John Moriarty
Now it’s a struggle to get a reservation. John Moriarty got in on the ground floor, when — as he says — his arm was twisted, albeit gently, by a former classmate from St. Louis University High School.
Now it’s a struggle to get a reservation. John Moriarty got in on the ground floor, when — as he says — his arm was twisted, albeit gently, by a former classmate from St. Louis University High School.
“I met Dakota through a friend over drinks at Sunset [Country Club]”, he said. “He didn’t put on the hard sell, which I appreciated. I’ve worked with a clothier for a while. He moved and I just loved Dakota’s hustle.”
Having already built an extensive wardrobe, Moriarty still laughs, “I’ll order things from Gentry’s and then forget what it was. So every time I receive something I’ve ordered, it’s like Christmas for me.”
“My mission is to find something people like, then show them something a little different,” he said, adding that personally “I’m a big Vivino guy.” Naming the app that allows one to track the bottles of wine they’ve tasted.
“I’ve tried to be very worldly in my enjoyment of wine,” he said when asked about his personal preferences, going on to name off wines from a variety of both old and new-growth regions; from Burgundy (both red and white) and Châteauneuf-du-Pape in France, and Brunello di Montalcino, Super Tuscans and Amarones in Italy to Sonoma Pinot Noirs.
However he says his daily drinkers are Piña Cabernet Sauvignons from the Napa Valley and Saxum Blends from Paso Robles, both in California.
He also greatly enjoys small-batch bourbons, noting that when it is available, Olive + Oak offers the rare Pappy Van Winkle for an exceedingly affordable price —given its exclusivity.
Olive + Oak was initially founded by two families, both of whom experienced the loss of a child through congenital heart disease; naming the restaurant for their children, Oliver and Oakes. That heart motif is felt throughout the space. A large wooden heart sits on the wall to the right of the entrance and a neon heart hangs over the bar.
Last year John and his wife co-chaired The Mighty Oakes Gala, raising over $350,000 after expenses — a resounding success for which he is rightly very proud.
As a whole, John Moriarty is an exceedingly interesting and entertaining person to both listen to and spend time with. Having spent the evening discussing food and wines from throughout the world, we capped it off with one of his other favorites and home-town staple, a cold Busch Bavarian.
For more information about E3 or The Mighty Oaks Foundation:
PHONE: 314-822-4440
EMAIL: info@e3wealth.com