7 Good Things

1. Usually we go for tacos at a Mexican restaurant, but the Agave Spring Salad from Catrina’s Modern Mexican (2925 E. Battlefield Road, Suite 105, Springfield) is a game-changer. Packed with flavorful veggies and a lightly sweet dressing, it has a nourishing taste that we crave. Hot tip: Get it with grilled shrimp.

2. Lately we’ve been craving the Whipped Chevre  from the appetizer menu at Farmers Gastropub (2620 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield). It features earthy roasted beets, a zip of hot honey and fragrant rosemary, and it’s served with a crispy baguette for the perfect bite. It tastes like springtime and comfort all at once.

3. Café Cusco (234 E. Commercial St., Springfield) is an excellent place to find vegetarian dishes that break the mold. One from the lunch menu that we can’t wait to try is the Jackfruit Jungle Bowl that starts with garlic rice and is topped with seasoned jackfruit, pickled onion, fried plantains, black beans and more.

4. A satisfying warm cup of joe is always a sure bet at Travellers House Coffee & Tea (2151 W. Republic Road, Springfield), but have you tried the Affogato? It’s a sophisiticated indulgence that is a combo of silky ice cream and a shot of espresso.

5. When we want big ramen flavor but aren’t in the mood for soup, we order the Naked Ramen from Karai Raman + Handroll (640 W. Republic Road, Suite 100, Springfield). It is packed with ramen ingredients but has no broth. Instead, it’s topped with a sweet sesame glaze. It comes with a lot of veggies, and we like to add a soft-boiled egg as well.

6. This time of year you can nab our very favorite sweet treats from Prairie Pie (307 S. Jefferson Ave., Springfield). Any of the pies made with rhubarb make us swoon, and the Rhubarb-Raspberry Pie in particular is a sweet-and-tart dream come true. We will never say no to a slice—and it goes well with vanilla ice cream.

7. Another classic we just can’t get enough of is the Walnut Street Smash from The Order (at Hotel Vandivort, 305 E. Walnut St., Springfield). It’s a refreshing cocktail made with vodka, basil, cucumber, lemon and simple syrup—all perfectly balanced and utterly delightful.