As we walked into Cafe Beautiful, my son and I were immediately captivated by the serene tableau that lay before us. Two tables were carefully set, scented candles filled the air, the lighting was low, and Frank Sinatra crooned in the background. The living room of the chef/owner’s apartment, on the second floor of a […]
Read the rest of this entry »Archive for November, 2009
Terrene Restaurant in St. Louis
Terrene means “of the earth”, a very apt name for this eco-friendly restaurant in the Central West End of St. Louis. In addition to the menus being printed on recycled paper, the bar tables were fashioned from office paper (don’t ask me how). Look closely and you’ll see embedded staple and paper clip remains. But […]
Read the rest of this entry »Extra Virgin–Kansas City
With its brick walls, open kitchen and oh-so-cool bar, Extra Virgin is an extremely genial spot to try dishes not encountered elsewhere in Kansas City. A New York-styled restaurant in the heartland, this lively tapas spot is for the adventurous eater who enjoys trying unusual dishes. Michael Smith is in the kitchen here, and runs […]
Read the rest of this entry »Krause Dining in Lawrence
Time is running out to get thee to Krause before it closes in mid-January. Treat yourself to an exceptional (albeit expensive) evening. You need only pick up the phone and make a reservation without delay, it’s booking up quickly as fans make one last pilgrimage to this extraordinary restaurant. This is a no menu type […]
Read the rest of this entry »KCUR Food Critics 11/13/09
Tune in on Friday to hear the Food Critics, on KCUR’s Walt Bodine Show at 10:00 AM. That’s 89.3 FM, or you can listen on your computer at http://www.kcur.org/waltbodine.html. The second half discussion will be all about soup. Join the discussion and let us know where your favorite soups can be found around town.
Read the rest of this entry »Pizza Bella
Pizza Bella serves incredible pizza pies baked in a 700 degree certified Italian wood-fueled oven. In fact, “awesome” is the only word to describe the chewy, thin, puffy, perfectly charred and beautifully adorned creations. My favorites are the Potato, with gorgonzola and grilled radicchio; and the Biancoverde, with mozzarella, ricotta, and romano cheeses, topped with […]
Read the rest of this entry »Teller’s Restaurant in Lawrence, KS
My husband and I recently went to Lawrence to see a KU football game. Though the Jayhawks didn’t have a successful afternoon, our outing was salvaged by dinner at Teller’s restaurant. From the service to the pizza to the nightly special, it was an enjoyable experience. It’s in a former bank building, hence the name, […]
Read the rest of this entry »Private Rooms for Holiday Dining
It’s certainly not too early to reserve a private room for your holiday party. Here are some fun options. With its brick walls and freight house windows, Lidia’s Loft has a unique charm created by the beautifully renovated building. The large room is perfect for a gathering of 100, or it can be divided into […]
Read the rest of this entry »Julian Restaurant
I was really looking forward to trying Julian. It’s in my neighborhood, in Joe D’s old space, and owned and operated by James Beard award winner Celina Tio, former chef of the American restaurant. I was listening to a Ruth Reichl podcast recently. She was editor of the now defunct Gourmet magazine and a former […]
Read the rest of this entry »Asheville, North Carolina Excursions
Clearly some major walking is in order if you want to eat your way through Asheville, so as promised, here are some suggestions for beautiful hikes near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hike the Appalachian Trail. Clingman’s Dome is the highest point on the entire Appalachian Trail, and it happens to be an ideal spot to […]
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