Local Flavors: Meet Me in St. Louis
Image Caption: Photo Credit: Terri Peterson Smith
The St. Louis story goes back to the earliest days of the United States and beyond. The city traces its roots back to French colonial settlement in the 1760s, and in 1804 it served as the jumping-off point for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. For at least a century, the Missouri metropolis was seen as the unofficial meeting point of East and West.
For modern day explorers, the Gateway City offers a full schedule of sites to see, starting with the iconic Gateway Arch and its museum exploring the city’s history and the nation’s westward expansion.
Forest Park, the 1,300-acre site of the 1904 World’s Fair, offers not only green and leafy places to stroll but also five major cultural institutions including the Missouri History Museum, the Muny theater, The Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Science Center and the Saint Louis Zoo, all free.
Kids discover lots of action at Six Flags St. Louis and at The Magic House, the city’s children’s museum. Finally, adult adventurers enjoy whetting their whistles with a brewery tour and a chance to meet the famous Budweiser Clydesdales at the Anheuser-Busch brewery.
Photo Credit: Wirestock/Getty
On the Menu
Gooey Butter Cake
The story goes that in the 1930s, a St. Louis baker accidentally reversed a recipe’s proportions of butter and flour. He baked it anyway, and the resulting super-sweet and gooey dessert became a St. Louis tradition. This easy version uses boxed yellow cake mix for a quick but tasty treat. Serves 12.
You’ll Need
- 1 ⁄ 2 cup butter
- 18 ounces (one box) yellow cake mix
- 3 eggs
- 1 8 ounce package cream
- cheese, cut into quarters
- 1 ⁄ 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 cups (one box) confectioner’s sugar (Save a few tablespoons to sprinkle over the cake.)
Make It
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Lightly grease a 9×13 inch cake pan. (A glass baking pan works, too.)
- Melt butter. Blend butter and one egg in a large bowl. Stir in cake mix. The mixture will have the texture of sticky dough.
- Press mixture into pan.
- In a large bowl, blend together cream cheese, remaining two eggs, vanilla extract, and confectioners sugar. Beat for two or three minutes until it’s smooth and free of lumps.
- Pour evenly over top of the cake mixture in the pan. Spread with spatula.
- Place a cookie sheet on the rack under the cake to contain any batter that boils over. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes until golden brown on top. It’s supposed to be gooey, so don’t over-bake.
- Allow cake to cool completely before cutting. Dust the top with confectioner’s sugar to serve.
Photo Credit: Mauro Sebaste and Hervé
Baudry
Fine Pairings
We’re offering two white wines to pair with our very rich cake. On the less expensive side, Mauro Sebaste Gavi 2022 from Italy’s Piemonte region is a medium-bodied and crisp wine. Made with Cortese grapes, it has tropical fruit and flower notes. $20
Live it up a little with our elegant date-night wine, Hervé Baudry Sancerre Romana 2022. It’s made from 100 percent sauvignon blanc grapes from France’s Loire Valley. You’ll taste flavors of peach, pear and violet with a little tang of lemon zest. $30
