Central West End Summer Stunner @ Central Table and Bar Paradigm

Such a fun and great event put on by Aaron and Unilocal.Really a lovely and fun evening! The $ 10 donation went to a great cause and all the food and drinks were tasty.
The picture booth was a hit!

What a delightful event for my first visit to Central Table! My friends and I arrived early, posted a picture to Twitter, and earned movie passes. What a win so early in the evening! All the food was good and so were the drinks. It’s always good to have Park Avenue’s gooey butter cake. We were sad that Evangeline’s was out of bananas foster by the time we made our way there, but I guess we’ll have to check out their restaurant now. Central Table is a big place, so I am impressed that the the event still had an intimate feel.

Bar service by Sasha and Josh was great. They were fast and friendly. The drinks they make are always perfect, made to order, and seem to be one-​of-​a-​kind.
The small bites at the event were great. I especially enjoyed the red beans and rice by Evangeline’s Bistro. Their presentation of the banana’s foster was beautiful– cinnamon and 151 on fire!
Aaron throws the best events for Unilocalers!

This was a fun public event and it was a great opportunity to meet new people, and finally check out a place in the CWE that I have wanted to visit for a while now. I really liked the London Vodka cocktail, and those girls were very nice and friendly. The food choices were varied, and plentiful. I was a little disappointed in what tapas they had brought out, but the Cajun did not dissapoint. My favorite though since I am a fat kid was the cookies! I probably had about a dozen over the course of the night. I loved the classic music in the background too. All in all, a great evening. Thanks Aaron, Aimee, and Unilocal for putting this together!

.What an awesome way to spend an evening, Aaron really hit a home run with this event. Dress code was cocktail attire, and the Unilocalers put on their best outfit for a fun evening. Central Table was the perfect venue for such a large gathering of Unilocalers. Light bites were provided by a number of restaurants, however I have to admit that the Strip Steak from Central Table was the best, it was perfectly cooked and just delicious! Other items included bananas foster & red beans and rice, from Evangeline’s Bistro, while Park Avenue Coffee was serving up some of their delicious Gooey Butter cakes! I will admit that during peak times the bar managed to get a little hectic, especially when only certain stations were serving specific drinks. I stayed away from this crowd, and opted for the wine which was delicious I even took home two bottles. Entertainment was provided by a band, which provided some excellent background music adding to the amazing atmosphere of Central Table. Parking was super easy and located directly behind Central Table, and best of all parking was complimentary with free validation by Central Table.
The real highlight of the evening was the great company we were with, it was so nice seeing many new and old Unilocalers alike. I managed to converse with several friends over cocktails and even make new acquaintances and Unilocal friends. It seemed that
took advantage of this event and encouraged a number of their members to create Unilocal profiles and joined us during the event, hopefully many of those new members will be future Unilocalers! Overall Aaron delivered an amazing evening which helped out Children’s Hospital with our donations! Kudos to Aaron for a great evening.

I am always excited for the 1 or 2 big parties a year that Unilocal has and this summer stunner did not disappoint.
I am Elite so of course I took advantage of the hour before hand that Elites could have and I’m glad I did because by the time many of the other Unilocalers arrived, there wasn’t much left.
I donned my cocktail attire and my guests and I arrived at Central Table ready to party. We were greeted by Aaron and the lovely Aimee as we got our mustaches and left our donation for Children’s Hospital.
The bartender introduced us to the drinks of the night and the cocktails (one was made with an egg white, wasn’t too sure about that but it was good) were right on target. My husband and other friend were huge fans of the beers on tap.
The food was plentiful but some places did run out faster than you’d think. I’m a picky eater and events like these make me go outside my comfort zone and try foods I probably wouldn’t otherwise. My favorites were the crawfish on toast and gumbo from Evangeline’s; the pizza from Central Table, the desserts from White Box Eatery, the cookies from Hot Box Cookies and the ice cream bon bon pops from Serendipity.
There was a photobooth, which was fun, but the timing was off on each one we did so we got some very random pictures.
Thank you to Aaron who did a great job yet again with another great event.

I had a wonderful time at the Central West End Summer Stunner. This event is a wonderful showcase of what St. Louis has to offer for food and drink. I absolutely loved the live music, free mustaches, drinks, coupons for free cookies and the coffee sample from Kaldi’s Coffee! The Sushi was outstanding! This was a great opportunity to get to know other Unilocalers. I loved being able to get dressed up and rub elbows with my friends :)The valet was really nice.

The CWE Summer Stunner was amazing! Great new, hip location with amazing, slightly crazy bartenders who do awesome science geeky stuff! The selections of small bites were fantastic… love Hot Box cookies and I am so thrilled that they opened a location in STL! Can’t wait for the next event

Great selection of drinks, food, and desserts from local eateries! Thanks, Aaron.

What a great event! I’m so glad I made the list! (Even though they never asked for my name at check-​in.)
It was my first Unilocal-​sponsored event and I was thoroughly impressed! The food selection, the drinks, the new facial hair I acquired — all so easy! There weren’t long lines at the food stations (disclaimer: I did get to the event right as it opened) and the bartenders were friendly (aka mind-​readers).
The venue was a great space for this type of event — spacious and inviting. Thinking of trying out Central Table for dinner soon.
And parking was very easy in the garage, validation much appreciated.

At first, I was like «Wait…cocktail attire? This may be a bit stuffy…» But then I was like «Wait…free mustaches? This may be a party…»
Pro: Great event! When you gather a bunch of Unilocalers who take their food & drink seriously, then add great drinks served by awesome bartenders, and finish it with live music and mustaches, how could this not be fun?!? More than worth the meager $ 10 donation, this party was simply a blast… maybe even the social event of the season!
Con: It ended too soon.
Bottom Line: Did you miss it? Shame on you! My first Unilocal event is now the standard by which I judge the many subsequent ones I’ll be attending…

I always look forward to this big Unilocal party every year and this year’s Summer Stunner did not disappoint! I definitely took advantage of the Elite hour and had a chance to sample some yummies that disappeared very quickly.
I discovered that one of the new masterminds behind Bar Paradigm is no other than Sasha, formerly of Element. Their cocktails are certainly ones I could down one after another if I didn’t have half a brain to rein myself in.
Modesto’s tapas selections, especially the tortilla espanola (Spanish omelet with potato & onion) was one of my favorite small bites offered. The crawfish on toast from Evangeline’s, homemade sausage from Central Table, and ice cream bon bon pops from Serendipity were some of my other favorites of the night. Hartford Coffee served a delightful honey almond milk coffee, and the California roll from the sushi bar was a nice fresh take on a classic.
Thanks very much to Aaron who did a wonderful job setting up this event, and many thanks to Central Table and Bar Paradigm and all of the vendors (and the photobooth gal!) for putting on a spectacular event that left my belly happy and eager to return to eat more :)

This was one of the better Unilocal events I have attended. I really liked being able to try samples from a variety of restaurants. My favorites were Evangeline’s, London Vodka, and White Box. The venue is also very spacious and open. I have not patronized Central Table before but I really like their layout.
It was great having an Elite hour before the place was open to all Unilocalers. This really allowed me to try everything at my own pace.
Parking was easy at the garage.
This was a great event with all the wonderful food, drinks, and fellow Unilocalers. Thanks for organizing it, Aaron B.

Fantastic evening with a fantastic group of Unilocalers! What a good looking crowd. It seemed everyone took the opportunity to dress up for this event which was a nice touch.
This was definitely a classy event. You were greeted at the door with your amazing CM Aaron and regional CM Aimee! Everyone was greeted with a mustache. There was live music and at least 3 different areas for drinks. The restaurant is vast yet comfortable with room to roam around and mingle. I think I saw all the usual Unilocalers and then some. It seemed like there were tons of new Unilocalers. I heard rumors that Meet Up was in attendance too!
You really had to explore to find all the goodies to eat. There were samples from numerous restaurants and stores including Kaldi’s, Serendipity, Hiro Asian Cuisine, Evangeline’s, Hot Box Cookies, and Park Avenue Coffee.
Of course I had a little bit of everything. My favorite though was the Sushi from Central Table. A close second was the Crawfish etoufee from Evangeline’s. Next was the beet humus from Hiro Asian! What a great twist on humus.
Events like these allow you to hear and taste what other restaurants in the area offer. It worked for me as Evangeline’s and Hiro will be on my short list to visit next!
Thanks again Aaron. I don’t get out to many events but this was worth the effort!

I not only drank like royalty, while sipping on my cocktails made with London Vodka. I enjoyed them while drinking and munching with; Dukes, Duchesses, Barons, Baronesses and other Elites filling the room. I even enjoyed mingling with some commoners and making new friends at the Summer Stunner.
The star of the evening for me, was London Vodka. I have always favored Tito’s Vodka, but I do believe London may not only have me drinking like royalty, it may have become my new BVF (Best Vodka Forever). The two young ladies working that booth, truly sold me and they were shaking up some tasty cocktails.
I felt bad for those who missed out on the treats from Modesto. They ran out of their food items during the Elite Hour. Those Elite, knew a good thing when they bite into it. However, there was plenty of other goodies to choose from as we chatted and sipped cocktails. For my personal taste, I found the sweet treats to outnumber the savory and I prefer savory.
Planning and coordinating events of this caliber are no easy feat. So I give a big hearty congratulations to Aaron, our Community Manager and all of those who assisted him in making this event a success. I can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeve for out next BIG event.
To my fellow Unilocalers, SYOY and always remember to tip your bartenders and valet parkers.
When: September 17, 2015
Why: Unilocal Event

Food, people, music-​need I say more? The vibe was so great! All the food was wonderful. The pizza was particularly amazing as was the sushi. The Banana fosters put on a good show from Evangeline’s. The bartenders were both great, especially Sasha. Park Avenue’s Gooey Butter Cake was amazing as ever and Serendipity’s ice cream pops certainly didn’t disappoint.

My friends know that I always give high marks to Unilocal-​sponsored events. I don’t kiss up to earn favors. But I do believe that these experiences are rare privileges. Where else can you so easily try out new venues, sample many local foods and services, meet new people who are interested in the same, and do these things for less than you’d pay for dinner at a chain restaurant?
John H.‘s thoughts on the Summer Stunner:
*ENTRY was granted at the proper hour, with friendly greetings from Aimee K. and Aaron B. Wristbands, parking validation, charity donation, all were prompt and painless.
*MUSTACHE PAINTING (by Jessica Dana, I think) was well done, I’m sure this must be a small gig for her compared to real theater or wedding makeup, but she was pleasant and patient. Therese H. was first in line. I should have read up on celebrity mustaches or something, but Jessica had a mustache chart, and did a fine job of matching mustache to my face. It’s amazing to see how something this simple breaks down barriers to conversation, so I guess it’s a good thing for a party.
*BIG SMILE PHOTO BOOTH was fast, and there were lots of props. The business card says «10 second prints,» and I believe it. Lines can be long at a wedding reception photo booth, but w/​BSPB, I never saw more than a few folks waiting. Therese H. liked the props so much, she had to do it twice.
*DRINKS:
I really liked the Matcha Mint Lemonade from KALDI’S COFFEE (house-​made matcha-​and-​mint syrup, shaken w/​lemon juice, and served over ice) The lemon drink with elderberry something from LONDON VODKA was good, and the Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir) and Frizzante Secco imported by TAVOLO VIGNETO were good enough we bought a bottle of each.
*FOOD:
CENTRAL TABLE staff did an awesome job of putting out approximately six small plates: sushi, sausage, beef, pasta, pizza, and a little heirloom tomato salad with what I think was called a nitrogen-​frozen Mozzarella. I know it was their place, their kitchen, and their staff. Still, they did it right. The dishes were interesting, well-​presented, introduced by staff to anyone who asked a question, and the food didn’t run out.
EVANGELINE’S had a bananas foster, always visually impressive, but kind of scary to watch people carrying around their tin pan before the flame was extinguished.
HIRO had a beets-​and-​chickpea hummus that Therese really liked.
MODESTO had three tasty appetizers, which I believe were all gone by the time the Elite pre-​party was over.
I think PARK AVENUE COFFEE missed an opportunity to pour some coffee drinks or show off some beans. The little dessert samples were ok, but it’s the coffee that will draw me there.
In contrast, KALDI’S had some drinks, I got to learn about cold-​brewed coffee, and the two staff members for Kaldi’s were — other than the CENTRAL TABLE staff — the most enthusiastic and informative I encountered.
*JESSI FLORI PHOTOGRAPHY. She was roaming for a long time, with a relaxed smile. I bet she shoots a lot of parties/​events. We avoided all but one candid photo. Hah!
SERVICE: Early in the evening, I couldn’t tell whether the wait staff roaming the floor wanted to serve me something or pick up empty glasses and plates. By late in the evening, they seemed much more up to speed. Thanks to the server — whose name I didn’t catch over the music — who made the extra effort to get us refills while we were listening to the KEVIN MITCHELL TRIO. Good music, and am glad people finally drifted in their direction to listen.
*RANDOM THOUGHT: Name tags would be good for all these events. We met friends old and new, but my memory would be greatly enhanced with an image of the name.
*PARKING was super easy, which is a big deal for a natural suburbanite like me. Pulled into the BJC garage from Laclede, parked toward the east end of the garage, and we had a two-​minute walk to Central Table. Validation at BJC garages takes the form of a follow-​up ticket. Upon exit, you put in your original parking ticket (face up, arrow forward), then, when the price pops up on the screen, put in your follow-​up payment ticket (face up, arrow forward). Again, super easy, at least it is at night when the garage is not too crowded.
THANK YOU, Aaron, Aimee, Unilocal crew, and Central Table, for a fun summer stunner.

At the end of the day, these events are really all about the people for me. I am an extrovert and the opportunity to spend an evening interacting with folks who share my interest and enthusiasm for trying different restaurants is just about all it takes for me to have fun. Thus, Unilocal events are a nearly perfect way to spend an evening.
As for the food… this was certainly one of the better events in recent memory! Great assortment of goodies to prey on from a nice assortment of restaurants.
My favorite bite of the night was easily the crawfish étouffée from Evangeline’s…right up until Central Table started dishing out their NY Strip. What an amazing bite! Perfectly med-​rare and served atop a purée of white asparagus. Add in about 3 drops of red wine reduction and top with a scant dollop of a marrow concoction and it is readily apparent how this dish can command a $ 38 price when served in the restaurant. Everything about that one bite displayed pure craftsmanship on the part of the chef!
Thanks Aaron for putting on the event and also Aimee for just being Aimee. Truly a woman who lights up any room!

Aaron B created a great event.
Dress code forced me to actually put on a dress shirt, slacks & nice shoes. I was thinking of the song «putting on the Ritz».
Folly was added with the optional drawn or taped on mustache once I was met by Aaron B at the door.
Central Table was a very nice & large venue. They also offered some of the best food. The steak, sausage & sushi tastings were all phenomenal. They also offered many beverages including Goose Island IPA.
Entertainment was a band, photo booth & other Unilocalers.
Food was great & plentiful early.
Drinks were excellent.
However, I could only try so many desserts. The ones I tried were too good to only waste.
Congrats Aaron B on pulling off such a large event!

5 star event at a 5 star establishment with 5 star service filled with 5 star Unilocalers!
Far exceeds the nominal $ 10 donation requested, which goes to a worthy cause by the way. What you’ll get or missed if you decided to pass…
Live jazz band
Wine tasting
Face painting
Modesto’s amazing tapas selections
Evangeline’s blazing banana foster
Oxidized Rum & Coke concoction
Hot Box Cookies
Hiro’s delicious beer hummus
London Vodka
Serendipity Bön Bön pops
Park Ave Coffee’s world class gooey butter cake
Whitebox Eatery pastries
Tons of giveaways
And me…