Boom Boom Boom Boom

Burlesque:

a literary, dramatic or musical work

intended to cause laughter...

I admit it.

I am a Lost Generation, Great Gatsby-esque addict.

The clothes, the lifestyle. Beautifully refined with a little dirt showing around the edges...

So when I heard about the Boom Boom Room here on the Coast of Illinois, it was pretty obvious where we would be going for our anniversary.

Washington Ave by instagram filter.

The Boom Boom Room, billed as a 1920's speakeasy with a modern twist, it sits on the corner of 14^th and St. Charles street. Just at the edge of the glitz that is Washington Avenue.

Red velvet curtains part as you enter...

Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway serenade as you are lead to your table...

If you let the management know you are celebrating an event you get balloons, fedoras and tiaras!

We chose the dinner and show package.

Our table – linen cloth covered – sat in a corner, slightly elevated which gave us a great view of the stage. Actually, there are no terrible seats. The stage sits center of the room and is surrounded by tables for two and four. There are larger tables slightly elevated on the outer edge, still within easy viewing of the show, although the table of eight next to us needed to turn slightly in their chairs.

The drink menu offers a handful of cocktails named for some of the performers. I chose the Vera Valentina, a slightly tart take on a cosmo. It was a nice way to start the evening.

The drink menu also has a variety of wines – red, white and sparkling. Most mixed drinks were $9-10 each as were the wines by the glass. Bottles are available as well.

Oh, and there is beer.

But come on...a drink named Lolita Love or a beer???

Dinner is served in four courses.

A nice mixed green salad started. Nothing fancy to look at but the vinaigrette was spicy and delicious.

Second course was salmon en papillote.

Oo la la...

A piece of salmon atop sliced zucchini roasted in parchment.

We are both fish lovers but weren't quite sure how a restaurant would get by serving a room full of diners all the same fish. In fact, a couple of women at the table next to our quietly voiced their hatred of fish, prior to the arrival of the plates. Not that I was spying but I don't believe I saw any plates left untouched.

The fish course was also served with a side of Lulu La Toosh...

Mademoiselle La Toosh, whose French accent was clearly from the south side...., introduced the Burlesque Bombshells -three women and one very attractive man- while belting out the opening number from Chicago. The only thing bigger than Lulu's voice are her boobs. But only by a tiny bit. She sang and joked and held the audience captive. Especially the very tall, handsome man sitting directly in front of her...

But anyway,

Third course was an unbelievably tender and tasty braised short ribs atop mashed potatoes, green beans and a side of dance... 

 The evening ended with a showstopping fire dance and dessert of what I can only describe as a stripped down S'More. 

 (Get it...stripped down...)

A smear of toasted marshmallow held the richest, creamiest square of chocolate fudge ganache with a crisp graham cracker base.

As the house lights came up, the dancers graciously posed for pictures and circulated through the room. 

Did I mention the very attractive man?...

We left pleasantly surprised at how delicious the meal was, how tastefully entertaining the show was and convinced that we would return...with our friends who were TOO CHICKEN to go with us!!

I mean, come on, this isn't Hollywood on the East side. There were no pasties until the dessert course...

Our waitress Coochy Capone.

 The Boom Boom Room is located at 500 North 14^th St in St. Louis.

They are open Wednesday-Saturday 6pm-1:30am with dinner shows on Friday and Saturday.

Dinner show tickets run $16-$23 for the show. Dinner is billed separately and averages around $50 per person, not adding in drinks. Seating for the dinner show begins at 7pm and the evening is over around 9:30.

There are also late night shows starting at 10pm, priced at $19-$23. 

We did hear a rumor that beginning on Mother's Day there would be a Sunday Brunch show...because nothing says I Love You Mom like a burlesque strip show and what I can only assume will be a buffet of deliciousness.

For more info go to their website: theboomboomroomstl.com

(As always, I must disclose that this review is purely my opinion and was not sponsored by anyone.)

 I had hoped to get pictures of all the performers but on review most were just to fuzzy to use. You will have to take my word for it, they were all fantastic!

Dinner, Deck, Disclosure...

Well, today's post was suppose to be about the first Deck Dinner of Spring.

And while I was actually home in time to fix a quick dinner and it was still light enough to enjoy the outside, it was so windy that you would have thought I was in the ocean on a boat trying to learn a new skill, but really only succeeding in throwing up over the side.*

(Rob has informed me that, should I manage to vomit on this years vacation I will have, in fact, created the Regurgitation equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle. He is thoughtful that way. I do not think the map with push pins and yarn boundaries is necessary.)

But back to the letter D.

Work night dinners are pretty hit or miss around here, as I am sure they are in most working households. Still, when I do fix my dinner I like it to be warm, tasty and look nice.

I have taken a lot of grief over the years from certain family members for having the ability to make even a grilled cheese sandwich look appealing.

Presentation, People.

For my preempted dinner I fixed my new favorite fancy food – Louisa's Ravioli.**

Boiled, mushroom and cheese tossed in a butter and garlic sauce – 10 minutes.

And

Toasted, meat stuffed with a red sauce to dip – 15 minutes.

That's right. Toasted. The East Coast may have lobster rolls and the West Coast may have...California Rolls. Chicago has steaks. New Orleans has gumbo. But here in the Midwest we have deep fryers.

We tossed some leftover roasted veggies and olives on the side.

And ate in the kitchen, looking out over the deck.

Speaking of Deck...

(That alphabet challenge, which I am feeling pretty psyched about at present, Day two and all)

I, and by 'I' I mean Rob, drug my palm trees out onto the deck over the weekend, mostly because the weatherman promised mild temps but also because Robert Palm tree and Alicia Trees were both looking faint. They manage pretty good through the winter but beginning to droop when April hits, desiring nothing more than a peaceful sunny afternoon on the deck with a magazine and a boat drink.

          (Robert Palm Tree)

Of course, the weatherman reneged and last nights temps got dangerously into the artic circle so both trees got the beach towels around the base treatment. I am pretty sure I heard Robert Palm Tree scratching at our bedroom window, begging to be let back in.

             (Alicia Trees)

Stick around until 'P' and we will all see how this palm tree saga shakes out.

*Click here: http://www.coastofillinois.com/2015/02/the-first-rule-of-sailing-school.html

or here: http://www.coastofillinois.com/2016/01/well-played-neptunewell-played.html

**We are very lucky, here on the Coast of Illinois, to have a strong Italian background with the delicious restaurants and foods to support that claim. Louisa's is a local company and her ravioli is the best, in my opinion. As always, NOT a paid opinion.

Yum!