Mouth-Watering May: Dinner bells ringing at theme park, showboat

You can't taste it or smell it, but when you see the photos of the culinary offerings at Silver Dollar City's Bluegrass & BBQ festival, your mouth will water anyway: Brisket kettle chips, brisket mac and cheese wrap, barbecue chicken cones, a barbecue pulled pork skillet, pineapple-pepper pulled pork sandwiches and ribs with flavors like root beer glazed and Cajun.

How can you even begin to make up your mind? The good news is that at this year's festival, which continues through May 31, you don't really have to.

"We've spread the barbecue experience of Bluegrass & BBQ throughout the park to 25 different eateries -- and we created the new Tasting Passport so guests can try tastes of five different items for one price," explains Sam Hedrick, SDC director of food and beverage. "Now there is no need to have to choose just one item."

"Silver Dollar City is all about families having fun and making memories," he observes. "Many memories are made around the dinner table, and we want families to have great experiences when they eat with us and make new memories."

He adds that the pandemic, which delayed the park opening in 2020, has only heightened the pleasure of food.

"Guests want something to feel normal and be familiar," he says. "It is that familiar escape that lets us forget our troubles for a moment and appreciate what is in front of us."

Hannah Stroud, foods manager aboard the Showboat Branson Belle, agrees.

"A lot of people during the pandemic stopped going out to eat, so when they choose to come to the Showboat for a meal, show and cruise, they are ready to have a freshly cooked meal served to them," she says -- so ready that the Belle set sail May 14, two weeks earlier than usual.

Aboard the Belle, guests can enjoy a three-course meal or opt up to the Captain's Club, where they can choose from a grilled ribeye, grilled pork chops, pan seared trout filets and pan seared chicken breasts. New in 2020, the ooey gooey buttercake, originated at Silver Dollar City, has been a big hit.

But as is true at Silver Dollar City, the food is only part of the fun aboard the Belle.

"The meal at the Showboat Branson Belle is one of three pieces of the guest experience, [and] all three of those pieces are very important to our guests," Stroud says. "They choose to spend a piece of their vacation with us because we can provide them an experience that you can't find anywhere else in town. You not only get a three-course meal served to you, but you also get to watch an amazing and upbeat variety show while we take you on a boat ride around the beautiful Table Rock Lake."

During Silver Dollar City's 15-day Bluegrass & BBQ event, guests can hear national touring bands and rising stars on stages throughout the park, a reflection of the pandemic's focus on outdoor venues.

"There is truly demand to enjoy musical performances, variety and good food," says Tim Stowe, general manager at Showboat Branson Belle and formerly a longtime entertainment manager at Silver Dollar City.

This year, Silver Dollar City’s Bluegrass & BBQ festival offers a Tasting Passport to let you choose from food all across the park, including barbecue waffle cones, a brisket mac and cheese wrap and the chicken skillet tater. (Courtesy Photos/SDC)

This year, Silver Dollar City’s Bluegrass & BBQ festival offers a Tasting Passport to let you choose from food all across the park, including barbecue waffle cones, a brisket mac and cheese wrap and the chicken skillet tater. (Courtesy Photos/SDC)