Category: News and Features

Posted in News and Features

Old Bridgeview Brewing in Washington Boasts Beers and Pub Style Food

Posted on by Amanda

I think by now my readers understand how I feel about beer, but if you’re new here, I’m what you call a beer geek, (haters will say I’m a beer snob). I love craft beer. Similar to the way a wine drinker enjoys trying wines from varying regions to explore the different flavor profiles, aromas, and characteristics, beer geeks enjoy how the variety of brewing styles, hops, and ingredients used can impart different flavors into brews.

A go-to brewery in the Franklin County area for this beer geek is Old Bridgeview Brewing in Washington. The beer selection rotates heavily depending on the season, although there’s also some flagship offerings, such as the Fraulein Hilda, a Berliner Weisse or the German Style Kolsch, called Put on Your Drinking Pants.

A beer flight at Old Bridgeview Brewing. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

Non-beer drinkers, don’t worry, you have lots of choices here! There’s the hard root beer, which is delicious and tastes remarkably like the soft drink, on the menu all the time. There’s always a hard cider or two available, and a hard seltzer, as well as iced tea and canned sodas.

Old Bridgeview Brewing makes a number of different styles of beer depending on the season. Find stouts, ambers, IPAs, lagers, and more on tap. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

When it comes to food, there’s a selection of shareables like nachos, fried mushrooms, and wings. Mains include smash burgers and fries, with a rotating monthly smash burger special, with past offerings including varieties like a donut burger (where glazed donuts serve as the bun), a taco burger, and the cowboy, complete with BBQ sauce, bacon, onion rings, and served on Texas toast. However yummy the monthly specials may sound, I typically stick with the classic double smash, as it’s my personal favorite!

Other selections include the pub classic fish and chips, as well as the German Plate, a shareable offering of two brats, two pretzels, a side of sauerkraut, pub mustard, and beer cheese. You’ll also find sandwiches and wraps on the menu.

The Socialite recommends Old Bridgeview Brewing!

The details:
16 East Front Street, Washington
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Posted in News and Features

Get a Taste of Delicious Ice Cream and Old School Vibes at The Soda Fountain Emporium in Steelville

Posted on by Amanda

Summertime is peak ice cream consumption time and a few weeks ago I chose to treat my sister to a fun ice cream experience. We enjoyed scoops at the old-fashioned soda fountain shop called The Soda Fountain Emporium in Steelville.

Although I’d seen pictures of the establishment on Facebook, it was a totally different experience witnessing it first hand. Walking into this place is like stepping back in time.

Just a few of the aesthetic details include a classic red and white theme that’s a tribute to old-timey soda fountain shops, tin ceiling tiles, wood flooring, vintage furniture, an antique cash register, and authentic soda fountain equipment and order counter. You’ve really got to see it for yourself.

The ice cream at The Soda Fountain Emporium in Steelville is homemade. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

The ice cream at the shop is all homemade, which I wasn’t expecting! I ordered the fudge brownie, which was absolutely amazing. The vanilla portion of the ice cream was velvety and slightly sweet, while the brownie pieces were fudgy and decadent. In addition the brownie pieces, there were also chocolate chips, making this a really rich, delicious treat.

My sister got a kiddie sized scoop of the cookies and cream flavor, and it disappeared before I could snap a photo, so I think she liked it!

I was thinking I’d grab a shake or float to go that I could sip on while we strolled downtown Steelville, but the individual ice cream scoop really satisfied my sweet tooth, so that’s a task for my next visit.

The Socialite recommends The Soda Fountain Emporium!

The details:
105 E. Main St., Steelville
Find the business on Facebook

Posted in News and Features

Shawcuterie Gourmet Grazing Offers Tailored Charcuterie Experiences

Posted on by Amanda

Charcuterie, or grazing boards and boxes full of cold meats, cheeses, fruits and more, have become increasingly popular over the past several years, due to the often beautiful presentation of the boards and yummy combinations of ready-to-eat finger foods. While you can often find charcuterie options on the menu at some area wineries, breweries, wine bars, and cafes and restaurants, there’s also a new business that is bringing charcuterie selections to you.

Earlier this year, Devon Shaw launched a mobile charcuterie business called Shawcuterie Gourmet Grazing. The grazing board menu features several custom options, such as boards that feed groups from two up to 15 people.

Larger groups or anyone hosting a private party like bridal or baby showers, weddings, and even corporate events, may also opt for the mobile charcuterie cart, which provides an interactive experience, allowing guests to customize their own personal charcuterie box with items like cheeses, fruits, nuts, olives, and meats.

Although Devon does a lot of private events, she and her mobile charcuterie cart have also made appearances at public gatherings, like Sunset on the Riverfront in Washington. I had the pleasure of meeting Devon and trying her charcuterie at the most recent Sunset on the Riverfront.

I selected items I wanted for my custom charcuterie box, like fresh fruit, cheese, meat, and dark chocolate covered caramel for a sweet finish. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

Of course there’s always food vendors at these public events, but on the hot, late June evening of Sunset on the Riverfront, seeing the charcuterie cart, with its selection of chilled items, was a very welcome site.

The custom charcuterie box I had was a feast for the eyes as well as the belly thanks to the way Devon artfully arranged my selections. Everything I ate was also delicious, but as a true cheese and chocolate lover, those were my favorite items – and if it had been a possibility, I could’ve just had a girl dinner with a box full of those two items. But, alas, a girl can’t live on cheese and chocolate alone! The turkey, salami, crackers and fresh fruit were also filling and refreshing.

You can catch Shawcuterie Gourmet Grazing in Washington next week at Sage Bee Prep Academy’s First Bee Day Bash on Tuesday, July 15 at 6 p.m. The event will feature other food and drink vendors, a bounce house, face painting, and other kid-friendly activities.

The Socialite recommends Shawcuterie Gourmet Grazing!

The details:
Find Shawcuterie on Facebook or Instagram to stay updated on events.
Visit the business’s website to learn more or to order.

Posted in News and Features

Get Fabulous Food and Desserts at Ruthie’s Family Restaurant in Rosebud

Posted on by Amanda

Building on last week’s article about Strike Axe Coffee and this video of my experience of my day in Rosebud, today I’m sharing about a restaurant we dined at. While there are more restaurants in Rosebud than I could’ve dined at during one day, my hubby and I decided to grab a bite at Ruthie’s Family Restaurant, located on Highway 50.

When it comes to the vibes and the food, the restaurant offers what I feel like is a classic homestyle dining experience, with a menu that features items like burgers, wraps, and sandwiches, and hearty, tasty daily specials.

We perused the menu and just when I was set on ordering a Rueben (one of my favorites, and the menu notated it as a Ruthie’s recommended item) we decided splitting a meal would be the way to go to make sure we saved room for dessert, because, priorities!

A daily special at Ruthie’s – Italian beef on garlic cheese bread and fries. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

When it came to food, we decided to split that day’s special: an Italian beef sandwich served on garlic cheese bread, served with a side of au jus and we ordered the fries as our side. It was a pleasantly warm day, and since we’d decided to dine outside, we each had a beer to wash down our meal (it was an IPA from Mothers, and a perfect complement to the weather).

The sandwich was excellent, stacked high with plenty of well-seasoned Italian-style beef, which gets flavor from pepperoncini peppers, Italian herbs, and a delicious au jus. Adding all that juicy meat to garlic cheese bread is a truly genius move and the added toasting helps the bread hold up to a dip in the au jus. As wonderful as the sandwich and fries were, I’m glad we shared the meal because the sweets at Ruthie’s just looked too amazing to pass up.

The banana cream pie was just one delectable dessert selection at Ruthie’s Family Restaurant. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

Although the offerings were many on that day – ranging from rich and fudgy chocolate cake and Reese’s cake to a refreshing-sounding lemon blueberry along with fruit and cream pies – we decided on the banana cream pie.

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On the first bite, I got a wave of nostalgia, since it took me back to the flavor and texture of cream pies that I’ve enjoyed in years past that were lovingly made by some of my relatives that have since passed away.

With its buttery, flaky crust, thick and creamy banana filling and lovely whipped cream topping, we really enjoyed it. Honestly, I’d drive back to Rosebud just for a slice of this pie.

If you have a sweet tooth, I’d plan on ordering a couple of desserts to go, and if you don’t split a meal with a companion, then just know you’ll leave with a to-go box, because the portions are quite generous. Even though I adored the food and beer, and although I don’t have a huge sweet tooth, I’d love to make another trip to Ruthie’s and try a few of their shareable appetizers, as well as more of their desserts.

The Socialite recommends Ruthie’s Family Restaurant!

The details:
207 US-50, Rosebud
Find Ruthie’s on Facebook