Finally, while I had a great time, I want to explain my meltdown. My parents joked to the waitress that I would be on a separate tab. I didn't think that was funny, and I cried. I'm not ashamed. I just don't want to pay my own way, not yet.
Welcome to our blog! We are a Kansas City family who devotes the first Thursday of each month to trying a new restaurant. Follow along as we travel the Kansas City area in search of delicious new ethnic fare, trendy eats and comfort food. We will share our interesting finds and good laughs along the way.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Babies take over the Brewing Company!
Finally, while I had a great time, I want to explain my meltdown. My parents joked to the waitress that I would be on a separate tab. I didn't think that was funny, and I cried. I'm not ashamed. I just don't want to pay my own way, not yet.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Osteria Il Centro
As I promised last month,
A special post for this time.
A gastronomical review
Written entirely in rhyme.
I hope it doesn’t seem silly,
Impractical or obtuse
If my post pays homage
To Silverstein, Rakoff, and Suess.
Osteria Il Centro,
A nice Italian joint.
Pretty good food and wine,
To get right to the point.
But some GAS business first:
As we all signed our name
To petition for Josh
To buy the Appetizer of Shame.
He couldn’t get out
Of the pact, though he tried.
The calamari was good,
But isn’t everything fried?
I got the house spaghetti—
Italian sausage my choice.
I grabbed knife and fork
Like a child grabs toys.
I tucked in my napkin
And plunged right ahead,
Stuffing my gullet with
Pasta, wine and bread.
As I came up for air
From this gluttonous session,
I realized I’d forgotten,
My own Italian eatery lesson.
The lesson is this,
Though I usually forget it,
I always order pasta
And usually regret it.
The pasta was just fine,
The meal wasn’t a loss.
But there’s more to Italian cooking
Than pasta and sauce.
Next time I’ll ask Sara
To help in that dark hour
When visions of noodles,
Creams and cheeses overpower.
With an ambiguous sigh,
I considered my sin,
Unbuckled my belt,
Imagined what could’ve been.
But what’s done is done,
Now it’s too late.
Only one thing to do—
Guess I’ll finish my plate!
As to the décor and the mood,
For the most part it delighted,
But some faux Roman motif
Was a little short-sighted.
But other than that, and
I don’t think this is contentious,
I thought it was rather distinguished,
Without being pretentious.
With good food and company,
Hours pass without knowing.
With another stop to make,
We had to get going.
Off to have ice cream,
And I knew I was in trouble.
Though stuffed to the brim,
My scoops would be double.
Now in a stupor,
I paused and reflected,
“How was Il Centro?
Was it what I expected?”
In the end, I’d say yes.
The place was quite charming.
A little bit pricey,
But not too alarming.
I’d definitely go there again,
Maybe on a date for some lovin’.
But if I had my druthers,
I’d still head west to Anna’s Oven.
But, the food was real good,
And, it certainly wasn’t dive,
Overall I really liked it—
Three-point-eight out of five.
Now, Gassy gang,
My challenge to you,
Make next month’s post
In the form of haiku.
A special post for this time.
A gastronomical review
Written entirely in rhyme.
I hope it doesn’t seem silly,
Impractical or obtuse
If my post pays homage
To Silverstein, Rakoff, and Suess.
Osteria Il Centro,
A nice Italian joint.
Pretty good food and wine,
To get right to the point.
But some GAS business first:
As we all signed our name
To petition for Josh
To buy the Appetizer of Shame.
He couldn’t get out
Of the pact, though he tried.
The calamari was good,
But isn’t everything fried?
I got the house spaghetti—
Italian sausage my choice.
I grabbed knife and fork
Like a child grabs toys.
I tucked in my napkin
And plunged right ahead,
Stuffing my gullet with
Pasta, wine and bread.
As I came up for air
From this gluttonous session,
I realized I’d forgotten,
My own Italian eatery lesson.
The lesson is this,
Though I usually forget it,
I always order pasta
And usually regret it.
The pasta was just fine,
The meal wasn’t a loss.
But there’s more to Italian cooking
Than pasta and sauce.
Next time I’ll ask Sara
To help in that dark hour
When visions of noodles,
Creams and cheeses overpower.
With an ambiguous sigh,
I considered my sin,
Unbuckled my belt,
Imagined what could’ve been.
But what’s done is done,
Now it’s too late.
Only one thing to do—
Guess I’ll finish my plate!
As to the décor and the mood,
For the most part it delighted,
But some faux Roman motif
Was a little short-sighted.
But other than that, and
I don’t think this is contentious,
I thought it was rather distinguished,
Without being pretentious.
With good food and company,
Hours pass without knowing.
With another stop to make,
We had to get going.
Off to have ice cream,
And I knew I was in trouble.
Though stuffed to the brim,
My scoops would be double.
Now in a stupor,
I paused and reflected,
“How was Il Centro?
Was it what I expected?”
In the end, I’d say yes.
The place was quite charming.
A little bit pricey,
But not too alarming.
I’d definitely go there again,
Maybe on a date for some lovin’.
But if I had my druthers,
I’d still head west to Anna’s Oven.
But, the food was real good,
And, it certainly wasn’t dive,
Overall I really liked it—
Three-point-eight out of five.
Now, Gassy gang,
My challenge to you,
Make next month’s post
In the form of haiku.
Yum, another very tasty Italian restaurant. We ventured to the restaurant of Beth's choice down on the plaza. The location was perfect. Nice scenery and next to the amazing Glacé, so when a restaurant is located near there you know the night will always end well because you will have an awesome desert! I thought the atmosphere of the place was very nice, dressy casual and I enjoyed people watching.
We started off the night with an appetizer, which josh payed for (thanks Justin for starting the petition to make what was right happen). The appetizer was huge and a variety of options: calamari, humus, pita, bruschetta and goat cheese. I was not the biggest fan of the calamari, but I am a snob when it comes to calamari. I absolutely love goat cheese and the mixture of the goat cheese and bruschetta was awesome. I enjoyed a glass of malbec from Mendoza with my food, which was delicious. I decided to order the walnut chicken with Gorgonzola cheese sauce. I am a huge cheese head and Gorgonzola is one of my favorites, therefor when I saw this it was a no brainier! As I expected it was very tasty and did not disappoint. The sauce was creamy with a great flavor, a nice amount of walnuts to add a crunch ANd the chicken was tender. The portion was HUGE so was able to have leftovers the next day, which is always a plus!
My overall rating: 4.3
We started off the night with an appetizer, which josh payed for (thanks Justin for starting the petition to make what was right happen). The appetizer was huge and a variety of options: calamari, humus, pita, bruschetta and goat cheese. I was not the biggest fan of the calamari, but I am a snob when it comes to calamari. I absolutely love goat cheese and the mixture of the goat cheese and bruschetta was awesome. I enjoyed a glass of malbec from Mendoza with my food, which was delicious. I decided to order the walnut chicken with Gorgonzola cheese sauce. I am a huge cheese head and Gorgonzola is one of my favorites, therefor when I saw this it was a no brainier! As I expected it was very tasty and did not disappoint. The sauce was creamy with a great flavor, a nice amount of walnuts to add a crunch ANd the chicken was tender. The portion was HUGE so was able to have leftovers the next day, which is always a plus!
My overall rating: 4.3
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Where to Go?
It’s time once again
For the All-Stars to meet.
To have some good company,
And something tasty to eat.
Please bear my exercise
In rhythm and rhyme,
As I reveal the restaurant;
It’s my pick this time.
But picking for the GAS club
Is no easy charge.
This assignment is sacred,
The burden is large.
And just to top it all off,
To increase my stress,
Dinner club falls on a special day—
Sara’s and my anniversary, no less.
Should I pick a place
That could honor my wife?
The woman who brings joy
Everyday to my life.
Such warmth and kindness,
Such unnerving beauty—
A place worthy of her?
What a daunting duty!
Her deep, soulful eyes,
A smile powerless to resist—
A place worthy of her?
It couldn’t exist!
Her spirit so vibrant,
Her features so striking—
A place worthy of her?
Not a single one to my liking!
Her presence and grace,
How motherly tender—
A place worthy of her?
Impossible to render!
So thoughtful, selfless,
Creative, maternal—
A place worthy of her?
Not if my search were eternal!
How Luke brightens up,
Whenever she’s around—
A place worthy of her?
It couldn’t be found!
How thoughts of her
Constantly consume me—
A place worthy of her?
The prospect does doom me!
The glow that she radiates,
In which we are lucky to bask—
A place worthy of her?
It’s too much to ask!
An angel in the kitchen,
But a siren in the [inappropriate]—
A place worthy of her?
It’s impossible, I said!
Her touch so [inappropriate]
Her figure so [inappropriate]—
A place worthy of her?
The thought truly does vex me!
The curve of her [inappropriate]
And a gaze so [inappropriate]—
A place worthy of her?
A quest wholly unproductive!
Her humor and intellect,
Her infectious wit—
A place worthy of her?
Yeah, right – I quit!
A place worthy of her,
I knew I’d never find.
I needed a new approach
To decide where we’d dine.
I thought long and hard;
Scratched the old head.
Burger joint? Steakhouse?
Maybe vegan, instead?
How about seafood?
Or what about Lebanese?
Perhaps some café that
Serves wine and cheese?
Sushi is good,
But not everyone’s taste.
The deadline was looming,
I must pick with haste.
A chili dive joint,
All raw and gritty?
Or some posh bistro
Up in the city?
Then there’s Cajun and Creole.
Maybe the cuisine of Peru?
Even Pizza or Pakistani.
How about fondue?
Who would have thought?
So many choices, it hurts.
Maybe I could pick a place
That serves just desserts.
Where could we go for our
Tastebud celebration?
Maybe I could figure it out
By process of elimination.
Thai, Mexican – done that.
Jamaican – been there.
Even had German, Moroccan,
And Ethiopian fare.
Indian’s already been picked,
Ain’t that a pity?
And barbeque two times –
Well, this is Kansas City.
Vietnamese was quite good.
Asian fusion, too, of course.
Italian was liked so much,
We had it twice without remorse.
We’d been so many places;
Most sweet, some sour.
But what would I do with the
Responsibility of my power?
So many great restaurants;
Such hard acts to be followed.
I sat down with a beer
And thought as I swallowed:
“We have eaten all kinds
Of foreign flora and fauna.
What we needed was a bit
Of good ol’ Americana.
“Not only that,
But the places we’ve selected
Have emphasized solids,
While liquids were neglected.”
I knew just the place,
No longer disheartened.
It would be the Brewing Company
In the City of Martin.
We’d seen our friend’s band there,
This Saturday last.
Jervis Jort was their name,
And they totally kicked behind (this is a family blog).
We could have some good food,
And domestic ale treasures.
Plus a couple of imports,
Just for good measure.
So please let me know
Who will attend the occasion.
Then I can take care of
Calling in the reservation.
It’s at five hundred east
One hundred thirty-fifth street.
Right near the train tracks,
That's where we’ll eat!
Now, it’s bit of a drive,
But don’t make a stink.
A good selection of beer
Is what’s important, I think.
For the All-Stars to meet.
To have some good company,
And something tasty to eat.
Please bear my exercise
In rhythm and rhyme,
As I reveal the restaurant;
It’s my pick this time.
But picking for the GAS club
Is no easy charge.
This assignment is sacred,
The burden is large.
And just to top it all off,
To increase my stress,
Dinner club falls on a special day—
Sara’s and my anniversary, no less.
Should I pick a place
That could honor my wife?
The woman who brings joy
Everyday to my life.
Such warmth and kindness,
Such unnerving beauty—
A place worthy of her?
What a daunting duty!
Her deep, soulful eyes,
A smile powerless to resist—
A place worthy of her?
It couldn’t exist!
Her spirit so vibrant,
Her features so striking—
A place worthy of her?
Not a single one to my liking!
Her presence and grace,
How motherly tender—
A place worthy of her?
Impossible to render!
So thoughtful, selfless,
Creative, maternal—
A place worthy of her?
Not if my search were eternal!
How Luke brightens up,
Whenever she’s around—
A place worthy of her?
It couldn’t be found!
How thoughts of her
Constantly consume me—
A place worthy of her?
The prospect does doom me!
The glow that she radiates,
In which we are lucky to bask—
A place worthy of her?
It’s too much to ask!
An angel in the kitchen,
But a siren in the [inappropriate]—
A place worthy of her?
It’s impossible, I said!
Her touch so [inappropriate]
Her figure so [inappropriate]—
A place worthy of her?
The thought truly does vex me!
The curve of her [inappropriate]
And a gaze so [inappropriate]—
A place worthy of her?
A quest wholly unproductive!
Her humor and intellect,
Her infectious wit—
A place worthy of her?
Yeah, right – I quit!
A place worthy of her,
I knew I’d never find.
I needed a new approach
To decide where we’d dine.
I thought long and hard;
Scratched the old head.
Burger joint? Steakhouse?
Maybe vegan, instead?
How about seafood?
Or what about Lebanese?
Perhaps some café that
Serves wine and cheese?
Sushi is good,
But not everyone’s taste.
The deadline was looming,
I must pick with haste.
A chili dive joint,
All raw and gritty?
Or some posh bistro
Up in the city?
Then there’s Cajun and Creole.
Maybe the cuisine of Peru?
Even Pizza or Pakistani.
How about fondue?
Who would have thought?
So many choices, it hurts.
Maybe I could pick a place
That serves just desserts.
Where could we go for our
Tastebud celebration?
Maybe I could figure it out
By process of elimination.
Thai, Mexican – done that.
Jamaican – been there.
Even had German, Moroccan,
And Ethiopian fare.
Indian’s already been picked,
Ain’t that a pity?
And barbeque two times –
Well, this is Kansas City.
Vietnamese was quite good.
Asian fusion, too, of course.
Italian was liked so much,
We had it twice without remorse.
We’d been so many places;
Most sweet, some sour.
But what would I do with the
Responsibility of my power?
So many great restaurants;
Such hard acts to be followed.
I sat down with a beer
And thought as I swallowed:
“We have eaten all kinds
Of foreign flora and fauna.
What we needed was a bit
Of good ol’ Americana.
“Not only that,
But the places we’ve selected
Have emphasized solids,
While liquids were neglected.”
I knew just the place,
No longer disheartened.
It would be the Brewing Company
In the City of Martin.
We’d seen our friend’s band there,
This Saturday last.
Jervis Jort was their name,
And they totally kicked behind (this is a family blog).
We could have some good food,
And domestic ale treasures.
Plus a couple of imports,
Just for good measure.
So please let me know
Who will attend the occasion.
Then I can take care of
Calling in the reservation.
It’s at five hundred east
One hundred thirty-fifth street.
Right near the train tracks,
That's where we’ll eat!
Now, it’s bit of a drive,
But don’t make a stink.
A good selection of beer
Is what’s important, I think.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Location Location Location
This month we visited an Italian restaurant just off the Plaza. The restaurant was small and cozy, not many folks had stopped for dinner yet. We began are meal with Josh providing the appetizer, since he had not followed the rules to the letter, in August, he made up for it in September. The appetizer a whirling dervish of taste sensations, was a large plate including pesto, calamari, hummus, bruschetta, pitas and bread. It was a wonderful start to dinner. I ordered a delightful Moscato to drink with dinner...mmm, mmmm, mmm. It was delicious. I ordered the Walnut Chicken with a Gorgonzola sauce. The sauce was creamy with just the right amount of garlic. The serving size was so large, I was able to make 3 meals out of my dinner. The bread that was served with the meal was also very good. I would highly recommend this restaurant and definitely would go back again. Now to the title....location, location, location. We were only 2 blocks from Glace, which of course increases my rating for any restaurant that close, and were able to finish the night with a triple dip bowl. My rating is 4.25
This month we visited an Italian restaurant just off the Plaza. The restaurant was small and cozy, not many folks had stopped for dinner yet. We began are meal with Josh providing the appetizer, since he had not followed the rules to the letter, in August, he made up for it in September. The appetizer a whirling dervish of taste sensations, was a large plate including pesto, calamari, hummus, bruschetta, pitas and bread. It was a wonderful start to dinner. I ordered a delightful Moscato to drink with dinner...mmm, mmmm, mmm. It was delicious. I ordered the Walnut Chicken with a Gorgonzola sauce. The sauce was creamy with just the right amount of garlic. The serving size was so large, I was able to make 3 meals out of my dinner. The bread that was served with the meal was also very good. I would highly recommend this restaurant and definitely would go back again. Now to the title....location, location, location. We were only 2 blocks from Glace, which of course increases my rating for any restaurant that close, and were able to finish the night with a triple dip bowl. My rating is 4.25
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Il-Centro: Another great excuse to drink wine & eat ice cream
This little Italian restaurant captured my attention with the interesting architecture of the building and doesn't disappoint on the inside. It feels more formal than the typical pasta joint, but cozy and comfortable nonetheless. Although they have an extensive wine list, they post a small list of featured wines which helps one from feeling overwhelmed with choices. I ended up with a lovely Moscato, sweet, sparkling, delicious!
A great start to go along with the lovely combo appetizer platter Josh supplied our table with. Goat cheese and warm pita was the best! The menu had several delicious looking pizzas, but it is hard to pass up seafood ravioli. I haven't realy met a ravioli I didn't like, and this one was no exception. I liked it just fine; but it wasn't special and I was hoping for special. I got sucked in by the atmosphere and the appetizers but was disappointed in the bland pillows that didn't hint of fresh (or otherwise) seafood, just ricotta. I had to ask for fresh parmesan cheese and was sad to see glass shakers of dried parmesan sitting on our table. Il Centro didn't seem like a "Pizza Hut" joint, so the shakers seemed out of place.
All was not lost, however! Crispy eggplant parmesan ordered by Sara had such a generous serving Sarah shared with the table allowing me several heavenly bites. Ravioli forgotten, I enjoyed my appetizer, Moscato and eggplant and wouldn't mind returning to try one of the pizzas.
Final score 3.5 of 5. It doesn't hurt that Glace' is just down the street!
A great start to go along with the lovely combo appetizer platter Josh supplied our table with. Goat cheese and warm pita was the best! The menu had several delicious looking pizzas, but it is hard to pass up seafood ravioli. I haven't realy met a ravioli I didn't like, and this one was no exception. I liked it just fine; but it wasn't special and I was hoping for special. I got sucked in by the atmosphere and the appetizers but was disappointed in the bland pillows that didn't hint of fresh (or otherwise) seafood, just ricotta. I had to ask for fresh parmesan cheese and was sad to see glass shakers of dried parmesan sitting on our table. Il Centro didn't seem like a "Pizza Hut" joint, so the shakers seemed out of place.
All was not lost, however! Crispy eggplant parmesan ordered by Sara had such a generous serving Sarah shared with the table allowing me several heavenly bites. Ravioli forgotten, I enjoyed my appetizer, Moscato and eggplant and wouldn't mind returning to try one of the pizzas.
Final score 3.5 of 5. It doesn't hurt that Glace' is just down the street!
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