Chef Cary McDowell has worked in some of the most iconic restaurants in the country, and here in St. Louis, he’s made a name for himself in our city’s best kitchens. From The Crossing to Pi Pizza to, most recently, Wright’s Tavern, he just joined the culinary team at Katie’s Piza and Pasta, which continues to grow at a rapid pace. The veteran chef came to St. Louis in the 90s and, thankfully for our dining scene, never left. We sat down for a conversation at Katie’s at Ballpark Village to talk about his journey as a chef, including the way he managed to land his first job in New York. Plus, he shares the St. Louis restaurants he loves and wants to try.