Springfield Food News

It’s Hotpot Time

KPOT Korean BBQ & Hotpot (3242 S. Stewart Ave.) opened yesterday, so naturally, I headed there for dinner to see what all the buzz was about. This wasn’t my first time having hotpot, but it was my first time eating at a KPOT (there are more than 100 locations nationwide). The first thing you’ll notice when you walk in the door is that the interior is impressive, with blue light-up signs galore and moon-like light fixtures. Each table comes equipped with a grill and individual hotpot burners. But here’s the real kicker—your table has to agree on whether you want just hotpot or just Korean BBQ, or you do have the option to pay $5 more per person to do a combination of both. They have a wide assortment of meat and vegetables to choose from, so it’s easy to get carried away since it’s all-you-can-eat. But take it slow, lest you want to pay a fee of $13.99 per pound for excessive leftovers. My table opted for both hotpot and Korean BBQ, and the hotpot was my favorite portion of the meal by far. I tried two broths—the Healthy Herbs and the Japanese Miso. The Healthy Herbs was my personal favorite, and I loved that it was ginger-forward. I opted for bok choy, baby corn, daikon and lotus root as my vegetables, and also added sweet potato noodles, quail eggs, gyoza and sliced pork. Overall, it was a delightful experience, and I can tell it’s going to do well in Springfield!

Some Sweet News for Elle’s Patisserie Lovers

If you were lucky enough to get to visit Elle’s Patisserie before it closed in January 2018, you know owner Elle Feldman has a true talent for truffle making. Although Feldman has since moved to Florida, she’s offering a very special treat for her fans back in 417-land. She’s selling handcrafted truffle boxes for a limited time, and she’ll ship them straight to your door. This past week, she announced flavors like salted caramel, spiced chai and champagne rosé. But a little birdie told us that she’s about to offer her lavender and pumpkin spice ones, too. You may also recognize Feldman’s name as the co-founder of Good Clean Wine, and she plans on offering a wine and truffle gift set soon. For now, you can place an order for a handcrafted truffle box by direct messaging her on Instagram at @sipwithelle.

Tasty Happenings in Chesterfield

In our past July issue, we wrote all about how Chesterfield Village is one of Springfield’s best foodie neighborhoods. As it turns out, it’s only getting better. Lucky Cat BoBa Tea and Taiyaki is planning a new location at the former spot of OMO Japanese Soul Food (2101 Chesterfield St., Springfield). Lucky Cat will occupy one side, while Fuku Shop plans on taking over the other half. At Fuku Shop, you’ll be able to find Japanese street food and desserts. We can hardly contain our excitement! We just reached out to the owners, and they promised to get back with us when they have a better idea of the projected opening date. Stay tuned!

Itty Bitty News Bites

• This past week, some members of our team took a field trip to check out The Bread Stop, a cute micro-bakery stand located in the Oak Grove neighborhood (2603 E. Linwood St., Springfield). Baker Araceli Streda is the face behind the stand, and she whips up beautiful croissants, pastries adorned with fruit and brioche and focaccia bread. Swing by Friday through Sunday to snag some goodies, and follow @thebread.stop to stay up to date.

• Nearly Famous Deli and Pasta House underwent an ownership change this past summer, and we love that Dan and Tiffany Brown have kept the menu pretty much the same. However, they have just expanded upon it with some very delicious-sounding appetizers. 

• Piccolo’s has officially announced a post-car-crash re-opening plan. According to reporting by the Springfield Daily Citizen, they are on track to reopen in late November. So that’s soon!