Lost Tables Podcast

Eighty-eight-year-old Ray Gallardo first came to the United States from Mexico as a young man, working as a dishwasher at the Biltmore Hotel in Santa Barbara. His next visit to the Biltmore would be as a successful restaurateur. Ray told me his story at his office above the City Coffee & Creperie in Clayton, which he owns with his wife Ann.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-tables/id1749639527?i=1000742777196

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2zCY8PgJR1lxKCUCotWTfh?si=RTm8GeNISlCLA1EPMGH2SQ

Eddie Neill is best known for Cafe Provencal, which has thrived in Kirkwood for almost 30 years. But from his first restaurant, T.P. Neill’s, to Chez Leon, to The Dubliner, there were many others along the way. I talked with Eddie at his home, a 5-minute walk from Ted Drewes.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-tables/id1749639527?i=1000742031343

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1J8jmNVa3TQz2DEeC50D2y?si=odAHp8-JTdu9bGdj7ijiIg

The Buttery Restaurant closed for good on Halloween. The South Grand diner had been serving the Tower Grove South Neighborhood for almost 40 years. Bryan Lawrence and Laura Mcgrath helped me understand why everyone was so excited about The Buttery.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-tables/id1749639527?i=1000741011189

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7irgP8c6ucFP9b0yzPBibW?si=UUYM8g3FTBGVtx3I-5gw1Q

By popular demand, chef and restaurateur Greg Perez is back for more!

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-tables/id1749639527?i=1000739881244

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6lV7Gpi4Ukn8b9tSvC91qb?si=hUTnAxiOR1C6O5xiCiTNjA

Someone once called Greg Perez the Forrest Gump of restaurants. From Rich & Charlie’s, to his Flying Saucers at Blue Water Grill to his award-winning Painted Plates, to the Grateful Inn, it was indeed, “Run, Greg, Run!” from one project to the next.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-tables/id1749639527?i=1000737799880

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6OclekPf73br0jM0EYkQU2?si=BCC5QpqDRTqlZKRzKAPDuw

Monarch opened for business on Manchester Road in Maplewood in 2003, and thrived for almost 10 years. Aaron Teitelbaum and Jeff Orbin talked with me about their restaurant at Teitelbaum’s Kingside Diner in Clayton.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-tables/id1749639527?i=1000736787741

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7qLyT7qn0g309oCVbStUxA?si=wboLTcB1SM6f_GUhhxfcyA

La Tropicana Market was an institution on the corner of Lindenwood and Hereford for over 30 years. Rafael Trabanco told me his family’s story when I talked with him at his longtime office on South Broadway.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-tables/id1749639527?i=1000735748972

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/49eHp4V0uVpyjafpKjmE8J?si=JMJTRVvHSh6iAhKpPUWhzg

Gregg Mosberger ran his own catering company – Gregory’s Creative Cuisine – for 34 years. But Mosberger began his career as a dishwasher at Richard Perry’s Jefferson Avenue Boarding House.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-tables/id1749639527?i=1000732290722

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3E7yS4VDOU0OZms8sNahq9?si=PpyQNPofRWKflPw8dt2g6g

Culpeppers was an institution in the St. Louis area for almost 80 years. Its Central West End location was the first to open and had the longest run.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-tables/id1749639527?i=1000728574360

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Eo89IPBIqH8P2BwQAclx5?si=A3pfhzWaROuC62USYH1GIA

Louis Fiddleman operated Louie’s Delicatessen from 1955 to 1987. I talked with Alan Fiddleman about his father over a noisy breakfast.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-tables/id1749639527?i=1000724048816

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3NwtwFkFkqDK0JWXUiZsIc?si=KrTRWhuISVaHaYj_BRi88w

Harry Giessow owned The Candlelight House on Clayton Road. He and his son, Gary, owned the Howard Johnson’s in Kirkwood and the Howard Johnson’s on Clayton Road, which Gary morphed into Layton’s. I talked with Gary and his wife Lil at their home in Ladue.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-tables/id1749639527?i=1000723090124

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6eDeEVk090cXRAUIzFcWTm?si=U_wdO1J_Qie_aUG49hrFHg

Michael Del Pietro has opened more restaurants than he wishes to remember. I talked with Michael about growing up in his parents’ restaurant, training at The Culinary Institute of America, and opening his first restaurant, Portabella.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-tables/id1749639527?i=1000722055252

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/58uHXw7fXm1Qa8jw5X3KMu?si=I8q_qcmKRn6jghQoSD9sUw