Savor The Ozarks

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. 👨‍🍳👩‍🍳
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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 them to “go talk to the vegetables” when the stress gets real. You’ll also hear from proud program grads who’ve gone on to professional kitchens but return each week to cheer on the next wave of talent. Add in dreamy desserts like profiteroles dripping in bananas foster sauce, and your mouth will be watering the entire episode. 🥘

Thanks to our Savor The Ozarks sponsor, Arctic Food Equipment!      

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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 Rasta Pasta and tacos that nearly won it all at a local competition, Palm and Paddle is bringing sunshine and spice to the Ozarks.

Greg also spills on the challenges of being a first-time restaurateur, why his mom’s key lime pie gets rave reviews (even from Floridians), and how live music, rum flights, and happy hour make this spot feel like a vacation close to home. Pull up a chair, grab a cocktail, and get ready for some Caribbean flair, Ozarks-style. 🍹✨

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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 share how farmers markets turned into statewide distribution, how they survived (and thrived) through COVID with a pivot to cans, and why kombucha is winning over people looking for tasty non-alcoholic alternatives. Oh, and don’t miss the story of their “Ohana” flavor that raised thousands for Maui wildfire relief. 🌺

It’s bubbly, it’s feel-good, and it’s all brewed right here in the Ozarks. Pop a can, hit play, and join the fun! ✨

Thanks to our Savor The Ozarks sponsor, Arctic Food Equipment!     

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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 legendary sweet French dressing) while putting his own spin on the menu with calzones, loaded specialty pies, and enough toppings to make folding a slice practically illegal.

From loyal customers who kept them booming through COVID to dreams of franchising, Larry proves a neighborhood spot can have big-time flavor and heart.

Thanks to our Savor The Ozarks sponsor, Arctic Food Equipment!     

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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 customer to owner (thanks to a fateful plate of bacon), why locals call this place a second home, and how “wine and worms” somehow makes perfect sense here. Add in live music nights, a Sunday farmers market, and a booth made famous by Chappell Roan, and you’ve got one unforgettable Ozarks story. ✨

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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 bologna sandwiches so good folks drive hours to eat them and pies inspired by granny-approved recipes found in dusty old flea-market boxes.

Plus, there’s a mercantile full of local goodies, sourdough classes that double as dinner parties, and whispers of a new steakhouse opening soon. Pull up a chair, you’re family now!

Thanks to our Savor The Ozarks sponsor, Arctic Food Equipment!    

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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 inside a historic 1885 building complete with a secret underground vault and a possible ghost named Virgil. 👻

From crab beignets to bourbon bread pudding, it’s all made from scratch with ingredients shipped straight from the bayou. Plus, Joe spills secrets about managing multiple restaurants, juggling two head chefs, and crafting hurricanes that’ll blow you away (literally). It's a "Big Easy" to say... this spot serves up bold flavors, rich history, and a whole lot of personality. 🥘🍤

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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 the crowds running.🍍🍦

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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 the heart and hustle behind their five-year journey. You’ll hear about how Sarah left radiology to join Victor full-time, the family-friendly vibe of their second restaurant/nightclub hybrid OXO, and how they’re raising their kids in the middle of it all.

It’s a delicious story of love, culture, and community served with a side of plantains. You’re gonna want to eat after this one! 🥘

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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+ food trucks, an all-day bar, a farmers market, and future plans for a haunted forest (yes, really).

From Taiwanese snow and African goat stew to barbecue, boba, and bubble tea, Christina’s vision is all about supporting passionate local chefs and letting food tell the story. Plus, with a bee sanctuary on-site, there’s something sweet in every corner. Come hungry and stay for the live jazz, vintage markets, and maybe even a legendary Bloody Mary from The Warehouse Bar. There’s nothing else like it in the Ozarks.

Thanks to our Savor The Ozarks sponsor, Arctic Food Equipment!   

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.