Food & Drink

Sushi from Geisha Sushi Bar

How We Roll: A Tour Through Our Favorite Sushi Spots

Photos by L.G. Patterson It’s no secret that Columbia is the perfect town for anyone who loves food. From the wide variety of available fare to the high quality and creative takes on dishes, the local restaurant scene offers plenty to explore and taste. For fans of sushi, there are quite a few options, each […]

Enjoy Live Music at Serenity Valley Winery

It is officially November and Serenity Valley Wines has released the schedule for live music. While this is the tail end of the live music for the year, there are still many artists planning to perform. Enjoy wine while listening from 4-7 p.m. Saturdays throughout November. This weekend, listen to Ty Toomsen and the Twang […]

Stir Up Your Plans at Park Restaurant and Bar’s Well Wednesday

Park Restaurant and Bar is continuing to rotate its specialty cocktails for Well Wednesday. This week, people can choose from the Whiskey Peach, Cherry Limeade and the Spicy Pineapple Mule, which is returning after being introduced last week, for $4 each. Along with specialty cocktails, people will be able to get $5 off select appetizers. […]

bingo card

DogMaster Distillery’s Happy Hour Offers Chance to Win Prizes

DogMaster Distillery’s Happy Hour Bingo is returning next week. The weekly event is held from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday. There is no cost to play and all winners will receive a prize.  Players will get to indulge in DogMaster’s specialty, seasonal or traditional cocktails, all made from its in-house whiskey, vodka, gin and rum. DogMaster Distillery is […]

Sweet & Savory Snack Mixes Make the Perfect Holiday Treat

Photos by L.G. Patterson Christmas. I have what can only be described as a bittersweet relationship with Christmas. I LOVE the reason, decorations, traditions and, of course, food! However, I, like so many others, tend to get overwhelmed and overbooked during this time of the year. Often, I find myself thinking, “I just want to […]

Leitzas Open New Café With Focus On Family Recipes, Local Ingredients

Photos by L.G. Patterson Vanessa and Jake Leitza are no strangers to the mid-Missouri restaurant scene. As Jake Leitza says, the mother and son duo have spent their whole lives in the food industry, working at several restaurants over the years before they teamed up to reopen a local favorite in Katfish Katy’s in April […]

october november cocktail

The Mezcal Margarita Perfectly Balances Sweet And Smoky

Photos by L.G. Patterson Mezcal is one of the hottest trends in the cocktail world right now, but it’s complexity can be intimidating. Its smoky essence provides an element to cocktails that can level up any drink typically made with tequila. The mezcal margarita we make at Room 38 Restaurant & Lounge has the perfect […]

Football Fare: Try These Satisfying Sliders For Your Next Tailgate

I ‘m not what you would call a rabid sports fan. But my husband, being a sportscaster when we got married, is one and we’ve raised three sons who are committed. I also have brothers and friends who are pretty hard core, so I’ve seen my share of football, baseball and basketball games. And while […]

Coming Home: After Several Years Away, La Tolteca Returns To Columbia

Photos By: L.G. Patterson When La Tolteca opened its doors to customers in May, it was less of a grand opening and more of a homecoming. After years of working in different cities across Missouri, owner Carlos Hernandez decided it was time to get back to Columbia. “I am so happy to be back,” he […]

Chef Brook Harlan's shrimp toast

An Addictive Treat: Try the Crunchy, Creamy Shrimp Toast

Photos by L.G. Patterson In the early 2000s, I had a friend who worked at a restaurant in New York City. The first time I went to this Chinese/French fusion restaurant, they said, “Make sure you get the shrimp toast.” Being a Midwest boy in New York, I was expecting some type of cooked shrimp on […]

Holistic cold & flu remedy supplies

Holistic Cold Remedies, Foods to Boost the Immune System

Photos by L.G. Patterson With the colder season approaching, it is the perfect time to stock your medicine cabinet with all the supplies needed for holistic cold and flu remedies. It’s also just as important to incorporate immune-boosting foods into your diet to be as preventative as possible. From bone broth to essential oils to […]

Dogs at Logboat

Pooches & Patios: Places to Bring Your Pets in Columbia

Photos by L.G. Patterson Is there anything better than time with your favorite furry companion? Lucky for local dog lovers, Columbia is quite the canine friendly place, and there’s more than a few patios that allow pups. We’ve put together a short list of a few of our favorite spots to grab a bite or […]

Philly cheesesteak with everything

Put Your Own Spin on the Philly Cheesesteak

Photos by L.G. Patterson I love a good Philly cheesesteak. You can always buy one (if you can find a good place), but sometimes I want onions and peppers; sometimes mushrooms; sometimes garlic; sometimes I want “Wiz” (we can talk about that one later); and sometimes I want everything. So, sometimes I cook it at home. […]

Maria Seiffert and the Bee's Knees

Enjoy A Homegrown Twist To A Classic Cocktail

Photos by L.G. Patterson The Bee’s Knees is a cocktail that’s special to me right now because it uses hyper local ingredients and embodies what we are trying to do at Ozark Mountain Biscuit & Bar with the bar program. We think it is important to honor the classics while innovating and experimenting with new […]

Steak on the grill

Bring Your Next Steak to the Next Level With This Magnificent Marinade

Photos by L.G. Patterson Being born and raised on a cattle farm, some of my fondest memories are of riding in the truck with my dad, checking fences, water and cattle. My family still owns the same cattle operation, and we still produce some of the best meat anywhere. I’m literally all about beef. And cooking […]

Former Tiger Opens New Seafood Restaurant Downtown

Photos by L.G. Patterson It’s been a few years since Marcus Lucas called Columbia home. The Liberty native came to mid-Missouri to attend Mizzou, where he played for the Tigers, graduating with a business degree in 2014. After becoming an undrafted free agent for the Carolina Panthers, Lucas eventually settled in the Charlotte, North Carolina, […]

Brook Harlan shows his muffuletta

Craving a New Orleans Specialty

Photos by L.G. Patterson If you take a trip to New Orleans, the muffuletta from Central Grocery is a must have. And, after you’ve had one, it apparently becomes a craving that you just have sometimes. I have some friends who were having a baby and, as they went into labor, the muffuletta craving hit. […]

Use Green Chartreuse to Craft a Temptingly Tart Treat

Photos by L.G. Patterson When it came to green chartreuse, I absolutely hated it when I first started working at Günter Hans. The flavors were all wrong and unfamiliar to my whiskey and beer-loving self. If I were to drink a cocktail, it would have only been an old-fashioned or a whiskey sour. Then, one […]

Terri Stanley and Sara Fougere

A PTA Pleaser: Shrimp and Pasta Salad Recipe Sure to Delight

Photos by L.G. Patterson A few years ago, at a PTA salad luncheon, someone brought the most wonderful shrimp and pasta salad. It was all the things: crunchy, creamy and full of shrimp and vegetables. I found myself going back for a second helping and doing what caterers do, breaking down the recipe in my […]

Healthy cocktails

The Best Ways to Add Nutrients to Your Favorite Indulgences

Photos by L.G. Patterson Healthy drinking — it’s hard to think the two can be talked about together because alcohol is toxic no matter how you use it, but there are ways to incorporate nutrients while enjoying an adult beverage. Alcohol in any form is going to be a toxin to your body. If you […]