moosnsqrl

The only location I am aware of for information is an eCommerce site and I don't want to place a link here. I'm sure the locals can figure out which independent bookseller is sponsoring it (an unfortunately short process of elimination should do the trick ); if anyone needs help sorting it out, you can PM me.

First, glad not to witness the 'happy dance' first-hand. I can only imagine . . . Second, we're less than two weeks away from the first of two KC Farm Expos, Saturday March 28 and April 4. Third, I've been using fresh herbs from my little perennial bed for a couple of weeks now Lastly, I just this weekend sent the email to the friends to remind them to give me a heads-up when their first morels pop-out of their window box. I'll keep you posted. And the final harbinger of spring . . . I have once again failed to get into the KCCUA CSA - 8 openings, 50 applicants and no luck. Woe is me.

I agree with the comments on the black/white, all/nothing nature of the piece. While I'm generally delighted to see coverage of anything like this, I didn't feel real good about it. I spent half of the time challenging what came out of Alice's mouth (and her accepting credit for essentially doing what most Europeans have done all along) and the other half defending her against Stahl's incredulity at the feasability and importance of what she's trying very hard to do. Nice to know I wasn't the only one left with that impression. And, if you can't wait to see the Victory Garden at 1600 Pennsylvania, there is a Facebook "group" soliciting support for that effort. Not sure how much good it will do but it can't hurt to have numbers on our side.

Wow, Div, sorry I somehow missed this - I'm glad someone bumped it. Also sorry to hear about your wrist (although one must wonder how, with all of the things on your metaphorical plate, you found time for a freak snow boarding accident ). It sounds like life handed you lemons and you made homemade, organic lemonade though. Funny how sometimes an additional hardship can have a buoying affect. Glad the BF rose to the occasion and you were able to take some good away from a bad situation. BTW, I have been known to do meals on wheels in the metro area. Drop me an email the next time you're frazzled. And get your wrist back into shape before July - we need you at The Gathering!

I've been expecting this for some time . . . Seven is no longer.

oh good grief - just what the world needed . . . no doubt saw that Hillary Brown was making some scratch on the non-McD crowd. Not sure that's a niche I found wanting but good for them if they steal clientele from the "evil" burger people and not from Local Burger or Johnny's.

Kinda off the "closings" topic but interesting - I've been shopping there several times but haven't paid any attention to the MREs there. Although I've been underwhelmed by the Yummy tabouleh mix (but not surprisingly - how hard is it to make tabouleh to begin with, and how could dehydrated herbs replace fresh parsley and mint which are the point of tabouleh?) I'll give him a chance to wow me with 'real' food .

On my list but haven't made it yet (so not an endorsement - maybe a local could help - Russ?) is Ford's Filling Station.

Yes, thanks. Now every time I see a perfectly oozing yolk, I won't be able to get Andrew Marvell out of my head!

2009 James Beard Award Nominees from Kansas City: Outstanding Chef - Michael Smith, Michael Smith Restaurant Outstanding Chef Midwest - Colby Garrelts, bluestem Outstanding Service - The American Restaurant We're lucky to have all of you - keep up the good work!

For wine, may I recommend Cellar Rat in the Crossroads - knowledgable, friendly staff, great variety and frequent tastings/events. They also make their own fresh mozzarella and stock various delices. For a more warehouse approach, Riverside Red X has a vast selection of wine, beer, liquor (as well as a grocery, tobacconist, dollar store, tools - and 'historic' items - must be seen to be believed). Seafood is a challenge in these parts. It sounds like you've found most of the spots. McG's will order just about anything for you (I called yesterday and am picking up some barramundi in a couple of hours). I have had mixed luck at Dean & DeLuca and needless to say it's not inexpensive. There is a high-volume Hen House on the NE corner of 119th & Roe that seems to have better seafood than many of the other locations (they also have kosher certification and offer a variety of kosher foods). Depending on what you're looking for, the Asian markets in the City Market area might be a more budget-friendly option. The large market to the northeast in particular has a lot of fresh fish, some in tanks, and you can predictably find head-on shrimp and the like as well as some more exotic species. I still miss the VC (Village Corner), Merchant of Vino, The Party Shop on Packard, Sparrow Meats and especially Monahan's - so I feel your pain! ← I forgot mention that I think it's a complete travesty that D&D is in Kansas and, as such, doesn't sell wine/beer. I have been meaning to check out those Asian markets down in the City Market for some other ingredients so I'll investigate their seafood as well. You know, it's really going back to Michigan that makes me miss good wine stores. There are all those in Ann Arbor, but also a bunch in the Birmingham area. I think McGonigle's is right on par with Sparrow Meats, which I love. I hate to mention it, but Merchant of Vino closed and a new store named Bello Vino opened in it's place. Bello Vino turned out to be just as good, if not better, than Merchant of Vino, but now Bello Vino just announced they were closing. Shame. Probably what I miss the most about Ann Arbor is Zingerman's, but that shouldn't be too surprising. It's especially bad because I can't find a decent Jewish deli in the KC area. -------------------- Back to the sourcing topic, I found a place that makes blood sausage/boudin noir in the area. There's a little shop over in KCK called Krizman's House of Sausage (already mentioned in this thread a while back). From what they told me at McGonigle's the guy who owns the shop is Croatian so that might give you an idea of the style of blood sausage. ← sorry, just noticed this - tend toward the Dining thread. Lo Siento. I love McG's but they aren't the end all be all that Monahan's/Sparrow combined are. What I really, truly lament, is that I could walk from my office, enjoy any of a number of freain' incredible 'counter foods' and pick up whatever I needed for any dinner - white trash to haute cuisine - and now I have to circumnavigate the metro to accomplish the same feat.

I didn't realize sauntering was in your repertoire, Z

You can request anything you want. Whether or not it will materialize is another thing. moosnsqrl - what's wrong with joiei's company car? ← Nothing - 10 gallons per mile is perfectly acceptable fuel consumption

For wine, may I recommend Cellar Rat in the Crossroads - knowledgable, friendly staff, great variety and frequent tastings/events. They also make their own fresh mozzarella and stock various delices. For a more warehouse approach, Riverside Red X has a vast selection of wine, beer, liquor (as well as a grocery, tobacconist, dollar store, tools - and 'historic' items - must be seen to be believed). Seafood is a challenge in these parts. It sounds like you've found most of the spots. McG's will order just about anything for you (I called yesterday and am picking up some barramundi in a couple of hours). I have had mixed luck at Dean & DeLuca and needless to say it's not inexpensive. There is a high-volume Hen House on the NE corner of 119th & Roe that seems to have better seafood than many of the other locations (they also have kosher certification and offer a variety of kosher foods). Depending on what you're looking for, the Asian markets in the City Market area might be a more budget-friendly option. The large market to the northeast in particular has a lot of fresh fish, some in tanks, and you can predictably find head-on shrimp and the like as well as some more exotic species. I still miss the VC (Village Corner), Merchant of Vino, The Party Shop on Packard, Sparrow Meats and especially Monahan's - so I feel your pain!

I loved the Monastery as well as The Grape, which a friend opened in Wichita as kind of an hommage to The Monastery. I hadn't visited JoeD's in years but had one of my all-time favorite dishes there back on the 80s. Sigh. ←

That's sad, I remember when he opened, must have been about '87. Heck I remember going there when it was the Monastery! ← I loved the Monastery as well as The Grape, which a friend opened in Wichita as kind of an hommage to The Monastery. I hadn't visited JoeD's in years but had one of my all-time favorite dishes there back on the 80s. Sigh.

Bumping this because I stumbled into the OC during Restaurant Week and wondering what some of you locals think? I've looked at some of the online menus for places I've been and it looks reasonable but I am suspicious of pris fixe "events" like this where restaurants that don't normally operate in this model try to fit into the econo-menu concept.

I heard somewhere, can't vouch for certain, that Yummo sells Souperman soups during the winter. ← Makes sense to me, since they're part of the Dalzell family. And good news because that's more walk-able for me (when the temp gets above 0).

I hadn't been to Souperman in months and just ran down there to grab working lunch for a few colleagues. I really tried to get something different this time but we were on the late side and my first choice was sold out so I went with my old standby bbq brisket w/bleu cheese & carmelized onions and it was the best one ever. They've perfected the balance of flavors - or, I should say, attuned them to my personal taste. The sanditto (there, I "said" it) was so good I finished it and saved the soup for dinner.

Heard good things about Parc but all I can personally vouch for are the quality matches

Anyone checked out XiV (I assume, if said aloud, it's called Quatorze?). Heading there next weekend but "starving" for advanced intel.

My boss tried to have lunch there today. Sign said "close for the holidays" but no re-opening date posted. Sigh.

I've participated in 3 very different CSAs and I really can't disagree with the down sides (feast or famine, lack of variety at times) but that's the way everyone used to eat, right? Bad year on the farm? Tough turnips Craving a watermelon in February? Think how good the one you finally get in August is going to taste! As someone said upthread, though, the main reason I stopped subscribing was guilt over abandoning all other farmers in favor of one. We have several cooperative CSAs (the original and grandaddy of them being Rolling Prairie) that address most of the issues AND spread the risk across a greater geographic area. If all of the farms north of here get hit with a late freeze or freak hail storm, the ones south of the metro were likely spared and they can balance one another out. That also came in handy a few years ago when one of the major tomato growers lost literally everything shortly after planting. All of the other farmers pitched in and donated transplants and, after a Herculean effort, they were back on their feet relatively quickly. I know there is a time and space crunch but you also have to be prepared to take advantage of the gluts when they occur. If you can preserve (dry, freeze, can) somehow it really helps. All that said, they're not for everyone. But try interviewing farmers, talking to their existing customers and trying a more "in season" beginning time before you completely give up on the concept. There isn't a "one size fits all" business model on either supply or demand side. I would LOVE to join Dividend's CSA but have never been able to figure out the work shift part with my job situation; but that could change any time (especially in this economy )

We tried eight items on Tuesday evening (amongst 4 diners): charcuterie sampler (speck, wild boar, prosciutto, culatello) hommos boquerones octopus polenta sweetbread ravioli fig-stuffed chicken thighs EV chips There wasn't a clunker in the lot. I will say the octopus disappointed me a bit - perhaps because I had anticipated it out of all reasonable proportion - but I will give it another try now that I know what to expect. It was just different than I had envisioned. My surprise favorite was the polenta with soft yokes and fontina. It was a really blustery night and this may have redefined comfort food for me. Simple yet elegant and very satisfying. I rarely order hommos at a restaurant because it's so easily made at home but this version made me realize I had gotten lazy in my execution. It's texture and balance of flavors, plus the nicely grilled crusty bread it is served with is wonderful. The diner seated next to me at the bar (not in our party but if you're reading this you probably know that's irrelevant) also ordered this and was appalled that he was charged for the extra bread he requested to finish his, so be judicious in your ratio of dip to bread or pay the price). The charcuterie sampler was good but, from a value perspective, I will return to bluestem if that's what I have a yen for (pun intended). I deferred to the sweetbread hounds in the group and tried only the outer ring of the pasta. I liked the toothsomeness and thickness of it and the sauce was good, if unremarkable. I assume it was all about the sweetbreads based on the others' gutteral moans. I'm not sure I'm the target audience for the chicken thigh dish. The others raved about it but the only way I tend to enjoy figs are fresh and unadulterated so I'm going to recuse myself on that one. We had a nice St. Emilion ($56) that was far better than the malbec I had on my previous, brief visit. Definitely worth the difference to do the food justice. All in all, a fine addition to the burgeoning food scene in KC. Let's hope the economy can be righted in time to keep the worthies afloat. And remember to vote with your dollars and support the local treasures.

Your Kansas garden? Where are you? And when can I come over for pizza?