by Sharm | Mar 18, 2018 | Articles, Events, Local Restaurants, Restaurants, What You're Missing KC!
There is a new craze in sports and it’s called pickleball. I know it’s a crazy name for a game but it is so fun and I have become slightly addicted playing 11 hours a week!
So, for those of you who don’t know about pickleball, it is a combination of tennis, wiffle ball and life-size ping pong. My best description is that it is played on court similar to tennis but is smaller and the net is lower.
Your paddle resembles a large rectangle ping pong paddle and the ball looks like a wiffle ball.
Chicken N Pickle in Kansas City is spot on with this new craze. With a restaurant on one side and play area on the other. The restaurant specializes in chicken of course and along with amazing food, offers indoor and outdoor pickleball courts. There is also a yard area with life-size versions of dominos, Battle Ship, Connect Four, Jenga, and dice. So even if you don’t play pickleball it is still a great place to hang out and have fun.
In addition to getting your pickleball fix, you can help a good cause as Chicken and Pickle are hosting a variety of charity dinners throughout the year.
For these events, head chef Alex Staab creates upscale gourmet dishes that you won’t find on the everyday menu. Each dish is prepaired using the kitchens rotisserie oven and paired and with a variety wines distributed by the Terra Firma Wine Company.
For this dinner, Chef Alex created dishes using wild boar, ravioli, field greens, lamb and pears. Talk about refined! As you can see by the pic of the menu and dishes, this was no ordinary chicken dinner!
The event I attended was for Jamies Wish Foundation who’s mission is to make a difference in the lives of those fighting cancer, by providing a more healing and comfortable environment for receiving infusions.
The dinner was amazing and the dishes elegant and refined. The wine pairings from Terra Firma paired perfectly. It was a delightful evening. The next event coming up is April 4 and will be a benefit for Wayside Waifs, one of Kansas City’s best no kill animal shelters.
If you are into helping a great cause while enjoying a phenomenal dinner. You must attend a charity event at Chicken N Pickle. If you are just into having a great time, you must take a few pickleball lessons and spend some time on the court. Or simply gather some friends and play some games in the yard all while enjoying a great meal! Dishes on the menu include rotisserie chicken, a variety of salads and sandwiches, tacos, pulled pork and more! Chicken N Pickle can also host your next event.
For more information on the dinners, event planning or playing pickleball visit Chicken N Pickle’s website.
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by Sharm | Apr 21, 2017 | Food & Drink, Local Restaurants, Recipes, What You're Missing KC!
Hey Kansas City! If you live in Blue Springs your lunch and dinner wait just got shorter!
MOD Pizza is a Seattle based fast casual pizzeria that allows customers to create their own pizza and salads with unlimited topping and is opening in their first location in Blue Springs on April 22. Pizza and salads are passed through a line by employees, named the MOD Squad, and customers can request toppings they would like added. Pizzas are then quickly cooked in a brick-style oven and called out for pick-up at the register when complete.
Below is more information and details from their official press release. I am set to visit later in May and will update with my take on the space so stay tuned!
“MOD offers a truly unique concept by serving customers their own, original creations, while still providing quick service. Everyone can get exactly what they want at no additional cost,” said Scott Womack, president of Womack Restaurants. “Beyond the great pizza, we’re passionate about building a company where we value lifting people up as our first goal.”
The 2,711-square foot location will feature MOD’s signature “Wall of Fame,” an assortment of photos from the community and customers, original artwork from local artists and a patio.
Dedicated to giving back, MOD will be donating 100 percent of their sales to the local non-profit, Drumm Farm, on opening day. The organization helps children in foster care, homeless young adults and those aging out of foster care build successful lives by providing programs and services that support forever family environments, emotional and physical well-being, educational opportunities and personal growth.
“We are honored to partner with MOD for the Blue Springs location opening,” said Brad Smith, executive director of Drumm Farm. “The proceeds will truly make a substantial positive impact on the lifelong success of children and young adults in need of a family and stable environment.”
MOD is known for providing job opportunities to former incarcerated individuals throughout their locations as a way of giving a “second chance” to those ready to integrate back into society.
For more information on the new Blue Springs location or to learn more about MOD Pizza, visit https://www.facebook.com/modpizzabluesprings/.
ABOUT MOD PIZZA
A pioneer of the fast-casual pizza segment, MOD Pizza was founded in Seattle in 2008 by entrepreneurs Scott and Ally Svenson. MOD’s individual artisan-style pizzas and salads are made on demand, letting customers choose whatever they like from over 30 toppings, all for one set price. At the core of MOD is a purpose-led culture that’s committed to being a force for good in the community – creating not only a cool place to eat, but an inspired place to work. MOD was recently ranked as America’s fastest growing chain restaurant by Technomic; earned a spot on the 2016 Inc. 500 list as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies; and was recognized by Fortune as one of the 20 best workplaces in retail for its progressive hiring practices and career-growth opportunities. MOD currently has over 220 locations across 20 states and the U.K. To learn more, visit modpizza.com.
About Womack Restaurants:
Womack Restaurants is a multi-concept restaurant franchise operator based in Terre Haute, IN with development markets in Kansas City, Tulsa, Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio. The Womack team has extensive development and finance experience, having developed nearly all of the IHOPs since 1990, in sometimes complex situations. Womack Restaurants divested its IHOP business in 2014 to focus on expansion of its Popeyes franchise and pursue other concepts. Womack Restaurants is committed to community engagement and partnership, as well as connecting with our country’s leadership.
by Sharm | Feb 6, 2012 | Kansas City, Local Products, Local Restaurants, What You're Missing KC!
With Valentine ’s Day just around the corner, I have compiled a list of a few goodies you can find around town to make you day a sweet as can be.
I would say he first thing that to come to mind when most people think about Valentine’s Day s is chocolate. Kansas City has quite a few choices when it comes to that cocoa confection starting with the ever-popular Christopher Elbow.
Food and Wine magazine gave the #1 ranking of their top 10 Chocolates to Christopher Elbow for the No. 6 Dark. It features 61% dark chocolate blended with popping candy to create a unique, irresistible chocolate bar. I had the chance to tour his shop a while back and had no idea the detail that went into making these exquisite chocolates! Now I know why they taste so good. Some take 2, 3 or even more days to make.
You can read more about the tour
here.
Elbows chocolates are of course available at his shop on McGee Street but some other locations around the metro include the Roasterie Café, Brookside Market, Foo’s Frozen Custard, Halls Department Store, Dean and Deluca and Cosentino’s Market. Elbow’s Chocolates are also available nationwide including his store in San Francisco. Here is a link to find all the locations his chocolates are available.
Christopher Elbow Chocolates
1819 McGee Street
Kansas City, MO 64108
ph. 816-842-1300
fax 816-842-1301
Tues – Sat 10a.m. – 6p.m.
Next is Amore Chocolate Pizza Company. Christopher and Annette Cook run this local shop. Annette is a former theater buff and would make these “break a leg” chocolate pizzas as gifts. As popularity of them grew, Annette found herself taking orders for them and Amore Chocolate Pizza Company was born.
Located in Leawood in the Town Center shopping center, Amore Chocolate Pizza Company is also a dessert café and bakery offering a variety of chocolates, desserts, coffees and more. Certain nights feature live music and a fondue bar.
Patric Chocolates have a variety of bars available to purchase including a bar he collaborated with Kansas City’s own Christopher Elbow. His bars are available at the Better Cheddar in Kansas City, various stores throughout St. Louis and online. Visit Patric Chocolates.com for more information.
If it is cakes or cookies you are looking for Kansas City has that covered too. Jude’s Rum Cakes are the creation of Chef and Caterer Craig Adcock who owns Belly Up BBQ. Named after his mother-in-law, Jude’s Rum Cakes are made with only the best quality ingredients. Whole eggs, real butter, Barbancourt Rum from Haiti, a local Rum from Tennessee and locally grown pecans from Missouri Northern Pecan Growers. Once the cakes are made, they are soaked in the rum for 24 hours in order for it to saturate through the cake. The result is a rich, moist, and fragrant cake.
Jude’s Rum Cakes come in three sizes. The large 4-pound version ($50) yields 16 large slices and the smaller size 2-pound ($30) will yield 8 slices. They also bake and sell mini muffin-size and two-bite teaser rum cakes. ($12 – $15)
Order online or arrangements can be made for pick up and by calling 913.526.6708.
If Cheesecakes are your passion check out Cowtown Cheesecakes. Owner Chef Terry Mille has created a variety of flavors and uses local and seasonal ingredients when available. Some flavors include: Strawberry Shortcake, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Key Lime, Lemon, Lemon Blueberry, Strawberry, Pumpkin, Fudge Swirl, Devils Food Cake, White Chocolate Raspberry and Kansas Cream.
Visit CowTown Cheesecake’s website or contact Chef Terry at chefterry@cowtowncheesecake.com for more information on pricing and ordering. You can also find CowTown Cheesecake company on Facebook.
For cookies and other treats such as handmade marshmallows,cake pops and more check out Everyday Organic Cookery. Owner Jamie Milks believes that eating healthy, organic food is something you can do everyday and that is why every thing she makes uses local and organic ingredients. Jamie is a genius when it comes to creating these treats and has spent hours testing and perfecting the recipes. Her cookie dough flavors include: chocolate chip, salted caramel, honey lemon ginger and more. All items are gluten free and are absolutely delicious.
Just for Valentines Day, Farm to Market Bread Company has created a Chocolate Cherry Bread. This Kansas City tradition is available for a limited time only, Feb. 8 through Valentine’s Day. This bread is made with semi-sweet chocolate, Michigan-grown red tart dried cherries and 100 percent cocoa. Like all Farm to Market artisan breads, Chocolate Cherry is made with all-natural ingredients. This year, the recipe is being crafted into 14-ounce round loaves that make perfect gifts or treats for the office.
Farm to Market Chocolate Cherry Bread retails at $5.99 per loaf and will be offered in select Kansas City-area stores from Feb. 8-14 including Cosentino’s Price Chopper’s, Marsh’s Sun Fresh, Westport, HyVee (77th &State Line Rd) Hen House (87th and Lackman), Corinth Hen House, Camelot Hen House, Prairie Village Hen House, Deer Creek Hen House (135th and Metcalf) and Fairway Hen House. Lawrence residents can find Chocolate Cherry Bread at Community Mercantile.
If you are a wine lover, Somerset Ridge Winery will quench your thirst. Somerset Ridge wines are served in some great local restaurants around KC including Bonefish Grill, Taste, Gaslight Grill, Blue Bird Bistro and Jasper’s just to name a few. They are also available at several retail locations around the city. Visit their website for more information on locations.
www.somersetridge.com/retail.html
Enjoy Valentines Day with your sweetie with one of these sweets! For a list of more local products savory and sweet check out the local products page.
In Good Taste,
Sharm
