Local Food
Magnolia’s Fresh Bloom
While hundreds of thousands gathered to watch the Kansas City Royals in downtown Kansas City this Tuesday, chef Shanita McAfee was holding a bullpen session of her own. The owner of Magnolia’s, which opened yesterday at 9916 Holmes, had gathered six of her staffers on stools at the bar and was reviewing the restaurant’s policies…
A confector, a baker, and a candy-tree maker
Kristina Briseno is about to invent a new species of tree. A redbud tree is being reborn – a statement piece for a local wedding with pink and white cotton candy in lieu of fall leaves. She knows this sounds fantastical, but to her this is simply another Thursday. “Anything creative, people just come to…
Awaiting an oasis, in KCK’s food dessert
It’s a challenge for Shawn Owens to find fresh food in his neighborhood. He walks or uses the bus for transportation, and quality fresh produce and meats are scarce within a reasonable distance from his home. The life-long Wyandotte County resident does most of his grocery shopping at convenience stores and Aldi, but those places…
Giving that moment of happy, GF-style
The remains lay open on the stainless steel table. The knife just a few inches from a deep cut that has split the victim down the middle. “This is what we do,” said Robin Knight, owner of Emily Kate’s Bakery, nodding her head toward Erin Brown and the flayed cinnamon roll on a white plate…
The variety of life with spice and pancakes
Six words changed Nick DeFeo Jr.’s life. He was in the middle of his route, delivering spices for R.L. Schreiber. It was one of dozens of stops — a luncheonette run by a wily old cook. Jerry’s Café, 1209 W 103rd Street, was the second go round for Jerry Naster, the cook who once made Jerry’s…
Doughnuts for grown-ups
Jake Randall straddles a groove in the concrete floor of the future home of Doughnut Lounge in Westport. He’s five months and two contractors into remodeling a former clothing shop. “I love Lamar’s and Fluffy Fresh and Hana’s (Donuts), but I want something outside the box,” Randall said of the concept slated to open later…
Minimum Wage increase: Rally cry heard from Westport to NYC
As it turns out, $13 an hour is not enough for Kansas City fast food workers.
Get in, get your ramen, and get out
Despite its small size, Josh Eans knows that his latest venture comes with big expectations. He’s standing inside the 450-square-foot garage next to Happy Gillis Café & Hangout –the restaurant he owns with his wife Abbey-Jo Eans. A short hallway connects the luncheonette with the future home of the Columbus Park Ramen Shop. “We want…
An I-70 cold brew-collaboration comes today to the River Market
Kansas City and St. Louis are developing an esprit de café. Over in the River Market, Quay Coffee will bring back its I-70 toddy collaboration today. It’s a cold brew — coffee grounds that are soaked in cold water — available by the glass or in 16-ounce growlers, made with coffee beans roasted by Blueprint Coffee out…
Ask for it three-way or five-way, just don't ask for ketchup
Sometimes it is about the size of the dog. Back in March, Ronnie McGowan – a Tulsa native that has lived in the Kansas City area for the past two decades – looked around the local landscape and saw something missing from the hot dog spectrum. Kansas City had cocktail weenies and foot-long dogs, but…