Denis Culinary Tours

Hello Art First Friday Reception & Trolley Tour Sponsored by BKD LLP & Hosted by C3 Capital   You're invited to join us for a memorable First Friday rooftop reception at the stunning Three Points Event Space, located above the Sporting KC offices in the Historic Lowe & Campbell Building. Enjoy live music including performances by Mark Lowrey beginning at 7 p.m. Enjoy an outstanding selection of complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres prepared by the Three Points culinary team. A cash cocktail bar will also be availabl e. Take Hello Art's First Friday trolley tour to local galleries hosted by artist and curator Cory Imig . The first trolley departs at 6:15 p.m., with multiple departures throughout the evening. After the trolley tour, guests can return to Three Points for a nightcap until 10 p.m., and take in the beautiful sunset/skyline views while enjoying an intimate performance by Mark Lowrey. Tickets for this event must be reserved in advance. ...

Baked in Kansas City is a quite good place for brunch! But the first thing any place serving breakfast or a facsimile thereof is that when you sit down, or maybe 15 seconds later, the waitress should show up with the menu AND the coffee pot. The cups and cream should somehow also miraculously be there. And that cup should never go empty until I am in my happy buzz land. Now that may be asking too much: I've brilliantly discovered that very few places are able to manage this trick. But when they do, I am immediately impressed. Baked is an interesting combo place -- it's a very good bakery, very good, a "patisserie featuring exceptional French pastries," they say. It's also a deli, a lounge with all that normally means, and a grill with dinner choices . . . pretty much all you need. It is especially great that they open at 7 a.m. all the days they are open (which just excludes Mondays). I have had lunch there also which was also really good: kale...

I don't know about you, but I have a hard time to find a good Canteloupe at the market. When my family goes to France, we love to eat "melons" because they have a sweet taste. The currently accepted protocol is to divide all melons into two categories -- melons and watermelons. Melon fruit show extreme variations from the common muskmelon, sometimes looking more like an orange, banana, or cucumber! Fruit may be oval, oblong or very long and slender. They may vary in length from three or four inches to more than three feet (snake cucumber-which is really a melon). The surface may be white, grayish green, golden yellow, orange or black! It may be sutured (ribbed or grooved), smooth, or netted (covered with a network of corky tissue). When it occurs, netting may be rope-like and prominent or flat-surfaced, fine, and less conspicuous. The flesh may be white, green, salmon pink or orange. It may be sweet, aromatic, spicy, bland, or a combination of these. Melon Cant...

Presented by Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City, comedy show to benefit Gilda's Club Kansas City Aug. 23 Tickets are on sale now for Gilda’s Club Kansas City’s annual comedy fundraiser, Giggle with Gilda.  Presented by Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City, the comedy-improv benefit featuring nationally recognized comedians and Whose Line Is It Anyway? stars Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood will be Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014 at Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City. Additional sponsors of Giggle With Gilda 2014 include American Century Investments and Lathrop and Gage. The "two man group," Mochrie and Sherwood, have emerged as two of America’s most popular comedic personalities. The most recent concert DVD released by the Emmy-nominated Whose Line Is It Anyway ? stars is the culmination of seven successful years of touring theaters, colleges and corporate events across the country. Using their razor-sharp wit and amazing improv skills, the duo takes con...

And so I feel compelled to remark. The other night the Kansas City Restaurant Guide did one of its “Dine Arounds.” This is an innovative approach to showing Kansas City’s front line – hotel staff – what some of the best K.C. restaurants serve. The purpose: so people like concierges, event planners, front desk staff, even cab managers, can actually know and experience the restaurants around town. Then, when they are asked for recommendations, as they so frequently are, they will actually be able to say they’ve been there and what kind of experience they had.  I’ve been to all three restaurants (801 Fish, Pig and Finch Gastropub, and 801 Chophouse [downtown also] at Park Place in Leawood) in the 801 Restaurant Group before and was so happy to see that my pleasure-filled dinners were replicated for our group – though I can tell you I’ve never tried THAT many delish dishes at one time.  I cannot remark upon all the food we ate – too long a list but I will menti...

Talisker Storm Limited Edition Isle of Skye Single Malt Whisky 750ml Whisky Advocate's "Highlands/Islands Single Malt Scotch Whisky of the Year" (2013) The new American release of Talisker Storm is finally here -- a non-age statement expres ... sion featuring a marriage of both young and old Talisker whiskies. Still bottled at the trademark 45.8% ABV, the fruit of the Talisker is front and center, with soft vanilla and malty goodness, but the finish is much more peaty than the other Talisker malts. That's not to say smokier, but rather peatier -- earthier, saltier, and more briny. The finish is surprisingly un-storm-like, making this whisky one of the more ironic releases of 2013, but that's not to say it isn't delicious. Fans of the distillery will be pleased with the extra punch, but those looking for sheer power should stick to Islay. The Storm is a punchier version of Talisker, but it's a mere blip on the weather radar for big peat fans. For fans...

No. Don't really skip the fish! Everything I've had at 801 Fish is scrumptious. Including the beef. But more on that in a different blog.  But if you're looking for a soothing place to finish your night out and want something scrumptious, try 801 Fish in Leawood's Park Place. First, the atmosphere is terrific there and later in the evening, it hasn't been crowded. We like to sit at bars (oh, you've noticed?) and this one is slickly cool and the bartenders always accommodating and friendly. I especially like the fact they give opinions and do not reply with that highly irritating response, "Oh, everything  is great here." Come on, buddy, you work here, help me out.  Second, the desserts. No matter what you like, all here (I've tried 5 so far) are excellent. They have their own dessert maestro in the house, Chef Megan Fatseas, who is doing a remarkable job. Always seasonal, desserts currently include creatives like peach frangipa...

Just in time for summer, RA Sushi is introducing a new appetizer as well as several new sushi rolls and hand rolls that will only be available June through September. The perfect shareable starter to any meal, the Edamame Wontons are lightly fried wontons with a creamy edamame cheese filling ($8). Also great for sharing, four new creative rolls will be offered on the limited time summer menu. A unique twist on a classic salmon presentation, the Seared Dill Salmon Roll features cucumber, avocado and arugula, rolled and topped with seared salmon, lemon and truffle salt ($11). Heat up your summer with the Chili Shrimp Roll with kani kama crab mix and cream cheese rolled in rice and seaweed, lightly tempura battered and topped with spicy kani kama crab mix, crispy shrimp, cilantro and jalapeno ($12).   For a tropical style roll, try the Lobster Salmon Roll filled with lobster, mango, avocado, and cucumber, rolled and topped with lobster, salmon and a lobster cream sauce...

USA Today Names Kansas City’s 10 Best Restaurants USA Today’s 10Best travel section recently turned its attention to Kansas City’s food scene, naming the metro’s 10 restaurants with the most appeal and best reputations. Bluestem is #1 Progressive American cuisine using cutting edge technique and new varieties of American desserts. The American Restaurant is #2: has been consistently awarded both the AAA Four Diamonds and the Mobil Travel Guide Four Stars ratings— recognition of the highest levels of cuisine and hospitality. Justus Drugstore - A Restaurant #3 Jonathan and his wife Camille returned to Smithville from France in 2006 and turned the empty building into a sophisticated restaurant specializing in exquisitely prepared dishes made from regional meats, fruits and vegetables. Story . #4 : Story is an elegant, upscale neighborhood restaurant serving fresh, local, seasonal creative American cuisine with Spanish, French and Italian influences. Michael Smith ...