Movin' on Up

Critique No. 13

Restaurant

Fiesta Azteca

705 E. Melody Ln (Near 291 N and 50 HWY)Lees Summit, MO 64063

Hours:

7 Days a week 11AM-10PM

Cuisine: Authentic Mexican

Website: http://fiestaaztecakc.com/
Phone: 816-524-1290

Max. Occupancy: 150

Average Price: $9

As you may know, Lee's Summit has it's share of Mexican restaurants and restaurants that sell "Mexican food".  Well, on December 11, 2010- Fiesta Azteca opened it’s doors.  Bringing with it, Owner Andres Orozco's family recipes and a following.  You see, they had already been WOWING the city of Raytown for 7 years with their traditional offerings and one of a kind specialties.  The new space is bigger, and believe me- from the crowd that was in there when I visited- They Needed the room!

I went in for lunch one afternoon with my sister.  Like usual I didn't draw any attention to the fact that I was going to be critiquing the place-  nonetheless, the hostess was very warm and inviting. 

We were seated and my taste buds began to dance!  I could smell the aroma of grilled meats and veggies from some Fajitas.  I knew then what I would try. I looked over the menu that was PACKED FULL of Combination plates (39 to be exact). BTW, they have a huge burrito that goes by the name of El Azteca- this thing is over six pounds of delicious Mexican flavor. If you can eat it all, your real name might be Adam Richman (MAN VS. FOOD).  I couldn't resist the fajitas though.  I chose the Fajita salad.   We were served chips and salsa, as well as some of the queso blanco that my sister ordered.  It was all Very good, and very fresh.  The chips were crisp- not greasy and flimsy as you might find if they didn't fry the tortilla long enough or at the right temperature.

I was reading on their menu that they are well known for their margaritas. They are about as big as a fish bowl, and they only use premium ingredients.  Maybe when it's not 12:15pm, I'll go back and order one....to share with a small village.

AH HA!! The feast arrives.

Yum!

I liked this plate on many levels.  I liked the colors, the smells, the presentation.  It was inviting me to eat, so I did! I could taste the grilled char of the chicken.  The crispness of the onions and peppers was a nice contrast against the creamy guacamole and sour cream.  The salsa had a great smooth consistency, and a nice citrus note from the cilantro was the cherry on top (so to speak).

When I spoke with Andres after we ate, I could feel his energy and passion for the place.  You could tell that he really loves his work.  I would love to tell you there was some hidden flaw in this place- but if there was one, I haven't tasted it yet.  I've been back a few more times and everything I've eaten has been delicious. 

Remember that when you drive up to a place and it LOOKS like the other restaurants you've seen- Go ahead and try it, you might find something very special inside.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Please visit this locally owned business and see if you agree!

Not Too Far From the Tree Pt. 1

Critique No. 12

Restaurant

The Fig Tree Cafe & Bakery

817 NE Rice Rd.

Lees Summit, MO 64086

(816)347-0442

http://www.figtreecafels.com/

Hours:
Mon-Tues 6:30AM to 2:30PM
Wed-Fri 6:30AM to 8PM
Saturday & Sunday 7AM to 3PM

Cuisine: Local/Regional Specialties/Mediterranean/ Bakery

Max. Occupancy: 100

Here we are with another referral from a friend of mine.  Let's see how this place stacks up.  In Lee's Summit you have choices when you want to eat out for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  There's a little bit of everything.  Though it is a town that has the corporate eateries, I am happy that there are several home grown places!  If you're driving down 291 Highway, you'll find this hidden little spot at the corner of a strip mall in between a gas station and a hair salon.  When you walk in to The Fig Tree, you get a feeling of calm and relaxation.  The dark wood and brightly painted walls makes for a very whimsical atmosphere.

I visited the cafe on a Monday- right around closing time.  The waitress (which happened to be the manager) was very nice, she brought me my tea and I began to look over the menu. 

After opening the first page- I was astonished that this local restaurant had more things on it's menu than IHOP!  52 options (including the "kids menu") And then there was the Bakery options (not listed on the menu, I guess you have to ask?)

With my focus these days being on getting a meal that has good protein and fairly low calories- I went with the "This, That and the Other" option.  You get a half order of any soup, salad or sandwich.  You can pick 2 or 3.  I chose the Chicken Club Salad w/ Spicy Garlic Dressing and a cup of the Lentil Soup. 

A few minutes later- This is what I got!

The first thing that hit me was the color and scent of this soup.  The smell of Curry filled the air, and I got excited.  After snapping my little picture here, I turned to the soup, stirred it around and noticed that the lentils were very broken down (DING). But, it smelled really good. So, I took a spoonful and tasted... I tasted what I can only describe as lifeless, under seasoned broth with the slightest trace of curry, onion and nothing else (not even lentils (DING, DING)  I ate one more spoonful then gave up on the "soup" (DING, DING, DING!)

Salad, SAVE ME! 

I got knee deep into this salad, and I really liked it.  I was happy to see they were using Turkey bacon (a good option for people trying to cut some calories), good black olives (not the shriveled up black discs you usually see), and a dressing that had a lot of flavor!  The chicken was also seasoned well.  Now, I eat quite a bit of salad- so I've got some grounds for comparison and over all- I was happy with this one.  The only criticism I have for it was the croutons. On the menu it says the salad had "house made brioche croutons".  As you can see in the picture- this looked more like a slice of wheat bread that they toasted dry and had nothing on it.

Okay.  I left this encounter with a clear picture of how this blog entry would go- But I wanted to give them another shot because there is so much more to try.  Stay tuned for Part 2 of this review- coming soon!

Deli-cious?

Critique No. 11

Restaurant

Downtown Deli

19 SE 3rd St
Lees Summit, MO 64063-2322
(816)525-4652

Hours:
Mon-Fri 6AM to 2PM
Saturday 9AM to 3PM
Closed Sundays

Cuisine: Mixed Fare (Mexican, Italian, American, Buffet)

Max. Occupancy: 35

Back in action, on the cold streets of Lee's Summit looking for a good meal.  I went to a place that changed several times in this year alone.  It was called Mrs. Kitty Benedetti's for several years, then Burrito Bandito for a few weeks, and now it's The Downtown Deli.  I went inside and it looked similar, just kinda Rearranged.  There was a couple and then two other people eating separately in this little joint that has 22 seats.

 I got to look at the menu, it was all over the place.  Everything from Stuffed Shells, Meatloaf, French Toast and Corned Beef Sandwiches.  There is a catering menu, breakfast menu and lunch specials menu.  I saw a Pork Pot Pie on there- and it was really cold out- so I thought I'd try something warming and hearty. It came with a salad bar as the side.  The lady behind the counter told me to help myself to the salad and she'd get started on my pot pie. 

Okay- I am going to say the following words with the full understanding that this place has one month under it's belt and that they're still working out the kinks. 

The salad bar wasn't the good.  A huge bowl with only half a plate's worth of lettuce and big chunks of red onions.  There was fine shredded cheddar/jack cheese, pepperoni, olives, pepperoncini, tomatoes, and beats in individual cups  Also some croutons and sunflower seeds and crackers on the side of the bar.  There was ranch, blue cheese, french and 1000 island.  I got what I could out of it- and took a few bites, it wasn't good.  I wanted to like it- because I go into these restaurants like a cheerleader for the small business owner.  But I'm sorry- it wasn't good.  Also there were no napkins on the table- they were only in the middle of this buffet bar. 

Then, My lunch came out- and It wasn't exactly a pot pie, as much as pork, potatoes and carrots with gravy and uncooked biscuit dough scrambled together.  You can see for yourself.

There is a tragedy in all of this- BECAUSE- the filling of this pot pie was really good! The pork was tender and well seasoned, the potatoes and carrots were succulent and delicious, and the gravy had an awesome undertone of black pepper and thyme.  Its just that her attempt to "make it work" with a store bought biscuit as the crust was a FAIL.  It was 99% uncooked dough.  If it was me in that kitchen- I'd have said "86 the pot pie, we're out of crust" or I would have gone to the customer and said "it's going to be a few more minutes on your dish" and let that biscuit cook!

I asked a few of the other patrons how their food was, just to get a consensus on some other menu items.  One guy had the Meatloaf plate with mashed potatoes and green beans.  He'd eaten all of the meatloaf but just a bite or two of the sides.  He said that the portion was just too big for him to finish.  He said he'd come back for the casual atmosphere and the big portion for little price. 

Another patron said she has been coming in several times a week for the spaghetti and (MUCH TO MY SHOCK AND AW) the salad bar.  They also have ALL YOU CAN EAT TACO BAR on TUESDAY NIGHTS and will deliver if you live downtown LS. 

I have to say that I was utterly disappointed in the food I paid to eat at this place, but when you talk to the lady that runs the place- you don't get the same feeling.  She is very passionate about cooking from scratch, using real ingredients, organic eggs and veggies and trying to make good food that people will come back for. "I intend to be here for a long time" she said.  But as they say, The road to restaurant disaster is paved with good intentions. 

Overall Rating: 1 out of 5

Please visit this locally owned business and see if you agree!

Caprese Puff Pastry Pizza

Recipe No. 6
Caprese Puff Pastry Pizza

Serving Size for this Recipe: 6-8 people
Average Cost: $9 to $11


This is a fun little dish to throw in the mix for your weekly menu!  Taking the classic caprese salad recipe and using a soft buttery puff pastry to tie it all together.  This is So super simple but so super good.  You're gonna need a few things:

1 pkg of puff pastry
2-3 Roma tomatoes
1 lb. of fresh mozzarella cheese- BelGioioso is a good one that you can find at most grocers.
1/2 cup of fresh basil leaves
1 tbsp of balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp of good extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Lay out the puff pastry on a sheet pan, dock the pastry with a fork and cook as instructed on package.  Making these small holes will keep that pastry from puffing up (like a pizza crust!)
In a small bowl- whisk together the vinegar, oil, salt and pepper. 
Once it's cooked- let it cool for 10 minutes, then add the sliced tomato, torn basil leaves, thin slices of the mozzarella, and (whisk it together one more time) and drizzle over the balsamic dressing.  Add some kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper and eat it!

Remember to K.I.S. in the kitchen!
Keep It Simple.

I hope you have a great day, foodies!

Tortilla Soup (Sopa de la Calabaza y Pollo)

Recipe No. 5
Tortilla Soup (Sopa de la Calabaza y Pollo)
Serving Size for this Recipe: 6-8 people
Average Cost: Under $10.00
Cook time:  45-50 minutes

My pursuit of food glory has been derailed for several months now, for this- I apologize!
I have been so consumed by work; I've just not had the time to do this.  UNTIL NOW!!

I have a delicious and soul warming soup for you to make to keep you warm this fall and winter! Here's the line up:
Veg
1 zucchini
2 yellow squash
1 large white onion
2 Anaheim peppers
2 cloves of garlic (minced)
1 bunch of cilantro

Protein
Chicken breasts (boneless/skinless)
Masa rue (1/4 cup of cornmeal and water to combine- this will thicken the soup)

Spices/Seasonings
1tbsp garlic powder
1tbsp chili powder
2 tsp chipotle powder
1 tbsp Mexican oregano
salt to taste

Liquids
3 tbsp Olive Oil
2 quarts of Organic (or homemade if you have time) Chicken Stock
2 cups of milk
1/4 cup of lime juice

This is really easy.  Put medium high heat on your dutch oven or large pot, and add olive oil.  Once the pot is hot- add the chicken breasts and cook to a nice golden char on each side.  (if the chicken is slightly rare on the inside- that is okay, it will finish cooking in the soup!) Don't over cook the chicken!  5 minutes should be enough.  Once cooked- remove the chicken and set it aside to rest.  Next, rough chop all veggies, but MINCE the garlic.  Add onions- and cook for 5 minutes.  Add all spices- and 2 good pinches of salt.  Cook this mixture for another 5 minutes.  Add the lime juice, cook till incorporated.  Add the minced garlic, and the zucchini and squash- cook for 5 minutes.  Pour in the chicken stock and raise to High heat (bring to a boil).

Once boiling (this shouldn't take long)  lower heat to simmer and let it sit for 10 minutes. 
(You can cut the chicken into small strips during this simmering time) Once it is done boiling and starts to simmer with small bubbles, add the bunch of cilantro (just chop it off at the stems) stir in the cilantro leaves, then take out your submersion blender (stick blender, hand blender) and blend the soup until no large pieces of veggies remain.  Then, whisk in the masa rue and the milk (continue whisking until the masa is thoroughly incorporated to avoid lumps!)  Check the seasoning- it may need some more salt.  Bring the soup slowly back up to a boil.  Then add the chicken, and reduce heat.  Let it simmer for 20 minutes- and you're done! 


A hearty and savory soup like this can really make you feel all cozy inside when it's cold outdoors- so try it out, I hope you like it!

In These Challenging Times~We Lost Another One~

Not too long ago, I did a review on a new Italian restaurant here in Lee's Summit. When I found Napoli's it was a young business that showed promise and potential.  I even went as far as giving them the rehearsal dinner booking for my sister's wedding!  As I drove down Sycamore St. the other day, I noticed that something had changed- The once young, blooming, Italian restaurant I'd visited just one month prior- was GONE....??? Questions circled in my head- "are they getting a new sign?" "are they closed for renovations?" But no, much to my disappointment- the space was completely empty- stripped of all signs that they had ever been there except for the decal on the window bearing their name.  I was totally confused because I had spoken to Labi (former owner) several times about how business was going and he never hinted at their business closing! 


I called their Sedalia, MO location and found out that it was the only location out of 3 that was still open. 
This was sad news, but I must not mourn too long.  The previous business at the location, had also been an Italian restaurant.  Maybe Lee's Summit would rather go to Fazoli's.  Who knows...


I pour my glass of vino on the ground in your memory Napoli's.  It was nice while it lasted.
Ciao.

New Kid on Campus

Critique No. 10

Restaurant

Next Door Pizza & Pub

3385 SW Fascination Dr.

Lee's Summit, MO 64081
816-763-1200
http://www.nextdoorpizza.com/
Hrs: Sun-Thur 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm

Cuisine: Italian/American, Buffet, Pizzeria

Maximum Occupancy: 95 plus the Patio

Bam! I'm back.  Sorry for the time in between posts- you know...life.  Well I am bringing back a story about my trip to a new face near the Metropolitan Community College-Longview Campus.  The place is Next Door Pizza & Pub. I was told by a dear friend that I must try the pizzeria, and I must try it NOW! 

This is what went down.  As you drive up to the New Longview community in Lee's Summit you first notice the colorful buildings and of course the college. Take a left at the stop light and you will drive right past Fascination Drive. On the corner you'll see NDP and ask yourself, where am I suppose to park? Keep driving, the majority of the parking is in back.  There was a nice patio area on the side for good weather days.  I walked in the back door and was greeted by a the owner Patrick Cuezze.  For lunch there are two choices- order off the menu or you can hit up the buffet.  I always try to get a variety of offerings from a new place, so I went with the menu (since it was a pizza only buffet). I didn't have a chance to try one of their 10 ON TAP or 30 BOTTLED BEERS, but- apparently they are just as much into their micro brews as they are their pizza! The waitress was nice and engaging,she took my drink order and I glanced over the menu and looked around the restaurant.  As I looked up I saw this beautiful sight hanging above the door.

If you can't read that (go see an eye Dr.)

It says "We Proudly Serve Mendolia's Italian Sausage, We only serve the Best!"

This made me exceedingly happy, because A: Mendolia's is the best sausage in the world (bias??) and B: Mendolia's is a Kansas City classic.  I love seeing local businesses support each other!!!  I have grown up eating mendolia's my whole life, and when I saw on the menu the sausage grinder- I knew that was it.  It was served with hand cut, double cooked fries.  The waitress told me to substitute for the Puerto Fries (same fries, just covered with bacon, queso and jalapenos) I went for it- I like to take the recommendations, I also got 2 squares of thier thin crust pepperoni pizza to try out their namesake.   So my order was in, I'm sitting there, trying to get a vibe on this place.  It's kinda quirky with the sports stuff, and all the doors hanging from the walls, ceilings and everywhere else you looked. Patrick later told me that the doors were all designed and painted by community members, organizations and groups.  

(You can design a door too! Just call and talk to Patrick about it.)

I didn't care for the music that was playing, just pop radio garbage (that's a big deal for me as a diner.  I like to feel relaxed when I eat, and the music was making me annoyed)  I put all that aside when I saw this set in front of me.

Lets start with the pizza.  This was a paper thin, cracker crust.  I mean just crispy and good, not dry. but crispy.  Great flavor from the sauce, nice melting cheese (they use only GRANDE mozzarella), and Rosa Grande Pepperoni- (which was very small in diameter- about the size of a nickel).  Now the pepperoni threw me off a little, because when they cook up, they tend to cup up so a little pool of grease forms inside.  Patrick says that's fine with him.  I prefer the pepperoni to be a little bigger around, but lets move on.  The Grinder:  Right off the bat, I noticed that it was not cut down the side like a hot dog bun.  This was a hollowed out piece of Italian bread with the sausage cut up and put inside with the sauce and cheese, then capped off with what I would call a "bread cork".  It was a sesame toasted flavor that hit me first, then more bread, and i realized my first bite was all bread and sauce.  So....eh, idk about that.  Next bite, tender, perfectly cooked Italian sausage, cheese, and sauce with the crusty bread and the Ah! and the Oo! it was good. I set that down for a second to dig into the puerto fries.  This was like HALT!! PEPPER ATTACK MEETS MUSHY POTATO!!  It was explained to me that the fries that day hadn't been double cooked. So they didn't develop a nice crunchy exterior, instead, they were mush with all that cheese just adding to the mush.  The jalapeno and Fresno Chiles that were on the dish- in my opinion- way too much heat for a side dish to have.  I stopped there with the fries.  Finishing the pizza and sandwich, I felt somewhat sad that I just paid $3.00 extra to "puerto" my fries.  There were a lot of things I liked but some pretty big misses as well for this trip to NDP.  I did enjoy talking with Patrick and his wife after my meal, just finding out about them and their place. Some bonuses I found were: They have gluten free options for those in need of them, and on Monday's Kids eat free (see website for details), and they give great discounts for students!  Patrick says they have the best pizza in town, But wouldn't you say that if you were the owner?  For them only being opened for 4 months, and never being in the restaurant biz before, I'd say they have a great future ahead of them.  Class dismissed.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Please visit this locally owned business and see if you agree!

Korean Tacos w/ Killer Asian Slaw

Recipe No. 4
Korean Tacos w/ Killer Asian Slaw

Serving Size for this Recipe: 10-12 people
Average Cost: $25 (you'll be buying some ingredients that will become essentials in your pantry- so part of the cost will pay out in the long term)


Okay- okay already, you want me to tell you a new amazing take on the taco? Well, its not so new- it's been done- but not like this.  This is my spin on Korean street food- the Korean Taco, or Korean BBQ Taco.  Street vendors in all major cities are picking up on the concept that people LOve LOVe LOVE spices and bold flavors!  This dish will deliver.  Put it on the menu for your next get-together!

Now like I said; there are going to be some ingredients to buy that you are going to use a little of, and may not have in your pantry already- but once you get them, you can start finding the dishes to make that USE them (so don't freak out)

You're going to need flour tortillas (usually the small variety are called "fajita size")
The players for the steak are-

2-3 lbs of Skirt Steak (or Flank Steak)
(1) 20 oz bottle of Dr. Pepper - YES THE SODA!
2 tbsp of Hoisin Sauce
2 tsp of Sesame Oil
3 tbsp of Soy Sauce
1 tbsp of Fresh Garlic
2 Green Onions or Scallions (chopped)
1 tbsp of red chili flakes
2 tsp of fresh cracked black pepper
1 lime (the juice)

The Slaw is super easy, but killer flavor and a nice crisp/bright counter point to the richness of the steak-

1 head of shredded iceberg lettuce
1 or 2(depending on size) heads of Napa Cabbage
2 Large Carrots
1 cup of fresh Cilantro
1 tbsp of Hoisin Sauce
1/2 a cup of Rice Vinegar
2 tsp of sugar
2 tsp of salt

Alright- mix all the ingredients for the steak marinade together and pour half in a heavy duty zip tight storage bag, and the other half into an air tight container. Chop the steak into thin strips about 2 inches long but thin as you can get them with a kitchen knife.  Marinate in the fridge for 3 hours at least- over night is better!

The day of your meal-

wrap your tortillas in a clean kitchen towel and place them in a baking dish w/ a lid into the microwave for 1 minute and let them sit till you're ready to eat.
Next-
Get all your veggies and shred them into a zip tight bag, add the other ingredients right into the bag and give it a good shake! make sure to taste it and add salt if needed.  Put the bag in the fridge until service happens!
Then-
take your steak out and get cooking! get a grill plate or skillet out and on medium high heat- remove the meat from the bag and begin to cook- this will go fast, since the meat is cut small and thin.  You're looking for a nice sear on the meat and good caramelization from all the sugar in the soda.  The marinade you reserved in the air tight container can go into a pot and brought up to a simmer (once the meat is cooked- put it in this delicious sauce to keep it warm while serving- just use a slotted spoon or tongs to serve with). You're ready to eat! Lets Rock!

I hope you'll take this recipe and rock it out- Enjoy!

Mama's Recipes at Maggie's!

Critique No. 9

Restaurant

Maggie's
100C Southeast 3rd Street
Lee's Summit, MO 64063
(816) 554-0722

Cuisine: Authentic Mexican
Max. Occupancy: 26
Price Point Average: $5+


If you are walking downtown in Lee's Summit, you can find small shops of all kinds. There isn't a lot downtown that I haven't been to yet, but Maggie's was a place I'd missed! This little restaurant with big heart opened in October '09.

The mission was clear for Maggie’s owner, Ryan Schnabel. He had started a catering company, about 2 years ago with homemade recipes at the heart of his business- but decided that downtown needed authentic Mexican food, and so he opened the restaurant. Named Maggie's after his mother, the restaurant and menu have hints of family throughout them- even the combos are named after his aunts. Okay now, lets talk food.

I have been looking for a place to try a culinary masterpiece called Pazole. It's a deeply flavored broth of tomato and herbs with pork and hominy (soft corn kernel without the hull or germ). I order a side of this delicious soup (which came with flour tortillas- homemade), Mexican rice, and the star of the meal- Pork Chili Burrito. The burrito is a part of the ever changing $5 lunch menu- CHECK IT OUT PEOPLE!!!

If you will, first notice the plate. It comes with the food only- not fancy non edible garnishes here...and you know why? Because this is REAL MEXICAN FOOD!!! Mexican food that is from Mexican recipes and a down home- real life- simple Mexican kitchen. The majority of what people consider Mexican food is just an Americanized version of it's true self. Next, notice the nice char on the edge of the tortilla. This is key in a good burrito- some nice smokiness, and the burrito was filled with the chili pork and rice. The pork, just tender and moist- there was such a nice earthiness to the meat, you could taste the spices and they were deeply cooked in. The Pazole was everything I thought it'd be. Very hearty and warming, a nice spice- not too much heat. The one falter of the meal for me was the rice. It wasn't bad- I ate all of it- it was a little on the bland side for my taste- and that is the only bad thing you'll hear me say. This was a great lunch- I enjoyed talking with Ryan, he was very nice to me in answering my questions about his business. You can tell he loves his restaurant. I will definitely go back to try more of the menu (that you can see below)

In conclusion- I like Maggie's and I'll be back there to try more of their food. I think it is a valuable addition to Lee's Summit- my words to Maggie's are "buenos suerte y gracias"

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Please visit this locally owned business and see if you agree!

Pasta with Broccoli

Recipe No. 3
Pasta with Broccoli

Serving size for this recipe: 6-8 people

Average cost: $11 (the cheese is the most expensive part of the dish- but worth every penny)



Here we are- almost half way through February, and it is still cold outside. The infamous groundhog tells us six more weeks of winter, so- here is a dish that will warm you up and keep you happy till that sun shines again. This recipe is one my mom has made my entire life (and probably before it as well) it just speaks to me now more than ever before. Just simply called pasta with broccoli, nothing fancy about it- just spectacular flavors :) I have tweaked it slightly to make it my own, but that is the beauty of cooking, a recipe is one ingredient away from being transformed. It is rustic and a little spicy, super tasty, but most importantly- its inexpensive and easy! It's a great vegetarian pasta dish too! This is what you'll need:

1 lb. of Bucatini (this is a long pasta that is hollow- from the Italian word for hole "buco" )
1 Large head of broccoli
5 slices of bread (crusty bread is best)
1.5 cups of grated pecorino Romano cheese (this is crucial, try not to substitute)
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 of a small sweet onion (or 1 shallot)
1 tsp of peperoncino (red pepper flakes)
1 tsp of butter
1/2 a cup of white wine
extra virgin olive oil

Okay, lets begin. Start out with a little prep work. You should break down the broccoli into florets and just use a vegetable peeler to clean the stem- there is so much flavor in the stem, it's not just the handle :) Next put all of your broccoli pieces into a food processor and run it on pulse in 3 second increments (we are trying to chop up the broccoli, not puree it) when the pieces are about the size of peas, empty the broccoli into a bowl and set it in the refrigerator. Then, take your slices of bread and and put them in the food processor and pulse them down to fine bread crumbs. Heat a small pan to on medium high heat and add your butter, toast the bread crumbs in the pan stirring them often to avoid burning. Once they are toasted, remove from heat and set aside for later use.

At this point, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a couple teaspoons of salt to the water. Let the pasta cook for 8 minutes, checking it till it is al dente (with a little bite to it, not uncooked and not fully cooked) While the pasta is cooking you're going to dice your onion and mince the garlic. Get a large saute pan over medium heat and coat the bottom of the pan with the olive oil. Once the pan is hot, add in the onion, stir them well- we are trying to to cook them till they are translucent (cooking them without color, or browning). This keeps the onions sweet, and that's right where we want them. Next, add in the garlic, just cook everything together for about 2 minutes, stirring them to avoid burning the garlic.

The second half of this cooking moves fast- so ready, set, go!
clear your stove of all pots and pans except the pan with onions and garlic- turn this pan up to medium high and add the white wine, let this reduce for 1 minute. next add in the broccoli, stir it in and let it cook with the onions and garlic for 3 to 4 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed with salt. Add your peperoncino, and stir. add your pasta to the pan, with a pair of tongs, pick up the pasta and incorporate it into the other ingredients, stirring and lifting, don't break up the pasta too much! next add the bread crumbs, repeat the stirring and lifting, incorporating the bread crumbs, remove the pan from the heat and get your serving dish out. Transfer the pasta to the dish with the tongs and empty the pan of all remaining food (broccoli, onions, whatever was clinging on) finally add half the pecorino romano cheese and give it one final stir and lift. top with the remaining cheese and eat!

You did it! You can add this to your family cookbook if you want. I hope you try it, please leave me some comments if you'd like.

I hope you can make memories in your kitchen, enjoy!

Benvenuto!

Critique No. 8
Restaurant
Napoli's Italian Restaurant
1196 NE Douglas Rd
Lee’s Summit, MO 64082
(816) 554-4874

Cuisine: Italian
Max. Occupancy: 105
Price Point Average: Lunch- $5.99 & Dinner- $9.99

Well, it has been some time since my last post- I have been awaiting the opportunity to go taste some local delights! Several months back I noticed that a local Italian restaurant had closed and soon after another opened in the same location. I was weary of trying it because of the experience I'd had with the previous establishment. As fate would have it, I had to drop off my car for an oil change the other day and this restaurant happens to be in walking distance across the road, so I decided to go for it, put my preconceived notions aside and try Napoli's. This happens to be two spots down from Thai Spice (the amazing Thai restaurant I had previously reviewed). Like most places in strip malls, the sign does no justice to the business. Nothing spectacular or eye catching.

I walked in and the decorations were very familiar. It was however, laid out in a different way which really opened it up, less booths and more open tables. Very nice. You are given some very warm fresh made rolls, which were the texture of a cinnamon roll, but- they were savory and topped with parsley and parmesan cheese-I was very happy with this bread! It was served with olive oil and herbs (pretty typical of many Italian restaurants now) A small critique here on the oil, it wasn't flavorful like I'd expected it to be. It literally had no taste. I added some salt and pepper to it, which helped, but not by much.

I ordered off of the $5.99 Lunch Specials menu, this got me my entree and a good sized salad. You can choose from several dressing options. I opted for the house Italian dressing. The waitress informed me that it was an oil based dressing made with some of their marinara. It wasn't really appetizing to look at (kinda looked like ketchup). But it wasn't bad- it reminded me of a Catalina dressing, but slightly more acidic. It was very sweet though, not really to my taste. I would have preferred something more savory. The salad was nothing special, just bagged greens and some croutons.
Then my entree came out, all hot and bubbly! I got the Pasta Trio, which was one cheese ravioli, one stuffed shell, and a small portion of lasagna covered in sauce and mozzarella cheese, then popped in the oven to bake for a few minutes. The portions size was good for lunch. The flavors where there, it was a good sauce, and the meat inside the lasagna was so tender and flavorful. All of the pasta was also tender- the creaminess of the ricotta just enhanced the dish so nicely.
Finally, as I usually do when I try a new place- I looked over the dessert menu. The waitress recommended the Chocolate Mousse cake. The mousse was light and fluffy and the cake was soft. There was some chocolate shavings on top, but then they killed it for me by dousing the whole thing in raspberry and chocolate syrup. I could have done without the sauces. It just looked a little cluttered on the plate- sometimes less is more, and in this case that would have been true.
I enjoyed talking with Labi, the manager of Napoli's. He told me he hails from Venice and is still getting used to being in Missouri, but he likes it. He asked me how the food was and told me about their other locations. The Lee's Summit location is still waiting for their liquor license (I mean you gotta have a little vino with dinner), but he's hoping it will come in soon. I am happy that there is a new Italian business here in my town. There is always room for improvement, even in the best restaurants. Napoli's is still young, give 'em time and I think they'll be just fine.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Please visit this locally owned business and see if you agree!

You Wanna Single, a Double, or a Triple?

Critique No. 7
Restaurant

Burger Station
113 E 7th Ave
Winfield, KS 67156
(620) 221-9773

Cuisine: Burger Joint
Max. Occupancy: Standing room for 6 at the wall to wall counter for ordering.
Price Point Average: $3.50

About 25 miles north of the Oklahoma State Line you'll find Winfield, Kansas. A small town, with normal small town things in it. Antique stores, a shoe repair shop, and plenty of other locally owned businesses. Winfield is a place we go from time to time to see my wife's side of the family. The town is also known for having an Annual Bluegrass Festival that is pretty amazing. On my most recent visit, I ate at a local landmark and classic American institution for good old fashion hamburgers. My wife and her dad told me all about how I had to try Burger Station, it was so amazing, it has been in the same location since 1952 and so on. So the whole trip I was anticipating this meal, like no meal I can recall in recent memory. As we were driving to the place, we actually missed it and had to go through an alley to come back around. I swear if you blinked you would miss this place.

I walked in and there is just room to stand to order at the Chest-High counter. The menu is on the wall and it is straight forward and to the point! Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Chili Cheeseburger. Single, Double, or Triple. Add Bacon, or Jalapenos (or both). Burgers come plain, or with "everything" and that means Grilled Onions, Pickles, and Mustard. Ketchup is available, however lettuce and tomato are no where to be found in this place.
I had the notion to get the triple chili cheeseburger with everything and bacon/jalapenos- but I held back my desire to have a caloric overload and just went with the double cheeseburger with everything and bacon ;) It comes wrapped in the white wax paper and carried out in paper bag. YES- that is old school.

So I got in the car and parked on the other side of the station to feast. My wife said the look on my face was the same as the one when I am opening a Christmas present...I was excited.

So I devoured this burger and let me tell you about it. Re-live it with me! This was by no means a big burger- but it's flavor made it feel big. That nice texture from the flat top grilling of the burger and onions, the crunch of the bacon, the zip of the pickles and mustard and the ooooie goooie melted cheese. Yes. This was a straight up man burger. I could have eaten 3. But again...with the caloric overload desires being held back...I didn't- I just washed it down with a huge Dr. Pepper.

My criticism of this burger was really only in it's size- now for the price that I paid, I could have gotten 2 of them for the price of one McFastFoodChain burger. But why would I...the McFastFoodChain burger taste as good.
If you are in Winfield ever in your life, and I could see that happening if you intentionally go there.....for the bluegrass festival- please stop by the burger joint- I'm glad I did.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Please visit this locally owned business and see if you agree!

Farwell's and Shells

Critique No. 6

Restaurant

McCoy's Public House

4057 Pennsylvania

Kansas City, MO 64111

(816) 960-0866

Cuisine: Classic and Modern American

Max. Occupancy: 530

Price Point Average: Lunch- $8.99 & Dinner- $10.99

Last night I went to McCoy's Public House to a send off for some of my dear friends- Drew and Selena (they are amazing and they have done photos that you mayb have seen on My Wife's blog or on their blog for vanhornvisuals). They're moving out California way for the bright lights and glam of L.A., so we gladly and but sadly joined in for their going away party. It was the perfect place for a party! McCoy's is well known for their food and brew! They make hand crafted beer and Root Beer that makes my mouth sing. This was a family night out- so you're going to get the run down on several different items.

I had been to McCoy's only once before and had the Ginger Shandy beer, which is made with ginger and lemonade- its soo girly but sooo good! So I ordered up one- our waiter was very energetic and attentive with handling our party of over 15 people. I took the menu in hand and looked it over. My eyes landed on The Mac Daddy, and since I am a daddy; I thought to myself "this is the one for me". It was their house mac and cheese made with large shell pasta, four cheeses (including some amazing Wisconsin soft cheddar), toasted garlic breadcrumbs, sweet peas, and smoked bacon. Um...HELLO TASTE BUDS! WAKE UP ITS PARTY TIME! A generous portion for $10.99, and I got some of their fresh made- rough cut fries on the side. Leah got the KC BBQ Brisket Pizza for $10.99 as well. It was made on a super thin and crunchy crust, slow-roasted beef brisket, white and yellow cheddar, house-made beer barbecue sauce (come on now- that's awesome!) and shaved red onion. I wish I had pictures of the food- but we left the camera at home on accident. boo. We put in our orders and hung out with our friends. Again, as we talked, I was sad they were leaving but there was a good energy in the room because everyone knew that Drew and Selena were going to love L.A. and be very happy and successful there.

It was time to eat!! Out comes the army of waiters (not really, just like 3) with all our food. My first impression of the Mac Daddy was like !!!!!!!! you couldn't see my face because it was melted off! This looked like the meal I want before I die! Perfecto! A miniature crock pot of shells with a scoop of the Wisconsin soft Cheddar just melting into the pasta, bacon, peas and aawhehahahawaha. It was awesome. I ate it all, of course. Leah loved her pizza- I was lucky enough to get a slice to eat and it was sweet and crispy and a deep flavor from the beer in the sauce with the onions- it worked. Fries were really good too, and that is something that kinda goes unappreciated most of the time- these were nice thickness with the skin on and the nice flakes of kosher salt. Yum-Um. Even Landen's little cheese pizza looked good!

When it was all said and done and we took our farewell group pictures. I was sad because I was going to miss my friends, but glad that we had a good memory for the last time we hung out for a while. McCoys delivered a great spin on the classic standard- Mac and Cheese. For me, it was nothing but praises for my meal.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Please visit this locally owned business and see if you agree!

Third Time's a Charm?

Critique No. 5
Restaurant:

Maxwell's Downtown Grill

301 SE Douglas

Lee's Summit, MO 64063

(816) 347-9177

Cuisine: American/Grill

Max. Seating Occupancy: 134

Price Point Average: Lunch- $6.99, Dinner- $8.99 and Up

I recently went out for lunch with some friends and co-workers. Someone recommended Maxwell's Downtown Grill, and since I hadn't eaten there before I was game for it. I had been to the business that previously occupied the space at 301 SE Douglas- a place called Beauchamp's on the Rail (a "BBQ" restaurant). The tale of my adventure to Beauchamp's is fun little story; It involves a cold day, a tow truck, a supposed to be surprise party and bad mac n' cheese (ask me sometime, and I'll tell you). Now... I knew that the owner of Maxwell's also owned two Italian restaurants in the area and I'd visited the one in Lee's Summit with marginal satisfaction, but as they say "third time's a charm". With high hopes and an empty stomach we walked into what looked to be the same restaurant with a new sign out front- but I moved on. The landscape was pretty empty when we arrived- just one other group of 4 or 5. We sat ourselves, and soon after a waitress came and took our drink orders. The menu was full of things you might see on a normal sit down grill kinda place, a club sandwich, some reference to black and bleu (oh so clever), there were a cast of soups and salads and so on. Nothing spectacular. I decided to take my culinary fate into my own hands and selected "BUILD YOUR OWN BURGER". Thank you, thank you. There were several items you could choose from, I opted for Provolone, Bacon, and Avocado. This came with lettuce, tomato, onion already. With a choice of classic fries, sweet potato fries or pomme frites (spelled incorrectly on the menu... its supposed to be pommes frites- but this isn't Belgium so I'll let..it..slide?) I went with the frites, for $6.99 it seemed like quite a deal. After some chit chatting-Out comes the food!

Now before we continue, just know- that this isn't all going to be negative...but the majority of it is. Anywho- First of all, these were not Pommes frites, they were regular french fries, with garlic, and parsley on them. Pommes Frites are super crunchy on the outside with a soft texture on the inside. Don't get me wrong- I ate all of them, just calling it like I see it- Not Pommes Frites. Next- Take me to BurgerTown! Oh, it looked sooo good, cheese was nice and melted with the crispy bacon and all the ooooooo I'm drooling now. So I stacked up some onion and tomato, some K & M (that's ketchup and mustard to you) and dove in.
My brain starts dancing...what am I tasting in Order of Taste???

Nice toasted bun- CHECK

Freshness from the Tomato and Onion- CHECK

Slightly salty provolone- CHECK

Crispy Bacon, so smokey and good- CHECK

HAULT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bland, unseasoned avocado! NOOO! we were doing so good. :(

back to the brain dance, taste order...
Burger cooked to medium, nice char, juicy and delicious- CHECK CHECK CHECK! This was some good tasting burger!

and finally, one more layer of toasted bun with the tang of the K & M- CHECK.

What did I Learn on this mouth journey? Let me tell you, I learned that one rotten apple, ruins the whole burger. The avocado killed it for me. Every bite was dulled down to utter blahness by it. If the chef had thought about seasoning the avocado (because come on now, it needs some salt and pepper)- I would have been smiling all the way home. But no.

Well- I ate it and it was filling, but I was left feeling empty from what could have been achieved at Maxwell's. We sat there after eating waiting to get our check for mmmm.....15 minutes- which seemed like hours, as the restaurant started filling up. Finally we departed the downtown grill and it was back to business as usual. Please take away THIS very important tip from my visit to Maxwell's - Flavor comes in layers, so season each layer properly and don't get carried away with calling your food something- it isn't.

Overall Rating: 2 out of 5

Please visit this locally owned business and see if you agree!

Chickity-China-The Chinese Chicken

Critique No. 4
Restaurant:

Aikou
608 Ne State Route 291
Lees Summit, MO 64086
(816) 347-9888

Cuisine: Chinese
Max. Seating Occupancy: 28
Price Point Average: Lunch- $4.99, Dinner- $7.99


Last week I stopped by Aikou, a Chinese restaurant in Lee's Summit, for lunch. When you pull up to it, it looks like many other nondescript Chinese restaurants that have been dropped into a strip mall. A very simple Asian theme dressed out this blank canvas. I was seated and very nonchalantly asked if I wanted a drink. I took the menu and peered over it as I saw the usual suspects. I decided to go with the General Tso's chicken, it came with Won Ton soup, and rice for $4.99, seems pretty awesome. I got some spring rolls- of course...who doesn't love spring rolls?!?! First came the spring rolls. They were very crispy and flavorful but a touch greasy for me. (I know they're deep fried, doesn't mean I want a serving of frying oil on my plate) Next, I got my Won Ton soup- and It was a 180 degree difference. The broth was super refreshing. It was full of ingredients, including: shrimp, chicken, beef, carrots, scallions, and jicama (nice touch ;) Not to mention these incredibly tender won ton wrappers filled with pork. Yum Diddley Dum-pling.
Then the chicken showed up. It was different than the General's chicken I'm used too.

It had this crazy blast of orange flavor that was cooling off the heat of those chile peppers. The rice on the other hand was a bit dry and not so flavorful- mediocre at best. When I told the employee behind the counter that I write a food blog, and asked to get some general info on the place- she just stared at me....blankly... So I turned and walked into the sunset- not really it was only like 1PM. Nonetheless, 2 out of the 4 menu items I ate were very good- BUT- 50% is hardly a passing grade. They have been opened for business in Lee's Summit for 3 months...maybe with time they'll tighten the screws and get it all in line. I guess in this case I received the short end of the stick at Aikou -as the saying goes- You get what you pay for.


Overall Rating: 3 out of 5


Please visit this locally owned business and see if you agree!

Spicy Coconut Pork Tenderloin

Recipe No. 2
Spicy Coconut Pork Tenderloin

Serving size for this recipe: 6-8 people

Average cost: $25 or less


Summertime makes me think about grilling. Taking whatever I want to eat and putting it into a vessel that is made to impart flavors that are smokey and delicious. This is a recipe that I am excited about making for friends to enjoy at a party, hanging around the pool- relaxing. Lets get started!

To prep the tenderloin for marinating- remove any silver skin that may be left on it and then you should be good to go. Go ahead and pre-heat your oven for 325 and get your grill going. I prefer to use charcoal on this just because of the great smoky flavor you get. Now, besides the star- The Tenderloin- these are the other ingredients you'll need:
5 cloves of fresh garlic
1 1/2 cans of coconut milk
1 poblano chile
1 lime
½ a white onion
1 small tomato
1 ½ cups of fresh chopped cilantro
1 Tbsp of Cumin
1/4 Tsp of Cayenne Pepper
A good amount of flour tortillas (enough for 8 people)
3 cups of Oaxaca cheese (substitute Monterrey Jack if unavailable)

Now, place your poblano chile on the grill to char the skin, then place the chile in a bowl- cover with plastic and let it set for 2 minutes (this will help when you’re removing the waxy outer skin of the chile) then remove the stem, seeds and inner ribs. Dice it up and set it back in the bowl. Next you're going to chop 1 cup of the cilantro, mince the onion, and garlic - combine with the pablano, cumin, cayenne and stir in the coconut milk, salt and pepper - this completes your marinade.

Okay- take a deep breath, you made it through the marinade!!! Now back to business.

With a fork, make 8-10 punctures up and down the tenderloin (this will help the marinade get in for maximum flavor.) Place the tenderloin in a large zip tight bag, add the marinade and let this sit in the fridge for at least an hour (overnight would be amazing!) when you're grill is smokin' hot- remove from the fridge let it sit for 10 minutes out to come up to temperature. Place on your grill sear all sides, this should take 7 minutes at most. Then move it to a baking sheet- cover with foil and cook for 45 minutes at 325 degrees.
While that's going- let's make some salsa. Take your tomato and dice it as fine as you like. then chop the remaining cilantro, add fresh lime juice, a pinch of cayenne, and salt & pepper and you're done!

Once your pork has cooked and rested(at least 10 minutes) slice it into equal portions for your guest. I recommend that you fill your tortillas with the pork, sprinkle on some Oaxaca cheese and fresh salsa.

You're going to taste the smokiness from the grill on that pork- the coolness of the coconut should come through with a little kick from the cayenne and garlic, some great flavor and texture from the cheese and salsa to round it out.

You see- summertime is a state of mind. Put out some cold drinks, great food and add some good friends/family and you're guaranteed a good time. Enjoy!