Welcome to this edition of Dimanche (That Means Sunday), a roundup of things that caught my eye this past week.

This week went by quickly, partly because I was working so much. I’ve been doing more freelancing and it’s been hectic but good. I like talking to chefs and restaurateurs about what they’re doing in the St. Louis food scene and how they see it evolving.

I also had a chance to meet up with a couple friends, so that was good. On Wednesday I saw my friend Lynn from Edelbrand Pure Distilling. It was nice to catch up with her and get her perspective on recent life events.

I also saw my aunt yesterday, which was fun. We spent yesterday afternoon in Webster Groves, a quaint suburb of St. Louis, and discovered the cutest coffee shop/garden/greenhouse of all time (more on that later).

Tonight I’m going to see my best friend Rachel. She’s visiting St. Louis for the week and I’m going to take her to one of my favorite restaurants and ice cream shops. Most of my weekend has involved four-hour food crawls through different parts of town, and I’m okay with that.

I guess all this is to say, if you’re going through a hard time and you need an extra boost, it’s important to reach out to the people you love. It can feel like the last thing you want to do (trust me), but in the end it’s so important. I feel waaay better after spending time with Lynn and my aunt, and a little more optimistic that things will be okay.

Next weekend I’m headed to Kansas City. I can’t wait to stop by one of my favorite restaurants, The Antler Room, and explore more of the city’s food scene. Stay tuned for a Kansas City restaurant and dining blog post.

Without further ado, here is Dimanche:

As I mentioned earlier, Maypop Coffee & Garden Shop is the cutest place ever. I discovered it a couple months ago when I read an article about a new coffee shop opening in Webster Groves. I didn’t pay close attention though so I didn’t realize that Maypop has a garden and greenhouse in the backyard. I’d highly recommend stopping by if you’re in or near Webster Groves. 

In case you missed it, I rounded up some of the best places to get frozen desserts in St. Louis. It’s crucial information this time of year when temperatures skyrocket and the humidity makes it feel like you’re walking around in a swimming pool. You can check out my list in my St. Louis Magazine story.

How am I just discovering Brother Nature? My sister sent me a few of his tweets last week and I was floored. I didn’t think anyone existed who loves deer as much as I do. This tweet is one of my favorites.

Balkan Treat Box is opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant and I could not be more excited. The popular food truck will be putting down roots in Webster Groves this fall. I can’t wait to stop by and try my old favorites in a new setting. Read more about the new restaurant in my St. Louis Magazine article.

I’m *slightly* obsessed with Prioritized Pastries. I’ve been stopping by their stand at the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market for a couple years but I’ve never had anything as good as the muffin I tried yesterday. It had raspberry and mint and it was soft, moist, and flavorful (I hate the word moist, but it describes this muffin so well). If you want a quick, delicious breakfast, I’d highly recommend stopping by the market and getting one of their pastries. 

“No Passport Required” is quickly becoming one of my favorite TV shows. I just watched the Miami episode and it was so fascinating. It looks at the Haitian immigrant community and how they’ve brought their food traditions to the city. I want to visit Miami now and try some of their food. I also want to explore more of the city’s flourishing art scene.

Last but certainly not least, I was very saddened to hear about the death of Joël Robuchon. The iconic French chef has mentored many up-and-coming cooks, including Nathaniel Reid, a pastry chef who has a thriving bakery in St. Louis. I just read about Robuchon in Éric Ripert’s memoir, “32 Yolks,” so hearing about his death was extra jarring. He leaves a rich legacy. Read more about Robuchon in this CNN story.

Have a good week! Here’s a song to get you started.