Bulrush

Rob Connoley this year was a finalist for best chef in the James Beard Awards.

Bulrush chef-owner Rob Connoley and his mentee, Normandy High School senior Alex Belton, are both hoping to come home with a win this June.

Missouri’s Ozark Mountains are known for their lush wilderness and popular tourist destinations. But what about the food? Like much of Ozark culture, the cuisine remains deeply misunderstood and shrouded in stereotypes. From deep in the forest to upscale restaurants, these food lovers are preserving the Ozarks' past and charting its future.

Navajo chef Freddie Bitsoie is partnering with St. Louis restaurant Bulrush on two meals celebrating the cuisine of the Hopewell tradition, which flourished in the Midwest before Europeans colonized the continent. He discusses the cuisine with Bulrush chef/owner Rob Connoley.

Like so many restaurateurs and other local business owners, Rob Connoley has directly felt the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. He’s the…