by Sharm | Jan 17, 2011 | Articles
A 10-day culinary showcase featuring the best restaurants in and around Kansas City.
If you are a Kansas City Foodie or just somebody that loves to have an excellent meal at a great price, then mark your calendar for January 21-30, 2011.
The Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association and the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association announce the second annual Kansas City Restaurant Week presented by Jackson Family Wines.
In its inaugural year, Kansas City Restaurant Week featured 101 restaurants, making it one of the most successful restaurant weeks in the nation when compared to markets of similar size. The 2011 Kansas City Restaurant Week will boast hundreds of prix fixe menus for lunch and dinner featuring an assortment of cuisines created by participating restaurants’ chefs and culinary staff.
The event will take place January 21 – 30.
Restaurants from every area of Kansas City are featured in 2011, giving diners the opportunity to stay close to home or travel throughout the metro for a new dining experience. A complete list of participating restaurants is available at the Kansas City Restaurant Week website. The list is continually updated as new restaurants enroll. The list also incorporates online reservations via Open Table for participating restaurants offering the service.
My husband Steve and I had the unique opportunity to preview (and taste) some dishes that will be featured at this years Restaurant Week and from what I can tell you will not go away hungry or break the bank!
The first dishes we tried were at Bristol Seafood Grill, which has two locations in the metro, one in Leawood the other downtown at Power and Light District. Both are participating in Restaurant Week and I was at the Power and Light location. Their Restaurant Week dishes served to us were a Lobster Bisque and Seared Georges Bank Scallops.
I had a great time chatting with Sous Chef James Masters as he described the ingredients and preparation of each dish highlighting the fact that the seafood at Bristol is caught fresh and flow in daily and is as fresh as what is served on the coastline.
Steve and I were both in awe over the bisque it was amazing. There are big chunks of lobster meat in a base of cream, sherry and tomato with just a little heat from some cayenne.
Now, about those scallops. One word, delicious! The scallops were seasoned with salt and pepper and then seared in butter which gave them a nice crust, but were still tender inside. The scallops were served over a wild mushroom risotto and shaved fennel salad with a basil and olive oil glaze.
For dessert we were given a Vanilla Cream Brulee. The top was perfectly caramelized and I loved sound of the sugary crust cracking as I dove my spoon into the perfectly creamy custard which had fresh vanilla beans woven throughout.
If you are not a huge seafood fan do not worry. Bristol has a baby green or Caesar salad and a nice center cut filet on their restaurant week menu to choose from as well. The Bristol is offering their restaurant week lunch menu which includes a salad or the Lobster Bisque as an appetizer and then an entree choice from the following; Grilled Salmon, Almond Crusted Tilapia, Lobster Mac and Cheese or Petite Filet Mignon all for only $15.00.
Dinner includes choice of salad or Lobster Bisque as an appetizer, then choice of Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, Grilled Atlantic Salmon, Seared Geroges Bank Scallops or 6 oz Center Cut Filet for the entree. Dessert is your choice of a Vanilla Creme Brulee or an Orange Cream Chocolate Tart all for only $30.00.
The Bristol Seafood Grill has been in the Power and Light District for three years and prides itself on bringing you the freshest seafood which is flown in daily. Owned by the Kansas City based Houlihan’s Restaurant’s Inc, The Bristol Seafood serves up fresh delicious mouthwatering dishes using products from local Kansas City companies including Farm to Market Bread and others.
The decor at The Bristol is sleek and modern, but also warm and inviting. I felt my self not wanting to leave with the smooth jazz music playing, the fireplace and the warm lighting. It is definitely one of those places I could linger for hours sipping wine and enjoying course after course of their delectable fare.
If you have not been to Bristol Seafood Grill, Kansas City Restaurant Week is the perfect time to try it. The atmosphere is perfect for a romantic date and the special menu pricing won’t empty your wallet!
Well, as I mentioned earlier, I could have lingered at the Bristol for hours, but was on a schedule to visit another place and sample more Restaurant Week fare. That places was Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop.
Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop has been on my list of places to go so I really was excited to try it. Lulu’s prides itself on being a family owned business. Owner Malisa Monyakula, whose nickname was Lulu growing up, serves traditional Thai street food and prepares authentic Thai dishes she grew up eating and uses recipes passed down from her father.
Her, along with assistant manager Mike Dragen gave us the scoop on the Restaurant Week menu.
The lunch menu includes one appetizer and two entree’s for $15.00.
The appetizer choices include: Calamari, Green Mango Salad, Sesame Encrusted Tofu, Corn Cakes and Spring Rolls. Entree choices are: Ba’nh Mi sandwich, Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice, Lulu’s Secret Curry and Khun Yar New Noodles.
Dinner includes an appetizer, 2 entrees and dessert for $30.00. Choices are Laab, Green Papaya Salad, Firecracker Shrimp, Crab Cakes, Sesame Encrusted Tofu or Gia Yang for the appetizers. Entree choices are Lulu’s Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice, Lulu’s Secret Curry, Khun Yar New Noodles, Thai Lettuce Wraps and Crab Fried Rice. Dessert is your choice of Christopher Elbow Glace Ice Cream, that Mr. Elbow makes especially for them and includes flavors like Fried Banana, Toasted Coconut, Thai Basil, Pineapple Cilantro Sorbet and Thai Tea.
Our dinner started with the Crab Cakes that came with a house made Sriracha Aoli and a Green Mango Salad with Blue Crab. The Crab Cakes where crispy on the outside with a tender crab filling inside and the Sriracha Aoli added some nice heat. The Green Mango Salad was crunchy with a sweet dressing and full of crab meat, cilantro and cashews.
The two entrees we tried were the Secret Curry, well which is a secret and is actually a new dish to Lulu’s that is not even on the menu yet. It was full of chicken, eggplant, pineapple and onion in a secret curry sauce. The other entree was the Pineapple Fried Shrimp. It was full of shrimp, pineapple, cashews and golden raisins. The chewiness of the raisins along with the crunch of the cashews was a great combination.
For dessert the Glace flavors we tried were Toasted Coconut and Fried Banana and in true Elbow fashion they were spectacular. The real gem using his ice cream at Lulu’s is the traditional Thai ice cream sandwich, which is a sweet baguette, sliced open and filled with three scoops of your favorite Glace flavor. These ice cream sandwiches are a Thai street food favorite in Thailand.
Lulu’s has been a Kansas City hot spot in the Crossroads District for over 10 years and just recently moved locations just around the corner from their previous spot. The atmosphere has a true neighborhood feel and is twice the size of their previous location.
One thing I found intriguing at Lulu’s and cannot wait to go back and try is their cocktail menu. They have over 20 different fruit & herb infused liquors that they make each week in-house for their specialty cocktails. Read more about them and everything else that is new at Lulu’s here.
Lulu’s is a great place to gather and enjoy unique Thai dishes and a unique happy hour featuring authentic Thai street food.
Owner Malisa Monyakula was recently awarded a small business proclamation from Mayor Funkhouser for her time and dedication to building her small business in the Crossroads of Kansas City. She received this honor on the anniversary of her 14th year in business. Monyakula says,” We are thrilled with this honor, and it is our understanding we are the first to receive it in Kansas City.”
Over 100 restaurants are participating in Restaurant Week and the prix fixe lunch and dinner menus are available for viewing and can be found on the Kansas City Restaurant Week blog and website. Be the first to know what is going on with Kansas City Restaurant Week by becoming a Kansas City Restaurant Week fan on Facebook. Kansas City Restaurant Week is also on Twitter at @RestaurantWeek.
The prix fixe menus will offer multiple courses for lunch and dinner at $15.00 and $30.00, respectively. Ten percent of each meal will again be donated to Harvesters – The Community Food Network, helping fight hunger in the Kansas City metro area. Last year, Kansas City Restaurant Week raised nearly $56,000, which translated to 275,000 meals provided to the hungry in Kansas City.
Call today to make reservations at your favorite spot or someplace new you have been wanting to try.
Kansas City Restaurant Week 2011 is supported by Gold Plate sponsors Boulevard Brewing Company, Discover, U.S. Foodservice, The Kansas City Star, Ink magazine, and Spaces magazine, as well as Silver Plate sponsors Pepsi, The Roasterie, Inc., Kansas City Originals, and NightLifeKC.com.
In Good Taste,
Sharm
by Sharm | Jan 15, 2011 | Articles
Slow down and enjoy your food!
In staying with my commitment to keep a few of January posts on the healthy side, makes it the perfect time to tell you about Slow Food.
Founded and headquartered in Bra, Italy, Slow Food is the largest not-for-profit, educational food organization in the world. A local Slow Foods chapter is called a Convivium. The Kansas City Convivium was founded in October of 2002.
With movies like Food Inc. and Fresh, people are now questioning more about the foods they eat. This new trend of sustainable and local eating is sweeping the nation. Part of this new interest in locally grown, seasonal fare is that the people of Kansas City want the option to choose local and sometimes organic foods.
This is where Slow Food Kansas City comes in. Slow Food Kansas City focuses on food and community by supporting local growers and farmers and teaching the community about choice and season.
The different events Slow Food Kansas City hold throughout the year highlights and supports all things delicious and local and raises awareness on where to find local and seasonal foods.
If tasting artisan cocktails and small plates at the R Bar, visiting the Shatto Dairy or attending a cheese tasting at Green Dirt Farms seem like something you would enjoy, now is the time to join Slow Food Kansas City as those are some up coming events.
Right now Slow Food is offering a special membership rate of only $25.00 per person a year. I had the opportunity to join Slow Food last year and the membership rate was $75.00 so the $25.00 special they are offering is a heck of a deal!
Some events held last year that I was able to attend were a “Green Eggs and Ham Brunch” that featured eggs from a local egg farmer, bacon from Schenker Family Farms, homemade breads from Meadowlark Acres and a delicious cider donut bread pudding that Chef Michael Hursey of Casa Somerset made using local products from the Louisburg Cider Mill.
Another event was a behind the scenes tour and tasting of Christopher Elbow Chocolate Shop where he demonstrated how he makes his chocolates and Glace ice cream. I also attended the Harvest in the Vineyard potluck out at Somerset Ridge Winery, where Chef Jasper Mirabile slow roasted an amazing porchetta in a special roasting box called La Caja China.
Slow Food Kansas City is a nonprofit organization and uses their funds to support local community organizations. Last year Slow Food Kansas City held a culinary garage sale and donated funds to The Broadmoor Technical School which owns the Broadmoor Bistro. The Broadmoor Bistro is run by the high school students in culinary arts classes and is the only high school culinary program to partner with the James Beard Foundation. This year Slow Food Kansas City plans to support, Rosedale Healthy Kids, The Broadmoor Technical School, Kansas City Community Gardens, and Culinary Cornerstone.
Slow Food holds events throughout the Kansas City area, so if you are a proud owner of a locally owned restaurant that prides itself on using local products get in touch with the Slow Food organization about joining and holding an event at your venue. This will not only give your business some exposure it also lets the community know you are committed to serving delicious food while supporting Kansas City’s local farmers and producers.
Slow Food is an organization for everyone. Whether you are foodie that just loves to eat, a local food producer or farmer or a restaurant owner that is proud to serve local fare. Join today.
For information on joining, please call Mariann Vandenberg at 913-648-0858 or download the application form and mail it with your $25.00 to Slow Food Kansas City, Attn: Ms. Sarah Reed 3301 Windsor Avenue Kansas City, MO 64123
In Good Taste,
Sharm
by Sharm | Jan 7, 2011 | Articles
Featuring Live Nude Vegetables.
Now that January is upon us and many of you including myself, have made a resolution to eat a little better, I have decided to commit some of January’s posts to include some of Kansas City’s healthy food finds. The first one is about BADSEED Friday Night Farmers Market.
BADSEED is an urban/organic farm and market celebrating local food, culture, and community.
Farmers Brooke Salvaggio & Daniel Heryer grow 125 varieties of heirloom vegetables, flowers, and herbs on a 2.5 acre lot in Kansas City. They use “beyond organic” cultivation practices including extensive companion planting to promote bio-diversity, and the integration of animals for pest management and fertility.
The “fruits of their labor” can be purchased every Friday night at the Funky Farmers Market in downtown KC.
I have had the chance to go to the market a few times this year. Earlier this summer I got a delectable salad mix called “Red Velvet Lovers Mix” an “all-red” gourmet salad mix with ruby hints of rainbow chard, bronze fennel, purple basil, and edible nasturtium blossoms. I also picked up some local strawberries and goat cheese. The combination of ingredients made the most incredible salad.
This fall I was able to pick up an assortment of locally grown goodies which included some figs, honey, apples, flour and sweet, potatoes. There were also locally grown hatch chiles that were smoked. The flavor of these chiles is intense. I got a Ziploc bag full and have them in the freezer. I have been adding them to my chili, enchiladas, tacos and anything else that needs a little bit of heat. They are not too hot, but have a smoky flavor that really adds some depth to the dish.
Right now, there is an array of winter vegetables available and BADSEED sells these alongside an array of local and organic producers from the Kansas City metro area which include: Green Dirt Farms, Wells Family Farms, KC Community Farms, Western Hills Produce, Bigg Blue Farm, PJ’s Mushroom Farm, Parker Farms, Bread Of Life Bakery and Puddin’ Head Coffee.
Offerings include farm-fresh produce, gourmet mushrooms, free-range eggs, all natural meats, artisan cheeses, breads and baked goods, wheat grass shots, and micro-roasted fair-trade coffee.
Other goodies include: raw honey,Kombucha Mushroom Tea (Brooke’s home brew) and Certified Organic Flour from Heartland Mill.
The 2011 Winter Market Schedule is every Friday night, 4-8 PM (runs now thru Feb. 25th)
The 2011 Summer Market Schedule will run May – November.
Just to give you an idea of the goodies you will have to look forward to this coming year at BADSEED the 2010 growing season included:
* A wide selection of mind-boggling HEIRLOOM TOMATOES
* Meaty, Sweet & Spicy PEPPERS
* Delicious CUCUMBERS for slicing or pickling
* Bountiful bunches of multicolored SWISS CHARD, KALE and COLLARDS
* Tender purple, red and orange CARROTS
* The sweetest blood-red, striped, and golden BEETS
* Savory bulb FENNEL
* RED VELVET OKRA
* Weird and wonderful HEIRLOOM WINTER SQUASH
* Delicate and delicious LETTUCE HEADS
* Aromatic SALAD BOWL MIXES
* Pristine and Peppery ARUGULA
* Fat juicy CABBAGE
* Fresh or dried FAVA BEANS
* Dried KIDNEY BEANS and buttery LIMAS
* Culinary and Medicinal HERBS
* Gorgeous European and Japanese EGGPLANT
* Robust green and purple BROCCOLI
* Rare and colorful SWEET POTATOES
* Delectable salad TURNIPS
* Organic APPLES
* Heirloom ZUCCHINI and SUMMER SQUASH
* Gourmet, multi-colored Fingerling and full-size POTATOES
* Sweet and Pungent specialty ONIONS & GARLIC
I have gotten wind that some other things are in store for 2011. As soon as I get the scoop, I will let you know.
Badseed Farmers Market
1909 McGee Street, KCMO, 64108
Let BADSEED help you keep your resolution.
In Good Taste,
Sharm
by Sharm | Jan 5, 2011 | Articles
The inspiration for What You’re Missing KC!
Yia Yia’s Euro Bistro has been a favorite of mine since before I started this blog back in March of 2010.
Looking for something to do, as I am soon to be an empty nester, I wanted to combine my passion for food and love for KC. I must admit I am quite embarrassed that I am just getting around to writing about Yia Yia’s since it was so instrumental in creating this blog. I love the gnocchi dish there and would often think when I would have it, “If someone has not had this gnocchi, they are really missing out!”
In addition to that, Steve and I love to go out; it is a form of entertainment for us. Instead of going to a show or other activity, we like to spend the evening finding those hidden gems around the city. Starting somewhere for a cocktail, then maybe another place for dinner and then maybe another for dessert, embracing the food and letting it be the experience. In doing this, we have stumbled across some great finds that of course some people know about, but some do not, so I decided I would share my finds on what I thought KC was missing, and What You’re Missing KC! was born.
Now enough about me let us get back to Yia Yia’s! You know I love the gnocchi, and have never met a gnocchi that I did not like. At Yia Yia’s those yummy potato dumplings are combined in a creamy mixture of Gorgonzola cheese sauce, roasted chicken, spinach and spiced walnuts. It is a crazy good combination. I talk about it all the time and am constantly commenting on their facebook page how yummy I think that dish is. As a thank you, Yia Yia’s invited me to come in and have a plate along with a glass of wine over the holidays. It was a nice treat after the busy day of holiday shopping. Located in Leawood Yia Yia’s menu is a mix of American, French, Italian and Greek cuisines.
Not wanting to dine alone, I brought along my husband who is crazy about their lasagna, my brother-in-law who was a first timer and my sister who is now famous in my book for the quote regarding the gnocchi by saying, “I think this is the best thing I have ever put in my mouth…”
For dinner Yia Yia’s features appetizers referred to as Euro Delights, a variety of salads, wood-fired pizzas, pastas, and entrées featuring lamb, pork, steak, local chicken from Campo Lindo Farm, and seafood. Lunch adds a selection of sandwiches.
One of my favorite dinner entrée’s is the lamb chops; I have been to Yia Yia’s many times and have yet to have anything that was not to my liking. On this occasion, we ordered a variety of items for the table to share. The gnocchi of course was a given. We also shared an order of bruschetta, the roasted chicken and mushroom flatbread and the capicola wood fired pizza. Which they substituted prosciutto for the capicola at my request. Everything was delicious! The crusts on the pizzas are crispy and the flavor combinations pair well.
The atmosphere at Yia Yia’s is sophisticated and inviting. With its extensive menu, Yia Yia’s offers a fine dining experience in a relaxed environment. It is the perfect place to go with a group or just a romantic date. With a wide variety of offerings, it is sure to please any palate.
If you like fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere, Yia Yia’s is the place to be.
Yia Yia’s Euro Bistro
4701 W. 119th Street
Overland Park, Kansas 66209
913-345-1111
If you have a great food find in KC you think I am missing, email me.
In Good Taste,
Sharm
