The Friday Food Critic

Friday Food Critic: St. Louis Bread Company

We nominate a restaurant. You review it. That's right, you're the local expert—and we want to hear what you think.

When it comes to restaurants, Wentzville has it covered. We have some great local places that many would consider community gems; we have some restaurants that aren't exactly mom-and-pop but are unique to the area; and we certainly—for better or for worse—have plenty of chains lining our main streets. But what we don't have is a consistent food critic to tell us what's good and what's not.  That's where you come in. It's your community. You eat the food. You tell us if it passes the mark. That's why we have The Friday Food Critic column, where we put our local eateries on the chopping block. You tell us how you feel about it, what dishes are good, who has the best drink specials and so forth. This week's restaurant is St. Louis Bread …

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Bread Co. Warms Up St. Louis in February

Select businesses can warm their tummies with free soup on Wednesdays.

Even though St. Louis’ winter has been mild so far, there are surely still more chilly days to come. To get through the mid-week winter blues, St. Louis Bread Co. is launching a new program starting Wednesday, Feb. 1. Warm-Up Wednesdays is a new program where free soup is given to area businesses, community groups, construction site workers, volunteers, etc. Throughout February, Bread Co. is asking the citizens of St. Louis to nominate those who they think deserves a Warm-Up via Twitter and Facebook (tweet @panerabread using #warmupwednesday or write on Bread Co.’s Facebook wall). Bread Co. will then use the recommendations and warm up selected businesses each Wednesday of the month. Also, on the final Wednesday (Feb. 29), Bread Co. is …

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Saint Louis Bread Co. Seeks Best Homemade Sandwich in St. Louis

The Great Sandwich Showdown Contest invites local amateur chefs to submit sandwich recipes, stories from the kitchen; the winning sandwich may be featured at all Saint Louis Bread Co. cafes.

Sandwich enthusiasts across St. Louis now have the opportunity to put their sandwich-making skills to the test. The Saint Louis Bread Co.’s Great Sandwich Showdown Contest is under way, and it is an event that gives amateur chefs, bread connoisseurs and fans of delicious sandwiches throughout the city the chance to have their homemade concoction named the best sandwich in St. Louis. The winning sandwich also may become a featured menu item at all 48 Saint Louis Bread Co. bakery-cafes in the St. Louis metro area.  “Saint Louis Bread Co. has always taken pride in offering a variety of freshly baked breads and new and exciting sandwich choices,” said Don Hutcheson, St. Louis Area Director for Saint Louis Bread Co., in a statement. “Our loyal …

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Saint Louis Bread Co. Seeks Best Homemade Sandwich

The Great Sandwich Showdown Contest invites local amateur chefs to submit sandwich recipes, stories from the kitchen; the winning sandwich may be featured at all Saint Louis Bread Co. cafes.

Sandwich enthusiasts now have the opportunity to put their sandwich-making skills to the test. The Saint Louis Bread Co.’s Great Sandwich Showdown Contest is under way, and it is an event that gives amateur chefs, bread connoisseurs and fans of delicious sandwiches throughout the city the chance to have their homemade concoction named the best sandwich in St. Louis. The winning sandwich also may become a featured menu item at all 48 Saint Louis Bread Co. bakery-cafes in the St. Louis metro area.  “Saint Louis Bread Co. has always taken pride in offering a variety of freshly baked breads and new and exciting sandwich choices,” said Don Hutcheson, St. Louis Area Director for Saint Louis Bread Co., in a statement. “Our loyal customers know …

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Batter Up: Kids Learn to Bake at St. Louis Bread Company

The bakery-cafe franchise offers a new program for kids at its Brentwood location and others around metro St. Louis.

If you have a budding baker or two at your house itching to learn more about breads and pastries, now they have a chance. In April, St. Louis Bread Company started a new program designed for foodie children. Involving 16 café locations in the area, the B.I.T. (Bakers In Training) Kids program brings children ages 5 to 12 behind the scenes, showing them how a bakery works and even letting them participate in kitchen activities. Cooking up connections Local marketing manager Kelli Nicholson said the idea behind the B.I.T. Kids classes is "to share our story and also build a deeper connection with our customers."  Nicholson described the program as a fun and family-friendly opportunity to teach "even our littlest bakers" the benefits of fresh…

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Batter Up: Kids Learn to Bake at St. Louis Bread Co.

The bakery-café franchise offers a new program for kids at its Lake Saint Louis location and others in the St. Louis metro area.

If you have a budding baker or two at your house itching to learn more about breads and pastries, now they have a chance. In April, St. Louis Bread Co. started a new program designed for foodie children. Involving 16 café locations in the area, the B.I.T. (Bakers In Training) Kids program brings children ages 5 to 12 behind the scenes, showing them how a bakery works and even letting them participate in kitchen activities. Locations participating in St. Charles county include:   Cooking up connections Local marketing manager Kelli Nicholson said the idea behind the B.I.T. Kids classes is "to share our story and also build a deeper connection with our customers."  Nicholson described the program as a fun and family-friendly opportunity to …

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Food Adventures 101: Bring Spring Cookies to Work or Home

In bakeries everywhere you will find delightfully designed cookies for warm weather.

Cookies can be crisp or soft. They can have icing or not, and can contain countless ingredients. I personally prefer the thick soft cookie with a hefty layer of icing, sort of a "cake pretending to be a cookie" deal. I'm not too far off my description: cookies used to serve as test batches for cakes. According to an article on what'scookingamerica.net, a small amount of batter would be baked to determine proper oven temperature. Cookies are delicious year-round, and the spring season is no different. In bakeries everywhere you will find brightly decorated, happy smiling cookies just waiting for you to take home. They also help stave off spring fever. If you have to work inside eight hours out of the day, bring some spring-themed cookies to…

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The Virtual Life

The Third Space: When Home and Office Just Won't Do

There are local options that provide a physical working space and other business services.

A dog barking in the background when you're trying to take a business call. A pile of laundry that seems to be calling your name. Running out of room on the dining room table. These are just a few things that might make you rethink your decision to work from home. In a previous installment of this column, I discussed the benefits and challenges of working from St. Louis Bread Company. But, a cafe or coffee shop may not be quite the right ambience for your professional life. This week I learned a new phrase: the third space. Not home, not office: a physical or virtual location in which you can function professionally. The Three C's: Coolness, Collaboration and Creativity I learned about St. Louis Coworking on Twitter. Intrigued by its very …

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Viewfinder

Get Your Coffee Kicks

Coffee and doughnuts are a tale as old as time.

Let's face it. There is nothing better than getting your day started with a steaming, delicious cup of coffee. Throw in a sugary sweet treat, and you've got a happy morning. Some of the best places to get your morning fix are already pretty popular, Starbucks and St. Louis Bread Company, but maybe you should try a couple new places, such as Rise and Dine or the Wentzville Donut Cafe. Regardless of how you choose, your tummy won't be disappointed. 

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Jeff Brandt

2:58 pm on Thursday, February 24, 2011

I'll take the $2.99 biscuits and gravy, a frosted donut, and a cup of coffee please.   more ›

The Virtual Life

Plugged In: St. Louis Bread Company is Home Office for Many

The first installment of this occasional column surveys the working conditions at Bread Co. branches, including Lake Saint Louis.

If you frequent St. Louis Bread Company (known to those outside St. Louis as Panera) you can hardly fail to notice people working. Yes, the employees are busy serving up soups, sandwiches and scones. But I'm talking about the people hunched over their laptops and talking business over coffee and bagels.  “We see interviews taking place. There’s cubicle zombies that are looking to get out of their office and sit down with a cup of coffee," said area director Don Hutcheson. "It's a real big escape for lots of people." I am one of those people. Patch does not have offices, so I divide my time between a desk in my spare bedroom and tables at cafés. Bread Co. is ideal for lots of reasons. Plenty of locations around Metro St. Louis? Check. Clean…

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