My family used to make a truly hideous "Chinese" meal full of canned vegetables. I thought it was delicious before I knew any better.
I wondered why there was a film crew outside when I drove by on my way home from work yesterday.
I think you might actually be better off with chains. Heck, Cracker Barrel serves real maple syrup. Village Inn makes pretty good pancakes, as does First Watch.
Still, if I could find pancakes in KC as good as The Pancake Pantry in Nashville, I'd be in heaven.
Twenty20 in the Crossroads makes a nice boxed lunch. Dean and DeLuca is always great for corporate catering as well.
I often eat lunch alone, but I'd prefer not to.
Just today I made fried rice from a bag of frozen brown rice w/veggies. I sauteed some onion in grapeseed oil, added an egg, threw in the microwaved rice, added soy sauce and stirred it around until the egg was cooked. Easy!
Re: “Which sandwich in or around KC is worth the drive?”
BLT at The Peanut (downtown location is the best for some reason). Vegetarian sub at D'Bronx (the one with all the cheese and cream cheese, not the healthy veggie one). Pretty much any sandwich at Grinders. Apple butter and brie sandwich at The Brick. Z-Man at Oklahoma Joe's. Meatball sub at Italian Delight. The ridiculously enormous Super Italian hero at Art of Pizza. Roasted cauliflower and falafel sandwich at Aladdin Cafe.