Table Talk
Table Talk: September 8–15
New eats in Nixa, soul food pop-ups and a cheeky take on Taco Bell and more in this week's Table Talk.
by Katie Pollock Estes
Sep 08 2020 at 8 a.m.
Photo courtesy Mama Jean’s Natural MarketFresh local honey is being harvested right now by MaMa Jean’s Natural Market.
Nixa’s New Eats
There’s a new kid on the block in Nixa: The Collective. Aside from a big menu and plans for live music, The Collective also features themed decor in each room. For example, the outdoor bar is called The Silo and features a silo brought down from northwest Missouri and seating made from water troughs. The menu features hearty, rib-sticking options like loaded French fries, fried chicken sandwiches, Philly cheesesteaks, pulled pork and a whole fried catfish to name a just a few. The Collective’s soft opening is going on now, and they’re open 3 p.m. to close Thursday and Friday and 11 a.m. to close Saturday and Sunday. Stay tuned for final hours after the soft opening ends.
A Charcuterie Storefront
Springfield Charcuterie—the business known for charcuterie boxes, tablescapes and catering—now has a brick and mortar location that opened for business just last week where you can pick up orders for charcuterie boards and boxes, including some fun stuff like the Box of the Month subscription program. The monthly boards and boxes can be made for four or eight people and feature themed ingredients. The box of the month is “sweet and spicy” for September, in case you’re curious. You can find them at 1323 W. Sunshine St. near Braum’s.
A Twist on Taco Bell
This week, SPLIT Social Kitchen’s featured specials are tributes to everyone’s favorite late-night fourth-meal drive-through joint: Taco Bell. Given SPLIT’s skill at getting creative with their dishes, we’re very curious to see how these specials play out—and which Taco Bell dishes get a tribute. So, I’m here to ask the important questions, folks: Will there or will there not be a riff on Mexican pizza since Taco Bell so rudely announced its pending removal from their menu last week? We’ll have to pop in and see.
The Bee’s Knees
MaMa Jean’s Natural Market activated my sweet tooth when they shared a behind-the-scenes story about their very own honey. They’ve been selling it for a few years now, and it’s harvested in late August with help from professionals at Beecharmer Farms from hives at the East Sunshine location of the store—you might have seen them there when you popped in to shop. The small batch honey is raw and runs $12.99 for a 12-ounce jar at all three store locations.
But, the honey news just keeps getting sweeter, because we also learned that Joplin Greenhouse & Garden Center (where you can find a pretty great little coffee shop) has partnered with All Aboard Ice Cream to produce a frozen treat that’s made with local honey and espresso. It’s aptly called Ozark Stinger, and we’re dying to try it. You can only purchase it at Joplin Greenhouse & Garden Center.
