joiei

I just looked at the menu and it seems to be awfully expensive. I don't ordinarily drop that kind of change on just any old place.

Heaven help me, now I have a hunger for Pizza and Pizzabella is a 4 hour drive. It will not work.

justus drugstore - from personal experience Michael Smith - from a review by Slapsie Maxie no idea for the third, sorry.

The same place, but he sets up a smoker and a card table and is in business. I do understand he sometimes doesn't set up if the weather is inclement or if he doesn't feel like it. Kind of like the guy who owns JJ's Gourmet Burgers, that guy, if he doesn't like you for any reason will kick you out of his restaurant. And he has one of the best burgers in town.

I discovered another hot dog stand today in T-town. Grumpy's garden puts them on a smoker and that is all he has. That and some sodas. Great stuff, lightly smoked with relish, onions, jalapenos and mustard, yum. Grumpy's garden is on 15th street near downtown. Life is good in Tulsa. I don't have to deal with those damn coney dogs any more.

If you haven't been to Justus Drugstore in Smithville yet, then go soon. I understand the New York Times has been there already. As a break from judging bbq at the Royal this past weekend, I went up on Saturday night. Without a reservation, I was seated immediately. The dining room is in the old Justus Drugstore building, a mid-century structure. When Camille and Jonathan the owners and Manager and Exec Chef decorated the dining room they kept it simple and clean which fits the original dates of the building. I was told that Jonathan was the artist who painted all the artwork on the walls. For dinner I started with a Goat cheese fritter salad. The goat cheese had been infused with local honey and a rose and rose hip infusion they made themselves. It was finished with a bit of watermelon which served beautifully to be a palate cleanser before my entree. My main course was Wild Sturgeon with deconstruced manicotti - homemade pasta, smoked tomato sauce, house made ricotta, a spinch anglaise and a wild mushroom ragout. Since it was my birthday celebration, I did dessert. I had a caramel latte with pistacho doughnuts and pistacho brittle. Everything was delicious, excellent flavors and well balanced plating. The service was fun, I sat at the bar being solo and that was no problem. Lory, the bartender was fun to visit with. The bar by the way was the old soda fountain. In all well worth the drive up. It seemed a lot like driving from downtown to OP without the heavy freeway traffic and about that far really.

Before leaving Kansas City I made my normal pit stop at Dean and Deluca and picked up a Tuna and White Bean and one of their Italian subs replacing the tomato with roasted red pepper. I think both of those are excellent sandwiches.

I drove all the way down to Sushi Haru only to find that it closes between 3 and 5. That sucked. Especially after finding out that The Noodle House closed for lunch at 1:30. Is this closing between meals a KC thing?

I had lunch today at Pizzabella on Baltimore in the Crossroads. I was told it is owned by the same folks as 1924 Main. I had the Proscuitto pizza with the arugula salad on top. Excellent, thin thin crust, nice flavors, good service (I was told the lines have been staggering but I was there early which might explain why I got in quickly). Tonight is probably going to be a beast, it is First Friday and the weather is nice so the arty tarty crowds will be alllll over the place. I am heading over to the American Royal to see what I can scam. So far a great birthday.

Popeyes all the way baby. Been eatn the stuff since it first came about. KFC has nothing on them. Not even those throw everything in the garbage bowl thingies. Something I have noticed though is if your not in the gulf coast south, they don't carry the shrimp or the crawfish baskets. Sadly.

One more vote for adding to soups. I keep my rinds in the freezer and with soup season coming up in the near future, I will be using them and probably run out before I want to.

THe OK State Sugar Arts show is this weekend. I will try to take some pictures. The Theme is Hollywood so I am expecting interesting designs. If anyone is in town for the show pm me to meet up. I will have Jaymes with me tomorrow at the show so maybe we will run into each other. I am looking forward to meeting Chef Roland Misner.

Since it is Sunday lunch, are you looking for more of a Brunch experience or just a good lunch menu?

The D&D in Kansas City (OP or Lenexa or whatever) is always my last stop before heading home everytime I am there. That store is not all that big, but they have everything I need and want. I do not remember them having any wines, Kansas liquor laws are pretty weird. But the meats and cheeses, yes the salt selections, everything. Love it. And it isn't just off any freeway, you have to go there.

That sounds like a fun event. One big difference, the tickets for the KC Royal is $5 a person and the tickets for the Big State are $95 at the bottom end. I have been to events put on by this group and they are good at it. If I was not already committed, I would for sure try to get in to be a judge. I would not pay that much to just go be there. It looks like the Big State is about the music, which I think the line up is terrific. I will have to keep this in mind for next year.

New Orleans-KC, New Orleans-KC jeesh, I wouldn't want to have to make that decision. Have fun at the ball game, go Noles.

I received my judges packet in the mail today. Yuhu!!! Besides the judging, which will take up the middle of each day, on Friday night, the entertainment is a tribute to Johnny Cash. And on Saturday the headliners are Cross Canadian Ragweed, love it. I do not know what the World of Agriculture display is but I am looking forward to seeing it. And the rodeo, although from the timing I think I will be missing the Celebrity cookoff but should be able to catch at least some of the Local Chef Cooking Cemonstrations. And there is a food court (?) and an Innovation Expo - the latest in bbq grills, smokers, tools, etc. There is also a poker event, but I am not good at anything higher than penny ante, I am sooo cheap. I wouldn't mind hitting the Blue Room at least late one night for some KC Jazz.

There are a couple of restaurants I like to go that are cash only, in fact, I can think of about 4 right off the top of my head. None of them are high dollar. So if I am going, I try to make sure I will not embarrass myself. If there are 4 of us, the bill can get on up to $60 or $70. And I have no problem having a hundred in my pocket. As to the merchants not accepting cards, those fees add up over the course of a year. Especially for small operations who are on a tight budget already. And banks can change the fees structure at their whim to benefit their own pocketbooks screwing the merchants.

The mufflata from Central grocery is my pick.

And why, I ask myself, haven't I gone yet? ← u.e. what is wrong? You haven't been to Kaiyo and you haven't been to Justus Drugstore yet. I depend on your words to know where I am going on my next trip up to KC (both K and MO). And that is coming soon, like in the next two weeks. I need to know, sushi or Smithville. ← Alas and alack, I've been playing in New York a little too much. Ate my weight in sushi and other things... I will try my best to get to Kaiyo/Justus Drugstore in the near future... no promises. Have you been to Michael Smith or Krause's (in Lawrence)? I've been to both, and I think that either/both might be worth your while. ← So if I want to take NO-EYED UMA out for a bit a nosh, should I take her to Kaiyo?

And why, I ask myself, haven't I gone yet? ← u.e. what is wrong? You haven't been to Kaiyo and you haven't been to Justus Drugstore yet. I depend on your words to know where I am going on my next trip up to KC (both K and MO). And that is coming soon, like in the next two weeks. I need to know, sushi or Smithville.

HI Justhoward and welcome aboard. Thanks for the review, I will definitly put Justus Drugstore on my must do sooner than soon list. Plus, I will get the chance to go someplace new. Fois Gras and something with an egg on it. That spells must investigate to me.

I will have to go pick up a copy and read up about Chicago since I have never been there. Isn't that awful of me? It is on my list to go to in the next two years.

I found this place this past weekend. Pops 66 was interesting. The large soda bottle sculpture out front and the huge crowds were not what I was expecting. THis is a video about the place. It is 6 miles off I-35 east of Edmund, OK in Arcadia which is home of the famous Round Barn. If you find yourself in the greater Oklahoma City area, it makes an interesting side trip.

If your staying at the Doubletree, you exit your hotel onto Tchopitoulas street, go left and walk about 7 blocks to Cochon. Emeril's is on the way. The Grill Room at the Windsor Court is next door, Restaurant August is catycornered across the street, the French Quarter is across Canal Steet and is very walkable from where you are. For the best free thing to do in the City, walk down to the ferry and ride the ferry across the Mississippi, it is free for pedestrians and has the best view of the City from the water. Take a cab out Magazine street to La Divina Gelateria, the best in town. To go to Cafe du Monde for coffee and beignets, touristy but a lot of fun, exit your hotel onto Tchopitoulas, take a right and walk across Canal Street into the Quarter and keep going on Decatur until you reach Jackson Square, Cafe du Monde is across the street from Jackson Square. You are in a very walkable part of New Orleans. Oh, I forgot, go to Cafe Adelaide in the Lowe's Hotel on Poydras and St Peter, the street on the river side of your hotel. That is where the Swizzle Stick Bar is located. You have lots of options within walking distance, even Mothers is only 2 blocks away.