Denis Culinary Tours

Who is Al Fresco anyway and when can I meet him?  Em Chamas After our so-called spring (really, snow forecast for April 14th?), it’s time to dine outside. Any time you can, in Kansas City, you should. No, you must. Even if you are in the anti-outside contingent, therefore likely a member also of the “I hate picnics” cabal, at least once a season you should choose to dine under the stars, among the cars, outside the bars. Why? you ask. For goshsake’s why? Meet Al Fresco. Actually it’s a what, not a who. Sometimes written hyphenated or as one word, alfresco, it originated in the 1700s in Italy: literally meaning ‘in the fresh’ and it often referred to mural painting, on fresh and not-so-dry plaster. The English adapted the fresh part and added it to air, hence dining outside or in the open air. Several reasons come to mind. First, in our beloved Kansas City, chancing McCormick & Schmick's upon a day that’s still glorious when you have chosen to eat out i...

Vermeil Wine Dinner at The Majestic Restaurant Wednesday, May 14th 2014 6:30pm Join Coach Dick Vermeil of Vermeil Wines at The Majestic on Wednesday, May 14th at 6:30pm for a four course wine dinner featuring Vermeil Wines and a paired menu prepared by Chef Liz Huffman.  Coach will be on hand to talk about the wines during the meal and autograph bottles for sale after the dinner.   $60 per person - reservations required.  Call 816-221-1888 or  Online Reservation First Course   Poached and Chilled Wild Maine Mussels, Green Curry Aioli, Sugar Snap Peas, Red Bell Peppers, Romaine Hearts Vermeil Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Second Course   Savory Duck Confit Tart, Braised Leeks, Red Chard, Herbed Velouté Vermeil XXXIV Red Blend 2009 Third Course Grilled Petite Filet, Shiitake Mushroom Risotto, Fried Spinach, Roasted Garlic Oil Jean Louis Vermeil Frediani Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 Fourth Course  Baked Gougeres,...

HOLLYWOOD CASINO GEARS UP FOR KANSAS SPEEDWAY'S FIRST EVER NIGHT RACES Driver meet-and-greet; patio post race party; live music; and Turn 2 Sports Bar specials are all celebrations at Hollywood Casino in honor of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series night race weekend. Chefs and staff at Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway have created a full weekend of activities for race goers as well as those looking for an exciting way to celebrate gaming, racing, food and nightlife throughout the venues at Hollywood Casino. Kansas Speedway will host its first ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series night race on May 10. In addition, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will run under the lights the evening before for the first time on Friday, May 9. Festivities are planned throughout the weekend at Hollywood Casino to coincide with the races debut. "We've scheduled a variety of specials, restaurant events and parties that will appeal to race goers, casino guests and local Kansas Citian...

SPOTLIGHT: When a Pizza Place is Not JUST a Pizza Place . . . Phil Bourne and Waldo Pizza I caught Phil Bourne, owner of Waldo Pizza, twice in the last week – once at his restaurant, the other time on the phone.  Waldo Pizza has long been a favorite of ours – and almost everyone else in the broadly surrounding neighborhood as near as I could tell.  I’ve never been to the Lee’s Summit restaurant (1543 NE Douglas Street) The pizza joint has been there since 1987; Phil bought it on April Fool’s Day in 1993.  Originally from St. Louis, he’d been in the record business for a while, but his brother owned a casual restaurant and he thought it might be fun.  He started working at Waldo Pizza two years earlier – from dishwasher to delivery person to waiter before the original owners said they were tired of it and Phil made them an offer. Since then, he has basically turned it into simply the kind of pizza place he would enjoy himself.  It’s St. Louis ...

JJ’s restaurant plans to reopen in late summer in the new Plaza Vista building, 18-months after the original restaurant was demolished in a fiery explosion that killed one worker and injured others. Jimmy Frantzes considered rebuilding on the original JJ’s site but it was too expensive. "It is ironic to start over in the Plaza Vista site", Jimmy said. The new restaurant is going to have a prominent location with a large outdoor patio overlooking Roanoke, and the complex offered abundant parking. As for the original JJ’s site, a corner yellow brick facade and front entryway tile are nearly all that remain. The Frantze brothers haven’t decided what they will do with the property. Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2014/04/23/4977102/jjs-restaurant-to-reopen-across.html#storylink=cpy Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2014/04/23/4977102/jjs-restaurant-to-reopen-across.html#storylink=cpy Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2014/04/23/4977102/jj...

Crepes with Raspberry-Balsamic Glaze and Mascarpone Ice Cream Serves 8 Total Time: 1 hour FOR CREPES 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups milk 1/2 cup water 6 tablespoons butter, melted (plus additional for cooking) 3 eggs 4 tablespoons granulated sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt FOR RASPBERRY BALSAMIC GLAZE: 2 cups fresh raspberries 8 Tblsp balsamic vinegar reduction* 4 tablespoons sugar FOR ICE CREAM Cafe Provence Mascarpone Ice Cream* *Available at French Market. 1. In a blender, process the flour, milk, water, butter, sugar, eggs and salt in a blender until the mixture is smooth. Add the milk 1/3 cup at a time, until the batter is a liquid consistency. Set batter aside for 20 minutes. (Resting the batter is very important.) 2. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the raspberries, balsamic vinegar, and sugar to a simmer. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 5 minutes. Crush the cooked berries and strain the mixture, if desired, before serving....

Cheese Whiz Calm down.  It’s OK.  Not to worry.  You haven’t missed it YET.  I’m trying to quell the savage cheese loving beast I live with.  He’s salivating over National Cheese  Fondue Day and worried he somehow, in the cold months of winter, missed it. Again, calm.  Calm.  Focus.  For although National Cheese Lovers Day (January 20) is past, there is still . . . April 11 th !  If you’re already a member of the Melting Pot’s Club Fondue, you’ve received the magic email that gives you specials in the month of April at the restaurant which has the creamy, decadent meal down to a fine art.  Luckily, National Cheese Fondue Day has kinda morphed into a month at the Fondue Pot’s Plaza location so I went early to taste and test – primarily because this is a place that’s fallen off my radar over the years. What I discovered the other day, once downstairs, is a cozy yet big enough restaurant with spaces for families, ...

Join us for the 14th Street Wine Walk Saturday, April 26th, 2014 Stroll along 14th Street in the Power & Light District and enjoy various wines and tasting plates at each participating venue. GA tickets are $25 & VIP tickets are $40. Proceeds benefit the Young Leadership Committee of JDRF.   Must be 21+. General Admission tickets are $25 and VIP tickets are $40. Limited tickets available. Buy tickets at missiontix.com/KCWineWalk . #KCWineWalk

Talking with Ken Baker My last heart-to-heart was a few months ago with Celina Tio of Julian, Collection , and The Belfr y. The other day I got to spend a little quality time with Ken Baker, Proprietor and Chef at Pachamama’s in Lawrence.  I love talking with professionals like him who are articulate, interesting and fun, all at the same time.  First, if you’ve not been to this shiny restaurant for a while, hike on back.  It’s got a very cool vibe (how much does that term age me?) and an expanded (Star) Bar and outdoor dining area, should we ever be able to eat outside again.  Their happy hour with specials every night is worth the trip alone. But enough of that.  I wanted to know about the man wearing the apron. Turns out he started his own catering business in high school.  He was mostly inspired by a neighbor in the food industry from Africa who loved to cook – and gave Ken his first set of knives.  After graduating from KU (in politic...

Expanded Star Bar service, new happy hour specials and an additional day of service. Pachamamas Restaurant is pleased to announce that as of April 1st, 2014 we will be open for bar and dinner service Monday through Saturday. Here are the complete details. Their new hours of operation will be: Monday – Thursday: Star Bar Happy Hour, 3 – 6pm; Dinner Service, 5 – 9:30pm; Star Bar, 5p – Close Friday & Saturday: Star Bar Happy Hour, 3 – 6pm; Dinner Service, 5 – 10pm; Star Bar, 5p – Close   Their primary goal has always been on delivering the best dining experience possible. In order for us to accomplish this goal we are focusing our time, energy and passion into fewer, yet more creative dishes. Dishes that will leave you eager to return for more. Should you have a business lunch, daytime event, baby shower or other festivity, let our catering team take care of your lunch needs. Please contact Kristine Hull, Events Director, by callin...

Broadmoor Bistro and Serves Up a Third Course of Foodie Fight, April 30, to Benefit Their Chef’s Garden Project 

 A re you “game” for an amazing chef’s tasting while you match culinary wits table-to-table? Then you need to join us April 30, 5:30-8:30 pm at Broadmoor Bistro! The event starts with appetizers and a table-against-table round of food trivia fun. Then, enjoy entrees prepared as a collaborative effort with Broadmoor students and top local chefs; Ted Habinger of Room 39 , Martin Woods of Yia Yia's, Richard Ng of Bo Ling's , Renee Kelly of Harvest, Charles D’Ablaing of The Raphael.  Enjoy a second round of trivia along with desserts by Carter Holton of the Art Institutes International-Kansas City. The evening benefits the Broadmoor Educational Chefs' Garden. A collaborative effort between Broadmoor, Powell Gardens, Cultivate KC, and the MU and K-State Agriculture Extensions, the chefs' garden will be a unique addition to Broadmoor's award-...

This weekend we went to Em Chamas Brazilian Gril l off 64 th Street in the Northland.  Or land of the north.  As Johnson Countians, heading nearly to the airport seemed like a lengthy jaunt.  “This better be worth it,” grumbled frequent flyer Rick from the back seat.  Let’s see, I said, we’ve come to pick you up, we’re paying for it, we’re bringing you home, and you’re say ing, “It better be worth it.”  Uh huh. There were families by the fire outside the restaurant and you could see the skaters from the inside.  Em Chamas is in the “Village at Burlington Creek,” in what seems like a rapidly expanding mixed use development.  The restaurant is attractive and lit well enough to see the food but still seems cozy – and it was busy, perhaps because as the first Friday of Lent, people knew there would be numerous fish specials in addition to the regular (huge) array of all kinds of meats.  And for the regular price of less than $40. You pro...

Today is Fat Tuesday — the chance to forget all your troubles in good music, spicy food and new friends. Le Fou Frog - Laissez Les Bon Temps roulez! Happy Mardi Gras! They'll be offering special dishes celebrating Fat Tuesday as one would in Nouvelle Orleans and original Orleans-spice versus crepes!  816- 474-6060 Californos - Rich Hill's Jazz and Blues Dinner Show is today, Fat Tuesday - Reservations - 816.531.7878. B.B.’s Lawnside Blues & BBQ (1205 East 85th Street) kicks off its celebration at 7 p.m. with music from Trampled Under Foot and heaping plates of jambalaya and red beans and rice. Knuckleheads will be rocking from 7 to 11 p.m. with Billy Ebeling and the Late for Dinner Band at its annual Mardi Gras Party. There’s an $8 cover. The Phoenix, which hosts an open jam from 7 to 11 p.m. with the Everette DeVan Trio. Ernest James Zydeco takes the stage at 7 p.m. at Nica’s 320 in the Crossroads. $10 Voodoo Chicken special today at BAR Louie McCoy'...