Gift Local, Pitch

Nina Ward wants you to spread her dips

Charles Ferruzza — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:55:49 -0600

I wouldn't say that the Cosentino's Brookside Market is doing an exactly stellar job in displaying the locally made food products created by former restaurateur Nina Ward (her family owned the Jose's Mexican restaurants in Johnson County back in the 1980s). I only discovered her Raspberry Jalapeno Dip and Luscious Lemony Cheesecake Fondue when my shopping cart veered into a lower shelf, nearly tipping the collection of big, heavy glass jars onto my foot.

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How about a little Hippie Chow in the ol' stocking?

Charles Ferruzza — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 14:00:50 -0600

The season to be jolly is here, so Fat City is looking around for

holiday gift ideas, preferably the kind that can be eaten (or used to

make something that can be devoured).

In three weeks, local entrepreneur Valerie Jennings will be getting an unusual, belated holiday gift. She'll officially leave her full-time job dealing with defaulted commercial mortgage loans to focus exclusively on the culinary business she started a year ago: Hippie Chow, a hand-made, all-natural granola.

"Hippie Chow is demanding a lot more attention from me now," says Jennings, who started selling the product last May at the Overland Park Farmers Market.

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Lenexa's Tallgrass Toffee makes a sweet gift idea

Charles Ferruzza — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 08:30:37 -0600

The season to be jolly is here, so Fat City is looking around for

holiday gift ideas, preferably the kind that can be eaten (or used to

make something that can be devoured).

There have been records of toffee candy sold in England dating back to the early 19th century. Randy Webb, the owner of Lenexa-based Tallgrass Toffee, says he's seen reports of toffee candy dating back to the 16th century.…

Classic Cookie owner writes a cookbook but reveals no menu secrets

Charles Ferruzza — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:30:41 -0600

The season to be jolly is here, so Fat City is looking around for

holiday gift ideas, preferably the kind that can be eaten (or used to

make something that can be devoured).

Leslie Stockard, owner of the popular Waldo bruncheonette the Classic Cookie, has been putting up "Coming Soon" fliers around her cozy little restaurant lately.

The handbills announce that, beginning this Friday, she'll be selling copies of her new cookbook, You Asked For It: The Classic Cookie & Cafe Cookbook.

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Outdoor market moves inside Saturday for holiday market

Charles Ferruzza — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 20:31:06 -0600

The taste of summer...in December
The season to be jolly is here, so Fat City is looking around for holiday gift ideas, preferably the kind that can be eaten (or used to make something that can be devoured).

File this news under "Better Late than Never."

During the spring and summer months, David and Sally Calvin get up before dawn ever Saturday morning and drive from their farm near Jefferson City to the courtyard of the Prairie Village Shopping Center.

Tomorrow -- Saturday, December 4th -- the Calvins return to Prairie Village -- but inside a heated storefront location.…

Think cheap: Buy cookbooks as holiday gifts at annual library sale

Charles Ferruzza — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:30:44 -0600

The season to be jolly is here, so Fat City is

looking around for holiday gift ideas, preferably the kind that can be

eaten (or used to make something that can be devoured).

There's nothing more frustrating than having a long list of friends and family members who require at least a token holiday gift, while you have a tiny budget with which to buy everything. That's one reason why this Saturday's annual cookbook sale, sponsored by the Friends of the Kansas City Public Library, might be a lifesaver.

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