Trezo Vino Remix

New menu and concept have changed the world for Trezo Vino. Underwhelmed by my former visits, I was not a regular patron. But when I heard that Colby and Megan Garrelts were refreshing the menu, I had to give it a try. What a change! The selections are lovely. We had a spectacular beef carpaccio, a duo of bruschetta, PEI mussels, chitarra, and seared scallops.

The chitarra was incredible. The meatballs were moist and flavorful, and the sage was perfectly balanced in the dish. I also highly recommend the chèvre and peperonata bruschetta. Happy hour is a great value as well!

All I can say is what a fantastic change. From here on out, you will be needing reservations unless you eat in the bar. Splendid!

5/5 stars

I don't know whether it is the spirit of Christmas causing me to love so many restaurants right now, or KC chefs are really stepping up their game. Either way, it is a great time to be hungry in KC!

Tamale (and Taco) Wizards!

I was alerted to the new presence of Tamale Wizard near the River Market by a good friend. Although I have tried several times to come give it a try, parking is always a challenge. Today I found success. Customer service was exceptional and patient. I ordered the chicken tomatillo tamale with grilled tomato and jalapeño salsa, a chicken, goat cheese and apple taco with tomatillo salsa, black beans and a drink for around $8! Really an exceptional value. The smells wafting over me as I waited were delighting me, and encouraging some healthy stomach rumbles.

The food lived up to my olfactory expectations. Spicy but not killer. I would order the goat cheese taco again every day this week. Perfect blend of sweetness from the apples and spice from the tomatillo salsa.

I plan to return this week for another meal!

$8 for a taco, tamale, side and drink
5/5 stars

Fresh at Fresh Mix Grill

You might pass right by and not give this place a chance because the decor is underwhelming, but please don't! Fresh Mix Grill is delicious. The gleaming stainless steel is no joke, the food is serious. I ordered the salmon sliders, which were topped with cabbage and fennel. They were divine, light and flavorful. My husband raved about the chicken sandwich, and my daughter chowed down on the sweet potato fries - which were great!

The chefs clearly take exceptional care when preparing your meal, and the restaurant is spotless. Please don't pass Fresh Mix Grill by, give it a try! I will certainly be back, probably on a weekly basis from here on out.

$28 for kids chicken fingers with fries and a drink, a chicken sandwich with chips, salmon sliders with sweet potato fries, and two large drinks.

5/5 stars!

Quick Value Thai

I decided to try takeout from Tasty Thai in Liberty, Mo today instead of my usual Planet Sub. The restaurant is small but appears clean and cozy. I ordered my usual fave, pad thai with tofu and left to run a quick errand. The takeout was ready when I got back about 7 minutes later. The fare is typical. The flavors are fairly standard, the portion size too large, and the sprouts didn't have that nice crunch I would have liked to see.

However, for a quick and affordable break from the norm- Tasty Thai will absolutely do the trick! I will certainly be back.

$7.62 for one order of pad thai with tofu, included one pot sticker

3/5 stars

Slow is Julian

I stopped into Julian on a beautiful sunny day for a late lunch. The restaurant was empty, but the patio was full! As we were seated, I observed the restaurant is a lovely setting in Brookside. However, I was quickly shocked to see only Ms. Tio herself, and one other staff member serving tables. Tio was in her full chef garb, and I believe that she was quite possibly not only serving, but also cooking. I immediately became nervous that my quick lunch might turn into a ‘slow food movement' experience. By the time the waitress came around to take our drink order after waiting for about 15 minutes, we were ready to order everything. I ordered the house smoked salmon. It was on top of what appeared to be brioche French toast, with a cream sauce and fresh chives. Let me just say that it was worth some of the wait. The fish was delicate and flavorful. Perfect for the light lunch I was hoping for.
My sister ordered a sandwich and French fries. I am a huge fan of crispy fries, but these were burnt. However, her sandwich was also lovely she says.

I am torn. The food was delicious, but an hour and a half lunch for one small plate is not my idea of relaxing. In fact it was quite stressful as we waited and waited to be taken care of. I may give Julian one more try simply because of my dish, but I would advise Chef Tio to either close up and not offer lunch, or staff up to make sure it is a good experience.

$9 for my salmon entrée and iced tea, a good value

3/5 stars

Holy Moly Dog Nuvo!

These are not your college 'quarter dogs' folks! I ordered the Chi-Town dog, basil lemongrass pickle, and bottled water. I really liked the small location. It is clean, and well kept. The whole store has a great street view.

The Chi-town dog was not only BEAUTIFUL but delicious. The bun was soft, the peppers were spicy, the dog itself was fresh, slathered in homemade jelly relish, thinly sliced pickle spears, peppers and teeny-tiny fresh tomatoes. I am certainly a hot dog lover, but these are some of the best of the best. I was staring at the dog hungrily as I drove back to work, and the smells were so good that I had to gobble it up before I even got back to the office.

The pickle is another story. Though the flavors were nice – and different – the brine was overly sweet. Not enough vinegary bite! The pickle was floppy, and somehow too sweet and salty at the same time. I would pass on ordering it again. Some shoestring fries might have been the perfect accompaniment to my dog.

At only $7, it is certainly a good value. I am certain I will be back to try more of the menu!
4/5 stars, but would have been a 5 if I hadn't ordered the pickle!

Eat at the Farmhouse (That's an order!)

My department at I at work went to lunch at the Farmhouse for one of our employee's last group meal with us.  She is going to have a baby!

First, I love the Farmhouse atmosphere.  Although it was 72 degrees out, for some reason they didn't have the patio open.  But when I've eaten on the patio, it has been a great treat in the middle of a long work day.

I ordered the veggie burger today.  It is a homemade burger, filled with white beans and green veggies with aioli and tomato relish on top.  They also make their own ketchup!  That is pretty much my favorite thing about the restaurant.  My only wish is that they learned how to get their fries crispier.  Because the ketchup and fries could constitute their own meal if only the fries were better.  

They typically accompany entrees with a variety of homemade pickled vegetables, but today it was just standard cucumbers.  Still delicious though.

Lunch for six, which included two BLT sandwiches, two veggie burgers, two orders of soup, one side salad, and a corned beef sandwich + tip was $82.  The soup was a white bean and ham in a tomato broth.  It looked delicious and received rave reviews.  I'll have to try the soup next time!

4/5 stars

Jia Joy

We visited Jia Restaurant in Leawood for Chinese takeout after noticing the 100% positive rating on Urban Spoon.  The menu is extensive and covers most Chinese American favorites.  We ordered Lemon Chicken, Kung Pao Beef, Chicken Lo Mein, pork fried rice, and Steamed Dumplings.

The takeout packaging was smart, with my lemon chicken sauce separate from the breaded chicken, which kept the breading nice and crispy.  I was also pleased that they offered brown rice as an option.

My rice was slightly overcooked, and the breaded chicken was more dough than chicken.  However, my guests raved about the Chicken Lo Mein and dumplings.  My little daughter was grabbing lo mein and chicken pieces off that plate.  She clearly likes salty food.  It was hilarious to watch her slurping up the noodles and getting sauce on her chin.  I was very happy to see her actually enjoying food!  We'll have to order that dish more often.

As for the Kung Pao Beef, there were mushrooms in the dish.  The wonderful husband is allergic to mushrooms.  SO, basically I can't tell you whether it was good or not, as he was very nervous to eat it, even with all of the mushrooms removed.  He also noted it wasn't as spicy as he had hoped it would be.

The staff were friendly and helpful.  All in all, I would say it was a good value.  The food was high quality, a step above average Chinese.  I believe we will be back!

3.5/5 stars

Deli Disappointment

Continuing my downtown Deli tour, I visited Market 3 KC today. I don't know what's up with the River Market area sandwich community, but upon entering, I again had no idea where to go to order. Deli owners - put up signs that say "Order Here"! If you don't, your patrons feel uncomfortable. Also, once I ordered, I was uncertain how to proceed thereafter. What I discovered after wandering around a bit, is that aside from the sandwiches, you basically help yourself to everything else you need. Soup is at the end of the salad bar. They will ring you up once your sandwich is complete. It is all quite a bit confusing.

The market is clean, with a large kitchen. The menu is relatively simple.

I ordered a BLT on wheat with cheddar and helped myself to a pint of lentil soup. Also on the menu today were corn and shrimp chowder and a tomato based andouille sausage soup.

The BLT was not particularly special. I hoped for the price to get an herbed aoili or really fantastic bread. But it was fairly pedestrian.

The lentil soup was warm and comforting, but really quite bland. Almost no herbs, lacking in salt, and almost seemed like it was a combination of 50% water/50% vegetable broth. And I found a whole bay leaf in my portion that would have been a horrible surprise if I hadn't seen it before the spoon went in my mouth. Chef, remove the bay leaves! They aren't palatable!  Many of the lentils also weren't completely cooked.  They were harder than al dente.

Sad to say, the highlight of my meal was the iced tea, which was strong and flavorful. And I do love my iced tea. For the money spent, I really found myself wishing I had taken my hard earned money to Happy Gillis in Columbus Park, where I could have spent the same amount for twice the meal.

The market is clean, ingredients are fresh, and the food is filling. However, the chef needs to step up the efforts in terms of flavors and originality.

$14.00 for a BLT with cheddar, a pint of lentil and vegetable soup, garden veggie chips, and a large iced tea.

2/5 stars

Blooming in the Winter

Bloom Baking Co. is probably my worst kept secret. I rave about it everywhere I go. I'm worried that my own ravings won't be enough - as it is rarely busy. However, the cupcakes are fantastic. The large size is the best value in my opinion.

The Berry one is my favorite. Today, I had a light chocolate cupcake with a marscapone based frosting. The frosting was light, and not too sweet - really perfect.

I've tried almost all of the cupcakes, and you can't really go wrong. Out of the probably 15 cupcakes I've tried, probably only one of them was a bit dry. My advice would be to ask which came out of the oven most recently. The macaroons are also lovely.

I also learned today that they are now serving sandwiches! I'll be back soon to try one. Please give this place a visit if you are at the city market for lunch. I would love to see their business flourish. The owners are kind, attentive, and really help educate you on their products and make you feel welcome. And their products are refined, well edited, and delicious.

$19.50 for three large cupcakes and a cappuccino

4.5/5 stars

Blustery Day at Carollo's

It seems that recently I have been attracted to Italian delis. I ordered my favorite menu item - an Italian trio. This time the #1 - Naples style with giardiniera. Carollo's version is probably the most authentic to what I remember receiving in Italy.

I typically order the #2, which is also delicious. The meats are perfect. The atmosphere isn't much, but it is a pleasure to browse the aisles admiring the beautiful tins of olive oil, and drooling over the stuffed peppers, and beautiful italian dessert treats.

Carollo's is probably my favorite sandwich between Pandolfi's and Johnny C's. The staff is quick, efficient and attentive - though not extremely friendly.

It is also a bit unclear how to go about your ordering process. Here's a quick summary - visit the sandwich counter. Get someone's attention and order your sandwich. If you want anything special on it, such as peppers, etc. you need to ask. They won't ask you! All the sandwiches come with Lays potato chips, which they will hand you. Grab an Orangina or San Pellegrino. Then, go ASK FOR A CANNOLI and pay.

You won't be sorry ... my entire meal is affordable, delicious, and a pure delight.

$7.85 for a sandwich, chips and San Pellegrino

5/5 stars

Bluestem Birthday

Some of my better dining experiences in Kansas City have been at Bluestem restaurant on Westport road. After reviewing menus at Julian, Michael Smith and Bluestem, I decided I wanted my 30th birthday dinner to be at Bluestem.

The wonderful husband and I trekked off to Bluestem on Tuesday evening determined to do the 12 course tasting menu. We also did the wine pairing.

Some of the highlights from the meal were the poached pear salad, the off-menu beef tartare, the perfect crab pasta, the horseradish mashed potatoes that accompanied our beef. Dessert highlights included the blood orange sherbet and bourbon ice cream. Mrs. Garrelts has clearly been enjoying her ice cream machine lately - and I'm appreciative! They were fantastic. The beef tartare was likely one of the best dishes I've had.

Every dish was executed perfectly. The portions were appropriately small to allow us to savor each dish without getting overfull. The wine pairings were wonderful. Frankly, the value is really very good. You will certainly receive an excellent dinner.

However, a few things did bother me about the evening. First, the inspiration seemed lackluster. The menu had none of the sparkle and imagination that I remember from my previous dining experiences at the restaurant. The hints of Asian influences were interesting, but seemed incongruent with other menu choices such as the pasta and distinctly American beef course. Although it made for a very interesting meal, there weren't any flavors helping to tie the dishes together. And they weren't building off one another. So it really felt like I was starting a new meal with each plate, instead of working up to a spectacular conclusion.

I was also startled by the lack of interest by the wait staff. Although our primary waitress was exceptional, the sommolier seemed distracted and disinterested in helping us understand the pairings.

While the dinner was well executed, enjoyable, and ultimately a fine evening - I find myself wishing I had perhaps tried something new, as Bluestem didn't live up to the excellent standards they have achieved in the past.

I am certain I will be back. I can only hope that Chef Colby was having an off night. But for my next date with my perfect husband, I will probably try one of the other wonderful KC chef's restaurants.

I still give the restaurant 4 stars because I believe it is still one of the best in town. However, if I remember back to my previous experiences there - it would have been 5 stars. Perhaps the chef needs some new inspiration. In the few glimpses I saw of him, he seemed tired.

$330 plus tip for 12 courses, and the 12 course wine pairing for two

4/5 stars

Perfect Italian Sandwich

I stopped into Pandolfi's Deli in Columbus Park today on a whim. It was my second visit, and turned out to be vastly superior to my first visit.

First, though the building is very old, they have managed to nearly extinguish the musty scent I noted upon my first visit.

My memory really did not do the food justice. I ordered the #3, an Italian cold cut trio of mortadella, capicolla and salami.

First, the bread was perfectly authentic this time. Crusty without being painful to eat. Drizzled with just the right amount of balsamic vinegar to add flavor without sogginess.  The meats were fresh and spicy. The lettuce was crunchy, obviously very fresh, and the tomato was perfect.

I think I detected a slight garlic scent in the olive oil. I could be imaginging it, but nevertheless, it was delicious.

I savored every bite of my sandwich, and found myself wishing I had ordered a cannoli.

My one complaint would be the price. Although the sandwich is perfect, I could get an excellent trio from Carollo's for about 30% less.

I paid over $10 for the sandwich and a fountain drink. I will likely continue to visit Pandolfi's for a change of pace occasionally. If the price was a better value, I would likely be a weekly visitor. However, cost being what it is, my visits will still be infrequent at best.

4/5 stars - would be higher if they lowered their price by about $1.50 or $2.00

Hidden Lunch Gem

Johnny C's is a go to lunch spot for me. I regularly order way too much food. Today, I ordered the italian trio, which is a trio of italian meat, tomato, onion, cheese, italian dressing and mustard on a soft italian roll. Order it hot for the perfect sandwich. I rounded out my lunch with macaroni salad and cannoli. All this, with chips and a large iced tea for $14. You can't beat the value, and the food is delicious. It has to be fresh because of the bustling lunch business they do.

Other favorites on their menu are the mostacolli with spicy meat sauce and meatballs, and the tomato salad (which is only available on certain days - Wednesday or Thursday I believe). In fact, I love the tomato salad so much that my friends have bought me bottles of their zesty tomato salad dressing for my birthday!

Although there is nothing particularly unique here, it is hearty, satisfying and delicious. The service is friendly and fast. And frankly, I don't think you can find a better italian sandwich in the city.

$14 for sandwich, macaroni salad, chips, and large iced tea

4/5 stars

Solid Dining at Bristol Seafood Grill

Last night I had my probably hundredth dining experience at Bristol Seafood Grill.  We were given the semi-private room off the bar, which was ideal for my daughter, as she could play happily in the corner without bothering other patrons or the wait staff. 

I ordered the cioppino.  The dish was solid, with a lovely sauce, and healthy portions of several kinds of fish, mussels, clams, and perfectly cooked scallops.  I did however get several bites that were overpowered with tarragon.  But for the most part the dish was strong. 

The atmosphere was nice, as Bristol has a live band in the bar every Sunday evening.  They rotate between two bands, who alternate Sundays.  Because we had a wall in between us and the bar, the sound wasn't overwhelming.  It was really nice to hear live music.

My lovely daughter enjoyed a peppery dish of sweet potatoes, and guzzled spoons of lobster bisque.  She seems to be liking richer, and more full flavored dishes these days.  I even tried some spoons of the cioppino sauce.  Though the sauce is on the milder side, it does have a bit of spice.  The little one loved it as well (I can only assume she didn't get one of the particularly tarragon filled bites)!

All in all it was a very nice evening.  Though I will say I did NOT enjoy the Merlot selected! 

Bristol never fails to supply an enjoyable meal.  Seafood in the Midwest is no small feat. 

And the crab cakes are the best you can find in the city.

4/5 stars

J'Adore Le Monde

My love affair with Le Monde bakery in North Kansas City began by accident when I was walking along the street. I noticed their sign out front touting Chicken Curry. Curry at a French Bakery? Trust me ...

It is spicy, rich, clearly cooked for hours, and delicious.

The curry is their star. It really hits the spot on blustery January days, such as today. After a two block walk to the restaurant due to the street's terrible lack of parking, the smell of the curry rejuvenates you.

Onto the pastries, which are also superb. Try the croissants and come back for the apple strudel. Or do both. But DON'T MISS THE CURRY! I wish you could scratch and sniff the photo.  It is the sole reason I keep coming back. And complement the chef, it makes her smile.

5/5 Stars

Happy Gillis Makes Me Happy

I find myself at Happy Gillis Cafe in Columbus Park nearly once a week these days. Yesterday I had a perfect butternut squash soup with chorizo. I wished I had bought three cups of it. The only fault I would give the restaurant is that it is too small. So every time I go, I tend to go by myself and get takeout, because I don't like to risk bringing friends and ending up not being able to get a table. This is especially a concern on Fridays.

But regardless, I've never had a bad meal here. They seem to appeal to my eating sensibilities, and even carry Republic of Tea iced teas - which are my favorite. Try the meatloaf sandwich, the chicken salad sandwich, the arugula sandwich - try them all!

In my humble opinion, there is no better way I could spend $15 than at Happy Gillis for lunch.

5/5 stars

Paradise India

Update: On a whim, we visited Paradise India again this past weekend.  We had the opposite experience to the below!  Service was great.  We were in and out within 45 minutes, and the food was fantastic.  Perhaps our experience below was a one-off.  Only time will tell.  But I am revising my rating of the restaurant to 4/5, because the food really is worth a visit!

Original Post: I have visited Paradise India under three circumstances.  My first visit was to get takeout during my pregnancy.  I craved Indian food nearly constantly and that was how I happened upon Paradise India.  I called, placed my order and they told me it would be ready in about 30 minutes.  Approximately 7 months pregnant, I came to the takeout door and let them know I was ready to pick up my order.

I was informed it wasn't ready, and took a seat to wait.  And wait.  It turned out there was a large catering order right in front of me that was also late.  I believe I recall that their order was nearly an hour late! 

All in all, I waited nearly 30 minutes for my order in the restaurant while my husband was out in the car. 

Once we got home and started eating, I lost my concern over the wait as the food was delicious.

Our second visit was just a week ago for the lunch buffet.  I am trying to encourage my now 1 year old baby girl to try new food.  She happily dipped her naan in the butter chicken sauce and ate that for the entire meal.  The buffet was a very good value, and service was excellent (as they weren't cooking to order I suspect).  The selections were diverse and interesting, and I tried several dishes I had never had including mutton, fruit and cream salad, and butter chicken.

Our third visit was just last night for dinner.  We were informed when we were seated that all of the full tables had arrived within about 5 minutes, and all the menus were being used by those tables.  We sat and waited about 20 minutes to place our order.  60 minutes after our arrival, we finally had food.  They were unable to make our naan order more quickly.  Therefore, we had nothing to snack on.

Keeping a 1 year old occupied for 60 minutes without food in front of her was quite a challenge, I must say.  Though the food was delicious - I ordered chicken tikka masala, and paneer naan.  I walked out rather dissatisfied.  Although I did say to my dining mates, "it was worth the wait."  In hindsight, I probably will not visit the restaurant again except for the lunch buffet.

4/5 Stars (revised!)