PHOTOS: Taste & Toast on Sun., May 6
We held our fourth-annual celebration of wine, beer and spirits at the Four Seasons Hotel in Downtown St. Louis on Sun., May 6, featuring award-winning beverages from across the region paired with dishes from top area restaurants. Our all-new VIP experience featured exclusive beer and barbecue samples on a scenic terrace during the afternoon, as well as an after-party up on the rooftop until 7pm.
Thanks to all who came out for the festivities, which also included an Everything Tastes Better With Bacon live cooking demo with chefs Robert Zugmaier of Sidney Street Cafe, Rick Lewis of Grace Meat + Three and Derek Northway of Snax Gastrobar; plus a Craft-Your-Own Cocktail session with Snow Leopard Vodka founder Stephen Sparrow; and live music by J Monet throughout the afternoon.
A special thank you to our sponsors Missouri Wines, Schlafly Beer, The Amber House Bed & Breakfast, Natural Tableware, Metro Lighting and Burgers' Smokehouse.
Click here for a link to a gallery of the TapSnap photo booth pictures.
Photography by Christina Kling-Garrett
2018 Taste & Toast: Feast Signage
For our fourth-annual Taste & Toast event, we were at an all-new location at the Four Seasons Hotel in Downtown St. Louis.
2018 Taste & Toast: Natural Tableware
Natural Tableware was the sponsor of the compostable and disposable dish and serveware used at Taste & Toast this year.
2018 Taste & Toast: Wine Glasses
Thanks to sponsor The Amber House Bed & Breakfast for complimentary glassware for guests to sample from and take home.
2018 Taste & Toast: Beast Craft BBQ Co.
Krissana Frawley and David Sandusky of Beast Craft BBQ Co. served "all killer no filler" barbecue at our Beer & BBQ on the Terrace VIP experience.
2018 Taste & Toast: Beast Craft BBQ Co.
Beast Craft BBQ Co.'s ribs served at Beer & BBQ on the Terrace.
2018 Taste & Toast: Mastermind Vodka
Chris Egan, Carl Levering and Anthony Chandler represented Mastermind Vodka at the event.
2018 Taste & Toast: Montelle and August Winery
Montelle and Augusta wineries were winery vendors.
2018 Taste & Toast: Super Smokers BBQ
Jeff and Michelle Fitter and Matt Tucker of Super Smokers BBQ at Beer & BBQ on the Terrace.
2018 Taste & Toast: Holladay Distillery
Lydia Edgy, Alex Gross and Mark Carter of Holladay Distillery
2018 Taste & Toast: Pappy's Smokehouse
Matt Garavaglia, Colin McClintock and Craig Basler of Pappy's Smokehouse serving up samples at Beer & BBQ on the Terrace.
2018 Taste & Toast: Pappy's Smokehouse
Craig Basler of Pappy's Smokehouse serving at Beer & BBQ on the Terrace.
2018 Taste & Toast: Pappy's Smokehouse Hog on a Picnic
Pappy's Smokehouse was one of our Beer & BBQ on the Terrace VIP sponsors and served Hog on a Picnic, a herb-encrusted pork tenderloin with a port-Cabernet sauce, served with a microgreen and radish salad with mustard-lemon vinaigrette.
2018 Taste & Toast: Holladay Distillery
An array of spirits from Holladay Distillery
2018 Taste & Toast: Holladay Distillery Five Farms Single Batch Cream Liqueur
Five Farms Single Batch Irish Cream Liqueur from Holladay Distillery was one of the many local distillery samples available.
2018 Taste & Toast: Schlafly Beer
Schlafly Beer was one of the local breweries sampling at Beer & BBQ on the Terrace.
2018 Taste & Toast: Schlafly Beer
Samples from Schlafly Beer ready for guests to sample
2018 Taste & Toast: Schlafly Beer
White Lager by Schlafly Beer was one of the samples offered.
2018 Taste & Toast: Grace Meat + Three Korean Braised Bacon
Grace Meat + Three chef Rick Lewis held a demo to make Korean-style braised Burgers' Smokehouse bacon with pickled root vegetables and benne seeds for our Everything Taste Better With Bacon demo.
2018 Taste & Toast: Sidney Street Cafe Fusilli
Sidney Street Cafe chef Robert Zugmaier held a demo to make fusilli with spring green pesto for our Everything Taste Better With Bacon demo.
2018 Taste & Toast: Urban Chestnut Brewing Co.
Ashley Troutman of Urban Chestnut Brewing Co.
2018 Taste & Toast: 4 Hands Brewing Co.
James Baus of 4 Hands Brewing Co.
2018 Taste & Toast: 4 Hands Brewing Co. Ripple White Ale and Juiced
4 Hands Brewing Co. samples included Ripple White Ale and Juiced.
2018 Taste & Toast: Urban Chestnut Brewing Co.
A selection of beers available to sample from Urban Chestnut Brewing Co.
2018 Taste & Toast: Canterbury Hill Winery & Restaurant
Canterbury Hill Winery & Restaurant was one of our winery vendors.
2018 Taste & Toast: Mother's Brewing Co.
Mother's Brewing Co. sampled Snapback West Coast IPA, Uncanny, Trop Top and Towhead.
2018 Taste & Toast: Mother's Brewing Co. Trop Top
Mother's Brewing Co.'s Trop Top is a tropical pale ale.
2018 Taste & Toast: Winslow's Home
Winslow's Home sampled selections from its St. Louis restaurant, bakery and retail counter.
2018 Taste & Toast: Bleu Events
Travis Tucker and Nathan Todd of Bleu Events
2018 Taste & Toast: Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants
Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants sampled offerings from its extensive wine menu.
2018 Taste & Toast: Martin Brothers Winery
Martin Brothers Winery was one of our winery vendors and served its mead, made completely from honey.
2018 Taste & Toast: Bleu Events After-Party
Bleu Events was the food sponsor of our VIP after-party.
2018 Taste & Toast: Bleu Events Sweets
Bleu Events served a wall of sweets at our VIP after-party on the roof.
2018 Taste & Toast: Element
Element served offerings from its farm-to-table restaurant in St. Louis.
2018 Taste & Toast: LoRusso's
LoRusso's served authentic tastes of The Hill.
2018 Taste & Toast: Rick Lewis Cooking Demo
Rick Lewis of Grace Meat + Three demonstrated how he makes his Korean-style braised Burgers' Smokehouse bacon with pickled root vegetables and benne seeds for our second Everything Tastes Better With Bacon live cooking demo.
2018 Taste & Toast: Southern
Southern served loaded mac 'n' cheese.
2018 Taste & Toast: The Amber House Bed & Breakfast
Dawson Claridge of The Amber House Bed & Breakfast
2018 Taste & Toast: Craft-Your-Own Cocktails Demo
Snow Leopard Vodka hosted a Craft-Your-Own Cocktails demo, complete with vodka and cocktail samples.
2018 Taste & Toast: Robert Zugmaier Cooking Demo
Robert Zugmaier of Sidney Street Cafe demonstrated how he makes his fusilli with spring green pesto for our first Everything Tastes Better With Bacon live cooking demo.
2018 Taste & Toast: Snow Leopard Vodka Founder Stephen Sparrow
Snow Leopard Vodka founder Stephen Sparrow shared the fundamentals of creating four classic cocktails at the Craft-Your-Own Cocktails demo.
2018 Taste & Toast: Burgers' Smokehouse
Burgers' Smokehouse sponsored our Everything Tastes Better With Bacon live cooking demonstrations.
2018 Taste & Toast: Burgers' Smokehouse
Along with sponsoring the Everything Tastes Better With Bacon live cooking demos, Burgers' Smokehouse also had samples of its smoked sausage.
2018 Taste & Toast: Stone Hill Winery
Tim Flynn of Stone Hill Winery
2018 Taste & Toast: Blood & Sand
Sean and Brian Coltrain of Blood & Sand restaurant in Downtown St. Louis.
2018 Taste & Toast: Blood & Sand Pork Belly
Blood & Sand served a cinnamon- and chile-braised pork belly, as well as the "Non-Stop" - Hamilton cocktail with DogMaster Distillery bourbon whiskey, aperol, oleo-saccharum and lemon.
2018 Taste & Toast: Balducci Vineyards
Nic, Brittney and Carol Balducci of Balducci Vineyards
2018 Taste & Toast: Wild Sun Winery
Allie King, Katie Hunze and Becky Hancock of Wild Sun Winery
2018 Taste & Toast: Noboleis Vineyards
Abbie Leija and Joe Shephard of Noboleis Vineyards
2018 Taste & Toast: Favazza's on The Hill
Ellen Favazza and Rhamonda Thomallari of Favazza's on The Hill served its famous Sicilian chicken.
2018 Taste & Toast: Chaumette Vineyards & Winery
Beth Caldwell, Taylor Bartley and Rodney Toombs of Chaumette Vineyard & Winery
2018 Taste & Toast: Capitalist Pig
Ada Pinkston, chef-owner Ron Buechele and Pete Pinkston of Capitalist Pig served cornbread French toast with apple compote, maple-bacon pork belly and whipped bacon foam.
2018 Taste & Toast: Capitalist Pig French Toast and Pork Belly
Capitalist Pig served cornbread French toast, apple compote, maple-bourbon pork belly and whipped bacon foam.
2018 Taste & Toast: The Preston
The Preston chef de cuisine Nathan Sandknopp and sous chef Zach Siecinski served spice-rubbed flank steak with crudito, charred shishito chimichurri, pupusa and black crema.
2018 Taste & Toast: Main Ballroom
The main event was held in the sixth-floor ballroom at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis.
2018 Taste & Toast: StilL 630
David and Sidni Weglarz of StilL 630 distillery.
2018 Taste & Toast: StilL 630 Volstead's Folly
One of the spirits StilL 630 distillery sampled was its Volstead's Folly American gin.
2018 Taste & Toast: Sister Cities Cajun
Sister Cities Cajun served its signature gumbo.
2018 Taste & Toast: Chandler Hill Vineyards
Chandler Hill Vineyards served a selection of its red and white wine offerings.
2018 Taste & Toast: Missouri Wines
Thanks to one of our sponsors, Missouri Wines!
2018 Taste & Toast: Edibles & Essentials
Edibles & Essentials served samples of goods from its restaurant and retail counter.
2018 Taste & Toast: LaChance Vineyards
LaChance Vineyards sampled a selection of its unique red and white wines.
2018 Taste & Toast: BaiKu Sushi Lounge
BaiKu Sushi Lounge served tuna poke.
2018 Taste & Toast: BaiKu Sushi Lounge Tuna Poke
Tuna poke of BaiKu Sushi Lounge featured yellowfin tuna dressed in a spicy miso sauce with cucumbers, green onion, wakame and sesame seeds on a shrimp chip.
2018 Taste & Toast: The Terrace at French Village
The Terrace at French Village had a selection of its summery wines.
2018 Taste & Toast: Till Vodka
Till Vodka and George Remus Bourbon were two of the craft distillery options available to sample at Taste & Toast.
2018 Taste & Toast: Pinckney Bend Distillery
Pinckney Bend Distillery sampled its Navy-strength gin, hibiscus gin, vodka and more.
2018 Taste & Toast: Ruth's Chris Steak House
Ruth's Chris Steak House served Cajun prime beef bites.
2018 Taste & Toast: Snow Leopard Vodka Cocktail
Cocktail samples made with Snow Leopard Vodka
2018 Taste & Toast: Snax Gastropub Shrimp
For the third Everything Tastes Better With Bacon live cooking demo, Snax Gastrobar chef Derek Northway cooked roasted bacon-wrapped and kimchi-marinated shrimp with kimchi slaw.
2018 Taste & Toast: Snax Gastrobar Derek Northway
For the third Everything Tastes Better With Bacon live cooking demo, Snax Gastrobar chef Derek Northway cooked roasted bacon-wrapped and kimchi-marinated shrimp with kimchi slaw.
2018 Taste & Toast: Beer & BBQ on the Terrace
During the main event, VIP ticket holders enjoyed an enhanced experienced on the sixth-floor terrace that included grilling, barbecue and craft beer.
2018 Taste & Toast: Defiance Ridge Vineyards
Defiance Ridge Vineyards was the wine vendor at our VIP after-party on the rooftop.
2018 Taste & Toast: Defiance Ridge Vineyards Wine
Defiance Ridge Vineyards served its Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir rosé and more at the VIP after-party.
2018 Taste & Toast: VIP After-Party
New this year was the rooftop VIP after-party on Four Season's eighth-floor terrace, with views overlooking The Gateway Arch and scenic Mississippi River.
2018 Taste & Toast: After-Party Guests
Guests enjoyed the scenic views of The Gateway Arch during the VIP after-party.
2018 Taste & Toast: J. Monet
J. Monet band provided us with live music throughout the main event and at the rooftop VIP after-party.
2018 Taste & Toast: Larder & Cupboard
John Wike, Erica Vogler and Cindy Higgerson of Larder & Cupboard
2018 Taste & Toast: Stephanie Schultz and Anne Koleson
Stephanie Schultz and Anne Koleson
2018 Taste & Toast: Ryan Keller and Michael Oelkers
Ryan Keller and Michael Oelkers
2018 Taste & Toast: Greg Finch, Lynn Finch, Lisa Basler, and Laura and Jim Cannady
Greg Finch, Lynn Finch, Lisa Basler, and Laura and Jim Cannady
2018 Taste & Toast: Melody Shipley and Jodi Ocello
Melody Shipley and Jodi Ocello
2018 Taste & Toast: Kathryn and Michael Biau
Kathryn and Michael Biau
2018 Taste & Toast: Mark and Sally Matiszik
Mark and Sally Matiszik
2018 Taste & Toast: Mark and Jackie Stavro
Mark and Jackie Stavro
2018 Taste & Toast: Jonathan Hummel, Amy Doerr, and Joel and Melissa Graye
Jonathan Hummel, Amy Doerr, and Joel and Melissa Graye
2018 Taste & Toast: Heather and James McCarty
Heather and James McCarty
2018 Taste & Toast: Lois and Ken Marshall
Lois and Ken Marshall
2018 Taste & Toast: Connie Rhoades and Jeff Heiney
Connie Rhoades and Jeff Heiney
2018 Taste & Toast: Aimee Williams and Laura Kennedy
Aimee Williams and Laura Kennedy
2018 Taste & Toast: Loretta Striplin, Ruth Nelson and Mimi Hendrix
Loretta Striplin, Ruth Nelson and Mimi Hendrix
2018 Taste & Toast: Brenna and David Thorton
Brenna and David Thorton
2018 Taste & Toast: China Ivie and Valerie Elliott
China Ivie and Valerie Elliott
2018 Taste & Toast: Melanie and David, David and Ann, Sam and Dee Merrifield
Melanie and David, David and Ann, Sam and Dee Merrifield
2018 Taste & Toast: Bev Menendez and Elaine Williams
Bev Menendez and Elaine Williams
2018 Taste & Toast: Tosca Redden and Sandra Robinson
Tosca Redden and Sandra Robinson
2018 Taste & Toast: Bob and Ann Tisone
Bob and Ann Tisone
2018 Taste & Toast: Missy Tooker, Michelle and Pete Markos, LeeAnn Price, Kathy Kuzara and Tawna Agge-Hanslick
Missy Tooker, Michelle and Pete Markos, LeeAnn Price, Kathy Kuzara and Tawna Agge-Hanslick
2018 Taste & Toast: Step-and-Repeat Group
2018 Taste & Toast: Feast Staff
Thanks to the staff of Feast Magazine for another successful Taste & Toast! We couldn't do it without you.
Back row: digital editor Heather Riske, art director Alex Povis, editorial intern Lauren Smith, special projects editor Bethany Christo, publisher Catherine Neville
Front row: sales director Angie Henshaw, managing editor Nancy Stiles, St. Louis account manager Jennifer Tilman, senior editor Liz Miller
