Five To Try in St. Louis

Taste your way through the Gateway City to discover its local flavors.

When you want to get to know this city, exercise your taste buds. All costing less than $10, these dishes won't wreck your budget. But if you're counting calories, they'll all be splurges.

1. Pizza With Provel: $6.95 and up

St. Louisans prefer their pizzas topped with Provel cheese, a blend of provolone, Cheddar, and Swiss. The consistency is more like Alfredo sauce than stringy mozzarella, but the rich flavor puts a tasty new spin on pizza. Try it at Imo's, a chain famous for slicing its pies into squares. Locations throughout the city; www.imospizza.com.

2. Gooey Butter Cake: $3.95

The name says it all. Richer than Donald Trump and sweeter than Dolly Parton, this is the rocket fuel of desserts. Lovers of chess pie will revel in its buttery gooeyness, served in a small square and dusted with powdered sugar. Pair a piece with a cup of coffee, and brace yourself. Try it at Soda Fountain Square. 1801 Park Avenue; www.soda fountainsquare.com or (314) 241-0099.

3. Flash-Fried Spinach: $9.25

Anyone who claims not to like spinach should try it flash-fried. Light as a feather, crisp as a potato chip, drizzled with lemon juice, and dusted with sea salt, this dish would make Popeye proud. Order it at pubs or as a "light" starter at fine restaurants. We love Trattoria Marcella's calamari-topped version. 3600 Watson Road; www. trattoriamarcella.com or (314) 352-7706.

4. Toasted Ravioli: $8.99

According to local legend, this fabulous finger food came to be by a happy accident. In 1947, a chef at Charlie Gitto's restaurant knocked a plate of ravioli into a bowl of breadcrumbs. Not wanting to waste the handmade treats, he did what any sensible Southerner would do: He deep-fried them. Filled with a savory blend of meats, "toasted" ravioli became one of the city's top appetizers. You can find this dish on many menus, but we love it at Charlie Gitto's, where it's still made from scratch. 5226 Shaw Avenue; www.charliegittos.com or (314) 772-8898.

5. Frozen Concretes: $1.90-$4.10

Ted Drewes is a must-stop on historic Route 66. This classic frozen custard stand makes concretes so thick you can hold them upside down above your head. Hardy locals will stand in line for them even in the dead of winter (except when the stand closes in January). 6726 Chippewa Street; www.teddrewes.com.

-KIM CROSS

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Mar 2007
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