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KC Media Digest for week of July 19-25, 2007 The Kansas City Star Food Section Roxanne Wyss and Kathryn Moore find that, when it comes to make-ahead frozen dinner parties, many hands make light work. The current Farmers Market listings are here; no Food Calendar online this week. Jill Silva finds an unlikely ally in the battle for portion control: sliders in Eating For Life. Doug Frost, local wine expert and by all accounts a "glass half-full" optimist brings us a rare convenient truth about global warming. Mary Jo Pepitone visits retired teacher Paula Fagan and comes away with her famous peanut butter ball recipe. Preview Section Lauren Chapin experiments with a liquid diet and reviews the KC cocktail scene. And if you're looking for some lighter refreshment, just think pink. Business Section The big news around these parts this week is IHOP's purchase of KC-based Applebee's. All of the online accounts of the transaction currently require registration, and I'm not going to link to a commercial website in this digest, but if you google "Tyler Florence + syrup" you might be able to find something. Joyce Smith with the 4-1-1 on the rest of KC's restaurant biz. The Pitch At Cafe Zen in Leavenworth Charles Ferruzza has given up the notion of restaurant dining as a source of spiritual enlightenment. How sad. He seems to contradict himself in My Big Fat Mouth when he mentions one of my earliest places of food worship (the original NuWay in Wichita) in a tribute to drive-ins. Lawrence Journal-World Gwyn Mellinger waxes poetic about the yellow beans known as Golditos. Terry Rombeck visits with the owner of Lawrence's answer to starwich, ingredient. I might have to hit the road to catch this week's In Jayni's Kitchen: a trip to the farmers market and cooking with chefs Ken Baker and Armando Paniauga. Present Magazine Pete Dulin goes to nara for some robata and an urban vibe. KCUR FM 89.3 Walt Bodine welcomed the Food Critics back on Friday morning; it should be available in the Archives in shortly for those who missed it. The focus was on downtown restaurants present, on the eve of the chain invasion that will be P&L. I urge you to listen to the show and join the Critics in making it a habit to support them! KCMO 710 AM Join Chef Jasper Mirabile from Jasper's Kitchen. Go here and click on Listen Live.

Oh man, black Russian rye and Ronnie's charcuterie! It sucks to be me.

Hey, slackers, where are the pix from dinner last night? How can I live vicariously through you without some pictorial stimuli?

Sure glad to see I haven't missed anything *too* good so far WAAAAAHHHH. All right, Tino, fork-over the peppers and no one will get hurt!

Pan-Mediterranean tapas. Due to open in October. PM me, attaching the friend's resume/CV if possible, and I will distribute it as best I can.

You pose a lot of interesting questions, and I will reply to the best of my ability, this weekend when time allows. There are [en fin] great restaurants in Lawrence, in spite of itself and its checkered past. I will put together a semi-definitive list. If you are heading to Lawrence, please post a "plan" topic so we can help you and, dare we hope?, join you. I happen to think KS has the <<ne plus ultre>> of tomatoes, but I know those are fightin' words, so just come see me and I will hook you up and make a believer of you. The early (over-wintered) turnips are pretty much shot and the fall crop a ways off, so you're probably safe. Personal aside: Do we need to call Mr. Bricker?

Last night was the long-awaited opening. We arrived ~6pm and the dining room was maybe 1/4 full, the bar area already at capacity. The people continued filtering in throughout the night and it seemed that the dining room was mostly full for the next several hours, although my back was to the bulk of it and there was a very large, vibrant party at the table(s) next to us which may have added to the impression that it was full. Out of 6 dishes and a dessert, most were hits. I'll post a full report this weekend but they appear to be off to a good start. I really like what they've done to the room, too. It should be a nice addition to The Crossroads. And we still have Extra Virgin to look forward to. Life is good.

Thanks for the info. My opinion is that of a drooling consumer with some book-learning to back up my tastebuds. Your feeding comment reminded me of a farmer I bought produce from, who also raised hogs. I saved clippings/trimmings (all organic) which he picked up 3 X weekly when he delivered vegetables. His hogs were probably the closest thing to the specific-diet-fed animals in Italy (often chestnut, I think, in the last few months). I asked him once, as he hauled the waxed boxes of designer, organic hog slop out to his truck, what their favorite salad dressing was. I should have seen it coming . . . "ranch."

I don't believe there are any certifications around Berkshire pork (as there are for American Wagyu) but the breed wouldn't be well-suited to the mass market husbandry practices that are responsible for dumbing-down grocery store pork, so (assuming you get it from a reputable source and you know it really is that breed) you'll probably be far more pleased with the outcome of anything you prepare using it. We're fortunate to have a nearby supply in Trimble, MO at Paradise Locker, where Heritage Foods products are processed, packed and shipped. It's about 1.5 hours roundtrip for me, but well worth it, even at $3+/gallon gas. They also have Red Wattles and a couple of other breeds that are not CAFO candidates, aren't bred to be "the other white meat" (unnaturally lean and flavorless) and even if you don't want to pay designer prices, most of their pork is pastured and from the immediate area. Several local restaurants serve Berkshire exclusively and it is like a trip in the way-back machine to a time when ham, bacon and pork chops had character and didn't, well, taste like salty, fake-smoky chicken.

KC Media Digest for week of June 6 - July 13, 2007 The Kansas City Star Food Section Food Calendar and Farmers Market listings are not available online as of this writing. Jill Silva serves up a Garrozzo's-style favorite with a light twist - chicken spiedini highlights Eating For Life. Preview Section Lauren Chapin lets her guard down and enjoys a vegan dessert at The Bluebird Bistro. Also, in Good & Cheap she agreed with our own Zeemanb on the merits of midtown newcomer Cafe Cuba. Business Section Joyce Smith shares some comings and goings around town. The Pitch Charles Ferruzza & Company indulge themselves at Seven, Victor Fontana's latest whimsy. My Big Fat Mouth disclaims rumors that latest 39th Street comer, Spitfire Grill might be a link in something larger. Lawrence Journal-World Cooking with the magic of the vine on [iJayni's Kitchen. Gwyn Mellinger in praise of the practicality of gas grills. Susan Krumm finds that Splenda lacks sugar's sense of self preservation. KCUR FM 89.3 Walt Bodine welcomed the Food Critics back this morning; it should be available in the Archives in a couple of days for all of us who missed it. KCMO 710 AM Join Chef Jasper Mirabile from Jasper's Kitchen. Go here and click on Listen Live. ←

Looks like Tuesday is the next target date for opening - the usual liquor license delay.

Mine is similar to this. It has a hinged lid so I can at least keep some of the flotsam and jetsam out when I'm not in a cooking frenzy.

I've tried to stop by there at least a dozen times, hoping to get some intel. Michael is always visible through the plate glass but always in the midst of an animated conversation with someone (vendor, designer) and far be it from me to stand in the way of getting the doors open. If you do call him, please share. Inquiring minds . . .

It *is* a state of mind - you hit the nail on the head. What I wouldn't give for some Morros rice and some mariquitas about now. Maybe a cold "llaves" to wash it down. Que bueno!

Not always the lowest price but a fair selection and their web specials can be tasty. Bridge Kitchenware

Oooh. That would definitely be a "hard" opening (vs. a soft one, but also meaning difficult). The teeming hordes attacking a brand new restaurant. Oh the inhumanity! I don't know if I could make myself be a party to that . . . although we did go to 40 Sards on opening night. It was a Tuesday, though, IIRC.

KC Media Digest for week of June 28-July 4, 2007 The Kansas City Star Food Section Here is this week's Food Calendar; and here is the week's listing of Farmers Markets. Lauren Chapin on maturing and the love of beets. Mary Pepitone joins Cindy Ketcher of Overland Park just in time for the weekly Friday pizza party in Come Into My Kitchen. Doug Frost recommends a rose from the Luberon in Grape Escapes. Preview Section Lauren Chapin reviews The Drop at Martini Corner and visits Teocali in the Hospital Hill area for Good & Cheap. Business Section Joyce Smith shares various comings and goings; and treats us to a fine summary of the beehive that is The Crossroads. The Pitch Charles "Flaming Banana" Ferruzza and friends head up north to check out the Liberda's lastest Thai Place; then he heads to the The Oak Street Coffee Shop for My Big Fat Mouth. Lawrence Journal-World Gwen Mellinger on the dynamic duo of summer, tomatoes and basil. Terry Rombeck introduces the newest member of the Zen Zero/La Parilla family, a pizza joint called Genovese in the old Mass St. Deli space. A K-State researcher thinks herbs and spices may mitigate the carcinogenic threat of grilled foods. Phil Toevs is bbq-ing in Jayni's Kitchen. Present Magazine Pete Dulin visits with renaissance man Dave Crum to learn about heirloom tomatoes featured at numerous local, indie restaurants including bluestem, where he holds down the fort as Chef de Cuisine when he's not working on his parents' farm. KCMO 710-AM Join Chef Jasper Mirabile from Jasper's Kitchen. Go here and click on Listen Live.

Lare, It's in the old Zin space, SW corner of 20th & Main. I realize reading the open letter that I've had the openings mixed-up all along, thinking that EV was opening soon and the eponymous resto in the fall. Oops. Well, now I *am* excited.

Congratulations to the Chefs/Owners of bluestem on the birth of their first child, Madeleine (sp?). She [finally] arrived early Sunday morning. Everyone is fine and coming home today. The only down-side: she reportedly has very long fingers - not exactly a desirable trait in a kitchen And a friend and I enjoyed a delicious Wagyu tartare, steak frites with a sauce flight and a nice Napa (20 Bench) in the lounge last night. A great nosh and a great value.

I'm not sure this is a place I would drive to the end of the earth for but if I found myself in the neighborhood I'd give it a whirl. Not only does Katie like it, and now it has the Chilihead seal of approval, but Howard Hannah (Chef de Cuisine at Room 39) helped open the Manhattan location, so despite their lamentable choice of location () they can't be all bad.

KC Media Digest for week of June 21-27, 2007 The Kansas City Star Food Section Jill Silva (who, apparently, hasn't seen the light of Rancho Gordo's fine products) offers a redux version of baked beans in Eating For Life. Preview Section It didn't take long for the former Circe's doors to reopen; Lauren Chapin says Po's Dumplings is off to a good start. And in Good & Cheap, she recommends lunch at The Drum Room, in The President Hotel. Business Section Joyce Smith brings news of another chain at The Legends, and a new indie Cajun restaurant in Cityscape; today's paper features an overview of the hottest spot in KC, The Crossroads; and reports a couple of new additions to Power & Light District. The Pitch Proving that it's not all fun and games being a food critic, Charles Ferruzza finds things somewhat lacking at Fritz Co. Grille. And in My Big Fat Mouth, we learn of a dirty little secret of some less scrupulous restaurateurs. Lawrence Journal-World Although it's really just starting to appear in markets, soon the annual zucchini glut will be upon us. Susan Krumm offers preemptive advice. Jayni Carey welcomes long-time fixture in the Lawrence food scene "Buffalo" Bob Schumm and his wife, Sandra, for Argentinian Asado on Jayni's Kitchen. Present Magazine Present Magazine previews the second biannual Urban Farm Tour that I would be on, but for an evil virus.

For another interesting (if equally unreliable) angle, Jeremiah Tower's book California Dish: What I saw (and cooked) at the American Culinary Revolution had some memorable passages about their apparently conflicted relationship.

[Digester's Note: Sorry to be so late in posting this week. In a modern-day twist on the old "dog ate my homework" excuse, my tuxedo cat (the one we call Kobe, for those who read the limerick contest) wiped out the almost-completed first version Thursday and this is the first chance I have had to re-do it.] KC Media Digest for week of June 14-20, 2007 The Kansas City Star Food Section Jill Silva offers wonders what all the fuss is about rhubarb. Mary Pepitone visits Chef Bob Brassard and his son, Karson, and discovers the "acorn doesn't fall far from the tree." Doug Frost demysties the process of tasting wine in a restaurant; and introduces us to Morgan Winery's Metallico, an unoaked chardonnay. The Food Calendar is here; the Farmers Market listings here. Preview Section Lauren Chapin consistently finds fault with the expansion efforts of The Thai Place; the lastest to let her down is in The Northland. Happily we, the ignorant dining public with less-discerning palates, continue to enjoy and support them. And, in Good & Cheap, we learn that Yummy's is now Zaki's. Business Section Downtown institution Danny Edwards' BBQ is making way for progress; fortunately he's found a new home on SW Boulevard. If only the Stroud's owners were so decisive! The Pitch Charles Ferruzza, like George Costanza before him, frets when worlds collide at Cafe Cedar at The Skillet. And in My Big Fat Mouth, he finally finds a fried food that he doesn't especially like: fried corn-on-the-cob at Bandana's BBQ. Lawrence Journal-World Stan Ring of the Extension Service says there's fungus among us but watch which ones you eat. Terry Rombeck on the humble spud. Gwen Mellinger anxiously awaits the stinking rose and other alliums. Susan Krumm dispels the myth of baby carrots and, in other breaking news, we learn there is no Tooth Fairy. An early Father's Day gift to her husband, Frank , Jayni Carey presents the best of the breast on Jayni's Kitchen. Props to the LJW for their recent food offerings. This weary digester appreciates the improvement in scope and quality! 710 KCMO (AM) From Jasper's Kitchen, with Jasper Mirabile, 11am-noon Saturday. Go here and click Listen Live.

Wow, lucky you! It sounds like Kerrytown (Ann Arbor) on a small scale. I envy you. We had an attempt at a similar situation a few years ago, but one person was running the biz and buying from area producers and growers. It was awesome being able to pick up a few things between markets. Alas, they expanded too quickly to two other locations and imploded.

Hey, AB, that's a great cook book! Great Hoppin' John recipe.