Custom Sales Book - 18

Northeast: Piggy’s BarBQ 327 S. Main St., O’Fallon; 636-2727444; www.piggysbarbq.com Co-owner Gary Hellyer is from Kansas City, so you know what style of barbecue to expect. The rub they created is the secret to their success. Check out Piggy’s Web site for an online coupon. Northwest: Wabash BBQ 646 S. Kansas City Ave., Excelsior Springs; 816-630-7700; www.wabashbbq.com Whether you’re eating at the original location in the historic Wabash Train Depot or the second restaurant in Chillicothe (also in an old depot), you’ll ﬁnd great barbecue. Babyback and spare ribs are always popular, but for a real treat, order the Fireman’s favorite, which is a half-pound of burnt ends, of course. Southeast: Missouri Hick Bar-B-Q; 913 E. Washington St., Cuba; 573-8856791 When Rural Missouri Managing Editor Jason Jenkins is out on assignment anywhere near Cuba, you can bet you’ll ﬁnd him at Missouri Hick for lunch. While some may debate him, he says the pulled pork

Best Coffee Shop — Southwest Missouri: Mudhouse Coffee, Springﬁeld

Northwest: Ray’s Diner; 231 E. Broadway, Excelsior Springs; 816-637-3432 You have two coffee choices at Ray’s: regular and decaf. Open since 1932, this good ol’ fashioned, ‘50s-style diner is the place to be for breakfast and lunch in Excelsior Springs. While you may not be able to order a latté, you’ll instead ﬁnd the kind of atmosphere that keeps people coming back. Southeast: Common Grounds; 300B S. Main St., Salem; 573-453-2173 Tucked in behind the local grocery store, this shop opened almost three years ago to provide a gathering place for local community groups. Today, hours have expanded, as has a bistro menu with an international ﬂair.

photo by Jason Jenkins

Central: Shakespeare’s Pizza; 225 S. 9th St., Columbia; 573-449-2454; www.shakespeares.com New Rural Missouri Field Editor Kyle Spradley, a recent Mizzou grad, still has sauce from his last slice of Shakepeare’s on his collar. Not really, but this place is THE spot for a pie in Columbia. Kyle recommends a classic pepperoni on the whole wheat crust. Northeast: Ugo’s Pizzaland; 200 N. Macon St., Bevier; 660-773-5334; www.ugospizzaland.com For anyone who thinks the only place to eat in Bevier is The Pear Tree, think again. Ugo’s serves both handtossed and thin crust, St. Louisstyle pizza with a homemade sauce, three kinds of cheese and fresh ingredients, including homegrown garden veggies. For hearty appetites, try Ugo’s Extreme Supreme, a monster pie with double everything. Closed Sundays.

went to college in Rolla, it’s a place to bring children and grandchildren and reminisce. Southwest: Hill Top Pizza; 91 S. Main St., Fair Grove; 417-759-7794 When they say you can get it your way, they really mean it at Hill Top. People rave about the bacon cheeseburger pizza, along with something called the “MO.” This mammoth pie tops the scales at nearly 4.5 pounds and includes whatever toppings you’d like. So, if you like a pizza that includes everything but the kitchen sink, you can ﬁnd it on the hill. Best Coffee Shop In search of a caffeine ﬁx? From double-shot espressos to your average cup of Joe, Missouri baristas are brewing up a blend of java and atmosphere. Central: Lakota Coffee; 24 S. 9th St., Columbia; 573-874-2852; www.lakotacoffee.com Lakota is Sioux for “friendly people,” and that’s just what you’ll ﬁnd at this shop just north of the Mizzou campus. Opened in 1992, Lakota is the epitome of a “micro-roastery,” creating blends for local businesses.

Southwest: The Mudhouse; 323 South Ave., Springﬁeld; 417-832-1720; www.mudhousecoffee.com This downtown coffee shop is a favorite with locals and college students alike. Mudhouse roasts its own coffees, offering nearly two dozen different varities. Come in for a bottomless cup or for a more hands-on approach, order a French press of your favorite blend. Best Ice Cream Shop It doesn’t matter if you’re 8 or 88 — we love ice cream. Just thinking about all the choices at these shops is certain to give you an ice cream headache, so enjoy them slowly. Central: Central Dairy; 610 Madison St., Jefferson City; 573-635-6148; www.centraldairy.biz Central Dairy has been a Jeff City institution since the 1930s, and the old-fashioned ice cream parlor is a regular stop for folks visiting the capital city. Be prepared for heaping scoops of ice cream made on the premises. Northeast: 4th Street Fountain; 401 Broadway St., Elsberry; 573-898-9793; www.4thstreetfountain.com Wes and Marcia Fakes restored this 1930s-era soda fountain in 2004, and the jerks (soda, that is) know how to make all the old-time favorites. They serve a classic drink called an egg cream, which oddly enough contains neither eggs nor cream. Northwest: Dari-B Drive-In; 901 Isley Blvd., Excelsior Springs; 816-637-0454 March 1 is a big day in Excelsior Springs as that’s when the Dari-B opens up for the season after four months. Owner Tom Carroll’s ﬁrst job was as a soda jerk in his family’s store, and he’s operated the Dari-B for the past 28 years. When you go, try the Dari-B Sangria, a refreshing drink that Tom devised. Southeast: Sara’s Ice Cream; 124 Merchant St., Ste. Genevieve; 573883-5890 Closed during the

issouri: Northeast M Best Pizza — nd, Bevier Ugo’s Pizzala

Northeast: Cappuccino’s Coffee Cafe; Northwest: The 840 Bryan Rd., O’Fallon; 636-980Dish; 846 S. HighMcCarty 2326; www.cappuccinoscoffee.com way 291, Liberty; photo by Jim Along with an expansive bever816-781-3474; www. age menu offering Zoka’s Coffee from dishpizza.com sandwich is the best around. The Seattle, this trendy cafe also offers a While hand-tossed and thin restaurant expanded its dining room complete menu and free Wi-Fi. crust pizzas are available, The Dish this past year, so others must agree. is famous for its deep-dish stuffed pies. The owner Southwest: The Rusty Jug; 1209 S. is a Chicago transplant, High St., El Dorado Springs; 417-876where this style of pizza 4669; www.rustyjug.com is king. Try the specially At The Rusty Jug, you’ll ﬁnd someseasoned meats, gardenthing you’re not likely to ﬁnd anyfresh vegetables and three where else: deep-fried smoked ribs. cheeses nestled between Once these babyback ribs are smoked, two layers of golden crust. they’re dipped in buttermilk, rolled in ﬂour and fried. Give them a try; Southeast: Alex’s Pizza they’re delicious, as is the homemade Palace, 122 W. 8th St., root beer. Rolla; 573-364-2669; www. alexspizza.com Best Pizza Alex’s has been a ﬁxture in downtown Rolla for more Whether thin crust or thick crust, heast Missouri: Best Museum — Sout than 45 years. Recipes for piled high with toppings or just plain seum, Malden Bootheel Youth Mu the pizza dough, sauce and cheese, there’s a pie for every palate. These winners prove that great pizza is available all across Missouri. other items have remained unchanged. For those who
photo courtesy of Boo

theel Youth Museum

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Custom Sales Book

Custom Sales Book
Contents
Comments
Columns
Ghosts of the Grasslands
Out of the Way Eats
Mail Bag
Best of Rural Missouri
Hearth and Home
News Briefs
What’s Old is New Again
Marketplace
Around Missouri
Missouri’s Horse
Neighbors
Look for the Dinosaur
Just4Kids

Custom Sales Book