KC Confidential.com

While in Chicago last weekend, I experienced hints of fall.

The debut of my Loeffler Randall boots aside, there were other signs of an approaching fall.  Cafes stepped up their coffee sales, women circled the scarf department like blood hungry sharks  and bald men went “top up” on the convertible.

Just as spring entices you to throw open the windows, clean house and downsize for the coming heat bills, a good cold snap encourages us to nest and hoard.  We crave comfort, warmth and home cooking.

Even if you are a seasoned cook, there is something calming in the planning and preparation of home cooked meals, safe from blustery winds.  The beauty of a cooking class is that it can remove the intimidation factor for amateur cooks and reignite the fire in seasoned chefs. All within the same class.  It’s for everyone.

Below I’ve listed some classes that I think are particularly fall-centric.  Any of these will get you in the mood to fight off the coldest days, one ingredient at a time.

A Jasper’s Experience & Cooking Demo At Jasper’s Restaurant featuring Wisconsin Cheese. Continue reading

You can ham it up or pig out this weekend. Wait a sec. Why not both?

Other than doing some sort of gratuitous mental or physical harm to yourself, there’s no reason not to stretch your swinish side when it comes to partaking in the squealing laughter of “The Producers” at Starlight Theatre and the gastric self-indulgence of Bacon-Fest in Waldo.

Separately, these events can do only so much to transport you from routine responsibility. Together, they can slather on enough crazy distraction to make you want to blow off work on Monday. And if you don’t have to work on Monday, then you already know what to do.

Now how about a few details to go with your double downward spiral? Continue reading

Dwindling summer days have not dampened my love affair with Fresher Than Fresh Snow cones…

If anything, thoughts of colder days have made the all natural snow cones a personal priority.

Recently Lindsay Laricks gained national attention when she was featured in In Style magazine which published her recipe for Peach Prosecco ice pops.  This left many of us wondering if there would be yet another frosty version of heaven from the FTF truck. Continue reading

If this bad economy can result in anything good, it’s creative business thinking.

In fact, competing for the dollars and attention of consumers takes a lot of thinking outside of the box.  People in the creative fields have never lost sight of the power of a non-conformist strategy.  And people like artist and entrepreneur Kurt Flecksing are seizing this moment to unveil  novel opportunities. Flecksing’s mobile S’mores Cart is more than just good old fashioned fun.  It’s a way to capture the public’s attention and redirect it to his real passion, artists and public art.

Unlike larger cities, the street cart is a fairly new concept for Kansas City.  Where did this idea begin?   Does Flecksing have a culinary background or is he just a s’mores fan? Continue reading

I want to share a quick Summertime thought…

Because it speaks to the way hipsters and local middle-class pretensions can ruin something intrinsically good.

Ice Cream is one of the last simple pleasures our society allows. Yeah, it’s bad for us, but for the most part most people don’t go around eating Ice Cream all the time. So as an indulgence it’s accepted. Hey, even fat women are allowed to enjoy ice cream from time to time without feeling too much shame or enduring much scorn (from me).

Unfortunately, Kansas City is at the epicenter for meaningless competition among the petty bourgeois. And in the war of “one-upmanship” and “Keeping up with the Jonses,’” local merchants have mercilessly transformed the simple ice cream cone into a casualty in their battle to court customers.
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Last week, a summer cold left me blindsided and without taste buds, yet still hungry.

I immediately wanted soup, even with the soaring temperatures. It made me think about how we all seem to seek out what is most comforting, usually something from our childhood, when we were the most vulnerable.  We feel comfort in the familiar and comfort is healing.

My mom always nursed me back to health with canned soup, 7-UP and Popsicles.  So it’s no mystery why I crave those things when I’m under the weather.

Funny how an evolved palette can abandoned all pretense so quickly. Continue reading

There’s a misguided perception going around that local merchants, retailers and restaurants are somehow intrinsically better than the national corporate fare.

It’s a nice thought that unfortunately has nothing to do with reality and is mostly a marketing scheme cooked up by local PR hacks who have screwed themselves silly carrying on adulterous affairs with media chicks with exotic accents but would otherwise only rate a solid 7. Maybe the ends justify the means but now that I’ve had the chance to go to a few local establishments, I wouldn’t give a local establishment any special consideration simply because they’re local.

In fact, as with most things strictly Kansas City, mediocrity is often tolerated simply because of a local connection. Certainly, this is the case with so many Kansas City restaurants.
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It’s July in Kansas City, which means two things…

1. It is butt ass humid, 2. Happenings around town are stale as the cicada filled air.

As we enter August, I am tested by my own favorite mantra, ”Only boring people are bored.”  I have spent my entire Midwestern life practicing the art of making my own fun, but I am really tested this year.  There must be something going on.

Friday Day: I had been meaning to hit the new Pandolfi’s Deli in Columbus Park ever since we did a driveby weeks ago. From the outside, it was so cute.  Not your typical throw a sign up and open the door treatment.  I wanted to see inside.  We pulled up and practically had a foot race with this chubby kid who was determined to get in line before us.  Two more things; I don’t run in wedges and I definitely don’t run for deli meat.  So we casually strolled in and placed our order.

The Word was out.  Only one table left in the entire place. Continue reading

I’ve been out of college a while and so have most of my friends. Although I look back on those days with fondness, I think there should be some benefits to growing older and that includes parties where you don’t have to rummage through a cooler to find the last Bud Light.  I believe in bartenders.  I also believe that unless you have hosted a party,  you will never understand the value of an RSVP.

But, that is another column entirely. Continue reading

WILKOMMEN, the new GRUNAUER restaurant greets Web site visitors…

“Authentic Germanic cuisine is finally being offered in the heart of Kansas City,” it then boasts.

\So you can imagine how excited I was as a former East German (legal) immigrant to partake of my fatherland’s DEUTSCHE KUECHE. (Translation: German Kitchen.)

The big day coincided with First Friday at the Crossroads District as several friends headed to the new venue at 101 West 22nd Street in the Freight House district.

The Grunauer Restaurant is located in the former City Tavern building.

First off, forget about visions of the Hofbrauhaus, this joint is definitely way more upscale than I’d expected!

And the menu?

The tip off should’ve been the word “Germanic” instead of German! Continue reading

The City Market is near and dear to my heart…

It may have started back in the day when my parents would take a special weekend trip down to Planters.  My dad took a lot of pride in his yard, but what fascinated me was his garden.  At Planters, I was dumbstruck looking at all the seed packets with pictures of big beautiful corn and vibrant string beans.

Sometimes he would let me pick out a couple packs of seeds and help me plant them in a small corner.  He probably didn’t have the heart to tell me that growing your own food took a little more than a patch of dirt and a fist full of seeds.  He made it look so easy.  One day he pointed to the ground and said, “Dig there.”  My sister and I pushed mounds of dirt to the side with our bare hands and discovered potatoes…..in the GROUND – not in a plastic bag on aisle one. Continue reading

Olive Oil from the Tasteful Olive

We’re in the heat of summer here in KC.  The festivals, events and holidays go into hibernation and the city seems to stand still.

But don’t trap yourself at home in the air-conditioning, there are still some great times to be had.  Get out and enjoy some fresh faces in the restaurant biz! Continue reading

I did something rarely done in Westport…

I pulled right up to my destination and parked in front of the door at 8:00 pm on a Friday night.

The last time I was in Westport I circled the block numerous times just to pick up a carry out order from Thai Place.  With Blanc now on the Plaza and Murray’s only open during the warmer months, I tend to find myself driving by Westport and not to Westport.   So it was thrilling to hear that the empty Blanc space was now occupied by another local restaurant.  Enter Aaron Confessori, owner and operator of Westport Café & Bar.  Aaron has a long history with food in Kansas City and has finally found a home base in his Parisian-themed cafe and bar.  Taking a cue from the casual bistros scattered throughout Paris, traditional wood elements are juxtaposed against a graphic black and white interior.  The first impression is clean, casual and chic. Continue reading

I’m not sure what was going on this weekend, but every meal I ordered included some form of disappointment.

Was I irritable from the heat, or just under a stroke of bad luck?

Sonic- Friday, I am already irritated by this bizzaro “no pepper” thing that I am uncovering at Sonic’s around town.  Sonic now wants to ruin my Route 44 Happy Hour ice tea experience.  The staff hasn’t quite figured out that pouring hot tea over ice renders a drink iceless.  I now have to order extra ice, just so my glass will arrive with a normal drink to ice ratio.  Even doing this does not guarantee ice, so I am pushing that red button again for an extra glass.

Home Cooked Meal- Friday, This one I messed up myself. Continue reading

Fire & Ice

As predicted, we missed much of spring in Kansas City. Instead, we went straight to hot and humid.  But we can’t stay inside with the AC all day long.  So why not beat the heat the old fashioned way; cool down from the inside out.

Glace’ Artisan Ice Cream

by Christopher Elbow 4960 Main Street

This new spot is ice cream for adults. Be prepared to wait as newbies venture into unknown flavor profiles.  I love the Pineapple Cilantro Sorbet.  It is a tangy burst of summer and the Goat Cheese With Cherry is mildly sweet with tart cherries and a super creamy texture.

Murray’s Ice Cream and Cookies

4120 Pennsylvania Ave, in Westport

Murray’s deserves every accolade.  An independently owned shop, kind service in a charming location.  Put your favorite on a list and they will call you when it is on the rotation.

My Favorite: TNT (Toffee & Truffles) Continue reading