Tani Sushi Bistro

Yellowtail Jalapeño Carpaccio

One of the things we like most about being food bloggers is getting to meet the people behind the food. Chefs, bartenders, and culinary creatives throughout St. Louis have captivating stories about how their restaurant began, how they ended up in St. Louis, and what inspires them. We’ve met some really cool people through The Newlywed Chefs and we think you should have the opportunity to meet them as well. So, we’ve made it a point to include more interviews in our posts, featured under the “St. Louis // Who to Know & Where to Go” tab. Our hope is that knowing the people behind the dishes can make your restaurant experience more meaningful and personal.

Tani Sushi Bistro has been in Clayton for TEN years now and continues to deliver the highest quality products to its customers. Husband and wife team Eric and Jenny Heckman have poured their hearts into this place, and it shows. Eric was gracious enough to sit down with us and chat about Tani. He even was super patient when I realized that my camera battery was still charging on the wall and Neil had to run home and get it. They’re great people with a great story producing great food in a great part of town. Enjoy!

Cheesecake Brownies

Cheesecake Brownies

When Neil’s birthday came around last month, I just couldn’t decide which of his favorite desserts to make. Cheesecake? Brownies? I kept thinking: Cheesecake? Brownies? As I continued to ponder, those question marks slowly disappeared and a new creation was born: Cheesecake….Brownies!

This recipe is super easy. You basically make brownies any way you’d like, then finish it with the cheesecake topping. As I pulled my knife through the cheesecake topping to make swirls, I noticed that if I dragged it straight down the dollops, it created hearts. I thought it would be perfect for Valentine’s Day, and here we are.

Webster Whopping Chili

Webster Whopping Chili

One thing I love most about this blog is all of our family recipes are making their way to our recipe index. This recipe was passed down to us from my dad, the chili master. The title begs for a little explanation, however.

The Kirkwood High School / Webster Groves High School Turkey Day Game is the oldest high school rivalry west of the Mississippi river. Traditions run DEEP in these two towns. Located a short drive from downtown St. Louis, Kirkwood and Webster are known for their tree-lined streets, century homes, unique shops, and friendly people. It’s the kind of place where neighbors spend lazy summer evenings on their front porches and kids play in the yards running from house to house. Webster’s independent restaurant scene is really growing, and drawing even more people to the area. Kirkwood has an excellent farmer’s market and a working train station in the heart of the town.

Mexican Torte

Mexican Torte Overhead

You know the drill: beef. beans. cheese. tomatoes. Maybe add some sour cream, maybe add some guac. As delicious as tacos are, sometimes during the week they just loose their spunk. Fear not. We know how to get your taco spunk back! Using the same ingredients, you can make your taco night more of an fun experience in a few simple steps. My family has been making this Mexican torte since I was a kid. 10+ layers are quite the stunning site, and it keeps really well in the fridge throughout the workweek.

Peppermint Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Peppermint Chocolate Cookies

You have one more weekend left to shop. bake. clean. serve. order. travel. mail. wrap. enjoy the holiday season. It’s no secret that the “most wonderful time of the year” can also be the most stressful. There’s just a lot to do. It’s important to work toward balance during this time of year. In this time of focusing on other people, it’s vital to remember to take care of yourself as well. Find time to enjoy the holidays. Do something for YOU every now and then. For me, it’s baking. Give me an apron (or not), pour me a glass of wine, put on my favorite jams, get my hands in some flour, and I’m in my happy place. Fortunately for you, sometimes I end up with a recipe or two to share.

Holiday Sangria

Holiday Sangria

I have fond memories of my mom’s annual Christmas party. The house always seemed to give off an extra warm glow that night, with candles in the windows, the tree looking extra magical, and Christmas music softly serenading us as we waited for guests to arrive. As people came in, I was in charge of helping make a huge pile of coats and purses on my sister’s bed so they’d be out of the way. Ladies in festive sweaters gabbed about who knows what, slowly drowning out the Christmas music with a cacophony of laughter. My mom was hard to find that night, as she was busy being the ultimate hostess with the mostess. After coat duty, I hid upstairs, but at some point in the evening I’d sneak downstairs to the party and make myself a plate of food. As everyone commented on how cute I was in my pajamas, I’d smile and politely tell them, “nice to see you, so nice to see you,” all the while making a beeline for the bacon stuffed tomatoes and mint brownies.