Pi Pizzeria Goes Green, With Green Dining Alliance

Chesterfield's Pi Pizzeria joins a region-wide collection of environmentally forward restaurants.

With 2,000 restaurants in St. Louis—dozens in Chesterfield alone—diners have the luxury of choosing restaurants that reflect their values—like sustainability and environmentalism. Pi Pizzeria in Chesterfield (and its Central West End and University City restaurants) has gone all green. Chesterfield Pi said their recycled interior decor and a composting program are just two ways they are environmentally friendly. They've already joined a new program called the Green Dining Alliance which partners green advocates with restaurants to reduce environmental impact. Watch for a review and interview with Chesterfield Pi later today. Restaurants with high commitments to sustainability become certified alliance members and are graded on a four-star …

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Former Employees Buy Thai Sawadee

Susan and Chin Saicholpitak focus on fresh ingredients and customer service.

When Thai Sawadee opened in Hilltown Village Center in 2008, it garnered positive reviews and began building a loyal following. The owner decided to sell just last year, giving longtime employees Susan and Chinnapong (Chin) Saicholpitak an idea. The Saicholpitaks had never owned a restaurant before or even thought about owning one, but the idea niggled at them. Hadn't they worked as both cooks and managers at Thai Sawadee since it opened, plus years of restaurant work before that? Three months later, in January, they made their decision. “We both knew everything about how it worked—what the potential was,” Chin Saicholpitak said. “We decided to buy it.” Adhering to the philosophy of “If it ain't broke don't fix it,” the Saicholpitaks have …

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Patch Picks: Treat Mom With Brunch in Chesterfield

Restaurants are gearing up for celebrations honoring the special women in our lives.

We have celebrated Mother's Day in America since Woodrow Wilson signed it into national observance in 1914, but the tradition of honoring mothers—at least the deities who represented them—dates back to ancient civilizations. For us, it's simply a day to thank and pamper our moms. On Sunday, we'll serve moms breakfast in bed and bring them their first cup of coffee of the morning. Moms will receive flowers and plants, cards and jewelry, and we'll treat them to a meal in a nice restaurant. Chesterfield Patch has prepared a list of great places to take Mom to brunch or dinner. It's not a comprehensive list, so if you have any recommendations, we'd love to hear them. Remember that restaurants will be packed with grateful moms and adoring …

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New Picasso's Bistro Is Taste-Teasing And Heart Pleasing

Cardiologist and chef Melda Dolan opens her dream restaurant.

When a heart-healthy restaurant opens, the presumption is that the food will be boring, tasteless and limited. When the owner/chef also happens to be a teaching cardiologist at St. Louis University Hospital, it makes you want to triple bypass the place. But, you might want to reconsider. The chef brings generations of experience and a lust for creating complex flavors with fresh—never canned—ingredients. She uses olive oil instead of butter, even making fresh homemade bread without butter. The menu features seafood, chicken, steaks, pork, pasta and veal. Picasso's Bistro is culinary art. Located at 138 Chesterfield Towne Center in the space formerly occupied by Trattoria Branica, the restaurant is the longtime dream of Melda Dolan. Dolan …

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Seasons American Cuisine Offers Fine Local Fare

Chesterfield's newest restaurant is committed to locally sourced products.

The latest addition to the Chesterfield restaurant scene, Seasons American Cuisine, fits into the modern curiosity of fine restaurants located in strip malls.  The restaurant is located in Forum Center at the northwest corner of Highway 141 and Olive Boulevard, where Four Seasons and Peppertini's used to be. Chef/owner Kevin Smith focuses on locally sourced products according to seasonal availability. He uses local farmers and sustainable seafood whenever possible. I arrived at the tail end of lunch service and was seated immediately. Decorated in a modern and casual style, the space also conveyed a sense of elegance and sophistication. The earth tone color scheme—browns, tans, shades of white—were echoed in the charming art, which was …

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