Eating Out

D’Arpino’s Italian Cafe {Springfield, MO}

Back in 2009 I had a big group of friends that got together once a month and tried new restaurants. The girls liked to dress up so it was usually business casual or higher in dress, we tried to pick restaurants that were local to the area versus being a chain restaurant, and we went back and forth between the Joplin area and the Springfield Area. 12 Restaurants and I made 11 of them. D’Arpino’s Italian Cafe on National in Springfield was one of the places that we went to.

Jump forward to 2016, about a week ago or so, and a sort of date night, but the baby was with us, and Mark and I were trying to decide where to eat. Our normal go to in Springfield is Zio’s but we wanted something a little different. We threw out this suggestion and that and eventually landed on D’Arpino’s and asked why we’d only been there the one time.

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The Original Gringos {Webb City, MO}

Did you know that yesterday was Taco Tuesday? It was also National Taco Day (Oct. 4). What does that mean? Well, obviously you need to have Tacos for dinner. I guess lunch would have sufficed or better yet, both meals! :). My friend Jody met me at Gringos in Webb City for dinner. We know the owner and he came and talked to us a little bit. I mentioned how crazy it was to get into the parking lot just to park and he said that it’s typically like that on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Tuesdays there is a special for 2 Tacos since it is after all Taco Tuesday. Fridays special is Taco Salad. I’m not sure what was Saturday’s draw. I didn’t pay attention to the menu I guess.

Here’s the thing though, someone asked on Jody’s Facebook where the best place in Joplin is to get Tacos and we were like Webb City. That would be Webb City Gringos in case you wondered. It really is.

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Barton County Rescue & Recover and Smokin Joe’s BBQ

I have friends on the Barton County Rescue and Recovery team. Do you know what they are? Go get lost… they’ll find you. ha! Just kidding. They are a search and rescue team that is funded through donations and fundraisers. It is comprised of volunteers and they are part of the Barton County Emergency Management system. They specialize in swift water rescues, public safety diving, and land based search and rescue.

I mentioned that they run off donations and fundraisers. Well Smokin Joe’s BBQ located in Liberal, Missouri, is teaming up with the Barton County Rescue and Recovery team this Saturday during the Lamar City Wide Garage Sale to help keep people fed while they’re out finding their bargains!

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Jose Peppers {Belton, MO}

Earlier this year after a string of unfortunate events revolving around trying to purchase a truck, Mark and I found this restaurant in Belton, MO. On a Monday night we had to wait 20 minutes to be seated… Wow. Must mean it’s good, right? Oh yeah! So good in fact that last night after leaving the Chiefs game, where they won by the way, we decided to eat dinner at Jose Peppers.

I absolutely LOVE stuffed jalapeño peppers. I highly recommend these because I’m not sure you can find better…. seriously! Although I’m willing to keep searching! Like I said, I love stuffed jalapeño peppers.

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Bruner Pharmacy {Monett, MO}

Yesterday my daughter and I went with my mom to her hair appointment. While mom was getting her hair cut, we walked around downtown Monett, Missouri. I have to say I’ve never really spent a lot of time there so it was interesting. Right across from where mom was getting her hair cut was Bruner’s Pharmacy. We walked across the street and wandered around.

So first off, they have some really cool things in there. I found a Mickey Mouse Scrapbook and a Mickey Mouse Recipe binder. I’m all about spotting the Mickey/Minnie Mouse stuff these days… but the coolest part of it, they had a real ice cream shop!

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Double D’s Cafe {Duenweg, MO}

Earlier this month my dad, Mark, Jared, and I were looking for somewhere to eat lunch. Jared had come to my parents house to help Mark replace a ceiling fan and fix a light, but when noon hit, it was time to eat. We had to run to town anyway so we decided to grab lunch when we headed to town. Jared asked if we’d eaten at Double D Cafe in Duenweg, MO. We said, No so it was on. That’s where we went.

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Cold Stone Creamery {Springfield, MO}

On our way home from Metropolis, we decided to stop in Springfield at PFI Western Wear and from there we went on the hunt for the Cold Stone Creamery. I must say it’s a good thing this place wasn’t in town when I was going to college… I might have eaten here a few too many times… maybe. Maybe not….

Anyway, pictured above, I went for the Birthday Cake Ice Cream. Cake batter ice cream, rainbow sprinkles, brownie bites, and fudge. What’s not to love?!?!

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Colton’s Steakhouse {Poplar Bluff, AR}

On our drive home Sunday, we made it as far as Poplar Bluff before needing fuel for the truck and our bellies.  I did a quick search for restaurants, other than the Dairy Queen we ate at for lunch and the MacDonalds (aka McDonald’s… there’s a story there!). I came across the fact that Poplar Bluff had a Colton’s Steakhouse, so we decided to eat there.

If you’ve been to a Colton’s before, you know they serve you rolls before your meal. If you’ve never been, hey, they serve you rolls with your meal. And these rolls are so yummy! I could make a meal out of these rolls.

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