moosnsqrl

I just picked up the latest edition of this series (begun in 2000). Included are writings from the usual suspects (Reichl, Bourdain, Bruni, Steingarten, G Hamilton, et al.) and, I am pleased to note, a selection from Kansas City's weekly, The Pitch, restaurant reviewer Charles Ferruzza. See Marlowe & Co. website for a synopsis.

Hadn't been to 'the stem' in a while and my Mac-centric self hasn't been playing nicely with the online menus, so I was flying blind. I checked out all of the menus and found much to like and nothing objectionable. Try the wagyu carpaccio, if nothing else.

'Twas a dark day, indeed. Leave it to you to remember that - no wonder I can't get a decent meal there And, as mentioned on another thread, there are now bags with un-resealable (is that a word?) seals you can request if you wish to take home a partial bottle from a KCMO restaurant. Essentially your server seals it and you cannot open it until you get to your destination. The point being to discourage people from consuming it while driving home. It's all rather silly but at least there is the option now.

I just finally saw this last night and it was pretty enjoyable all the way around. My favorite moment, though, was Steingarten giving Kady a bad time about her definition of 'tender'; after her second comment on tenderness he claimed his portion of meat was '. . . a little tough but I supposed yours slid down your throat like an oyster' (paraphrasing but as best I can remember). She was kind of talking over it, so it was difficult to hear/catch, but it cracked me up. My favorite curmudgeon.

I should live so long! Actually I poked my head in a couple of weeks ago and it looks like it might, in fact, be a restaurant one day soon. It's all stainless/chrome/red inside and, while not really my personal cup of tea, it is impressive. Clearly they have spent some money (and time, as we all already knew) getting the space just right before opening the doors.

No 'trying' involved m'lad - you pretty much just walk right into it It occurs to me that you didn't list Annedore's in your original post. It's more in the bonbon category than fine, imported bar chocolates but it is a KC tradition and I admire their whimsical designs.

Um, did you look at the chocolate page on their website?

Depends on where in KC you are - from the southern or western 'burbs it's only 20-30 minutes; if you're in downtown/midtown/plaza, add another 5/10/15; for eastern 'burbs it can go up to an hour depending on traffic. Lawrence is Ann Arbor-like in many ways (the schools have historic ties and, until lightening struck, shared identical auditoria) and there are [finally] some decent restaurants there. PM me if you want more info - I don't want to stand in the way of UE's chocolate quest

I try to keep my finger on the pulse of what's going on around here but I'm only one person and every time I blink there is another restaurant up and running. This is especially true in the downtown area due to the entertainment venues due to come online in the next 2 years, but Zona Rosa, Briar Cliff and developments too numerous to name in the far southern reaches of Johnson County. I thought there might be merit to a thread devoted to these. Perhaps we can just provide name, location, chef/owner(s) and menu or theme as it becomes available. For more detailed reviews and discussion, a separate thread (similar to the ones for Starker's and 40 Sardines) could be started. I'm open to suggestions, comments and constructive criticism before this takes off but this seems workable - and useful - to me.

Katie's right about the grey salt. The first time I bought it there I was dubious because it was SO cheap. But the quality (if not the grain) is fine and I use it all of the time now. It makes you realize how scandalous the mark-up is on Penzey's and, worse-yet, Napa Style. Au Marche is a treasure. Other things we routinely buy there are all manner of Knorr and Hero products (Roesti potatoes in particular), caviar, charcuterie, cheeses, cornichons, spices, gifts wrap and boxes . . . the list is endless. And go next door to Brits while you're in the neighborhood and the world's your oyster.

KC Media Digest for week of October 12-18, 2006 The Kansas City Star Food Section In the final installment of her four-part series on local food, Jill Silva explores the challenge of getting products from the farm into the market and spotlights Diana Endicott, the driving force behind the Good Natured Family Farms cooperative. Eating For Life features a one-dish Italian skillet recipe. Janet Majure visits empty-nesters trying to remain active with healthful dishes such as Dave's Veggies in Come Into My Kitchen. Last call for the Brookside Market - here is a list of the remaining fall farmer's markets. Preview Section Lauren Chapin visits yet another new downtown eatery, Cheesehead and enjoys the comfort of a gooey grilled cheese sandwich and a hearty, if unconventional, chili. With the downtown construction boom well underway (Sprint Arena, Power & Light District, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts) it appears that we can look forward to a new restaurant opening in the area weekly (note to self - start a thread). In FYI Too late to watch live but worth mentioning, local baker Donnell Chambers appeared on Martha Stewart's TV show yesterday. Click here for the recipe he shared or to view it online. The Pitch Located in the Hospital Hill area, You Say Tomato has been getting more attention than a Gershwin Revue. Charles Ferruzza and friends agree that this is one thing that should not be called off. Charles bids adieu to the venerable Nichols Lunch in My Big Fat Mouth but comforts us with news of a new Hayes (of northland fame) grill set to open in December at 1515 Grand. Lawrence Journal-World Lawrence area farmers cash-in on the booming spinach market in the wake of the eColi outbreak in the Salinas Valley. Ingram's Magazine Bagel & Bagel founder, now co-owner of Spin!, Gail Lozoff is among local business icons revisited by Ingram's David Swafford. eKC Online Lisa Waterman Gray visits the highly-touted Tarahumara for some authentic Mexican cuisine. Kansas City Magazine As mentioned on the restaurant's thread, kcmag's G.E. Fellrath gave an enthusiastic four-star rating to bluestem. KCUR 89.3 FM Join the food critics again tomorrow on The Walt Bodine show. To listen online go to the website and click on "Listen Live." <><><><><> Media Digest Notes... Updates from some area media outlets, which do not 'go to press' before we do, will be edited into each week's post as they become available. Please do not reply on this thread. For discussion of any stories which are linked here, please feel free to start a new thread or contact the forum host or digester who will be happy to do it for you. <><><><><>

If you don't mind driving to Lawrence, Au Marche has a decent selection. Not quite open yet but Green Acres Market might be worth a visit. I don't recall how broad their selection is but it's a safe bet what they have won't be riddled with additives. There is a place on 95th (Sweet Supply Shoppe) that sells molds and other supplies. I can't attest to the selection of chocolate but it might be worth a call.

My rec is 2 years old but the place has been open for ~20 years, so I think it's fairly safe; if not I'm sure the locals will eventually weigh-in. Aunt Maude's was a very pleasant surprise to me on a visit a couple of summers ago. I really hadn't expected much in the way of dining there (college town and all - not meaning to offend!) but we had a very nice meal there - I can't remember exact dishes but there were 5 of us so we tried a pretty wide variety of dishes and there wasn't a miss in the lot.

So, if Chris has been in Chicago taping for 4 days, why am I not seeing any posts or pictures? Ronnie? Elliot? Surely someone has made it to the shoot by now?

Through rain, sleet, snow, over indulgence, travel and even The Heartland Gathering I have somehow managed to crank out the digest. With the American Royal BBQ contest I have met my match. It is after midnight and I still have work to do, a few hours of shut-eye and off to the races again. My humble apologies and I will strive to make up for it next week. Unless, of course, we win Grand Champion, in which case I will be far too busy with the media and paparazzi for such trivial matters. Wish us luck and check back next week.

I forgot to ask . . . does the Mrs. allow you to date as a rule or did she make a special exception for Bourdain?

Quelle surprise!

And so he claims another victim. Disarming charm and a hollow leg are a dangerous combo, eh? Sounds like you had a great evening - thanks for sharing it with us. ETA: Feel better soon (try bitters and soda - always works for me).

Glad to hear you have a new pooch. I hope you can find something for him to chew on - otherwise you'll have to PhotoShop teethmarks into your avatar.

They must've gotten new bartenders - the ones I know don't have any discretion

Our cats demand petting, those two So we call them Kobe and Wagyu When they're fattened and tender We think they will render A gourmet, upscale feline stew.

Hurray! I will begin including it, then. I sent them an email a while ago because when I moused-over their various departments I would get the little "hamburge helper hand" (sorry, my first exposure to www ever they called it that and it stuck with me) but it wasn't really a hyperlink so it was doubly frustrating.

I'd like to add a local favorite, Bob's 47 (lager) from Boulevard Brewing Company in KC. It's only distributed in the midwest but if you're traveling through and happen to see it, give it a try. They're planning to get a litre-size bottling line for the newly expanded brewing facility so it will be in Chimay-like bottles starting next fall.

I see it on occasion and have often thought I should subscribe but you have NO idea how many magazines we slog through every month. If I sign up for one more, I'm going to find my belongings out on the curb, I'm afraid. I believe they do reviews every month, with rare exception. I don't include it in my digest as they have zero online content. I check their website online each week, though, hoping that they might see the error of their ways. Congratulations on the good rating. I always knew you guys could be up there with the big boys if you really applied yourselves

from the Food Media and News Boards Her peers liked her writing enough to give her this award. ← I don't think it's the writing anyone here is objecting to - rather the apparent disconnect between the description of the meal and the star rating. I'm curious, though, if this award was for reviews or contributions to the Food Section. From the name of it, more likely the latter. Jill Silva won a James Beard Award for a series of articles she did a couple of years ago as well.