The Amenities, If You Please

Cuisine in all the Historic Places

12-10/03:Mary Ann Schulte, Kevin O'Neill.

Kevin O'Neill, facility manager at the Chatillon-DeMenil house museum, talks with docent and Kirkwood resident Mary Ann Schulte, a retired social worker who enjoys volunteer work at the museum. Kevin lives in the Shaw neighborhood and has been involved in a number of architectural preservation projects. (People Productions photo by Clark Rowley)

As the park accents the man-made architectural charms, so the Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion functions as a touchstone for the historical heritage of the neighborhood.

According to Cheryl Forbes Ward, Executive Director of the house museum, the Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion has its origins in 1848 as a farm house built on the outer fringes of the St. Louis settlement. The initial construction and later modifications reflected the needs and tastes of people who were among the founders of St. Louis and the Village of Carondelet.

"The extensive remodeling of the original farm house and the creation of the present day Greek Revival mansion was accomplished between 1861 and 1863. It is unusual to have such substantial projects undertaken during a time of war and widespread uncertainty," Cheryl says. Another point of interest, she reports, is that "there had been a bend in the Mississippi, since engineered out, which brought the river closer to the front of the house. Steamboat pilots called it Chatillon's Bend."

Historical and heritage issues aside, Cafe DeMenil, nestled in outbuildings alongside the Greek Revival mansion, and next door the Lemp Mansion Restaurant and Inn offer sophisticated dining experiences in a historical setting.

Showing off their uniforms and swell headgear, Cafe DeMenil stalwarts include, left to right, Daniel J. Belmont Jr., David Stroman and Pat Belmont. (People Productions photo by Clark Rowley)

Daniel J. Belmont Jr, son of restaurant veterans Dan and Pat Belmont, explains that "my parents specialize in American fare cuisine, a melting pot cuisine, at Cafe DeMenil." Dan Jr. is the event coordinator, and the restaurant, complete with gardens and the mansion in the background, has been the site of numerous wedding ceremonies, corporate meetings and anniversary dinners. "We really like the historical overtones," Dan comments, "and my folks believe our business helps boost Benton Park, just as the unique neighborhood boosts our business."

As the Belmont family is proud of their location, so Paul and Patty Pointer labor next door at the Lemp Mansion in the company of their famous ghost, according to widely accepted lore. "We offer great food, phenomenal service and a ghost," Patty announces. She and brother Paul run the restaurant and bed and breakfast opened in 1977 by Dick Pointer, their dad. "This is a wonderful part of town, and we feel that we are definitely a destination in the region," Patty explains.

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