A Clay Fusion I ate during T/F. It was delish.

As is the nature of college towns, the population of Columbia is always in flux. Unfortunately, I’m at the tail end of that cycle. In three weeks I’ll leave Columbia, possibly for good. It’s emotional to think of leaving behind the first place I ever lived as a “real” adult, where I could make my own choices about what food to eat and where my measly college-student budget should be spent. There’s the Columbia favorites I’ll missed and a handful of things I still need to eat for the first time. If I’m missing out on your favorite things to nom on in Columbia, please let me know in the comments. I’ll definitely be full when I leave!

Place I still need to check out before checking out:

1. 44 Stone Public House

I was pretty excited when this place opened last year, but I’ve yet to make the trek over. I love good pub food and I’m an obsessive Anglophile. I love that the menu fuses British fare with curries and Tikka Masala, foods that have become fiercely Brit in their own way. I’ll definitely be ordering the Colecannon; it sounds amazing.

2. Brock’s Green Pepper Rings at Murry’s

I’m all for trying new things, even if I think I won’t like it. I’ve been hearing buzz about these pepper rings around the j-school for years and I guess I better give them a try while I have the chance.

3. Buck’s Ice Cream

I’ve eaten the obligatory Tiger Stripe Ice Cream at MU campus events, but I feel like I should probably actually go to Buck’s and eat another flavor. I’m thinking raspberry.

The things I need one last bit of:

1. Olive oil and bread plate at Uprise

I remember going to Ragtag alone on Friday afternoons to review movies; something about seeing a movie alone and having a purpose for doing so is kind of a freeing. I love the simplicity of it: just good bread and good olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

2. A Booches burger

A thought has occurred to me every time I go to Booches: does anyone ever order any of the other things they have on the menu? Burgers are the star and I need one more slider on a simple square of paper before I go.

3. Crab rangoon from Hy-Vee Chinese

It’s a typical college student pick, but there’s something special about the crab rangoon at Hy-Vee. They pastry is not too, too crunchy and the inside is perfectly cream and cheesy. Really, anything made with cream cheese tops my list.

4. A Clay Fusion for Gumby’s

Although Shakespeare’s was the first thing I ever ate in Columbia, pizza or otherwise, I’m a sucker for the novelty of a clay fusion.

5. Breakfast from Ernie’s

The food’s good, there’s no denying it. But Ernie’s for me is about lazy Saturday mornings spent with my mom. Whenever she comes to town, we eat breakfast there at some point. The weekend she comes, we’ll probably end up there before packing up the car.