La Bodega

Kansas City’s own Spanish Tapas restaurant

“Tapas are a way of life. It signifies leisure, camaraderie, and good humor. In Spain, Tapas are usually accompanied by wine. Spaniards are not so much about talking as they are about eating and drinking. The wine is the medium that holds the conversation with friends and the food together. You make time to enjoy the moment in an unhurried way.”


That excerpt is from the La Bodega website about the custom of Tapas and after reading it, I am adding a trip to Spain to my bucket list. However, until I can get there I have found the next best thing….La Bodega.

There is something about sharing food that brings people together and La Bodega’s offerings of small plates and Tapas, does just that.

The selection of Tapas are amazing and even though I really cannot pronounce any of the names, the flavor combination used to create them are fantastic.

What is not to love about Spanish Serrano ham with Manchego cheese on tomato bread (Jamon Iberico) or thin crepes layered with feta cheese, leeks and basil (Crespelle de Feta y Puerros) and I have to mention one of my personal favorites white bean purée, rosemary & roasted red peppers (Alubias Blancos con Pimiento.) I love this stuff! If you just read about the R Bar you know rosemary is my weakness. It is so good I am working on recreating a version of my own. Once I have it perfected, I will post the recipe.

La Bodega has a large selection of wines, wonderful sangria, specialty cocktails, and the Spanish Coffee, which is set ablaze tableside with cinnamon and sugar. Just as stated above, about the wine holding the conversation, the variety of drinks La Bodega offers pull it all together.


In addition to their Southwest Boulevard location, La Bodega will be opening a second location October 29 in Leawood at the One Nineteen shopping center.


I was invited to the Leawood location for a preview night and had a great time. The new location is beautiful and in true La Bodega fashion the food exceptional. Plates of the white bean puree, assorted skewers, bacon wrapped dates and other sensational Tapas where served alongside their delicious Sangria.

Visit La Bodega at the original Southwest Boulevard location or the sleek new location in Leawood and “make time to enjoy the moment in an unhurried way.”

La Bodega
703 Southwest Boulevard
Kansas City, MO 64108
(816)472-TAPA (8272)
OR
4311 W 119th St
Leawood, KS 66209
(913)428-TAPA (8272)

If you have a great food find or restaurant in KC email me.

In Good Taste
Sharm

R Bar

The R Bar features seasonal eclectic cuisine. Chef Alex Pope takes it a step further by adding an additional flare to the dishes that makes them unique and delicious. Chef Pope has just won Best Chef Kansas City 2010 by the Pitch’s “Best of Award” and I can see why. The food is innovative and incredible.

Instead of starting the table with the token breadbasket, chef Pope serves up house made savory fried doughnuts. The doughnuts are drizzled with a tangy mustard sauce, and it is a delicious and unique way to start the evening.

The cocktail list is unique as well. I started with an Elder Flower Spritzer. It consisted of a blend of Sweet St. Germain Elder Flower liqueur, crisp Pinot Grigio and spicy ginger ale.

R Bar has a Prix Fixe menu that offers three courses for only $35.00. I love to have a little taste of everything so this deal is right up my alley!

For the first course, I had the duck chili, it is an innovative approach to chicken chili or as some people call it white chili. With hints of rosemary, chipotle sour cream and green onions made the chili very flavorful and added just the right amount of heat. The starter my husband chose was braised bacon, and let me tell you it was as good as it sounds!

For the main course I chose the Campo Lindo chicken breast. It came with dumplings, butternut squash and a rosemary sauce. Rosemary is one of my favorite flavors, I just cannot resist when I see it described in a dish, even though there were so many other dishes I wanted to try.

Lucky for me we were dining with friends who are not afraid to share. The chicken was moist and the dumplings and squash so yummy. The other dishes ordered where the smoked skirt steak, the braised turkey pot pie and the braised waygu beef. The skirt steak had a great smoky flavor to it, the pot pie had all the classic flavors presented with an added truffle sauce for a unique twist.


All dishes were great, but the table did have a unanimous decision that the waygu of beef was the favorite. The beef was cooked perfectly and layered with flavors of cheddar, caraway, and sundried tomatoes.

I need to apologize that there are no photos of the desserts. We dove in before having time to snap a picture. The menu at R Bar is seasonal and the desserts are no exception. Chef Pope has incorporated all the wonderful fall flavors in the mouthwatering desserts. I chose the sweet potato pie, it had a cornmeal crust, candied bacon, molasses sauce and a rosemary and butterscotch ice cream (I know.….again with the rosemary) I just can't help myself, but I am not going to apologize, because it is one of the best desserts I have ever ate. The other desserts ordered included a caramel apple tart and a sinful chocolate peanut butter cup with caramelized bananas. All I can say is Yum! The R Bar is worth going to just for that.

Located in the West Bottoms, the R Bar keeps the spirit of the old saloon days and kicks it up a notch with innovative cuisine a unique and lengthy cocktail list. I am looking forward to watching this area grow and hoping that more locally owned places will take up residents in this up and coming part of town.

Saddle up those horses and check out the R Bar today!

The R Bar & Restaurant
1617 Genessee
Kansas City, MO 64102

If you have a great food find in KC, email me.

In Good Taste,
Sharm

Cuisine with Heart

Tasting wine, visiting a farmer's market and preparing delicious dishes like squash soup, tilapia and salmon with two of the best chefs in Kansas City may sound like recreation, but they are also lessons in heart-healthy eating. Cuisine with Heart empowers and inspires women to create a heart-healthy lifestyle through food.

Cuisine with Heart is Co-sponsored by Saint Luke’s South, the Muriel I.Kauffman Women’s Heart Center at Saint Luke’s Hospital, and the hospitality management program at Johnson County Community College.

Four classes will be held October 2010 - June 2011. Each class in the series offers a lecture and separate activity session where participants prepare a recipe or take a field trip. The classes are endorsed by cardiologists and presented by nutritionists and local executive chefs along with chef apprentices in the JCCC hospitality management program.

At October’s lecture, Michael Foust, chef at The Farmhouse, will discuss transitioning your kitchen to fall foods. A registered dietitian will discuss the nutritional benefits of eating whole real food including the fall season favorites. A root vegetable will be served and each participant will receive a copy of the recipe. The lecture will be held Thursday, Oct. 21, 6–7:30 p.m. at Saint Luke’s South.

The cooking class will feature Chef Michael Foust of The Farmhouse or Chef Celina Tio of JULIAN. Participants will learn how to prepare squash soup. All participants will receive a cookbook. The Cooking class will be held Saturday, Oct. 23 10–11:30 a.m. – or– Thursday, Oct. 28 10–11:30 a.m. at Johnson County Community College.

Register today:
Lecture: $25 Class: $25
See the complete list of classes and healthy cooking lectures online at saintlukeshealthsystem.org or jccc.edu. Call 816 932-5784 to register or for more information.

The Next Iron Chef Watch Party at JULIAN

Chef Tio survives to cook another day!

If you are a Kansas City foodie you are probably aware that Chef Celina Tio, owner of JULIAN is currently on season three of the Food Network show, The Next Iron Chef.

While the show is airing, Chef Tio is hosting watch parties on Sunday nights and will feature the dishes she made for that episode.

Last Sunday’s episode Secret Ingredient Challenge had the chefs create two innovative dishes using a duo of American breakfast favorite’s coffee and doughnuts. In the Chairman’s Challenge, the chefs had one grueling hour to innovate classic diner fare like meatloaf and corned beef hash to Iron Chef-quality cuisine. For Chef Tio’s classic, she had to make an innovative dish using the diner classic baked fish with rice pilaf.

We had some friends in town over the weekend and I made reservations for us to go to JULIAN for the Sunday night watch party.

For the coffee and donuts challenge, Chef Tio made an eggs Benedict type dish using an old fashioned doughnut, Canadian bacon, egg and red eye gravy. The second dish was a play on chicken and waffles with a buttermilk-fried doughnut as the base with fried chicken livers on top and a maple coffee glaze. Celina admits that chicken livers are not normal but it is an innovative approach.

To innovate baked fish and rice pilaf, Chef Tio slow baked Salmon and with a porcini and risotto cake topped with a lemon vinaigrette.

There was not a dessert featured in that episode but Chef Tio stuck with the theme and made a doughnut bread pudding with a wonderful vanilla bean sauce.

Whenever I watch Iron Chef or The Next Iron Chef I am always thinking, “I would love to be a judge so I could get to taste all those dishes.” It was such a fun evening getting to taste what was featured on the show. I loved watching the episode and seeing the reaction of others trying the dishes.

We had a wonderful time and the dishes were innovative and delicious. The Judges agreed and Chef Tio is still in the running to be The Next Iron Chef. You can also vote for her to win fan favorite online at www.foodnetwork.com

Thank you Chef Tio for being so creative and offering an experience like this!

If you are interested in attending a watch party reservations can be made by calling JULIAN at 816-214-8454. Cost is $35.00. Some dates are already sold out but a waiting list is available so call today!

Some other secret ingredients for upcoming episodes include fair food, potatoes, and chocolate. The Next Iron Chef airs on Sunday evenings at 8:00 p.m. on the Food Network.

Bristol Seafood Grill Pinot Noir Wine Pairing Event

Bristol Seafood Grill is hosting their first ever Pinot Noir wine pairing event and they have invited me to offer YOU, the readers of What You're Missing KC! to join them before the menu is made available to the public.

Bristol is hosting a special 3-night preview of the Pinot Noir event on October 19, 20 and 21 after 4 p.m. This event will pair four multi-faceted Pinot Noir’s with four delectable entrees.

As an added bonus, Bristol is excited to announce that the event will feature the indulgent Benton Lane, a complex Pinot Noir that will be featured in the December issue of Food & Wine magazine.

Here is the pairing menu:

BURGUNDY PAIRING: Joseph Drouhin “LaForet”, Burgundy France with a Roasted Crimson Beet Salad with gorgonzola, pears, candied walnuts, watercress and a walnut vinaigrette.

CALIFORNIA PAIRING: Macmurray Ranch, Sonoma, CA with a Mushroom and Goat Cheese Filled Corn Crepe with wild mushrooms, goat cheese, baby spinach and red wine syrup; Toad Hollow Dry Pinot Noir Rose, Sonoma, CA with a Chocolate and Orange Tart with ganache and pistachio ice cream.

OREGON PAIRING: Erath Vineyards, Willamette Valley, Oregon with a Grilled Block Island Swordfish with butternut squash risotto and cabernet sauce; Benton Lane, Willamette Valley, Oregon with the Pappardelle and Short Rib Entrée made with pappardelle pasta, roasted root vegetables, fig demi glace.

The Bristol offers the area’s freshest premium seafood, an impressive selection of wines and handcrafted signature cocktails mixed by bar chefs well practiced in the art of mixology. The service is seamless and the atmosphere offers a unique blend of the upscale and casual chic. Their vibrant happy hour features ultra-premium cocktails, appetizer and lobster specials, as well as signature handcrafted martinis.

The food tasting menu is available at a discounted price for What You're Missing KC! readers for only $29 per person (regular price $35 dollars) and an additional $18 for the wine pairings. It’s important that you call to make reservations and mention that you received this offer through the What You're Missing KC! blog to get the discount.

The Bristol has two locations in the metro.
Kansas City
51 East 14th Street
Kansas City, MO 64106
816.448.6007

Leawood
5400 W 119TH ST
Leawood, KS 66209
913.663.5777

In Good Taste,
Sharm

Charity Jazz Brunch

Every second Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., The Phoenix hosts a Charity Jazz Brunch put on by Sound Affect, Inc. The monthly Charity Jazz Brunch series is held to help local charities in Kansas City.

Sound Affect is proud to announce that the music will be provided by Kathleen Kunkler and Friends.

In honor of October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, proceeds this month go to Young Survival Coalition Kansas City.

Young Survival Coalition (YSC) is the premier international organization dedicated to the critical issues unique to young women and breast cancer. YSC works with survivors, caregivers and the medical, research, advocacy and legislative communities to increase the quality and quantity of life for women diagnosed with breast cancer ages 40 and under.

Past charities have included Drumm Farm, SAVE inc., Children’s Miracle Network and more.

I attended September’s brunch. It was a great time that supported a great cause. The live Jazz by Millie Edwards was wonderful; the scones were great, and the Mimosas even better! I also won a bottle of wine. Each month companies from around Kansas City will donate raffle items including gift certificates, tickets to events, spa services and more.

It is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning so please stop by, have brunch, and lend your support. If you cannot attend, please help spread the word by getting someone to attend in your place.

Price is $20/person (cash or credit card only) includes a $10 donation to charity. Guests will enjoy a full breakfast buffet, a complimentary breakfast drink (Bloody Mary, Tequila Sunrise, or Mimosa) and live Jazz.

The Phoenix is located at:
302 WEST 8TH STREET
KANSAS CITY, MO

And as always, if you have a great food find or know of a great foodie event in KC email me.

In Good Taste,
Sharm