St. Louis is home to one of the most recognizable landmarks in the US: the Gateway Arch. It symbolizes the meeting of east and west, the mingling of cultures, ways of life, and of course, food.
When we heard that WordCamp US was going to be held in St. Louis, our mouths started to water. Our director of customer support, Bradly, hails from Missouri, and couldn’t stop going on about the great food that St. Louis is famous for.
So here are seven delicacies you have to try after WordCamp US.
St. Louis-Style Pizza
St. Louis probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind on your list of regional pizzas like New York or Chicago. What makes this pie different than others? The cracker-thin crust, for one. The toppings go underneath the cheese, too.
Still not weird enough for you? You won’t find mozzarella anywhere near this pie. They use a regional processed cheese called provel to give this pie a gooey, melty mouthfeel. People say you either love it or hate it, so give it a shot and see which side of the fence you fall on.
Our recommendation: Pi Pizzeria. With multiple locations around town, you’re never too far away from the perfect pie.
Gerber Sandwich
We were going to write an entire paragraph about the Gerber Sandwich, but instead, we thought we’d use one simple sentence: garlic bread topped with ham and cheese. Need we say more? Didn’t think so. Hit up Ruma’s Deli for the perfect version of this St. Louis classic.
Toasted Ravioli
You’ve probably tried this one before, and for good reason. Toasted ravioli is exactly what it sounds like: cheesy ravioli covered in seasoned bread crumbs, but instead of baking it, these tasty pillows of deliciousness are dropped into a deep fryer and fried to golden perfection.
There are plenty of great spots to enjoy this regional favorite, so when you see it on a menu, be sure to grab some. For the real deal, head to Charlie Gitto’s, some authentic St. Louis italian.
Slinger
They say two wrongs don’t make a right, so then what do two rights make? It turns out they make the Slinger. The first right: a juicy hamburger smothered in chili. The second: a classic breakfast duo of eggs and hashbrowns.
Our advice for the slinger? When you order it, ask for an extra napkin (or two). If you want to see where the sandwich originated (and get a taste of what made the sandwich famous), head to the Eat-Rite Diner.
Gooey Butter Cake
Ask any baker what happens when you don’t stick to a recipe and they’ll tell you the same thing: it’s a disaster. But sometimes changing up the recipe yields a delicious, delicious disaster. According to the myth, a St. Louis baker accidentally added two times the butter to his cake recipe.
The rest is history. Try the classic, or add raspberries or chocolate chips. Everyone has their favorite, so find yours! We don’t want to pick favorites, but Missouri Baking Company has some of the best out there.
Concrete
This classic St. Louis dessert doesn’t have much to do with the building material, but it’s almost hard. This frozen custard gets its name from the fact that you can turn it upside down and not spill a drop.
Each shop had their own variation, so the only way to find the best one is to try them all! When it comes to class-a concrete, you’ll want to skip the hardware stores and head over to Ted Drewe’s, a St. Louis staple.
St. Paul Sandwich
Don’t look farther north for this St. Louis favorite. Instead, you’ll find it at any number of the city’s famous asian restaurants. What exactly is St. Paul?
It starts with two pieces of white bread. Slather that with some mayonnaise, lay on an egg foo young patty and top it with lettuce, white onion, and iceberg lettuce. Anything other than this is an imitator. There are plenty of places around St. Louis to grab a St. Paul, but Old St. Louis Chop Suey is one that you can’t pass up.
The Pressable team will be all over WordCamp US, attending talks and trying out all the great food that St. Louis has to offer.
Three days seems like just enough time to taste a little bit of everything, so why not come and join us! We’ll be hosting a partner happy hour at Pi Pizza on Saturday night! Bring your appetites, and get ready to network! We can’t wait to see you all there.