There’s nothing like the hustle and bustle of the holiday season to remind the tired soul about the preciousness of time. Time is needed to spend with loved ones and time is needed to do something right. At Nosh, the neighborhood Bistro in Maplewood, the tired shopper at the end of a long day is served a generous helping of each measure of time. The laid back atmosphere encourages long discussions with a loved one while a strict adherence to a style of cooking that each meal is prepared at the moment of order to ensure a completely fresh dish.
The key to achieving each is what Nosh calls A’la Minute. The Bistro requests diners grant extra time in the preparation of each meal so be prepared to wait a little longer than is usually expected at most restaurants. It is the perfect opportunity to recharge and engage in conversation, the wait is well worth the time.
Perhaps the one misnomer about claiming to have an A’la Minute kitchen is what happens with their soup. The depth of taste Nosh mines out of a small cup of French Onion soup betrays this claim. The broth had to have been granted the gift of time to let the flavors of that peppered onion bloom as they did. In this case that A’la Minute claim only pertains to the crostini and melted Gruyere garnish that added heft to the broth under a seal of earthy cheese.
The sandwich the soup accompanied was simple ham and cheese made decadent. Smoked pit ham is sliced thin then piled on top of a crusty ciabatta roll while a rich and creamy Brie dripped through the crevices to blend with a black walnut and pear chutney. It is a sandwich that begs for the time to savor each sweet and salty bite.
Across the table, free-range eggs find a home on a butter croissant. Fried over medium, the eggs are piled with bacon spinach, roasted red peppers, and smoked Gouda while the croissant was brushed with a Dijon roasted red pepper aioli. Composed of breakfast staples, this sandwich is a suitable feast any time of the day.
Finishing the meal before being cast out into the December chill is a dessert to warm the heart of anyone who ever spent time in St. Louis. Nosh’s Gooey Butter Cake is everything to be expected of this classic treat. It is composed of sweet buttery goo towards the center of the confection that spreads outward towards a harder cake crust. The cake is a timeless end to time well spent conversing and noshing in a fine neighborhood bistro.
Nosh is located at 7322 Manchester Road Maplewood, MO 63143.
