Who needs real food?

Who needs to actually eat food when you can get your fill of tasty pizza in beer? Check out www.mammamiapizzabeer.com for a yummy pizza beer. Actually, I have no idea if this stuff is any good as the nearest it gets to KC is East St. Louis, but it sounds unique. Or gross when you read that they literally stuff pizza into the beer vats:
"The Margarita pizza is put into the mash & steeped like a tea bag." He said "tea bag".

Gaining Wisdom

Go on...... get ya some!

Foods in Season

This place is nifty. Need some Shimeji Brown Caps? No? How about some Fiddlehead Ferns? I want two of everything!

Best restaurants in Kansas City.... Not!

WTF is going on over at Urban Spoon? Blanc Burgers is ranked the #1 restaurant in the city??? Justus Drugstore got in at #100? Who's doing the ranking over there..... 7 year olds? This list is a joke.

Houston's... Best Fine Dining?
Mi Ranchito... Best Mexican?
Houston's... Best Steakhouse?

I'm down with the West Bottoms looking up

The word is that Todd Schulte, the guy behind Happy Gillis, is going to open a spot in the West Bottoms.

"Schulte hasn't signed a lease on the space. He's still thinking about the deal. "I'm 99 percent sure I'd like to open a restaurant there," he said. "There's a lot of daytime business in the Bottoms, but not a lot of dining options. What I wouldn't do is put another Happy Gillis in the space. It's too close to our original location."

Another high note for the "Bottoms" is the opening of R Bar in the old Sutera's space right across from my favorite steakhouse, the Ox.

Thanks Fat City.... I love you.

The Coming Currency Revolution

Got Ven? How about Serios? Here is a very interesting video addressing new types of currency.

Not Your Average Cooking Show

Tony is a funny man. Some quotes.... "The first time you make this dish, you will fuck it up!" "The more you pay for a meal, the more hands have been on it."

Celebrity chef, author, TV star and restaurant owner Anthony Bourdain cooks Duck a l'orange for fans in Atlantic City, October, 2008.

New York Restaurant Loses Its Appetite for Cash

 Tony says it best....

"If you don't have a credit card, you can use a debit card," said the restaurant's co-owner, Tony Zazula. "If you don't have a debit card, you probably don't have a checking account. And if you don't have a checking account, you probably shouldn't be eating at Commerce to begin with."

Irish Fest Beer Wrap-up

So I made a little noise with my beers of the Irish Fest post. I'm just getting around to posting the recap (not due to the excessive amounts of Pale Ale I consumed there!).

The beer stands seemed promising at first on Saturday as their beer inventory included Coors Light, Boulevard Wheat, Boulevard Pale Ale, and Boulevard Stout along with an Irish Cream Liquor. Still no traditional Irish brands, but at least a start. Unfortuntately, the Irish Cream was "kicked" by early afternoon on Saturday and when I returned on Sunday, the Stout had likewise been "crossed off" of the beer offerings.

In my previous post on this issue, a very informed poster informed me that loyalty to Boulevard is what determined the beer selections. I appreciate that. I want the Irish Fest to flourish and grow so if it makes sense to include only Boulevard taps then go for it. I still don't get how that explains that none of the other Boulevard brands were included. It also doesn't explain why the Stout couldn't have been easily replaced.

Rather than just complain I'd like to offer a solution. How about one of the beer tents being designated as the micro-brew tent with all Boulevard brands on draft and maybe a cider along with some traditional Irish related brews. (I was also chided by a commenter that all of my suggestions were actually owned by British controlled interests which confused me because a) I know I see the Boulevard brewery in downtown KC not downtown Dublin and b) and didn't realize such anti-British animosity revealed itself in a local family based event. I mean even Ragland Road and O'Dowds include the so called British brands I suggested.)

Anyway, great music, great fun, great food and a great time at the KC Irish Fest. I went two days and I will probably volunteer at the event next year. I just don't get the beer decision.

Check, Please back in action!

Just a week or so behind on this notice, but Check, Please is back for a new season. For anyone who hasn't seen this KCPT local production, it's a great look at local food establishments. Each week three regular "Joe's" review their favorite KC area food joints and then each of the other two people have to go to that selected place as well.

It's a pretty quick and concise view at a variety of local restaurants. I'm anxiously awaiting the review on October 8th of U-Gene's Deli & Pizza in Riverside so that I can interject my own comments on that dump... I mean culinary destination.

Link to the show's site: http://www.kcpt.org/checkplease/index.php

The Best Meals Ever!

Damn.... this site will make you very hungry.

Weird the Stripper

This is some funny stuff!

Outstanding!

Note to self........ do not play poker with this guy!

What They Brought to the Table

I don't know if you knew, Frank Bruni, New York Times food critic is on his way out. This article is about his dining companions over the years. 

" People are as strange about eating as they are about love. They want what they want."

Hot steamy food porn

Facebook fans of Bordain post their pictures of food around the world. Warning! Very graphic food porn ahead.

Chewing the fat with Bordain

Yeah... he's cool.

"The threshold for celebrity is so low these days. Those people on The Hills make a f***ing living off it. So I don't think I should be patting myself on the back about anything."

Seasonal Ingredient Map

Look kids.... Here's a seasonal ingredients food map thingy. Just in case your too stupid to figure it out on your own.Also, check out Locavore I-phone app.

"It tells you which foods are in season and available locally, and also helps you find farmers' markets where you can pick them up. It also links to information and recipes for each of the ingredients in its database."

But It’s So Nice Inside

Apparently David Chang ain't doing shit on Sundays.

David Chang, 31, is a noted chef and the owner of four establishments in the East Village: Momofuku Noodle Bar, Momofuku Ko, Momofuku Ssam Bar, and Momofuku Bakery and Milk Bar. He lives alone in Chelsea, hates cooking at home and tries to do nothing on Sundays.

Will we be able to drink Irish beer at the Irish Fest?

It's not my purpose to piss anyone off this soon after posting. But I may have no choice when I post about the much revered KC Irish Fest. First of all, I will be there. I love the Irish Fest. Always have. Always will.

BUT... When will the mighty grip of the event's beer distributors be lifted for the sake of the visitors. More specifically, will the Irish Fest have any Irish Beer. I'm not picky. Smithwick's will do. Or what about some tasy Harp? I looked on the web site for the event and they don't mention specific brews that will be served.

In years past, Coors Light and Boulevard Wheat were about it. There is no question that the now defunct... I mean suspended KC Oktoberfest boasted the best selection of authentic brews. You could even get a fancy boot to imbibe from. But the Irish Fest remains beholden to certain distributors that unfortunately don't include fine Irish beers.

I hope I'm wrong. I'll gladly post a delightful blurb next Tuesday detailing how very wrong I was. In this case I honestly hope I'm wrong. Please... can we have an Irish beer at an Irish Fest?

It's Back!!!!!!

It's Back. My favorite drinking time of the year. The sun begins to set a little earlier. The trees begin to shed. College Football starts up. And Oktoberfest beers start popping up. The Marzen style beer is simply one of my favorites. To that end I grabbed a keg of Schlafly's Oktoberfest this past weekend. It didn't disappoint. Schlafy's take on this German style is very drinkable and it's modest 5.1% alcohol content makes it perfect for drinking more than one (or more than 6).

While you won't confuse this beer with a fellow St. Louis brewed macro beer (Michelob Ultra) in terms of calories (185 per 12 oz bottle), it does everything just right. Nice red hue... check. Great mouthful without an overpowering aftertaste... check. Affordability... check (usually Gomer's has sixers of Schlafly for only $5.98).

Overall, this brew is a perfect fix for that early fall drinking mood. Now if we could only get the Kansas City Oktoberfest to reverse their decision to suspend operations in 2009, the fall would be "legend"... wait for it... "dary".

Shit my Dad says

Damn this guy is funny.

"Your brother brought his baby over this morning. He told me it could stand. It couldn't stand for shit. Just sat there. Big let down."

"They serve Jim Beam on airplanes. Tastes like piss. You wouldn't be able to tell the difference, because you drink shit. I don't."

"I didn't live to be 73 years old so I could eat kale. Don't fix me your breakfast and pretend you're fixing mine."


UPDATE: The kid landed a book deal... the L.A. Times tells you all about it here.



Along the same lines is thingsmyboyfriendsays.com I've posted this link before, but it's my blog, so I can post it again if I want. It's just as funny. These two must be related.

What will you not eat? Find your food threshold

I go all the way up to shark fin soup. By doing this I am hopping right over cat and dog. Can't eat the kitties and puppies. Maybe bear heart..... but no monkey brains.

Waiter, I'll Have the 414 Ounces of Steak Please...

Great zombie Jesus! It's a meat plate for 10!

Get over to www.benjaminsteakhouse.com to reserve yours!

A challenge for our newest contributor

How many beers can Midtown Food Guy (a beer snob) get correct? I got 16.

More Ramblings from Andy Rooney: Kitchen Tools Edition

"I haven't cracked a nut in years."

Blogger Welcome

"Food is our common ground, a universal experience" James Beard.

It's time for me to join the fray and enter the world of reviewing good food and good drink from an average joe perspective. I know, I know. There must be 30 bloggers alone in KC who review places. So what makes me different? Probably nothing. But I know what I like when I see it (and eat it and drink it).

Food and beverages (usually of the adult variety) have become more than just fuel for my body, they have become events in an otherwise often mundane life. Eating out presents an opportunity to spend time with my friends and family in a magical world of unknown surprises (without all of the half horse/half human things that fill other magical worlds like Narnia or something).

In short, I'm going to provide simple reviews of local food joints and local spirits. The rating system will be fairly simple. A-F, just like school. I'll always provide ratings for Atmosphere, Food, Drinks, Service and Overall. Overall may include some intangibles so it may not jive with the other ratings when viewed together.

Most importantly, I realize I'm just one person, who may or may not have had a good experience at that particular establishment. Please don't base your dinner plans on my review alone. I may have ordered something bad or maybe the server had just gotten into a big fight with his manager over his schedule.

Feel free to let me know why my review may have been wrong (or right). If my little contribution to the KC Food Scene helps a business get more business or helps a place realize what some problems may be with their joint, great. If not I'll still get a place to share a little of my passion for food and drinks!

Va-rice-ity

My man likes something unexpected now and then. That's why I serve him rice. Huh?

Crumbled bacon and sour cream?.... I don't know. I'll take mine with Kimchee thank you.

Absolutely, positively no ketchup on hot dogs. Never.

This is a pretty funny article on the subject. I'm originally from Chicago and they take this stuff seriously.

In the 2005 remake of the movie Bad News Bears, Tanner Boyle declares "My dad says the only people who put ketchup on hot dogs are mental patients, and Texans."

I found the article here:

Dog tales: What you need to know about hot dogs and sausages

Good stuff!

This what I imagine heaven to be like

Cochon Butcher!

The trailer for History's HD treatment of old WWII footage.

This looks fantastic! If you love freedom, you gotta love this.

Looking for a Bargain Dinner? Try Lobster

"At a wholesale price of $2.25, the once costly crustacean is a treat for consumers but a crisis for Maine lobstermen."

I'm heading to the market right now to pick some up.

Anthony Bourdain on Sandra Lee

Pretty scary account of Anthony meeting Sandra Lee.

New Orleans: Fifty people answer one question.

What a great project. What's your answer?

Cute girl

I've posted this kid a few times before. She now has an elaborate story to tell.

It's the Twitter police

Eating a taco on Front Street! Get him! Nobody cares!

Motivation

Go ahead, have some.

Advice to live by.

Really....... it's good. Watch it.

Holy Mortadella!

That's a big piece of meat you have there. Why thank you.

School lunch from around the world.

Our lunches in the U.S. look fried and horrible. No wonder your kids are fat.

Like the gourmet foods?

Marky's is the place for you!
Here's some Beluga Caviar for about 4500.00 a pound. I'll take 2 please.

SOUR '日々の音色 (Hibi no neiro)'

The cooperation and planing involved in making this video is mind blowing.

"This music video was shot for Sour's 'Hibi no Neiro' (Tone of everyday) from their first mini album 'Water Flavor EP'. The cast were selected from the actual Sour fan base, from many countries around the world. Each person and scene was filmed purely via webcam. "

Let's play "Pick the Perp"

It's fun but harder than you think.

Train vs. Tornado - Spectacular!

This is unbelievable!!

Michael Jackson's Arcade is SICK!

I wanna play!

Westside Local last night

Got out to Westside Local last night. Great food, great atmosphere on the deck. Had the Deviled Eggs, Charcuterie Plate, Cheese Plate, Sardines and Pickles and the Rabbit Saison. I'll order the other half of the menu next time.

Green Dirt Farm..... Yes!

"Once a month or so the proprietors of Green Dirt Farm, just north of Weston, turn their kitchen over to top local chefs and invite diners to share the bounty of fresh, locally grown, creatively prepared food."

I'll see you there....here is how you get a table.

Seating is limited to two dozen people. Dinner costs $95 a person, everything included, and paid by check in advance. Future dinners are scheduled Sept. 12 and Oct. 10. Send e-mail to tony@greendirtfarm.com or call 816-522-7416.