It's better to order a great lunch than to pack one.
True story: As a child, my scatter-brained mother frequently sent me off to school with an empty lunchbox. And if there was, miraculously, something in the metal box, it might be two slices of bread with nothing between the slices - or a single piece of Oscar Mayer bologna or a pickle and handful of potato chip crumbs. And once, inexplicably, a dollar bill. "I thought you might buy a sandwich from one of the other kids in the lunchroom," she later explained.
So after a practically Dickensian youth, culinarily speaking, lunch has never been been my favorite meal, even though I've eaten a couple of divine afternoon meals over the years. A local food blogger whose beat is strictly the noonday meal, David LaCrone of Kansas City Lunch Spots will be a guest panelist on Central Standard Friday this morning from 10 to 11 a.m. on KCUR (89.3-FM) hosted by Fat City's Charles Ferruzza and featuring food bloggers Emily Farris (FeedMeKC) and Mary Bloch (Around The Block) and columnist Christine Becicka of Ingram's magazine.
The call-in number, to nominate your own lunchtime favorites, is 816-235-2888.
Chef Alex Pope will be serving gourmet funnel cakes at the next Vagabond event.
High culture was the theme of the last Vagabond pop-up restaurant created by chef Alex Pope and blogger and bon vivant Jenny Vergara - the sold-out March dinners were held at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and featured private tours of the museum's art treasures. When Pope and Vergara introduce Vagabond 5.0 on July 10, the culinary culture will be influenced more by P.T. Barnum than Pablo Picasso. The event - held Tuesday, July 10, through Friday, July 13 - will be a carnival-style supper presented under a "big-top tent" in the City Market, 20 East Fifth Street.
"We're really going for the feel of a summer fair," Vergara says. "We'll have a few midway games, circus-style performers, and Alex has created a menu of upscale versions of classic carnival favorites."
With catcher Salvador Perez returning, the Kansas City Royals designated Humberto Quintero for assignment yesterday and decided to keep Brayan Pena as the club's back-up catcher. On its face, it wasn't a significant decision. The two catchers have similar batting numbers, Quintero's got six more RBIs with a few more at-bats, and the Royals stated that Pena's extra contract year was the main reason they held on to him. But there was another factor that can't be ignored - Pena wants to be a Royal, a mantra he has repeated since he was called up in 2009.
"Like I always say, I wish I could retire as a Royal. That's why I try to do my best and play my hardest," Pena told MLB.com yesterday.
It's been a long time since the Royals had a culture built on players who wanted to be on the team and the front office was willing to sign. But the times, our times, may be changing.
Posted
by Nick Spacek
on Thu, Jun 28, 2012 at 12:33 PM
We in Kansas City have long known of the poppy magic inherent in the duo of Richard Gintowt and Michelle Sanders, better known as Hidden Pictures. Local label Golden Sound Records has put its money on the line, however, and signed the group - which is now a quintet, with Nate Holt on keys, Cameron Hawk on drums, and Corey Vitt on bass. They'll be releasing the next Hidden Pictures album, Rainbow Records, via CD and digital download on July 17. The official release show will be with labelmates Fullbloods at the Brick on Friday, July 20.
In the meantime, check out Rainbow Records' title track on the Hidden Pictures page of the Golden Sound website.
Eggs, potatoes and chorizo are the right call at any hour.
As one who enjoys pancakes for dinner on occasion, I've always felt that restaurants that choose to limit the breakfast hours are simply denying what is natural. If you have the eggs in the fridge and your griddle is still hot, you should let the people have breakfast all day and all night.
Thankfully, Fuzzy's Taco Shop (which opened in March of this year at 10157 Wornall) seems to understand this principle. And they've got a full coterie of breakfast options including a filling breakfast taco ($1.99, three for $5 on Tuesdays) that is somewhere between a scramble and a sandwich. As with most scrambled egg dishes, it eats better than it looks, but ask for the potatoes to be well done. As an added bonus, for those who enjoy a beer with breakfast (no judgment here), PBRs are $3 for an 18-ounce draft and Boulevard Wheat will only set you back $3.75.
El Rancho will no longer be there for you at 4 a.m.
El Rancho has moved on to greener pastures - Columbia to be exact. The Mexican restaurant at 534 Westport Road in Westport is closed, and a sign on the door reads, "El Rancho will be moving back to Columbia, MO. Thank you so much for your support. May God always bless you. El Rancho :(" [h/t Tony's Kansas City]
It was a lunch place and a last late-night stop for a number of regular revelers in Westport. But those seeking a midnight burrito may not be out of luck for long - a Freebirds World Burrito is being built out in the former Chili's space at 554 Westport Road. The original El Rancho is Columbia is at 1014 E. Broadway.
Huelskamp is getting noticed in his freshman term.
When it comes to opposing same-sex rights, Think Progress believes that U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp is tops in the country. Huelskamp was named first on the website's list for the "GOP's 7 worst members for gay rights," thanks to a series of bills that he has sponsored seeking to prevent same-sex unions on military bases.
Think Progress also called out two Missouri representatives, U.S. Reps. Todd Akin and Vicky Hartzler, for their stances on same-sex marriage issues. For conservatives and liberals who keep track at home, that means Missouri and Kansas can claim nearly 50 percent of the strongest critics of gay rights in Congress.
The red-velvet waffles at Magnolia's Contemporary Southern Bistro.
Magnolia's Contemporary Southern Bistro (2932 Cherry) has shrimp and grits, collard greens and macaroni and cheese, but chef Shanita McAfee has made each dish her own in the former Cafe Seed space. In this week's review, Charles Ferruzza found that her "stylish versions of classic soul dishes are nothing less than outstanding." Click here or on the picture above for a slideshow. Photos by Angela C. Bond.
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by David Hudnall
on Wed, Jun 27, 2012 at 12:57 PM
Super-underrated indie-rap crew Why? just announced a new EP (Sod in the Seed, out August 14) and some fall tour dates. They're in Columbia at the Blue Note on Friday, August 24. A couple of weeks later, they're at the Granada in Lawrence, on September 7, also a Friday. Check out the title track from the EP below.
Posted
by Ben Palosaari
on Wed, Jun 27, 2012 at 11:00 AM
A rendering of Memorial Stadium's future.
On Tuesday, the University of Missouri revealed the details of its planned $200 million face-lift for its athletics department. The university also announced that the Kansas City Sports Trust has kicked in $30 million gift to get the upgrade started. The school officially joins the SEC on Sunday. According to a release from Mizzou, the project will include adding about 6,000 seats to Memorial Stadium, and improving tennis, golf, softball and baseball facilities. See a complete list after the jump.
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