Table Talk: March 28–April 3

It’s Pineapple Whip Season!

If you’re like us, you’ve probably been missing that bright summery delight that is a fresh cup of Pineapple Whip. Well, we’re all in luck! Pineapple Whip has officially opened for the season—and by the end of the week, all four Springfield locations will be up and running. Glenstone and Campbell opened on Sunday with lemon-berry and strawberry-kiwi flavors, respectively. The Sunshine location opened yesterday with mango-peach. And the Battlefield one will open its doors (I mean… window) Friday with my favorite flavor of all: grape.

Every Taco, Everywhere, All at Once

Has anyone else noticed how many new Mexican restaurants have opened lately? Señor Julian Mexican Bar & Grill opened and has been swamped with happy diners ever since. Two weeks ago we mentioned Don Toño’s expansion into Willard. Now, we have two more openings for spots that are up and running right now. First, Cabos Bonitos Grill & Cantina opened yesterday at 406 S. South Ave. with their full menu and a full bar—and now the downtown crowd has a new go-to margarita spot. And Casa Bella Mexican Cuisine’s second location, at 300 E. Battlefield Road in Springfield, opened their doors last week. And, last but not least, we finally have an update on the new Springfield location of the Strafford-based Mexican hotspot, El Paraiso Mexican Kitchen. It is planning to open around mid-April in the spot formerly occupied by Lost Signal Brewing Co. at 610 W. College St. in Springfield.

Growing Up, Glowing Up

Liz Cookie Co. (who you might recognize from our story about Liz’s incredible savory brioche donuts) has just rebranded as Dough Bar. This baker of all things sweet (and savory!) and delish updated the business name to reflect the way the menu offerings have evolved since her start as a sugar cookie company. There’s so much more on the menu now, including those stuffed brioche donuts in a bunch of flavors, and other fun stuff like the fresh beignets that were served around Mardi Gras and the iced Vietnamese coffee that made its first appearance at last week’s Farmers Market of the Ozarks, where Dough Bar sets up every week. But another big news bite for this sweet spot: There’s a brick-and-mortar location on the horizon! Does that mean I can get a brioche donut any day of the week? I sure hope so! We can’t wait to learn more and find out when, where, and all the other good stuff. We’ll keep you posted!

Two Fests: Beer and Coffee

Two festivals are coming up for two of our favorite beverages: Coffee and beer.

First up, Ozarks Beerfest is Saturday, April 1 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Springfield Expo Center. This fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks features more than 200 craft brews, as well as other goodies like seltzers and ciders. In addition to beer samples, guests get to play fun games, enjoy live music and munch on some tasty food—all for a good cause.

Springfield Coffee Fest starts the same day and lasts until April 30. Visit the website to purchase your coffee passport, which features 20 local coffee shops that you can visit to receive free samples of signature beverages and a stamp in your passport. The event is an annual fundraiser for Safe & Sober, a nonprofit organization that works to prevent substance misuse in the state of Missouri. You can find the full list of participating businesses on the website, but the list includes stellar local coffee houses like Echelon Coffee, Black Lab Coffee Co., The Coffee Ethic, Green House Coffee + Affogato Bar and many more.

Learn a Little Something

Curious cooks might be interested in this upcoming cooking class that tackles a topic not usually seen at local cooking events: Native American food. The Native American Cooking Class takes place on Saturday, April 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and pre-registration is required (call 417-862-0135). Stephanie Le-Charles Hall leads the class, which is a partnership between the American Indian Center of Springfield, the Springfield Greene County Library District and Springfield Community Gardens.