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Dining Divas: Vin de Set
BY LISA KAMPETER
For over a year, the Dining Divas have been anxious to find out what all the hype is about with Vin de Set. This bar and bistro set on the rooftop of a historical building has views of downtown and the Lafayette Square neighborhood and has a nice combination of French cuisine with an American twist. It took over a year to get a reservation for a group of our size for the outside dining. And several of us are still wondering what all the hype is about.
Timing and weather have been the issue for us. I always waited too late to get the reservations and couldn’t get us in, or the weather was too hot or too cold. Not this October. I planned ahead, and the weather was cooperating.
Vin de Set is located at 2017 Choteau, (vin de set means 2017) just down the street from Eleven Eleven Mississippi, another Diva favorite and owned by the same couple. The Walker-Wheeling Diva with a broken pelvis was pleased to discover the excellent accommodations for her trek inside. Right at the main entrance, there’s an elevator that took her all the way to the top.
Once on the rooftop, we were immediately disappointed when we discovered we were not going to be seated outside. “Outside heaters” were being installed in the next day or two; therefore, outside dining was not being allowed for this evening (although there were a group of women out there enjoying wine.)
Disappointed as we were, I was not surprised. When the restaurant called to confirm my reservations the day before, and I confirmed outside dining, the hostess was very quick to say “weather permitting”. I guess 70 degree days and 60 degree nights is considered inappropriate for outside dining according to Vin de Set. It’s considered perfect weather by the Dining Divas. We couldn’t believe we’d waited this long to go to this restaurant and enjoy the views, and we’d still have to wait.
Initially, our waiter seemed to be on a schedule, eager to rush us along. He didn’t seem thrilled to listen to our stories of the Broken Pelvis Diva and her Queen Bee attitude. He wasn’t too enthusiastic in playing along with the Deep Thought Diva who never wants to pay her bill. Eventually, he warmed up to us and didn’t make us feel like we were being pushed out the door.
The Greek Diva always enjoys sharing a holiday treat with the group, and being a teacher, the majority of her surprises come in the form of writing utensils, this time ghosts and pumpkin pens that light up when you write. Just like a child, the Deep Thought Diva had to try everyone out before she picked the perfect one.
This night the group was bleeding blue as the Bluenote Diva overtook most of the conversation. Standing on mounds of boxes of tee-shirts “two stories high” (slight exaggeration), running up and down broken escalators carrying loads of Blues team calendars, and escorting an ice carver with a chainsaw through a crowd of lively fans were just a few of her St. Louis Blues “opening night” responsibilities. Whatever it takes to make the fans happy.
In all fairness, half of the Divas loved the restaurant; the other half were indifferent. The Italian Diva was sad she agreed to share the baked brie with apricot and walnut chutney because it was so delicious. Another crowd pleaser was the wild mushroom & asparagus crepe with fresh herb hollandaise. The Rachel Ray Diva thought the spinach and artichoke beignets were horrible and flavorless and definitely too doughy. We even returned this one.
The Italian Diva loved the grilled pork tenderloin with port wine demi glace, mushrooms, brie, and spinach and parsnip gratin. She was surprised to learn that she even liked the parsnip which she had requested a substitution for, but our convincing waiter recommended she try it. The Rachel Ray Diva felt differently about the tenderloin. She probably has the keenest taste buds in the group and felt the dish was “pretentious and fussy.”
The Greek Diva thought the bacon wrapped monkfish was delicious, but she loves just about anything wrapped in bacon. Several in the group tried one of the specials, the chicken breast with a balsamic reduction over buttermilk mashed potatoes. We all agreed. We loved the potatoes, but the chicken was just chicken. Common is how the Deep Thought Diva referred to it.
As if we hadn’t eaten enough, we couldn’t pass on dessert. The pear crisp with homemade honey cinnamon ice cream was “super yummy”. The Picky Diva ordered the chocolate crème brulee. It came in a tea cup. In her opinion, the best part of the brulee is the caramelized top.
Although it was a split decision by the group as to returning, this Diva would surely like to try a rooftop cocktail fireside and really take in the views. Perhaps then I won’t concentrate on the commonness of my meal, and I’ll understand the hype. We always say, our Dining Divas outings aren’t about the food. It’s about the group and the friendships. And there’s nothing common about us!
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