Denis Culinary Tours

Regnier Family Dining Room  Presented by the Senior Hospitality Management Students  Johnson County Community College  We enjoyed a three course meal created by students in Chef Edward Adel's Food Management course. In this course students learn about and participate in every aspect of restaurant management including menu planning, food preparation, and service. A VISIT TO NORTHERN ITALY FIRST COURSE Caprese Salad Cherry tomatoes dressed with whit Balsamic vinaigrette, crips artisan lettuce mix of red escarole, baby red chicory and baby romaine, Buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil and Parmesan crouton or Rigatoni pasta tossed in a basil tomato sugo Ricotta crumbles, chiffonade spinach, Parmesan crip SECOND COURSE Lamb Osso Buco Braised lamb served with artichoke risotto, sautéed asparagus and Portobello mushrooms  THIRD COURSE Lemon Tart Lemon and mixed berry fruit tart with apricot glaze, toasted alm...

California Pizza Kitchen , the authority in creative dining with a California vibe, announced today that its new “Next Chapter” menu is now available in Leawood at CPK’s Park Place location (11655 Ash Street, Leawood, KS 66211). With a focus on high quality, fresh and seasonal ingredients, inventive main plates, hand-crafted cocktails and locally brewed beers alongside classic CPK favorites, the new and expanded menu is part of CPK’s transformational “Next Chapter” initiative, which is rolling out to CPK locations nationwide. “With our ‘Next Chapter’ transformation, we’re introducing an incredible menu that showcases the best of our culinary creativity with exciting options in main dishes, like a fire-grilled ribeye and wild-caught Alaskan halibut, hand-tossed pizzas, craft cocktails and more,” said G.J. Hart, CEO of California Pizza Kitchen. “Our diverse menu blends fresh, seasonal ingredients with bold, global inspiration. We can’t wait for our local guests to experience what’s...

RAFFLE / SILENT AUCTION Thank you for showing interest in helping our server, Jessica Brookcke and her son Nigel on Monday, May 9 - 6pm Since Ningel's swimming accident, Jessica has forgone all work and is immersed in learning how to take care of her son. The accident has rendered him paralyzed, but there is hope that he may regain feeling in his lower body.  We hope this special dinner can ease of their burden and raise their spirits through your generous support. Call for reservations at 816.474.6060 KANSAS CITY ROYALS vs CHICAGO WHITE SOX 4 TICKETS - Diamond Club Section (8 rows behind home plate) with premium parking pass  Kauffman Stadium Sunday, May 29, 2016  1:15 pm The Roasterie lunch box filled with coffee and accoutrements  Gift Certificates from: Pierponts, Cafe Lulu, Waldo Pizza, Harry's Country Club, Le Fou Frog Bottles of wine donated by Major Brands Teeth Whitening Jewelry  Ceramics from Amy Mey...

Happy Hour V: New Space Means New Grace Everyone has probably been to JJ’ s now just newish space next to the big law firm on the Plaza.  But you may not be aware of his expanded patio OR his happy hour which didn’t so much occur at the old location.  But if you’ve not been to their Happy Hour, you’re definitely missing out. The first part that makes me happy is the drink prices.  There’s their “wine of the day” and it’s just $5.  Since this is JJ’s, it’s not schlock and it’s simply red, white or bubbles. This night, ours was a remarkably nice French wine, Omaine FILLENT Sainte Marie. Well drinks are even less and Boulevard drafts are $3.50.  So right away, from 4 -6 p.m. SEVEN days a week, I can be joyful immediately.  There are normally just four dishes on their list for munchies, but they’re not small and three of the four are just $8.00.  The one that is a whopping dollar more is the steamed (white wine with leeks, curry, shallots, th...

Today I tried Cacao Restaurante for lunch!  Cacao Restaurante is a partnership between Marquez and long-time restaurateur Victor Esqueda, owner of Ixtapa Mexican restaurant in the Northland, and his nephew, Alfonso Esqueda. Cacao name comes from the bean that gives us chocolate. It is simply a catchy name that ties the blue decor, with a nice bar area, a private dining room and seating for 200 people. We're seating on a booth and our service was delightful. I like particularly the option "Two for you" You can have soup or salad with a choice for entrees for $9. I had the house salad and I asked our waiter his recommendation for the Tortas. I had barbacoa: barbacoa chicken with refried beans, avocado and red onions, served with roasted potatoes. Delicious! Coconut panna cotta with passion fruit. I can wait to try their dinner menu! Cacao 5200 W. 95th Street  Prairie Village, KS 66209  Ph. (913) 296-7485  website

Breakfast Kansas City Night Dreams W.C. Fields said, “I must have a drink of breakfast.” I don’t believe he was among those strange, strange people in the world who proudly assert, “Really, breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.” Now I like breakfast quite a bit, if someone else is cooking it for me, but my very favorite meals usually include wine. Or bourbon. Fortunately, I’ve found a place who offers just what I want – depending how you look at it, a quite late or very early breakfast, conceivably with drinks. Yeah, I am talking about Cleaver & Cork ’s late(r) night breakfast menu that they begin serving at 10 p.m. What a dream. A reverse happy hour in the Power and Light District works for me and it has also worked for the year + old restaurant as practice for their first brunch on Mother’s Day, May 8th. And the plan is to stay open for further Sunday brunches. Sweet Potato Hash with BBQ Pork Shoulder Whether it’s salted-caramel French toast sticks with ...

Self serving can be a good thing. Ruins Pub , in the space formerly occupied by the Bulldog, is a fun space which will please (craft) beer drinkers.  I've been trying lots of beers -- and this is a good place to do that. There are 40 or so beers to sample here. We only tried one thing, a variation of a Reuben, but it was delicious.  The women next to us raved about their meals. They have some interesting sounding Hungarian dishes. The explanation of how to get a beer was clear.  The service, good. The décor, eclectic. There is also a bar with regular drinks if you're not into bloating and flatulence. (And did you know dark beers have less carbonation which creates fewer gas bubbles in your stomach?)  There are large garage windows that open which can be great, even in April. Especially this April. Ruins Pub 1715 Main Street  Kansas City, MO 64108  Ph. 816-599-6667  Website

L'École Culinaire - New Spring Menu Located in one of the most desirable locations in Kansas City, Missouri, L'École Culinaire offers educational opportunities for the aspiring, career-minded chef. Students experience hands-on learning and career-based instruction by professionals in the culinary industry. As an ACCSC accredited culinary school, L'École Culinaire prepares students for careers in the culinary industry by offering associate degrees and diplomas in the culinary arts.  Pan Seared Duck Breast with Spicy Blueberry Sauce, Parsnip Puree and Ruby Card and  Sauteed  Spinach . Garnished with lemon zest. Have you made your reservations yet? Call us at 816-627-0100 to secure your seat. Their new spring menu offers enticing luncheon options in the Plaza! The Presentation Room will be open for service from April 4th through May 26th.  310 Ward Parkway Kansas City, MO 64112  Local: 816-627-0100 Toll Free: 1-866-205-2521 Check out their menu...

Diane Kochilas - Wine Dinner at YaYa's On April 13 th , YaYa’s is hosting a very special “Evening with Diane Kochilas.”  She is one of the foremost authorities on Greek cuisine in the world.  She is chef, cookbook author of 18 well-known cookbooks, and authority on healthy Greek food.  She is the host of Greece’s most popular cooking show, “What’s Cooking Today, Mom?”   Kochilas is a native New Yorker whose family hails from the “Blue Zone” Greek island of Ikaria, renowned for the longevity of its inhabitants.  She went to Greece for the first time as a young girl, loving the sunshine, people, and food.  It was later, in 2004 that Dan Buettner teamed up with National Geographic and the world’s best longevity researchers to identify pockets around the world where people live measurably longer better. In these “Blue Zones,” they found people reaching age 100 at rates ten times greater than in the United States.  The answer to “why?” is yet t...

Green Bean Salad with Sweet Pickled Onions and Hazelnuts. One Great Dish:  Chef Zeb Humphrey Serves Up Beans    Spring and summer sometimes just scream for fresh and delicious.  If it’s a relatively simple dish, but one that still draws raves what could be better? When  I recently spent some quality time with Chef Zeb Humphrey from North Italia and wrote about him in my last blog, he shared a guaranteed great dish that is just one such bonanza.  One huge advantage is that both the pickled onions and vinaigrette are in large quantities and highly storable for other uses.  So here it is:  Green Bean Salad with Sweet Pickled Onions and Hazelnuts.  PHOTO BY JOHN KERNICK The Beans: This is a serving for four. 1 pound fresh green beans, ends cut off if you don’t like them, blanched until tender 8 ounces toasted hazelnuts (toasted at 300 degrees until golden) 8 ounces ricotta salata (grated) 4 tsp chopped fresh ba...