Food & Drink

fougere salmon

Savory Salmon Recipe Makes a Perfect Quick Family Dinner

Photos by L.G. Patterson Sometimes, dinner gets the best of me. Maybe I was super busy in my work kitchen or cleaning out a closet. Maybe I was reading. Whatever it is, I look at the clock, and realize the people in my house are going to be expecting a meal soon, and I’m kind […]

dining out wishflour

Wishflour Bakery Creates A Sweet Narrative All Its Own

Photos by L.G. Patterson Wishflour Bakery Owner Marcey Mertens wants you to defy the traditional narrative, but only if it makes you happy. She followed what she sees as the traditional narrative for women, which to her means “graduate, go to college, find a husband, get married, buy a house, have kids, work a nine […]

cocktail old hawthorne

Sweet and Sour Cocktail Ties in all the Elements of Spring

Photos by L.G Patterson While some enjoy creating cocktails based on flavor, I chose this cocktail because of the liquor itself. Butterfly pea tea is a rare tea that changes color when ingredients are added to change its pH level. The tea alone features a bright blue color that can change to vibrant red or […]

cooking with brook

A Delicious Dive Into Swedish Meatball Magic

Photos by L.G. Patterson On one of the many snow days we had this winter, my daughter asked to make Swedish meatballs. We found a recipe (she is in charge of reading and gathering the ingredients), and she then said, “I don’t want to add the sour cream sauce.” I told her, “Well, then they […]

Las Margaritas, global eats feature

Embark on a Flavorful Global Adventure Without Leaving Columbia

Photos by L.G. Patterson Take your taste buds on a trip around the world while staying in Columbia. From the flavors of Kenya and India to tasting the delicacies of Italy, we have put together the perfect map for you to taste the diverse culinary landscape of the world while staying at home. So, gather […]

Sara Fougere's sheet pan recipe

Easy Dinner Recipe Promises to be a New Family Favorite

Photos by L.G. Patterson  By the time you read this, our whirlwind of Christmas parties, work events and gatherings will be over for another year, and I just want to let you all know how much fun we had seeing you, celebrating with you and, of course, feeding you! It’s always a lot of activity, […]

cocktail

Enjoy a Tasty Twist on the Traditional with the Jack Frost Cocktail

Photo by L.G. Patterson While the holidays have passed, some might not be ready to let go of the spirit of the season. For those who want to embrace winter and hold on to the holiday spirit well into January, there are a few cocktail options. But if you’re not a fan of the typical […]

brook

Fall in Love with Falafel: Master the Art of Crispy Creations

Photo by L.G. Patterson Crispy deliciousness, drizzled with a tangy sauce; beyond that I am not sure how to describe falafel. Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans (no, I don’t know the difference between a bean and a pea), make up the delicious falafel. OK, I had to look it up, and now I am […]

ding out la calle 8

Husband & Wife Team Opens La Calle 8 in Downtown Columbia

For Columbia natives and travelers alike, the city’s thriving coffee scene allows any java junkie to find their concoction of choice when on the go. A love of traveling and the community brought the idea of a new cafe to longtime residents Rafael and Itzel Bobea. “We try to travel as much as time and […]

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Learn the Jingle Bells and Whistles to Planning Festive Festivities

Photos by L.G. Patterson When it comes to the holiday season, there are so many things to get you in the spirit. Whether it’s hosting a holiday party, putting up festive decorations with your family, finding the right Christmas tree for your home, serving a next- level holiday cocktail or elevating your next movie night […]

Brook Harlan's Irish cream

Learn to Make Irish Cream This Holiday Season

Photos by L.G. Patterson About a year ago, I started researching coffee liqueur for a column in this magazine. This took me down a rabbit hole about Irish cream liqueur, as I did not realize that some recipes for Irish cream also have coffee liqueur. Soon, I found myself thinking, “how hard could it be […]

dining out

Sisters Open New Bar Targeted at Post-College Young Adults

When you think of the downtown scene in Columbia, you might not think of a relaxing young adult atmosphere because, let’s all admit, during the school year, the college kids have the run of downtown. But Greta and Ava Gunderson, a dynamic duo from Omaha, Nebraska, have set their sights on redefining the bar experience […]

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Family Christmas Cookie Recipe Evokes Memories of Past Holidays

Photos by L.G. Patterson This year, maybe more than any other, I am craving holiday comfort. I want my favorite Christmas movies and the carols you sing in the car, loudly and badly, with mispronounced words that the children wove into the song so many years ago that we don’t remember who actually said “mamger” […]

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Mint Mochatini Encompasses the Best Flavors of Christmas

Photos by L.G. Patterson When I think about Christmas, I think about dessert — sweet flavors, chocolates, mints and candy canes.  So, we decided to create a dessert martini. At 9th Street Public House, we don’t serve food, so we like to think of people coming in after dinner. That’s why we added coffee and […]

fall-webCover

Embracing The Flavors of Fall

Photos by L.G. Patterson  No matter the season, some of the best memories are made with food. But the flavors of fall are something special. To help you discover new recipes and flavors this season, we assembled a section of desserts, from local shops’ signature sweets to in-house recipes. So, whether you prefer getting your […]

Brook Harlan and a Cuban sandwich

Classic Cuban Sandwich Shows Array of Influences

Photos by L.G. Patterson A Cuban sandwich may not be the most appealing thing, particularly if it has been smashed, griddled, wrapped and sliced. But what it lacks in eye appeal, it more than makes up for in flavor. This south Florida variation on ham and cheese originates from Cuban immigrants working in cigar factories […]

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Creating A Flexible Football Treat

Photos by L.G. Patterson  There are so many things I love about this time of year.I was always a back-to-school kind of girl and growing up in rural Missouri meant special meals for football weekends, whether we were watching from the hometown stands on Friday night or in the living room on Saturday. Living in […]

Chris Foley bread

Local Baker Uses Challenging Method to Make Tasty Creations

Photos by L.G. Patterson While creating a perfect loaf of bread may become complicated, Chris Foley says finding his love for baking was easy. When he was 14 years old, Foley, now the owner of Fiddle & Stone Bread Co., got a job at a bakery in Ashland and knew he had come across something […]

Dining Out - Sipz

New Soda Shop Opens in Columbia

Photos by L.G. Patterson After working as a stay-at-home mom for 20 years, Brenda Andrus decided to take on a new adventure with her husband and six children in opening Sipz Sodas on Columbia’s south side. “Our kids have been involved from the very beginning,” she says. “It’s nice having something to do with the […]

Cooper's Landing is a perfect spot to enjoy the Missouri River scenery.

Respites Along the River

Photos by L.G. Patterson Who doesn’t love a good day spent by the river? Whether you’re planning to swim, kayak, fish or just enjoy the scenery, one of the joys of living in central Missouri is the easy access to the Missouri River. And when you’re out and about on a river adventure, it’s always fun to […]