Food & Drink

Live fire cooking

Take Your Next Cooking Experience Outside

Photos by L.G. Patterson Sometimes you need more variety than what’s offered by cooking on the four-burner range in your kitchen. With the arrival of warmer weather, it’s finally appropriate to cook outside and you can use a fire pit or barbecue to liven up your cooking experience. No matter the menu, you just have […]

Broccoli salad with berries and poppy seeds

A Patio Perfect Recipe

Photos by L.G. Patterson A few days ago, I was enjoying the early spring weather, walking our family dog, Brady, and wondering how soon we may be able to have dinner on the deck. I love al fresco dining. It takes the most ordinary food and makes it feel like a celebration. Snacks and drinks? […]

DiningOut Belly market

Local Market and Rotisserie Takes Over Columbia Staple

Photo by L.G. Patterson Food is part of so many traditions. It helps us celebrate love and loss, and fills your belly with comfort after a long day. That’s the goal of Belly Market & Rotisserie in south Columbia. Benjamin Hamrah and Amanda Elliot, co-owners of Belly Market, created a one-stop-shop for people to enjoy […]

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How to Make a Delightful Springtime Sip

Photos by L.G. Patterson  When the days get warmer, I crave a patio cocktail. This season, I’m switching things up atBarred Owl by adding “The Kuro Neko” to the cocktail menu. Translating to “The Black Cat,” I start by adding mezcal and sherry to one of my favorite Japanese spirits, Nikka gin. “The Kuro Neko” […]

A-Frame Outdoor Winegarden to Reopen For Spring

Warm weekends at the A-Frame Outdoor Winegarden are right around the corner. According to a post on social media, The A-Frame will open for the spring from noon to sunset starting Friday. Throughout March, the A-Frame will be open Friday-Sunday, weather permitting. The A-Frame offers nice views, small bites, wine and more as part of […]

A Trek Through The Coffee Scene

Photos by L.G. Patterson Some days, we all could use an extra boost. For those of us who crave caffeine, there are moments where nothing can beat that perfect cup, whether it’s coffee, espresso or tea. And there’s plenty of options when it comes to where to enjoy that satisfying sip, each with its own […]

Brook Harlan makes tiramisu

Learn to Make a Terrific Tiramisu

Photos by L.G. Patterson There is nothing quite like a tiramisu for a nice kick, or “pick me up,” which is the actual translation of tiramisu, at the end of a meal. You get a nice jolt from the coffee while enjoying the creaminess of the mascarpone, all held together by ladyfingers. Without the ladyfingers, there […]

Delia’s Mexican Grill to Open a New Location on Stadium

Delia’s Mexican Grill is expanding in Columbia. Owner Delia Garcia says the new location will be very different than the existing spot downtown, right down to the food. “Delia’s on Stadium will have different décor and a different menu,” she says, noting the new spot’s official name as Delia’s on Stadium. Garcia says the goal […]

Cocktail The Roof

Signature Sunset Drink Evokes Tropical Vibe

Photos by L.G. Patterson Get ready to be transported to a tropical euphoria, without ever having to leave Columbia. One of the best parts of visiting The Roof is obviously the view, especially at sunset. And while there may still be a little chill in the air as we head into spring, I’m already preparing […]

Fougere food

Dinner Made Easy

Photos by L.G. Patterson A few years ago, by necessity, we pivoted from a traditional catering business to a new venture, preparing family meals on a weekly basis. Our emphasis was to make easy meals that were a hit with the whole family, trying a lot of new recipes in the process and meeting a […]

Dining Out - Irenes

Local Pop-Up Finds Permanent Placement

Photos by L.G. Patterson Editor’s note: This article was updated in April 2023 with new information on Irene’s.  Mid-Missourians are no strangers to barbecue — it practically runs in our veins. And soon, there will be a new place filled with smoky smells, hearty flavors and smiling faces. What was once an occasional pop-up has […]

Kimber caffeine

How to Get the Most from Your Morning Jolt

Photos by L.G. Patterson At 15, I started my first real culinary job working for Starbucks in Sonoma County, California. Over the next three years, I worked at several locations around my hometown until I went off to San Francisco for culinary school. I loved working at Starbucks! All the delicious drinks, holiday specials, kind […]

Play Bingo With Beer at Shiloh Bar & Grill

Head to Shiloh Bar & Grill tonight for Bingo Wednesday. Enjoy games and drink deals from 8-10 p.m. at Shiloh including $2 Soco Lime Shots, $2 Busch Light Bottles, $3 Sour patch Bombs and more. Shiloh is located in downtown Columbia at 402 E. Broadway. This is a weekly event at Shiloh, so if you […]

Christmas margarita

Casa Maria’s Launches New Christmas Cocktails

Casa Maria’s Mexican Cantina is kicking off the holiday season with festive handcrafted holiday cocktails. Try the new top shelf mistletoe margarita, the Grinch, Christmas punch or Cinnamon Toast Crunch shot. The top shelf mistletoe margarita has tequila, Grand Mariner, cranberry juice, agave, a sugar rim and includes sugared cranberries. The Grinch is a vodka […]

old fashioned

Achieve Balance Chiropractic to Host Happy Hour

This holiday season, spend your night at Achieve Balance Chiropractic for a Holiday Happy Hour. Enjoy an Old Fashioned bar and s’mores from 4-6 p.m. Friday. Sip on some complimentary cocktails while enjoying Achieve Balance Chiropractic’s new location. The company moved in March to 2700 Forum Blvd. This holiday happening is for adults only, and […]

The A-Frame Winegarden Closes For The Season

The A-Frame Winegarden at Les Bourgeois Vineyards is officially closed for the season. The premier wine tasting spot closed at the end of November and won’t re-open until March 2023. The A -Frame is 10 miles west of Columbia, offering beautiful views as a part of The Blufftop at Rocheport experience. Enjoy a bottle of […]

Broadway Brewery temporarily closes doors

Broadway Brewery is temporarily closing its doors. The popular Columbia spot announced on New Year’s Eve that it would temporarily close. On Wednesday, the business announced that  Lushen Claridge, son of owner Walker Claridge, passed away after a car accident Saturday. “Lushen not only grew up in The Brewery but was one of the brightest […]

Missouri Wines Releases Wine Lovers 2023 Calendar

Make sure 2023 is a good year by celebrating all things wine every month. Missouri Wines released its Wine Lovers 2023 Calendar this week. The calendar allows anyone to celebrate Missouri wines year-round with holidays including Drink Wine Day on Feb. 18, Rosé Day on June 10 and Sparkling Wine Day on Dec. 31. Click […]

old fashioned

Dive Bar Announces Cocktail of the Month

With the new year comes a new cocktail of the month at the Dive Bar in Columbia. For the month of January, enjoy the Dive Bar’s Old Fashioned. This signature drink comes with Stranahan’s Blue Peak or any other whiskey available, muddled sugar, an orange slice, bitters and a cherry. The Dive Bar is open from […]

Sushi at home

Sushi to Your Taste: Explore the Different Varieties, Styles Possible

Photos by L.G. Patterson I recently had the pleasure of cooking with Jina Yoo. If you have been around Columbia and are a lover of sushi, you have probably been to her namesake restaurant, Jina Yoo’s Asian Bistro, or her second Columbia restaurant, Le Bao Asian Eatery, featuring steam buns and ramen. Maybe you’ve tried […]