Greater Kansas City Chef’s Association Announces a Culinary Benefit to be held Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at Union Station.
The Kansas City Chapter of the ACF is hosting a Culinary Benefit to support their local chapter, the Johnson County Community College Culinary Program and Harvesters. The benefit, Best of Kansas City Chefs – Harvest for Harvesters, will be held on Tuesday, September 27th from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at Union Station.
Many of Kansas City’s best Chefs along with some local beverage suppliers will have scrumptious tasting booths for the enjoyment of guests.Enjoy a cook-off based off a mystery black box, along with live music, and a silent auction.
I had the chance to dine at a Seasons 52 in Dallas and must say I am excited we are getting one in Kansas City. I love supporting local, but do on occasion find a chain that I like and Seasons 52 is one of them. I love dining out and writing this blog but have found that my waistline has grown! All though I have no plans of stopping, I am hoping that if more restaurants can follow Seasons 52 lead, I will still be able to have may cake and eat it too!
Although we have plenty of restaurants here that serve local and seasonal ingredients which I love, what I like about Seasons 52 is it offers upscale dining with a healthy approach. No item on the menu is over 475 calories!
I have heard of Seasons 52 and seen them when we have done some traveling, but have never had the chance to try it. While on a recent visit to Dallas, we had the chance to have dinner there with some friends and I was impressed. The ambiance and decor had all the components for a truly upscale dining experience. And the food….amazing!
I know you are thinking how good could it really be with such a restrictive calorie count, but it truly was great! Everything we had was delicious. The menu changes seasonally so the items we had may differ if you visit another time of the year. I have included some photos of the dishes we tried to entice you. It is said we eat with our eyes first so by the end of this post you should be stuffed by still keeping your calories in check. Enjoy!
BLT Flatbread
Caramelized Crab and Shrimp Stuffed Mushrooms
Tomato Salad
Lamb Chops
Rainbow Trout
Mini Dessets
Here is more information regarding Seasons 52 new location on the Country Club Plaza from a press release I recieved.
Seasons52 is recognized as a forward-thinking restaurant concept with proven consumer appeal. Known for its seasonally inspired menu <http://www.seasons52.com/menu/default.asp> (http://www.seasons52.com/menu/) and fresh approach to dining, the award-winning concept has capitalized on meeting the demands of today’s culinary-savvy diners. Seasons52 changes the menu four times a year with weekly fresh features to truly capture the flavors of the season. Each valued patron can be guaranteed the highest quality fresh food prepared without compromising great taste or a rich and complete dining experience. Nothing on the menu is more than 475 calories, from its signature flatbreads and appetizers- to all entrees and its Mini Indulgence desserts, which were originally created at Seasons52 in Orlando in 2002. Seasons52’s promise of “a fresh dining experience that celebrates living well” has been consistently praised by restaurant critics across the country and people’s choice awards alike.
In addition to its main dining area, the Seasons52 in Kansas City will include a piano bar featuring live entertainment nightly, two private dining rooms, an outdoor patio, and an exclusive chef’s table for a more intimate culinary and wine experience. Seasons52 provides the perfect ambiance for business lunches, romantic dinners, socializing with friends and any private group celebration or corporate event. The new restaurant is expected to create approximately 100 new jobs in Kansas City.
Leading Seasons52 in its bold national expansion is company President Stephen Judge, who joined the organization in March 2007. Judge is focused on securing premium real estate sites to fuel the concept’s expansion. “Country Club Plaza is an ideal setting for Seasons52,” he said. “The combination of upscale shopping, dining and entertainment provides a lifestyle environment compatible with the Seasons52 concept. We are all very excited to share Seasons52 with the people of Kansas City.”
Glenn Stephenson, VP and Division Manager of Highwoods Properties- which owns and operates Country Club Plaza- said, “We are extremely excited to welcome Seasons52 to Country Club Plaza. The addition of Seasons52 will provide locals and visitors with a wonderful new dining experience that complements the positive lifestyle philosophy of Kansas City.” Seasons52 currently operates 17 locations in ten states across the country and will open additional restaurants in McLean, VA (Tysons Corner Center) in summer 2011; Naples, FL (Mercato Center) and Jacksonville, FL (St. Johns Town Center) in fall 2011; Oak Brook, Ill (Oakbrook Center) and Garden City, NY (Roosevelt Field) in spring 2012, and Santa Monica, CA (Ocean and Broadway) in fall 2012.
About Seasons52
Seasons52 <http://www.seasons52.com/> (http://www.seasons52.com/), which debuted in 2003, is a fresh grill and wine bar that provides guests with a fresh dining experience, enabling them to celebrate living well. The menu is orchestrated by award-winning Chef Clifford Pleau, and is inspired by the seasons and the fresh appeal of the farmers’ market – 52 weeks a year. The award-winning wine list created and developed by Master Sommelier George Miliotes – the 152nd master sommelier in the world – is consistently praised for its diverse international selection of 100 wines, including more than 52 offered by the glass. Seasons52 is recognized as a forward-thinking restaurant concept that is “right for the times” and always offers guests something new to discover. For more information, please visit Seasons52.com, or visit Seasons52 on facebook <http://www.facebook.com/Seasons52> (www.facebook.com/Seasons52 <http://www.facebook.com/Seasons52> ) and twitter <http://www.twitter.com/Seasons52> (www.twitter.com/Seasons52).
Hello and Welcome to Discover Finer Living, formerly What You’re Missing KC!, the go to sight for KC foodies and news about the best food finds in town. Although the name has changed, I still feature news from the KC food scene!
My husbands job has relocated us out of the KC area to Wichita, KS. If you have been a What You’re Missing KC! fan, don’t worry! KC will always be my hometown and I have added a What You’re Missing KC! page as I do get back quite often and I still get press releases and news about KC. And of course I have to share the love I have for the amazing local food scene!
The reason for the change stemmed form his new job position and which requires quite a bit of travel and since our nest is empty, I am free to tag along.
In addition to work trips we also enjoy getting away at our leisure with cruising being a favorite! I have started this blog to share some of our travel adventures as well as my favorite products, recipes, healthy living tips and anything that makes living finer.If you have a great food find you think should be featured on this sight, Please contact us.
Kansas City has an amazing array of delicious local products. Each month we will feature a recipe using a local product. This months recipe uses Clear10 Vodka which is locally made in Olathe, KS. The crisp ginger ale adds a nice kick to this drink, with the orange and mint add just a touch of sweetness.
Asian MAHito
A refreshing drink created by Gene Mah Ingredients: 2 oz. CLEAR10 Vodka
6-8 oz. Ginger Ale
2 Fresh Mint Leaves
2 Orange Slices
Ice
Preparation: Muddle 1 mint leaf and 1 orange slice in the bottom of a pint glass. Fill glass with ice. Pour CLEAR10 Vodka slowly over ice. Fill glass with cold ginger ale. Stir and garnish with remaining mint leaf and orange slice.
I love supporting local but I do I have to admit I am a huge fan of the chain Chipotle. They are a rarity in the chain scene these days, by serving food that is sustainably raised, hormone and antibiotic free and local when available. I think other chains should take notice and follow their lead!
Below is some information from an official press release regarding Chipotle’s commitment to serving food that is raised right and their Back to the Start video.
Chipotle Mexican Grill has produced a new stop-motion animated short film called “Back to the Start” that depicts a farmer’s journey to sustainable farming. The film — a first for Chipotle — was directed by London-based Johnny Kelly and features a cover of the Coldplay song “The Scientist,” sung by music icon and family farm advocate Willie Nelson.
Chipotle plans to show the two-minute film nationally beginning in September. It will appear on nearly 5,700 movie theater screens in advance of feature films and will educate consumers about Chipotle’s favored farming methods, and demonstrate the differences between industrial farming and more sustainable methods. It can also be viewed online at Chipotle.com or on Facebook at Facebook.com/chipotle.
“We have always understood the importance of serving food that is raised right,” said Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO of Chipotle. “We produced this film to help illustrate the choices people face in deciding what to eat, and hope that it will encourage people to choose food that is raised with respect for the land, the animals, and the farmers that produce it.”
The film’s subject matter is enhanced by Nelson’s cover of Coldplay’s song, “The Scientist.” It follows the story of a farmer whose family farm has evolved over time into a factory farm. In a moment of self-reflection, the farmer realizes that his animal factory is not consistent with his vision for the farm. As the song lyrics suggest, the farmer goes “back to the start” by ridding his farm of its factory qualities and returning to more sustainable farming methods.
The song is available for purchase on iTunes, with proceeds ($.60 per download) benefitting the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation, which provides funding to support sustainable agriculture, family farming, and culinary education.
“We have a tremendous amount of respect for Willie Nelson, both as a musician and for his extraordinary efforts to support family farming,” said Ells. “We are thrilled to have his support for this project and hope that working together, we can help people understand the importance of food that is raised right.”
About Chipotle
Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO, started Chipotle with the idea that food served fast did not have to be a typical fast food experience. Today, Chipotle continues to offer a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls (a burrito without the tortilla) and salads made from fresh, high-quality raw ingredients, prepared using classic cooking methods and served in a distinctive atmosphere. Through our vision of Food With Integrity, Chipotle is seeking better food from using ingredients that are not only fresh, but that where possible are sustainably grown and naturally raised with respect for the animals, the land, and the farmers who produce the food. A similarly focused people culture, with an emphasis on identifying and empowering top performing employees, enables us to develop future leaders from within. Chipotle opened with a single restaurant in 1993 and currently operates more than 1,100 restaurants. For more information, visit Chipotle.com.
