Take a Break in Missouri — Let’s Eat!

Jefferson City, Mo. - Ever heard this from the back seat: “Are we there yet?” The kids clamor for a theme park; Gra’ma insists on a museum; Mom longs to visit a spa; Dad can’t get that Arnold Palmer golf course out of his mind . . . and everybody needs a restroom (usually at different times). Aren’t family vacations wonderful? Yes, they are.

What will appease the crew and bring tranquility back to the trip? Food. Let’s eat! Yes, there is the profusion of quality fast food places with which you are more than familiar. But, for a real taste of Missouri, let’s talk restaurants.

The Show-Me State produces world-class meat and poultry, farm-raised trout, catfish and shrimp. Speaking of shrimp, on September 11, the Show-Me Shrimp Farm, north of I-44 outside of Dixon, holds its annual Show Me Shrimp Festival with shrimp, live music, shrimp, games, and shrimp. They’ll even cook your shrimp for you, Cajun style; you can’t get any fresher than that.

How about bison (that’s buffalo to most of us)? Ever tried buffalo? SayersBrook Bison Ranch, home to more than 1,000 live bison, is located in Potosi. They offer fresh bison meat, ranch tours and activities like hunting, boating, horseback riding, fishing, hiking and a country store. SayersBrook buffalo can be enjoyed in Clayton at the Posh Nosh Deli, and both Trainwreck Saloon restaurants in St. Louis.

Let’s continue our culinary journey with Riddle’s Penultimate Cafe & Wine Bar in the Delmar Loop district of University City (St. Louis), where you enjoy live music most evenings, and can dine indoors or outside. Dishes include an abundance of fresh Missouri ingredients, such as mushrooms, produce, fruits, cheeses and figs, and the menu lists the names of the farmers who supply them. Plus, there is a selection of Missouri wines and micro-brews.

Down the road, in Hermann you’ll find the Vintage Restaurant on the grounds of Stone Hill Winery. It specializes in traditional German foods, including locally made Weisswurst, Knackwurst, Bratwurst and other sausages, served with Missouri cheeses and accompaniments . . . and, of course, Stone Hill Winery’s award-winning Missouri wines.

Two truly unique Missouri eateries await at the Lake of the Ozarks. There are many great restaurants at the Lake, but if you crave superb food, an amazing bluff-top, panoramic view of the lake, The Blue Heron is the place for a casual, yet elegant atmosphere. While at the lake, enjoy lunch or dinner while cruising aboard the 150 passenger, 80-foot Celebration yacht; this is not a hamburger-and-fries menu.

In Columbia, you’ll encounter Flat Branch Pub & Brewing, the first brewery in Columbia since 1841. Flat Branch offers a diverse menu, includes dishes prepared from numerous local products, as well as an ever changing array of 10-12 hand-crafted beers, many brewed using hops grown in Missouri. Enjoy your repast under the 1927 barrel-trussed roof of the restaurant, or on the spacious outdoor patio.

The Blufftop Bistro, Les Bourgeois Winery in Rocheport

In Rocheport, 17 miles west of Columbia, superbly prepared dishes using Missouri products are always on the menu at Les Bourgeois Winery’s Blufftop Bistro, high atop a bluff overlooking the Missouri River. Sample the winery’s estate-bottled wines before you make your selection.

Continuing westward, The Blue Bird Bistro in Kansas City prides itself on using organic, all-natural food products. On any given morning, local farmers can be seen delivering fresh organic produce, all-natural meats, free-range chickens, cage-free eggs and other Missouri goodies for use in the eclectic menu.

Also in Kansas City, you are sure to enjoy Cafe Sebastienne. Located inside the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, this fine dining restaurant combines the worlds of contemporary art and contemporary cuisine using fresh ingredients and local organic products in an innovative menu. Zagat’s has recognized Cafe Sebastienne as one of America’s top restaurants for five years running.

Nationally known Lidia’s Italy, in Kansas City, makes everything from scratch, including the pasta. Lidia’s menu changes with the availability of fresh products. The restaurant purchases greens and potatoes from a farm near Joplin and faithfully visits the local farmers markets in and around Kansas City.

For a truly laid-back, rural Missouri eating and drinking experience, don’t overlook Missouri’s world-class, award-winning wineries. The Web site of the Missouri Wine and Grape Board lists 99 wineries, most of which offer picnic foods or allow you to bring your own for a relaxing afternoon or evening on the patio or deck; some have an on-site restaurant. Live music, entertainment and special dinners are often available.
 
For additional information on Missouri foods and restaurants, visit AgriMissouri, the Missouri Restaurant Association, Sauce Magazine, and Missouri’s Official Tourism Web site, VisitMO.com.

And, for cooking at home, the freshness of Missouri is available at farmers markets, roadside stands and specialty stores year-round throughout our state. So–get out and experience Missouri the best way possible . . . one bite at a time.

To learn more about Missouri attractions, go to www.VisitMO.com. Order your free copy of the 2010 Official Missouri Travel Guide by calling 800-519-4800.

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Links used in this release:

Shrimpfest
www.ShowMeShrimpFarms.com
Sayersbrook Bison Ranch
www.Sayersbrook.com
Posh Nosh Deli
www.PoshNoshDeli.com
Trainwreck Saloons
www.TrainwreckSaloon.com
Riddle’s Penultimate Cafe & Wine Bar
www.RiddlesCafe.com
Vintage Restaurant
www.StoneHillWinery.com/locations/hermann/restaurant/default.aspx
Stone Hill Winery
www.StoneHillWinery.com
Celebration Cruises
www.CelebrationLakeOzark.com/index.html
Flat Branch Pub & Brewing
www.FlatBranch.com
Blufftop Bistro
www.missouriwine.com/Blufftop-Bistro.php
The Blue Bird Bistro
www.BlueBirdBistro.com
Cafe Sebastienne
www.CafeSebastienne.com
Kemper Museum
www.KemperArt.org
Lidia’s Italy
www.Lidias-KC.com
Missouri Wine and Grape Board
www.MissouriWine.org
AgriMissouri
www.AgriMissouri.com
Missouri Restaurant Assn.
www.MoRestaurants.org
Sauce Magazine
www.SauceMagazine.com

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Contact:

Sarah Luebbert
Missouri Division of Tourism
573-522-5501
Sarah.Luebbert@ded.mo.gov

Tags: Food & Dining

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