by Sharm | Oct 28, 2010 | Articles
Kansas City’s own Spanish Tapas restaurant
“Tapas are a way of life. It signifies leisure, camaraderie, and good humor. In Spain, Tapas are usually accompanied by wine. Spaniards are not so much about talking as they are about eating and drinking. The wine is the medium that holds the conversation with friends and the food together. You make time to enjoy the moment in an unhurried way.”
That excerpt is from the La Bodega website about the custom of Tapas and after reading it, I am adding a trip to Spain to my bucket list. However, until I can get there I have found the next best thing….La Bodega.
There is something about sharing food that brings people together and La Bodega’s offerings of small plates and Tapas, does just that.
The selection of Tapas are amazing and even though I really cannot pronounce any of the names, the flavor combination used to create them are fantastic.
What is not to love about Spanish Serrano ham with Manchego cheese on tomato bread (Jamon Iberico) or thin crepes layered with feta cheese, leeks and basil (Crespelle de Feta y Puerros) and I have to mention one of my personal favorites white bean purée, rosemary & roasted red peppers (Alubias Blancos con Pimiento.) I love this stuff! If you just read about the R Bar you know rosemary is my weakness. It is so good I am working on recreating a version of my own. Once I have it perfected, I will post the recipe.
La Bodega has a large selection of wines, wonderful sangria, specialty cocktails, and the Spanish Coffee, which is set ablaze tableside with cinnamon and sugar. Just as stated above, about the wine holding the conversation, the variety of drinks La Bodega offers pull it all together.
In addition to their Southwest Boulevard location, La Bodega will be opening a second location October 29 in Leawood at the One Nineteen shopping center.
I was invited to the Leawood location for a preview night and had a great time. The new location is beautiful and in true La Bodega fashion the food exceptional. Plates of the white bean puree, assorted skewers, bacon wrapped dates and other sensational Tapas where served alongside their delicious Sangria.
Visit La Bodega at the original Southwest Boulevard location or the sleek new location in Leawood and “make time to enjoy the moment in an unhurried way.”
La Bodega
703 Southwest Boulevard
Kansas City, MO 64108
(816)472-TAPA (8272)
OR
4311 W 119th St
Leawood, KS 66209
(913)428-TAPA (8272)
If you have a great food find or restaurant in KC email me.
In Good Taste
Sharm
by Sharm | Oct 14, 2010 | Articles
Chef Tio survives to cook another day!
If you are a Kansas City foodie you are probably aware that Chef Celina Tio, owner of JULIAN is currently on season three of the Food Network show, The Next Iron Chef.
While the show is airing, Chef Tio is hosting watch parties on Sunday nights and will feature the dishes she made for that episode.
Last Sunday’s episode Secret Ingredient Challenge had the chefs create two innovative dishes using a duo of American breakfast favorite’s coffee and doughnuts. In the Chairman’s Challenge, the chefs had one grueling hour to innovate classic diner fare like meatloaf and corned beef hash to Iron Chef-quality cuisine. For Chef Tio’s classic, she had to make an innovative dish using the diner classic baked fish with rice pilaf.
We had some friends in town over the weekend and I made reservations for us to go to JULIAN for the Sunday night watch party.
For the coffee and donuts challenge, Chef Tio made an eggs Benedict type dish using an old fashioned doughnut, Canadian bacon, egg and red eye gravy. The second dish was a play on chicken and waffles with a buttermilk-fried doughnut as the base with fried chicken livers on top and a maple coffee glaze. Celina admits that chicken livers are not normal but it is an innovative approach.
To innovate baked fish and rice pilaf, Chef Tio slow baked Salmon and with a porcini and risotto cake topped with a lemon vinaigrette.
There was not a dessert featured in that episode but Chef Tio stuck with the theme and made a doughnut bread pudding with a wonderful vanilla bean sauce.
Whenever I watch Iron Chef or The Next Iron Chef I am always thinking, “I would love to be a judge so I could get to taste all those dishes.” It was such a fun evening getting to taste what was featured on the show. I loved watching the episode and seeing the reaction of others trying the dishes.
We had a wonderful time and the dishes were innovative and delicious. The Judges agreed and Chef Tio is still in the running to be The Next Iron Chef. You can also vote for her to win fan favorite online at www.foodnetwork.com
Thank you Chef Tio for being so creative and offering an experience like this!
If you are interested in attending a watch party reservations can be made by calling JULIAN at 816-214-8454. Cost is $35.00. Some dates are already sold out but a waiting list is available so call today!
Some other secret ingredients for upcoming episodes include fair food, potatoes, and chocolate. The Next Iron Chef airs on Sunday evenings at 8:00 p.m. on the Food Network.
