Eating my way across the state

One of the highpoints of my job is escorting press on tours of tourism destinations and attractions around the state. I get to take them to amazing venues and sit down to some unbelievable food. The drawback is too much good food.

On a recent tour we crossed the state from west to east and then west again. In Kansas City, we checked out a sample platter at perennial favorite Arthur Bryant’s. The platter included ribs, brisket, sausage and chicken, plus coleslaw and baked beans. Stuffed to the gills.

We sampled several dishes off the menu at Jefferson City’s new brew pub, Prison Brews. Located near the original Missouri State Prison, the brewery offers an eclectic menu. Our group chose salads with cranberry and walnuts, a Reuben, a wood-fired pizza and beer bread and cheese. Several in the group also enjoyed the home brewed root beer.

In St. Louis we dined on a duet of Chicken Cordon Bleu and filet of beef while cruising the Mighty Mississippi on a riverboat. Cheesecake rounded out that meal.

Traveling south, we enjoyed a languorous meal at Chaumette Winery in Ste. Genevieve. The Tuscan roasted red pepper soup made me seriously ask the owner if I could take the chef home with me. The grilled pork chops sealed the deal. (I did ask the chef; he turned me down). Others at the table had pretzel crusted tilapia with mustard creamed spinach, salmon and crab cakes. For dessert, some of us sampled the blueberry custard, while others enjoyed peach cobbler or watermelon sorbet.

If you’ve never experienced the Blue Owl in Kimmswick, a little river town south of St. Louis, you don’t know what you’re missing. The menu is varied, and our merry little group picked from all over it. On one end of the spectrum, some in our group ordered the strawberry salad. At the other, heavier end, there was chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and green beans and a roll as big as your head. Soups included taco, white chili and Canadian cheese. The quiches of the day included ham and broccoli and crab and asparagus. The restaurant is known for its levy-high apple pie and assorted other desserts.

Even though it may seem like all we did was eat, we did visit many tourist attractions along the way.