Destination: Kansas City (Missouri)

suitcase party…

Eleven months ago, I took a tremendous leap of faith. I quit my job. Life will catch you, my friends reassured. I wasn’t so convinced. I went to Europe soon thereafter, to think, to eat, to explore, and to spectate. Certain that it was my last hurrah for a while, I was thankful for the […]

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suitcase party…

Eleven months ago, I took a tremendous leap of faith. I quit my job. Life will catch you, my friends reassured. I wasn’t so convinced. I went to Europe soon thereafter, to think, to eat, to explore, and to spectate. Certain that it was my last hurrah for a while, I was thankful for the […]

Continue

giveaway: bluestem, the cookbook…

For years, I had been telling my friend, Colby Garrelts, chef-owner of bluestem in Kansas City, that he should write a cookbook.  The Midwest was grossly under-misrepresented on the cookbook shelves of America, and I thought he should do something about it. But, after three years of nagging him, I decided to drop the matter. […]

Continue

giveaway: bluestem, the cookbook…

For years, I had been telling my friend, Colby Garrelts, chef-owner of bluestem in Kansas City, that he should write a cookbook.  The Midwest was grossly under-misrepresented on the cookbook shelves of America, and I thought he should do something about it. But, after three years of nagging him, I decided to drop the matter. […]

Continue

best dishes of 2010…

It’s that time of year again when I shock myself into making new year resolutions by taking a look back at all of the food I ate in the last twelve months. Over the past few weeks, I’ve revisited hundreds of dishes and, through some mysterious and highly subjective process that involves memory and mood, […]

Continue

best dishes of 2010…

It’s that time of year again when I shock myself into making new year resolutions by taking a look back at all of the food I ate in the last twelve months. Over the past few weeks, I’ve revisited hundreds of dishes and, through some mysterious and highly subjective process that involves memory and mood, […]

Continue

best dishes of 2008…

Softball-Size White Truffle l’Ambroisie, Paris, France Gastronomic self one-upsmanship was not my intention when 2008 began. But it happened quite unexpectedly. For the past three years, I’ve recapped the top 25 dishes in a year-end review (click here for 2005, here for 2006, and here for 2007). Annually, I announce with certainty that my lucky […]

Continue

best dishes of 2008…

Softball-Size White Truffle l’Ambroisie, Paris, France Gastronomic self one-upsmanship was not my intention when 2008 began. But it happened quite unexpectedly. For the past three years, I’ve recapped the top 25 dishes in a year-end review (click here for 2005, here for 2006, and here for 2007). Annually, I announce with certainty that my lucky […]

Continue

review: blanc burger + bottles…

Boulevard Pale Ale Onion Rings blanc burgers + bottles I had anticipated its opening back in March, and positive press and word of mouth in the subsequent months only intensifed my hungry curiosity. Over a recent weekend I descended upon blanc burgers + bottles not once, but twice. The first night, the tiny Westport burger […]

Continue

review: blanc burger + bottles…

Boulevard Pale Ale Onion Rings blanc burgers + bottles I had anticipated its opening back in March, and positive press and word of mouth in the subsequent months only intensifed my hungry curiosity. Over a recent weekend I descended upon blanc burgers + bottles not once, but twice. The first night, the tiny Westport burger […]

Continue

best dishes of 2007…

2007 saw a noticeable change in food trends. Our nation’s culinary drivers began to consciously steer us away from fine dining and toward casual fare. This de-emphasis on luxury in favor of the humble meant that caviar and foie gras became out-paced by brussels sprouts and short ribs; the fascination and wonder with molecular gastronomy […]

Continue

best dishes of 2007…

2007 saw a noticeable change in food trends. Our nation’s culinary drivers began to consciously steer us away from fine dining and toward casual fare. This de-emphasis on luxury in favor of the humble meant that caviar and foie gras became out-paced by brussels sprouts and short ribs; the fascination and wonder with molecular gastronomy […]

Continue

review: potential realized…

3rd Course: Wagyu Tartare I haven’t done a formal restaurant review in a long time.  Here’s one of my now-favorite restraurants re-reviewed.  bluestem (at least 10 visits)  Since my first visit to bluestem in May of 2005, I have had the pleasure of returning many times – especially now that I’ve moved back to Kansas City. Nearly two years ago, I described […]

Continue

review: potential realized…

3rd Course: Wagyu Tartare I haven’t done a formal restaurant review in a long time.  Here’s one of my now-favorite restraurants re-reviewed.  bluestem (at least 10 visits)  Since my first visit to bluestem in May of 2005, I have had the pleasure of returning many times – especially now that I’ve moved back to Kansas City. Nearly two years ago, I described […]

Continue

best dishes of 2006…

#10: Hot Potato at alinea Originally uploaded by ulteriorepicure. From a second visit to the newly named number one restaurant in the U.S., Alinea (according to Gourmet Magazine), to snacking from street vendors in China, I’ve had a pretty amazing year of eating.  I visited Jean Georges on two continents, Thomas Keller on both coasts, […]

Continue

best dishes of 2006…

#10: Hot Potato at alinea Originally uploaded by ulteriorepicure. From a second visit to the newly named number one restaurant in the U.S., Alinea (according to Gourmet Magazine), to snacking from street vendors in China, I’ve had a pretty amazing year of eating.  I visited Jean Georges on two continents, Thomas Keller on both coasts, […]

Continue

review: great potential in the making…

bluestem (two visits may, 2005) Colby and Megan Gerrelts came to Kansas City with outstanding training and credentials. The dynamic duo met in the kitchen of TRU in Chicago. Returning to Colby’s hometown, Kansas City, the Gerrelts garnered more top-notch training in the kitchen of the famed American Restaurant, under Michael Smith and Debbie Gold, […]

Continue

review: great potential in the making…

bluestem (two visits may, 2005) Colby and Megan Gerrelts came to Kansas City with outstanding training and credentials. The dynamic duo met in the kitchen of TRU in Chicago. Returning to Colby’s hometown, Kansas City, the Gerrelts garnered more top-notch training in the kitchen of the famed American Restaurant, under Michael Smith and Debbie Gold, […]

Continue