2 Kansas City Restaurants On This List

From Forbes Restaurant this week.

100 Best Restaurants for Foodies 

in America: OpenTable

And two Kansas City area restaurants made the list.

Bluestem

Cafe Provence

Best Coffee in the State?

There's one more new article out there in the media world, this one days old, extolling

The Best Places For Coffee In Every State

And they're not all Starbucks.

As for little ol' Mizzerree, they say it's not in St. Loo:

Quay Coffee: Get a head start on your day and show up early to Kansas City's Quay, since there's always a crowd.

As for Kanzass, it's close by, also.

Black Dog Coffeehouse: If impressive latte art makes your day, then Black Dog in Lenexa is for you.

It seems the Kansas City metropolitan area just has it all, doesn't it?

So bon appétit, Kansas City. Enjoy.

Links:  Quay Coffee | Kansas City River Market

Black Dog Coffeehouse

Winstead's No, Town Topic Yes

From Yahoo News yesterday:

21 Essential American Hamburgers

Town Topic on the list. What they had to say:

Town Topic — The classic “slider” has nothing to do with a burger’s diminutive size: Although the term was made famous by White Castle, sliders refer to thin patties cooked on a griddle atop (and below) shredded raw onion. As the onions cook, they release water, creating additional steam heat that helps shape the flavor of the beef — a process that Solares calls “steam griddling.” At Kansas City’s 24-hour icon Town Topic, those sliders are available as single, double, and triple burgers (with our without cheese). And though the restaurant also offers “bigger”-sized burgers, Solares calls its real-deal sliders “the most elemental of burger forms.” 2021 Broadway, Kansas City MO 64108

As I said, no Winstead's.  

And no Westport Flea Market...

Exhibit No. 1: Why Americans are obese

This, above, ladies and gentlemen, is what's called, at Swagger Fine Spirits and Food  (8431 Wornall Rd., KCMO 64114, 816.361.4388) the "Dead Texan."

A friend of mine introduced me to this by name only yesterday. I haven't been here or tried it yet--not that I ever would have one, I won't.  I strictly follow comedian Steve Martin's comedic but, to me, very serious advice to "never eat anything bigger than your head. "  It's why I've only been to the Cheesecake Factory twice, actually.


I read that this concoction is two Texas toast grilled cheese sandwiches with a 1/3 lb. burger, 1 egg, 3 slices of bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, jalapenos, and peppercorn mayo in between.

As if this wouldn't be enough calories by itself, it's also served with home cut fries (of course) or pasta salad. (Optional sides of onion rings or side salad are also available for an additional fee).

It speaks for itself.

It's got to be a doctor's or a nutritionist's nightmare.

But hey, bon 'apetit.

You'll need it.

Kansas City gets its 2nd big, national "coup"

First Kansas City was able to land the first Alamo Drafthouse movie theater outside its hometown of Austin, Texas--a big "land" for us.

Now the first "Cafe Gratitude" restaurant outside California picks none other than good ol' Kansas City--our own cowtown--to open:

Café Gratitude serves feel-good food for body and soul

Cafe on Southwest Boulevard serves up satisfying vegan dishes along with its positive affirmations.

So kudos, once more, Kansas City. We must be doing some things right, eh?

Link: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/11/14/3915349/restaurant-review-cafe-gratitude.html

KCUR---Wth?

KCUR, buddy, we had a great thing going.

Every Friday, we could count on you for either restaurant reviews and criticism, one week, and movie reviews the next.

It's been great. Week in and week out, you were there.

Sure, we had Walt Bodine for years--decades, actually--and at 90, he finally retired but we still had this every-other-week date and arrangement.

Now, this week, you had what?

Actually, who cares?

You didn't have Charles Ferruzza and his crew for local foodie input.

Additionally, this happens to be a HUGE weekend for movies coming up, what with another big Tom Hanks film coming out and so on.

Yet you covered neither?

What, you don't love us any more?

Stupid for 30 years is still stupid

I ate lunch this afternoon with friends at the Westport Flea Market.

Wow.

We all decided it was a mistake and that we won't repeat that a second time and for a few reasons, too.

First, we ordered. That shouldn't be tough, right?

Except you order your food at the walk-up counter, just as I'd remembered from years past. That was okay. Lots of restaurants have you do that.

But your drink?

If you want a drink with your meal--and most of us do--you go to your table and order that from your waitperson. (I'm being PC here).

Yes, you got that right. You order your food at the counter, pay for that and then go to your table, only to order your drink AND THEN PAY AGAIN.

I asked the young lady at the register if I had that right and she confirmed.

I told her how absolutely silly it was and asked if there were some parallel universe or planet on which that made any sense.

The "boss lady" said "That's the way we've done it for 30 years", thus making for today's headline.

The effect this 2nd-order-for-your-drink policy had was to insure that no one at our table ordered any additional drink. All they did was assure they made less money. Brilliant.

Then, be forewarned, ladies and gentlemen. If you order one of their burgers--most all in the $7.50 to $8.50 range--you are asked if you want anything additional on it.

CHECK THE MENU.

"Garnishes" are extra.

If you say, like in most burger joints, that you want "everything on it", you will be summarily charged for the onions, mushrooms, cheese, anything and everything, you will be additionally billed for it all.

What effect does that have, you might ask? What's the big deal?

Well, it turns that big $8.49 burger into a ticket that ends up costing you more than $14.00 AND YOU HAVEN'T EVEN ORDERED A DRINK YET.

Care for a screwing? Here's your place.

One final word of caution.

If one in your party orders, as I did, the Cajun chicken sandwich--and enjoyed, I will give them that, lest you think all I want to do is complain--while the rest of your group orders burgers, prepare to sit through at least half your friend's lunches WHILE YOU WAIT.

Apparently, after all these years of cooking and serving food, they haven't figured out how to get everyone's meal in one group out at remotely a similar time frame.

Maybe that will happen sometime in the next 30 years.

Links: http://www.westportfleamarket.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Westport-Flea-Market-Bar-Grill/95092657967?fref=ts

Did you know October is National Pizza Month?

As though we needed an excuse, right?

On Oklahoma Joe's Barbecue

I'll be happy--very happy--when the newness of Oklahoma Joe's Barbecue is over.

I'd like to get back to more people liking more than one barbecue joint in town.

This week, they're being covered yet again. This time by The Pitch Magazine. (link below).

I mean, come on, Joe's is good, sure, but this whole trendy, citywide zeitgeist that they're the best right now is far too lemming-like, for me, anyway.

As I've said here before, I hate trends and trendiness, period, but I especially dislike food trends. They're the worst.

Can we not think and act as individuals?

Are we not capable of that? Of independent thought?

Between its newness and the fact that Anthony Bourdain likes them and put them on his TV show ("No Reservations") and a local food blogger came out and said they were "best" on Mr. Bourdain's same show, it makes it "their time." And it's cool, too. I love the idea that it's in a gas station. So sure, I get all that. Fine.

I'll just be glad when all the new wears off and the hoopla is over.

The only thing is, it will all be replaced with some other new, "next" trend.

And it will start all over again.

In the meantime, you can find me at Arthur Bryant's.

Link: http://www.pitch.com/kansascity/oklahoma-joes-jeff-stehney/Content?oid=2914103

Keep your Gram & Dun, I'll have Zocalo, thanks

A few weeks ago, for my birthday, a friend took me to the newish restaurant (there are a few) Gram and Dun. It's located in the former Baja 600 space, which I--and everyone, it seems--love. And why wouldn't we? It's got that great patio and, good weather or bad, the restaurant looks out over it and Brush Creek. Sure, you can't see the creek but it's an expanse of green in the city so it's a nice change.

And I had a nice meal.

It was good. Heck, it was even tasty. It was their "crispy smoked chicken." It came with something they called "Texaz Red Rice."

Cute, huh? I hate cute.

I'm happy it's a local restaurant, locally-owned. That helps. I love supporting local restaurants, restauratuers and businesses, period. It's just that this time, I was underwhelmed and it was underwhelming, with a bit of a high price, to boot.

Anyway, the food was good. Actually, it was okay. It was not memorable. It was dependable but didn't really rock my world, as I had expected since I'd heard so much good to great about this new restaurant. The ultimate result was that I came away disappointed.

I'd go back but only for cocktails on the patio in that window of time when we have good weather.



So imagine my surprise when, a few weeks later (this weekend, actually), I went to the newish Zocalo Mexican restaurant in the former Mi Cucina space. (Is every new restaurant in town replacing an older Mexican restaurant?).

I always enjoyed Mi Cocina for two reasons. First, it was Mexican food that wasn't the same old, same old (think Southwest Boulevard) and it had a terrific tortilla soup. It was made of a clear chicken broth with chunks of chicken and avocado and so forth. I loved it.

So then, I went to this Zocalo.

Wow.

Now here's some different, fresh, wonderful food.

And you know what?

It even costs less--far less--than Gram & Dun.

And I wasn't set out to have anything about either experience be about price, either, let me be clear.

I had what they call the chicken tinga tacos and wow, I say again (forgive me), were they good.

Very fresh with big strips of red onion and very fresh, made-that-day salsa with a corn tortilla that makes these taquitos taste so great.

Then, to make things even better, they came with killer black beans.

These are not your everyday, I-can-get-these-anywhere black beans, either, by a long shot. They were extremely flavorful with just a hint of spicy heat. Perfect for the people who need it spicy but not too for the other kind who don't want much spice at all. Really, just outstanding. And for nearly half the price of the chicken at G & D., not forgetttable at all, by any means.

So, sure, Gram & Dun has that great location and patio but now, here's this terrific food at Zocalo and, heck, they've added the big glass doors they can open in good weather, along with outside seating so it makes for great people-watching, in an effort to keep up other place's views.

So there you are. If you find yourself on the Plaza, looking for somewhere to eat and either like or haven't had Mexican food recently, keep in mind Zocalo. If you want, spend more money and get the bigger and/or more expensive entree's. It's just a quick, easy block from Gram & Dun and I think you'll come away far satisfied.

You may even have more money in your pocket when you leave, too.

Links: http://gramanddun.com/

http://gramanddun.com/

The Pitch stinks today

Okay, it's another Wednesday so yes, it's time to expect and search for the latest Pitch magazine, right?

Right?

Sure it is.

And it's got lots of coverage of everything socially and concerning the arts that's coming up for the next 3 months and that's all well and good but, but...

It doesn't have a new Charles Ferruzza restaurant review in it.

What good is the Pitch if it doesn't have that?

Link: http://www.pitch.com/

Restaurant critic Charles Feruzza expands his writing repetoire

Here's some good news today. Local food critic at The Pitch Magazine, Charles Feruzza, has gone from only writing restaurant reviews to now doing an article on local Kansas City history and background information. What a great idea. He always writes so well, so fun and did seem to like to do this searching kind of historical work. It's a great pairing of his writing style along with colorful local history and things that have been otherwise overlooked, at least, if not forgotten altogether. It's quite a terrific article with much more background on the house, that area and city, all three. So good on you, Charles, you and The Pitch. Hopefully there will be more of these. You're doing fun things no other rag in town is doing, really. It will be interesting to see if anyone down at the Star sits up and takes notice. Link: http://www.pitch.com/2011-07-21/news/1016-paseo-johnny-howard-william-poole/

Walt Bodine retiring, mostly--at 90

I just saw at Bottom Line Communications that KCUR announced Walt Bodine is retiring, as I said above, mostly, at 90 years of age.

Zounds.

I remember as a kid in the 60's, my Mom listened to Walt and won $64.00 listening to his show. She told of what his show meant for her at the time.

We're from St. Joe and she was raising the ten of us (seriously) so I think they gave it to her out of sympathy. She'd likely agree.

So, anyway, Walt and this city go back decades and he's done great work for us and we'll miss him but this has got to be good news for him, I'd think.

Five days a week at the station?

And I always love to hear the restaurant critics every other Friday when I can--I do have that pesky job, you know--and the movie reviewers.

So we all wish Walt well and thank goodness he's going to still be on once a week, for the Friday shows, thank goodness, but I have to put in a "plug" right now for what should happen for and to this time slot.

Here's hoping Steve Kraske takes it over.

The guy does great research and interviews and gets terrific guests.

It would clearly be the best thing KCUR could do for this city, radio, themselves and that time slot in replacing Walt.

KCUR? You listening?