Where: Magnolia Café and the Stage at KDHX (3524 Washington Avenue; 314-925-7556)
When: Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. -- no reservations required.
We Tried: The brunch buffet ($15), complete with free live music from 10 a.m. to noon, and a choice of drink such as orange juice or coffee.
See also: First Look: Magnolia Café
The Verdict: February 28 marked the kickoff for Magnolia Café and the Stage at KDHX's new Saturday brunch events, which aim to combine food and tunes under one roof. The series is a followup to the community radio station's free Harvest Sessions concerts at the Tower Grove Farmers' Market and evolved out of the desire to bring the music back to KDHX's home base in Grand Center year-round.
Long-time KDHX DJ and Black Bear Bakery founder "bobEE" Sweet cooks up all kinds of from-scratch goodies for the buffet. Look for many of the same dishes he offered during his fifteen-year stint at Black Bear, including a variety of vegetarian and vegan options. For example, choose from a savory tofu scramble, quiche, spicy grits, sesame-ginger greens, roasted butternut squash and turnips, and stollen stuffed with apples, chocolate or spinach.
Over time, Sweet hopes to incorporate even more of his favorite dishes into the rotation -- home-fried potatoes, marinated tempeh, and biscuits and gravy are all possibilities. Additional options prepared by Magnolia Café can include a cheese-and-sausage plate from G&W Meat, black bean and kale salad, fruit salad, granola parfaits, and a toast bar stocked with spreads and fresh-baked bread from Red Fox Baking and Catering.
In addition to its regular espresso drinks and smoothies, Magnolia Café also comes fully equipped to mix up screwdrivers ($6), tequila sunrises ($6) and even offers a bloody-mary bar ($8) stocked with pickled olives, hot chiles, baby corn, carrots, onions, green beans, beets and more. Like the family friendly music that will be showcased in the adjoining venue, everything on the cafe's brunch menu is light, local and wholesome.
Previously on Brunch Bucket List: - Melt
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