What’s New In The Lou with Alexis Zotos

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 ...

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 a...

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...

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 ...

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 ...