On this week’s episode of The Sauce, we’re joined by Tim Wiggins — the bartender and restaurateur behind Yellowbelly, Lazy Tiger, and the soon-to-open Extra Wavy. 

Tim traces his path from Small Batch and Bailey’s Range to building cocktail programs that pair bold, tropical flavors with balance and precision.

In this episode:

• What to expect at Extra Wavy (seafood-forward, raw bar vibes in a 150-year-old space)
• How Tim collaborates with chefs and builds menus that feel approachable
• Why clear menu descriptions and fair pricing matter
• His “juicy yet dry” cocktail style (hello, Amontillado sherry)
• How salt, texture, and nostalgia play into his drink design

More highlights:

• Where to sip his consulting work (Bangers Only) around STL — Three Sixty Westport, Westport Social, Train Shed at St. Louis Union Station
• A sneak peek at Prohibition, a classics-leaning speakeasy in the same  building as Extra Wavy
• What he’s drinking now: unapologetic negronis + perfectly fresh daiquiris

 Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major platforms.
 New episodes drop every Tuesday.

On this week’s episode of The Sauce podcast, we’re joined by Natasha Bahrami, the “Gin Girl” herself and owner of The Gin Room. Natasha shares her family’s story from Café Natasha to creating one of the country’s most education-forward gin bars, where the cocktail list is mapped to a botanical “DNA” flavor spectrum.

We dig into standout drinks like the Tropical clarified milk punch and the Double Standard, a playful Negroni riff served with a Jell-O shot on the side. Natasha also talks about bringing on chef Justin Newsom to develop a new Mediterranean-leaning, New American food program at The Gin Room.

Looking ahead, she previews two big events:
-The Sauce Launch Party on Thursday, September 25 at The Gin Room
-The 10th Annual Gin World Week, running October 5–12

Gin Week culminates with a festival at Majorette and features global legends like Simon Ford of Ford’s Gin, Miranda Hayman of Hayman’s, and Dave Smith of St. George, plus an intimate Dinner with the Legends at The Gin Room on Wednesday, October 8.

Learn more at natashasginroom.com and follow @natashasginroom + @thegingirl for updates.

Watch The Sauce podcast on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major platforms. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

On this week’s episode of The Sauce podcast, we’re joined by Steve Ewing of The Urge, Steve’s Hot Dogs, and Steve’s Meltdown. Steve shares his journey from MTV airplay with The Urge to launching a restaurant group built on fun, creative comfort food—from loaded hot dogs to grilled cheese at the City Foundry.

We talk signature menu items like the Bacon Bacon Jamaican, collaborations with local favorites, and what’s ahead with a new food truck and more Urge singles on the horizon.

Steve also opens up about the tornado recovery at his Delmar location, the Feed The People program, and why he splits his time 50/50 between music and restaurants. Plus, we dig into his Stevie Wonder tribute band, Master Blaster, and his unexpected hobby as a competitive bodybuilder.

Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major platforms.

New episodes drop every Tuesday.

On this week’s episode of The Sauce podcast, we’re joined by Michael Fricker, owner of Monstera Mezcaleria & Natural Wine Bar in Tower Grove. He shares how a neighborhood bottle shop rebranded into a true mezcaleria focused on traditional, producer-owned agave spirits, plus the recent renovation that transformed Monstera into a full cocktail bar with retail.

We dive into standout drinks like the Monstera cocktail with mango-coriander raicilla, the mole-inspired Monstera Negroni, and a new mezcal-and-soda pairing program. Mike also talks about New Society, his speakeasy-style bar with Meredith Barry of Platypus and Netflix’s Drink Masters, and previews Copita, a Mexican spirits festival coming September 21 with 40 brands and 200+ bottles to taste.

He also shares details on his upcoming Oaxaca project, Malcriado, and why St. Louis is quickly becoming a world-class bar city.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube, or listen on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

On this week’s episode of The Sauce podcast, we’re chatting with Julie Shih, owner of DD Mau Vietnamese Eatery, which has locations in Webster Groves and Maryland Heights. 

We learn about how the restaurant got its start in 2018 and how she’s built a loyal following through fresh ingredients, plenty of customization and unexpected fan favorites like the roti shell tacos featured in the August issue of Sauce Magazine and some of the crunchiest wings in town. From signature banh mi to house-made desserts and a variety of fun drinks, Shih walks us through what makes DD Mau such a standout on the St. Louis dining scene. We’ll also delve into the exciting news about their upcoming relocation to a larger Webster Groves space later this fall.

You can watch the video on YouTube, and listen on all your favorite streaming platforms, including Spotify. New episodes drop every Tuesday, so make sure you tune in.

On this episode of The Sauce podcast, host and Sauce executive editor Lauren Healey sits down with Will Smith, developer of City Foundry STL, to explore the vision and challenges behind one of St. Louis’ most ambitious redevelopment projects.

We also discuss:

• How a trip to Atlanta’s Krog Street Market sparked the idea for a St. Louis food hall
• The hurdles of transforming a contaminated, long-abandoned foundry into a thriving destination
• The hidden history that inspired speakeasy None of the Above (NoDa)
• Balancing local food concepts with national entertainment anchors
• What’s next at City Foundry, from new tenants to family-friendly play spaces

📖 Want more? Pick up the August issue of Sauce Magazine, featuring 12 Reasons Why We Love City Foundry STL, on stands now or at saucemagazine.com.

On this episode of The Sauce podcast, host and Sauce executive editor Lauren Healey sits down with acclaimed restaurateur Ben Poremba to explore the roots of his culinary journey, how his heritage shapes his cooking, and what’s new in the Bengelina Hospitality Group.

We also discuss:

• The challenges and rewards of running restaurants in St. Louis
• What it was like when the May 16, 2025, tornado damaged some of his businesses
• Feel-good moments that confirm he’s in the right profession

Three of Ben’s picks from his top 10 St. Louis restaurants: The full list goes live on Wednesday, Aug. 20, at saucemagazine.com.