Page 41 - TRAVEL-BUDDY

By Vanessa Westmoreland
There was talk about Branson opening its first winery/restaurant in Branson, Missouri that would be different from any other dining experience there. Travel Buddy had to explore the new destination for itself. The smells from the scratch kitchen are what first hit you when you walk through the St James Winery & Restaurant. Then, you hear the romantic music cascading into your ears and you are instantly transported to a place that doesn’t feel like Branson. The exposed brick columns and beautiful, large red brick oven in the open kitchen make gorgeous corner- stones of the restaurant and give it a Tuscan vineyard look and feel. You can snuggle up to the bar and enjoy your meal and sip your delicious wines as you watch the chefs cook their master- pieces.
The restaurant opened in summer of 2017 and is a sensory overload for your tastebuds. The appetizers are some of the most creative selections, including goat cheese stuffed apricots wrapped in
bacon and served with a balsamic reduction drizzle. Then there is the stuffed hibiscus, the flowers are stuffed with goat cheese and chive oil. If that isn’t enough to whet your appetite, a surprise dish was the fresh melon and mint. It may sound ordinary, but it is anything but that, the mint served with balsamic and honey makes this dish a star performance. Over and over the chef and staff members hear from guests that the food combinations are surprisingly tasty. The scratch kitchen is definitely what makes it special and sets it apart, giving the food interesting flavor profiles.
And for the main course, you ask? The prime rib, you must try the prime rib. This dinner for two is a delicious dish but is offered at limited times, so check with your waiter first. There are two 12 oz prime rib dinners served, plus a glass of a tasty beverage and 2 chocolate mousse desserts all for $59.99!
This experience within a destination offers so much more than food, it also has a tasting room, charming gift shop
Branson
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