JoyceKC: Area restaurant, grocery store updates for Jan. 9
▪ More than 800 people gathered in San Francisco on Thursday to pay tribute to the 146 Good Food Award Winners of 2015.
In September, 182 judges tried 1,462 entries. Then the highest scoring food producers submitted to a rigorous vetting process to show they were meeting sustainability and social responsibility criteria set by the sponsors. The winners were honored Thursday under charcuterie, confections, cheese, chocolate, coffee, honey, oils, pickles, preserves, and spirits.
Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co., St. Louis, was honored for its Ethiopia Dama. Kaldi’s has area locations on the Country Club Plaza, the Power & Light District, Prairie Village, and the Northland’s Briarcliff Village and Zona Rosa. It also has a regional training and community coffee center in the River Market.
Kakao Chocolate, St. Louis, was honored under confections for its Turkish Coffee Truffle.
Patric Chocolate, Columbia, Mo., was honored under chocolate for three of its chocolate bars - 67 percent Madagascar, black licorice, and PBJ OMG - as well as under confections for its red coconut curry bar.
▪ Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage will host a block party and local product tasting fair at its new Independence store. The event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at 19019 E. 48th St.
It also will hold a Gluten-free Health Fair from noon to 4 p.m. Jan. 17; an Organic Fair: Naturally GMO Free + So Much More from noon to 4 p.m. on Jan. 24; and a Paleo Fair: Primal Eating for Optimal Health from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 7.
The Colorado-based Natural Grocers acquired the former Nature’s Pantry in December and converted it to Natural Grocers.
▪ After a decade at 1719 W. 39th St., Room 39 restaurant temporarily closed this week for a slight remodeling. Owner Ted Habiger said the new design, by John O’Brien of Hammer Out Design, will include more bar seating and new lighting. The restaurant also will offer draft beers when it reopens Monday.
▪ William Saunders is the new owner of Coda, 1744 Broadway, and has added several new menu items. Specialty burgers are still on the menu along with such new items as a Reuben with house-prepared corned beef, a barbecued pulled pork or barbecue beef brisket sandwich, and slow-cooked brisket dinner. It also has daily specials and will continue to offer live music.
▪ Haus has closed at 3044 Gillham Road in Martini Corner. It opened in May 2012 and featured an “Old World style of German/Belgian beers and gourmet, exotic sausages.” A new concept is in the works and if all goes as planned it would open in March.
To reach Joyce Smith, call 816-234-4692 or send email to jsmith@kcstar.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter at JoyceKC
This story was originally published January 9, 2015 at 12:39 PM with the headline "JoyceKC: Area restaurant, grocery store updates for Jan. 9."