iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

Ed was inspired to make Goan Pork Vindaloo with a sauce filled with warm spices (ginger, paprika, cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, garlic) but which also required side trips to MidEast Market (for Kashmiri chiles) and PanAsia Market (for coconut vinegar). Totally worth the extra effort.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

Best Christmas leftovers ever: Ed’s lasagna alla bolognese, featuring the mandatory green (spinach) noodles, layered with pork ragù and béchamel (traditionslly used instead of mozzarella in Bologna). Note that the Parmesan scoop is my spoon from when I was a baby.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 26/12/2025

Red sky on BlueSky: An autumn evening —at Christmas— in St. Louis.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

Ed spent Christmas week making Tagliatelle with ragù alla bolognese (the extra ragù is for the traditional Christmas lasagna); Coquilles St Jacques; Chinese-American stir-fry; Chicken stew with biscuits; and Spinach and cheese soufflé. He’s a machine.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

Final meal in Bologna, and since it was cold and rainy, Ed took me back to his favorite neighborhood spot for tortellini in brodo, the bolognese version of a healing chicken soup.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

Our last date night in Bologna was at a cozy table at Angolo degli Orefice, where we shared more local specialties: a perfect bolognese lasagna, passatelli con crema di parmigiano e funghi porcini (which is NOT pasta per se) and regional meats and cheeses. All quite wonderful.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Al Sangiovese is a cozy restaurant with traditional Bolognese dishes and charming staff. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs, though: gramigna with sausage cream sauce, the local lasagna that includes bechamel and the mandatory green pasta, polpette with stuffed zucchini, and beef carpaccio.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Ristorante da Cesari is a cozy place with a charming host and a hearty traditional Bolognese menu. After a shared starter of porky mortadella, a wonderfully chewy gramignone verde al ragù di salsiccia, and the Scaloppina alla Petroniana con Tartufo Bianco (because: white truffles!).

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

Excellent lunch at Corte De’Galuzzi featuring a couple traditional Bolognese favorites. First, a salad of mâche (lambs lettuce), bresaola, tomatoes, avocado, and walnuts. Then, my tortellini in brodo and Ed’s tagliatelle verdi. Then, time for a nap!

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

Ed took me to lunch at one of our favorite destinations in Bologna, the always excellent Drogheria della Rosa, where host Emanuele Addone makes sure we feel special and cared-for. Today’s traditional treat: tagliatella al ragù. Perfection.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

A morning stroll off the Piazza Maggiore in Bologna took us past all the wonderful vendors of local prosciutto, mortadella, parmigiano, tortellini, and gorgeous vegetables.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

Nothing like good pasta to make you forget a tough travel day. Ed took me to Trattoria Trebbi near his Bologna apartment: mortadella with mortadella mousse to start, then his tagliolini and my tortellini, both with that rare autumn treat, white Alba truffles.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

It might have been wise to add a hyphen between the second and third words, but as is, I have questions: Are some ass toys bad? How would I know? And where should I drive them?

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

I swore off pasta until I join Ed in Bologna this weekend BUT I could NOT turn down the gnochetti (with Spanish octopus and ‘Nduja) at Vicia. Thanks to my buddy Alex Levine Clardy for being my Ed-free date (although she didn’t get near my duck-liver mousse with apricot and sweet-corn madeleines).

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

The autumnal butternut squash tortelloni at Katie's Pizza & Pasta Osteria (in deep brown butter with crispy sage) is a wonderful treat, made more so by dining with my amazing long-time friend David Toben. A perfect lunch experience.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

My niece is staying with me this weekend while she attends and vends at SLICE (the St. Louis Independent Comics Expo), which means I need to look my best.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Another Ed-free date on The Hill: I had to have Anthonino’s Taverna’s t-ravs because (prove me wrong) they have the most flavorful marinara in town. Their traditional pizza (a little wet in the center “come i napoletani)” is mostly a take-home treat today.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

I tried the new Bites Revolving Bar in Cape Girardeau, and it’s a hoot. Dishes wander past your table like an Automat on an airport people mover, and you grab what looks good. (I ordered the bibimbap off-menu.) It’s hypnotic: even when you’re chatting or not hungry, you can’t not watch.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Another Ed-free date night, another dinner on The Hill. Last evening’s treat was on the side patio of Lorenzos Trattoria: a gloriously messy pile of bright fresh bruschette followed by an Italian-American classic, tortellini with peas and prosciutto. A cocktail might have been involved.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

This one is for my girlfriends. You know who you are. (And I repeat: Brenda Starr was a goddess.)

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Another Ed-free week of dinner dates, and the first of three on The Hill. Charlie Gitto's has, for my money, the best t-ravs in town (they claim the title of OG): filled to bursting w/ meat and w/ all sharp edges trimmed off. Add their Fiore Boghese (in a pink cognac sauce) and it’s a great dinner.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

I have an event (not a date) tonight, and that always poses an important question. (Side note: Brenda Starr was a goddess.)

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

I didn’t have a date for tonight, so I’ll just offer this appropriate bit of food humor.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

I THOUGHT I recognized our BBQ-joint destination (remember The Bungalow?). The Stellar Hog has retained that excellent South City hoosier vibe. More important, they deliver stellar pork, as advertised. I snagged a whole rack + creamy mac’n’cheese + THE best pork’n’beans I’ve had since I was little.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

My buddy Kevin took me to Basil India and HOW was I unaware?!? I treated myself to the Bombay Chicken Curry, and it’s everything you’d want: generous tender chicken, warm spices, and that touch of heat just short of eye-watering. I’ll be back when my usual date comes home from Italy!

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

Date night at El Molino del Sureste, where dishes are both authentic and exacting in their determination to source ingredients within 100 miles. We shared the kaaxil sikil snd the todtada de tzik de jaiba, after which i snarked the taco de cochinita pibil and the taco de pic chuc.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

For those who think that my sole diet is Ed’s gourmet dinners and exotic STL restaurants. (Note that the chocolate shake is the original and THE only acceptable flavor.)

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Going to Costco for gas is really just an excuse for lunch at Soup Dumplings STL. It’s both at-table entertainment (grab dumpling, tear a small hole, empty soup onto spoon, drink soup, dunk dumpling and eat) but it’s also a way to slow down at mealtime.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

While Ed is in Bologna, I’m taking the opportunity to catch up with friends at favorite restaurants. My first stop was Esca with my longtime girlfriend. Great cocktails, delicious artichoke starter, Jeri’s grilled Spanish octopus, and my grilled Sicilian salsiccia. Fantastic evening all around.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

Ed’s month in Italy starts Friday, but mentally he’s almost there. So, a steaming pot of ribollita — Tuscan veg and bean soup with day-old-bread croutons and a sprinkling of Parmesan plus good olive oil.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

Quick lunch amidst errands, and Sando Shack was fast and delicious: Deep-fried thin chicken or pork katsu on toasty bread with bright slaw and savory-sweet sauce. (In Japan, it’s served on milk bread, but [1] no one makes it here because it’s too hard and [2] when toasted, it doesn’t matter.)

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

… and if you are a very VERY good boy, Ed makes you Coquilles Saint Jacques, loaded with scallops, Gruyère, cremini mushrooms, and cream, flavored with curry, cognac, and a bit of parsley. (No, we did NOT poach the gratin dishes from Café de Flore - 25 years ago they had a tiny shop out back.)

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

So sad that we’ve lost Claudia Cardinale, who was a much better actress than she was given credit for and (like most European beauties) was deeply misused in American films. Check out her appearances in The Leopard, 8 1/2, and (especially) Once Upon a Time in the West. #ClaudiaCardinale

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

And if you are a VERY good boy, you get Ed’s tender, spicy polpette over Italian spaghetti. (Yes, we know that large meatballs with pasta is strictly an American thing, but it’s SO good.)

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

At last I’ve made my re-entry into the world (see last post) so of COURSE it had to be at Crown Candy Kitchen and of COURSE I had to order the BLT. (Note that there’s just enough L and T to qualify.) Thanks to our dear friends Andy and Sherri Karandzieff for making us so welcome. #eatlocalstl

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

If you are a VBG (Very Good Boy), Ed will make lasagna alla bolognese (practice for his upcoming month in Bologna): layers of bechamel and ragù w/ a sprinkling of Parm (but absolutely NO melty cheese like mozzarella) between layers of fresh green pasta (mandated in Bologna). Towering and delicious.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

I took my statin drug and indulged in what are probably the best chicken livers in St. Louis, with a rich mustardy sauce that doesn’t hide the savory flavor; PLUS the Grace smash-burger (plus mac’n’cheese) with its crispy edges and more secret sauce. If you haven’t been for a while, go! #eatlocalstl

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

Try to #eatlocalstl this month — this weather isTHE worst for your favorite restaurants. In that spirit, I scored a damn fine muffuletta from Blues City Deli which, like the sandwich itself, has Italian roots. Add their excellent bacon potato salad and you’ve got TWO lunches.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

Today’s lunchtime adventure: The Hebrew Hammer from Nudo House is just about the best “chicken noodle soup” you can ask for — especially if you spring for a dollop of Salume Beddu ‘Nduja!

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

After three weeks at home, I went OUT to lunch! Like an adult! We made straight for Jack Nolen’s for a double firecracker burger and their hot crispy fries. I am SO happy.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

Ed made pasta carbonara with crispy guanciale (pork jowl, from Bolyard’s) using a non-intuitive technique: Boiling pasta in a shallow pan creates tons of starch, which is super-important for all the Roman pastas (cacio e pepe, carbonara, alla Gricia, amatriciana). Thus, silky porky al dente pasta.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

Still at home BUT happy to be here if Ed makes me sticky-spicy char siu, a Hong Kong barbeque pork treat. (Randomly, I got caught up rewatching Jason Bourne movies, which remind me to refer to Ed as “The Asset”.)

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

@timmiller.bsky.social and @mollyjongfast.bsky.social I think now might be the moment to note that Dean Cain was featured as a gay heartbreaker in “The Broken Hearts Club”.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

Being stuck at home (for now) ain’t so bad if your other half serves up a delicious plate of silky-spicy cashew chicken.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

Having to stay close to home doesn’t mean doing without treats from favorite restaurants. Last night, that meant STL-style pizze from Guido's Pizzeria and Tapas — salsiccia and jalapeños for me, Italian sausage and artichokes for Ed.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

I’m not quite ready for dine-in restaurants, but I CAN do pick-up from favorites, SO I scored the amazing lahmacun from Balkan Treat Box: spicy beef w/ sumac, parsley, and secret BTB sauce, wrapped in a Turkish wood-fired flatbread. Add a glass of their boozy-tart BTB koktel and it’s a treat indeed.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

After a visit to El Torito Supermercado, Ed made slow-braised pork shoulder w/ warm Nuevo Mexico chiles, cayenne build-up at the back, Mexican oregano, cumin, cloves, and honey to make a deep rich sauce. AND esquites (street corn) w/ finely-sliced serranos, cotija cheese, cilsntro, and tart crema.

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John Brase @johnbrase.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

We stopped to sample the wares of Marconi Mercato on The Hill in St. Louis. Beyond the bodega as you enter, there’s a lively bar with high-tops plus a more sedate dining room. Crispy-creamy arancini, a generous beet salad, and perfectly al dente tagliatelle with a porky ragù alla bolognese. Yum.

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