The Sauce

For over 25 years, Sauce Magazine has been the go-to guide for St. Louis’ best culinary experiences. Now, The Sauce podcast is back with a new host and a renewed mission: to take listeners behind the scenes with the incredible people shaping the local hospitality industry – from chefs and restaurateurs to brewers, bartenders, bakers and beyond.

Hosted by Sauce Magazine’s executive editor Lauren Healey, who has spent her career honing her writing, editing and photography skills at various media outlets in the Midwest, the show blends insider stories with inspiration on where to eat and drink right now. Since joining Sauce in 2018, Lauren’s passion for St. Louis’ culinary scene has only deepened, fueling her pride in calling the city home and her drive to help you discover your next great meal.

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The Sauce

Arica Avery – STL Pot Chef

November 18, 2025 • STL Bucket List

On this week’s episode of The Sauce, host Lauren Healey sits down with Arica Avery, the force behind STL Pot Chef, to talk about cannabis-infused dining, community events, and breaking stigma in St. Louis.

Arica shares how college experiments with flavor and dosage grew into a full slate of curated experiences, from pop-up markets to chef competitions. She explains how private, 21+ events work in Missouri, why “low and slow” dosing matters, and how her team partners with chefs, venues, and sponsors to keep things safe, fun, and delicious.

In this episode:

The origin of STL Pot Chef, shaped at the Cola Lounge, Missouri’s first cannabis consumption lounge
Event formats at a glance: Munchie Market food court vs. Danksgiving chef competition
How ticketing works, tasting tiers, and VIP early entry with chef meet-and-greets
Why each tasting sample is 5 mg, and how guests vote to award a $1,000 prize
Working with chefs like Chef Terri Jayne (Gateway Grub), Chef Bailey, and Chef Marca (Magic Infusions)
Legal basics for private, 21+ events, ID checks, and electronic waivers
Hemp-derived partners like Mighty Kind and giveaways from Weedmaps
Edibles as an alcohol alternative, safe dosing strategies, and stories of recovery

Upcoming dates:

Danksgiving competition, Nov 23
Munchie Market: Holiday Edition, Dec 14 at Little Bivo

Book a private infused dinner: custom menus, custom dosage, in-home or event catering with STL Pot Chef’s partner chefs.

🔗 stlpotchefs.com
📱 @stlpotchef on all platforms

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📅 New episodes drop every Tuesday.