But where do you find them? Many local watering holes don’t include nonalcoholic drinks on their menus, and finding a place that has put some thought and craft into its mocktails is a time-consuming, frustrating task. (Don’t even try a Google search with the words virgin and drink, an errand that yields unfortunately eye-opening and soul-crushing results.) Bartenders often are up to the challenge of de-boozing a favorite drink, though, so sitting at the bar helps.
Boulevard brewmaster Stephen Pauwels and founder John McDonald announce in this YouTube video that some batches of its popular Chocolate Ale had flavors that were not anticipated. So they're offering refunds on batches 2011-01, 2011-02 and 2011-03. Go to Boulevard.com for more details.
"Pour it slowly," he said, gesturing to the remaining cola in the bottle. "It foams up pretty quickly."
What he didn't tell me was to sip it slowly, which I chose to do on my own because my nerves and heart responded pretty quickly to the nitro-injection of caffeine.
Fat City's sister blog, the Wayward Blog, has some terrific Brooke Vandever photographs from last night's Greater Kansas City Bartending Competition held at the Uptown Theater. There was drama, excitement and potent raw talent. See it all for yourself by going here.
You probably thought you left behind the evil genius at the soda fountain when you turned 12 and recognized that though it was fun to push the dispenser, your drink tasted awful. Now 7-Eleven is aiming to rekindle that poor-decision-making part of your adolescent brain.
The dual-chambered Slurpee will be unveiled in June with a cup that is capable of holding two distinct choices that can be combined via a special bifurcated straw only seconds before they hit your tongue.
Back in my day, it was just enough that a diet soda didn't taste like hot copper. It was a bonus if the taste actually resembled the full-calorie version.
Among my diet-swilling friends, Diet Dr Pepper has always had cache. Introduced in 1963 as "Dietetic Dr Pepper," I have been repeatedly told that it's the diet soda that most clearly evokes the flavor of the original soda. Still, man and soft-drink companies can't leave well enough alone. Seeing as Kansas City is one of the initial test markets for Dr Pepper 10 -- a new diet soft drink aimed specifically at men -- I decided to put it up against Dr Pepper and Diet Dr Pepper in a taste test.
The season of Lent, a time for fasting and purification, is approaching more quickly than your excuses to avoid it. And the chaos of Mardi Gras is coming with it.
In this week's Pitch, Charles Ferruzza fills up on truffle-parmesan fries and pretzel twists at Westport's new Beer Kitchen No. 1, a relaxed version of the space's former inhabitant, One80.
Sample Angela C. Bond's photographs, read Charles' review and save room for dessert.
As the temperatures continue to drop, there's no question that one of the best ways to warm up on a bone-chilling afternoon is with a cup of hot chocolate. But Keith Buchanan, the British-born operator of Westport's Teahouse & Coffeepot, is concerned that too many Americans are too accustomed to the processed cocoa-and-sugar beverage made from a mix and stirred with hot water.
His lips actually curl when he says the words "Swiss Miss."
Milk & Honey has the best I've had in KC. http://milkandhoneykc.com/
Shopping at Whole Foods is trendy; not a practical lifestyle. If I wanted a peace…
Those of you that are bashing the episode and think it was down on Kansas…
"open from 8:56 a.m. to 8:04 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9:56 a.m. to 6:06…
Bo Ling's used to be my hands down favorite here in KC. Zona Rosa, 95th…
A block party in Westport and other weekend possibilities
Aaron Confessori plants his Boot in Westport
Does it bother you to dine alone?
Chef Charles d'Ablaing wins 2012 Golden Fork Award
Walking the aisles at Natural Grocers
Parkville's Rusty Horse Tavern is now open and serving burgers and beer
New Plaza Bo Lings opens on June 11
Spin Neapolitan Pizza opens in Lenexa on Monday