by Sharm | Mar 23, 2013 | Articles
Maker’s Mark Bourbon House and Lounge has been on my list to get to for quite some time so when an invitation came inviting a guest and I in for dinner, I was quite ecstatic.
Dinner started with a Charcuterie Board that featured cured meats and sausages from the Local Pig and artisan cheeses. This plate pairs perfect with a glass of wine and was a great start to the meal. The presentation of Charcuterie Board is beautiful and something I would absolutely come back in and have at the bar with a glass of wine.
In addition to using the items from the Local Pig, when available Maker’s Mark uses locally grown produce for their salads and also has a signature house-made dressing. We shared the House Salad with mixed greens, roasted corn, teardrop tomatoes, carrots and cucumbers.
The menu at Maker’s Mark is diverse and has something for everyone, even some vegetarian offerings and although I have been trying to eat less meat lately, it did not happen once I saw Chicken and Waffles on the menu! I have been on a serious chicken and waffle kick lately and was torn between that dish and the Tenderloin and Gnocchi. If you are an avid reader on here, you know I am nuts about gnocchi!
My dear sweet husband said both those dishes sounded good as well so we got one of each and I had the best of both words. The Gnocchi was covered in Port Corgonzola Cream Sauce and the tenderloin had great flavor. Served a top a bed on mashed potatoes the Chicken and Waffles is like a meal and dessert in one plate. The chicken is crispy and savory and the waffles and syrup add a touch of sweetness.
When it came time for dessert, I could hardly contain myself as our server Grace, who by the way was amazing, told us about the homemade peach cobbler, cheesecake and chocolate torte. But I did resist as the waffles did satisfy my sweet tooth. I must say now that I am writing this, I wish I would have gotten a piece of that peach cobbler to go as it would hit the spot right about now.
Maker’s Mark has great specials including 1/2 price steak night on Tuesdays and 1/2 price bottles of select wines on Thursdays.
If you have not had the chance to make it into Maker’s Mark take time to do so, even if it is a quick stop at the bar for a glass of wine and the Charcuterie Board.
I wish to thank Maker’s Mark for the invitation and all though the meal was complimentary the views expressed here are my own.
In Good Taste,
Sharm
Maker’s Mark Bourbon House and Lounge
1333 Walnut Street
Kansas City, MO 64106
by Sharm | Mar 22, 2013 | Articles
Chef Carl Thorne-Thomsen grew up in Connecticut and graduated from Cornell with a degree in English Literature. He lived in that area until the mid-nineties and then moved to Wichita to attend a Masters of Fine Arts program at WSU in creative writing. While in Wichita, he stayed busy writing short fiction, long fiction, poetry and plays. Soon that passion was replaced by an interest in food and he taught himself enough about cooking to land a job at a small gourmet food store/cafe/espresso bar. There he met his future wife Susan, who also happened to be one of the owners. After three years the couple moved to Kansas City and started a family. Thorne-Thomsen worked as a line cook at 40 Sardines for the next three years. In 2007, when Chef Michael Smith opened Michael Smith Restaurant in the Crossroads, Smith hired him as chef de cuisine and he ran the kitchen there and then at Extra Virgin when it opened for three years.
Story opened in May 2011 in the Prairie Village shopping center and although the décor and clean lines of this space make it an ideal location to celebrate almost any occasion or just share a nice dinner with family or friends, it is the cuisine that will keep you coming back.
We have been many time to celebrate different occasions and if you have not been to Story you are certainly missing out.
Story offers great specials including:
Happy Hour Tuesday – Friday 4:30pm – 6:30pm and the bar food menu is 50% off in the bar. Menu features a $6 bacon cheeseburger, $5 fried chicken, $6 seafood risotto, $7 gnocchi with short ribs and more. Cheers!
Lunch Wednesday – Saturday 11am – 2pm for a 3 course prix fixe lunch menu for $18.
This menu is in addition to our regular lunch menu. Please call 913.236.9955 for today’s prix fixe menu.
Sunday Nights with Story.
Sunday Dinner Special: Every Sunday enjoy a $10 entree special. This special item will be limited in quantity. Like the facebook page at www.facebook.com/storykc for updates on specials.
Make plans to go soon and if available, be sure and get the smoked duck empanadas.
In Good Taste,
Sharm
Story – 3931 W. 69th Terrace : : Prairie Village, KS 66208 : : 913.236.9955
by Sharm | Mar 21, 2013 | Articles
The amazing folks over at Crio Bru sent me a sample of their brewed cocoa and I have to say I am loving it. It is ground cocoa beans and brewed much like coffee using a french press or coffee filter.
If you are a coffee lover and like chocolate I urge you to try Crio Bru. The cocoa bean high in antioxidants and Crio Bru is chock full of other healthy benefits as well. I loved the rich dark chocolate taste Crio Bru had and it was nice change from the ordinary cup of Joe. I am big fan of all the fancy coffee drinks available these days so I tried creating one with the Crio Bru and it came out so good I decided to share it with you!
Crio Bru Double Chocolate Caramel Latte
1/2 cup chocolate almond milk or milk of your choosing, heated
1 Ghirardelli caramel filled square
1/2 cup brewed Crio Bru
Whip cream to taste
Variations: Mint chocolate latte – use the Ghirardelli mint filled square.
Directions:
Brew Crio Bru according to directions. In microwave safe mug warm almond milk to desired temperature and remove. Place half of the chocolate square to heated milk. Add 1/2 cup Crio Bru or more if desired and stir to combine. Top with whip cream and remaining chocolate square. Additional sweetener can be added if desired. Enjoy.
Visit the Crio Bru website to get all the facts or to place an order.
by Sharm | Mar 21, 2013 | Articles
Put Your Culinary Chops on the Block at the Second Annual Foodie Fight, April 30, to Benefit Broadmoor Bistro
So, you call yourself a foodie? Think you know your casseroles from cassoulet? Then get ready to put your culinary chops on the block at the second annual Foodie Fight, April 30, 5:30-8:30 pm at Broadmoor Bistro!
The event starts with appetizers and a table-against-table round of food trivia fun. Then, enjoy entrees prepared as a collaborative effort with Broadmoor students and top local chefs; Ted Habinger of Room 39, Jasper Mirable of Jasper’s Restaurant, Martin Woods of Yia Yia’s, Richard Ng of Bo Ling’s, Renee Kelly of Harvest, and Mary Berg of delish! Catering. After a fantastic meal, get your just desserts served up with a second round of trivia.
The evening benefits the Broadmoor Educational Chefs’ Garden. This special project breaks ground this year, on the school grounds, bringing garden-to-table ingredients to the culinary program as well as educational and employment opportunities in sustainable agriculture and green technology. The garden program will also support community education events and a fresh produce market in the future. A collaborative effort between Broadmoor, Powell Gardens, Cultivate KC, and the MU and K-State Agriculture Extensions, the chefs’ garden will be a unique addition to Broadmoor’s award-winning program.
Tickets are only $50.00 and include all the fun and fantastic meal. You can reserve your seat and meet new food lovers at the table, or stack your odds of taking home prizes by filling a table with foodie friends. Reserve now at Broadmoor Bistro’s site, https://www.broadmoorbistro.org/months/view/4/2013.
The event is supported by Les Dames d’Escoffier Kansas City and the evening’s emcee will be Kimberly Stern of “Live! From Jasper’s Kitchen,” and the creator of the Foodie Fight game, Joyce Lock. For more information on the event, please contact Beth Bader, Philanthropy Chair, Les Dames d’Escoffier Kansas City, thecleanerplate [at] gmail [dot] com. Or, Kathy Denis, Program Chair, Les Dames d’Escoffier Kansas City, kathy [at] kcrestaurantguide [dot] com.
by Sharm | Mar 21, 2013 | Articles
Chefs Colby and Megan Garrelts owners of the renowned Bluestem in Westport, recently opened Rye restaurant in Leawood. Rye is a celebration of the Midwestern foods that chefs grew up eating and Rye gives them the opportunity to highlight dishes that they have enjoyed with several generations of their families.
Smoked pork chops, cornmeal fried catfish, aged steaks, baby back ribs, fried chicken, fresh vegetables, hot rolls, freshly-made seasonal pies, fruit cobblers, and ice box cakes are just a few of the items you will find on the menu.
My family and I had the chance to visit Rye and we are hooked. The fried chicken is sous-vide first making it unbelievably juicy and the corn gratin full of real cheese! The real mashed potatoes were delightful as well.
All pies and desserts are made in house and we had the pleasure of sharing the Meyer lemon meringue pie and apple crisp. The sweet and tart lemon filling on the homemade crust was to die for as well as the crumble topping on the crisp.
Whole pies, cakes and other desserts will soon be available to pre-order, giving you the chance to serve a delicious homemade dessert at your next gathering without all the work.
The space in Mission Farms where Rye is located has been many things over the past few years but that has now come to an end as Rye is here to stay. If you have had the opportunity to experience the Garrelts upscale cuisine at Bluestem, then you know when you take that talent and combine it with all the comfort foods everyone loves, everything is going to be perfect and absolutely delicious. Enjoy Rye for dinner seven days a week with brunch on Saturday and Sunday.
For more about Rye, check out my article in Leawood Lifestyle Magazine or visit ryekc.com
