Meet CWEnder Carol Kyser, self-appointed foodie at Straub’s

I can’t imagine there is anyone who has walked into the CWE Straub’s over the past couple of years who hasn’t wound up in a conversation with Carol Kyser while checking out.  Carol moved here reluctantly from Omaha a few years ago, and in a short time she has become a big supporter of everything St. Louis and the CWE. In addition, she serves on the development committee for Lift for Life and has volunteered at the Missouri History Museum. Since she started working at Straub’s, she has become the store’s roving ambassador.

Carol and her husband Eric have also lived in Chicago where she worked in corporate sales, and took a course at the French Pastry School. She says she passed, but it was a difficult course and as she said, “Let’s put it this way, but I’m an American baker.” When Eric took a job with Land’s End they moved to Mineral Point, Wisconsin (pop. 2,400). They purchased a property called the Cothren House, which consists of 4 buildings (including a cabin that dated from 1820) situated on 3 acres. The Kysers started a B & B there and also operated an antiques store in one of the historic structures.

Carol managed the B & B and had two favorite breakfasts she would serve guests. One was Stuffed French Toast with a Warm Orange Apricot Sauce, and the other was Gas Station Casserole. The casserole got its name from the fact that the nearest grocery store was 45 minutes away, so everything she needed to prepare the dish had to be found at the nearby Quick Trip. Here’s the easy recipe for carols-stuffed-french-toast.  All the ingredients can be found at Straub’s of course.

The conversation about doing this post started in the checkout line one day recently when Carol asked if I had ever tried Straub’s donuts, which are baked in-house. She said that people stop in especially for them, and advised that one grab the sour cream cake donuts or Butter Rum Muffins, $.99, “which are to die for” early, as they are snapped up fast. One thing led to another and I toured the store with Carol the other day, taking notes and photographs which I want to share with you.

Here then, just in time for the holidays, are more of Carol’s picks:

The partially-baked Village Pie Maker Pies, shown at the top of the photo, are made in a small town outside Omaha, $12.99. The smaller Cyrus O’Leary’s cream pies with graham cracker crust are $2.99 each. I brought the Pumpkin Cream Pie, lower right, home to try (let’s call it research). It was really good and served two generously.

The Kentucky Woods Bourbon Barrel Cake is hugely popular and will serve a large number of guests, $29.99. It keeps a long time too. George Deckel Sour Mash Whiskey, on sale for $41.99, upper left, comes from a barrel Straub’s purchased exclusively for its four locations.

Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Nog, which is made with real dairy cream and contains whiskey, is another popular item during the holidays.

From left, you’ll find Junior League Cinnamon Rolls in the freezer case, $14, and several types of rotisserie turkey breast in the deli case, $13.99 to $16.99 per pound. In the cheese case Carol pointed out a selection of Justo Baked Cheese, $7.99, which comes from a Wisconsin town near the Kysers former B & B. Melt the cheese and serve with crackers for an easy appetizer.  The dairy case contains 1 pt. bottles of rich Rolling Lawns Organic Milk, $1.79, right, which Carol wishes the store stocked in larger sizes.

Italian-style Stuffed Peppers and oven-ready meatloaf pass Carol’s taste test with flying colors. She pointed to the shrimp & crab lasagna, which is a new item for Straub’s, and duck bacon, $12.99, not pictured, which has less fat than regular bacon and which she is eager to try. Both are in the case across from the meat department.

In the deli department, store-made Classic Shepherd’s Pie and a couple of varieties of quiche, pictured above, $10.99, are high on Carol’s favorites list. In the same department, you’ll find customer favorites Cowboy Caviar, broccoli salad and both quinoa rice and wild rice salads.

While we were looking in the frozen food case, we spotted a variety of Callie’s Biscuits from Charleston, which I’ll have to try soon.

Though Carol has heard wonderful things from a customer about an expensive olive oil, Laudemio Extra Virgin (with running man on box), on sale for $34.99, she hasn’t tried it herself. I have used it to dress salads or top a finished dish, and it’s really luxurious. It would make a welcomed gift for someone who loves to cook.

Crazy as it sounds, I am one of those people who likes to grocery shop almost every day. Since I usually go with list in hand, I don’t wander around looking for new things to try. Carol’s picks have opened my eyes to many items I’ve missed. I hope you too will discover some new things at Straub’s, and that they make your holiday entertaining a little easier.

Straub’s, 302 N. Kingshighway Blvd., (314) 361-6646.