| Extra Virgin was the critic's choice in 2009. |
On the eve of The Pitch's 2010 "Best of Kansas City" issue, we thought it would be entertaining and revealing to take a backward glance at some of our past winners. Even the winners that ultimately became, well, losers.
For the past decade, The Pitch has singled out one venue each year as Best New Restaurant. Last year's winner in this category, Extra-Virgin -- the creation of chef Michael Smith and his wife, Nancy -- was a slam-dunk. It's still one of the most popular dining venues in the Crossroads.
Not all of our selections since 2000 have been so successful, alas.
| Fiorella's Jack Stack is still a contender |
As Kansas City's signature dish, barbecue has been, of course, a popular feature of our yearly "Best of Kansas City" issue. And while we've frequently honored the iconic smoke shacks -- Arthur Bryant's, Gates Barbecue, Rosedale Barbecue and others -- the celebratory issue is also a good place to give kudos to newer contenders.
week, we thought it would be entertaining and revealing to take a
backward glance at some of our past winners. Who's still on top? Which
restaurants and bakeries had their 15 minutes of fame and are barely
remembered today?
Sweets -- fancy desserts, breakfast pastries, humble pies -- have always been a tradition in our "Best of Kansas City" issues. Looking back at past award winners, though, it's sad to see that at least a couple of bakeries didn't make it through the last decade.
| Tio was tops in 2009 |
For over a decade we've honored, in the pages of the "Best of Kansas City" issue, the men and women who really make a restaurant work: the chefs, bartenders, waiters and waitresses. Last year's nod for "Chef of the Year" went to Celina Tio, who had just opened her Brookside bistro, Julian.
| Blanc Burgers served the premier patty of 2008 -- and are still rolling along |
Ten years ago -- long before burgers came into froufrou vogue -- we chose an iconic local snack shack as the winner in the "Best Burger" category. Today the place still serves winning burgers: Fritz's Railroad Restaurant.
| Joel O'Laughlin is waiting for his big break while waiting tables |
And what are those credentials?
She's not sure what her next step will be. "I need to find a new job in the restaurant business," says Loehr, who previously worked as a manager for the New Theatre Restaurant and Ameristar Casino. "If you hear of anything, call me."
Thin crust or deep dish? Classic or modern toppings? If you want to have an intense debate about food, just ask someone for their favorite pizza joint in Kansas City. The Readers' Choice in this year's Best of Kansas City poll was Waldo Pizza.
It appears there will also be a potential new entrant for next year, as Pizza Bar opens in the Power & Light District this week. Below are some of the other strong contenders in our readers poll:
Minsky's -- This is the pizza to get while watching the game or having friends over for drinks.
d'Bronx -- Its thin crust and they make slices to order. This is where you go when you need to escape on your lunch hour.
Spin Neopolitan Pizza -- You can split a pizza and salad, so it's healthy, right?
Grinders -- Proper barbecue chicken pizza in a town known for barbecue.
Joe's -- This is where you end the night -- in victory or shame.
Pizza 51 -- Slices as big as your head. When you're short on cash and long on appetite.
[Image via Flickr: ercwmttn]
First dates are not always the time to take risks. There is enough that could go wrong in terms of your outfit or conversation that you want to have a place that feels like a sure thing. So we understand why Pitch readers chose the Country Club Plaza as the Best Place for a First Date. There are plenty of other people around for people-watching, and even the pickiest eaters will find something.
But our readers had a wide variety of alternative suggestions, too. This random list of runners up is as close as we will likely come to being Cosmopolitan:
Eden Alley -- Show support for the locavore movement while still staying in the safe comfort of the Plaza.
Missie B's -- It's one place where you'll always have something to talk about.
Melting Pot -- Fondue on a date can be cliched, but it still exists for a reason.
Westside Local -- Some places can help improve your cool factor, and this is one of those places.
JP Wine Bar -- A great wine selection to calm your nerves, and the laid-back menu means that the first date could be mercifully short or last the entire night.
Cafe Trio -- When you need to impress a date, this is a good option.
Nara -- A vast menu of cocktails and sushi makes this a choice for the adventurous.
RecordBar photo booth -- Sitting close together makes for instant memories.
Werner's Specialty Foods -- Test the waters with a first date at a sausage cart.
Funhouse Pizza (Raytown) -- With karaoke two nights a week, you never have to lose that loving feeling.
Milk & Honey has the best I've had in KC. http://milkandhoneykc.com/
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