Denis Culinary Tours

The word of the year, according to Merriam Webster, is a suffix.   This got me thinking . . . Despite the freneticism, the skepticism, and the commercialism, one of the reasons I truly love the holidays is the details.  Mostly, besides the good feelings I, and most others, seem to automatically have, it’s the new décor that interests me. The small, or large, touches that whisper, or shout, hey, there’s something special going on -- so lookie here, lookie here. Our K.C. restaurants, like those everywhere, join in this spirit.  Sure, it’s a great season for eating out but I get the feeling it’s more than a chore.  The purple tree at Bo Lings Plaza is festive and different.  801 Chophouse in Leawood has a giant tree not to be missed.  Walk into the Hilton President and gander at the garland, the tree and the many touches in this classic place before you dine at Providence .  Walk the Plaza streets and even look at the light poles befor...

It occurs to me that not only is it already December, but that brings Christmas and Hanukkah along with it – and the, let’s face it, responsibility and accountability of gifts.  Every year, the month is apparently a surprise – and somehow I’m never ready. There are a few ways to go here – endless, mindless traipsing, on-line clicking and re-clicking and then hoping it gets here or there in time, or simply knowing a few great places that somehow always seem to work. Among those places, for me, are Pryde’s  Kitchen &Necessities in Westport and the FrenchMarket   in Prairie Village.  Everyone knows Pryde’s whether your loved (or just liked or heck, just the person who works for you) wants premium cutlery or Fiesta Ware or a molcajete.  They have some really nice gift baskets I notice – whether the receiver is a barbeque fan (local of course!) or a gourmet coffee drinker.  Or, they’ll put together and package whatever you choose so beautiful...

Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse will have special hours during the holidays, with several locations open on Christmas Day, and offer holiday menu additions included as part of their Full Churrasco Experience. New items include a classic slow roasted beef roast; Quentão (keen-tao) – a warm Brazilian mulled red wine made with fresh oranges, cinnamon, clove, and ginger; Sweet Potato Casserole with rich butter, cinnamon, and toasted marshmallows; and tender New York Strip steak carved tableside by gaucho chefs. Fogo offers a lively and elegant atmosphere that is perfect for celebrating with family, friends and loved ones during this holiday season. Fogo de Chão shares the centuries-old Southern Brazilian cooking technique of churrasco , the art of roasting meats over an open fire, and espeto corrido , or “continuous service.” Their menu features a wealth of savory, fire-roasted meats perfectly seasoned, prepared and carved tableside for each guest by a team of authentic Brazilian-...

Kansas City Restaurants’ Wine Programs: A Guide As winter envelops us, thoughts may turn to cozy evenings in front of the fire with a bottle of wine and some pâté, let’s say.  There is a better approach, however – bundle up and trek to a great Kansas City restaurant and have that bottle of wine selected by an expert to go specifically with what you’ve chosen for appetizer and dinner. Let your cares and issues dissolve . . . you’re not at home. Plus, even better perhaps, you don’t have to agonize over difference between an 88 or 92 wine rating (not that much it turns out.)  Gaslight Grill’s Wine Room displays some of their finest bottles But first, a few fascinating wine facts. Wine has been part of life probably longer than you think – since around eight thousand years ago. The oldest glass wine bottle was found in Speyer, Germany in an ancient Roman chest, theoretically dating back to 325 AD. Although there are thousands of wines created from around 10,000 ...

Happy Hour IV: Drinking (& Eating) at Cleaver & Cork You already know how much I love happy hours in K.C.  It’s not just the fact that food and drink are cheaper, truly.  It’s not just that they are an early excuse to start the party. It’s not just that you can eat lighter if you so desire.  Or that I basically like sitting at bars.  No, a big part of it for me is that happy hours are a way to sample . . . and to help me decide if I wanna come back. My first happy hour, many months ago, did just that.  Cleaver & Cork’s starts early, at 4 p.m. and ends three hours later – a real plus for chatters – and the bar usually seems less noisy than the tables section. It does pick up of course – you are in the Power and Light District!  Their drinks are price-reduced, including their craft cocktails like my favorite, at least in the summer, the Horsefeathers (whisky, ginger beer and bitters).  They have $5 wines and $4 draft beers. ...

Mussels Recipe by Tannin's Wine Bar Chef Brian Aaron at Tannin’sWine Bar and Kitchen makes the most delicious mussels and he swears they’re fast (once you’re past that debearding part) and easy.  No, they don’t really take much time at al.  Mussels are really just clams of a certain kind.  You can buy mussels at most grocery stores at the butcher/fish counter by the two pound bag.  Or they might be frozen.  What’s debearding you might ask?  When you wash each mussel, you’ll notice on many of them some threads, for lack of a better word.  That’s how they were attached to whatever they were attached to.  Pull that out and off and they’re ready to go. You can prepare this dish right before serving and they are definitely pleasers – serve with some crusty bread to soak up all that goodness in the bowl! Here are the ingredients: 2 pounds             Fresh Prince Edward Island Mussel...

Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar will offer a Holiday “Retail Therapy” special Black Friday, Nov. 27 through Dec. 6 in which guests can purchase a cocktail from a special menu and receive one of three free desserts. Lead Bartender Kenny Cohrs and Pastry Chef Kelly Conwell collaborated on the menu to pair Cohrs’ cocktail creations with Conwell’s dessert masterpieces to create a respite from the stresses of holiday shopping. In addition to the Holiday “Retail Therapy” menu, Jax will serve its regular Friday lunch menu from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner menu beginning at 4 p.m. Jax will offer its Holiday “Retail Therapy” menu on Black Friday, Nov. 27 through Sunday, Dec. 6. Holiday “Retail Therapy” menu Cocktails  3975 Aztec spiced hot chocolate blended with coconut milk, pineapple simple syrup, habanero cordial and Del Maguey Crema de Mezcal. Heated and served with toasted marshmallow Linus and Lucy Apple Jack, Benedictine, Calvados, All Spice Dram garnished wi...