Savor The Ozarks

What happens when one of the Ozarks’ most loved Italian spots is forced to shut its doors overnight? Joy heads to Piccolo in Nixa to hear the story straight from owner Steve D'Arpino. 🍝❤️ After a terrifying accident forced the restaurant to close, Piccolo is officially back open and better than ever. Steve shares the emotional story behind reopening, his family’s deep roots in the Oza...

The holidays are here, the guests are coming, and the food pressure is real 🎄🍽️  Joy Robertson heads to the SGC Foodservice Culinary Center to talk party food with executive chef Aaron Gregory, the guy who sees holiday food trends before they hit your table. They dive into shareable favorites, charcuterie boards that never go out of style, sweet heat flavors like cranberry chipotle and mango...

Step inside College Street Café and you’ll feel it immediately… the nostalgia, the Route 66 magic, and the kind of comfort food that tastes like home. 🍳🍔 This week, Joy sits down with owner  Mary Lou Meierotto , who stumbled into running this beloved Springfield diner completely by accident and ended up carrying on a legacy that dates back to the 1950s. They talk about e...

If the holidays have you buried under cookies, casseroles, and expectations, Joy Robertson and food writer Juliana Goodwin  are here with the gift of simplicity . In this festive video episode, Juliana shares her go-to  five-ingredient recipes , including her melt-in-your-mouth peanut butter chocolate chip cookies , a unbeatable Mediterranean layer dip , and a flavor-loaded feta roasted...

🎄✨ It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like... J.HO.HO.B.!  ✨🍸 If your Christmas spirit needs a little boost, step inside  J.HO.HO.B. , the holiday pop-up bar inside J.O.B. Public House  on Walnut Street, where Christmas has officially exploded  (in the best way possible). Joy Robertson chats with  Nicole Brown , co-owner of the downtown favorite, about how this one-of-...

If you’ve ever dreamed of sipping tea in a storybook, Ms. Gilmore’s  on Springfield’s Historic Commercial Street is your invitation to do just that. 💕 Manager  Karen Butts  shares how this pink, chandelier-filled gem became the enchanting spot locals can’t stop talking about. With its Alice in Wonderland feel , homemade soups, sandwiches, and quiches , and d...

On this episode of Savor the Ozarks, Joy sits down with Chaz Koeppen and Matt Gann, the heart and soul behind Cafe B-29 in Ozark, where they’re serving up more than just amazing food—they’re honoring heroes.  With Veteran’s Day around the corner, Chaz and Matt share the incredible story of how their WWII veteran grandfathers inspired them to open a ...

When life gave him every reason to quit, Chef James Cardelli turned it into fuel. Growing up in California with a rough start and no clear path, he found purpose in a Springfield kitchen, starting as a dishwasher at Jimm’s Steakhouse before working his way into the world of Michelin-starred dining in Chicago. In this Savor the Ozarks episode, Joy Robertson sits down with James as he shares h...

Nestled beside a row of towering grain silos, The Table is not your average restaurant... it’s a love letter to creativity, faith, and family. Sisters Sheri Perkins and Renee Textor built this stunning space from the ground up, turning a forgotten lot into one of Springfield’s most beautiful dining spots. Inside, you’ll find crystal chandeliers,...

This week on Savor the Ozarks , Joy Robertson steps into the apocalypse... a delicious one!  She’s at Branson’s Walkers , the zombie-themed walking taco joint dreamed up by owner William Doughty . 🧟 After 12 years in timeshare sales, William traded contracts for chips and chili, creating a one-of-a-kind spot where tacos come in a bag and every bite is a little bit wild. From the&...

This week on Savor the Ozarks, Joy Robertson pulls up a barstool at Jo’s Gather'n Place, a Springfield spot that’s been serving up home-cooked comfort and hometown connection for 25 years. Owner Jolene Eddington thought she’d only run the place for eight years... but when your restaurant becomes “like Cheers… with food,” it’s hard...

Grab your chips and sauce! 🍽 Joy Robertson is digging into a true Ozarks original! She’s sitting down with Garin Ferguson , the third-generation owner of Mexican Villa , to unwrap how a daring World War II pilot turned a taste of San Antonio into Springfield’s signature spin on Mexican food. Hear how  Hargrave Ferguson  and his friend Mike from Mexico City  created...

Joy Robertson takes a trip down Highway 7 to Jasper, Arkansas, where one of the Ozarks’ most surprising gems awaits:  Low Gap Café . Owner Marie Bottini  shares the remarkable story of how she and her late husband, Chef Nick Bottini, built a fine-dining destination “in the boonies.” Nick’s world-class culinary chops brought dishes like pan-seared scallops w...

This week, Joy Robertson sits down with Brandon “Chef Tiny” Moore, the chef who turned nostalgia into a menu and made Springfield fall in love all over again. At Retro Metro , you’ll find classics from the old Metropolitan Grill (yes, the famous flash-fried spinach  and cocoa pasta  are back!) right alongside new hits like the outrageous Fat Tiny Burger . Chef Tiny dish...

Joy Robertson pulls back the curtain at OTC’s student-run restaurant, Scallions, where culinary students transform their classroom into a real fine-dining experience. 👨‍🍳👩‍🍳 ​​​​​​​ Chef Daniel Pliska shares why everything (and we mean everything) is made from scratch. Lisa Gardner reveals how she trains students in the art of hospitality and why she sometimes tells the...

Ever wished you could sneak away to the Caribbean without leaving Springfield? That’s exactly the vibe Greg Walker is serving up at Palm & Paddle. 🌴  Joy Robertson sits down with Greg to hear how a hotel owner who  swore he’d never open a restaurant  ended up creating a tropical getaway right here in Springfield. From jerk chicken and coconut shrimp to their famous...

What do you get when two Springfield bankers swap balance sheets for bubbling jars of tea? Spring Branch Kombucha! 🫧 Joy Robertson sits down with Chris and Jessica Ollis to spill the (fermented) tea on how a basement experiment turned into one of the Ozarks’ favorite fizzy sips. From blueberry thyme to apple pie, these two built a kombucha brand that’s as bold as its flavors. They sha...

What happens when a California restaurant guy trades corporate chains for a north Springfield strip mall? You get Neighborhood Pizza... and one heck of a story. 🍕 Joy Robertson chats with Larry Grace, who literally wrote a letter that convinced founder and former owner, Lisa, to sell him the place back in 2017. Since then, Larry’s been carrying on her legacy (and her grandma’s legenda...

Joy Robertson makes a pit stop at Kad-E-Korner, the little gas-station-turned-restaurant north of Springfield that’s serving up big-time flavor and small-town charm. She sits down with current owner Martha and former owner Coleen to dish on 80+ years of history, famous hand-curled fries, and burgers so good people plan road trips around them. 🍔 You’ll hear how Martha went from custome...

Joy Robertson hits the road for Omaha, Arkansas, where Lilliehobbs Bakery and Mercantile is dishing out comfort food, nostalgic treats, and Southern charm you didn’t even know you needed! 🥧 Owner Kelly Lindberg chats about how old-school family recipes, a flair for storytelling, and a love for real, homemade eats turned her roadside dream into a beloved Ozarks destination. Think fried bolog...

What do alligators, ghosts, and French-Cajun fusion have in common?  🐊 They’re all part of the delicious mystery Joy Robertson uncovers at the BRAND NEW La Roux Bistro on Commercial Street. She sits down with local restaurant legend Joe Gidman (who brought us Café Cusco and Van Gogh’s) to hear how his latest spot blends Louisiana flair with French technique, all insid...

Pineapple Whip isn’t just a dessert; it’s a summertime rite of passage. 🍧  Joy Robertson sits down with Zach Fortner to chat about how this magical swirl went from a family-run carnival favorite to a Springfield obsession. Get the behind-the-trailer scoop on fan-favorite flavors, what it's like to run a business that's only open part of the year, and why the first warm day brings...

Joy Robertson sits down with high school sweethearts Victor and Sarah Briceno, owners of Mundo’s Latin Kitchen & Bar in Ozark, for a fun and flavorful conversation about food, family, and chasing your dreams. From growing up in the restaurant biz to opening their own spot featuring dishes from across Latin America (like mofongo, Lomo Saltado, patacón... yum!), this couple shares t...

Get ready to eat your way around the world without ever leaving Springfield. 🌍🌮🍜 In this episode, Joy Robertson heads to Metro Eats, where food truck dreams, farmers market finds, and community vibes collide. Founder Christina Shellhart shares how she turned 10 acres on West Sunshine into a bustling hub of global cuisine and live entertainment, complete with 15+ fo...

Joy Robertson heads to Willard, Missouri to visit The Hive of the Ozarks, a cozy, cheerful café that’s so much more than a breakfast and lunch spot. Founded by former school counselor Melissa Skaggs, The Hive is a non-profit workforce training ground where individuals with differing abilities gain real-world job skills through paid internships, and where the food and mission are equal...