The buzz around the recent book fairs is that Alex George‘s newest novel, A GOOD AMERICAN, is going to be *the* book of 2012. (And as I’ve read an advance copy, I concur with that assessment).
A British ex-pat and devoted foodie, George has called Missouri home for the past 8 years (it also happens to be the setting of A Good American). And when I asked him about his favorite place to grab a bite in Columbia, he told me about the Uprise Bakery. When I asked why, he didn’t hold back.
“Because it’s a bakery, the bread (which they also sell to go) is always wonderful. They offer a wide variety of delicious sandwiches, and their pizzas and quiches, which change daily, are superb,” he says. ”Salads have a zing to them (the Thai Caesar Salad is especially good); soups are often unusual but always delicious. Everything is locally sourced, organic whenever possible, and as fresh as can be. There’s a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan options.”
But George is all about the Uprise’s Cuban sandwich.
“I dream about this thing on a regular basis. It calls to me. It comes on a crunchy ciabatta – there’s delicious pulled pork and ham, with fontina cheese, meltingly sautéed onions, and some roasted poblanos and a wicked chipotle aioli for some heat,” he says. ”It’s unctuous, gooey, and heavenly.”
George also mentions that Uprise is attached to the town’s art-house cinema, RagTag, which, he says, “lends the place a certain roguish je ne sais quoi.”
Plus, he says, it’s a great place to people watch. “There’s a revolving exhibit of local artists on the walls. And if you’re there to watch a film, you can buy a beer and take it in with you. It’s very civilized.”
———-
Uprise Bakery
10 Hitt Street
Columbia, MO 65201
Tel.: (573) 256-2265
———-
Photo courtesy of Kayt Sukel.
(Want to read more recommendations by authors? Check out Sarah Rose’s favorite restaurant, Blue Hill).