The Sauce - A St. Louis Restaurant Show

Lauren Healey
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Food

For over 25 years, Sauce Magazine has been the go-to guide for St. Louis’ best culinary experiences. Now, The Sauce podcast is back with a new host and a renewed mission: to take listeners behind the scenes with the incredible people shaping the local hospitality industry – from chefs and restaurateurs to brewers, bartenders, bakers and beyond. Hosted by Sauce Magazine’s executive editor Lauren Healey, who has spent her career honing her writing, editing and photography skills at various media outlets in the Midwest, the show blends insider stories with inspiration on where to eat and drink right now. Since joining Sauce in 2018, Lauren’s passion for St. Louis’ culinary scene has only deepened, fueling her pride in calling the city home and her drive to help you discover your next great meal.

  1. 1d ago

    Chris Anderson — The Inns at St. Albans

    On this episode of The Sauce Podcast, host Lauren sits down with Chef Chris Anderson, who now leads the culinary team at The Inns at St. Albans — a hidden-gem hotel, event venue, and vineyard destination about 45 minutes west of St. Louis. Chris walks us through the property, from the lodge, chateau, and cottages to the historic Head's Store, a general store reimagined with barbecue, dry-aged steaks, a full butcher case, farm-fresh eggs, and penny candy (that's no longer a penny). Chris also shares his vision for the Old Barn Inn, the former Malmaison restaurant, which is being redeveloped into a fine dining destination slated for spring 2027. His focus: letting American cuisine shine — celebrating the melting pot of cultures that gave us barbecue, jambalaya, red beans and rice, and andouille, instead of defaulting to French or Spanish menus. The conversation also covers Chris's path from his first job at Jersey Mike's to culinary school, a year at a two-Michelin-star restaurant in Lyon, France, and kitchens like Alinea, L2O, and Moto in Chicago — plus consulting work, time in New Orleans at Restaurant R'evolution, and how it all led him to rural Missouri. And yes, his oldest daughter will tell you she's the reason he went after Michelin. Plus, Chris previews upcoming events like Tequila & Tacos at Head's Store and the sell-out Studio Hill Vineyard dinners, shares his early St. Louis barbecue favorites, and explains why he thinks St. Louis deserves a lot more national attention. In this episode: Inside The Inns at St. Albans and the revamped Head's Store The vision for the Old Barn Inn and letting American cuisine shine From Lyon and Chicago's Michelin kitchens to rural Missouri Vineyard dinners, Tequila & Tacos, and what's coming in 2027 Over the hill and through the woods — to a Michelin-trained chef's kitchen. 🍷🌳 Thank you to our sponsors SWADE Dispensary and LHM. 🎧 Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. 📅 New episodes drop every Tuesday.

    Chris Anderson — The Inns at St. Albans

  2. Sep 29

    Tara Gallina — Vicia & Winslow's Table

    On this episode of The Sauce Podcast, host Lauren sits down with Tara Gallina, co-owner of Take Root Hospitality, the team behind Vicia and Winslow's Table. Heading into their 10th year in business, Tara shares how she and her husband, Michael, brought the farm-to-table philosophy they learned at Blue Hill at Stone Barns back to St. Louis — building a menu around what's growing, not the other way around. Tara walks through what makes Vicia so unique, from the "Let Us Cook for You" experience where every table gets its own handwritten menu, to rarely repeating a dish and getting creative through the winter months. She also talks about the garden-driven cocktail program, the four-season patio, and what it felt like to learn — in the middle of the ocean on a family cruise — that Vicia was a James Beard finalist for Outstanding Restaurant. The conversation also covers Winslow's Table, the University City breakfast and lunch spot that's become a true neighborhood gathering place, plus Tara's own path from journalism school in Florida to culinary school in New York, the pop-up dinners that introduced them to St. Louis, and life as restaurant owners raising two kids. Plus, Tara previews what's next for Take Root — including plans for Vicia's 10th anniversary and expanded grab-and-go offerings at Winslow's Table. In this episode:  - Inside Vicia's ever-changing menu and the "Let Us Cook for You" experience  - Becoming a James Beard finalist for Outstanding Restaurant From Blue Hill at Stone Barns to pop-up dinners in St. Louis  - What's next: Vicia's 10th anniversary and new grab-and-go at Winslow's Table Let what's growing drive the menu — and maybe fall in love with a radish. 🥕🌱 Thank you to our sponsors SWADE Dispensary and LHM. 🎧 Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. 📅 New episodes drop every Tuesday.

    Tara Gallina — Vicia & Winslow's Table

  3. Sep 22

    Drew Jameson — Atomic by Jamo

    On this episode of The Sauce Podcast, host Lauren sits down with Drew Jameson, managing partner of Atomic by Jamo in the Grove, for a conversation about bringing one of St. Louis's most iconic music venues back to life. Drew was a talent buyer at the space (then Atomic Cowboy) from 2015 to 2020, and after the pandemic shut it down, he came back to reopen it under a new name and a new mission: eat, drink, dance, repeat. Drew walks through everything that's changed since the Atomic Cowboy days — from the redesigned lounge and its retro color splashes to a dynamic, scalable layout built for flexibility, including fence lines that unlock to double the pavilion's capacity and shipping-container bars on wheels. He talks about building out Atomic Eats with the King Side Diner team in the kitchen and STL Barkeep behind the bar, and how a rocky first week of dinner service turned into five-star nights within a couple of weeks. The conversation also traces Drew's own path through the St. Louis music scene — from playing lead guitar in Acoustics Anonymous (which became The Mighty Pines) to a physical injury that pushed him into promoting, to the pandemic-era pod shows he built next to Busch Stadium that helped keep live music alive in St. Louis when nothing else was happening. In this episode:  - How Drew brought one of St. Louis's most iconic venues back to life as Atomic  - Building Atomic Eats and Atomic Lounge: new food, drinks, and a redesigned space built for flexibility  - The pandemic-era pod shows next to Busch Stadium that helped keep STL's music scene alive  - What's next: JJ Grey, Grove Crawl, and Pints Fest headline a packed fall at Atomic Eat, drink, dance, repeat — Atomic is back in the Grove. 🎸🍸 Thank you to our sponsors SWADE Dispensary and LHM. 🎧 Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. 📅 New episodes drop every Tuesday.

    Drew Jameson — Atomic by Jamo

  4. Sep 15

    Tassia Rezende — Tre Cuori

    On this episode of The Sauce Podcast, host Lauren sits down with Tassia Rezende, owner of Tre Cuori, for a conversation about competing on the world stage of gelato — and how her small, family-run shop just brought home Missouri's first-ever Gelato World Ranking crown from a ceremony in Rome. Tassia walks through how she got into gelato in the first place — growing up in Brazil with an Italian grandfather, surrounded by gelato and ice cream shops on every corner, before moving to St. Louis about 14 years ago for her husband's job. She talks about finally pursuing her love of authentic Brazilian-Italian gelato during the pandemic, going through her bakery and gelato training, and opening Tre Cuori in 2022 with her whole family on board — including her cousin, an architect back in Brazil, who designed the shop's warm, welcoming space. From there, Tassia breaks down the yearlong competition run that led to Rome: winning the Midwest regional here in St. Louis, taking first place at the North American round in North Carolina against 24 chefs, classifying fifth in North America against the previous year's winners, and finally learning in Rome — with her son by her side — that Tre Cuori ranked 58th in the world and earned Missouri's first Gelato World Ranking crown. She also shares what she believes really sets her gelato apart: small batches, no shortcuts on ingredients, and a hands-on approach to customer service and cleanliness that keeps people coming back. Plus, Tassia talks about touring Rome's gelato shops with her son, what's next for Tre Cuori, and why she credits her whole family for getting the shop this far. In this episode:  - Winning Missouri's first-ever Gelato World Ranking crown after a yearlong run of regional competitions  - From Brazil to St. Louis: Tassia's path from home cook to opening Tre Cuori in 2022  - What actually sets Tre Cuori's gelato apart — small batches, real ingredients, and zero shortcuts  - Tre Cuori's next chapter: new restaurant partnerships and a possible future Clayton location  One scoop, 58th in the world, and Missouri's first gelato crown. 🍨🌍 Thank you to our sponsors SWADE Dispensary & LHM 🎧 Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. 📅 New episodes drop every Tuesday.

    Tassia Rezende — Tre Cuori

  5. Sep 8

    Spencer Strode & Trey Stevenson - Aubrey

    On this episode of The Sauce Podcast, host Lauren sits down with Trey Stevenson and Spencer Strode, who run Aubrey, the new hospitality-driven fine dining restaurant in Midtown, for a conversation about how two former rivals became best friends and business partners, why every detail at Aubrey — from a folded napkin to a champagne toast — is built around making guests feel like VIPs, and what's coming next as the restaurant heads into its first fall season. Trey and Spencer walk through how they actually started out as rivals, working the same section at Cafe Napoli and quietly competing for tables before becoming inseparable — trading late-night phone calls about service long before Aubrey was ever a real plan. They share how the concept came together with co-owner Marcus, why hospitality had to be just as important as the food, drinks, and ambiance, and the habits they carried over from Napoli's legendary owner Tony, like anticipating a guest's next need before they ever have to ask. They also get into Aubrey's approachable, not-fussy menu philosophy, the influence of friends like the team at Scouts, and how beverage director Gabriel Vespers has built out the wine and cocktail program. Plus, the growing pains of opening a new restaurant — from soundproofing noise complaints to giving the basement bathroom (affectionately dubbed "the Dungeon") a much-needed refresh — and why roughly half of Aubrey's reservations are birthdays and anniversaries. Trey and Spencer close things out with a look at what's next for Aubrey, including plans for a new patio and a later-night lounge scene after the kitchen closes. In this episode: • From rival servers at Cafe Napoli to best friends and business partners behind Aubrey • Aubrey's hospitality-first philosophy: anticipating every guest's need before they have to ask • Growing pains and fixes: soundproofing noise complaints and giving "the Dungeon" bathroom a makeover • Why half of Aubrey's reservations are birthdays and anniversaries, plus what's next with the new patio Two rivals, one restaurant, and hospitality that anticipates your every move. 🍽️🥂 Thank you to our sponsors SWADE Dispensary and LHM. 🎧 Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. 📅 New episodes drop every Tuesday.

    Spencer Strode & Trey Stevenson - Aubrey

  6. Sep 1

    Kimberly Pitliangas - The Thaxton

    On this episode of The Sauce Podcast, host Lauren sits down with Kimberly Pitliangas, owner of The Thaxton in downtown St. Louis, for a conversation about running a speakeasy and event venue inside a circa-1927 Art Deco building that was once the Eastman Kodak Building, and why the space has stayed a hidden gem for locals even after nearly two decades in business. Kimberly walks through how The Thaxton came to be — she originally just wanted to open a low-key cocktail lounge in the building her father purchased and renovated, but quickly discovered the entire building doubled as one of the city's most sought-after wedding and event spaces. She shares the story behind the name, why the speakeasy's hours fluctuate around private bookings, and how Lauren first discovered the space on an Instagram-password-fueled staycation downtown. From there, Kimberly gives a tour through The Thaxton's history: its days as a prototype Eastman Kodak retail store, the original 1927 architecture preserved throughout the Grand Hall (including Kodak-inspired molding, camera motifs, and film-reel balusters), and how new artwork and finishes were added over the years to blend seamlessly with the old. She also talks about being an early pioneer of St. Louis' speakeasy scene since 2007, the venue's drink menu (including a "temperance" section of low- and no-ABV options), and the real history behind the word "speakeasy" itself. Plus, Kimberly shares how to actually find The Thaxton (hint: it's through the alley), how the weekly password works, and why she wants more St. Louis locals to know the speakeasy isn't as exclusive as they think — with 85% of business currently coming from out of town. In this episode: • Opening The Thaxton in a circa-1927 Art Deco building once home to Eastman Kodak • Running two businesses under one roof: private events/weddings and the speakeasy • Being a forerunner of St. Louis' speakeasy revival since 2007 • Why 85% of The Thaxton's business comes from out of town — and Kimberly's invite to locals One password, one alley, and nearly two decades of St. Louis speakeasy history. 🥂🔑 Thank you to our sponsors SWADE Dispensary and LHM. 🎧 Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. 📅 New episodes drop every Tuesday.

    Kimberly Pitliangas - The Thaxton

  7. Aug 11

    Cory Jobe — Great Rivers & Routes

    On this episode of The Sauce Podcast, host Lauren sits down with Cory Jobe, President and CEO of Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau, for a conversation about the only place in America where Route 66 and the Great River Road intersect, why Alton, Illinois is known as the most haunted small town in North America, and everything travelers can plan into a 3-to-5-hour road trip through southwest Illinois. Cory walks through what the Bureau covers — six counties, the city of East St. Louis, and the village of Brooklyn — and how the region's unique geography lets visitors combine a kitschy Route 66 road trip with outdoor recreation along the Great River Road. He shares how Alton hosts thousands of Viking and American Cruise Lines passengers each season, the story behind the new Hartford Lookout Tower and its $10 million restoration, and why Cahokia Mounds and the region's Lewis and Clark sites make it such a rich stop for history lovers. From there, Cory and Lauren dig into Alton itself: its boutique shops and antique stores, Old Bakery Beer Company, its Underground Railroad history and the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Park, and its title as the world's tallest man's hometown. And of course, they can't skip the ghost stories — Cory tells the tale of Alton's haunted history, the McPike Mansion, and his own experience with the communication rods that left him a little spooked. Cory also previews Route 66's Last 100 Miles — from Carlinville's Million Dollar Courthouse to Litchfield's century-old Ariston Cafe and the Pink Elephant Antique Mall — plus the Bureau's fall lineup: the Craft Beverage Festival, the Last Hundred Miles Festival celebrating Route 66's centennial, fall foliage history tours, and a first look at the brand-new Byway Discovery Center at Great Rivers Park. In this episode: • Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau: six counties, East St. Louis & the only spot in America where Route 66 meets the Great River Road • A 3–5 hour road trip region built for 39 communities, sports tourism, motor coach groups & international travelers • The Great River Road's 10-state journey, Viking & American Cruise Lines, Cahokia Mounds & Lewis and Clark sites • The new $10 million Hartford Lookout Tower and its confluence views of the Mississippi, Illinois & Missouri rivers • Inside Alton: boutique shops, Old Bakery Beer Company, the Underground Railroad & the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Park • Why Alton is known as "the most haunted small town in North America" & the haunted McPike Mansion • Cory's own spine-tingling ghost story with the communication rods at the McPike Mansion • Route 66's Last 100 Miles: Carlinville's Million Dollar Courthouse, the Cannonball Jail, Litchfield's Ariston Cafe & the Pink Elephant Antique Mall • Upcoming events: the Craft Beverage Festival, the Last Hundred Miles Festival & fall foliage history tours • A first look at the brand-new $7.5 million Byway Discovery Center at Great Rivers Park A 3-to-5 hour road trip, a lot of history, and just enough haunted history to keep you guessing. 👻🚗 Thank you to our sponsors SWADE Dispensary and LHM. 🎧 Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. 📅 New episodes drop every Tuesday.

    Cory Jobe — Great Rivers & Routes

  8. Aug 4

    Arlene Maminta Browne — Madrina

    On this episode of The Sauce Podcast, host Lauren sits down with Arlene Maminta Browne, co-owner of Madrina in Webster Groves, for a conversation about building an Italian-American restaurant with her husband Stanley and their longtime friend Frank Romano, balancing a full plate of community work, and why Webster Groves has become home. Arlene talks about the road to Madrina, which she opened with Frank Romano after 20 years running the wine bar Robust together, and how the new concept — named after Frank's own godmother — blends two families' histories into one Italian-American kitchen. She shares how the restaurant's sommelier joined the team after leaving the Four Seasons, why her GM keeps the whole operation running smoothly, and walks through some of Madrina's standout dishes and its Sunday–Wednesday happy hour. She also opens up about life outside the restaurant: her PR and marketing work with local production company Once Films, raising two kids, and her deep ties to the Webster Groves community. Arlene talks about her longtime involvement with the Saint Louis County Library Foundation, why she loves to cook, and how she and Stanley never turn down a chance to dance. Plus, Arlene shares a first look at her husband Stanley's new venture, Cellar & Table, a wine cellar consulting business for luxury homes and corporate events, and reflects on why she's so committed to putting St. Louis on the map. In this episode: • Opening Madrina in Webster Groves with Frank Romano after 20 years running Robust together • How Madrina's sommelier joined the team after leaving the Four Seasons • A look at Madrina's kitchen and standout dishes, from the cheese dip to the shrimp pasta • Why Webster Groves felt like home from day one • Balancing a busy PR and marketing career with day-to-day life at the restaurant • Leaning on a GM she trusts to run the floor • Madrina's dinner-only hours and Sunday–Wednesday happy hour • Family life with husband Stanley and their two kids • Community involvement with the Saint Louis County Library Foundation • A first look at Stanley's new business, Cellar & Table Two families, one kitchen, and a whole lot of St. Louis heart. 🍝❤️ Thank you to our sponsors SWADE Dispensary and LHM. 🎧 Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. 📅 New episodes drop every Tuesday.

    Arlene Maminta Browne — Madrina
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About

For over 25 years, Sauce Magazine has been the go-to guide for St. Louis’ best culinary experiences. Now, The Sauce podcast is back with a new host and a renewed mission: to take listeners behind the scenes with the incredible people shaping the local hospitality industry – from chefs and restaurateurs to brewers, bartenders, bakers and beyond. Hosted by Sauce Magazine’s executive editor Lauren Healey, who has spent her career honing her writing, editing and photography skills at various media outlets in the Midwest, the show blends insider stories with inspiration on where to eat and drink right now. Since joining Sauce in 2018, Lauren’s passion for St. Louis’ culinary scene has only deepened, fueling her pride in calling the city home and her drive to help you discover your next great meal.

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