Starker’s Restaurant

by Sharm | Aug 30, 2011 | Articles

Fresh chef prepared upscale comfort food.

Located on the Country Club Plaza, Starker’s is one of the few locally owned restaurants left in that area. I do need to make it clear that I am not against the chain scene at all, there are some very nice ones that I enjoy visiting. It is just that for the most part when I can, I like to support local.

Owned by Chef John McClure, Starker’s uses local and seasonal ingredients and takes the classic comfort foods we all love and adds an upscale twist. One such classic on the menu is Starker’s Fried Chicken, which is becoming quite famous and the reason I went.

What makes the chicken extra tasty is that Chef McClure fries the boneless breast with the wing attached as one whole piece and lets it rest so the juices stay in the chicken. By starting with excellent local Campo Lindo chicken, a well-seasoned buttermilk batter and excellent frying technique, he has created a dish people keep coming back for. The pan gravy is cooked to order from a reduced house-made chicken stock. This along with the house-made mashed potatoes and sautéed green beans makes it down right sinful!

I really have never met a piece of fried chicken I did not like, but now that I have tasted Chef McClure’s creation, I have to say I think it is the best I have ever had. Not only is it probably the freshest I have ever eaten (Starker’s gets the chicken direct from Campo Lindo within hours of butchering) it is also the tastiest.

During the week Monday – Thursday Starker’s offers a ‘3 for $33’ menu. Being a local and seasonal restaurant the menu items can change but usually first course choices are: soup or salad; entree choices: can be anything from trout, chicken, pasta, roasts, etc…; finally dessert choices: butterscotch pudding with toffee or 3 snickerdoodle cookies.

Starker’s proudly serves local products from : Campo Lindo Farms, Beau Solais Farm, Wood Mood Farms, Shatto Dairy, Goats Beard Farm, Prairie Birthday Farms, Thane Palmberg and Farm to Market Bread.

With an extensive wine list, impeccable service (ask for Jessica, she will take excellent care of you) and an intimate dining room that offers a great view of the Country Club Plaza, Starkers is the perfect place to celebrate any occasion.

Starker’s is open for Lunch Monday thru Friday from 11:30am-2:00pm and Dinner Monday thru Saturday from 5:30pm-10:00pm. Reservations are recommended. Private rooms may be reserved seven days a week for lunch or dinner. Valet parking is available during dinner hours. For more information visit, www.starkersrestaurant.com

Starker’s Restaurant

201 West 47th Street

Kansas City, Missouri 64112

(816) 753-3565

In Good Taste,

Sharm

If you have a great food find in KC you think I am missing, email me.

Portfolio Kitchen and Home Flagship Store

by Sharm | Aug 26, 2011 | Articles

Located in the historic Pershing Building you will find the Portfolio Kitchen and Home Flagship Store, Kansas City’s newest design center. I had the wonderful opportunity to attend their Grand Opening event and it was absolutely fabulous.

Whether you are looking to create a new space or re design the one you have, Portfolio Kitchen and Home can help you design the space of your dreams.

I love to cook and of course you know I like to eat, so I was like a kid in a candy store at this event. Each design area was furnished with beautiful counter tops, state of the art appliances and filled with culinary delights.

Not only did I get to the chance to get information on top of the line products like Thermador, Miele, Caesarstone, Electrolux and other kitchen and home products, the evening featured cooking demonstrations from Thermador Executive Chef Brad Petersen.

Chef Brad did a amazing job and everything was prepared in the Thermador Culinary Studio located inside the flagship store.

The food was magnificent and looking at all the beautiful designs has really made me want to remodel my kitchen space. The design team at Portfolio Kitchen and Home has dedicated themselves to providing their clients with exceptional design, extraordinary products and superior customer service.

As well as design. Portfolio Kitchen and Home will be host to numerous events throughout the year and is proud to support a number of charitable groups through their “Great Taste, Great Cause program“. Portfolio is proud to be a community partner and supports a number of charitable groups and causes through our “Great Taste, Great Ca

For more information contact them at: www.portfolio-home.com.

215 W. Pershing Rd ▪ Kansas City ▪ MO ▪ 64108 ▪ 816.363.5300.

In Good Taste,

Sharm

Bar Louie opening in the Power and Light District

by Sharm | Aug 14, 2011 | Articles

Here is information from an official press release regarding the opening of Bar Louie in the Power and Light District.

Bar Louie Announces Opening in Kansas City

Kansas City, MO—BL Restaurant Operations, LLC has announced the opening of their 48^th Bar Louie location nationwide under Sun Financial in Kansas City, Missouri.

This hip neighborhood restaurant and bar specializes in handcrafted signature martinis and cocktails in addition to an exceptional selection of distinctively prepared small plates, sandwiches and burgers.

Menu standouts include small plates like Bavarian Pretzel Sticks with a trio of dipping sauces, Loaded Tator Tots and Buffalo Style Calamari. An array of unique sandwiches like the Luigi with shaved ribeye, along with an inspiring selection of flatbreads such as Chicken Verde or the delicious Backyard BBQ Burger will keep Guests coming back over and over to this casually cool restaurant and bar.

Specialty cocktails include martinis, mojitos, margaritas and infused fresh fruit shots. An extensive variety of beers, microbrews and over 20 wines by the glass are also available to round out the impressive beverage menu.

Bar Louie Kansas City is slated to open September 6^th, and is open daily for lunch, dinner and late night dining from 11am to 2am. The entire menu is available until 2 am everyday. Happy Hour specials include food and drink specials Monday through Friday between 4pm and 7pm. The warm surroundings with urban contemporary décor lend to an atmosphere perfect to suit the needs of parties of almost any size.

Bar Louie Kansas City is located at 101 East 14^th Street in the famed Power and Light District. The 4,900 square foot restaurant seats approximately 154 with an additional 14 seats on the patio.

For more information about Bar Louie Kansas City contact kansascity@barlouieamerica.com. For other Bar Louie location information visit barlouieamerica.com.

The Test Kitchen and Vagabond

by Sharm | Aug 13, 2011 | Articles

For one week only come experience Vagabond, Kansas City’s first “pop-up” restaurant. The concept for Vagabond was created by Chef Alex Pope and Test Kitchen Founder Jenny Vergara.

So you may be wondering what a pop-up restaurant is. It is a multiple night dining experience that offers a fixed menu at a fixed price and is only offered for a limited time. Vagabond will be open for five nights Wednesday, August 24 – Saturday August 28.

There will be two seating’s each day one at 5:30 p.m. and the other at 8:30 p.m.

The seven-course meal costs $75 per person. That price includes seven wine pairings, tax and tip.

Reservations are first-come, first-served. To make them, go to www.testkitchenkc.com. The restaurant will be accepting reservations until 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21, or until it fills up.

Chef Alex Pope is formerly of R Bar and an amazingly talented chef. The Test Kitchen is an underground supper club and is open to anyone who is appreciates the Culinary Arts and wants to have a once in a lifetime dining experience. For more information visit www.testkitchenkc.com.

I have already made my reservations. Hurry and make your so you don’t miss out. No one knows if Vagabond will pop-up again!

In Good Taste,

Sharm

Leawood’s Park Place New Restaurant Additions

by Sharm | Aug 10, 2011 | Articles

Here is some information from an official press release regarding new restaurants opening in Leawood’s Park Place.

Three New Dining Establishments Announce Locations at Park Place

All Three Establishments to Open this Fall

LEAWOOD, Kan. (August 10, 2011) Park Place announces not one but three new dining destinations to open this fall, including 801 Chophouse, Gordon Biersch Brewery, and Mestizo for Aarón Sánchez, celebrity-chef Aarón Sánchez’s new concept and flagship location. The new restaurants join an already impressive roster of dining establishments, including California Pizza Kitchen, Café Roux, Carmen’s Café, Ingredient Restaurant, RA Sushi, and Trezo Vino Wine Bistro.

801 Chophouse, the second Kansas City-area location, will be located at 11616 Ash Street, directly in between the Aloft Hotel, and Trezo Vino Wine Bistro. The Des Moines-based restaurant is famous for its steaks and seafood, and has developed a devoted following throughout the nation and the region. Owner and proprietor James Lynch says, “At 801 Chophouse, we are proud and excited to become part of the Leawood community and the great state of Kansas, and we look forward to opening later this fall.” They will incorporate the same stylish and elegant look as their other locations and plan to continue their tradition of phenomenal happy hour specials. More information about 801Chophouse can be found at www.801Chophouse.com.

Gordon Biersch, the popular casual brewery restaurant chain, has locations in 18 states as well as the District of Columbia and specializes in handcrafted German lagers, brewed in-house, and a made-from-scratch American menu with bold international flavors. Gordon Biersch produces six authentic lagers including seasonal offerings. These signature lagers have been recognized at the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup competitions. The beer brewed for the Leawood location will be brewed fresh, on-site at their downtown location. The menu at Gordon Biersch will tempt guests with such dishes as their signature Garlic Fries, Southwest Egg Rolls, Gorgonzola Bone-In Ribeye, Barbecue Grilled Salmon, and the Grilled Chicken Cashew Salad. They will be located at the corner of 117^th and Ash Street, at 11652 Ash Street. The restaurant is scheduled to open early this fall. More information about Gordon Biersch Brewery can be found at www.GordonBiersch.com.

Mestizo for Aarón Sánchez is an exciting new Mexican restaurant concept, utilizing the recipes, culinary skills, and respected name of acclaimed Latin Chef and Food Network personality, Aarón Sánchez. The restaurant combines a casual, inviting, and upbeat atmosphere with exceptional cuisine and a lively bar scene. The restaurant will take full advantage of their unique space, with two extensive patios, including a second-floor patio overlooking Barkley Square, which will regularly feature live music. “Mestizo will masterfully blend Aarón’s original recipes with an authentic Mexican environment, which combined will bring the best of Mexico to the United States. It will truly be a culinary escape that allows you to experience the dynamic flavors that define Mexican cuisine,” said Michael Auger of Trifecta Management, the group developing the concept. “Park Place has a great blend of unique dining, retail and businesses in a thriving community. We are confident that Aarón’s cuisine will be embraced throughout the country as we expand the Mestizo concept, so there is no better place to start than in the heartland, here in Kansas City.” The restaurant will open at 5270 W. 116^th Place later this year. For more information about Mestizo, please contact Bruce Nussbaum at bnussbaum@trifecta-mg.

About Park Place

Park Place is the only mixed-use community in Johnson County, embracing the complete lifestyle from playing to working and every activity in between. Park Place features local, regional and national specialty shops, boutiques and restaurants in an environment of tree-lined streets and community areas, truly making it Leawood’s downtown, as named by Mayor Peggy Dunn. Park Place boasts Johnson County’s only outdoor ice skating rink, The Ice. It is the development’s focal point and serves as a community green space during warmer months. Park Place’s second phase of construction started in January of 2010 and will bring dozens of new retailers, restaurants, and office tenants to Park Place. For more information, visit www.ParkPlaceLeawood.com.