Using What's Fresh
EAT: Powered by Da Barefoot Chef takes the best of what's available in 417-land and creates an ever-changing, lunch-friendly menu.
The day I visited EAT: Powered by Da Barefoot Chef (that name’s a mouthful), I noticed something: If you wanted to dine there on that particular day, you had better have a taste for eggplant. Many of the menu’s items contained that aubergine fruit. And that’s because we visited when fresh eggplant was at its peak in our region. See, that’s how EAT functions. Eggplant was the star that day, but the next week it could change. Owner Pauly Allen makes it a point to grab up whatever veggies and fruits are in season locally, so the menu is ever-changing. He also uses locally raised meats, and he sells a variety of veggies and seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds in Mansfield. It’s a veritable smorgasbord for people who are enthusiastic about eating local and eating fresh.
EAT1607 W. Highway J, Ozark |
The day I visited with 417 co-workers Cassie Darst, Bethany McDonald and Dori Grinder, I ordered the roasted veggie pita pizza. It was $9.99 for a whole order and came with a side salad. You can get a half order of anything on the menu, but I think the half order is a bad deal. It’s only about a dollar or two cheaper, and when the price is already dancing around the $10 mark for a lunch item, I can’t imagine paying about $8 for half of it. The prices are my only complaint with EAT. I know you have to factor in the added cost of buying local and fresh instead of the alternatives, but still I think the prices were a smidge too high.
My roasted veggie pita pizza, however, was delicious. I asked for a spicy kick, so they added a peppery sauce that had a bit of bite. The pizza was covered in cheese and a variety of veggies, but more than anything else was the eggplant, which had a bit of a smoky flavor to it. Dori ordered a pork frisbee (basically a sandwich with two round pitas for bread, hence the name), which was filled with tender chunks of meat and the same spicy sauce. If you bring the kids but think pork and veggies won’t make their day, there’s also a small kids’ menu with items like grilled cheese.
Dori bought a watermelon to go. I was tempted to grab some heirloom seeds, but I opted out since it was too late to plant anything. But... perhaps next year I’ll be ordering my veggie pizza with a side of D-I-Y tomatoes.
About Reviewing
Reviews are written by our editors and freelance writers as a service to readers, without advertising consideration. Visits are as anonymous as possible, and all expenses are paid by 417 Magazine. New restaurants are allowed at least four weeks to establish themselves before a first visit. To comment, please use our new Dining Feedback section on 417mag.com.
