What’s New In The Lou with Alexis Zotos

For more than three decades, Chef Lou Rook III has been the creative force behind one of St. Louis’s most celebrated restaurants, Annie Gunn’s. Early on, Lou found himself choosing between two passions, football coaching and cooking, ultimately trading the field for the kitchen. But his love of coaching never went away. Today, he channels that same passion into mentoring and inspiring the next generation of chefs. In this episode, we talk about his journey from joining Annie Gunn’s after the Great Flood of ’93 to earning multiple James Beard Award nominations, the stories from the kitchen, and how he keeps a St. Louis classic fresh and relevant for new generations of diners.

Old Bakery Beer Company is more than a craft brewery, it’s a community hub. This year they are celebrating 10 years in Alton, Illinois. Co-owner Lauren Patten joins us on What's New in the Lou with Alexis Zotos to talk about the journey of creating one of the nation’s only certified organic breweries, the challenges and wins of sustainable brewing, and how OBB has grown into a family-friendly space loved by locals and visitors alike. We chat about their fall favorites like Oktoberfest, the shifting landscape of craft beer and why their restaurant is just as important as their brewery. 

This podcast is presented by Kaldi's Coffee and recorded at Bucketlist Podcast studio. 

What does it take to leave behind a career in law and build one of St. Louis’ best-known specialty shops? In this episode of What’s New in the Lou with Alexis Zotos, presented by Kaldi’s Coffee and recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studios, I sit down with Vijay Shroff, owner of The Wine & Cheese Place, Spirit Wine & Craft, and Olive Ovation. We talk about the evolution of the family business, how tariffs and shifting drinking habits are shaping the industry, and why your next favorite beverage is sitting at their store.

Get ready for one of St. Louis’ tastiest fundraisers. In this episode of What’s New in the Lou with Alexis Zotos, we’re digging into UCP Heartland’s annual Wing Ding. An all-you-can-eat festival on September 9 where some of the city’s top chefs go head-to-head for the best wings in town. Jenna Rush from UCP Heartland and Peter Venezia, owner of Duke’s BBQ Shack in Wentzville join us to talk about the impact of this event, the flavor competition heating up, and how your plate of wings helps make a difference in the lives of those supported by UCP Heartland.

Tickets still available: https://my.onecause.com/event/organizations/sf-0018000000malY0AAI/events/vevt:3a5c8d84-651e-4bdf-aeac-7d6fa8b4eb5b/home/story

What's New in the Lou is presented by Kaldi's Coffee and recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio. 

Opening a restaurant is no small feat, but for Travis Howard, it’s become an art. As co-owner of On Point Hospitality, he’s the numbers and logistics mind behind some of St. Louis’ hottest spots, including Lazy Tiger and Yellowbelly. This year alone, he’s helping launch two new concepts, Garden Variety Deli, which opened in June 2025, and Extra Wavy, set to debut later this year. Oh, and did we mention he’s also a dad of three? In this episode, Travis shares what it really takes to keep restaurants running, the unglamorous but essential side of the business, and how he manages to balance it all.

Former comedian Nate Burrows traded punchlines for pours, becoming one-third of the team behind Stews, the popular Asian fusion spot making waves in Soulard. In this lively, and very funny, episode of What's New in the Lou with Alexis Zotos, Nate shares how his career pivot led to the creation of a restaurant with a bold menu, vibrant atmosphere, and growing fan base. Plus, he dishes on the behind-the-scenes moments, the lessons learned, and why they don't take themselves too seriously. Plus could there be another restaurant down the road...listen and find out! 

On this episode of What’s New in the Lou with Alexis Zotos, she sits down with Amy Guo, co-owner of Sando Shack, the Japanese-inspired sandwich shop that’s been winning hearts (and appetites) across St. Louis.

After a successful opening at their new Maplewood location, Amy and her team were hit with a restaurant owner’s nightmare, a broken AC unit in the middle of a sweltering summer heatwave. But if there’s one thing Sando Shack knows how to do, it’s pivot.

Born out of a pandemic pivot, Sando Shack has built a loyal following for their sandwiches stuffed with golden katsu chicken, pork, and creative seasonal fillings. In our conversation, Amy shares how they’ve navigated challenges, the secret to their signature sandos, and why connecting with their customers has been just as important as perfecting their recipes.

Follow along on social media for the immediate update on their re-opening: https://www.instagram.com/sandoshackstl/

In this week’s episode of What’s New in the Lou, Alexis chats with Terry Bates, Director of Communications at the International Institute of St. Louis, to preview this year’s Festival of Nations — the region’s largest multicultural celebration, returning to Tower Grove Park on August 23 & 24.

Terry shares the powerful history of the festival, which dates back to 1934, and how it reflects the Institute’s mission of welcoming and empowering immigrants and refugees in our city. With food and retail vendors representing cultures from Ghana to Colombia to Bhutan, plus live performances, workshops, and family activities, this two-day event is a joyful expression of the diversity that makes St. Louis shine.

Maps, vendors and line up here: https://festofnations.com/

This episode is presented by Kaldi’s Coffee and recorded and produced at Bucket List Studios. 

In this episode of What's New in the Lou podcast, Alexis sits down with Kwofe Coleman, President and CEO of The Muny, the nation’s oldest and largest outdoor musical theatre, now celebrating its 107th season in St. Louis.

From starting as an usher in 1998 to becoming the first Black president in The Muny’s storied history, Kwofe’s journey is one of passion, purpose, and perseverance. He shares how his love of theatre and deep commitment to community have shaped his leadership.

We talk about what The Muny means to generations of St. Louisans, the behind-the-scenes work it takes to keep a century-old institution thriving, and why representation and outreach are key to its future.

It’s a powerful conversation about legacy, leadership, and the magic of musical theatre under the stars.

This episode is presented by Kaldi's Coffee and record and produced at Bucket List Podcast studios. 

In this episode, Alexis sits down with Latoya Elnora, the owner of Bougie Bites, a plant-based restaurant that’s grown from food truck pop-up to permanent — all without Latoya ever claiming the title of "chef."

Driven by her love of travel and a desire to bring something fresh to St. Louis, Latoya saw a gap in the food scene and boldly stepped in to fill it. She opens up about the big risks she took, the mistakes she made along the way, and how staying true to her vision, even when it was hard, helped build a loyal community around Bougie Bites.

It’s an honest, inspiring conversation about what it really takes to turn an idea into a movement.

The What's New in the Lou Podcast with Alexis Zotos is presented by Kaldi's Coffee and recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio.