Country Grammar “My time in St Louis represents my first step in self exploration. It was the first time being in an unfamiliar city that was thousands of miles away from home and my family. Because I was in an unfamiliar place, I looked for things that brought me joy and comfort. Quickly I learned that my true joys in life were food and dancing. Before Yelp was a thing, my friends and I found “must eat” places by word of mouth. This led me to the iconic toasted raviolis on The Hill, root beer floats at Fitz’s at the Loop and my fave of all, Ted Drewes frozen custards. Exploring the city through my stomach was exhilarating. The food was so different from LA but in an exciting way. It opened my world to different flavors and dishes. I was even taken with the way food was served. Southern hospitality was absolutely real and I loved the experience of dining somewhere and feeling cared for like a family member. Being immersed in St Louis influenced how I make and serve food today. I still use flavors as inspiration and the hospitality I try recreate to leave the same lasting impression that I felt years ago.” - @laroolou Preorder @laroolou x @openmarket.la dinner set for 2. Link in bio. Dinner drop 11/17. 📷: @bao__bq