We had the good fortune of connecting with Nate Burrows and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nate, how do you think about risk?
I think we all are afraid of life to a certain degree, our whole culture is catered to the idea of being comfortable – and I think the real fun in life is seeing what life is like out of whatever subjective blanket we’ve tucked ourselves away in. That being said I’m not fucking Bear Gryls, I don’t mean this in the sense that I’m looking for cliffs to hang glide off of or any shit like that. I guess after thinking about this question is that the risks I’ve taken from things I’ve fantasized about have taken me on a strong current to a bunch of new lifestyles, friends, and outlooks – and that’s fucking cool!

What should our readers know about your business?
with my Cousin Brent Petty and wife Kristen “Stew” Leahy I own a restaurant called “Stews Food & Liquor” which specializes in good ass food, cocktails, and free morale boosts.

It was not easy and still isn’t, I think thats a big misconception in running something in hospitality – they don’t just give you a key with a fully stocked place and tell you to open your doors. There’s all sorts of licensing, design, and personal creativity you have to put into it. You really have to love it, so far its been an amazing experience (check back with me in a year when I’m committed to an asylum babbling about the best way to make a manhattan).

I’ve learned that a lot of my personal happiness comes from the nuance of day to day challenges, even re writing a menu leads to some new form of learning or attention that I don’t realizes pays off the my experiences.

to the world: nothing needs to be laminated to be recognized as “fine dining” or “top shelf” thats all a fucking mind game. The best stuff comes from genuine expression and perfected basics, be grounded.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My friends are all boozers, so heres prob the plan:

I live in a part of town where people drive golf carts called Soulard – it’s like a theme park for alcoholics, so we’d golf cart to:

morning:

Southwest Diner – amazing New Mexican style breakfast spot that does incredible everything, since its a day filled with drinking we’d get two breakfast burritos christmas style (green and red sauce) with a side of cornmeal tots smothered in spicy carne adovada

NEXT:

we got full stomachs so were good for awhile – we go to the Casino Queen for generic ass bloody marys with loaded salt rims and put in some prop bets on whatever sports are going on that day. In St Louis sports gambling is illegal so you have to go to this goofy casino that rests on the border or downtown and Illinois.

NEXT

we cart over to the mural mile: a long stretch of wall lining abandoned train tracks where some of the countries best graffiti artists come and do work at, its incredible, such a cool little hidden piece of the town.

NEXT

we cart over to Venice Cafe and watch some live music, they got this incredible beer garden thats decorated with every toy you can imagine, its creepy but in the most charming way (if that makes sense?) but also just a spot thats loaded with character and great staff.

NEXT

at this point were probably hungry again so we cart over to Jack Nolans for a double smash cheeseburger where the patties are made with brisket, short rib, and chuck blend. Its the best burger in the city and also has an incredible patio and staff.

after this it’d be a blur, but we’d for sure catch the St Louis City soccer game in the new stadium, during games no one sits down – its balls to the wall the whole time and some of the most fun I’ve had watching sports (maybe if the Bears didn’t suck this opinion would be different)

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family and their work ethic, Viktor Frankl (author), the company that surrounds me, and my Uncle Dan.

Website: https://www.stewsstl.com

Instagram: nateburrows2424 or stews_stl

Twitter: nateburrows2

Facebook: nate burrows

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/stews-food-and-liquor-st-louis

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD8_6y-9sdU&t=2s

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