On this week’s episode of The Sauce, host Lauren Healey sits down with Andrew Cisneros, chef-owner of Jalea Peruvian Bistro in St. Charles and Brasas on the Delmar Loop.

Andrew shares how opening a restaurant during the pandemic became the unexpected launch point for Jalea, how Brasas came to life as a rotisserie-focused concept, and why Peruvian food traditions are at the heart of everything he cooks.

In this episode:

• Opening Jalea Peruvian Bistro during the pandemic and why it felt like now or never
• The evolution from a cevicheria to a broader Peruvian menu
• Brasas, rotisserie chicken, and finding the right space on Delmar
• The sauces everyone loves, including aji verde, rocoto, and huancaína
• The story behind the papa rellena and why it disappeared and came back better
• Growing up Peruvian in St. Louis and learning to cook from family
• Working under Chef Pierre at The St. Louis Club
• Consulting projects around town and launching Street Food by Brasas

Plus:

• Favorite local spots Andrew loves to eat at
• Staying hands-on in the kitchen
• Travel, Peru, and plans to return

🎧 Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major platforms.
📅 New episodes of The Sauce drop every Tuesday.

🌿 Presented by SWADE Dispensary, with 11 Missouri locations, and LHM, which has several properties around St. Louis, including Union Station and Westport Plaza.

On this week’s episode of The Sauce, host Lauren Healey is joined by Alec Schingel, executive chef and owner of Robin Restaurant in Maplewood.

Alec shares his journey from growing up in the Midwest to cooking in St. Louis, Charleston, Belgium, and New York, before returning home to open Robin. He talks about how European neighborhood restaurants, Midwest heritage, and intentional hospitality all shape the restaurant’s identity.

In this episode:

• Alec’s path through Vicia, Winslow’s Table, and pop-ups that led to opening Robin
• What “comfort fine dining” means and how Robin fits into its own category
• The story behind the mushroom hot dish and Midwest-inspired cooking
• How a visit from Eric Asimov and The New York Times changed everything overnight
• Why intentionality matters more than perfection in hospitality
• Building a restaurant designed to age well, not chase trends

Plus:

• European influences behind Robin’s four-course prix fixe format
• The meaning behind the restaurant’s name
• Favorite St. Louis spots Alec loves to eat and drink

www.robinrestaurant.com

🎧 Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and all major platforms.
📅 New episodes of The Sauce drop every Tuesday.

🌿 The Sauce is presented by Swade, with 11 Missouri locations, and LHM, which has several properties around St. Louis, including Union Station and Westport Plaza.

This week on The Sauce, Lauren sits down with Joe Edwards, the St. Louis icon behind many of the Delmar Loop’s most beloved landmarks, including Blueberry Hill, The Pageant, Delmar Hall, Pin-Up Bowl, The Moonrise Hotel, and Magic Mini Golf.

Joe takes us back to 1972, when he opened Blueberry Hill during a time when the area had fallen on hard times, and explains how the Loop evolved from a 1930s shopping district into one of the most recognizable destinations in St. Louis, now named one of the “10 Great Streets in America” by the American Planning Association.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The origin of Blueberry Hill and the famous jukebox that earned international recognition
• Joe’s friendship with Chuck Berry and his 209 shows in the Duck Room
• How the Loop became a live music ecosystem, from 340-capacity rooms to 2,000-capacity venues
• Why musicians love playing the Loop, plus what makes Pageant catering a standout
• The story behind The Moonrise Hotel, the rotating moon, and St. Louis’ early rooftop bar scene
• The purpose of the St. Louis Walk of Fame, and famous inductees you might not realize are from STL
• The Loop trolley, how it works, and why it’s a perfect “park once” weekend plan
• What’s next for the Loop, including new development bringing more residents to the district
• Joe’s philosophy for hospitality, building places that make people smile

The Sauce is presented by LHM, featuring holiday pop ups at 360 Downtown and 360 Westport, plus festive experiences at Union Station including the Polar Express Train Ride and the Train Shed transformed into the “Sleigh Shed.”