Table Talk: February 18–24

’Cued Up

It’s no secret that we love barbecue here at 417 Magazine. Heck, we’re even willing to drive across the state to get it. In town there are plenty of places to get porky, but only one is celebrating its 50th anniversary this Saturday. Crosstown BBQ opened in 1970, and the Division Street staple has been churning out Kansas City–style barbecue seasoned and smoked over hickory wood ever since. The anniversary party includes tributes to the original owners, live bluegrass and Delta blues music and barbecue deals. 

The Cravings

Springfield’s first cookie dough company Crave Cookie Dough has closed its doors. Crave, which specialized in edible cookie dough, milkshakes, cookie ice cream sandwiches and more, closed on Friday after two years in business. The Walnut Street shop had recently expanded to a Republic Road location over the summer. Although the Facebook page says the store is permanently closed, the shop’s sign says it is “closed until further notice,” and co-owner Dylan Collins says, “There are a lot of things in motion,” so stay tuned for updates. 

Feeling Board? 

If you’re wanting to shake up your party routine, break your boredom with, well, a board. Springfield Charcuterie is the new charcuterie board business in town. Run by Courtney Williams and Danielle Pothoof, Springfield Charcuterie launched two weeks ago and hit the ground running. Williams, who had been a co-founder of fellow on-demand charcuterie business Lavish Grazing, offers fully customizable boards (she’s done a vegan board and even a dessert spread) for any occasion. Springfield Charcuterie is venturing into the wedding business, offering boards for cocktail hours along with groom and bridal brunch options. Williams also hopes to eventually open a Springfield Charcuterie brick-and-mortar wine and charcuterie shop in the next year. 

Hey, Cu-Tea!

Mrs. Gilmore’s Tea Room & Vintage Suitcase Emporium is under new ownership as of the first of this month, and as part of the handover, the C-Street eatery is getting a hearty expansion. Robin Gilmore sold the tea room to Titus Williams, Freda Roussell and Andrea Flores in preparation for retirement. As owners, the three added seating for an additional 50 to 75 people and plan to re-install an elevator and expand seating for up to 100 people on the second floor. The trio have also purchased the Historic Humboldt Mansion, which will offer catering through Mrs. Gilmore’s. 

Get Trucked Up

Get a taste of life on four wheels at the Route 66 Food Truck Park’s soft opening event this Saturday, February 22. Get a sneak peek of the eat-in diner space and eat and drink your way through the menus of Classic Rock Coffee, Davalon, Earth’s Harvest (which just released its veggie-centric menu), London Calling Pasty Co., Not’Cho Ordinary Taco, The Olive Branch Rollin’ Smoke Bar-B-Que Shack and the return of The Wheelhouse’s food truck. 

Speaking of food trucks, Hold Fast Brewing has also released its food truck lineup for February and March, including Tinga Tacos, Not’cho Ordinary Taco, London Calling Pasty Co., Jamaican Patty Co., Weinerz Gourmet Hot Dogs and I Love Tacos Taqueria. 

Crack a Cold One

The cold, cold seltzer game is heating up! Local breweries are taking a crack at creating their own spiked seltzers. 4 By 4 Brewing Co. has created a hard seltzer called Basic Batch. Basic Batch currently comes in two flavors, orange-mango and watermelon-mint, and is available locally at Brown Derby, Macadoodles, MaMa Jean’s Natural Market and Hy-Vee in addition to in the taproom. Mother’s Brewing Co. has also rolled out its own hard seltzer, Ready Hard Seltzer. Ready Hard Seltzer is available canned in two flavors, blackberry-lemon and cherry limeade. Not a citrus fan? Head to the Mother’s taproom, where unflavored seltzer is on tap along with flavored syrups so you can explore potential future flavors. 

Editor's note: As of Tuesday, April 28, Mother's Brewing Company issued a recall on the Ready Hard Seltzer, citing a quality issue. Check Mother's website for further updates and information.

Roll the Dice

Try your luck next Monday at Scotch & Soda’s celebrity blackjack night. Chip donations benefit The Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks, and the cards are dealt by Jay Fotch, Jeremy Rabe, Springfield Batman, Austin Ruder and more celebrity guests. The event includes food, drink specials and free valet parking. 

Samedi Gras

When you wanna get in the spirit of Mardi Gras but, you know, you’ve got a job and stuff, head to C-Street for its fat Saturday celebration. The all-day celebration includes beads at merchants and, most importantly, Cajun food and specials at C-Street eateries, including The Artisan’s Oven, Big Momma’s Coffee & Espresso, Café Basilico, Café Cusco, That Lebanese Place, Lindbergs, Q’Enoteca and Van Gogh’s Eeterie.