Restaurants that is. Bon Appetit's September 2002 issue is their annual Restaurant issue. This year's focus is on neighborhood restaurants.
Among the local St. Louis establishments meriting notice is Chez Leon and the "Dang! It's that tasty!" Ted Drewes Frozen Custard.
Other places that might be of interest to you include: Monsoon + Kaspar's in Seattle, Pump Room + Cafe Matou in Chicago, West 24 in DC, Delfina + Citizen Cake in San Fran & Suze in Dallas.
Interestingly enough, Joe Roger's Original Recipe Chili (The Den) in Springfield, IL made the cut. It always neat to see a place that you remember from your childhood make the grade. I never tried it out personally though...I can take heat, but evidently this is on the order of legendary "YOU MAY DIE" spiciness. On the other hand, Jeff would probably be right at home there if he hasn't tried it before.
Damn, that Ted Drewes is tasty all right. I love that place. Mmmmmmm.
Monsoon is tres excellent. It's actually where I was supposed to see Alicia again for the first time in eight years but she ended up hanging out with other friends *snif* and the reunion would have to wait for Delfino's.