also welcome our guest host Tiffany Greenwood, who finally lends a much-needed female voice to what's been a total dude fest until now. Enjoy!

Small Plate #1: Cheese or Band Name

Four Courses Podcast

Sometimes, you may be peckish, but not have room for a full meal. And sometimes, you may want to enjoy your favorite podcast, Four Courses, but not have time to engage with a full episode. Good news!

Welcome to the first Four Courses Small Plate! Small Plates are mini-episodes that will periodically show up between main episodes, and can come in a wide variety of flavors: Maybe it’ll be a game. Maybe it’ll be an interview with a local chef. Maybe it’ll be a review of some food-related media. Or maybe it’ll be something else entirely.

For this first small plate, guest host Jeffrey Ricker (from Episode 19) joins in for a game: Cheese or Band Name.

Think you can tell the difference between a rockin’ band and a regional Irish Cheddar? It might not be as easy as you think, Grasshopper. Play along with the game here, and see how you do! And if you have suggestions for other Small Plates, please feel free to email fourcoursespodcast@gmail.com

Dairy Delights and the Gift of the Fungi

Four Courses Podcast - Episode 19

Four Courses has undergone some upheaval in the past month, so you'll notice big changes in this month's episode, including a brand new course. We're delving into food from both land and sea, so if you don't already subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher, head on over to our blog and check out Episode 19!

Topics include Kampai Sushi Bar, the myriad uses of basil, the wide and wonderful world of cheeses, and the challenges of falling off the vegetarian wagon. We also welcome our first guest host, Jeffrey Ricker, whose books you should go buy immediately. Enjoy!

Kyle's Appetizer Platter

Four Courses Podcast - Special Episode 2

It's time for another Very Special Episode of Four Courses. Our last special episode was a flashback to some favorite Dessert segments of episodes past, but this all-Appetizer episode is brand new content. Kyle is branching off into some new creative ventures, and so we have to bid good-bye to him as a regular host. We had to mark the occasion, though, so we send him off by hitting the town and eating/drinking at some of his favorite places.

Go listen to the episode here to join us for stops at Pi Pizza, The Royale, The Kitchen Sink, The Cup, and The Fountain on Locust. Enjoy!

Crustacean Crushes and the Futuristic Sugar Robot

Four Courses Podcast - Episode 18

My god, is it hot outside. This is what I get for complaining about that first part of summer when it was cool and rained seven inches a day. But now that we've reached the intolerable heat and humidity part of the calendar, it's time to talk summer food. So head on over to Four Courses and check out Episode 18!

Topics include Peacemaker Lobster and Crab, the wrap-up of the Our Favorite Drinks seasonal segment, a comparison of regional barbecue styles, and the best snacks to enjoy at the movies. We go out on a Sell Me On... segment all about ice cream flavors that deserve a second chance. Enjoy!

Just Desserts

Four Courses Podcast - Special Episode 1

Both Kyle and I have a lot of Big Life Stuff going on right now. In fact, me even having the internet connection to type this right now is a minor miracle. But instead of leaving a black hole of content, we're putting up a special episode: All Dessert.

These are our favorite and/or most popular Dessert segments of episodes past. You can listen to the episode here, and that post also includes links to the episodes when these segments originally aired. Enjoy!

Tofu Conundrums and the Veggie Ultimatum

Four Courses Podcast - Episode 17

Listen, I love meat. I love beef and veal and lamb and sausage and bacon and chicken and fish and shellfish and sweetbreads and ham and and just about any other one you can name. But once in a while, it's nice to step back from the meaty extravaganza that is the modern American diet and focus instead on the realm of vegetarianism. So, we've turned over an entire episode to it! It was enjoyable to take a break from the butcher shop and stick to the produce department for a while. How about you join us? Click over to Four Courses and listen to Episode 17!

Topics include Tree House, the fruits, veggies, and herbs that insinuate themselves into the world of drinkin', reliable vegetarian dishes for an omnivorous diet, and a fun discussion of the social responsibilities surrounding vegetarianism. We go out on a Sell Me On... segment in which vegetables we don't love get a second chance. Enjoy!

Unpronounceable Entrées and the Ethics of Cake Destruction

Four Courses Podcast - Episode 16

Sppppprrrrrinnnnnnng! Once the weather lightens up, there's so much more to get out and do, food-wise. OK, everything-wise, but that's not what we're about. Want to know what we are about? Then click over to Four Courses and listen to Episode 16!

Topics include Yemanja Brasil, the Spring edition of "Our Favorite Drinks", the shoddy reputation of wedding food, and a very careful chat about how one should tip when there isn't a server in play. We go out on a Sell Me On... segment in which the herbs of the season are passionately advocated for. Enjoy!

Aquatic Adoration and the Greaseball Banishment

Four Courses Podcast - Episode 15

There are countless foods that appeal to me, but there's a special place in my heart for shellfish. Maybe being born in Baltimore has infused my blood with Old Bay seasoning, or maybe I was always destined to fall in love with crab, lobster, mussels, etc. etc. Happily, we set aside some time to talk about it this month, along with so much more, so why not head over to Four Courses and give Episode 15 a listen?

Topics include Juniper (both for a crawfish boil and their regular menu), the ups and downs of rum drinks, the aforementioned ode to shellfish, and a fun discussion of what makes famous food names a Cook or a Personality. We go out on more sea creature talk, as we attempt to win each other over to the oceanic animals that aren't as popular on our dinner tables. Enjoy!

Salmon Fury and the Tower of Spice

Four Courses Podcast - Episode 14

The cold weather continues, and has driven us indoors. Whether it's heaps of meat or heated breweries, we're doing the best we can to assure our caveman brains that we're going to be all right. We've got a range of topics and new segments starting this month, so tootle over to Four Courses for Episode 14. Or...just subscribe to us on iTunes and/or Stitcher and we'll appear like magic!

This month, we talk about Stacked Burger Bar, the beers at Perennial Artisan Ales, the way that mood can affect our cooking/eating habits, and which foods are best homemade versus getting them at the store. We go out on a brand new Carryout format, and introduce a culinary gladiatorial competition as well, so be sure to tune in! Email us at fourcoursespodcast@gmail.com with any feedback, and be sure to suggest more combatants for the Battle Royale!

Fireside Spirits and the British Literary Deception

Four Courses Podcast - Episode 13

It's a brand new year, but just in case you haven't noticed, it's still kind of...WINTER. The chill in the air naturally affects how we eat and drink, and this month's episode is a good one for topics regarding cold-weather feasting. If you don't have a subscription to the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher, you can always stream it through our site, so go give Episode 13 a listen.

Topics include Lemongrass (a Vietnamese restaurant in the South Grand area), Our Favorite Drinks: Winter Edition, and a discussion about the various meats and methods that go into cooking roasts. Dessert focuses on books with memorable eating scenes, and finally, in the Carryout, we set our food resolutions for the upcoming year. I hope you enjoy it, and feel free to email fourcoursespodcast@gmail.com with any feedback or suggestions for other topics!

Check, Please

The new year is always a time for self-improvement. Among my other goals about weight, organization, and so on, I've made a couple of entertainment-related resolutions as well. One of those promises is to consume less cultural "homework". I am, in my heart, a completionist. That's why it takes me so long to finish video games; I'm always off making sure I've collected all the feathers and delivered all the notes.

That streak has also unfortunately led to a lot of wasted time as I watch, read, and play things I'm not really enjoying, just because I feel like I've made some sort of tacit agreement to stick it out. 2015 is going to contain less of that, and the first thing to be snipped is the rest of this season of Top Chef. I'm bored with it, I don't feel like I have anyone special to root for, and there's really nothing interesting to write about it here on the blog. So, I'm afraid this is goodbye to the Boston season.

That said, let's not end this on a sad note. The time I save by axing boring shows can be better spent on shows I'm actively enjoying, and I have to heartily recommend The Great British Baking Show. It was named The Great British Bake Off when it aired several months ago in Britain, and I have no idea why PBS changed the name for its airing in America.

Each episode centers around one type of baked good, and contains three challenges: The freestyle (in which the bakers are allowed to make pretty much whatever they'd like in the given category), the technical challenge (in which they must recreated a given recipe with only minimal information provided), and the showstopper (in which they make a intricate showpiece).

After two episodes, I'm already hooked. The competitors are genial and talented. The judges are firm and direct without being assholes. The challenges are well-planned. OK, the two hostesses are annoying, but they're mostly ignorable. Whoever is in charge of shooting the show needs about seventy awards, because it is insanely beautiful.

I'll review the whole season over at the Slice of Lime when it is complete, but for now, if anyone would like to chat about this disappointing Top Chef season or this wonderful import from England, here's the post to do it in. Happy New Year!