Table Talk
Table Talk: March 8–14
This week: Billy Gail’s opens asecond Branson location, plus a fish and chips food truck, new flavor cues downtown, Tabak Co.’s new menu and more in Table Talk.
By Jorge Cespedes
Mar 08 2022 at 8 a.m.
Photo courtesy Billy Gail'sGrab a hefty breakfast, brunch or lunch at the new Billy Gail's at 3300 Gretna Rd., Ste C in Branson.
Fish and Chips Are Rolling Into Town
There’s nothing like the excitement of delicious food to be had in the near future, especially when it’s a pub classic that keeps our hearts warm and our bellies full. I’m talking about the classic British pub dish fish and chips. It’s battered cod, deep fried to golden crunchy perfection and served with crispy French fries—referred to as chips by the British. It’s a fun and delicious dish, and it’s being served by the traveling On The Hook Fish and Chips Food Truck. They will be passing through Springfield this coming Saturday March 12, stationed at the Staples parking lot on 2135 E. Independence St. from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Enjoy this awesome food!
Tabak Co. Gets a New Menu
Back in the fall of last year, we wrote about a high-end cigar and whiskey lounge in downtown Springfield called Tabak Co. After transforming their space, they added a large humidor that holds hundreds of cigars, a beautiful leather couch lounge area and a pretty well stocked bar. This place is constantly evolving to bring us the best ways to enjoy a cigar with some good bar food and delicious cocktails—plus they have a good selection of whiskey to choose from. The bartenders love to chat cigars and cocktail pairings with libations such as the El Dorado, a tequila reposado cocktail with Peychaud’s bitters, simple syrup and a mezcal rinse that will provide layers of smoky earthiness that will work wonders with the right Nicaraguan Cigar. And don’t forget to try some of their candied bacon as a complementing snack.
Billy Gail’s Grows Again
If you’re ever in Branson looking for some of that big, unforgettable breakfast, lunch or brunch food, Billy Gail’s is the place. They are known for their huge portions such as their 14-inch pancakes, a Monte Cristo sandwich that is to-die-for and a pretty good-sized Mighty Tenderloin sandwich that will have you talking about it for days. The Branson mainstay expanded to add an Ozark restaurant in 2020, and now they are opening a second Branson-area location at 3300 Gretna Road, Ste. C—just a few minutes from the Shoppes at Branson Meadows, Fritz’s Adventures and the Branson Landing. This place will be hopping before you know it! We will keep you posted.
Star Chefs on the Rise
I am beyond excited for the level of culinary talent we have in our area at the moment. Executive chef Matthew McClure of The Hive at 21c Museum Hotel in Bentonville, Arkansas, has been nominated for a seventh time as a James Beard Foundation semifinalist in the 2022 Best Chef: South category. What an honor and privilege that must be, because the James Beard Awards are like the “Academy Awards for Food.” They are separated into many categories, one of the hottest ones being the Best Chef category. Also a James Beard nominee, chef Calvin Davis has taken over the kitchen at The Order at Hotel Vandivort. Chef Davis was nominated as Rising Star Chef of the Year in 2019, and that’s not an easy nomination to obtain. He has a degree from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and vast culinary experience. Can’t wait to see what’s cooking next!
