Matt Sorrell has quite a food story to tell. Growing up in what he describes as a “meat and potatoes” household, Sorrell remembers feeling like the lights were turned on the first time he had Chinese food. It was at an unassuming, Chinese-American strip-mall spot in Warson Woods, but it opened his eyes to the possibilities that there was a whole world of food to explore.
That world appeared before him in overwhelming brilliance in South Korea. There, during his time in the Army, Sorrell recalls having his mind blown by the new-to-him flavors and dishes such as kimchi. That culinary awakening continued when his service took him to the Philippines and he delved into that country’s rich cuisine.
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As a veteran St. Louis food writer and bartender, Sorrell has never lost that curiosity, and his writings and work have reflected his desire to share his passion with others. In his new book, Matt’s St. Louis Food Story: Bars, Restaurants, Shops and Other Purveyors, Sorrell has created a guide for exploring St. Louis’ own rich food and beverage offerings through the local and independent places that he feels offer the best taste of the region, as well as the creative people who work hard to make the city and surrounding areas a delicious place.
“If this book can make somebody say, ‘Instead of going down the street to our usual spot, let’s go to Soulard,’ then that’s a good thing,” says Sorrell. “We love our 1-mile radius and tend to get stuck going to the same places. I hope this inspires people to get out of their usual routine, even if they are just one and done and go back to their old favorites. At least they stepped out and tried.”
Sorrell’s book is currently available at select retailers around town and online. In celebration of the book’s release, Sorrell shared some of the places that he feels are especially important for at-home entertainers and bar enthusiasts.
For those who want to stock the perfect home bar: Intoxicology
“Their barware, books, and spirits are so carefully curated,” says Sorrell. “They are very careful about what they put out and only put out the best stuff. If you are looking to set up a home bar, instead of doing what most people do and getting a crappy bar set, get the good stuff. This is where to find it.”
For those who want to explore different ingredients: Jay International Foods
“I find that international stores are great places to go for inspiration,” says Sorrell. “Jay International was the first international grocery experience I’d ever had, and I still love to go there and look for ingredients. You may find something that you don’t know about that you can play around with. Even if you aren’t sure what to do with it, you can often make a great shrub or syrup out of it.”
For those who want to learn how to make the perfect cocktail: Planter’s House
“If you are just getting into cocktails, I think it’s really important to go to places that are good at making them,” says Sorrell. “Order a couple of classics, like a Manhattan, and see how it tastes with good vermouth in the proper proportions. Planter’s House is a great place for this because nobody does classics like them. You always know what you are going to get there, and they also have great creative cocktails too. Somewhere like New Society is good for seeing off-the-wall creative stuff and what you can do with cocktails. That’s also important.”
If you want to discover a great neighborhood market: Don Carlos Carniceria Latino Americano
“One of my favorite places to go is Don Carlos on Cherokee Street,” says Sorrell. “There are so many great neighborhood bodegas, but I’ve really latched on to this one. I use it to find fun ingredients and interesting produce.”
If you are looking for great spirits and entertaining food: Parker’s Table
“Parker’s Table is one of my favorite places to go for cool spirits and really great entertaining food,” says Sorrell. “Jon Parker [the owner] is the best guy. The Yale Bar is great. It’s very small and such a great neighborhood place.”
If you want interesting, high-quality wine: The Wine Merchant
“The Wine Merchant has always been a really good place to discover wine, and Jason out there is fantastic,” says Sorrell. “My wife is a member of their wine of the month club. What I love about them is that they are very careful about not selling everything—they are intentional about what they carry.”
If you’re looking for off-the-beaten path food and wines: Wild Olive Provisions
“This place is run by a husband-and-wife team who tries to get away from the norm and focus on wines from lesser-known regions,” says Sorrell. They have a lot of South African and Australian wines that you might not have heard of.”
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Thai Basil Gin and Tonic
Recipe: Matt Sorrell’s Thai Basil Gin and Tonic
One of Sorrell’s favorite places to go for cocktail inspiration is Jay International Foods. A South Grand grocery institution, Jay is the perfect place to wander without an agenda, says Sorrell. He encourages cocktail enthusiasts to walk the aisles, find something that piques their interest and not be afraid to experiment. That’s how he came up with this Thai-inspired riff on a classic, which uses basil, lemongrass, and ginger from Jay—though you can find the ingredients at your favorite international market. Who knows? You might even find additional ingredients that will help you make it your own.
Thai Basil Gin and Tonic
Ingredients:
1.5 oz London Dry gin
.75 oz Thai basil syrup**
.25 oz lime juice
Tonic water
Directions:
Shake all ingredients with ice, except tonic. Strain into an iced rocks glass.
Top with tonic water.
Garnish with a lime wedge.
Thai Basil Syrup**
1 cup Thai basil
2 stalks lemongrass, peeled and ‘bruised’ (gently squashed with the flat side of a knife)
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
1 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
Directions
In a medium saucepan, heat the water on medium heat. Add sugar, and stir to dissolve.
Add lemon grass. Bring to a boil. Take off heat.
Add basil and ginger. Cover, and let steep for 1 hour. Strain off solids. Bottle and refrigerate.