Kansas City Star: Food

Cutting-edge cuisine finds home in KC

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 22:15 CDT

Jenny Vergara recalls the day she stopped apologizing for Kansas City’s restaurant scene. The Lenexa blogger, who dishes about the local food scene at www.makingafoodie.com, was sipping cocktails with Marshall Roth on the patio of Le Fou Frog, the funky French bistro just east of the River Market.

The search for KC's top (hot) dog

Wed, 13 May 2009 13:15 CDT

Chicago is the capital of the Wiener Republic, and you really can’t get a bad dog in the city. But where in Kansas City can you find a hot dog that's worthy of the Windy City?

Where is Kansas City's best barbecue? Fans aren't reluctant to voice opinions

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 22:15 CST

There's an old saying that in polite social circles one should never discuss religion, politics or sex. In Kansas City you might add barbecue to the list. Almost nothing gets barbecue fanatics riled up as a discussion of Kansas City's best.

Chefs know where the good values are for eating on the cheap

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:15 CDT

There are no white tablecloths in Swagger. There are no sautéed veal sweetbread appetizers or thyme roasted diver scallop entrees. The most exotic menu item is the Suribachi burger — tempura Angus beef with wasabi coleslaw ($9.95).

These KC restaurants offer an authentic taste of Mexico

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:15 CST

Everyone knows Kansas City is a great town for hearty, sit-down Tex-Mex fare. But if you’re short on time or don’t feel like a heavy meal under a blanket of bubbling cheese, a lot of snack shops, drive-throughs and quick-service destinations offer up a different, and often much more authentic, taste of Mexico.

The search for KC's best breakfast joints

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:15 CST

To Michael Kizzee, this was the most important thing about enjoying the most important meal of the day: Breakfast is a cool way to have a date with your wife.

Tart cranberries and spicy jalapeño peppers burst with holiday cheer

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Can’t resist popping the bubble wrap that comes tucked in all those holiday packages? Then you’ll get a kick out of one of my favorite culinary equivalents: the snap, crackle and pop of whole, fresh cranberries as they burst from the heat in the pan.

Butternut Squash and Potato Gratin With Black Walnut Crust

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:52 CST

The grandmother of green cookware? Probably your grandmother's cast-iron skillet.

Herbed Roast Turkey With Gravy

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:52 CST

The mere mention of a turkey-less Thanksgiving sounds downright un-American, yet cutting back on meat consumption other times of the year is an idea that's taking flight. The goal of Meatless Mondays (www.meatlessmonday .com), sponsored by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and Johns Hopkins' Bloomberg School of Public Health, is to reduce meat consumption by 15 percent. The health benefits may be obvious, but the benefits to the environment might be greater than you think.

Whether your wine's red or white, make it green

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:52 CST

The world's vineyards are getting warmer. The English once traded wool for wine, but these days, grapevines are flourishing farther north. Wine critic Jancis Robinson calls British wines “far from a joke now.” Yet in California and Australia, climate change has not only increased the alcohol level in wines but also irrigation woes in the vineyard. Some climate scientists go so far as to predict the demise of the current premium American vineyards over the next century.

Wild Rice Pilaf With Wild Mushrooms and Cranberries

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:52 CST

Most traditional Thanksgiving foods — cranberries, turkey, sweet potatoes and even the miniature marshmallows on top — travel great distances (an average of 1,500 miles per item) before they land on our dinner plate. Although the actual formula from farm to plate is complicated, the concept of food miles is one way to get your head around the vastness of an industrial food system that is designed for efficiency, not flavor or optimal nutrition.

Cheese straight from the source at Shatto Farm

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:52 CST

Leroy Shatto — the Osborn, Mo., dairy farmer best known for selling milk in old-fashioned glass bottles — has introduced a new line of farmstead cheeses. Farmstead cheeses are produced on a single farm from milk that comes exclusively from the farmer's animals. The cheese is typically made in small batches using artisanal methods with high-quality ingredients.

Sage Applesauce

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:52 CST

You may have considered your carbon footprint. But do you have a handle on your kitchen's carbon cookprint? Kate Heyhoe, author of “Cooking Green” (Lifelong Books), is one of a burgeoning group of green cookbook authors who are weighing the impact that everyday food preparation tasks and our kitchen appliances have on global warming.

Rainbow Swiss Chard With Pepitas

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:52 CST

Google “food waste,” and you'll pull up plenty of eye-popping and contradictory statistics. Like Americans on average generate 1 pound of food waste per day.

Cranberry-Pear Tart in a Black Walnut Shortbread Crust

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:52 CST

The ingredients for a holiday meal can rack up the food miles. Sweet potatoes can travel 800 miles from Georgia; pecans can journey 1,700 miles from California. The Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition is launching a campaign to get Kansas Citians to “Eat Local for the Holidays.”

Black walnuts at the center of this Sustainable Thanksgiving menu

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:52 CST

Look for black walnuts in the breadcrumbs on the Butternut Squash and Potato Gratin and the Pear-Cranberry Tart's crust. Both recipes originally called for English walnuts. Hammons Products Co. of Stockton, Mo., is a leading supplier of American black walnuts, and 65 percent of the crop comes from trees growing across Missouri. “It's a hunter-gatherer, wild crop. Thousands of people are involved with the harvest,” says Brian Hammons, owner of the third-generation, family-owned business.

Red-Leaf Salad, Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans With Maple-Mustard Dressing

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:52 CST

In his most recent best-selling book, “In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto,” journalist Michael Pollan argues that nutritionism — a nutrient-by-nutrient approach to eating — has harmed our health and our environment. Yes, America produces a cornucopia of food, but the bulk of it turns out to be overly processed, high in calories and loaded with fat and sodium. After a sold-out appearance in Kansas City last spring, Pollan headed out to Powell Gardens' Heartland Harvest Garden, a 12-acre edible landscape about 30 miles east of the city. The garden is designed to help families experience where their food comes from. The timing was perfect: First lady Michelle Obama had just tilled up the White House lawn to put in her own organic garden.

A new campaign urges Kansas Citians to eat local for the holidays

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

One of the best ways to do that is to encourage Kansas Citians to buy and eat more locally grown and raised foods. To that end, the Greater Kansas City Healthy Food Policy Coalition has issued an “Eat-Local-for-the-Holidays” challenge through December.

Where does food come from? First-graders weigh in

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

We’ve come to Faye Wortman’s first-grade class at Banneker Elementary Science & Technology Magnet School in Kansas City, Kan., with one simple question: Who knows where food really comes from? Turns out, it’s not that simple.

Nestle Baking expects shortage of canned Libby's Pumpkin

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Nestle Baking said Tuesday that it expects a shortage of its canned Libby’s Pumpkin — far and away the nation’s most popular canned pumpkin — as the holiday season approaches.

Electric appliance eases turkey frying

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

The Butterball Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer contains the oil and minimized the mess and makes a turkey that is moist and not greasy.

Autumn brings a feast of new cookbooks

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Autumn brings a flurry of new cookbook titles. We culled through the new shipments looking for the same thing that intrigues home cooks: great stories, fabulous photos, a sense of adventure and a reason to get in the kitchen.

Bleu Tomato: Fancy food, De Soto prices

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

When a jogger tells you the restaurant you’re looking for is “right next to the Dollar General,” it’s hard to keep your culinary hopes aloft. But Bleu Tomato turns out to be a cozy oasis of solid, value-priced food and bohemian decor in De Soto, halfway between Lawrence and Kansas City in western Johnson County.

Japanese steakhouse Sumo by Nambara scores well with diners looking for an evening of food and fun

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

Japanese steakhouses in Kansas City were few and far between when I was growing up. They weren’t just restaurants — they were destinations, usually reserved for birthdays, proms and other celebrations.

Oak 63

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:15 CDT

Corner cafes at every turn, haricot verts atop my salad and a shared bottle of Côtes du Rhône: little aspects of everyday life in France that bring big smiles. This summer I was lucky enough to spend a week in Paris (where I could live on pastries, bread and cheese alone).

Gourmet or greasy, there's a burger joint perfect for you

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:15 CDT

I'm not sure a hamburger needs to go gourmet. A carelessly tended yard burger, charred and flavored with grill gunk, can come as close to culinary heaven in my book as seared foie gras in Calvados.

Owner, chef bring sophistication to beer and burgers at the Westside Local

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:15 CDT

The Westside Local is one of those places that feels special and comfortably neighborhood at the same time. With its exposed brick, salvaged-wood tabletops and a beer garden out back, it has a friendly, workmanlike demeanor.

With 801 Chop House's Sunday night deal, you can afford the beef and the amazing appetizer, too

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:15 CDT

I'm a huge fan of high-end steak houses. My paycheck is not. My visits to expensive restaurants are rare, usually on someone else's dime, and it has been a long time.

Afternoon specials let you scout menus on the dime, not the dollar

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:15 CDT

Sure, you can brown-bag it and save a few pennies. But remember this: A midday indulgence costs less than a night on the town. Scoping out new restaurants for lunch is an easy way to get a sense of the menu and quality of the food without the all-out financial commitment.

Leave the Midwest behind at chef Michael Smith's rustic � and cheeky � taverna, Extra Virgin

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:15 CDT

With Extra Virgin, chef Michael Smith has finally brought not only the flavors but the feel of his beloved southern European trattorias and tavernas to Kansas City.

It's hard to leave the Peachtree Buffet hungry

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:15 CDT

A poster outside Peachtree Buffet assures patrons that there is a lot of food to be had, providing the first hint that you will not leave this place hungry.

Great service, comfortable lounge and wine tasting top off excellent food at Capital Grille

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

As I walked up to the restaurant on the Country Club Plaza, a doorman greeted me with “Good evening. Welcome to the Capital Grille.” That simple and elegant salutation set the tone for a special dining experience.

My Dinner At: Grand Street Caf�

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

It's not new and it's not flashy, but Grand Street Café is probably the best place you (sometimes) forget all about. Once the proud flagship of the PB&J restaurant group, Grand Street Café changed ownership in December. But the transition to Rick and Kristi Ghilardi was a smooth one, perhaps because Rick was with Grand Street when it opened and was a partner with PB&J for 19 years.

Justus patio offers homespun haute

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

The hostess at Justus Drugstore in downtown Smithville tries to hide a look of surprise. A destination dining spot, the upscale restaurant typically books up several weeks in advance.

A zest for dining out ; Mac-and-cheese loving boys discover variety, while their parents enjoy the tranquil setting

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:56 CDT

Not often does this family of mine sit together for a meal. I'm sure that's the case for most of us with kids and their constant flood of practices and rehearsals and games and our own long workdays and chores and errands. But early into dinner at Zest, in Leawood, an unfamiliar feeling sort of appeared, and it was there before I knew it. I think it's called tranquility.

Fogo de Ch�o serves meat in fine gaucho fashion, and no one leaves hungry

Wed, 13 May 2009 22:15 CDT

My first clue that it was prom night came as we followed a chic young woman and her date down the parking garage stairs. She teetered precariously on razor-thin stilettos so ridiculously high she could barely walk.

On Veterans Day, home is a special place

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

For more than 60 years, Martha Lundhigh has kept the home fires burning for her husband, World War II veteran Dale Lundhigh. Martha and Dale became engaged during the war. On Nov. 23, the Lundhighs will celebrate their 63rd wedding anniversary.

Soup has a bit of everything and a whole lot of taste

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Jay Sollenberger is skilled at improvising both his meals and his music. A professional trumpeter for 40 years, Sollenberger plays jazz, symphony, brass ensemble and musical theater venues. When it comes to trumpeting his culinary skills, Sollenberger says nothing replaces time spent in preparation. Patrice, his wife of 30 years, and their grown son, Brandon, enjoy Sollenberger’s variations on a tasty theme.

No tricks, just healthy treats for raw food enthusiast

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:15 CDT

It’s easy for Shannon Yates to scare up some good food. A raw food enthusiast, Yates always has fresh fruits and vegetables on hand and ready to eat.

Burning off that Thanksgiving meal … while watching football?

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:27 CST

Turkeys and football are a Thanksgiving Day combination that can’t be beat. Except if you’re watching your weight. The Turkey Day meal is loaded with calories and after dinner is not a time when most people exercise. But you do burn calories. Here’s a look.

Thanksgiving: A time to give thanks, and to give a little back

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:52 CST

I was really pleased with the Sage Applesauce for this year's menu. Then my 11-year-old daughter reminded me how it wouldn't be Thanksgiving for her without the sweet-tart flavor of — you guessed it — cranberries. Oh, so not local.

The Menu

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:52 CST

Herbed Roast Turkey With Gravy Red Leaf Lettuce, Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans With Maple-Mustard Dressing

A meal at The Iron Horse is a ticket to a feast

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

The Iron Horse bills itself as “an American bistro,” and the concept fits. In France, a bistro is usually a small, informal neighborhood joint specializing in a limited menu of home-style classics.

Heritage lives on in Cornish pie

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:15 CST

Sheila Jewell creates gems in the kitchen. Jewell polishes up family recipes, often putting her own creative twist on tried-and-true dishes.