Localism - Restaurant Review - Niche - Slow Roasted Pig's Head Anyone?

Chef Gerard Craft and the staff at Niche in the historic Benton Park neighborhood continue to garner a series of awards such as:

• Chef of the Year (Sauce Awards 2008)
• Favorite Overall Restaurant (Sauce Awards 2008)
• Best New Chefs (Food & Wine 2008)
• Best Local Chef (Riverfront Times 2007)

Chef Craft's success has garnered three articles in Food & Wine in 2008. Although the ambiance is spectacular, the reason why I love Niche is simply the deceptively simple, pork-oriented dishes served. On recent visits, I tried three exceptional items:

• Slow roasted pig's head with a green apple and lemon jus and a side of swiss chard with house viniagrette.
• Veal sweatbreads with butternut squash, popcorn foam, and a pomegranate and salted carmel glaze.
• Pork duo with maple braised pork shank and crispy pan seared pork belly with sweet potatoes and swiss chard.

The food presentation was excellent. The tastes were spectacular. I don't want to know exactly what I ate or how it was prepared. I am blissfully ignorant and happy to have enjoyed innovative cuisine in one of St. Louis' best restaurants located in one of St. Louis' great historic neighborhoods.

Niche, 1831 Sidney (Benton Park), 314-773-7755, NicheStLouis.com.

If you are interested in purchasing a home in Benton Park, Lafayette Square or the other great historic City neighborhoods, please contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or by e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.