by Sharm | Dec 31, 2014 | Articles
Exciting changes coming to the SPIN! at 4950 Main St., which will close Jan. 5 and re-open Jan. 16 with some artsy new interior features and one of the city’s first selections of barrel wines.
But before it closes join the Pre-Facelift Party Sunday, January 4 which will feature all bottled wines for $10, by-the-glass house wine and draft beer for $3 and craft beer bottles for just $3 until they’re gone. All specials are for dine-in only. “We want to share the excitement of the changes coming to our Main St. location with our guests,” says SPIN! Partner Gail Lozoff, one of the founders of the locally owned and operated pizza restaurants.
SPIN!’s midtown location will soon be one of the first restaurants in the area to offer barrel wines. Four higher end red and white premium wines will be featured. “Barrel wines are on the forefront of wine trends,” says Lozoff. “The technology allows us to bring more premium wines by the glass to our guests.”
New pour sizes are already available. In addition to a full carafe, SPIN! will offer 9 oz. wines served in an Italian glass jelly jar that you can pour at your leisure for only $2 more than the 7 ounce size.
SPIN!® also will continue to offer an eclectic rotating roster of affordable premium bottle wines and craft beers and increase the number of craft beer taps.
The changes in the wine and beer service and presentations are just the beginning. The pizzeria, which opened in 2009, also will get an exciting new look.
The bike-friendly concept will bring more imagery of cyclists into the interior with a huge mirror on the back wall of the dining area printed with a scene of bicyclists wearing SPIN! Neapolitan Pizza biking jerseys, designed by 360 Architects. More biking photos will be displayed on the walls. A dark wood floor will be installed.
A vestibule will be built at the rear entrance to keep extreme heat and cold from entering the restaurant. The kitchen will be updated with new cabinets and equipment. And the barrel wine system will be installed.
Main Street’s staff will work at SPIN! Pizza’s five other area locations during the two weeks the midtown location will be closed for renovation. Those locations include 6541 W. 119th St. in Overland Park, 14230 W. 119th St. in Olathe, 9474 Renner Blvd. in Lenexa, and 8224 Mission Rd. in Prairie Village and 1808 N.W. Chipman Rd. in Lee’s Summit.
SPIN!’s pizzerias are open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
SPIN! is known for its award-winning pizza, fresh artisan food without the gourmet price, and premium wines priced well below traditional restaurant prices.
Rated number one by Zagat for Kansas City pizza and named best pizza by numerous local publications, SPIN! also has received national and regional awards. It was listed among the “Rest of the 101 Best Restaurants” in the nation by TheDailyMeal.com, one of the most heavily visited “foodie” websites in the country, its Margherita Pizza was crowned one of the nation’s best dishes of the year by a trade magazine, and its architecture won Best of Show at the Mid America Design Awards.
For more information, please visit www.spinpizza.com.
by Sharm | Dec 24, 2014 | Articles
The AC Hotel by Marriot in Westport opening it’s doors sometime in January will include some incredibly unique features – including the AC Breakfast, featuring gourmet traditional European choices with fresh sliced meats and cheese, sweet and savory egg tarts, homemade butter croissants and flavored iced coffee.
They were so kind as to send me a send me a gift with fun brunch and kitchen items to help with guests this holiday season and little did I know how quickly I would use it. We ended up having some friends that were traveling through from Dallas last weekend and needed a place to stay. Luckily I had just gone to the store so we had a great brunch with the fabulous coffee press, glasses and cutting board sent to me by the AC Hotels.
My favorite tip for putting on an easy brunch is to bake the bacon in the oven. It is so easy. Just line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place bacon strips on pan. Bake at 400 for about 15 to 20 minutes. Can bake longer if you want it extra crispy. After removing bacon from cooking sheet, just toss the parchment in the trash for easy clean up!
The AC Breakfast is inspired by its European heritage and allows for high-quality items served to meet everyone’s taste preferences. You can use this inspiration for brunch in your own home by using some of these other tips from the AC Hotels.
- Frame your menu to allow you to spend time with your guests, not stuck in the kitchen all morning. Your guests expect great food, but spending time with them is even more important.
- Instead of serving up a trough of eggs and plate of frozen cinnamon rolls, we recommend serving a variety of selected brunch favorites that your guests can savor. A sweet or savory egg tart, similar to those served at the AC Hotel, can easily turn a more traditional breakfast into a gourmet brunch. Consider including a plate of charcuterie with a variety of cured meets and cheeses. Include fresh baked pastries to perfectly compliment warm and cold brunch items, plus your guests will enjoy the warm and inviting smells.
- Coffee is a cornerstone of any brunch event, so keep it flowing. Mix it up by serving unique flavors or even iced coffee. AC Hotel serves a wonderful signature iced coffee our guests love – and it’s just as easy as the traditional serving!
- Not a morning person? Set out everything you will need the night before, including pre-slicing your charcuterie and preparing your quiche.
- Have fun with it! Use something unexpected to put a unique twist to classic serving or brunch items, including your menu choices – yes, even holiday cookies – or decorating with a holiday theme!
- Keep it all in perspective and remember the point of it all: to spend time with friends and family.
About AC Hotels:
- AC Hotels was originally founded in 1998 and quickly became one of the most well-known hotel brands in Spain. Inspired by the runways and fashion houses of Milan, the brand features simple, clean and crisp lines which marry sophisticated European style with approachable design for a distinctly urban feel.
- AC Hotels by Marriott was introduced to the U.S. this year, and the Kansas City location in the stylish Westport neighborhood will be the second open in the U.S.Read more about the hotel here. For reservations or more information visit, achotelskansascity.com.560 Westport Rd
Kansas City, Missouri
(816) 931-0001
by Sharm | Dec 22, 2014 | Articles
These candied walnuts are a lightened up version of most glazed nut recipes that use butter and sugar in the coating. Pecans or any nut of your choosing can be substituted for the walnuts. These nuts are great tossed in salad, trail mix or just eaten by themselves.
Maple Glazed Walnuts
1/4 Cup Real Maple Syrup
2 Cups Walnuts
Pinch of Sea Salt
Pour syrup in skillet and bring boil over medium-high heat. Add walnuts. Using silicon scraper, stir nuts until walnuts are completely coated and syrup is caramelized.
Spread walnuts onto parchment paper and sprinkle with salt. Let cool. Once cooled break apart and store in air tight container. Pecans or your favorite nut can be used in place of walnuts.
Yield 2 Cups. 
by Sharm | Dec 21, 2014 | Articles
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day features a special $28 three-course prime rib dinner, full dinner menu and full bar for holiday toast.
Providence New American Kitchen and The Drum Room Lounge will host special menus and be a destination for holiday cheer as one of the only restaurants open in downtown Kansas City on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Providence will serve a special $28 three-course prime rib dinner on both days in addition to the full dinner menu. The award-winning bar staff at The Drum Room Lounge will also be on hand during the holidays to serve hand-crafted cocktails, featuring local liquors and fresh ingredients, beer and wine as well as appetizers and a full bar menu. Providence New American Kitchen and the Drum Room Lounge is a perfect destination for those looking to unwind after Christmas festivities or enjoy a relaxing night with family and friends.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
o Christmas Eve – 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
o Christmas Day – 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Special $28 Three-Course Prime Rib Dinner
o 1st Course: Tomato Bisque or Blue Note Salad
o 2nd Course: Smoked Prime Rib Au Jus w/ Horseradish Sauce, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and Green Beans
o 3rd Course: Sticky Toffee Pudding
- Serving full dinner menu on both Christmas Eve from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., later if needed.
To Ring in the New Year, Providence serves a special $69 prix fixe three-course dinner for two. In addition, guests can order choices from Providence’s full dinner menu and toast the New Year with a complimentary glass of champagne at midnight.
The Drum Room Lounge will feature LaMarca Prosecco or Nicholas Feulliat specialty sparkling wines, as well as its staple Dom Perignon by the glass. The full bar menu, including bottled and hand-crafted cocktails featuring local liquors and fresh ingredients, as well as the Drum Room’s large selection of beer, wine and spirits is available throughout the evening.
New Year’s Eve menu – includes complimentary champagne toast at midnight
- $69 three-course menu for two
- 1st Course – Appetizer for two:
- Alaskan King Crab – Butter Poached Crab, Grilled Ciabatta, Grilled Lemon
- 2nd Course Choice of:
- Veal Osso Bucco – Pot Roast Style Veal, Saffron Risotto, Roasted Heirloom Carrots
- Lobster Pot Pie – Maine Lobster, Root Vegetables, Cognac Cream
- Creekstone Farms Filet – Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans
- 3rd Course – Dessert for two:
- “Fruit Cake” French Toast
- Full dinner menu is available
The Drum Room Lounge, a perfect place to meet friends between downtown New Year’s Eve events, opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 1:30 a.m.
Providence New American Kitchen
1329 Baltimore Kansas City, MO 64015
by Sharm | Dec 8, 2014 | Articles
While Avenues Bistro has been a favorite in the Brookside neighborhood since 2006, L’Cove, the new lounge and bar area at Avenues Bistro has breathed new life into the entire restaurant, incorporating a new tasting menu featuring several unique, small plate offerings in a casual, modern setting.
L’Cove (pronounced ‘alcove’) is a new concept for Kansas City’s bar scene featuring a cozy space, small plate favorites from the Avenues Bistro kitchen, signature cocktails and a wide selection of wines and craft beers.
The new lounge spills out from the existing Avenues Bistro restaurant showcasing an open design and a wall of windows that open completely to lend the feeling of an al fresco dining experience.
L’Cove’s capacity of 50 doubles as a private event space for rehearsal dinners, birthday parties, corporate events and more.
The new offerings include revamped brunch, lunch and dinner menus and the addition of L’Cove Burger Night on Mondays, plus daily Happy Hour specials from 4 pm to 6 pm.
Saturday’s brunch menu is composed of inspired dishes starting at only $5.99 and Sunday’s brunch consists of selections from the Avenues Brunch Table which is made up of housemade pastries, breads, desserts, salads and more and a choice of a brunch entrée such as lobster ravioli, a Duck “MacMuffin” or Maui Chicken Waffles all for $14.95. Plus, add bottomless Mimosas or Bloody Mary’s for $8.
The lunch menu includes top sellers like the Halibut and Avocado Club Sandwich and half-price wine. The dinner menu features favorites such as the savory Brie & Mushroom Cobbler, Ave Bistro’s famous Bacon Wrapped Dates and Sun Choke Bread Pudding.
The menu includes over 25 unique Bistro Plates starting at just $6 and all Prime Plates (entrée-sized meals) are under $20, including the Chilean Sea Bass and Duroc Stuffed Pork Chops. Plus, 12 oz KC Strip Prime Steaks are available for $32 with Steak Sauces such as a Stilton Blue Cheese Crust or Brandy Shrimp Sauce.
The creative seasonal dessert menu features made-from-scratch cakes such as a Red Velvet Cake with sweet cannoli cream filling and fresh daily made gelato.
Avenues Bistro, located at 338 W. 63rd St in Kansas City, MO, is open from 11 am to 11 pm Monday through Thursday; Friday from 11 am to midnight; Saturday from 9 am to midnight and Sunday from 9 am to 10 pm. Saturday brunch is served from 9 am to 3:30 pm and Sunday brunch is served from 9 am to 2 pm. Call to make reservations or book your holiday party or event by visiting avenuesbistro.com. For more information, call 816-333-5700.
by Sharm | Nov 21, 2014 | Articles
As much as I love finding local places to eat, I have to say I probably visit Chipotle twice a week. It is so good and fast and the whole family loves it!
The new Sofritas at Chipotle have been in test markets for about a year and have done so well that they have made their way to KC and are mostly available nationwide.
So you may be thinking what the heck is Sofritas?
Chipotle’s new Sofritas is shredded tofu braised with chipotle chilis, roasted poblanos and a blend of aromatic spices made with organic, non-GMO tofu.
The new Sofritas are a great option for Vegetarians but will also satisfy the Carnivore. I am not a vegetarian but am trying to eat less meat so I have tried the Sofritas a few times now and must say they are tasty! I would compare the texture to ground turkey and the taste is similar to their chicken.
If you are not familiar with tofu, it is a great protein made out of soy but honestly does not have much flavor so the spicy seasoning really infuses the braised tofu making the Sofritas quite satisfying.
Sofritas are available in burritos, tacos, burrito bowls and salads. The beauty of Chipotle is you can make it your own by choosing what you like out of all the ingredients they have such as, white or brown cilantro-lime rice, pinto beans or vegetarian black beans, house-made salsas, guacamole, cheese, sour cream and more.
My go to is a burrito bowl with just a 1/2 scoop of the brown rice, black beans, fajita veggies, Sofritas, mild salsa, just a dash of the medium salsa, extra corn salsa, guacamole and lettuce. Love it! I also add a few dashes of the Chipotle Tabasco!
Oh, and I also have to have a few tortilla chips. I think they must add something to the salt and lime on them that make them so addictive!
Check out the new Sofritas next time you are at Chipotle. I promise you will really like them!
In Good Taste,
Sharm
