Picture this: You’re traveling across Missouri, devouring tender, slow-smoked barbecue and washing it down with ice-cold Budweisers. Then, out of nowhere, you get a hankering for elevated Balkan fare and Belgian ale, or chic Parisian bistro bites and crisp white wine. You’re in luck — in Missouri, you can find all those flavors and more, and the dining experience is going to be deluxe. Just ask the James Beard Foundation.

From Kansas City to St. Louis and plenty of places in between, James Beard Award winners and nominees are proving that Missouri is a culinary powerhouse even when there are no pitmasters in sight. Plus, there are plenty of exciting libations to pair with all that fine dining, brought to you by a cast of inventive brewers and local winemakers. As the craft beer revolution continues to sweep the state, wineries in the small towns of Augusta, Hermann, and Defiance are reclaiming Missouri’s historic wine heritage as the home of the very first American Viticultural Area (AVA) with elegant new offerings.

So consider this your invitation for a culinary-focused visit to the Show-Me State. Our recommendation? Come hungry. Here’s where to dine and drink for a taste of Missouri’s lofty foodie scene.

THE EATS

La Pâtisserie Chouquette

Simone Faure bakes the magic of France and the flair of New Orleans into imaginative sweet treats at her St. Louis pastry shop. Cakes and quiches, tarts and croissants — her creations blend French pastry traditions with nods to pop culture and history. Enjoy Faure’s delectable goods in-shop or take them home for later. If you’re interested in sampling a range of her very best, book a table for afternoon tea featuring Faure’s specialties, such as blackberry lavender tart and Creole crab quiche.

La Pâtisserie Chouquette: 1626 Tower Grove Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110

Yoli Tortilleria

Photo: Alyssa Broadus/Yoli Tortilleria

The name tells you all you need to know about this restaurant, a spot dedicated to making high-quality tortillas in Kansas City. Yoli, an Aztec word meaning “to live,” draws on Mesoamerican traditions such as nixtamalization (the process of soaking and cooking maize in an alkaline solution) to create tortillas of top quality and flavor. Choose from blue, red, white, or yellow corn tortillas and chips, which are best enjoyed with housemade salsas. The fire-roasted tomatillo and chile is a twist on a classic — something everyone will love — while the adventurous should try the chile, peanut, and black garlic blend.

Yoli Tortilleria: 1668 Jefferson St, Kansas City, MO 64108

The Antler Room

This Kansas City neighborhood eatery draws inspiration from the owners’ travels and the ever-changing bounties of the season. Dig into imaginative small plates — like spaghetti with miso black pepper cream and seared ahi tuna or falafel over smoked sweet potato hummus and herbed yogurt. Wash down your meal with a glass from the inspired wine list (focused on small-batch wineries) or go for one of the Antler Room’s inventive, liquor-forward libations.

The Antler Room: 2506 Holmes St, Kansas City, MO 64108

iNDO

Step inside this hip, brick-walled space in St. Louis’ Tower Grove neighborhood and embark on a journey through the flavors of Southeast Asia. iNDO is decorated with awards applauding its nuanced twist on regional favorites, presenting dishes that look as beautiful as they taste. Think dry-aged king salmon in a red curry cream sauce, shrimp toast, and a top-notch sashimi selection. The cocktail menu ups the cool factor another notch with drinks like Elixir of the Moon — a blend of Japanese gin, lemongrass-ginger shrub, and Lillet Blanc.

iNDO: 1641D Tower Grove Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110

Balkan Treat Box

This lunch-only spot in St. Louis’ Webster Groves neighborhood has won many accolades for its accessible, tasty bites that reflect old-world Balkan traditions. The menu is centered around Turkish flatbreads and wraps, from döner kebabs to lahmacun (thin, crispy, pizza-like flatbread). Dishes cater to vegans, vegetarians, and carnivores alike. Pair your meal with a Balkan draft beer and finish it off with a pistachio and rose-petal-topped rice pudding.

Balkan Treat Box: 8103 Big Bend Blvd, Webster Groves, MO 63119

The Town Company

Gather around a white-oak-burning hearth and embark on a culinary journey that reconceptualizes the Midwestern table. The small menu at this award-winning Kansas City establishment draws inspiration from chef Johnny Leach’s experience in the Pacific Northwest, the transforming seasons, and local products that farmers and ranchers have on offer. Taste your way through dishes like shrimp and octopus croquettes and carrots paired with arugula, stracciatella, and hibiscus — and don’t forget to sample the selection of classic cocktails and global wines.

The Town Company: 1228 Baltimore Ave, Kansas City, MO 64105

Waldo Thai

This family-owned restaurant in Waldo, just south of Kansas City, will whisk you away to the mountains of northern Thailand. Waldo Thai is an inviting space serving fresh, flavorful dishes that reflect the culinary traditions of the Lanna people. In addition to Thai favorites, choose from specialties like jackfruit and pork curry, sun-dried Thai beef jerky, and coconut curry with braised brisket. Quench your thirst with Thai twists on classic cocktails.

Waldo Thai: 8431 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64114

Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room

Photo: Jenny Wheat/Corvino

This well-loved Kansas City spot blends two distinct dining concepts into one refined space. Share small plates to the tune of live music in the Supper Club on a night out with friends. For a more intimate experience, book a table in the Tasting Room where you can sample Chef Michael Corvino’s seasonal tasting menu and watch the chefs work their magic while you dine. Both menus are inspired by Corvino’s upbringing in the Northwest, featuring plates such as shells and clams in garlic and white wine, seaweed donuts with trout roe, and halibut in coconut milk and passion fruit.

Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room: 1830 Walnut St, Kansas City, MO 64108

Brasserie by Niche

This chic and cozy cafe is Missouri’s answer to a Parisian bistro, where you can dig into French classics with a twist. For brunch, choose between favorites like croque madame and quiche. An order of crisp, fluffy beignets with a side of plum compote is a must. Over dinner, dig into a bowl of wine- and garlic-drenched mussels, braised beets, escargot, and French onion soup — and then, finish it with a selection of French cheese.

Brasserie by Niche: 4580 Laclede Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108

THE DRINKS

Defiance Ridge Vineyards

Set among the rolling green hills of Historic Missouri Wine Country, Defiance Ridge offers reserve and non-reserve tastings of local and West Coast wines. After you’ve sampled Missouri vintages like Chardonel (a Chardonnay and Seyval Blanc cross) and Norton (Missouri’s official grape), grab a seat at a picnic-style table on the captivating property and take in views of the lush scenery. Order a bottle and country-inspired lunch — from cheese boards and dips to salads and sandwiches — and stay a while.

Defiance Ridge Vineyards: 2711 S Missouri 94, Defiance, MO 63341

Side Project Brewing

Side Project does things differently than your average craft brewery. Owners and brewers Cory and Karen King have blended their love for Belgian-style ales, wine, and traveling into a project dedicated to crafting one-of-a-kind barrel-aged wild ales. Saisons and lambics aged in Missouri oak, Belgian ales aged in bourbon barrels, and a wheat beer aged in wine barrels are among the creative brews you can sample at Side Project’s tasting room in Maplewood.

Side Project Brewing: 7458 Manchester Rd, Maplewood, MO 63143

Perennial Artisan Ales

This casual St. Louis-based brewery’s mission is simple: craft delicious beers that the owners want to drink and hope other beer lovers will as well. Stop by and sip Perennial’s adventurous offerings, including hazy IPAs and hoppy pilsners, a chamomile-brewed saison, and a pink-peppercorn-infused wheat beer. The list of boundary-pushing pours is always evolving. Note: They also have a brewpub location in Webster Groves.

Perennial Artisan Ales: 8125 Michigan Ave, St. Louis, MO 63111

Chandler Hill Vineyards

Set on a historic property, Chandler Hill has staked its claim as a premier winery in Missouri’s wine country. The winery’s deck sits among vineyards, overlooks ponds, and has breathtaking views of the Osage Valley. You’ll be delighted as you sip through Chandler Hill’s menu of Missouri and West Coast varietals. True wine enthusiasts can book a Barrel Room tasting experience to learn more about the heritage of this esteemed Missouri winery.

Chandler Hill Vineyards: 596 Defiance Rd, Defiance, MO 63341

Boulevard Brewing Company

Since its origins in the late 1980s, this Kansas City brewery has become the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest. Boulevard blends old and new techniques to create flavor-forward beers with community and environmental sustainability as its foundation. The community-oriented space regularly holds events, trivia, music, and more — it’s a lively atmosphere perfect for savoring cosmic IPAs, unfiltered beers, or peach wheat beer, among an array of other drinks.

Boulevard Brewing Company: 2534 Madison Ave, Kansas City, MO 64108

Mother’s Brewing Company

Mother’s Brewing puts Springfield on the map because it brews delicious beers with love. Tropical pale ales, Oktoberfest lagers, sour wheats, and coffee stouts are among the impressive lineup of seasonal and year-round pours at this independent microbrewery in southwestern Missouri.

Mother’s Brewing Company: 215 S Grant Ave, Springfield, MO 65806

Stone Hill Winery

During the pre-Prohibition era, Stone Hill Winery was the nation’s second-largest vineyard. Farmers Jim and Betty Held bought the remnants of Stone Hill in the mid-1960s and slowly restored the historic estate to a working winery. Today, you can sample the fruits of their labor in the form of local varietals like Vignoles, Vidal Blanc, Chardonel, and Norton. While there, take a walk through the underground cellars and soak up the spectacular views.

Stone Hill Winery: 1110 Stone Hill Hwy, Hermann, MO 65041

The Gin Room

From its first imaginings in 2014, The Gin Room has become a mecca for lovers of the botanical spirit in the heart of historic St. Louis. This 2023 James Beard nominee semifinalist has over 300 gins from around the world on offer. Taste your way through the menu of classic tonic blends, martinis, and creative cocktails, or brush up on your gin knowledge with a guided tasting or class.

The Gin Room: 3200 S Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63118