CoMo Food: Not To Miss Dishes, Patric Chocolate Edition

February 4, 2012 By 3 Comments
Patric Chocolate In-NIB-itable BAR
Winner of the GOOD FOOD award

Usually I share thoughts on a not to miss dish that I’ve discovered here in CoMo, but from time to time I’d like to mix it up with local foods made here in our city.

I became familiar with Alan “Patric” McClure about three years ago when I was seeking local products to feature at a blogger conference, and I must say  it was love at first bite.  You’ve probably seen his chocolate at the farmers market, your grocery store or favorite coffee shop. You may have read that the In-NIB-itable bar won the GOOD FOOD award or that he was featured on FORBES top 10 truly artisanal foods to try now.  And then there were features of Patric Chocolate in Food and Wine Magazine, the New Yorker, FEAST magazine and dozens more.  The word has gotten out, CoMo has an incredible chocolate craftsman with delicious bars.

So why have I chosen to feature Patric Chocolates?  Not only are they incredibly authentic, made with great attention to detail and delicious.  They are local-CoMo local.  We should be proud of this not to miss chocolate bar and vote with our dollars not to mention there are some great new flavors in the lineup.  Alan partnered with Kaldi’s Coffee to develop two original bars that are incredibly tasty, I personally love the Cappuccino bar-great for “white” chocolate lovers.  New flavor  mint OMG and pbj OMG also live up to their names.  Quality bean to bar chocolate is a little luxury everyone can treat themselves to.

Last week during a Culinary Adventures “cooking with chocolate” class lead by Chef Craig Cyr he used Patric Chocolate in every dish, I personally loved the pork tenderloin with savory chocolate sauce.  Alan talked to the group about the bars being hand crafted, and how those hands are attached to people that live here in CoMo, offering jobs and supporting our community.  It was then that I fell in love with Patric Chocolate all over again!

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The Comoian: An Ode to Reuben

January 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

It’s Monday, but I don’t feel like complaining. We’ve got time before the whole world comes to an end later this year. So, I’ll complain about something next time.

For now, it’s time to talk about my only reason for living: Reuben Mondays at Sub Shop.

My first love was a red-headed boy with eleven toes and eighteen teeth named Reuben. Reuben was tall, like seven-foot tall and had the boniest elbows that would just make me purr with delight – like an alley cat in heat. With such large hands and feet, one would think that his head would also be large, but instead it was maybe the size of a softball. Still, I longed for the moments when Reuben would wrap his entire frame around my 4’10″, 90-lbs. body and scream sweet nothings into my ear with his raspy voice, unable to control his volume due to a neurological disorder caused by the power lines over his childhood home, hence my poor hearing.

I loved that boy. However, it was never meant to last as he died from a horrible accident, trying to surf down I-70 on top of his brother’s 1973 Dodge Dart. See, Reuben didn’t fit inside the car, so he rode on top (much like our [redacted] sessions). Damn that overpass!

After Reuben’s beheading, I was beside myself, not knowing how to honor his memory. Luckily, I discovered Sub Shop’s Reuben sandwhich. And even luckier – I am Vietnamese after all – I discovered that one can buy a half-Reuben (which is how I remember him), chips, and a soda for a measly $6.99!

That makes me want to [redacted] all over myself.

And I will be faxing my order today, along with a sixer of some Boulevard Wheat (slumming it at work today). You’ve got to have that Reuben on rye. It’s how our Lithuanian brethren from Omaha would have wanted it. Just don’t get the kraut and sausage sandwich, unless you like the feeling of a hundred-million dumpster fires leaking out your [redacted].

So, there’s my review. Thinking of sending it to Columbia Monthly Wedding Advertainment Magazine or maybe The Heartbeat so that I can get paid. What do you think? Do you have a favorite sandwich in town? Do you like the Reuben? Should I have gone with the vegetarian instead? Does Sub Shop really have the hottest buns? If so, why haven’t they asked me to be a spokesmodel? Do you like the  feeling of a hundred-million dumpster fires leaking out your [redacted]? Will you go to Sub Shop based on my recommendation?

Feel free to print out my copy of the menu above. I’ve added some notes to help you with your order. Cheers!

Filed Under: CoMo Commentary, CoMo's Best Dishes, Feed Me CoMo, Misc CoMo, Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: , ,

CoMo Food: Not To Miss Dishes, Addisions Edition

January 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Ahi Tuna Amuse-Bouche
Ahi Tuna Appetizer

Addisons has long been known for their incredibly fresh tuna and this new menu item is a great reflection of that.  While most folks associate Addisons with Nachos Bianco or their delicious broccoli with Asiago sauce this new item has my vote as their not to miss dish.

The Ahi-Tuna amuse bouche is a plate of multi layered deliciousness.  Described on the menu as “seasoned tomato tortilla crisps are topped with lemon cream cheese, raw Ahi tuna, pickled ginger, scallions, red pepper, sesame seeds, and cilantro. Finished with a honey soy reduction and wasabi.”  This appetizer is a perfect meal.  The freshness of the tuna and zest of the lemon cream cheese cool your mouth while the  richness of the tuna adds body to the tortilla chip and the soy reduction balances the heat of the wasabi cream.  I ordered the wasabi on the side so I could control the heat and a little goes a long way so I definitely recommend asking for it that way.  This dish is crunchy, chewy, sweet and spicy.  A definite palate pleaser!

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CoMo Food: Not To Miss Dishes, D. Rowe’s Edition

December 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

D. Rowe's Smoked WingsMy friend Lena turned me on to D. Rowe’s smoked wings.  She and her husband went there for lunch recently where she told the server, whatever I smell cooking is what I want for lunch, as it turns out it was their smoked chicken wings.  Lena was SO enthusiastic about them I had to see for myself.

It just so happened that some friends asked me to join them for dinner at D. Rowes Tuesday night for a little holiday get together, one of them had the ribs, the other pulled pork – both said they were delicious!  As for me I sampled the smoked wings.  Listed under appetizers and simply stated on their menu as “dusted with seasoning and hickory smoked.”  The wings did not disappoint, they were perfectly coated with “seasoning” crisp on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside.  Don’t mistake these for hot wings, these are a completely different flavor profile and served dry.  The flavor is smoky, rich and juicy I asked for a side of bleu cheese and bbq sauce to dip them in for additional goodness.  My mouth is watering as I type this, I can see why my friend raved about them and I will definitely order them again.  Most certainly a not to miss dish in CoMo!

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CoMo Food: Not to Miss Dishes, Broadway Brewery Edition

December 9, 2011 By 4 Comments
Broadway Brewery Irish Stout
Winter Warmer!

Not so much a “dish” as a not to miss drink…Broadway Brewery’s Irish Stout.  As a lover of all things local, I’m ashamed to admit that yesterday was my first visit to this brewery.  Local winemaker Jacob Holman from Les Bourgeois Winery chose this as our meeting spot to discuss the Missouri Wine Technical group.  You know what they say-it takes a lot of beer to make great wine.  As I entered the back door from the alley I fell in love immediately.  The warm wood  decor, the tanks, centerpiece bar, the friendly staff and some damn good beer!

You’ll notice that I had only a shot glass worth, they will let you sample for a mere buck, it was late afternoon but I was working afterall.  This beer had a creamy foam head with smooth subtle notes of chocolate and malt.  Heavier beers always taste better to me in the winter and this was perfect for a chilly afternoon.  Although time didn’t allow for eats, since Jacob is a regular I asked what he thought the best pairing for this beer would be, winemakers are always great for pairings, he laughed and said, honestly, the Corn Beef and Kraut.  Fearing too much of a St. Pats theme, we also choose the Berkshire Pork Rib chop, the orange glaze and braised fennel would be a great compliment to this hearty beer.  It’s served with polenta cakes which I can’t wait to come back and try.
Jacob had several other menu favorites- he likes their Beast Master Pizza, The Rooster Pizza and the Southern Fried Chicken.  WOW what an awesome menu full of comfort food as well as healthier options.  I was impressed to see their unique offerings with quality meats, locally sourced products and great beers.  I will DEFINITELY be back, and they have brunch too!  Jake was right, I have been missing out.

 

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CoMo Food: Not to miss dishes, Kampai Alley edition

November 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Sushi and rollsThe sushi experience has been new to me in the last few years but when Kampai Alley opened it’s doors a year or so ago I was in love.  This tucked away gem is located in Alley A off of 9th street in CoMo.

The atmosphere is hip and contemporary and the fare is fantastic!  I especially love their steamed edamame as a starter.  The rainbow roll made with avocado, crab meat, cucumber, topped with tuna, yellow tail, salmon, sea bass, smelt roe is not to be missed as well as the CoMo which is a house specialty.
I would be remiss not to mention one of their unbelievable cocktails…although I can’t recall the name of it :)   The ingredients were sake, lime juice and cranberry juice in a martini glass.  I couldn’t find cocktails listed on their website, but I may be over looking it.  You must ask for it!  Refreshing!
With the holiday’s upon us sometimes you need a lighter bite, and Kampai is perfect for lunch or dinner, a healthy snack or much needed cocktail while you’re shopping in the District!

Filed Under: CoMo's Best Dishes, Feed Me CoMo, Misc CoMo Tagged With: , ,

CoMo Food : Top Ten Sandwiches in Columbia

October 25, 2011 By 15 Comments

 

Gathered from Twitter, Facebook, and my own dedicated research (the things I do for this blog), these are the top ten sandwiches in Columbia, Missouri. Don’t agree? Leave your top choices in the comment and I will check them out. Next week we will be posting the top ten burgers in Columbia so leave us a comment letting us know what your favorites are.

1. The Veggie Sub at Sub Shop: This sandwich is the favorite of vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. And with good reason, what’s not to like about melting cheese and mushrooms. Plus you feel virtous for eating your veggies. Until you add bacon which is the preferred addition of many of the sandwich’s fans.

2. The Bahn Mi at Uprise: Yep, there are more authentic Bahn Mis out there (even a couple in town) but this sandwich is the preferred lunch time staple for hungry college students and us regular Comoians alike. The freah made bread pushes it over the edge.

3. The Super Happy Fun Time Burger at Addison’s: More than a sandwich, it’s an experience. Just don’t expect to be able to pick this cheese, cucumber, and bacon laden burger up. You hear right, cucumbers. It shouldn’t work but it does. And it puts a smile on your face. And a frown on your cardiologist’s.

4. Paradise Club at Honeybaked Ham: Feverish praise from an addict convinced me to put this non-local sandwich on the list. Sometimes you just need a classic and Honeybaked Ham delivers.

5. Chorizo Torta from El Rancho: El Rancho catches a lot of flack for not being authentic. But who cares about authenticity when chorizo tastes this good? It’s a guaranteed hangover curer.

6. Steak Sandwich at Murry’s: Calling this a sandwich is the best kind of misrepresentation. Toss that bread aside and you’ve got the cheapest good steak in town. Plus when your better half asks what you ate while you were out you can honestly say “just a sandwich.”

7. Grilled Cheese at The Bread Basket: The Bread Basket is renown for their cookies which come free with their lunch deal. So order yourself a grilled cheese and pretend you are a kid again.

8. Anything sandwich Sycamore: Dinner at Sycamore will set you back a pretty penny. It will be money well spent but if you are running low on the funds this month, head there for lunch. You will feel almost guilty when you get their special, half sandwich and soup for right around ten dollars. The same fine food in sandwich form? Sign me up.

9. Pork and Apples sandwich at Coley’s: This bistro continues to be an underrated CoMo gem. They specialize in simple, well done American food and their pork tips and sauteed apple sandwich is the perfect example.

10. Chicken Philly at Flat Branch: What? You got a table at Flat Branch. Count your lucky stars and order this sandwich. This perfectly executed philly will make you forget the glares of death from the waiting crowd.

 

Note: I regret not adding the Ahi Tuna from Addison’s.  That should have taken the place of the Super Happy Fun Time burger. Also, the sandwich pictured is not from a CoMo restaurant but considering the reaction, some place should start making one stat.  

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CoMo Food : My Attempt at a CoMo Tailgate Favorite

October 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Recently, for a tailgate I was going to, I tried my hand at one of my favorite CoMo appetizers. If you mention Murry’s to almost anyone in Columbia, their mouths immediately start watering for some Blue Chips Cheese Bread. Since I was going to the MU football game I needed it to be portable and I didn’t have time to wait for the master chefs at Murry’s to whip one up for me. So here’s my version.

Ingredients:
IMAG0753

-garlic powder
-blue Cheese crumbles
-salad shrimp
-blue cheese dressing
-Italian shredded cheese
-Italian bread

Most of my food recipes have less than 5 ingredients in them. I like to keep it simple. And I don’t use exact measurements.

I sliced the bread in half, mixed a tsp of garlic, about a cup of shrimp, blue cheese crumbles, dressing and half a small bag of Italian cheese together in a bowl and spread it on top of the bread. Then I sprinkled the rest of the Italian cheese on top and baked it in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes more.

IMAG0754

I gotta say, in a pinch this was a good substitute even though it didn’t come with the atmosphere or the jazz of Murry’s.  Sometimes you just don’t have time to sit at Murry’s for an hour to get your Blue Chips Cheese Bread fix. Although the wait is worth it, and my recipe is still not the real thing, everyone at the tailgate thought it was awesome!

Filed Under: CoMo's Best Dishes, Feed Me CoMo, Recipes

CoMo Food: Not to Miss Dishes, Breadbasket Cafe Edition

October 21, 2011 By 1 Comment
Grilled cheese and potato soup
Grilled cheese and potato soup

As we savor this glorious fall and brace ourselves for winter, I can’t help but think of the classic comfort food combo-soup and sandwich.  My personal go to place is Breadbasket Cafe in the crossroads shopping center.  Their homemade breads and soups really hit the spot!  you can order a half or full sandwich, cup or bowl of soup.  All sandwiches are perfectly toasted and soups perfectly seasoned.  They have a huge selection of both and of course they are locally owned.  A bonus not to miss tip is their incredible made from scratch snicker doodle cookies, crisp on the outside, soft on the inside and the perfect ratio of cinnamon to sugar.  Treat yourself!

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CoMo Food: Not To Miss Dishes, Booches Edition

September 23, 2011 By 2 Comments

Ultimate $5.00 meal deal

Burger “value meal” messages bombard us from every chain restaurant imaginable.  I believe the tastiest burger in CoMo is most definitely the Booches Burger.  The beef is fresh, with toppings just as you like it!   For most of you this shout out doesn’t come as a surprise.  It seems that everyone from USA Today to local bloggers have recognized this Columbia icon.

While traveling recently I found myself on Fast Food island with nothing but corporate chain fast food as far as the eye could see.  After driving through and dropping over $8.00 it reminded me of how much I miss the quality and price of Booches.

One burger and Coke and I’m out the door for less than $5.00.  Split a bag of chips with a friend and you’re still around that price point.  But more importantly I’m eating a quality hand pattied burger that is made fresh and sourced from a local grocer.  I’m also supporting a local business in a historic building and the CoMo tradition of ordering off the board at a wooden table surrounded by friends or family.  Now THAT’S a VALUE meal!

 

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