Food, KC and Other Things

KC Food... GOP Primary Style

2012-01-12T16:34:00.002-06:00

So I've been watching a bunch of the Republican Primary stuff lately. Not necessarily because I'm a Repub, but more so because I like watching grown men and women say stuff about their opponents on TV that would get them bitch slapped at a midtown bar.

It also got me thinking about what KC restaurants and foods best illustrate each of these current and former candidates. I'm not looking to make any political commentary so I don't need 38 Ron Paul comments, I just am calling it as I see it.

Mitt Romney: Mitt (I love saying that name... like he's a pug dog or something) is the Moderate hope for the GOP and the clear front-runner at this stage. Just like Fric and Frac on 39th Street, he doesn't do anything especially good, but people still keep coming back to him. Fric and Frac is not especially good at anything. At times its service, decor and food leave you wanting more. But you just keep coming back.

Herman Cain: It would be too easy to use Godfather's Pizza for this now disposed candidate. While his 9-9-9 plan is probably impractical, it is simple. Just like the $6.99 menu at Charlie Hoopers. Just pick half a sandwich and a cup of soup or a salad and you're done. The Californian, featuring sliced turket with sprouts and cream cheese on multi-grain bread is too easy. Just don't grab the waitresses on the booty in honor of Herman.

Newt Gingrich: This guy is a pitbull. He would berate a third grader if it got him an extra vote. Blanc Burgers and Bottles on the Plaza is a little aggressive like good ole Newt. Gone is the cozy atmosphere of Westport with a polite and helpful staff. This place may not scream at you when you enter the place like Gates, but their actions scream "eat your damn food and then leave". Need to move places because additional people joined your party? Fat Chance. Want to make a new beer selection since they are out of the one you ordered (very common there)? Nope, the server will bring you three similar selections for you to choose from on the spot. Just an aggressive place.

Rick Santorum: This conservative candidate is probably still bitter about that whole allowing women to vote thingy. The conservative spirit lives on at Plaza III. This place hasn't changed since it opened in 1963. For some, that may be a good thing. For others who don't watch Bonanza and Gunsmoke re-runs all day this is a bad thing.

Michelle Bachman: OK, I realize that I've been bagging on restuarants when comparing them to candidates thus far. That's really not the point. While I was never a fan of this now retired candidate I did find it refreshing that a conservative woman not from the state of Alaska, or with her own reality show, gave it a shot. Just like I'm happy to see Aaron Sanchez's new Mestizo open up in Leawood. I'm just not sure about upscale Mexican food. It just doesn't seem right. Kind of like delivery steaks (there was a place in Springfield that would deliver sandwiches and steaks if you wanted?). Anyway, I'm glad to see national chefs try and expand to the KC area.

Jon Huntsman: This candidate is the anti-Tea Party guy. He worked in Obama's administration and will probably drop out of the race before I finish typing this. Just like the 810 zone on the Plaza. I was there when they opened to much fanfare. I have continued to go there, if for no other reason that it's a closer place to take kids for games then hauling off to Dave and Buster's or, heaven forbid, a Chucky Cheese. But the massive place is vacant most days. Nobody wants to pay inflated Plaza prices for low class bar food (as opposed to high class bar food... see Tower Tavern).

Rick Perry: This Texan seems like a decent guy but he totally flops in debates. Kind of like the presentation at The Melting Pot. The food is really good there. But the prices are a little steep (I'm cooking my own food! You probably got some guy with a meat cleaver chopping up bits of meat in the back. How much can that cost?). And the service is always hit or miss.

Ron Paul: This Libertarian leaning elder Doctor is the clear choice of those that favor legalizing pot, being nice to Iran, and going back to the gold standard (does that mean I can carry around gold nuggets like an old prospector?). He may not win anything but he has a loyal group of followers. Just like nearly every place in the Crossroads area including Grinders and Lulu's Thai Noodle Shop. These places will never win any awards or appeal to the mainstream but they have a strong cadre of loyal followers.

South Carolina here we come!

KC Restaurant Week 2012

2012-01-12T16:26:00.002-06:00

As a reminder KC's very own Restaurant Week kicks off on January 20th. As usual, I'll let everyone (all five people that read this blog) know which places are offering good deals and which ones are... well... lacking. Also, I'll be sure and add some bitching about how other cities have better Restaurant Weeks and why some businesses just don't get it. Restaurant Week is a time to offer great deals on great food in the hopes that those that attend will come back and pay full price.

Don't forget that the event helps Harvesters as 10% of your bill will go directly to that great local organization.

P.S. Get the iPhone app for KC Restaurant Week. It's free and it's swell!

On a positive note

2011-12-14T14:05:00.001-06:00

There are a few places I've recently visited that really deserve some praise.

El Pollo Rey
You have two choices when ordering... Half or whole, and they're talking about chicken, great grilled chicken.

Pho Hoa
Good Pho, great Banh Mi. Get the Pho to eat among the awesome decor, and get a Banh Mi to go. The crunchy french roll is so good you'll come back for more. I take the carry out Banh Mi and throw it in a 500 degree oven for a few minutes and it is as good as new. Tell Spike I said hi.

Tamale Wizard
The tamales are delicious and sold in an ever-changing variety. Also, the bean soup and the house rice rocks! I had their only entree, a half chicken, and it was so dry I almost sent it back. It had great flavor though. If it was fresh it would have been great. If the Tamale Wizard reads this I would like a rematch on the chicken.

So Bahn
Good Korean fare. I like the Tong Galbi and the Kim Chee soup.

Mendolia's or Scimeca's? NO THANKS! The former sausage kings are no more.

2011-12-12T13:31:00.000-06:00

I made a big mistake the other night. I bought some Mendolia's Italian sausage. What was I thinking? This stuff was so bad I called the company to bitch about it, at night, on a weekend. The cool thing is they called me back in about five minutes! If they cared as much about the quality of their sausage as they do about customer service, the stuff might be edible.

Mendolia's website states, "The recipe he developed has stood the test of time and remains the same today." Bullshit! This not true. Mendolia's and Scimeca's have always been the competing sausage kings of KC. Both brands have become so horrible I will never buy either again.

In the race between these sausage losers Scimeca's comes out on top, on top of the crap pile that is. The Mendolia's I bought was ground so fine it was like super salty cardboard pulp in a plastic casing. I don't know what they stuff it in, but it reminded me of cellophane off a pack of smokes.

If you want some good sausage these days make it yourself. If you don't wish to tackle that lengthy endevour, visit a local butcher. A couple places that still make the real deal are; Bichelmeyer's, Carollo's, Werner's, McGonigle's and possibly your local supermarket.

I almost forgot.... Alex Pope is soon to open The Local Pig in the East Bottoms. Sausage heaven! The Pitch recently posted an article about it.

Is this a bad joke?

2011-12-06T13:05:00.005-06:00

The pitch announces Pandolfi's will begin dinner service. This place is atrocious. Do not go near this "Deli".

I'll elaborate.

I went in with a friend to get a couple meatball sandwiches to eat there, and a sub sandwich to go for another friend.

The meatball sandwiches were as bland as can be, they contained little or no flavor. We could taste no oregano, no garlic, no seasoning, just bland tomato sauce and bland meat. Even salt would have helped. The addition of some cheese would have been nice too. I've never had a meatball sandwich without cheese. Maybe this is how "real" Italians make them and I just haven't had the pleasure of having an authentic one?

The bread could have been great if it was toasted or grilled. It was like cold sponge. Can't we put it in an oven or a salamader for one minute? Even if it was toasted, I don't think it could have saved the sandwich. I did order some chips from a bag and they were great.

Each of us could only stomach half the sandwich and we're generally big eaters. We opened the to go sandwich thinking we would split it and order another one to go for the friend who asked for it. Nope. After one look at it, we resealed it and left hungry. Do real delis use Boar's Head? I don't think so.

I didn't want to waste my time writing about this place but to appease the brave "Anonymous" I did. It'd be smarter not to go back!

Eating your way through K.C.?

2011-11-13T21:24:00.008-06:00

So let's say that you have a friend that walks out of the Amazon forest and plops down in Kansas City. I'm not sure why you have a friend that lives in the Amazon, but maybe you are much cooler than the Dos Equis guy and you have an abundance of unusual friends. Anyway, he's been never been to K.C., or civilization for that matter. Where would you take him to eat in our fair city. Not just for the best food, but for the best variety of meals. Being from the Amazon he doesn't really care about whether the food is from a local joint or a chain. He just wants grub he's never experienced.

So I've created a very unscientific list of the top 20 places I would take my Amazon friend. These places may not be the best at what they do or even the most unique, but they would provide him with a good cross-section of Mid-America. Oh... and as usual the 20 are not in any particular order.

1. Arthur Bryants - The original location;
2. Gates - The main street venue (the above two so he could judge the KC BBQ battle for himself);
3. Flying Saucer (for the unique German "lite" fare and an abundance of beer selections);
4. Applebee's (to see first hand what an American chain is all about);
5. Thomas (to chill on the deck in the spring);
6. Minsky's - Main Street location (to see a local pizzeria in action);
7. Grand Street Cafe (to see an upscale eatery with great service);
8. Bluestem (to experience an upscale eatery with less than stellar service);
9. T-Rex Restaurant (to help him feel at home with all of the wild animals and such);
10. The Beer Kitchen (the best lunch deal if you make sure to get there before 1pm);
11. The Drop (good food and edible shots... enough said);
12. Garozzo's (for a great taste of Italy... American style);
13. Tower Tavern (still the best sliders);
14. Ponak's (take your pick on the Boulevard, but this Mexican joint will suffice);
15. Extra Virgin (the pig's ear salad and other unique offerings will keep him happy);
16. A hot dog at the K (being from the Amazon I can convince him that having the least amount of runs is actually winning in baseball);
17. Kansas City Cafe (pretty good lunch fare at a great price);
18. Gruneur ( Not sure if I spelled it right... Don't care because the food is top-notch);
19. BK at Power and Light (fast food and a beer... kinda funny in a European way);
20. Any Mongolian Grill type place but my favorite is the one on 39th Street (don't eat for three days and then destroy this place...).

The list doesn't hit the best of KC, just a cross-section of what I would show my Amazon friend. If of course, I was the most interesting man in the world and has a friend from the Amazon.

Hey... what's for breakfast?

2011-10-21T12:58:00.000-05:00

Fifty of the World Best Breakfasts.

This one looks good.

#50. A Turkish breakfast – the full Turkish treatment usually consists of a few varieties of cheese, butter, olives, eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, jam, honey, and spicy meat.

Food for Thought

2011-09-30T22:42:00.002-05:00

Good food is for all seasons. As the the Chiefs begin to tank the new season and the Royals mercifully end yet another summer of distress, my palate turns towards what makes Kansas City meals special. I experienced some of that great culinary excellence at a recent Harvesters fundraiser at Union Station.

This Chef-inspired event featured great dishes from a variety of local eateries and country clubs (with an impressive of showing from Johnson County locations) left me stuffed and also feeling good about helping a local charity. This charity is truly KC oriented. And it's winning unlike the local sport's scene.

The point is two-fold. One, we have a great charity here at home that helps those in our city. Not some national program that supports those on a national scale (not that there's anything wrong with that), but one that has a real impact on those that live and work amongst all of us.

Secondly, our local culinary scene is superb. The event featured a 20 minute cook-off challenge featuring among others Michael Smith. Say what you want about his respective restaurants (I happen to like Extra Virgin and Michael Smith's) but the man is talented.

So as we fall into fall, remember to support your local food joints. KC can be proud of the talent we have locally. And maybe someday the same can be said of the Royals.

Spring Time Fling

2011-06-01T11:38:00.003-05:00

So our blog has been a little... dormant... over the last few months. Probably due to a lack of interest in new KC food joints coupled with some really poor spring weather. But with sunny skies comes new food energy.

Recently, I hit up The Kansas City Cafe. This small bistro has been serving primarily lunch crowds for a few years in the downtown area. Just a few blocks from the Sprint Center, the KC Cafe does the most with their quirky location. Quirky, because there aren't a ton of other nice eating options located immediately nearby and their parking lot will bring back memories of a bumper car carnival attraction.

The food and menu, however, set this place apart from the nearby Power and Light district. I heard about this place from our local TV show, "Check Please". It was billed as a solid lunch time eatery with reasonable prices on some truly chef-inspired food options. After my visit I couldn't agree more.

The dining room is a firm mix between casual and slightly upscale dining. A great touch is the place mats which feature pictures of downtown buildings along with some trivia of said locations.

While featuring a pretty snazzy looking bar area, the drink menu was sorry. No one is asking a primarily lunch type venue to feature 40 beers, but 10 -12 isn't too much to ask for. Most distributors will even sell by the case, so why not try stocking a few extra beers (besides Bud Light, Miller Lite, Blvd Wheat and Pale, and Stella). They may have had one or two more than what I listed, but not by much.

The food menu is what truly makes this place special. The food is very economically priced and features such fun dishes as Lobster Cakes and Coconut crusted Tilapia. I went with the Teriyaki Cheese Steak for a measly $6.50 and my lunch mate went with the Fish Tacos for 7 bucks.

The Cheese Steak was really good. The Fish Tacos provided great flavor as well (although the fish came out as a large un-sliced tilapia portion. I like my Fish Tacos sliced up, but that may just be a personal preference thing).

As the Kansas City Cafe says on their web site, it really is Gourmet food at "Value Meal" pricing. Why anyone would order a damn McDonald's value meal for 7 bucks when you could get a herb grilled chicken sandwich with homemade pasta salad for the same price is amazing to me.

Outdoor Dining

2011-02-24T16:14:00.003-06:00

This weather sucks. Point blank. So it's time for me to think about warm spring days on the horizon. It's time for me to fondly day dream about where I would rather be eating at. It's time for my unscientific list of the top places to eat outdoors. Hopefully, our two readers can help present some new ideas I can add to my list. By the way, this list isn't a ranking, just a general guide.

1) Thomas Restaurant - The rooftop area is great and the 39th street location allows me to eat in relative peace without gunshots or crappy buildings blocking my view (KU Med is across the street though). They have good food and good solid drinks.

2) Jaywalkers - The outside deck is actually pretty cool. The food is always pretty average but the beers on tap are relatively diverse featuring a ton of Free State offerings.

3) McCoy's - This deck is prime real estate in the middle of Westport. I won't go on about what you'll find at McCoy's because there are a million reviews of this place, but suffice it to say, this place is yummy. It's sister restaurant next door, The Foundry, also features a cool deck setting.

4) Pizza 51 - Part neighborhood Pizza joint, part kid's romper room, this UMKC area pizza place has three times as much seating space outside as it does inside. Good value and good pizza.

5) Sol Cantina - The great thing about 31st Street neighbors Sol and the Velvet Dog is their ample outdoor dining area. Probably more of a bar setting that a food setting but the space works for both.

6) Any Place with the sliding windows that open up. From All-Star Pizza to The Flying Saucer to Extra Virgin. I love the sliding window concept and it allows me to act as though I'm dining outside while still enjoying the vibe of the restaurant.

I know I just mentioned a few of the many great KC outdoor spots. Some places try to market the outdoor feel but they fail miserably. It your outdoor location is just a glorified smoking/cell phone area you don't count in my book (see Tower Tavern and the Westport Flea Market as examples). Likewise, you don't count if a few tables are thrown outside by a crowded street or sidewalk (see M&S Grill, Room 39, nearly every place in the Power and Light District, and La Bodega).

It's like a pasta quiz

2011-02-15T13:52:00.003-06:00

Just click on the pasta shape and you get the name of the pasta and a description. I think this char t represents only 1/200th of the worlds pasta shapes, but it is pretty cool anyway. I think I guessed one or two. Pasta shapes are hard.

The Great Chocolate Ale Hunt

2011-02-09T20:42:00.002-06:00

Recently our local hometown brewery joined forces with local chocolate guru Christopher Elbow to create a Chocolate Ale. While fans of Boulevard know that they have embarked upon an aggressive "smokestack series" designed to highlight beer full of flavor and high octane punch, this brew has created a frenzy of sorts.

This brew features a soft tone of chocolate mixed with a soothing ale mouthfeel. At least thats what I think it tastes like. You see, this beer has some major mass market appeal. And everywhere it shows up at it is quickly snatched up. Gomers sold their multitude of cases within hours. Other places jacked the price up like it was the last gallon of water on a Sahara Desert tour. Still others had the gall to charge 10 bucks for the first bottle and 20 bucks for the second.

All in all, capitalism won out and it seems as though the entire supply of Chocolate Ale has been snatched up. Maybe it's a ploy by Mayor Funky to keep metro residents focused on something besides the upcoming election?

If there is any good news on the horizon it is that the Chocolate Ale will be hitting taps around the city soon. And maybe then the Great Chocolate Ale Hunt will be over... until Boulevard pairs up with The Peanut for BLT Beer. I can dream can't I?

Welcome to Mushroom Adventures

2011-01-27T13:34:00.000-06:00

Sounds illegal doesn't it? It's not, it's a cool place to get mushroom kits to grow legal, edible mushrooms at home. I'm going to try this, I love mushrooms!

Also try:
http://www.mushbox.com/
http://www.gmushrooms.com/POTS.HTM
http://www.fungi.com/kits/indoor.html
http://www.groworganic.com/seasonal-items/mushroom-kits.html

18th & Vine, Lee's Summit and P&L it's all your fault! We're just victims.

2011-01-27T11:36:00.001-06:00

The Peachtree in P&L closed! Who didn't see this coming? The owners that's who. What did you think was going to happen when you moved to P&L? You sold out! You forgot the people who brought you up in the first place. Did you really think the largest, suburban destination hangout in town was going to support soul food? Where are you going next? Leawood? Please.

"The Power and Light district location was leased for Roy, my son, who wanted to remain close to the African American community and felt African Americans should have a presence in the P&L district."

I guess remaining close to the African American community means moving to the biggest white tourist trap in the city? I guess remaining close to the African American community means abandoning an historic black neighborhood?

You chased the Cordish dollar and it ran you over. Now you cry about your poor business decisions in attempt to regain some credibility in the community. Always good food, always poor service and management.

Which ramen suits your lazy ass?

2011-01-21T14:38:00.000-06:00

Hello Lazy is only one of the delicious flavors here. Other flavors include; Soup for Sluts, Din Din Fuk Chow and Wasted and Broke ramen.

"Let's face it - you're not lazy because you're making ramen. You're making ramen because you're lazy!"

Restaurant Week - KC Style

2011-01-15T08:39:00.009-06:00

When I lived in D.C., Restaurant Week was a much anticipated event. Like baseball's opening day or St. Patrick's day, Restaurant Week became a city wide holiday for adults. The deals were outstanding and the food was amazing. It was not unusual for many restaurants in D.C. to be completely booked up during restaurant week.

It was with that anticipation that I recently reviewed the Restaurant Week being put on by the Power and Light District. This Restaurant Week was a sham. The menus were restrictive, over-priced, and generally not a value. As I stated previously, Power and Light just didn't get the essence of what drives a successful Restaurant Week promotion. (By the way, for any new readers, I am not a P&L basher intent on supporting only locally owned joints. I am an equal opportunity eater and have been to every one of the Restaurants in P&L, except maybe Ghengis Grill?)

Would my Restaurant Week craving go unquenched? NO! I have been saved by the upcoming second annual KC Restaurant Week. This event, co-sponsored by the Greater KC Restaurant Association and the KC Conventions and Visitors Association, is set to take place next week from January 21st until January 30th. What makes this event "legend"... (wait for it)... "dary" is that it has its very own free iPhone app!

The app lists all participating restaurants, a brief synopsis of the place and its food, their address, a link to their website, and most importantly... their Restaurant Week menus.

To provide a quick guide to the KC Restaurant Week festivities, the participating restaurants offer a lunch special for 15 bucks and a dinner special for 30 bucks. The goal for us average Joes is to get more food than what you are paying for. Unlike the P&L debacle, this event seems to get that principle.

If you want to go to a less expensive place like Pizza 51, the lunch special during the week will get you enough food to feed two people. If you go to a nicer place, like one of my seafood favorites, the Bristol, you will only get enough chow for one person but it will be great options like Grilled Salmon or a Petite Filet Mignon... for lunch... for 15 smack-a-roos.

In all, I have already charted out five eating destinations for that week. A few will be chosen because I haven't been there ever (or in a super long time) and a few will be chosen because they are simply offering an unbeatable value.

And most importantly, by participating in Restaurant Week, you are helping a worthwhile charity. A portion of the price of every meal ordered is donated to Harvesters. Last year over $55,000.00 was donated to Harvesters. So help out a needy group and get your "opening day" on.

A man and his pan

2011-01-11T15:36:00.000-06:00

Or a woman...whatever, you know what I mean.

In this article, some guy from FT talks to some chefs about their favorite pan. My favorite pan is a cast iron grill pan I bought several years ago. I love this pan although my smoke alarms don't think it is as cool as I do. When I take the pan out of the cabinet, my smoke alarms go off in anticipation.

Words only food douches use. Go ahead..... try them out.

2011-01-03T14:01:00.001-06:00

Are you a Deipnosophist? If so, don't bother looking at the Top 10 Food and Drink Words You’ve Never Heard.

Ruth Bourdain FTW!

2011-01-03T13:35:00.000-06:00

The Eater of the Year Award goes to Ruth Bourdain. The folks over at Endless Simmer narrowed the list down to 5 and let the public decide the winner. Surprisingly, I wasn't in the running this year.

Here is the scoop on Ruth Bourdain.

A post about tired posts is..... also tired

2010-12-20T10:50:00.002-06:00

Here is a list of fresh topics for local food bloggers. Just pick one and start writing. It's that easy.

1. Gas station eats
2. New cupcake boutiques
3. Anything Christopher Elbow or Ryan Maybee touch
4. Hip new "artisan" pizza places
5. Places to get an overpriced burger
6. Hotdogs
7. Tio
8. Mixologists
9. Recent closings of national chains
10. Brunch
11. KC's best BBQ

The Deep Sea Battle

2010-12-06T18:38:00.006-06:00

Recently KC Food Guy and I were provided gift cards to sample the fare at Bonefish Grill and their "closest competitor". That comparable turned out to be Red Lobster. Way to shoot for the stars Bonefish. I'm sure your customers enjoy the fact that they are faced with the nightly dilemma of choosing you or Red Lobster. What about aspiring for The Bristol or even M&S?

Anyway our joint review of Bonefish is contained in our archives. (I guess if I was computer savvy this is when I add a link to that story, but you'll just have to scroll down and find the damn story for yourself). I recently hit up the Red Lobster "riding solo" to get a good comparison of the two places.

First of all, the service was fantastic. From the initial greeter to my actual server, I was made to feel welcome and cherished as a customer. Bonefish wasn't rude by any accounts; it was just that Red Lobster made me feel truly welcomed.

I ordered a shrimp and steak combo. I felt like this was representative of a good comparison with our meal at Bonefish. I didn't think it would have been fair to get a full lobster or something and then try and compare the two places. The price of the meal was fairly economical coming in at around 15 bucks. I upgraded my side to the grilled asparagus for a few bucks more.

First of all, all meals at the Red come with a side salad and their legendary cheddar biscuits. The Biscuits were as good as I remembered them. The salad was stuck in 1982 and sucked. Some crappy looking iceberg lettuce with pre-fab croutons and some slices of cucumber made me feel as though I was getting a salad from Winsteads (yes they have salads there!).

The meal itself was solid. The steak was a smallish 5 ounce cut that was tasty but unspectacular. The shrimp was cooked to perfection, and while slightly over seasoned, it was good. When I mean cooked to perfection I mean not overdone (as most shrimp offerings are in places like the Red). I confirmed that the shrimp was actually placed on the skewer at the restaurant. There is no way that Bonefish does this.
Overall, the meal was good. Service was great. Drink selection was normal.

The big complaint most folks have about the Red is the price. They don't mind spending more cash at a nicer seafood joint. They just feel as though Red Lobster should be more economical.

I want to sincerely thank Bonefish for giving us the opportunity to sample their fare and put it to the test with another restaurant. I just didn't see a marked difference between the two places. And in my opinion that makes Red Lobster the winner. You see, when you choose to go to Bonefish you are choosing to have a better dining experience. You expect to pay more and also get better food. The food at Red Lobster was average seafood. You expect that... nothing more.

So maybe Bonefish is a victim of its own aspired standards? I don't know. I do know that if someone gave me a free dinner and the option of going to Bonefish or Red Lobster... I'd choose the Red.

Define Neapolitan

2010-11-29T14:54:00.006-06:00

Andrea from SPIN! invited us over to sample their menu the other day. It was my first visit, and maybe my last.

It wasn't bad pizza, it was very average pizza. We arrived around 11, and were the first people there for lunch. We met the owner, Gail Lozoff in the "ordering area", the area in the front of the restaurant where the menu hangs and people order at the register. You order your pizza and then move to your table to wait for it.

This procedure works fine at a deli where everyone is ordering individually, it doesn't work so well for pizza. People are picky about what they get on their pizza, everyone likes something different. As groups of folks file in the door, they must come to a collaborative decision on what they are going to order before sitting down. This is easy for some groups, and not so easy for most.

Does your group of six that has quickly decided what to order cut in front of the group of four that has not? There really isn't a formal line, just an area where groups sort of stand around and look at the menu.

By about 11:30 the confusion started. Groups are coming in the front door and the back door. Folks from the back door are going straight to the register bypassing those who came in the front door. Those from the front door are wondering if they should skip in front of the group of four in front of them who can't make a decision on a pizza.

Just let us sit down to order the pizza already!

I ordered the daily pizza special, four cheeses and mushroom. I added Italian sausage since Gail said they get it from Scimeca's. Terrence got the Pollo Arrosto E Chevre (chicken and goat cheese) pizza and Jim decided on the SPIN! sub and Minestrone soup.

The pizza came out on a stoneware plate as shown above. The crust was super thin and crisp but the pizza was cold. I wonder if the the stoneware plate cooled it off? Do they cook the pizza on the plate? Do they heat the plates before they put the pizza on them?

Before I'd taken a bite, Gail came over to see how we were doing. I noticed there wasn't any Italian sausage on my pizza and mentioned it to her. She said, "It really doesn't need sausage, it's a great pizza without it". It wasn't an excuse or apology for the lack of sausage, it was more like I was an idiot for messing with the perfect combination in the first place. That's not what I wanted to hear. I like meat on my pizza. She made no effort to correct the mistake.

I didn't know the definition of Neapolitan pizza until I went here today. After my visit to SPIN! I thought it meant thin, dry and cold, with very little topping. I really missed that Italian sausage now that I was facing a tiny bit of cold cheese and mushrooms on my pizza! Terrence's Pollo Arrosto E Chevre was better since it wasn't as dry, but the chicken, he said, was "tasteless". Jim said his sandwich was good although we thought it needed some vinegar and oil to help it along. The bread is made in-house but could use a crust. It was very fresh with a Wonder bun texture. The Minestrone reminded me of Chef Boyardee. I couldn't detect a hint of basil or oregano, it was way to safe, tasted mass produced. Jim liked it.

I could mention the antics of our over-shy, forgetful waitress but I have already made to many remarks about a truly unremarkable experience.

Tapas of New Places

2010-11-22T20:17:00.003-06:00

I love Tapas. Unfortunately this article does not talk about any tapas. I just thought that it would be a good term to use in making a few local food observations. As I've stated earlier, I only like to create a formal review of a place after I have visited it a number of times. As I haven't sufficiently visited a number of places with future reviews in the works, I wanted to make a few food observations:

1) The Beer Kitchen in Westport is really good. The food is top notch. And they wisely abandoned their McCoy's brewed "BK Gold" house beer. Seriously, that crap tasted like cold piss. Well, piss that could eventually intoxicate you if you drank enough of it. But you get the point. On my last visit they were serving a McCoy's brewed Saison of sorts that was super yummy.

2) The Art of Pizza in Westport was not nearly as good as their Crossroad's sister. I'm not going to give them a formal review as I really hope that it was a case of me catching them on a bad day. P.S. Get your liquor license as eating pizza without beer sucks. Oh, and if you have gotten your license... why did you open a place without having one in place. I'm seriously gun-shy about going back in until I know if the place has beer yet. It's kind of bad form to walk out midway through ordering unless I want a extra topping of saliva the next time I'm there.

3) I am looking for a new "football food". You know, that speciality that you gobble why watching the Chiefs. I'm tired of the wings and the Rotel/cheese dip and the brats, etc. Help me out. I want something new.

4) I'm heading to Las Vegas this week. I'm looking forward to the gambling and the food. And I'm laying big money on Mizzou vs Kansas no matter what the spread is.

It's Veteran's Day!

2010-11-11T14:33:00.000-06:00

Drive over to Linwood and Broadway or the Liberty Memorial today and thank a Vet! I did and it felt great!

Let's all sing along

2010-11-05T14:00:00.000-05:00

Here are some truly horrible songs about cheese. # 3 made me want to crawl in a hole and die. I expect you to know the lyrics by next week. It'll be on the test. 1 2 3

Michael Ruhlman Had Something To Say

2010-11-05T13:32:00.002-05:00

In this video Ruhlman talks about theories in the book Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human, by Harvard Anthropologist Richard Wrangham. Very interesting stuff even if the style of shooting makes me dizzy!

Now get in the kitchen!

Food Deals Galore!

2010-10-26T17:10:00.003-05:00

With the economy in the shitter, food deals have become all of the rage. From Muncharoo, to Living Social, to Find Specials, etc., deals are in. The premise is basic. Pay a certain amount, get a coupon (typically for double your purchase price) and eat away. I've used them on a number of occasions. Some have been great deals (Room 39... 25 bucks got me 50 bucks worth of grub), some have been not so good (I won't mention names but some of these deals require you to read the fine print as they may only be usable during obscure times).

The downside to consumers is that the gift certificates must be kept around for that special time you wish to use it. I've got a Le Fou Frog gift certificate gathering dust right now because I haven't made the time to use it yet.

There is also a downside to the restaurants as well. I spoke to one owner about the deals and he admits that they probably lose money on the deals, but they hope that it leads to new customers. The worst situation is when they see a regular customer using one of the coupons. Owners also sometimes get burned when users only tip on the final bill amount disregarding the coupon's inclusion.

My personal take is that these deals are great for the consumer, so-so for the restaurants, and ultimately will lose their appeal. Restaurants don't mind doing one of these deals a year. However, since these deals are sent out on a daily basis, you have to sift through the crap to find the good deals (Every other day features some sort of spa or hair salon... my "fro" doesn't need that shit).

Once folks have a chance to try out a few new places, all but the hard-core savers will begin to lose interest. Until then, suit up and coupon up!

Ah..... memories of green bean casserole

2010-10-26T10:59:00.000-05:00

Check it out dude. 69, that's right, 69 pages full of pictures of our parents entertaining each other. You can almost smell the fondue and doobies while looking at these photos.

The Winter of Cheese

2010-10-25T15:36:00.000-05:00

Some who know me are familiar with my habit of naming a season after an ingredient or dish. Throughout that season I try to use that ingredient or make that dish in many different ways. Last summer was the Summer of Lemons. I declare this to be the Winter of Cheese.

Check out this list of cheeses! Damn, that's a lot of cheese.

Are you a Turophile?

2010-10-21T14:39:00.001-05:00

I am, and this is where I learn the terms to impress people with my turos vocabulary. It's a glossary of cheese terms. They also have a nifty Cheesecyclopedia.

Get your fail on

2010-10-21T13:43:00.001-05:00

Since the boom of food television some folks think it is glamorous to be a chef. This is correct if you relate glamor to being over-worked, under-paid, hot, greasy and generally anonymous.

Are you looking for a school that teaches the cooking stuff? Here is a terrific website to help you on your way to failure. http://www.culinaryartscollege.org
I hear the kids out at JOCO are making some noise in the field. It's not listed yet, but I bet it will be soon. I'll let Cindy know about them. Oh.... wait... I just did.

Here is what Bourdain has to say about getting started in the field of cooking stuff for people. You know, being a cookerperson. This article is taken from his new book Medium Raw you gotta read it.

"I am frequently asked by aspiring chefs, dreamers young and old, attracted by the lure of slowly melting shallots and caramelizing pork belly, or delusions of Food Network stardom, if they should go to culinary school. I usually give a long, thoughtful, and qualified answer.
But the short answer is “no.”" -Anthony Bourdain

I hope you are now even further inspired to prove everyone wrong. Now get over here and get your cook on! http://www.culinaryartscollege.org

Gin for the win!

2010-10-20T14:58:00.000-05:00

You know I loves my Gin. This stuff looks awesome. Citadelle Gin.

"The unique flavor profile is the result of 19 botanicals sourced from around the world, ranging from Sri Lankan cinnamon to almonds and lemon rind from Spain, Grains of Paradise from West Africa and Moroccan coriander to licorice from China. But this heady mix is only introduced after the fourth intensive distilling process—which involves heating whole grain wheat from the Beauce region (the same used to make classic French bread) over a naked flame, and brewing with natural spring water to create the neutral spirit."

We have a global problem

2010-09-30T13:15:00.001-05:00

The marine food supplies are in danger folks. Just ask the people in the Gulf of Mexico, Japan, Africa and Australia. This is a shame because I'll eat just about anything that comes from the sea, I prefer seafood to anything else.

Midwestern fresh waters have a big problem too. If you're in the mood for Asian carp, there are plenty. Here is a video of the carp in action. I don't know why the guy in this video is laughing. This shit isn't funny.

Here is the Wiki.

"Dave Camp, Congressman for the 4th District of Michigan, along with Senator Debbie Stabenow has introduced the CARP ACT, which directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to take action to prevent Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes. It is estimated that it will cost more than $30 million in 2010 to prevent the carp from invading the Great Lakes."

30 million? I suggest that you put a $5 bounty on every dead Asian carp turned over to Conservation Departments. I have a feeling their numbers would drop off rather steadily.

Hotdogs for homophobes

2010-09-24T15:11:00.000-05:00

This is funny!

Yes, your menu is tired

2010-09-24T12:24:00.006-05:00

BA Foodist points out the 5 most played out restaurant dishes. I can think of a dozen dishes that could be added to this list. Kansas City, especially, seems stuck in a culinary time-warp of copycat dishes. Do chefs in KC dumb down their menus to suit the pallets of their patrons or do they lack creativity? Both I think.

"If imitation is the best form of flattery, then there's a whole lot of flattery going on in ~~Kansas City~~ restaurants."

What other menu items need to be retired?

Chinese Government to Execute Food-Safety Violators

2010-09-22T10:38:00.000-05:00

Hot damn! The Chinese don't mess around.

"China warned Thursday that the worst offenders of food safety rules would get the death penalty in a new crackdown on an industry that has spawned embarrassing and deadly scandals in products ranging from seafood to baby formula."

Quick Bites

2010-09-21T16:10:00.004-05:00

Preparing a well thought out review for a restaurant can be time consuming. It also often leaves me a little remorseful upon later visits for my opinions can change. I usually like to visit a place a number of times before I craft a review. In that light I am able to stand by my reviews with a clear heart... a clear mind ("Can't lose"... sorry for the Friday Nights Light Reference).

However, I have been to a number of local places recently so I wanted to give my first impression of said locations. I was mostly sober (usually) when I visited these places and I was able to remember key items about each. I also wanted to keep our readers informed about who may be on the Royals next season. You may not know many of these guys so it is my job to inform the mass of readers who yearn for Royals news as the season just ended.

The Billy Butler - All-Star Pizza (allstarpizzaandpub.com) is located in the Tuileries Plaza. Basically, it's in the Northland. Just like the young Royals slugger this place provides consistent pizza and a great pizza/pub atmosphere. In the same mode as Butler, this pizza joint will hit for a high average in providing heavily-topped pizzas and and a good selection of taps. It also features the best football game's line board. If you don't know what that is ask your uncle Morty who always looks sick at Thanksgiving when the Cowboys don't cover the spread. Just a word of warning... just like young Billy, don't expect many home runs with this place. It's good, it's solid, it's just not a homer every time.

The Alex Gordon - Granite City Food and Brewery (http://www.gcfb.net/) is located in many places, but I hit up the Zona Rosa location recently. This place is just like Alex Gordon. When Granite City started showing up nationwide beer geeks went nuts. Afterall, the microbrewing craze was, in many parts, in its infancy. Unfortunately, just like young Alex, these places flopped in my view. The food was of an Applebees quality with a a much higher price point. However, I recently gave the place another look and I was surprised. The hand-crafted beer actually tasted, well... hand-crafted. The server was fantastic (and probably should leave that place and start working at Plaza III or the American). The food was good. The prices were appropriate. Just like Alex Gordon's recent resurgence at the plate (and as a left fielder), Granite City made a comeback in my book.

The Chris Getz - The Art of Pizza (http://www.artofpizzakc.com/) has opened a new location in Westport. I touted this move a few months ago and was waiting expectantly for the Westport location to open. The owner assured me he had trained the staff there and it was going to be great. He was wrong. First of all, how many times must I say it... DO NOT OPEN UNTIL YOU HAVE YOUR LIQUOR LICENSE! This isn't a cupcake bakery or a tea hut, this is a pizza restaurant and as such requires at least beer. But what about the food? It was not good. The pizza by the slice was bland and lacked any real flavor. I made the mistake of ordering the Philly Cheese Steak sandwich (yes, I know I have an obsession with those). It was the worst, most bland Philly I've ever had. They should change it to the Erie or the Scranton. Philly, a town of battery hurling hoodlums, should attack this place and demand that the term "Philly" be removed.

How does this apply to Getz? This guy was supposed to be good. We were told he had great speed and great defense and well.... we're still waiting. Just like I'm waiting on the Art of Pizza to hopefully iron out their kinks.

Happy Eats...

It's marijuana I swear!

2010-09-17T14:46:00.000-05:00

Funny skit from 3rd Rock.

"This whole time we have been eating her slop and you're a damn gourmet!"

What's Next?

2010-09-16T14:28:00.000-05:00

This is pure genius. Who comes up with this stuff? Grant Achatz that's who. There is so much innovation and advanced thinking going on here.

"Next Restaurant will explore world cuisine. It is being developed by chef Grant Achatz, Nick Kokonas, and the creative team that built Alinea, including Crucial Detail designer Martin Kastner, Architect Steve Rugo, and Interior Designer Tom Stringer.
Next Restaurant will serve four menus per year from great moments in culinary history – or the future. Our team of chefs will investigate, test, refine, and present authentic menu interpretations from cultures, places and times."

Food from the past and future? Check.
No bar or bartender? Check.
Tickets instead of reservations? Check.

Here is the about, and here is the trailer.

Anyone for a deal?

2010-09-02T22:43:00.002-05:00

The above pic is the logo for a relatively new restaurant in KC called "C. Withers Restaurant". This family run BBQ and comfort food joint was recently opened on Broadway (kind of across from the Uptown Theater). I really don't know too much about this place. I hear they have good BBQ and their side dishes are fresh and homemade.

I do know, however, that I will be trying this place soon courtesy of some FOX 4 deal thingy (wdaf.incentrev.com). In short, you get 50 bucks worth of Gift Certificates to this place for $16.50. I recently used one of these deals for Room 39 and had a great time.

Also, from a practical standpoint it allows your cheap ass friend (we all have one... If you don't know who it is, it's probably you...) to actually go out to eat. According to some basic reviews, getting this deal should allow one person to get at least 3 meals out of this amount of Gift Certificates.

If you are into Mexican food, it includes the same type deal for Dos Hombres and a place called Maya's Mexican Bistro as well. Cheap Asses Unite!

"Do you think there is really a grill in here at all?"

2010-09-02T15:12:00.000-05:00

I met Mid Town Food Guy over at Bonefish Grill the other night. We didn't meet because we like to go on "Guy Dates", we met because the Bonefish people sent us a couple "Challenge Packs". Basically it was a folder with a gift card for Bonefish and a gift card for what they called their "competitor". Their "competitor" turned out to be Red Lobster.

I had been to a Bonefish Grill once before, about five years ago in Clearwater, Fla. I remembered it being very good, I had salmon on a cedar plank. For this visit we chose the Northland location on 45 highway. The dining space seemed upscale, dimly lit and classy. The entire staff dresses in white chef coats. This makes it hard to distinguish anyone, from anyone else, that you may, or may not want to bother for something.

I sat at the bar and waited for Mid Town for a few minutes while sipping a cocktail. Mid Town eventually joined me at the bar and this is where things went horribly wrong. We ordered food! Mid Town ordered a house salad to go with his Mango Fish Tacos. I ordered Crab and Corn Chowder to go with "Grilled" Scallops and Shrimp.

Mid Town's salad was lettuce on a plate, nothing fancy and it's hard to screw up lettuce. The Corn and Crab Chowder it seems, is really easy to screw up. Not a hint of corn flavor anywhere in the dish. Isn't this the peak of corn season? There were some bits of something that more closely resembled crayfish tails than crab, but tasted like nothing. Yellow Water would be a more fitting name for the dish. No amount of salt and pepper was going to save this crap.

When the entrees came out I gave Mid Town a couple scallops and shrimp in exchange for one of his fish tacos. It was like trading crap for crap, neither of us got the best of this deal. The scallops and shrimp were so tightly packed together it appeared they could have been on a skewer at some point. There was no mention of skewers on the menu and there were no holes through the meat. This row of seafood "meat" had come out of a cryovac bag of some sort. It had "grill marks" on one side of the "meat" but they seemed to be airbrushed or painted on. The other side of the "meat" row was kind of a pale gray. After some inspection by Mid Town, he turns to me and says, "Do you think there is really a grill in here at all?". I was really doubting the presence of a grill at this point. I suspect my meal was cooked either sous vide or microwaved in cryovac. The only flavor it had was a salty, fake char taste.

The Mango Fish Tacos were just as poorly executed. After a bite of the super sweet, creamy, runny taco I opened it up and could not find one piece of fish.

How do they get away with serving this crap? If someone from Bonefish reads this please post, enlighten me on the preparation of that shitty shrimp-scallop dish.

I hope my trip to their "competitor" is a better experience. At least then I'll have something to thank Bonefish for.

See you in twenty years

2010-09-02T13:55:00.001-05:00

The fine folks over at Sonic's PR house invited me to come try their food again. It had been twenty years since I'd visited a Sonic drive-in. I was offered a $50 Sonic gift card to try Sonic's menu. I knew It would take me some time to use all $50 so I invited three friends to join me for lunch in Westport.

Darin the manager hooked us up with all kinds of goodies. I had the Chicken Fried Steak sandwich and tater tots with cheese. I don't eat a lot of fried food these days so it tasted pretty greasy. To add to the greasy flavor was the fact that the oil the tots were cooked in was either past it's time or the oil wasn't hot enough. This resulted in tots that were super grease laden, nearly dripping with oil. My sandwich was good, definitely on par with most other fast food places. The other guys had the Foot-Long Coney Dogs and burgers. They enjoyed their meals, especially the Coneys. I think the ice cream shakes and sundaes were the biggest hit among the group, no surprise there.

Get over to Sonic and get some food. I'm not all that into fried foods but I know your fat ass can't get enough.

Will one of our own become the next Iron Chef?

2010-08-25T12:45:00.000-05:00

It's true, Celina Tio is staring on The Next Iron Chef this season. Personally I don't think she will go very for on the show. I'm rooting for Ming Tsai and Marc Forgione.

Good Pizza is Better than Good Art?

2010-08-21T23:42:00.003-05:00

Maybe not... But the Crossroads pizza joint known as The Art of Pizza (www.artofpizzakc.com) does a great job of making a spot on pizza pie. And it boasts some hipster art if you are into that sort of thing (like the "hands" extending from the wall).

The Art of Pizza is located across the street from its much publicized pizza cousin, Pizza Bella. While I had been to Pizza Bella at least a dozen times, I had always gazed towards The Art of Pizza and wondered what that place was all about. Sometimes as I munched on my Pizza Bella Brussels Sprouts I had even chuckled at that neighboring "red headed step-child" of local Pizza joints.

But this past week I decided to give it a try. And I was pleasantly surprised. In fact I was downright excited about the "find" I had made.

First of all, please know that this place is not, and does not attempt to compete with, their more upper crust pizza neighbor. This is pure NY style pizza with real ingredients like sausage as opposed to fennel sausage or ground beef as opposed to prosciutto. The atmosphere is much more laid back. The pie is super tasty. The price is super swell. And the friendly owner will pull up a chair and talk about anything from the weather to making beignets (which are also on the menu!).

I've only been to The Art of Pizza once and I am usually reluctant to review a place without multiple visits. In this case, I'll be making additional visits. And the place was just all around solid.

Also, The Art of Pizza is opening a Westport location in a week or so. Hopefully it will take off with the same standards that the Crossroads location has been putting out.

So overdue it's embarasing

2010-08-13T15:43:00.000-05:00

When Thai Place opened in Westport some time ago (8 years?) I had no idea the impact it would have on my life. I'd eaten many Thai meals prior to Thai Place so I was delighted when I noticed they had taken over the space that was occupied by The Classic Cup in Westport. I raced in and haven't left yet.

I ate there constantly and quickly became friends with most of the employees, and the owners Ted and Pam. The food at Thai Place is always very, very good and super consistent. I've had most of the menu items and love them all. In my opinion Ted and Pam make the best Thai food in town. The dinning room is classy, dark and elegant. The kitchen is unbelievably clean and organized. They hire wonderful, efficient people who seem like they are all family.

If you haven't been to Thai Place, get your ass in there. If you have been there before, get your ass in there again. You will enjoy your visit, I promise. Thank you Ted and Pam for being so good to me over the years, I look forward to many, many more years sharing food with you and many more years of friendship.

Mystery trader buys all Europe's cocoa

2010-08-13T14:24:00.000-05:00

What do you do with all the cocoa in Europe? I guess we're going to find out.

"It is unclear which person, or group of traders, was behind the deal, but it was the largest single cocoa trade for 14 years."

"The cocoa beans, which are sitting in warehouses either in The Netherlands, Hamburg, or closer to home in London, Liverpool or Humberside is equivalent to the entire supply of the commodity in Europe, and would fill more than five Titanics. They are worth £658 million."

A New Take on Mexican?

2010-08-11T00:18:00.003-05:00

Well, Caliente Grill is no more. The 39th street Mexican joint finally bit the dust after a long struggle to establish a foothold on the Midtown Mexican landscape. As Pangea before them, Caliente was unable to generate enough business in their 39th street strip mall location to stay alive.

However, plans are being made to open a new restaurant at that (cursed?) location. Last week I was invited to a special tasting of some of the items which will be featured at the new eatery. It is also Mexican. I mean really Mexican. It will feature fresh flavors all around. From home-made mexican soups to hand cooked pork dishes, the yet to be named new grub spot will attempt to distinguish themselves from the rest of the crowded Mexican food lineup in K.C.

Overall, the food I sampled was really good. But... it's one thing to cater for a group of 20-25 people as opposed to running a restaurant. In the true spirit of an annoying food critic I will withhold judgment until the doors open. But I'm definitely excited. The potential is there. Just please don't start serving food until the liquor license is approved (why does every new place in K.C. think it's a good idea to open three months before their liquor license is approved?).

The dim lights of a shining star in L.A.

2010-08-05T15:10:00.020-05:00

Back in May I posted about a place in L.A. called the Edison. I said in the post that I was sure to visit when I was going to be out there later in the summer. The next day (seriously the next day) I received an email from their PR guy (Dan) saying, "Thanks for the Edison post! Let me know when you’re in town, and ready to check out our space. We’ll make sure you have a great time!" Last week I did, and they did.

Out of total coincidence, my blog co-writer Midtown Food Guy (MFG) was out in L.A. on a family vacation. Weird. I asked MFG if he would join me on my visit to the Edison, we agreed on Wednesday. I totally spaced off notifying Dan about our visit until about 3pm the day of. I texted Dan and let him know that we would like to come out that night and experience the Edison. Within like 4 minutes he texted back and said that we were set for reservations at 7:30 and the evening was on him! Man, this guy is good. If you ever need a PR guy, Dan is the man.

MFG, his lovely wife, and I arrived on time and were quickly escorted to our reserved table. We sat for 10-15 minutes (seemed longer) before we saw anyone that resembled waitstaff. When we did spot someone, she walked passed us to a table next to ours. With their order she strolled by again. She then walked passed us a third time several minutes later to attend to the table next to ours. I stopped her (Jacquie (sp?) pronounced Jackie) this time and asked if we could start off with some drinks. She stated, "I'm sorry, I didn't see you guys". I said , "You walk passed us three times, how did you not see us?" "What can I get you to drink?", she says, and then under her breath, "This is going to be fun." WTF? What kind of shit was that?

After the initial glitch in the evening, everything was great.

The Edison is stunning! I've never seen any place like it. They spared no expense taking an old power plant and converting it into a beautiful bar and restaurant. It was like stepping back in time. The space is very dark and classy with attention to every detail. Check out the virtual tour here.

The menu is small and unpretentious, good solid bar fare. We shared several appetizers including; Blue Dates, Deviled Eggs, Bavarian Pretzel, Shrimp Cocktail, Squid, Singapore Wings and a Charcuterie Platter. All of the food was very good and perfectly prepared. Yes, the food was good, but looking at the Edison's menu it is easy to discern that this place is all about the the tasty booze!

The Edison has over 50 types of gin. Are you kidding? Right on! First, I had an awesome specialty drink prepared with gin called Southside Fizz. I don't remember the order of the next five, but I know there were some Manhattans and Old Fashions in there somewhere. Super classic mixology at it's finest! Since I had never tried Absinthe, and they had several choices, I ended with it. I woke up naked in an alley near Silver Lake. I'm kidding, everything was fine.

To summarize, the Edison is a must visit in L.A. (rumor is that they are planing one in NYC). The atmosphere, food, drinks and attention to detail are brought together in a manner rarely seen. I would like to thank manager John Bakalar for being attentive, classy and genuinely interested in our experience and the circumstances that brought us there. Also I can't say enough about Dan Cox. Thank you Dan for the unforgettable evening, you truly did make sure we had a great time!

If you don't know, well, you don't know.

2010-07-23T13:26:00.002-05:00

I'm talking about the greatest sandwich on earth.... the Italian Beef sandwich. Born in Chicago, this big feller doesn't taste the same if prepared outside of the Windy City. I've tried dozens around Kansas City and other cities, none compare. There is always something not right about it. It's a simple sandwich but, it seems, nearly impossible to replicate outside Chicago. Bread, beef, giardineria and au jus. Sounds simple right? Call me in 1000 years when you've perfected it. Until then guess I'll go to Chicago or Venice Beach!! My favorite place to get one is Max's on Western.

That's right, Chicago's own "Mr. Beef" has setup shop on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. Read all about it here. I'll try one if I find myself around Venice Beach while I'm in L.A. next week.

Here are some awesome pictures of the best sandwich on earth!

If you don't know, well, you don't know.

Philly Anyone?

2010-07-20T23:07:00.004-05:00

Occasionally I have a true "hankering" for a good Philly Steak Sandwich. This "hankering" usually coincides with me watching "Rocky" or an episode of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia". Recently, my Philly obsession was spurred by watching the Cardinals match up against the Phillies this week. Ummmm! Phillies.

Just one problem for a KC dweller... where to go for a good, juicy Philly at a reasonable price? I stumbled upon PhillyTime in the Briarcliff Village area of North KC and this fast food-esque joint provided my Philly fix. (Site wasn't working but it is supposed to be phillytimekc.com).

Relatively economical with most Philly's coming in at $6.99, this place provides some good grub. As you stare out the window at the newly constructed "stores for the elite" in Briarcliff you won't exactly be transported to the take out line at "Geno's" (or "Pat's" if you like that joint better), but you will get a good, juicy, cheese dripping, mushroom stacked Philly.

Michelin Guide coming to Chicago

2010-07-13T11:07:00.002-05:00

Here's the scoop.

I predict that Max's Italian Beef on the North side will receive the prestigious 3 stars.

"Everything's dying"

2010-07-08T09:38:00.000-05:00

This will not get any better for a long, long time.

Gulf coast fisherman hauling in dead oysters... surprise!

Kitchen essentials

2010-07-02T14:03:00.004-05:00

Someone on Epicurious poses the question "What are the real kitchen essentials?"

"For the purposes of this little intellectual challenge, let's assume the presence of a fully-stocked, standard spice rack, with all the greatest hits accounted for (salt, pepper, oregano, paprika, cumin, thyme, and so on). What 10 ingredients are essentials in your kitchen?"

For me, it would be:

1. Olive Oil
2. Lemons
3. Fresh garlic
4. Yellow Onion
5. Soy Sauce
6. Pasta
7. Hot Peppers
8. Rice
9. Canned Whole Tomatoes
10. Beef/Chicken Stock

The begining of the end

2010-06-30T15:30:00.000-05:00

These are truly sad times. French Quarter chef Paul Prudhomme talks Gulf seafood.

For the love of nuts

2010-06-30T15:21:00.000-05:00

Is the recent Chinese craving for our nuts bad for us?

"“We are now at the highest prices ever in the history of the pecan industry for pecan meats and yet we have one of the largest supplies ever,” said Mr. Zedan. “All because of China.”

Mr. Zedan said the higher prices had not yet been felt strongly in American supermarkets, partly because many large buyers bought pecans last year on contracts negotiated at lower prices, before the market soared. That could change later this year. Mr. Zedan said higher prices might eventually lead ice cream makers in the United States to skimp on the nuts in butter pecan ice cream. And pecan pies might be selling at a premium this fall."

It's a winner!

2010-06-30T15:03:00.003-05:00

Since I'm in the video business I had to post this Emmy Award winning opening for Eric Ripert's PBS show. It's simple and tasteful.

"Remember the crazy awesome opening sequence for chef Eric Ripert's PBS show Avec Ericthat was nominated for an Emmy? Well, it won for "Outstanding Achievement in Main Title and Graphic Design"!"

Yum... fermented meat and poultry

2010-06-23T14:36:00.001-05:00

Thinking of delving into the wonderful world of fermented meat and poultry? Me too. For a mere $191.99 (marked down from $239.99) this book can get you started. You better hurry up, there are only two left, and I just bought one.

Strawberry, baked bean, Mixed Plate!!!!

2010-06-23T13:32:00.000-05:00

I'm not a fan of Tech N9ne (a local rap artist) but this song is the best! On his upcoming release he has a song about Gates BBQ! No lie, check it out here. I can't understand a lot of the words so maybe I'll ask Lisa Paris to translate for me. O.G. = Ollie Gates I figured that much out.

It's alive!

2010-06-22T15:08:00.000-05:00

Someone (no one knows who) has burst on the scene as a cross between Ruth Reichl and Anthony Bourdain. A Franken Foodie! The funny thing is they both love ~~her~~, ~~him~~ it. Whoever's doing this is genius! Here are few famous folks taking note.

"It is kind of genius. I love it. I'm a total addict. I'm hooked already and, frankly, flattered and disturbed in equal measure."
Anthony Bourdain, Host, "No Reservations"

"Hilarious . . . very clever."
Ruth Reichl, Author, former Editor-in-Chief, Gourmet Magazine

"You are a shining star out there in [the] twitterverse."
Tom Colicchio, Chef, Craft

"You are truly a scary creation."
Michael Ruhlman, Author

"You're offal cute: the drag-queen love child of Fergus Henderson and Alice Waters. Meant as a compliment."
Frank Bruni, New York Times

"I don't know what's more disturbing: the avatar, the tweets or the whole damn idea."
Daniel Patterson, Chef, Coi

"I think i might be in love with u."
Kelly Choi, Host, Top Chef Masters

"Wow. This is so gross, it's sexy."
Brenna White, Twitterer

"In the world of foodies, there is a new, enduring mystery: Ruth Bourdain, who art thou?
Cross the evocative world of former Gourmet editor Ruth Reichl with the scowl and crass sarcasm of celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain and, voila, you have one Ruth Bourdain."

Here is an article from WSJ.

Here's it's tumbl.
Here's it's facebook
Here's it's twitter

Here's a story about your meat

2010-06-18T14:10:00.001-05:00

Not my meat, yours. I like mine cooked just passed the mooing state.

This article reminded me of a time when a friend and I were making homemade sausages. We had seasoned and ground 4 types of pork sausage. We had the meat in trays on the table and we were getting ready to stuff the casings. As we worked, another friend stopped in to say hi and have a beer. As we discussed the sausage, she reached over, picked up a fork, and took a HUGE fork full of the raw Italian sausage into her mouth. Yack. My sausage making buddy and I just looked at each other in disbelief as she took several more GIANT raw bites.

She's still alive to talk about it. In fact, today is her birthday. Happy birthday Victoria!

Randy Taylor is pissed at Jimmy Dean

2010-06-18T13:32:00.001-05:00

He's not mad at him for dying, he's mad because they quit making the 16oz. rolls!

"How am I going to feed 5 people on 12 ounces of sausage and a couple dozen eggs?"

"Jimmy Dean sausage is for southern people to eat for breakfast with their fried eggs and their t-bone steaks!"

Obama says the seafood is fine

2010-06-16T10:14:00.000-05:00

GTFO!

"Let me be clear: Seafood from the Gulf today is safe to eat," Obama said, after eating lunch in Gulfport, Miss., during his latest oil spill inspection tour, according to USA Today. He even pronounced it "delicious."

Food Gone Bad

2010-06-14T22:44:00.003-05:00

I know that all of you must think that being a food reviewer is a sweet gig. You get to chow at great places and then review them for the millions of people that view our blog every day (or the six people that view it everyday... whatever).

Recently I paid the price for my food reviewer ways. I went to The Brooksider in, well... Brookside. I wanted to check out some sports, drink a cold beer, and have some good pub grub. Everything started pretty well. Great service... Check. Cold Beer... Check. Good Food... Uh Oh!

The pretzels we had were probably good two weeks ago when they were made (probably bought). Not so good on the day I visited. The Philly sandwich might have been good had it not been clearly covered in two separate spots with green mold. Seriously. Our server/bartender apologized and said they had some fresh bread they could use for their second attempt at our Philly. Oddly enough he then left out the front door for a few minutes (maybe a run to the grocery store next door?).

Anyway, I'd love to give The Brooksider a honest review. I just can't. You served me moldy bread. You lose. I've had good meals in K.C. and bad ones as well. But this is the first time I've been served moldy bread (was Ray Charles the cook? This thing was clearly green.).

On the bright side I can cross off one more place to grab food in K.C. The list was getting kind of long anyway.

Raw veganism is the dizzope? Huh?

2010-06-09T15:28:00.003-05:00

According to Lisa Paris, Raw Veganism is a total party scene. She uses all sorts of hip, street lingo to convince you of such. Who talks like this? Raw vegan white girls from the means streets of Portland that's who. Suckas!.

"Most peeps think of raw and veganism as lackluster fruit and vegetable shenanigans but oh snap- there is so much more!"

"....the beauty is you don’t have to get all hardcore super raw gangster to experience the amazing benefits."

"I believe there are two key factors in attaining this state of raw dietary dope-ness"

"There is a majorly cool world of info out there and it is our pleasure to get you hooked up-phat."

And finally she has a "crazy hook-up" that is going to "blow our minds!" Aw Yeah!

Ready? Here it is, straight outa the Kitch!!!

Straight from the Raw Beets Kitch:
The Parisian Love Crumble
Makes 1 Beautiful Crumble
Ingredients:
1 ¼ cup raw almonds
1 cup walnuts
1 lb. strawberries
¾ cup pitted dates
¼ teaspoon sea salt

"Make a million friends with this tasty crowd pleaser…"

If I served this to my friends at a party I would expect them to punch me in the face. Don't let this little white chick from Portland, Oregon scare you off with her straight-dope street speak. Check out her website here.

Best restaurant name ever?

2010-06-09T10:53:00.000-05:00

When choosing a name for your restaurant, make it a good one. Fatty 'Cue in Brooklyn did just that. The menu looks terrific. Asian freshness and heat paired with smokey, fatty, BBQ goodness. I guess some folks call this "fusion". I call it a great idea.

Could something like this fly in KC? I'm not sure if this city would embrace such an exotic rendition of their beloved BBQ. We folks, are BBQ snobs, and we don't like people messing with our cherished pastime.

"Fatty ‘Cue is an effort by a few of the members of the Fatty Crew to bring to Brooklyn a little Southeast Asian fermented funkiness and a whole helluva a lot of smoke. Local and humanely grown/raised/fished products are subjected to our unique flavorings, scrubbed and rubbed, perhaps dropped in a salty-sweet dip pool, and then lovingly treated to low temperature smoke “baths” all for your dining pleasure."

I'm in. You?

Look... it's a book review... sort of

2010-06-01T14:47:00.001-05:00

The folks at Workman Publishing Company asked if I would like to review a copy of Steven Raichlen's new BBQ cookbook Planet Barbecue. What a book! This thing weighs 3 pounds, it's an inch and a half thick and it's full of glossy pictures of delicious food!

Like the cover states, it has 309 recipes from 60 countries. Most of them look awesome and I'm dying to try them. This is the guy from the show BBQ U, that tremendously boring show with the soft-spoken, anal retentive fella on PBS weekend mornings. I admit he does great food, but to watch him cook is like watching a pot never come to a boil.

The book is all about his food, without the boredom of him. Get a copy already! You can get it on amazon for like 12 bucks. This is a lot of book for $12.

Please pass the margaritas

2010-06-01T13:49:00.008-05:00

Damn. I meant to type, "Drive passed Margaritas!"

It was Sunday and I wanted fried tacos, so I went down to the Blvd to get some. La Fonda was closed, damn, as were a lot of the restaurants. I kept driving, thinking I would hit up Rosedale BBQ, then I saw Margaritas.

As I pulled in the lot, there was a family of 7 piling out of the place. Damn, I thought, now I remember why I don't eat here. Margaritas is the Denny's of Mexican food. I took a seat at the bar. The barkeep was behind the bar entering information into the touch screen. For about 10 minutes I stared at her awesome neck tattoo proudly displayed below her ponytail.

There are people with neck tattoos, and then there are the rest us. Eventually, I received a menu and a can of Tecate. "Last one!", she says, as she digs it out of a lukewarm tub of water from under the backbar. "Last one?", I said "Did you have a run on Tecate today?". "No, that's left over from Cinco de Mayo." Damn, I thought, almost a month in that tub? I picked up the menu as I put down the beer.

I stared at the Dennyesque menu for the next few minutes. While looking at the pretty pictures of food I realized this place has free entertainment. The bartender and a server were fighting over a ticket! A lost ticket, that reappeared! In front of the Tēteoh and everyone they fought!

As soon as the entertainment ended, I decided it was time to leave. I asked the bartender for my check but she didn't acknowledge me. Instead she turns toward her friend the touchscreen. After several minutes she leaves the touchscreen, and the bar. Damn. I had no entertainment, I couldn't drink the warm beer, and I couldn't pay my way out.

She returned a few minutes later and started putzing around behind the bar. I asked her what I owed for the Tecate and she replied, "He's looking it up." WTF? Looking it up? Who is looking it up? It's a can of warm beer, not a gold watch. I asked, "Will 5 dollars cover it?" She said, "I don't know, some of our imports are $5.50". F this place! I thew 7 bucks on the bar and left.

MexiDenny's does not have their ~~shit tight~~ stuff together.

She folks, was a loser. Just another loser with a neck tattoo. From the moment I first saw the super hip neck tattoo, I knew not to expect much from her. She, just like all neck tatted people, lack certain things most of the rest of us possess, common sense and job skills.

I would like to bag on Margarita's Dennymex food, but I couldn't get that far. Maybe you can.

And the oysters shout with glee!

2010-06-01T11:00:00.001-05:00

You heard it here. The fine peoples at BP have decided that drilling two more wells, that intersect the broken one, is the solution.

"But the best-case scenario of sealing the leak is two relief wells being drilled diagonally into the gushing well — tricky business that won't be ready until August."

Oysters love oil and dynamite?

2010-06-01T10:49:00.001-05:00

That's right folks, as far back as 1960, scientists (hired by oil companies) have proven that oysters like oil, oil drilling mud and dynamite.

"Don't believe it? Check out the evidence for yourself. Skip ahead to 9:17 in the video, or watch the earlier segments... all brought to you by the unbiased documentarians at the American Petroleum Institute."

I love the comments.
"I like how it cost them 2 million dollars to watch 3 tanks filled with oysters for 6 months."

Sea water, hold the petro please

2010-06-01T09:18:00.000-05:00

I've inadvertently consumed plenty of sea water while swimming, diving and rescuing dolphins, but never thought to cook with it. This guy is selling purified sea water to chefs to enhance the flavor of their creations. Don't worry, he's not scooping it out of the Gulf of Mexico, it's coming from the Outer Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland.

According to the Japanese you can pump it up from the deep, desalinize it, and sell it as drinking water. Minerally goodness!

Tex-Mex done right

2010-05-30T22:29:00.002-05:00

I'm pretty sure that Mexican food isn't given the same "Smart Food" label as Seafood and Veggies, but it sure does make me feel smart. I feel smart when eating Mexican because I can usually get a great meal at a great price. I'm not talking about Taco Bell vs. Taco John's here (By the way, Taco Johns is better).

I'm talking about finding good, solid Tex-Mex food at a great price. (As a side note I have been told by many smart foodie types that the vast majority of all Mexican restaurants in America are really "Tex-Mex" places so I'll attach that label to anything that doesn't serve me solely tamales and tainted water).

I have found such a good deal place in Caliente Grille (900 W. 39th Street). This family run eatery is housed in the former Pangea spot along 39th Street. Granted, their web site is not good ( www.calientegrillekc.com). And the menu does not feature any amazing or unique take on traditional Tex-Mex fare. But it is good, solid food at a very inexpensive price point. On a recent mid-week lunch excursion to Caliente I was able to polish off a bowl of chips and salsa, two soft tacos (with a heaping side of sour cream), and two Bud Lights for the grand total of eight bucks!

Caliente makes me feel smart. It also makes me feel good when I sit at the bar and talk with the owners; a mother/daughter team with a strong work ethic trying to make a tough business location into a successful dining destination.

As I've always stated before I'm not a professional restaurant reviewer. I'm just a regular guy who knows what he likes in a dining experience. I like Caliente. Do you? Based on how many people are typically there when I visit the real question is probably whether you've even tried it.

The best cooking shows of all time

2010-05-25T08:40:00.000-05:00

This is actually a list of the best episodes from different shows. Julia and Jacques FTW!

Saucy Salads and Twisted Tomato

2010-05-24T14:56:00.000-05:00

Hey kids, the City Market is holding some cook-offs this summer.

"Kansas City, MO — The 2010 City Market Farm to Table Festival Series continues with the Saucy Salad Day on Saturday, June 5 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. There will be plenty of fun to be had for the entire family. The City Market is calling all foodies and amateur chefs!"

Register for Saucy Salads here.
Register for Twisted Tomato here.

Sad scene

2010-05-06T10:35:00.001-05:00

"Our oceans and their denizens are besieged on all sides. Given these seemingly insurmountable odds, it is difficult to maintain any sense of optimism when one considers the state of our world’s waters."

Johnny Casserole to the rescue!

2010-05-06T09:59:00.000-05:00

What a great idea. If you lived in Chicago you could send your sweetie a nice tuna noodle casserole for Valentines Day.

"Bryson also had a love for the all-American casserole, but a restaurant devoted exclusively to hotdish just seemed too improbable. So he started thinking, "How can I stay small, doing what I want to do, which is getting people to eat some damn casseroles?""

Too busy to cook?

2010-05-06T09:49:00.000-05:00

Michael Ruhlman calls bullsh*t!

"Maybe you don't like to cook, maybe you're too lazy to cook, maybe you'd rather watch television or garden, I don't know and I don't care, but don't tell me you're too busy to cook. We all have the same hours every day, and we all choose how to use them."

What the F*ck should I make for dinner?

2010-05-05T12:45:00.000-05:00

Happy Cinco! If you're asking yourself this question here are some suggestions.

Do us all a favor, keep it a secret.

2010-05-03T12:58:00.002-05:00

Shhhh........ it's a secret. Welcome to the worst website since I built one. This place just whispers class.

"Five Tvs to insure you won't miss the latest Sports." I think I just found my new haunt. Watch out Tower, this place is coming on strong.

Asian invasion

2010-04-26T13:19:00.001-05:00

One Chicago chef comes up with a novel idea to stem the numbers of the ultra-invasive Asian carp. Eat them!

Here is a video showing just how big the problem of Asian carp has become in the Illinois river. These fish are taking over our rivers and endangering native species.

Eat ya some!

Please pass the organic salt

2010-04-19T14:10:00.005-05:00

The kind folks at Pizza Fusion invited us out for a tasting the other day. Pizza Fusion is all about everything organic, sustained, green, humane, hormone free, recycled and LEED certified. Even their website says that it is "Powered by renewable energy", how in the hell do they pull that off? Read much more ~~than you wanted to know~~ about it here.

These folks are very serious about the "green" scene. To bad they are not as serious about the flavor of their ingredients. We sampled a salad, appetizer, and four pizzas (Pepperoni, Sausage and Tricolor Peppers, Veggie and BBQ Chicken) with three different crusts (Original Organic White Crust, Multigrain Crust, and gluten-free).

Everything we ate was good and very, very fresh. It had a hands-off taste, but it was too hands-off. I was dying for an organic salt shaker. The sauce on the pizza appeared to be simply crushed tomatoes. Don't they make organic garlic or oregano? Organic doesn't have to mean bland, which is, except for the sausage, what I found almost everything to be.

I'm a big fan of meaty, greasy, salty foods but I can also appreciate healthy food with bold flavor. With a few simple, flavor-adding steps Pizza Fusion could be fabulous. All of the crusts were very good and crispy but I really liked the impossibly thin and crisp, gluten-free crust. I also had the best diet soda on earth, Boylan’s All-Natural Soda. This stuff is awesome!

So go get your healthy on but bring a salt shaker or some garlic with you. Check them out on facebook.

Spring Quick Bites

2010-04-14T09:23:00.003-05:00

It's time for some Spring "Quick Bites". Fun, festive and short or the complete opposite of a visit to Grinders, here are some quick food thoughts:

1) Pizza Bella has a new owner but the same great menu remains. The Beer list is expanding and the pizza seems to have a little more toppings.

2) Cookies and ice cream at McCoy's is an awesome summer treat. If you sit on the deck you can even watch people swill 86 ounce Bud Lights from the new Kelly's rooftop patio.

3) Spring should be the time that places think about adding to or revamping their menus. I'm looking at you Tower Tavern (one of my favorites, but as I've had everything on the menu I need something new).

4) Genghis Khan Mongolian Grill off of 39th Street is my new favorite location. Great food at a great price. And don't forget to check out the super awesome pizza thrower at Da Bronx next door for some post-meal entertainment. Seriously, this guy could compete on The Food Network today with his pizza making skills.

5) Why can't I get good seafood in Midtown without resorting to buying the six-family size portion at Costco. I feel like I'm killing off half of Nemo's fish school when I buy it there. Un-Fresh just doesn't cut it.

6) Why is Conan coming back to TBS of all places? Was his potential deal with Fox that jacked up?

7) The Well in Waldo has pretty good food and the roof top deck is sweet, but why is the beer selection, once so promising, now so boring.

8) Strouds is now at the "K" and I will consume mass amounts of it this summer. If I can stomach watching the team on the field.

9) It's Pizza 51 time. The outdoor seating area and the well priced slices of pie help me to forget the 500 bucks I dropped on that place for car repairs when it was a service station. Sorta...

10) If you are a restaurant in KC and you still don't have a liquor license, get one. If I eat a ham and cheese crepe I'd like a glass of good red wine. You know who you are...

11) Will this post come out looking as good as it looks when I created it or will KC Food Guy have to come back and re-format it?

Please make her/it go away!

2010-04-12T14:13:00.004-05:00

I'm talking about Chopped on Food Network. The show's premise is ok, I guess (although a Top Chef ripoff), but the host and judges must go. Ted Allen and Alex Guarnaschelli should start a snobby asshole camp to train under-assholed folks.

Diggin the Pig!

2010-04-12T10:52:00.003-05:00

I finally made it out to Belton for some BBQ. A couple friends opened The Little Pig (103 S. Scott Ave. Belton, MO 64012) Formally known as Mick's, The Little Pig has some great food. The menu is quite extensive, offering a bit more then the usual BBQ fair. I especially enjoyed the pulled pork, BBQ beans and the awesome Carolina slaw. Even my buddy Huff liked it, and he's a BBQ ~~slob~~ snob.

I suggest you take a little trip down to friendly Belton and try some. After you eat, walk over to the nearby Belton Railroad, check out all the trains and take a ride on one. It's a fun, short little ride.

Fernet Branca

2010-04-08T11:11:00.001-05:00

I tried this for the first time about a year ago. It's very complex and takes some getting used to. I drink it with coke. Here is an article about it.

" Made up of over 40 different kinds of herbs and spices, the drink is often consumed as a digestif -- to help aid digestion after a large meal -- or as a hangover cure."

Here is a link to their website.

The Plaza?

2010-04-08T10:24:00.004-05:00

I haven't been to the Plaza for anything in a long time. I'm thinking about going over there for dinner soon. Any suggestions? M&S Grill, Plaza Three, Figlio, Capitol Grill, Hibachi, Fogo de Chao, The Melting Pot, Fiorella's, or maybe Kona?

Maybe some nice PR people could influence my decision on where to eat?

This is pretty sad

2010-04-06T15:58:00.000-05:00

Willie sings for the bell in 1991 to pay "The Man".

Huff got it wrong

2010-04-06T15:28:00.006-05:00

The PR people from Backfire BBQ bought lunch for us today and it was fantastic! My buddy Huff ate out there a few weeks ago and said it was ~~shit~~ one of the worst meals he has ever had in his life. He couldn't have been more wrong. The best parts of the meal were the corn bread, pulled pork and the brisket. The meat was super moist and very flavorful. Some of the best brisket and pork I've had. I wanted to dislike this place on the premise alone, but I couldn't. It's good stuff. Now go get ya some!

They knew we were coming.

Thank you Chris and Terry!

Eat me Daily Interviews Shut Up, Foodies

2010-04-05T13:17:00.000-05:00

Read it here.

"Since its debut a mere three weeks ago, the blog Shut Up, Foodies has received a lot of attention from those in the food world who can laugh at themselves. At once satirical and serious, Shut Up, Foodies seeks to point out the areas in which food snobs are hypocritical, self-righteous, and just plain ridiculous. We interview the three anonymous authors, Julia Childless, Snacktime, and Meatball, below."

Shut up, Foodies is cool. Find them here.

Yummy in my tummy

2010-04-05T13:04:00.000-05:00

Yu Um Chon needs her own show. Maybe she should take over for Ina Garten?

It's food writer Bingo!

2010-04-04T17:36:00.000-05:00

I think "redolent" isn't used enough.

FOH at Momofuku

2010-04-04T17:29:00.000-05:00

Momofuku Mo-Fos.

"-Don’t cluster fuck passage ways, always say behind, stepping in, corner" Funny.

He's doing this for your own good.

2010-04-04T17:12:00.000-05:00

Clean up on aisle three! "he thought if he could save one chubby girl, he's done his job."

Columbia Critic Defends Colicchio & Sons Review

2010-03-31T15:28:00.000-05:00

Go Jason go! I've always thought Tom Colicchio was an elitist dick.

"Yet, I smile at Tom Colicchio’s tweets, at his immature ravings, because they help me understand why Colicchio & Sons is such a horrendous restaurant. In effect, the bitter taste of Colicchio’s entitled, elitist attitude spills over into his food and infects the ethos of his restaurant. When I went to Colicchio & Sons, I felt like an outsider, isolated and denied access to the true possibilities of Colicchio’s skill."

Tee Hee.

The Edison LA

2010-03-31T14:53:00.000-05:00

Wow this place looks totally sick. I'm definitely going to hit this place up while I'm in LA this summer. Be sure to check out the virtual tour.

"Eater Los Angeles gets word that the Edison, a popular cocktail lounge and restaurant located in a former power plant in downtown LA, has their sights set on New York City."

R&I's Top 100 Independent Restaurants 2010: The Rankings

2010-03-31T14:33:00.001-05:00

Hot Damn. That's a lot of dough.

"The highest-grossing independent restaurants in the United States had combined food-and-beverage sales of $1.37 billion last year, significantly off from the previous year's aggregate of $1.52 billion."

Here is a list of the top 400 restaurant chains.

It's good

2010-03-31T12:44:00.000-05:00

I feel I owe it to Smash Burger to review their new restaurant. After all they did buy lunch for me and a co-worker today.

It was a damn good burger! Go get one.

It's Chocolate Covered Raisin Day!

2010-03-24T10:16:00.001-05:00

Look kids, it's the American Food Holidays Calender. August 3rd is "Grab Some Nuts" day!

So eat up! It's national something day! Here's an article, read it.

KC food section fail

2010-03-22T15:01:00.001-05:00

Need a great Super Sunday recipe? Oh... wait... it's the end of March. Maybe the post will still be up next year.

Trendy enough already!

2010-03-19T11:25:00.002-05:00

Everyone knows burgers are frickin delicious but enough is enough. We have Local Burger, Smash Burger, Chef Burger, Hamburger Mary's, Big Burger, Wolf Burgers, Grandstand Burgers, Five Guys Burgers, Blanc Burgers (try the $21 variety) and countless others popping up every week.

I hope the next food trend that sweeps the nation is a little more exciting like a Picadillo invasion or a Gyulai infestation.

Is grass fed better?

2010-03-19T10:55:00.000-05:00

I don't go out of my way to buy whole, slow, free range, grass fed, hormone free or even local foods. Maybe I should, but I don't. I probably wouldn't have ever tried grass fed beef if it wasn't for a drinking buddy. A couple weeks ago we were throwing a few back and he offered up a few pounds of grass fed beef from his family farm. I thought it was fabulous. It had a super beefy taste and great texture. Try some if you can find it.

Here's an article that talks about it.