What’s New In The Lou with Alexis Zotos

St. Louis has a rich food scene, and few families have helped shape it quite like the Tran family. From the beloved Vietnamese restaurant Mai Lee to the ramen and Vietnamese-inspired dishes at Nudo House, Qui Tran is carrying on a family legacy while making his own mark on the local dining scene.

In Episode 61, Alexis Zotos sits down with Qui Tran to talk about growing up in the restaurant business, the story behind Mai Lee, and how he brought his own vision to life with Nudo House.

Qui shares what it takes to keep a family restaurant legacy thriving while continuing to evolve, how Vietnamese food has found its place in St. Louis, and what he’s learned from building restaurants in an ever-changing industry.

What happens when a career in film and television leads you to hydroponic farming? For Josh Smith, it led to Neon Greens, a farm-to-table salad spot in St. Louis with a bigger mission behind it.

In Episode 58, Alexis Zotos sits down with Josh to talk about his unexpected journey and how it all comes down to his love of storytelling. Neon Greens in The Grove neighborhood of St. Louis features a connected greenhouse where they grow the majority of the lettuce featured in their salads. Josh shares what inspired the career pivot, what he discovered while learning how to grow food in a completely different way, and why he believes St. Louis can rethink the way we eat.

Plus we chat about touring the greenhouse, why they opened up a breakfast concept called Biscuit Town inside the restaurant and what comes next for Neon Greens. 

For decades, Kaldi’s Coffee has been part of the St. Louis coffee scene, growing from a local coffee shop into a beloved regional brand while staying rooted in the community.

In Episode 59, Alexis Zotos sits down with owners Tricia Zimmer Ferguson and Tyler Zimmer to talk about the story behind Kaldi’s, what it’s like to build a family-owned business, and how the company has evolved over the years.

Tricia and Tyler share their perspective on the changing coffee industry, what makes St. Louis such an important part of Kaldi’s story, and what they’re excited about as the brand looks toward its next chapter.

It’s a conversation about coffee, family, entrepreneurship, and building a St. Louis business that continues to grow while staying true to its roots.

Kaldi’s Coffee has been named USA Today’s Best Coffee Chain for the past two years and they’re up for the honor again in 2026.

If Kaldi’s has been part of your morning, your neighborhood, or your coffee routine, you can help them go for three in a row. Vote once a day through October 19th at https://kaldiscoffee.com/pages/2026-usa-today-vote

It’s been 10 years since Nathaniel Reid opened the doors to his namesake bakery, creating some of St. Louis’ most celebrated pastries, breads and desserts.

In Episode 58, Alexis Zotos sits down with owner and baker Nathaniel Reid to talk about his journey in the baking world, why he ultimately chose to move back to St. Louis, and what has kept him here for the past decade.

Nathaniel also gives Alexis a look at what’s coming to the bakery this fall, from seasonal flavors and favorites to what customers can look forward to as the bakery heads into one of its busiest times of year.

It’s a conversation about coming home, building a lasting business, and the craft behind creating a bakery that has become a beloved part of the St. Louis food scene.

For years, Lona’s Lil Eats has been serving up vibrant, made-from-scratch dishes that blend Asian flavors with soul food and now, Chef and Owner Lona Luo is bringing her beloved restaurant to a whole new part of the St. Louis region.

In Episode 56, Alexis Zotos sits down with Lona to talk about the opening of her new Kirkwood location and the evolution of the Lona’s Lil Eats story. The 4,500-square-foot restaurant expands the community-driven dining experience into St. Louis County bringing all of the fresh, customizable wraps, bowls, salads, whole fish, and handmade sauces that have made Lona’s a local favorite.

The conversation goes back to the beginning from Lona's childhood in rural China to her first stand at Soulard Market to now owning two restaurants. 

It’s a conversation about food, family, community, and a big new chapter for one of St. Louis’ most unique restaurants.

This episode is brought to you by Kaldi's Coffee. 

For nine years, Frizz Fest has been bringing St. Louis together to celebrate natural hair, beauty, culture, creativity, and community.

In this episode, Alexis Zotos sits down with sister-in-laws Leslie and Valerie Hughes, the women behind Frizz Fest, to talk about how the festival started, how it has grown over the past nine years, and why creating a space centered around natural hair and self-expression continues to be so important.

The 9th annual Frizz Fest takes place September 19 at Tower Grove Park, bringing together vendors, beauty professionals, creatives, and the community for a day celebrating individuality and embracing natural beauty.

Every year, the floodwall along the Mississippi River transforms into one of St. Louis’ biggest outdoor canvases.

In Episode 55, Alexis Zotos sits down with Bryan Walsh, artist liaison for Paint Louis, to talk about the massive annual graffiti and street art gathering that brings artists from St. Louis and around the world together to paint the riverfront floodwall.

Bryan shares the story behind Paint Louis, what goes into organizing an event of this scale, and why the floodwall has become such an important canvas for the local and international graffiti community.

It’s a conversation about art, community, and one of the most unmistakably St. Louis traditions happening right along the river.

Find all the details here

This episode is presented by Kaldi's Coffee. 

What happens when a James Beard Award-winning chef takes on a brand-new kind of restaurant?

In Episode 54, Alexis Zotos sits down with Chef Kevin Nashan, the chef and owner behind some of St. Louis’ most acclaimed restaurants, including Sidney Street Cafe and Peacemaker. Now, he’s taking on his next big project: The Clydesdale, a new restaurant coming to Ballpark Village.

Kevin shares the story behind the new concept, what inspired the restaurant, and how he’s approaching this very different location and audience. We also talk about his journey in St. Louis’ restaurant scene, the evolution of his cooking, and what it takes to continue creating something new after building such an impressive career.

What happens when art leaves the gallery and becomes part of the city?

In Episode 53, we sit down with James McAnally, Executive and Artistic Director of Counterpublic, to talk about the return of this ambitious St. Louis triennial public art exhibition. Now in its third edition, Coyote Time brings together 47 artists, duos, and collectives from around the world for one of the largest public art exhibitions in the United States.

Running September 12 through December 12, 2026, Counterpublic will feature ambitious new commissions and historical reinterpretations throughout St. Louis, continuing its mission to reimagine art’s role in public life.

View the full schedule here. https://counterpublic.org/

Urban Chestnut has become a beloved part of St. Louis’ craft beer scene, and there’s a lot brewing for what’s next.

In Episode 52, we sit down with Brian Travers and Dave Wolfe of Urban Chestnut Brewing Company on What's New in the Lou to talk about the brewery’s investment in and what that means for the future. We dive into the many local partnerships and collaborations that continue to make Urban Chestnut such an important part of the community.

Plus, we talk beer! From new styles and longtime favorites to the return of fall classics, and the planning for Oktoberfest. It’s a conversation about growth, collaboration, and keeping a St. Louis beer tradition moving forward.

This episode is sponsored by Kaldi's Coffee.