By Cheryl Baehr

Breakfast is bigger than ever in St. Louis, as Cheryl Baehr explores in this week's cover story. No longer are chefs content to save their energy -- and freshest ingredients -- for lunch and dinner. Instead, they're cooking up breakfasts with just as much creativity and skill as the meals that traditionally attracted their attention.

To that end, Baehr has rounded up 22 places that offer chef-driven breakfasts not during the traditional weekend brunch hours, but on weekdays as well -- giving you no excuse not to linger over the morning meal and order something delicious.

All capsules by Cheryl Baehr. Please also check out our list of the Best Boozy Brunch Deals in St. Louis, part of this week's brunch issue.