As we move into spring and summer, my goal is to add a few twists on the dining articles I share. From time to time I will share an article about various cottage bakers, farmers, caterers, or other food-related businesses that aren’t necessarily a restaurant, but are still important to our community.
To kick off this new twist, I’m sharing about a local shop in Pacific called Mushroom Dave’s. Here you will find a wide variety of nourishing, locally sourced food, from Amish grown produce, to farm fresh eggs, local meat, dairy, and other goods, like honey, condiments, and snacks. As the name suggests, the establishment also sells a wide selection of mushrooms, which are grown by the proprietor himself.
Mushroom Dave’s is also a CSA, which stands for Community Supported Agriculture, and offers weekly groceries to customers in a subscription style format, and CSA customers can choose what type of box they want to purchase depending on their household and lifestyle.
The storefront of Mushroom Dave’s in Pacific. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz
In addition to being a grocery store and local CSA, Mushroom Dave’s has an onsite commercial kitchen where the staff prepares and serves a small food menu featuring offerings like breakfast sandwiches, and lunch choices including flatbreads and sliders. There’s a seating area inside the store for guests to dine in, or you can opt to take your food to go.
Don’t just take my word for, visit Mushroom Dave’s Facebook page to learn more, or stop in the shop the next time you’re in Pacific.
Nestled in the bustling Heartland Plaza located on a busy stretch of US-50 in Union is Essence Salon & Spa, a local woman-owned business that provides clients with an opportunity to experience a bit of tranquility through its variety of salon and spa services. The business features a salon, located at the back of the space, along with rooms dedicated to massage and other spa treatments. The services include massage, esthetics like facials and waxing, as well as salon services including haircuts, color, style, and beard trims.
Inside the space, guests are greeted by the pastel hues and soft seating in the waiting area. For clients wishing to receive spa treatments, the private rooms are inviting, with warm lighting, calming music, and neutral toned decor to help keep guests relaxed during their visit, while the salon space features lots of colorful accent pieces.
The waiting area at Essence Salon & Spa. Photo credit: Ashley Wycoff
Owner Ashley Wycoff opened Essence Salon & Spa seven years ago, and previously worked in the ER and Mercy Physical Therapy department and for some time as a first responder. Ashley’s a licensed esthetician, and has been a licensed massage therapist for almost twenty years. Throughout her time in the industry she’s used the skills gained through continued education to add to the ways she can use massage to help others.
Some of the massage methods she’s focused on since starting her journey include lymphatic drainage massage, psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) massage, and her most recent modality is hospice massage, to aid in decreasing pain levels and increasing peace and relaxation during this time.
The private massage rooms feature massage tables, warm lighting, and calming music that plays softly in the background, to help clients relax throughout the experience. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz
Since massage treatments can often be looked upon as a way to relax, Ashley’s goal is to remind people that massages, and even facials, can be right for everyone and it’s about more than unwinding, although that can be a significant side effect.
“Some people think it’s just pampering or relaxation, but it’s also for job related muscle stress, mental stress, and physical ailments,” Ashley says of the massage treatments.
A client can add to those experiences by adding on various elements like warm towels and aromatherapy, or adding hot stones or warm bamboo sticks that are rolled over various points of the body during a massage session.
Clients have the option to add warm bamboo sticks, which are rolled over various points of the body to enhance their massage experience. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz
A mission to provide services for all
Getting a massage, facial, or even a new hairstyle can seem like simple ways to reduce your stress, help alleviate pain, and improve your confidence, but these services can often come at price points that not everyone can afford. Although they provide different services to their respective clientele, Ashley and Essence salon stylist Magan Matthews operate with a shared mission in mind.
“We have both dug ourselves out of hard times, and neither of us thought we would have come this far as we are now,” Ashley explains. Since she and Magan have experienced tough times first hand, they believe in keeping their prices low, yet quality high.
Stylist Magan Matthews providing a client with a haircut. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz
But that commitment to providing quality experiences extends beyond making services available to people from as many financial backgrounds as possible. Guests may take note of pieces in the business that share details about Ashley’s Christian faith. Whether that’s the hand painted nativity scene that adorns the storefront windows during the Christmas season, or the large painting depicting Jesus in one of the massage rooms, providing a welcoming, judgement free space to all is a way she feels she can live out her beliefs everyday.
And, by building a rapport with clients, she can modify the massage experience for clients who don’t wish to fully undress when receiving a massage due to religious beliefs or modesty reasons, or by providing a space that’s welcoming to any couple that comes in for a couples massage or couples facial sessions at Essence Salon & Spa.
Giving back
The team also believes in giving back to the community in both big and small ways. With her background in the medical field, during the height of the pandemic, Ashley and her lead massage therapist Amber Camp preformed massages for staff at Mercy Hospital in Washington, as well as the staff at Mercy Hospital in Jefferson County. They have previously offered massages for the Union School District Staff and Magan annually does free hair cuts during the back to school fair for the Union School District.
The salon and spa team also helps raise money for St. Jude’s Research Hospital, through volunteering their hours and offering their services at a discounted price for one day, with all proceeds from that day going to the non-profit organization.
Essence Salon & Spa is located at 709 US-50 in Union. To learn more about the business, follow its Facebook page, visit it on the web, or reach out by phone at 636-744-1770. Or drop by the Health Fair happening at The Ridge Church in Villa Ridge Sunday, May 4, where Ashley and her team will have a vendor booth.
Missouri is known for its barbecue, from the pork steaks and ribs popular in St. Louis, to Kansas City’s thick, sweet sauce that coats smoked meats. And in between these major cities, there are small and medium-sized towns with tasty barbecue joints. Franklin County is home to a few barbecue spots, but after a few people mentioned how great the barbecue is at Red, White, and Brew Coffee Company in Union, I knew I had to try it out.
While the business is open mornings for coffee and breakfast, at the time of this article’s publication, Red, White, and Brew is only open all day on Fridays, which is when it serves its barbecue menu of pulled pork sandwiches, pulled pork nachos, pulled pork tacos, and loaded baked potatoes. In addition to their brick and mortar space, Red, White, and Brew also serves its barbecue from a food trailer that is often found at area events like the City of Union Farmers Market.
When I stopped in last Friday, I ordered the tacos, which are sold in pairs, and are the smaller, street taco size. Although they come in a smaller soft shell, they’re pretty filling since each taco is loaded up with meat and toppings.
The pulled pork tacos come topped with pico de gallo, cheese, and an avocado ranch crema. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz
The soft shell is a bit sturdier, like a smaller version of pita bread, and that provided a solid structure for the jam-packed yumminess inside. Each taco shell contained a generous portion of pulled pork, that was then topped with shredded cheese, fresh pico de gallo, and crowned with an ample drizzle of an avocado ranch crema. Now, how to accurately describe all those flavors…
Let’s start with the meat. I can be picky about most things, ahem, barbecue. Although I love a good BBQ sauce, I also only want to add it if I’m in the mood for it, because in my opinion, when smoked meat is done right it needs little to no sauce. I’m here to tell you the pulled pork at Red, White, and Brew is done right! The meat has a delicious smoked flavor, while remaining tender and juicy, the fresh pico brings balance to the richness of pork, and the crema gave a slight, pleasantly tangy finish.
This visit was another solo dining experience, but since my husband loves barbecue as much as I do, I placed a to-go order for him. I brought home a pulled pork sandwich for my other half. And since it was thoughtfully placed in the bag in an assemble-at-home fashion, with the meat, slaw, and bun all packaged separately, when he put his sandwich together, it gave me a chance to steal a few more bites of the meat 😀
Whereas I will add sauce to my barbecue here and there, my hubby is team no sauce. Like ever. He was really happy to find the meat sauce-free, and delicious. He’s a man of few words when it comes to his food, but his actions speak for themselves. Although it was a decent-sized sandwich, it disappeared in a just a few bites!
The Socialite recommends Red, White, and Brew’s barbecue!
A new book store is coming soon to Washington. The Novel Nook, located at 600 East 5th Street, will carry used books in a wide range of genres, from non-fiction to classic literature, children and young adult titles, and more. There will also be a small section dedicated to new books by indie authors.
The Novel Nook owner Carmella DeJesus, who calls herself “a total booknerd” and has the home library containing 1,000 books to back up her claim, says opening a bookstore is an experience she’s always dreamed about.
“It was one of those lifelong dreams that think you can’t do, but it snowballed after looking at the space,” Carmella says.
Area bookworms can rejoice knowing that the store’s shelves have room for around 1,400 titles. Carmella plans to replenish the store’s inventory from various sources in order to keep the shelves full of titles, including by accepting donations. Anyone wanting to part with some of their current books and get a little something for them in return can bring in books to receive a store credit that will go towards future purchases.
The store’s selection includes classic literature, non-fiction, popular fiction, kids, young adults books, and more. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz
Playing on the business name, the interior has several cozy reading nooks that invite you to sit down and stay for a bit. In addition to the retail space, there’s a private room that businesses can rent out for meetings. The meeting room space will also be open to bookclubs, homeschool groups, or other community groups, free of charge. Additionally, Carmella plans to host events at the store, such as the upcoming Bunny Brunch, on Saturday, April 19. This ticketed event will feature a bunny themed story time and craft for kids ages four to nine, and a light brunch for all attendees, plus a latte for parents provided by Lang-a-Tang Cafe and Catering.
Thankfully, area book enthusiasts, myself included, won’t have to wait long to experience the new store. The Novel Nook will host its Grand Opening celebration this Saturday, April 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Follow The Novel Nook on Facebook and Instagram to get all the opening celebration details.
Small Town Socialite 