Erin D

Erin D

Overview:

With Mardi Gras coming up, where better to hit up than a cajun hotspot? We, of course had to start with an Alligator appetizer to get in the mood. The bite size, fried gator did not disappoint. I have limited experience with gator but this was definitely my favorite preparation of the southern delicacy. The tabasco wine sauce accompanying the appetizer was very complimentary and, most importantly to me, wasn't too thick. Even though my appetizer was fantastic, I fell in love with my Shrimp and Crab Meat Pasta. The seafood, Andouille sausage and mixed peppers gave it the perfect cajun feel while the pasta was hearty enough to fill you up and then some. For dessert we had the One Bite Trio with chocolate truffles, bread pudding and vanilla bean creme brule. Even though they were all fantastic, I have to say my favorite was the bread pudding. If you're more of a traditional chocolate and vanilla dessert lover, I dare you to try this and not love it.

Special Dishes:

Alligator, Shrimp and Crab Meat Pasta, Bread Pudding

Erin D

Overview:

Even though there are countless restaurants that every Chicagoan wants to hit up during the holiday season, I'd highly recommend adding Fresco 21 to that list. They recently came out with a great list of light and fresh seasonal cocktails. I loved the Pomegranate Poinsettia, which was similar to an extra fruity and sparkling mimosa. The Cranberry Cornucopia Sangria was also fantastic.
It was incredibly difficult to make any choices on Fresco 21's huge dinner menu, but I finally chose the House Linguine with Wild Mushrooms. Not only were the house-made noodles fantastic, but the sauce was spectacular. It was very creamy but wasn't overly heavy. The mushrooms were cooked to perfection and the couple fried mushrooms topping the dish complimented the sauce wonderfully. My friend also loved the Paella with Saphron Rice. It was incredibly authentic and tasted just as good and diverse as the same dish I had in Spain. We finished our meal with a very gooey Bread Pudding. It was topped with black and blueberries and orange marmalade marshmallows. Let me just say, I've never enjoyed a marshmallow more in my life.

Special Dishes:

Wild Mushroom Linguine, Paella with Saphron Rice, Bread Pudding

Erin D

Overview:

I spent the past weekend in Southeast Missouri and experienced so many great new types of food and hidden restaurant gems. One of these gems was the Steele Crest Winery in Jackson. I’ve been absolutely amazed by the amount of fantastic wineries in Missouri. I can’t think of anyone who really associates the show-me state with grapes and delicious regional wines. When you walk in, the comfy, rustic decor greets you at the door before you even notice the beautiful landscape outside the windows. Before ordering, you can taste any wine you’re interested in. While I really loved the Cherry and Chardonnay, I decided on the Blackberry wine. It was very sweet and was the perfect dessert wine. For lunch, my table shared an order of the Spicy Queso Cheese Sticks. While I love mozzarella sticks, these surpassed any I’ve ever had. The battering has crushed tortilla chips giving them a great kick. For my main dish I had the Open Faced Pizza Sandwich. It was delicious and had heaps of meat and cheese. My friend had the Grilled Chicken Sandwich with the wine vinaigrette dressing. It was a huge serving with plenty of veggies and almost an entire chicken breast on top. She said the dressing was delicious and very flavorful and the salad was incredibly filling. From the atmosphere to the house made wines, I absolutely loved Steele Crest and can’t wait to go back.

Special Dishes:

Spicy Queso Cheese Sticks, Open Faced Pizza Sandwich, Blackberry wine, Chardonnay

Erin D

Overview:

I automatically loved Room 38 from the second I walked through the door. Coming from Chicago, I really miss the big city feel while I'm down here in Columbia. Room 38 had a dark, intimate atmosphere perfect for one-on-one conversations as well as lounging with a group after work.

I decided to start with the Peach Pear Mojito thanks to the waitress' wonderful recommendation. I'm not a huge fan of overly-minty mojitos but the light fruit touch made the drink perfect. My friend and I decided to split the Lobster Mac & Cheese and the Seafood Flat bread since we couldn't decide on just one of their interesting delicacies. All the different fishes on the flat bread were amazing, especially the shrimp which had a hibachi taste to it. But I must say, the mac & cheese was my favorite. I'm a sucker for comfort food and any variation of it is great. To finish, we had the fondue and it definitely exceeded expectations. There were options of milk and dark chocolate, and white chocolate with "38" in raspberry drizzle. All of these can be enjoyed with strawberries, marshmallows and bites of pound cake.

Special Dishes:

Lobster Mac & Cheese, Fondue, Seafood Flatbread

Erin D

Overview:

Flat Branch has, at least to my knowledge, always been a well-known and beloved restaurant in Columbia. When parents come to visit their starving student for the weekend, most of my friends bat their eyes and pull out the, "I love you" for a meal here. I've only been able to dine at Flat Branch a handful of times but it's never disappointed.

From the appetizer menu, I love the Spicy Spinach Dip. A wonderful variation of a classic bar dish with not too strong of a kick. And while I've never had them, I've heard the Original Flat Branch Nachos are fantastic. To go with these bar eats, the Honey Wheat Brew is fantastic for those still learning to love beer. That's the draft I've stuck with, but my friends all love the darker brews too!

All of the pizzas and burgers are delicious, but today I gave the Pulled Pork Sandwich with the Sweet Potato Chips and both were fantastic. The bbq sauce came on the side and had a great, thick consistency. The chips were a little sweeter than I'd normally go for but still great!

Special Dishes:

Spicy Spinach Dip, Burgers, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Sweet Potato Chips