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Where Did You Do Restaurant Week?
Calling all KC foodies - this is your last chance to sup at some great local spots and benefit Harvesters; KC Restaurant Week 2012 ends today. There are over 125 participating restaurants with prix fixe offerings to suit everyone’s taste.
Sadly, I was only able to try one of those tempting offers, but it was a good one!
During a crazed week that revolved around planning/hosting a Harry Potter themed birthday party for 17 kids under the age of seven, lunch at Story (in the Prairie Village shops) was a wonderful adult respite. My lovely mother in law treated me, and we both dined on seared Arctic Char and butternut squash bisque.
The moist, flakey Char was served on a bed of nutty wild rice with brussels sprouts, bacon, and a hint of mustard sauce.
The soup was sweet, smooth, and perfect for dipping our glorious crusty bread in.
I would love to hear from the readers - where did you do Restaurant Week?
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Try Shai.
I didn’t discover Indian food until I was 19, when I flew the coop and landed in San Diego for college. At a grubby hole in the wall near Sports Arena, I had my first bite of warm, chewy Naan bread dipped in cool, tangy Raita. It was a revelation. I vowed to spend less time toying with navy guys and more time eating Aloo Gobi.
Kansas City has its fair share of Indian restaurants, most of them good, but indistinguishable.
I expected more of the same when we tried Chai Shai. That is, I assumed I would be eating familiar dishes done well in a dining room with lackluster decor. Instead, I entered a smartly designed, modern space and perused a small menu of surprisingly exotic choices.
My first visit was for lunch with a friend.
We were both guilty of skipping breakfast and giddily ordered an appetizer sampler to share. It came with crispy, crunchy Pakoras (a fried spinach snack made with chickpea batter), savory Samosas, and luscious slices of ripe, juicy mango peppered with spice. 
I was so enamored with Chai Shai that I dragged my husband and kids in for dinner just a week later. I had been thinking about the Masala Paneer for days, craving that sweet red sauce over fluffy rice.
After seeing a photo of the daily special (displayed on an ipad no less!), I jilted the Paneer for a first date with…something yummy that I don’t remember the name of! It was a combo meal – half Chana Masala (spicy garbanzo beans) and half a sweet Indian porridge made from Sooji (Cream of Wheat) decadently studded with golden raisins and nuts. It tasted like dessert, but I wasn’t complaining.
The kids inhaled my husband’s order of moist, tangy Achari chicken until there were only a few sad little bones left for him to gnaw on.
My 6 year old gave the light, flakey Samosas a definite thumbs up. They really are outstanding, not your typical grease laden appetizer. And the baby sucked up her half of a thick, icy mango shake. Chai Shai will certainly be seeing our hungry faces again soon.
Tip: the table in the back is perfect for families. It’s out of the way, there is a couch to lounge on, and kids can peruse the interesting grocery offerings while waiting for their food to arrive.
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A Garden In Winter. Kauffman Memorial.
A haven of serenity and silence is hiding in the midst of our urban landscape.
At The Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden, tranquility sits within plain sight of Troost and Taco Bell.
High stone walls shelter plantings and pathways that invite contemplative thought.
Playful bronze sculptures cast long winter shadows on carefully trimmed topiaries.
And when your frosty fingers have had enough of strolling, slip into the conservatory for a respite of warmth, color, and light.
Under the graceful glass ceiling, a resident cat has the right idea, snoozing amid lilies and poinsettias in the late afternoon sun.
And if the conservatory cat is not enough excitement, little ones will delight in seeing towering palm trees and exotic flowers flourishing in the dead of winter.
This little bit of horticultural bliss is located at 4800 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO, 64110.
The garden is open 8am to sunset year round.
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A Slam Dunk! The College Basketball Experience.
When the winter wind howls and bays like a dog at the door, you can rally your spirits and warm your bones at the College Basketball Experience. You don’t have to be a rabid sports fan to be impressed by 41,500 square feet of hoops, history and high tech interactive exhibits.
College basketball devotees will no doubt linger longer over the trivia and biography tidbits that are peppered throughout the vast facility, but a floor to ceiling photo packs a visual punch even if you don’t know which iconic player you are craning your neck to view.
At first glance, the admission price seems a bit steep: $12 for adults, $9 for kids 4-17 and seniors. However, I can tell you that everyone in our group agreed it was 100% worth it. We spent two full hours inside and would have stayed even longer if the baby hadn’t been on the verge of an acute meltdown. I was blown away by the size of the place and the sheer number of things to do.
CBE certainly exceeded my expectations (and I’ve been to other “Experience” attractions that did NOT – EMP in Seattle, I’m thinking of you!).
One of my favorite sections was the enormous open gym with racks of balls, an abundance of baskets, and bleachers for tired spouses and parents to become spectators.
My husband loved the slam dunk challenge and “Beat The Clock” timed trials (how many 3 point shots can you make in 3 minutes, etc.).
Our six year old had a blast with the Big Shot Ball.
And his baby sister had fun blasting him with it.
Another highlight was the replica ESPNU sportscaster desk where pint sized role players can see their commentary played back on an enormous screen.
In short, CBE is a very cool place with a truly unique experience to offer.
And if you are anything like the “Cameron Crazies” and “Rock Chalk Jayhawks” in my family, you’ll be off and dribbling before you can say triple-double!
Notes/Tips: The CBE entrance is inside of the Sprint Center. Special pricing on Sunday Family Packs.
http://collegebasketballexperience.com/
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S’more To Do At The Nelson. Sculpture Garden Luminary Walk.
By day, the Nelson Atkins Sculpture Garden is a marvelous place to while away an afternoon. The lush green lawn is the perfect place to spread a blanket and canoodle with your sweetie under a shady tree, or succumb to the tranquil surrounds and snooze.
You can claim one of the plentiful park benches and lose yourself in a good book, or simply roam and enjoy the world class art.
It is stunning in every season and in every light.
A standout time to visit is on the Friday after Thanksgiving, by night, when flickering candles light the pathways and the Bloch Building is shown at its luminescent best.
The yearly Luminary Walk is fun for all ages, with fire pits, smores, and plenty of magical corners in the garden to explore by candlelight.
It’s a great way to kick off your holiday merrymaking.
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Flea Frenzy: Antiquing In The West Bottoms.
I love flea markets, junk shops, and thrift stores the way that a stereotypical woman is supposed to adore shoe shopping. Even two cranky kids can’t keep me away from browsing antiques in The West Bottoms on a First Friday weekend.
Taking little ones antiquing is no picnic. My husband’s idea of shopping with the kids is rolling into Costco and confining them both to a double wide cart.
Old industrial buildings have a lot of stairs and few functioning elevators. Strollers in The Bottoms can be more trouble than they are worth.
So, I usually just strap our 18 month old into the Ergobaby and stuff her fat little fingers full of Goldfish crackers.
And a 5 year old is easily bribed by the promise of a Coke from one of the food vendors.
My son was so good today that I bought him a strawberry/banana smoothie from the CoffeeCake KC truck. They must have thought I was an appallingly bad Mom, handing my kids an iced drink when scarves and gloves were in order and the wind was blustering down alleys and rattling reedy windows in every warehouse.
The smoothie was my only purchase today. I kept my wallet safely closed, but oh the things I wanted to buy: a rustic chandelier adorned with vintage flatware, a felted scarf from a local crafter, patchwork letters made of aged tin, and a pair of sleek end tables crafted in an onsite woodshop (I sent my husband a photo of these tables & he hated them; there’s no accounting for taste!).
The kids were wowed by taxidermied beasts and holiday ornaments.
There are new vintage peddlers popping up in The Bottoms every month. I can’t wait to see what fab finds December will bring!
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Climb Every Mountain: Brookside Triangle Park.
At a certain age, playgrounds cease being a place for mild mannered amusement and become the spot for mini Evel Knievels in training to attempt audacious stunts.
Visiting a busy playground often gives me an anxiety attack as I watch kids dangle from the top of swing structures, or climb down the outside of towering tube slides. I’m always certain that someone is going to break their arm, leg, or lose any number of appendages.
Unfortunately, my 5 year old is nearing this nervy age and is ripe for influence. He wants to imitate every cool kid that he sees at the park.
Thankfully, there is a playground that delivers thrills while keeping my heart rate steady.
TheBrookside TrianglePark at 58th Street andBrookside Blvd is a small pocket park with big personality.
The playground packs an imaginative punch with giant springs, a whirly gig, and ear splitting musical chimes.
The best part is the play structure, whose two halves are separated by a craggy peak. Only the bravest mountaineers will make it from one side to the other.
So tell your grade-schooler to grab a pick ax, don their crampons, and beware of altitude sickness; it’s time to conquer the mountain!
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Loco for Poco’s.
It’s high time that I praised Poco’s on the Boulevard. It is my absolute favorite place for an indulgent, food-coma breakfast. You can’t consume a meal at Poco’s without having to loosen your belt a few notches on the way out.
Chef Lorenza “Poco” Gutierrez has created a menu of excellent Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner dishes. It would take several blog posts to cover the highlights. So, let me just say that everything I have ever tried at Poco’s was delicious and I’ll settle for telling you about breakfast. And what a breakfast it is.
You can get fluffy eggs scrambled with jalapeño, onion, tomato, and cactus (Huevos a la Mexicana). Or you can order a savory omelette with spinach, onion, jalapeno, tomato and goat cheese (Popeye’s). The Chilaquiles will rock your world with tender tortillas and fiery flavor. There are Pecan Waffles, Malted Waffles, French Toast and Pancakes for those who like sweets in the morning.
Ninos 10 and under can order from the $4 kids menu. Even a kid with a colossal appetite would be hard pressed to finish this plate heaped with two humongous Mickey shaped pancakes, scrambled eggs and two slices of crispy bacon.
Tip: the Toast and Egg option is a better bet for tykes with smaller stomachs.
A former Wade’s restaurant, the Poco’s building still gives off that 50’s diner vibe. You might think that would be at odds with the Latin American cuisine, but I think it makes the place feel warm and welcoming.
My toast to Poco’s: Here’s to happy to eating and never letting a good breakfast go to waste (just be sure that you’re wearing pants with an elastic waist!).
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We Came. We Saw…the line. Kauffman Center Grand Opening.
I salute the courageous folk who took on a queue of epic proportions at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts today.
We rolled into the Crossroads around 4:30pm, thinking that the crowds would be thinning out as it was only 30 minutes until closing.
As we rounded the corner, my husband and I stared slack-jawed at a line snaking halfway around the enormous building.
Food trucks and several excellent musical acts lent a festive atmosphere to the mob scene and people seemed to be enduring their lengthy wait times graciously.
However, we decided to pass on the wait-your-turn party and took our kids down to 18 Broadway for a walk in the garden instead.
It was a lovely evening; and there among the flora and fauna, we didn’t even mind missing the Kauffman’s inner brilliance. I have the pictures to prove it.
http://www.kauffmancenter.org/
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Kiddie Cups & Churlish Serve-Ups: Extra Virgin.
My husband has always hated Extra Virgin. I think the vibe is too LA-hipster for him (he would loathe Succotash!). Nevertheless, we’ve supped at EV on several occasions; the small plates menu has something for everyone and the patio is very inviting. And that is where my praise abruptly ends.
Last night, I suffered through an astonishingly subpar meal that included undercooked food, insults from the wait staff, and tableware tailor-made for preschoolers (which my kids might have appreciated if they weren’t at home in bed).
First, the insults. Our waiter was surly and seldom seen. When we tried to clarify our order, he cut us off and barked “Got it, Got it” before disappearing.
When I asked if there was anything distinctive about the Lebanese Hummus, he sniped “the origin of hummus is Lebanon.” Excuse Me?!
Our water came in very plastic, very neon tumblers with no ice.
Hoping that the food would turn everything around, we waited expectantly for our plates.
My friend, Christie, ordered Churros & Chocolate. The presentation was nice, but when she bit into her enticing dessert, raw, gushy batter oozed out from the center.
And at $7 for a small plate, I was expecting my Greek Salad to be something special - perhaps with a generous block of feta or farmers market tomatoes. Instead, I was served a paltry portion of a Panera style salad with limp, browning lettuce and a smattering of cherry tomatoes. Now, I like Panera as much as the next person, but expect a tad more out of a celebrated eatery like EV.
Christie did enjoy an excellent cocktail, a ruby hued concoction with orange slices and whole bing cherries at the bottom. And I lucked out with a decent dessert, the tartly tempting Peach Crotada. Unfortunately, these highlights were not enough to count the meal a success.
The next time I am looking for a light bite, I will count Extra Virgin out.
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