catroo's Profile
Help for Solo Dining in Kansas City
Bluestem for certain -- always seasonally inspired and delicious. I've never dined in the bar area but it looks cozy, and I'm sure it's a great deal. Brunch was also great -- the best hash my husband ever ate and he's tried quite a few.
Michael Smith's -- good but not at the same par as bluestem.
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Bluestem
900 Westport Road, Kansas City, MO 64111
Michael Smith
1900 Main, Kansas City, MO 64108
KC - where should I go to lunch....?
I've been thinking about checking out Aixois -- and now it's definitely on my list. My 11-year-old usually turns her nose up at the kid's menu (a young chowhound). Wonder what she'll say when she sees escargot on the menu?
Pork tenderloin sandwich in KC
My husband is a long-time fan of Herrara's Tenderloin Grill on Southwest Blvd. We just moved back to KC and this was one of the first places we went back to. If you're not afraid of some heat, get the tenderloin with the spicy sauce. Fries are good, too. We've always found the service to be very friendly.
Yes, they still serve the Pig Snoot. The owner said that it is definitely an "acquired taste" and to stick with the tenderloin unless you're a pig snoot fan or a rookie copy graduating.
Where do the Kansas City Foodies like to shop for, what else, food?
Any new developments? Particularly for produce in the Northland? We're just relocating here from Portland, Oregon. Which grocery stores do you like best in North KC?
I'm sure we'll be making regular trips to the downtown market and Parkville farmer's market (not sure how long their season is). Also - I'm sure we'll head out to Whole Foods and the 103rd & Marty area pretty often. (My daughter will be taking dance classes closeby - not too convenient for us but we don't mind with great ethnic markets in the area.) We're looking for any new recommendations.
Thanks! Hope we'll soon be "qualified" to be regular contributors on the KC chowboard.
Pastry Chefs! Need input on Portland schools!
My husband graduated from WCI last year - the culinary program, not patisserie. You get out of it what you put into it. Some excel, some just slide through because mommy or daddy is paying the bill. They'll graduate after flunking some classes 2 or 3 times. This it applies to both WCI and OCI. We know people who have dropped out of WCI to attend OCI and had similar experiences at both schools.
I'm sure a lot of interns from the culinary schools are terrible. And some are terrific. My husband interned with a catering outfit. The previous intern was fired. (Can you say "F"? It's bad when "free help" isn't worth keeping around.) My husband received perfect scores at the same place.
I think you can probably learn a lot of it on the job or own your own. But, you'll be exposed to more things more quickly at one of the schools. You'll be forced to stretch yourself and try things you probably would not on your own or have an opportunity to do on the job. It is expensive, and it is unfortunate that the industry pays so poorly.
If you do choose to attend one of the culinary schools, just remember to focus on your goals and not worry about any of the other students. My husband learned a lot and loved it. If he started thinking about some of the other students, he got a little frustrated....but he chose not to get distracted.
Good luck!
On the way to and from the Portland airport
Here are a couple casual, Mexican joints for lunch to or fro Mt. Hood:
Tortilleria y Tienda de Leon
Only about 15 - 20 mins from the airport on the way to Mt. Hood at NE 162nd and Glisan. Awesome tamales, carnitas, and very spicy salsas. There are tables here, but you'll be ordering at the counter.
El Burro Loco
If you are looking for more of a restaurant atmosphere, El Burro Loco is closer to Mt. Hood in Welches, right off Highway 26. We've enjoyed the pork carnitas here and delicious chile-infused margaritas.
Personally, I haven't had great experiences at Newport Bay or Stanford's...I think you can do better elsewhere.
Very good meal at Thai Lily PDX
We just had a very good meal at Thai Lily in Portland in a strip mall just west of Cornell and Murray.
The Tom Ka soup ($7.50) was awesome....best we've had and my husband frequently orders it at Thai restaurants. It was a very generous serving of soup in a hot pot serving bowl - plenty for three or four people.
The chicken satays my son had looked tastier than most -- unfortunately I didn't get to taste one!
Everything was good, but the Tom Ka rocked! Next time, we'll probably just order it and a few side apps....a delicious and cheap meal for a family of four.
Some reviews I've seen said that service was slow. We were there early on Friday evening and the service was speedy.
BTW, we love Pok Pok. But this is a nice option if you want to stay on the west side of town.
MAUI: please suggestion for special dining places for special occasion.
We spent a week in Maui in January.
We had some great food from CH recs, but our favorite and most extravagant meal was David Paul's Lahaina Grill.
Here's what we had:
APPS
* Baked Escargot in curry butter (the curry was a delicious twist and not overpowering)
* Seared Ahi and Foie Gras (melt in your mouth and a perfect pairing)
ENTREES
* Tequila Shrimp and Firecracker rice (not a complex dish, but the flavors in the sauce were beautifully balanced - I'm still thinking about that sauce)
* Maui Onion and Sesame Crusted Seared Ahi (even though we had seared ahi for an app, my husband couldn't resist this preparation...he wasn't disappointed. Both ahi dishes were fabulous.)
Unfortunately, we were too stuffed for dessert - and I really wanted to try the Triple Berry Pie.
It was expensive - apps in the $15 to $22 range and entrees $36 to $42. However, the food and the service were both superb. Our waitress was very attentive and gave us some great info about the island. I was afraid that the place might be overhyyped, but we had a lovely experience. It was one of the best meals we've had ever, and we've eaten at many fine restaurants. The restaurant itself is beautiful, but do note that it is not overlooking the beach. It is on a side street with shops.
We were also pleased that they offered smaller versions of fish with rice and veggies for our children...not just the usual corn dog. Although, if you are looking for a special occasion place that is probably not a concern for you.
Mau
Chinese Food PDX Area
I'm sure this is too late for the OP, but my huband and I tried Sungari Pearl for lunch last month and we were both underwhelmed. Everything was bland - really blah. As I recall, we got the app sampler, he got the shrimp with mandarin sauce, and I got the Buddha's Delight (stir fried veggies).
Maybe we didn't make the right selections, or is the downtown Sungari that much better?
We still need to try Wong's King. The one time we tried to go they were closed for a private party.
Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches -- ISO New Ideas
Great thread...I see that I'm going to need to get the ice cream maker going this weekend!
I love the idea of a Pistachio ice cream with a Rosewater (and cardamom) cookie...a while back made two versions of ice cream with these flavors and was thinking it would be fun to combine the flavors - this would be a great way.
anyone been to pinocchios yet?
Right across the street from South Park, I believe, but I haven't been there yet.
Where to find Geoduck in PDX
As Midwestern transplants to the Pac Northwest, we've been wanting to try geoduck for a while. Can anyone recommend a restaurant in PDX with a delicious version?
It looks like some of the Chinese restaurants offer it sometimes as a special. Which has the best? and which preparation do you like?
Foods you love at Trader Joe's that got discontinued? [OLD]
A savory snack mix called Mayan Mix or Aztec Mix (can't recall). I tried it a few years ago when I visited San Diego and was crazy about it. Now that I lived in a city with several Trader Joe's, I haven't been able to find it!
Yays and nays from Trader Joe's, lately [OLD]
My fave is their India Relish...it's got a nice kick of heat. I often blend it with cream cheese for a delicious spread for crackers or crostini. I've never tried any of the Indian simmers or sauces.
KC best new restaurants, trends, and neighborhoods
Thanks, asiansensation...sounds like the Northland has made a huge turnaround since we left. My brother used to live up North and called it a "culinary wasteland" -- I never had many opportunities to check it out for myself.
I did see some of the recent references to Zona Rosa and wondered where it was. We love Bo Lings and Indian food (which I assume Swagart is) so we'll be investigating the area. Plus it would be nice to be fairly close to the city market and Planter's (I do miss that place).
Yeah, the condo deal is probably not an option for us right now - expecially after dropping a big chunk of change in Portland. We enjoyed downtown city living for a while here, but it's really not pratical with kids.
So - exactly where is China Town in KC? I guess I've missed it before.
Souperman in KC?
Glad to see some other folks remember The Souper fondly...that link was a nice trip down memory lane.
My husband works in the catering, personal chef business; he prefers more interaction with customers than you can get in the restaurant biz. He's worked some large private events and weddings at Portland's White House B&B - a beautiful place, BTW. He 's also taught some cooking classes.
We're still trying to figure out how to make our mark in the food business in KC, but we know that it'll help to have family and friends close by for support.
Thanks for asking and for the KC forum link - we've got lots to figure out regarding housing, schools, and so on.
Souperman in KC?
This sounds like a fun new place and it reminds me of a place in KC that I loved when I was a kid. Does anyone remember The Souper in Westport? Menu was simple, but excellent. Just 3 or 4 soups, 3 or 4 fresh baked breads, and 3 or 4 yummy desserts to choose from - all written on a chalkboard. Everything was fresh made and seasonal -- or at least appeared to be, to my young foodie eyes.
KC best new restaurants, trends, and neighborhoods
After a 6 year absence, my husband and I (natives of KC) are considering moving back to our hometown.
KC Chowhouds, what is happening in the food scene right now? What are the hottest new restaurants and trends in the city? Which districts are attracting new restaurants and seem poised for growth? If you were moving in, what neighborhoods would you look at in terms of a good variety of restaurants and best grocery options? (We have two children.)
Of course, we've heard of some of the new developments in town...the Power & Light District and the Crossroads Arts District. It sounds like an exciting time to be returning to KC.
My husband is a chef and we're currently living in Portland, Oregon, so we've gotten used to fresh seafood, bountiful farmer's markets with organic produce, and large Asian / Mexican grocery stores. It will be tough to say goodbye, but at the same time we're looking forward to coming back to the world's best BBQ and lots of sunshine!
