Massachusetts to MO (Columbia, Commerce: hotel, neighborhoods, private school)

[wktully]

OK, I gotta ask.....what's Missouri style Cashew Chicken??

[firebll31]

From what I can gather, in other parts of the country Cashew Chicken is pieces of chicken stir-fried with cashews and sometimes veggies (!) in an oyster sauce and served over rice. In Missouri (some claim Springfield is the founding site of cashew chicken) the chicken is, of course, first battered then deep-fried before being covered with a gravy-type sauce with cashews sprinkled on top. Rice is optional.

[8 SNAKE]

Originally Posted by firebll31

(some claim Springfield is the founding site of cashew chicken)

Those claims are fact. Cashew chicken was first served at Leong's Tea House in Springfield, MO in 1963.

[pedro24]

Just so everyone is clear, it is "Springfield-Style Cashew Chicken" not "Missouri-Style Cashew Chicken." You have to give credit where it is due...

[wktully]

Cashew Chicken Springfield, MO style sure sounds good! I'll have to make a point to find some when I visit next week. And after my weeklong excursion in MO it sounds like I'll be walking around the block a few hundred times!!

[8 SNAKE]

Originally Posted by wktully

Cashew Chicken Springfield, MO style sure sounds good! I'll have to make a point to find some when I visit next week.

Around here, you'd have to make it a point not to find some. There seem to be more chinese restaurants per capita in Springfield, MO than anywhere else in the country! If you love chinese food, you'll love it here!

[wktully]

Unfortunately I don't think I'll have time to swing down to Springfield since the areas I am looking at are the Columbia/Jefferson City/Warrensburg area and all points in between - but gosh I hope I find some Cashew chicken anyway!!. I'd love to get to Springfield though - you are near my lifelong hero - Laura Ingalls Wilder.

[southernjewishgal]

Ah Mass to Missouri. What a difference in states! I'm a born and raised Dixie girl from Missouri dating a born and raised Boston guy. I am still baffled on a daily basis by the differences.
The accents- just such a difference. The words! Yall have words we've never heard of up there!
I would suggest the big city if that's what you're looking for. Columbia or Springfield would be my pick since I avoid STL like the plague. I'm a country gal myself though so if yall could swing it I would look into Gasconade,Crawford or Phelps counties. All very southern and rather rural. Love love love Missouri. Welcome!

[wktully]

Back from our Missouri adventure and well folks it seems we'll be making that move from Mass to Missouri! We looked at the areas of Warrensburg, Marshall, Jefferson City and Columbia - Columbia is clearly the area for us with regards to work/culture/education and we loved the rural areas nearby off 179 for example for living. I also fell in LOVE with Arrow Rock. Gathered lots of data for the Columbia area and look to hopefully move early 2008 - hopefully no later than Spring depending on getting jobs. Sooner we find jobs (or at least one of us) the sooner we can go. My guess is I won't find anything until I actually get there.

And yep......your right.......vittles are different!! I laughed everytime I passed a "Dead Lobster"

The pace of life is very different than what we are used to and I found myself getting a bit neurotic at how long it took to get to places at times. But we are used to go, go, go here - a slower pace is nice!

[gimme it]

Originally Posted by wktully

Back from our Missouri adventure and well folks it seems we'll be making that move from Mass to Missouri! We looked at the areas of Warrensburg, Marshall, Jefferson City and Columbia - Columbia is clearly the area for us with regards to work/culture/education and we loved the rural areas nearby off 179 for example for living. I also fell in LOVE with Arrow Rock. Gathered lots of data for the Columbia area and look to hopefully move early 2008 - hopefully no later than Spring depending on getting jobs. Sooner we find jobs (or at least one of us) the sooner we can go. My guess is I won't find anything until I actually get there.

And yep......your right.......vittles are different!! I laughed everytime I passed a "Dead Lobster"

The pace of life is very different than what we are used to and I found myself getting a bit neurotic at how long it took to get to places at times. But we are used to go, go, go here - a slower pace is nice!

I'm so glad you found the right place for yourselves. We are in the process of figuring out where to relocate. Columbia is on our short list, but we haven't visited yet. Can you describe the downtown for me? Would you say that it was charming and green? Thanks.