KansasCityMagazine_January 2025

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OUR MISSION

We love Kansas City like family. We know what makes it great, we know how it struggles, and we know its secrets. Through great storytelling, photography and design, we help our readers celebrate our city’s triumphs, tend to its faults and revel in the things that make it unique.

PUBLISHER

Dave Claflin

EDITOR

Dawnya Bartsch

ART DIRECTOR

Kevin Goodbar

FOOD EDITOR

Tyler Shane

MUSIC EDITOR

Nina Cherry

DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER

Gio McGlothan

ADVERTISING SALES

Angie Henshaw, Mary Beth Johnston and Bob Ulmer

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Alex Healey

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Dominique Parsow

COPY EDITOR

Kelsie Schrader

WEB COORDINATOR

Madison Russell

WRITERS

Nina Cherry, Shauna Gilden, Sophia Lacy, Gary Lezak, John Martellaro, Ryan Reed, Ian Ritter, Joyce Smith, Hampton Stevens, Hayley Veilleux and Kyle Wisecarver

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Zach Bauman, Chase Castor, Katie Currid, Tim Davis, Laurie Kilgore, Jeremey Theron Kirby , Gio McGlothan, Pilsen Photo Coop, Kelly Powell, Ian Simmons and Zach Smith

Cover Story: KC’s Best Restaurants

The 30 best places to eat, drink and be merry

Notes From the Underground Westport Coffeehouse has a basement theater

Weatherman

Longtime KC meteorologist Gary Lezak’s new weather predictor app

IMANI WINDS / BOSTON BRASS

Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams

I REALLY SHOULD drink more champagne. No, seriously, I should. I’m writing this just about a week before Christmas, and as soon as I’m done, I’ll be off to buy last-minute gifts. The thought of navigating packed parking lots and bustling stores makes me want to have a cocktail before I even start.

I’ll admit champagne is usually not my beverage of choice. More recently, it’s been Sleepy Time tea, but I’m rethinking my downtime strategy. I’d like to think I’m more exciting than a drowsy bear sitting in an overstuffed chair by a fireplace. The image I have of myself is definitely more along the lines of late celebrity journalist Robin Leach’s television show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. You know, sitting on a yacht in the mediterranean, drinking champagne. Not to date myself, but the late ’80s show’s signature phrase, “Champagne wishes and caviar dreams,” really was catchy. To prove my point, it was the first thing I thought of when I saw photographer Zach Smith’s shot of the extravagant champagne and caviar cocktail from Blanc Champagne Bar, Kansas City’s new champagne spot. It looks dreamy. It looks like that drink must be sitting on the bar counter of a place I should be. I’ll be there soon enough.

Kelly Powell Photographer

Longtime Kansas City photographer Kelly Powell shot this issue’s delicious picture of Brookside’s French Custard’s ice cream. When she’s not working, she’s eating at the many fabulous restaurants around the metro.

This year, I think I will forgo dry January and drink a bit more champagne.

Along those lines of dining and imbibing, it’s been a while since we sleuthed around the city and picked our favorite restaurants. In fact, it’s been about two years, and KC’s dining landscape has changed. We looked at it with fresh eyes this year and picked a few standbys but also a lot of new spots. There is a lot to choose from. We appreciate there will be varied opinions, and we want to hear from you. Cheers!

Dawnya Bartsch EDITOR dawnya@kansascitymag.com

Contributors

John Martellaro Writer

John Martellaro, former food editor and restaurant critic for the Kansas City Star, interviewed BBQ aficionado Devan Dignan, author of the Kansas City Barbecue Bible, for this issue’s ’Cue Card.

Zach Smith Photographer

Kansas City photographer

Zach Smith, founder of Altered Focus

Studio, shot Blanc Champagne Bar’s extravagant champagne and caviar cocktail for this issue.

Feedback Say What?

KC’s Homeless

Our feature story in December’s issue on the state of KC’s homeless population and what volunteer organizations and the city are doing to combat the complex issue elicited a variety of responses.

Finally someone is bringing some attention to this important issue.

– Magus Johannes Faust

What happens when the unhoused/homeless population outnumbers the renters/owners? Two thousand seems like a very very low number.

– Sprinkle Sum Salt Podcast

I want to share that the homeless in KC issue, also featuring an article about a real estate development catering to those wealthy enough to park their own planes at home, is in very poor taste. That article could have been saved for a different issue, don’t you think?

–Mary Tran

Great call to action!

– Jill Tilton

Well, there’s 70 million in Covid money on the table that the city cannot decide how to use.

– Dana Troncoso

“Honestly, it feels really bad ass. I’m not someone who tries to put stock in institutional status or values, but I can’t deny the feeling I got when I found out I was going to be the poet laureate, much less the first.”

Numbers From This Issue

The year meteorologist Gary Lezak started at Fox4 KC WDAF.

Page 16

The year KCK’s Rosedale Memorial Arch was dedicated. Page 72

The number of chickens per minute that large automated plants process.

Shout Out

To the servers at Green Dirt on Oak restaurant for accommodating our photographers in the dining room on a busy weekend night.

Behind the Scenes

Photographer Gio McGlothan shooting this issue’s cover at Green Dirt on Oak—Kansas City magazine’s top pick for best restaurant.

Weather Tech

Former Kansas City meteorologist Gary Lezak talks about his latest enterprise: a long-range weather forecasting app

By Gary Lezak

(Continued on next page)

Former Kansas City meteorologist Gary Lezak with Rainbow and Sunny, his “weather dogs.”

HOW THE GLOBAL PREDICTOR WEATHER FORECASTER WORKS

The Global Predictor uses technology from Weather 20/20 known as the Lezak Recurring Cycle. It leverages geospatial radar, satellite and other information, powered by the LRC model.

The colors on the high and low temperature calendars represent different temperature ranges compared to average.

Cooler-than-average temperatures are depicted by shades of blue while warmerthan-average temperatures are indicated by shades of orange to red. These color variations help users quickly identify temperature patterns at their chosen location.

The forecast precipitation levels for the month are shown in green.

Users can click on the interactive map in the Global Predictor to see a forecast for anywhere in the world. The system can predict weather accurately for up to six months in advance

(Continued from page tk)

HELLO, KANSAS CITY! It’s been just over two years since I retired from television in December 2022, and what a whirlwind it’s been. From leaving Kansas City and moving to the snowy landscape of Golden, Colorado, to diving into the entrepreneurial world with the launch of Weather 20/20, a long-range weather forecasting business with a weather-predicting app, it’s been quite an adventure. The app can help people plan for major events, such as weddings, up to six months in advance.

Most of the Weather 20/20 team resides right here in the greater Kansas City metro, where we convene for our quarterly meetings. Our dedicated team includes Bob Lyons, our chief technology officer; Bryce Palmer, our chief solutions officer; Justin Ohlde, our chief financial officer, who farms in northern Kansas; as well as five meteorologists and our administrative assistant, Katherine Hellige.

I do miss the daily routine of delivering weather updates, a role I cherished during my time at Kansas City’s WDAF from 1992 to 1999 and later at KSHB until 2022.

But let me rewind and share the genesis of Weather 20/20. It all started back in the 1980s while I was in Oklahoma City, where I noticed recurring weather patterns, particularly during the winter of 1987-1988.

This observation sparked the idea that weather operates in cycles, a concept that evolved over the next 15 years. By the early 2000s, blogging became a platform for sharing my insights, and the Lezak Recurring Cycle was born. This concept enabled us to make accurate long-range predictions, including severe weather outbreaks and tropical storms, weeks to months in advance.

Fast forward to today, and LRC has evolved into a patent-pending

climate model, empowering our Weather 20/20 team to provide precise weather forecasts globally. We have introduced the Global Predictor, an app built on LRC, now accessible on our website. With the Global Predictor, users can access forecasts up to six months ahead anywhere in the world.

The Weather 20/20 team is currently working on Virga Weather Products, an artificial intelligence project aimed at helping businesses prepare for significant weather events and make informed decisions to drive revenue.

As I reflect on my 30 years in Kansas City, I’m filled with gratitude for the memories and excited for the future. Life, like weather, is full of cycles, and I’m thrilled to embark on this new journey with Weather 20/20.

Here’s to embracing the future and cherishing every moment.

MARCH PRECIPITATION

APRIL HIGHS

Sportsbooks Hit the Jackpot

By Ian Ritter

KANSAS CITY’S sports bars on the Missouri side could see a little more action on those NFL Sundays when the Chiefs have a bye or play on a different day of the week. Thanks to the passage of a new Missouri law allowing sports betting, this time next year, Missourians won’t have to cross State Line to place a sports wager. That means the Show Me State will get sportsbook gambling sections in casinos, and with online smartphone-enabled gambling, every game can get more interesting—like it is in Kansas.

Could sportsbooks in Missouri lure patrons away from Kansas? Only time will tell. The Sunday after Thanksgiving, there wasn’t much football fatigue at KCK’s Hollywood Casino ESPN Bet. Even though the Chiefs had just come off an intense Black Friday win against the Raiders, an impressive midday crowd still showed up looking to bet. On peak nights, like the Chiefs Black Friday win, securing a table is next to impossible, and there are lines at the ESPN Bet’s 30 wagering kiosks.

“We think we’re pretty well positioned,” Snowden said, also noting that in Missouri “there’s real sports fandom.”

Casinos and bookies in Missouri are hoping that come Dec. 1, 2025, when the new law goes into effect, sports gambling in Missouri will be just as popular. Until then, Missourians in the metro must still drive to Kansas to bet on events like the Super Bowl, college basketball, UFC and everything in between (not unlike Kansans needing to hit Missouri for weed).

When the sports-gambling switch flips in KCMO, there are several possibilities for sportsbooks in the local casino world. The Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City, just north of the Missouri River, Bally’s Kansas City, with its river-straddling outpost on the other side of the Missouri, and Harrah’s Kansas City are all versed in sports gambling, already offering it at other casinos they own.

Could sportsbooks in those outlets lure Missouri patrons away from Hollywood’s ESPN Bet and the like? Maybe. But Hollywood’s owner, Pennsylvania-based Penn Entertainment, also counts Argosy Casino & Hotel, in Riverside, as part of its national portfolio, where it could add sports wagers through its ESPN licensing deal.

Penn CEO Jay Snowden doesn’t seem too worried about potential competition to the Hollywood sportsbook. “We think we’re pretty well positioned,” Snowden said during the company’s most recent earnings call, also noting that in Missouri “there’s real sports fandom.”

The degree of that fandom and ability to bet anywhere at any time on a smartphone is the real competition any brick and mortar sportsbook faces. Penn has ESPN Bet, Bally’s is attached to FanDuel, and Caesars operates a namesake app, meaning if you can’t make it to the sportsbook, they’re more than happy to come to you. Anywhere.

Whatever plans are cooking for future sportsbooks at Kansas City’s casinos, the competition’s going to be tough in the form of an iPhone or Android that allows its users to bet wherever they please.

And if 2022’s Kansas gambling ad blitz was any indicator, Kansas City’s residents will hear all about their new options soon enough.

It’s time to start thinking of your nominations for this 2025. Best of Kansas City coming in June. Nominations open in March.

See your 2024 winners here:

Basement Beats

By Nina Cherry

NESTLED AT 40TH STREET and Pennsylvania Ave., Westport Coffeehouse is more than meets the eye. By day, the Midtown building is a typical cozy and casual coffee shop, serving up lattes, sandwiches and pastries. However, by night, the cafe’s downstairs operates as an intimate music venue and comedy club offering eclectic entertainment. Regular performers range from up-and-coming artists to veterans on the scene, such as 79-year-old jazz drummer Arnold Young and the Roughtet.

Photography by Gio McGlothan

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Later this month, on January 29, the swinging drummer will take the stage at Westport Coffeehouse’s theater alongside four others: alto saxophonist Brady Johnstone, tenor saxophonist Jacob Schwartzberg, trumpeter Nick Howell and bassist Gerald Spaits. The multi-generational lineup of free-jazzers will perform tunes written by fellow band members—including tracks from the band’s most recent album, Young Spirit—and adventurous improvisations.

Westport Coffeehouse Theater.

4010 Pennsylvania Ave, KCMO.

$10 cover at the door.

To access the basement theater, concertgoers should enter from the north side of the building, through a side door next to Green Room Burgers and Beer. The main cafe entrance closes at 2 pm on weekdays and 5 pm on weekends.

GO: Arnold Young and the Roughtet. January 29, 6 pm.

NINA CHERRY

14 jan

Tank and the Bangas

New Orleans-based Tank and the Bangas is kicking off the tour for their latest album, The Heart, The Mind, The Soul, in KC. The 2017 NPR Tiny Desk Contest winners weave together the iconic funky and soulful NOLA sound with hip-hop in their transcendent, poetic album. The band is fronted by Tarriona “Tank” Ball, a versatile singer and rapper who commands the stage. Opening the concert is guitarist and singer Austin Brown. January 14. 7 pm. recordBar.

2

Children’s Crafting Night: Clay Gnomes

Kick off the new year with a family-friendly evening at Powell Gardens’ monthly craft night. For this month’s activity, participants will make gnomes out of clay pots, accompanied by snacks and story time. Tickets also include youth admission to the botanical garden’s Festival of Lights, offering a convenient last-minute chance to see the dazzling display before it closes on January 4. January 2. 6:30–8 pm. Powell Gardens.

7

Deborah Brown Duo

Jazz vocalist Deborah Brown is a world-class treasure. While she’s been compared to Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald, the singer is a legend in her own right. Over three decades ago, Brown left her hometown of Kansas City for Europe and quickly made a name for herself abroad. The vocalist has since moved back to her Midwest home and will take the stage for Upcycle Piano Craft’s monthly happy hour concert. Light refreshments are available at this free show in the Midtown piano shop. January 7. 4:30–7:30 pm. Upcycle Piano Craft.

7-12

Chicago

Paint the town and all that jazz at Chicago the musical. The Broadway classic follows Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart—two rival murderesses in Cook County Jail—as they vie for media attention for the homicides of their respective lovers. The cabaret-style performance, which includes a big band on stage, tells a tale of ambition, fame and betrayal. January 7–12. Times vary. Muriel Kauffman Theater.

10-12

KC Remodel and Garden Show

KC Remodel and Garden Show is a dream for do-it-yourself homeowners. Outside of home improvement vendors, highlights include appearances by Leslie Davis and Lyndsay Lamb, hosts of HGTV’s Unsellable Houses, on Friday and Saturday. Plus, Kansas City’s own world champion pitmaster, Richard “Fergie” Fergola—founder of Fergolicious BBQ and a featured guest

on Food Network’s Chopped—will lead BBQ demos all three days of the expo. January 10–12. Times vary. American Royal Center.

15

Daniel Black Presents His New Book, Isaac’s Song

This past summer, author Daniel Black went viral for his powerful commencement speech at Clark Atlanta University, where he referenced Biblical scripture alongside lyrics from rapper Kendrick Lamar. Now, Rainy Day Books is welcoming the writer and speaker to Kansas City on the tour for his forthcoming novel, Isaac’s Song. Set in 1980s Chicago during the height of the AIDS pandemic, the book follows the journey of a gay man from Missouri as he navigates family dynamics, generational trauma, racial tension and the complexities of being queer in the Midwest. January 15. 7–8 pm. Unity Temple.

16

Zach Towers

Stand-up comic, actor and writer Zach Towers is best known for hosting two E! series, Nightly Pop and Dating #NoFilter. While the St. Louis native has recently been on tour as an opening act for Fortune Feimster, the comic has now embarked on a solo-tour. Towers’ bawdy and often explicit sense of humor blends sex-positive topics with his sharp wit. January 16. 7 pm. Funny Bone Comedy Theater.

24

Park ICM Presents Park Trio in Recital Park University’s International Center for Music has a reputation for being home to top-notch artistry—faculty members and students alike. The conservatory’s resident faculty ensemble, the Park Trio, will perform works by romantic era composers Antonín Dvořák and Anton Arensky in Mission Woods’ luxurious 1900 Building. The trio is made up of violinist Ben Sayevich, cellist Daniel Veis and pianist Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich. January 24. 7:30 pm. 1900 Building.

24

Hiplet Ballerinas

Homer Bryant, founder of Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center, is

17

the visionary behind the Hiplet technique. A distinct approach that melds classical ballet with hip-hop, African and Latin styles, Hiplet Ballerinas took the world by storm in 2016 with a viral video dancing to Jason Derulo’s “If It Ain’t Love.” The Black-led dance troupe reimagines ballet to captivate modern audiences, dancing on pointe to Beyoncé and combining arabesques with traditional African drum patterns. January 24. 7:30 pm. Yardley Hall.

25 Yellowjackets

Formed in the 1970s as a back-up band for guitarist Robben Ford, the Yellowjackets have long been a staple of jazz fusion. Although the band split ways with Ford after their debut album, they’ve recorded over 20 albums and amassed 17 Grammy nominations throughout the course of their career. Their Kansas City performance is a part of the Folly Theater’s 43rd Jazz Series. January 25. 7:30 pm. Folly Theater.

Candlelight: Neo-Soul Favorites

Candlelight’s performance series transforms beloved pop songs into elegant string quartet arrangements, akin to the soundtrack of Netflix’s popular series Bridgerton. This month, Fountain City String Quartet will highlight neo-soul hits, including ’90s throwbacks like Ms. Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor” and modern classics such as Childish Gambino’s “Redbone,” in an intimate, candlelit setting. January 17. 6:15 pm. Unity Temple.

29–Feb 1

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert

Transport yourself to the wizarding world with a visit to the symphony. At Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert, the Kansas City Symphony will perform John Williams’ iconic soundtrack in tandem with a live screening of the series’ inaugural film. Year after year, the Harry Potter movie screenings have become one of the orchestra’s most popular performances, enchanting audiences of all ages. January 29–February 1. Times vary. Helzberg Hall.

29–Feb 23

Just Ask!

Based on the book written by Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor, Just Ask! is a heartwarming, family-friendly musical about the power of curiosity. The story follows young people of varying abilities as

they work to create a garden. Sonia, a newcomer to the group, is hesitant to share something personal about herself and hopes her new friends will accept her. Co-produced by the Coterie Theater and What if Puppets, this performance run marks the world premiere of the musical. January 29–February 23. Times vary. Coterie Theater.

31

Anthony Mcgill and Emanuel Ax Duo Recital

Clarinetist Anthony McGill and pianist Emanuel Ax are A-list celebrities of the classical music world. Hailed for his “trademark brilliance” by the New York Times, McGill is the principal clarinet for the New York Philharmonic—the first Black principal player in the orchestra’s history. Ax is best known for his collaborations with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and as a featured performer with major orchestras across the globe. Presented by the Harriman-Jewell Series, the duo will present an evening of classic works and cutting-edge compositions. January 31. 7 pm. Folly Theater.

Purposeful Poetry

Meet Melissa Ferrer Civil, KC’s first poet laureate who’s putting community first

By Hayley Veilleux

ALTHOUGH SHE INITIALLY wanted to be a rapper like Missy Elliott, Kansas City’s first poet laureate, Melissa Ferrer Civil, discovered the magic of the written word through Maya Angelou’s poem, “I Will Rise.” Civil lost her older sister at 12, and it was in the wake of that heartbreak, when the world seemed especially dark and unforgiving, that she discovered poetry’s potential to heal.

Appointed by a government or institution, a poet laureate is an officially recognized poet tasked with performing poems for public events and acting as a community advocate for the arts.

Civil, a Brooklyn-born poet, writer, educator and organizer whose three-year term began on February 1, 2024, has been writing for more than two decades. She centers her life around community, making her the perfect person to spearhead this chapter of the city’s history.

Now that she’s nearing her second year in the role, Kansas City magazine spoke with Civil about her background, her experience being KC’s first-ever poet laureate and her take on what it means to be a poet.

“I wasn’t going to do it because there are hella poets in Kansas City that have been here longer, doing amazing things, but enough people sent me the application for me to be like, ‘All right, fine. I’ll apply for this thing.’”

What is it like being the first poet laureate of Kansas City? Honestly, it feels really badass. I’m not someone who tries to put stock in institutional status or values, but I can’t deny the feeling I got when I found out I was going to be the poet laureate, much less the first. To this day, there’s a feeling that comes inside my spirit of elation and also affirmation of my work. I still see myself as a regular, everyday poet, but in my role as poet laureate, I feel that I’m more of a servant to people and our collective higher good.

How did you get the role? It was a simple process. The mayor put out a call for self-nominations. I wasn’t going to do it because there are hella poets in Kansas City that have been here longer, doing amazing things, but enough people sent me the application for me to be like, “All right, fine. I’ll apply for this thing.” I found out I was selected while I was out of town.

Where are some of your favorite local spots to write? My unofficial office is Anchor Island on 41st and Troost. I love that place so much. It’s a community hub. I also really like to write at Cafe Corazón, specifically the Crossroads location, and I’m a Charlotte Street Studio Resident, so I try to write in my studio as much as I can.

What advice would you give to the next poet laureate? Keep your schedule flexible because the city likes to call on the poet laureate at the last minute. But also know that to be a poet laureate is to have your poetry live beyond the page. I think that being deeply connected to and tending to one’s community is of the utmost importance in this position.

What’s on the horizon? Melanated Measures, a community-funded visiting writers series in partnership with BLK + BRWN, is starting up in the new year. We will invite established writers of color to KC for intimate salons as a sort of inoculation into the collective local narrative in the flavor of liberation.

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You can keep up with Melissa on Instagram @melissaferrerand

If you could only wear one color for the rest of your life, what would it be? A burnt or mustard yellow.

Y O U R G U E S T S D E S E R V E T H E B E S T T H E B E S T

C A T E R E R S O F A M E R I C A

2 0 2 2 : W E D K C

V E N D O R ’ S C H O I C E

A W A R D S : C O M P A N Y O F

T H E Y E A R

2 0 2 4 , 2 0 2 0 : W E D K C

V E N D O R ’ S C H O I C E

2 0 1 7 : T H E K N O T B E S T O F

W E D D I N G S H A L L O F F A M E

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2 0 2 4 - 2 0 2 2 , 2 0 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 - 2 0 1 5 T H E P I T C H : K C ’ S B E S T C A T E R E R

2 0 1 9 , 2 0 1 8 : M I S S O U R I

L A W Y E R ’ S W E E K L Y : K C ’ S B E S T C A T E R E R

2 0 2 4 - 2 0 1 7 , 2 0 1 5 , 2 0 1 4

W E D D I N G W I R E

A W A R D S : K C ’ S B E S T

C A T E R E R

2 0 2 4 - 2 0 2 1 : K A N S A S

C I T Y M A G A Z I N E : K C ’ S

B E S T W E D D I N G

C A T E R E R

2 0 2 1 , 2 0 1 8 , 2 0 1 7 : F E A S T M A G A Z I N E R E A D E R ’ S C H O I C E : A T O P K C C A T E R E R

C O U P L E ' S C H O I C E :

B E S T C A T E R E R

2 0 1 4 K C C O N V E N T I O N

C E N T E R : S U P P L I E R O F

T H E Y E A R

Living and Being

Contemporary

jazz saxophonist Henry Scamurra is releasing his debut album,

Urban Forum

By Nina Cherry

AT JUST 21 years old, alto saxophonist Henry Scamurra is taking the Kansas City jazz scene—and beyond—by storm with his contemporary stylings.

Outside of Scamurra’s small combo performances around KC, the saxophonist was selected as a member of the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra’s yearly rotating cohort, Riff Generation, in 2023. This past summer, he spent two weeks at Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center as a member of Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program, a prestigious national residency for emerging artists.

Now, Scamurra’s quartet, Urban Forum, is set to release their debut self-titled album later this month.

The band is composed of Scamurra’s close friends and masterful musicians: bassist Spencer Reeve, vibraphonist Isaiah Petrie and drummer Jade Harvey. The saxophonist treasures the advice from one

“Most music is written in some sort of collaboration. I like to pass the piece along to see what another person thinks.”

of his mentors, drummer Kweku Sumbry, about the importance of personal connection in making music.

“He said, ‘Living and being in each other’s lives as you’re growing is just as important as, or more important than, playing together’,” Scamurra says. “It’s a non-replaceable connection as a band.”

That tight-knit camaraderie shines through in the band’s seamless, natural interplay showcased in Urban Forum. The album features masterful solos from each of the members, as well as two featured tracks with Hermon Mehari, a trumpeter from Kansas City who now resides in Paris.

Scamurra cites two fellow KC saxophonists as his biggest influences: bebop legend Charlie Parker and modern luminary Logan Richardson. Scamurra pays homage to Richardson in his composition “Richer Son,” which opens with a striking cadenza-like moment on alto sax and quickly settles into a funky groove as the rest of the band enters.

All but two of the songs on the forthcoming album are originals, but Scamurra is hesitant to take sole responsibility for the writing process. The saxophonist credits bandmate Petrie in helping with his compositions, often bouncing ideas off one another.

“Most music is written in some sort of collaboration,” Scamurra says. “I like to pass the piece along to see what another person thinks or see where a certain section of the song should go.”

GO: Urban Forum Album Release Party, Wednesday, January 22, 6 pm. Westport Coffeehouse. 4010 Pennsylvania Ave., KCMO.

This spring, Scamurra is set to graduate with a degree in jazz studies from UMKC’s Conservatory. While he plans to stick around on the KC scene for a bit longer, he’s eyeing graduate schools on the East Coast and in Europe—so catch him while you can.

EXPERIENCE THE COMMON THREAD OF

MISSOURI.

Everywhere in Missouri, we all share a common bond. It’s the fabric of who we are, what our lives are like and the times we live in. That’s Missouri Humanities. Where you can journey with the people of our past. Or discover the visionaries and artists who still impact our communities today. A beautiful blend of events, festivals, films, podcasts and more — all ready for you to uncover at mohumanities.org

What and Where Am I?

It’s an odd piece of art in an odd spot. But this kitschy, eye-catching, close to life-size fiberglass stagecoach has a story to tell. Do you know what it is?

Hint: This is its second greater Kansas City metro location. We want to hear your clever responses. Send them to editor@kansascitymag.com.

Cowboy Collab

American Royal and KC’s Hyer Boots create a limited-edition cowboy boot

By Dawnya Bartsch

THE AMERICAN ROYAL spent 2024 celebrating its 125th anniversary, rounding out the year by announcing a partnership with another KC institution: Hyer Boots.

Hyer Boots, the Kansas City brand credited with inventing the original cowboy boot out of a cobbler’s shop in Olathe in 1875, went about designing and crafting a limited-edition boot just for the American Royal’s special milestone.

“I grew up attending American Royal events, from rodeos to livestock shows to the legendary barbecue,” says Zach Lawless,

CEO and great-great grandson of C.H. Hyer, the original boot maker. “The American Royal has always played a significant role in our community, and it’s an incredible honor to create the 125th anniversary boot.”

The cutter-toed and latte-hued boot has traditional embroidered cowboy boot detail in the red and blue colors of the American Royal, but with the AR’s crown insignia and monogram displayed front and center. The special boot collaboration honors a shared history between the two brands in the Kansas City Western and livestock scene dating back to the 1800s, says Ken Wagner, chairman of the American Royal board of directors.

This moment brings things full circle, says Lawless. “Both Hyer and the American Royal have deep roots in the Western heritage of Kansas City, and it’s incredibly gratifying to reunite the two to celebrate the longevity and resilience of the Royal,” he says.

Midtown Abbey

An historic Kansas City church is transformed into a luxury wedding and entertainment venue

By Sophia Lacy

This page: The iconic facade of the historic Melrose Abbey building. Right: Owners Johnny and Abby Youssef with daughter Laney.

Far right: Melrose Abbey’s wedding ceremony space.

FOR YEARS, Johnny Youssef had his eye on the 115-year-old vacant stone church before he was able to snag it. A TikTok-famous house-flipper and renovator, Youssef knew the historic building had potential.

In 2015, Youssef learned it was for sale but wasn’t in a position to buy it. However, in 2022, after years of driving by the historic midtown building (3931 Washington St.), the property was for sale again, and Youssef knew he had to seize the moment. At the same time, he and his soon-to-be wife Abby were planning their own wedding. The two had toured a variety of venues and started to become familiar with the industry. Two months before they said “I do,” they closed on the church, and renovations started soon after.

The name Melrose Abbey came from the well-known Los Angeles street Melrose Avenue, which Youssef lived near during his time in Southern California. He loved the name and its meaning, “honey of a flower.” The name “Abbey” has multiple meanings for the couple. With it being his wife’s name and also the name of a monastic religious structure for nuns and monks, it seemed like the perfect name for the old church.

“I really liked the combination because Melrose is the romantic and heart side and then Abbey is that mind side of love,” Youssef says. “I googled Melrose Abbey to see if anyone had used that name before, and there’s an old Scottish abbey called Melrose Abbey. It’s kind of in ruins, but it looks just like our building.”

When it came to the renovation, Youssef wanted to prioritize creating a perfect wedding and entertainment venue while also honoring the church’s rich history. Born in Egypt and raised by two Egyptian parents, Youssef says it’s important for him to bring people together, and this venue is a perfect vehicle for that.

“I think growing up in a strong hospitable culture, we’ve always had a kind of open door policy in our home,” Youssef says. “We just love having people over. The reason I got into it is because I just love hospitality. I love offering people an experience.”

Although it has cost almost triple what Youssef originally thought and has taken nearly twice as long to complete than initially planned, it has been worth it.

“I was really naive to how much it was going to cost and how much time it was going to take,” Youssef says. “I was too optimistic. Quitting was not an option once I started. I just had to figure out a way.”

For months, the couple discovered hidden stained glass windows, old wooden rails and other unique features that make Melrose Abbey what it is today. At one point, someone suggested getting rid of the plaster wall that stood along the exterior wall on the balcony level. Once removed, they discovered a beautiful stained glass window and an original wooden railing handmade by the founding 1920 Swedish congregation.

“It is easy on paper to make a plan, but for the historic building, the actual execution had its challenges,” Youssef says. “Some walls were more difficult to work with than we thought, so doing major construction on a historic property had its challenges to be able to protect and preserve it while being able to do what we needed to do.”

While most wedding venues provide a space for the ceremony, reception and often rooms for the party to get ready in, Youssef’s goal is to make the location the backdrop of the entire wedding weekend experience.

“If you think about it, the bride and groom usually go to a place where they’re getting ready, and then there’s the ceremony, reception and then everyone goes to their home,” Youssef says. “We wanted to make it more of an experience.”

With phase one done, which includes a renovated church sanctuary that boasts a 12-foot chandelier for the ceremony and an event space that includes a moody marble bar, the team has now started on phase two: the hotel. The plan is to create a few suites for the wedding party and guests so they can stay on-site during a weekend of wedding activities.

“Instead of people just going home and driving to different hotels, we thought it would be great to offer suites for the wedding party or whomever they want to have with them a place to stay together and create memories,” Youssef says.

Canine Cops

A local nonprofit formed to help support Kansas City’s police dogs

By Ryan Reed

THE BOND BETWEEN a K9 officer and their dog is strong. So strong that when a police dog retires, they more often than not become the sole responsibility of their handler—the officer they worked with most closely.

Last year, when Kansas City Police Sgt. and K9 Officer Matt Taylor was eligible to retire, he decided to extend his service rather than leave his K9 partner’s side, making sure they left the force at the same time. It’s a strong bond, one that the nonprofit KCPD K9 Friends supports.

KCPD K9 Friends, whose sole mission is to provide support to police dogs and their handlers, helps Taylor with expenses related to his retired four-legged partner, “Leaning” Leon. “We wanted to really recognize that these dogs have provided a big service to the community,” says Jackie Cudahy, co-founder and president of the

“At the end of the day, even though they are working, they are still dogs. They need affection and like to play.”

organization. “So we want to make sure that they are taken care of. At the end of the day, even though they are working, they are still dogs. They need affection and like to play.”

Cudahy, who attended the KCPD Citizen Police Academy and then volunteered with the academy’s alumni association, saw a need, and along with other volunteers, formed the nonprofit in 2022. “I’m involved because I love the K9s and I like supporting the police department,” she says. “Our whole mission is about supporting the active and retired K9s of the KCPD.”

Some types of necessary care and training gear are not covered by the department’s budget, Cudahy says. Similarly, there are times when a dog must retire early, which brings a different financial strain. For example, when Missouri legalized recreational marijuana, there were three highly trained K9s that had to be retired due to their intense specialization with the now-legal drug.

“One of the big things that we are most proud of is providing a financial stipend each year to offset some of the expense for food and veterinary care,” Cudahy says. “It doesn’t cover everything, but hopefully as we grow we’ll be able to increase that amount.”

The Kansas City Police Department currently employs around 20 dogs, mainly Belgian Malinois Shepherds. “They are similar to German Shepherds but are smaller, leaner and more agile,” Cudhay says.

These K9 units work for the police force in a number of different capacities, from drug enforcement to bomb detection. They go through a rigorous, months-long training program before they are introduced to their handler. The police officer who is being assigned a new dog will go to the training facility and spend time with the dogs before they find one that works well with them. After that, almost all their time is spent together, both on and off the clock.

KCPD K9 Friends has created a 2025 calendar featuring the police department’s dogs and handlers. To learn more, visit kcpdk9friends.org.

Our Mission: KCBR Design | Remodel is dedicated to community involvement, personal development, and professional growth. We accomplish every goal by setting the bar at the highest levels in service to our clients, our vendors, and our teams. We energize the lives we touch with endless positivity, inspiration, and the power to make a lasting impact.

DARK AND LIGHT

By Dawnya Bartsch

Photography by Laura Kilgore

PREVIOUS SPREAD:

The contrasting use of white with deep, dark hues of black, navy and green creates a neutral but dramatic theme throughout the house, perfectly showcased in the home’s main living area.

ABOVE:

“[The homeowners] have one of the most beautiful lots that backs into the woods,” Lindstrom says. “The home is carved out among the trees, so we really wanted to bring nature indoors.” Lindstrom created the “moody vibe” by using a dark green color on the cabinets that mimics the woods outside. For the bar’s backsplash, she also used deep green.

AND

both like things a little bit rustic and a little bit modern, so when they embarked on building their own house, they aimed for a “modern mountain style” that’s perfectly in tune with the home’s locale nestled among the trees.

“The homeowners really loved the modern mountain style and wanted to embrace that for their new home,” says ML Designs’ Maureen Lindstrom, who worked with the Fosters on their approximately 6,300 square-foot home.

“The wife’s style is a bit more modern than the husband’s, so we were trying to find the perfect mix to marry the two styles together for a design they both would love.” And they do.

“We thought the darker colors reminded us of other modern mountain style homes we admired and blended well with the surrounding landscape,” Ben says.

BEN

BETH Foster

The powder room’s “wow” factor comes from a backlit half-moon-shaped mirror that the homeowners found and fell in love with, says Lindstrom, who designed the bathroom around the piece.

The asymmetrical piece lends itself well to the homeowners’ modern aesthetic, Lindstrom says.

A soaking tub sits in a peaceful, spa like atmosphere in the home’s primary bathroom.

ABOVE:

The walnut island features a rich wood grain and is topped with a blue quartzite, adding just the right amount of drama, Lindstrom says.

LEFT:

RIGHT:

The

in Kansas City

BY

IT’S BEEN A COUPLE YEARS since we updated our list of KC’s best restaurants. Coming fresh off the pandemic, the 2022 version made only minor updates to the list released in 2019. Our 2025 list is meant to shake things up a bit.

There are many reasons why KC isn’t a flyover city, but our vibrant food scene may be one of the most notable ones. While we understand that food is subjective, we at Kansas City magazine also pride ourselves on being an authoritative voice on the good stuff. This year’s list is meant to not only provide a fresh take on the latest in KC but also serve as a guide to great food and those bringing their A-game to provide it. From exclusive omakase menus to the family-owned Indian restaurant tucked away in a shopping center, these spots are consistent, solid and together create the vibrant fabric of our food scene. It’s an exciting time to be a foodie in KC.

SHAUNA GILDEN, JOHN MARTELLARO, RYAN REED, TYLER SHANE, HAMPTON STEVENS AND KYLE WISECARVER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE CURRID AND PILSEN PHOTO COOP

New RESTAURANT

GREEN DIRT ON OAK

SARAH HOFFMANN DIDN’T intend for Green Dirt on Oak to be a fine dining restaurant. The Crossroads space was intended to be another production facility for her Weston-based sheep’s milk cheese company Green Dirt Farm. But chef Oskar Arévalo, who had been a cheese maker at Green Dirt since 2020, convinced Hoffmann of the two-story building’s potential.

Green Dirt on Oak did end up becoming a cheese facility, but it’s also a cafe (downstairs) and farm-to-table restaurant (upstairs). While the beautiful upstairs dining room serves a slightly more sophisticated and elevated menu, the cafe’s more casual offerings of Reubens with shredded lamb and cinnamon rolls with sheep’s cheese icing pack an equally impressive artisan quality as well. As far as Hoffmann’s journey from cheesemonger to restaurant owner, it’s not just about showcasing cheeses anymore. At Green Dirt on Oak, it’s about deriving creativity from sustainability—and that’s why we’re naming it KC’s Best New Restaurant. Everything that can be locally sourced is. Everything that can be made in house is. Starting with the lamb, Arévalo sources it from Green Dirt’s sheep farm in Weston. The goal is to use every bit of it, so it’s commonly seen throughout the menus. It doesn’t matter if lamb “isn’t your thing.” Arévalo prepares it in so many different ways that the fla-

1601 OAK ST., KCMO greendirtfarm.com

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vor you know as “lamb” becomes trivial. There’s lamb tartare, lamb ragu, leg of lamb, even a lamb burger. The Reuben is made with corned lamb, but because Green Dirt doesn’t make the equivalent of a Swiss cheese, the common choice for the sandwich, Arévalo uses the byproduct of various other cheeses to create a worthy parallel. His “waste not” mentality ensures unique dishes every time.

Of course, Green Dirt’s cheeses are integral to the menu. It may sound cliche, but this is one charcuterie board you don’t want to miss and, of course, Arévalo agrees with me. You get to choose the cheeses featured on the board, and Dirt Lover, a soft funky cheese that just won a silver medal at the prestigious World Cheese Awards in 2024, should be on it. Alongside the cheeses are housemade chicken liver mousse, country pâté made from whole hogs, nuts with different candied coatings and sourdough bread made with native yeast from Missouri.

The cheesecake made with Green Dirt’s fresh soft cheese should be the finish to every meal.

If you happen to find yourself at Green Dirt for a more casual visit, the downstairs coffee bar shouldn’t be overlooked. Sheep’s milk straight from the farm is one of the milk options. I had to indulge. It was the most expensive ($8), best cappuccino I’ve ever had. – TS

HOW WE MADE THIS LIST

WE WENT

Our team visited hundreds of restaurants over the past year to pick the top 40. We did not announce our presence, and we paid for our own food. All listings are based on experiences within the last year.

WE FOCUS ON FOOD

We aim to recognize extraordinary food, whatever the format of the restaurant. Service and atmosphere are important, but we’ll overlook hiccups if we’re blown away by the food.

WE PREFER CHEF-DRIVEN SPOTS

Plenty of successful restaurants are bastions of consistency and tradition. In our rankings, we admit a preference for restaurants that showcase personal touches and a cook’s unique perspective.

WE JUDGE EACH RESTAURANT ON ITS OWN MERITS

We look for restaurants that are good at what they are trying to be, whether that is fine dining or a quick lunch spot. We seek to celebrate the city’s worldly cuisines over very good steakhouses.

SUSHI KODAWARI

2100 CENTRAL ST., #12, KCMO sushikodawari.com

TO SAY THAT KC’s first omakase-style restaurant, Sushi Kodawari, is “exclusive” is an understatement. The eight-seat sushi bar is only open for two seatings a night Wednesday through Sunday. That’s only 80 diners a week, assuming no one cancels their reservation.

It’s more than dinner, really. As you sit in the intricately curated dining room, inspired by the traditional sushi houses of Tokyo, chef and owner Karson Thompson takes center stage, meticulously slicing fish like bluefin tuna, blue mackerel and blackthroat seaperch. Great sushi isn’t so much about freshness as it is about great quality fish. Nevertheless, Thompson has guys on the ground in the Tokyo fish markets, letting him know the catch of the day and flying it direct to KC. Thompson, a former lawyer, methodically prepares each course, maybe katsuo nigiri or sea urchin on toasted brioche, and places it on a plate in front of you to enjoy immediately. In between, he grinds wasabi root to a paste and explains his concerns for the alabaster white rice served at other sushi spots.

I had 16 courses on my last visit, including chawanmushi, a Japanese egg custard that Thompson topped with a fatty yellow tuna, and the best ora king salmon I’ve ever had. For dessert, a small scoop of vanilla ice cream drizzled with aged soy sauce. – TS

SHAGAN’S

14521 METCALF AVE., OVERLAND PARK, KS shagansop.com

$

WHILE DINING AT Shagan’s, there will be no question that it’s family-owned. Shagan Bajwa, who owns the Indian restaurant along with her husband, is known for grazing the dining room and checking in on her customers to see if they are enjoying her recipes. This is half the draw for Shagan’s regulars. The other half is the comforting Northern Indian dishes made in house each day. While typically I’d recommend being adventurous and ordering something unfamiliar from the menu, at Shagan’s there’s absolutely no shame in ordering the more familiar butter chicken dish. Creamy curries and sauces are par for the course in Bajwa’s native Punjab region of Northern India, and Bajwa makes it slightly tangy, not too sweet and delightfully rich. For some fun, try the pani puri, an Indian street food in which you scoop a potato filling into hollow crispy balls, pour spiced water in and eat quickly before the vessel breaks. – TS

FOX AND PEARL

2143 SUMMIT ST., KCMO foxandpearlkc.com

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FOX AND PEARL may be the best date spot in Kansas City. Chef Vaughn Good, the 2020 James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Best Chef: Midwest, creates robust and interesting plates that beg to be talked about. The service is attentive, with knowledgeable staff to answer any questions the dishes may pose. The lighting and music, from the open and spanning main bar to the cozy and intimate downstairs bar, are soft and familiar enough to elevate the entire evening. But like any good date night spot, the food is where the art resides. Chef Good takes pedestrian street foods like the scotch egg and rustic staples like smoked pork chops and transforms them into experiences. He’s a master of meat (and is opening a honky-tonk dive bar that serves barbecue downstairs). The juicy pork chop needs almost no accoutrements. He respects the classics but also has fun, as seen in the apple, blue cheese and walnut sausage (yup, you read that right). The experience of eating it is exactly what you would think it to be except somehow the flavors are more vibrant and distinct than expected. Fox and Pearl remains a place worth the price, and the meal demands to be a part of your evening with either old friends or new. – RR

GG’S BARBACOA CAFÉ

1032 MINNESOTA AVE., KCK ggsbarbacoacafekc.com

$

WHILE GG’S QUESABIRRIA tacos are a crowd favorite, the rest of the menu should also be explored. Fusing flavors from Tabasco, Mexico, where owners and husband and wife duo Gabriel and Lourdes Gonzalez are from, along with a barbecue cooking style, this KCK gem’s smoked brisket and pulled pork rival some of the city’s best.

The space may be small, but the menu is extensive. Don’t let the bars on the windows deter you. Service is quick, the portions are solid, and each dish, from chilaquiles to prime rib cheeseburgers, comes complete with onions, cilantro, a lime and a plump charred jalapeno.– TS

READERS’ CHOICE

Our Best Restaurants list always inspires debate, so we asked you, our readers, for input. There are many reasons why a restaurant may not make the list. Some restaurants may have made our list in previous years and we wanted to make room for new candidates, or maybe a beloved spot underwent some changes and we’re not sure how the tweaks will pan out. Nevertheless, we understand a list of best restaurants is subjective. So, we asked, and you answered. Here are a few top picks from our readers and followers that aren’t featured in our list.

CORVINO

SLAP’S BBQ

THE SAVOY

BILLIE’S GROCERY

BARBACOA KC RAGAZZA

HEMMA HEMMA

7122 WORNALL ROAD, KCMO hemmahemma.com

FOUNDED BY CHEF Ashley Bare, Hemma Hemma is a standout for beautifully merging home-cooked comfort with gourmet flair. Bare’s culinary journey began as a private chef, cooking in homes throughout the city and spreading warmth through food. She brings this cooking style to her breakfast and lunch spot, Hemma Hemma. It’s cozy with a cool retro vibe, reminiscent of an old-school living room, making you feel right at home. Hemma Hemma means ‘at home’ in Swedish, after all.

Transcending traditional dining, Hemma Hemma has a dining room, market and coffee bar that serves an array of house-made pastries. Head to the market’s refrigerated case and you’ll find some of the best grab-and-go and pre-prepared meals in the city, like miso chicken meatballs, chicken amatriciana pasta bakes, shepherd’s pie and so much more.

As for dining in, you can’t go wrong with the fluffy egg sandwich, pickle chicken bacon ranch salad, smoked salmon with herby feta and dill or the comforting katsu curry. You can also take a page out of America’s favorite football mom, Donna Kelce’s, book and order her favorite Hemma Hemma menu item: the homemade cinnamon rolls.

No matter what you order, be sure to grab a sesame tahini cookie—a delectable twist on the classic peanut butter cookie. – SG

HARP BARBECUE

12094 W. 135TH ST., OVERLAND PARK, KS harpbarbecue.com $$

THE MOVE FROM Raytown to Overland Park left intact Harp’s reputation for smoky, succulent meats, generally regarded as among the metro’s top tier. Owner-pitmaster Tyler Harp traveled the country to sample and learn from a variety of regional techniques, so there’s some Tennessee tang to his pulled pork and a hint of San Antonio saltiness to his acclaimed beef brisket. In addition to the brisket, Harp’s other claim to fame is having unique sausage varieties, such as a blueberry-white cheddar, in which the fruit provides an accent flavor but not overt sweetness. The sides of sweet potato mash, sesame slaw and twice-baked potato salad are not to be missed either.

The new location is the former site of Jon Russell’s Barbecue, which Harp often visited while growing up. It’s a cozy, comfy counter-service dining room offering classic rib joint atmosphere with checkered tablecloths, brick and corrugated tin walls, and photos of Kansas City landmarks and sports teams. If your previous experience with Harp Barbecue is when it started as a pop-up at Crane Brewing, be advised that the Overland Park restaurant does not serve alcohol. – JM

PHO

VIETNAM CAFE HAS long been touted as the Vietnamese spot in KC, and it is very good. But when it comes to satiating a craving for pho, I’m heading to Pho Lan. This family-run, no-frills joint sits quietly on the edge of the River Market. The portions are massive and hearty. The pho isn’t too sweet yet bursts with subtle hints of anise, clove and cinnamon. If you’re looking to stray from pho, the hearty soup of bún bò Huế is stunning with vermicelli noodles, slices of beef shank, pigs feet and chunks of pork blood. It sings with a splash of lime. – TS

BAR FOOD CAN BE GOOD, TOO

Bar food used to mean chicken wings, nachos and pub-style burgers—basically anything deep-fried and served with a side of ranch or ketchup. Now, good eating is often one of the draws to a drinking establishment, and our local bars and breweries are challenging the definition of bar food.

We’re also seeing kitchens in breweries and bars become the breeding grounds for food pop-ups and vendors to plant roots. It’s a low-risk move that allows vendors to sell their food at a brick and mortar without the commitment of opening a restaurant.

Here are several bars and breweries around KC that are elevating the bar food game.

VARSITY CLUB/DISCO BURGER

Amazingly, Varsity Club is currently the only cocktail bar in the River Market. But people aren’t just coming there for the drinks. They’re also coming for Disco Burger, the outdoor smash burger food trailer. The burger, with its raw onions, is perfection.

TORN LABEL/TACOS VALENTINA

Torn Label is hidden in the Crossroads and has a great large taproom. It also happens to have a kitchen that houses Tacos Valentina, a taqueria that makes its own corn tortillas. These tacos are some of the best in the city, using fresh ingredients and fresh, hand-pressed tortillas.

JIM’S ALLEY BAR

Jim’s came on the scene with a great bar food menu at the ready. The Crossroads bar is best known for its Italian beef sandwich. I recommend making it a combo with both sausage and beef.

KING G

It’s not often you can be in a cocktail bar setting and grab a hot ham and cheese sandwich at 10:30 pm, but at King G, you get the best of both worlds. Neighboring their deli of the same name, King G offers their sandwich menu alongside their craft cocktails.

XO HIFI LOUNGE

Chef Johnny Leach of The Town Co. spearheads the menu in this Japanese-inspired listening lounge. It’s filled with elevated Japanese eats, all with Leach’s creative twist, like tamago sandos and bowls of katsu curry.

FRENCH MARKET

6943 TOMAHAWK ROAD, PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS frenchmarketkc.com

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THE FRENCH MARKET in Prairie Village is where the energetic ambiance is as noteworthy as the exceptional food, wine and cocktails. Whether you’re craving breakfast, lunch or dinner, this charming spot drives on consistency and effortlessly delivers a delightful dining experience.

The menu is an interesting blend of comfort food, homemade pastries, artisanal cheeses and a well-balanced craft cocktail program. Signature dishes such as the croque monsieur and both sweet and savory crepes have collected a devoted following, ensuring that satisfied diners keep coming back for more. While the classic crepe with nutella, strawberries and sliced bananas may be tempting, don’t sleep on the savory options that come with eggs and bacon.

The vibrant indoor and outdoor seating creates the perfect atmosphere to enjoy your French-style meal while soaking in the unique energy of Prairie Village’s shopping center. Relax with a glass of wine and savor one of their standout offerings, like the cheese and charcuterie platter, which features a selection of artisanal cured meats, house-made pâté and specialty cheeses.

If you’re on the go, French Market offers an array of gourmet grab-and-go entrees, soups, salads and sandwiches, along with fresh bread and pastries for an easy yet delicious weeknight dinner. – SG

ACRE

6325 LEWIS ST., PARKVILLE, MO acrekc.com

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ACRE COMBINES fine-dining flavors with an upscale-casual vibe in a norm-breaking location: a strip mall in suburbanized western Parkville. It befits the varied background of chef-owner Andrew Longres, who grew up in Liberty, where his grandparents had a farm and he learned to hunt, fish and garden. He went on to cook at Bluestem and the American Restaurant in Kansas City after three years at the renowned French Laundry in Napa.

The dry-aged steak program, led by a 14-ounce, 45-day ribeye, is the centerpiece of the menu. The wood-fired hearth on which the steaks and other dishes are cooked is the center of the open kitchen and the dining room as well. The menu focuses on Midwestern-sourced ingredients and offers enhanced classics such as fried chicken and a dry-aged burger with red onion marmalade and spicy aioli. Don’t-miss items include the Fairytale Pumpkin Soup with poached cherries and Marcona almonds and Basque Cheesecake with apple cider caramel. Bonus for hard-core foodies: a five-course tasting menu. Bonus for families: an actual kids’ menu. – JM

KATA NORI

404 E. 18TH ST., KCMO katanorikc.com

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AT KATA NORI, the sushi itamae (chefs who have mastered the art of sushi) work their magic behind a 24-seat laminated wood bar. What they offer is unique and deserving of voyeurism. They specialize in hand rolls, a kind of sushi where fish, rice and other fillings are rolled into nori, or seaweed, in a cylindrical shape. After the chef prepares each individual hand roll, they’ll present it on the plate in

SICHUAN

DYNASTY

7206 W. 119TH ST., OVERLAND PARK, KS sichuandynastyop.com

$

SICHUAN FOOD IS recognized for its bold flavors—garlic, chilies and Sichuan peppercorn to be exact—and this strip mall gem delivers the heat. While you could throw a dart at the menu and be satisfied with whatever meal it landed on, the braised beef noodle soup is my current cold-weather favorite. It packs a spicy punch. First timers should experience the dry hot pot, although it has high spice levels. Grab a side of Sichuan-style green beans and bok choy to help put out the flame. – TS

front of you. It’s recommended to eat it immediately so the seaweed delivers that delightful crunch. Whether it’s a hand roll or one of their delicious crudos you’re enjoying, the quality of Kata Nori’s yellowtail, tuna and wagyu is unmatched. The crudos are expertly paired with ingredients like fruit, vinegar and vibrant sauces to complement their seafood.

As for drinks, a must-try is their carefully selected sake, served in a wooden box. Originally used to measure rice, the masu symbolizes abundance but also enhances the sake with a subtle woody taste. Kata Nori is quickly becoming a staple in the Crossroads area, blending tradition with minimalism to highlight the best of Japanese culture and cuisine. – KW

RESTAURANT WEEK

KC’s premier annual dining event is happening this month from January 10-19. Each participating restaurant will have a coursed menu available at a discounted rate. With over 200 restaurants participating, it’s the perfect opportunity to try a restaurant you haven’t before.

YOLI TORTILLERIA

1668

AFTER YOLI TORTILLERIA owners Marissa and Mark Gencarelli won the national James Beard Award for Outstanding Bakery in 2024, they announced their plans to expand with a dine-in breakfast and lunch spot. The long awaited eatery finally opened towards the end of last year inside Yoli’s Westside retail space, and it doesn’t disappoint. The menu matches its nineseat interior: It’s small, inspired by Mexico’s loncherias, or lunch counters that serve casual menus filled with comforting quick bites. Marissa focuses on the fresh flavors from her upbringing on the Sonoran coast. There are mini carnitas burritos wrapped in Yoli’s sonoran-style tortillas, tamales filled with juicy pork ribs and a chicken tinga tostada dressed with purslane, a spinach-like microgreen. Also found on the menu is an extensive list of local farmers and producers Yoli creates their dishes from.

Finish your meal with a masa ice cream sandwich or whatever seasonal drink is being offered (most recently it was possibly the best apple cider I’ve ever had, infused with hibiscus and guava). – TS

When you dine out during restaurant week, you’re dining out for a cause. Each year, Visit KC and The Greater Restaurant Association partner with a chosen charity to donate a portion of the profits from Restaurant Week. This year’s charity is House of Hope. House of Hope aims to help families break free of poverty through a grocery distribution program. Be sure to use the hashtag #KCRW2025 when posting your meals on social media. For more information, head to kcrestaurantweek.com.

BABA’S PANTRY

1019 E. 63RD ST., KCMO babaspantrykc.com

ONE OF THE best restaurants in Kansas City has four tables. Okay, “best” is obviously subjective. But Baba’s Pantry is utterly, ridiculously, absurdly tasty. Since Yahia “Baba” Kamal opened his namesake in July 2021, the little Palestinian restaurant off Troost has quickly become the stuff of local legend. And national legend. In 2022, no less a publication than Bon Appétit named it among the best 10 new restaurants in the country.

WALDO THAI

8431 WORNALL ROAD, KCMO waldothai.com

WALDO THAI JUST keeps getting better at what they were already great at: creating some of the best Thai food in the metro. It’s one of those solid places that has you ooh-ing and aw-ing with approval and delight at each plate. We’re not the only ones who recognize how great the food is. Chef Pam Liberda was a semifinalist in the James Beard award’s Best Chef: Midwest category in 2023. Try the Kee Mow Beef. The noodles are the perfect blend of soft and snappy while still holding together. The alchemical choir of crispy flank steak, bell pepper, serrano and basil with the noodles is the embodiment of the magical nuance that makes Thai food interesting and just plain fun.

But Liberda is not content to rest on Waldo Thai’s laurels. A rotating weekly small-plate menu introduces novel and familiar dishes to keep us coming back. Recently, I tried the Gai Tord, a Japanese Karaagestyle fried chicken marinated in garlic, shallots, cumin, rice flour and sake and served with a sriracha aioli. Think chicken tenders but with outstanding complexity.

Waldo Thai is busy, and a reservation is suggested, but it’s good enough that you don’t mind if your only choice is to have dinner at 5 pm. – RR

The vibes will strike you first. The cozy, quaint storefront is filled with pictures, memorabilia and doodads celebrating the family’s Palestinian heritage, most of it curated by Kamal Kamal, Baba’s oldest son.

But the star here isn’t ambiance. It’s bold flavors and big portions, be it falafel, kabob or a variety of shawarma dishes, including vegetarian options. Do not miss the bold and silky hummus, quite literally among the world’s best, with the kind of spice that resonates deeply in harmony with the other ingredients. This is thoughtful stuff: food as art, family and passion.

Baba’s Pantry is also, you know, a pantry. Don’t leave without a hefty supply of lovingly crafted, pre-packaged take-home goods. There’s torshi, a gloriously spicy relish of pickled vegetables. There’s shatta, a Middle Eastern jalapeno spread. There’s shanklish, pickled mango, baba ghanoush and baklava to die for. All of it, whether pre-packed or readymade, is created with love and care. You’ll walk in hungry. You’ll leave full, probably with leftovers and maybe even feeling like family. – HS

THE ANTLER ROOM

2506 HOLMES ST., KCMO theantlerroomkc.com

$$$$

EVERY VISIT TO The Antler Room is an invitation to savor the artistry of food. Co-owned by husband-and-wife team Leslie and Nick Goellner, this cozy neighborhood restaurant offers a warm, inviting atmosphere, with everything made from scratch. Chef Nick oversees back-of-house operations, while Leslie manages the front and helms the bar program with select wines and craft cocktails. Since opening, Nick has been nominated for the James Beard Award’s Best Chef: Midwest category three times.

The restaurant’s menu changes daily, reflecting seasonal ingredients and inspiration from the Goellners’ global escapades. When they return from their travels, they put the inspired flavors on their menu, with their own innovative twist. No matter the dish, each is presented masterfully.

Leslie, with her extensive restaurant management background, invites her customers to “come with an open mind, an empty stomach and let the staff guide your experience.” Service includes an intuitive pacing out of your meal, and you should pace yourself. You’ll most likely devour each dish in its entirety.

We recommend the whipped ricotta mushroom focaccia, crispy roasted pork belly and winter squash caramelle pasta, artfully shaped like candy wrappers. – SG

THE RESTAURANT AT 1900

1900 SHAWNEE

MISSION PARKWAY, MISSION WOODS, KS therestaurantat1900.com

$$$$

BEING RECOGNIZED FOR outstanding hospitality is no easy feat, yet The Restaurant at 1900 manages to run its ship so well that it was a semifinalist in the category for the James Beard Awards in 2023. Upon my last visit, the service was still impeccable, from the bartender helping me select a wine to the hostess having my coat ready as I was on my way out.

The menu is just as polished, with a modern edge that boasts oysters poached in sake butter, duck bolognese, fried pheasant waffles and wild boar. Chef Linda Duerr, who was nominated for the James Beard Best Chef: Midwest award, creates dishes with edgy, unapologetic and complex flavors. The dessert of chocolate banana pudding came with a side of potato chips—and somehow, it worked.

I highly recommend a late week dinner or sitting at the bar. Part of the fun of dining here is witnessing the lively atmosphere, especially as the night goes on. – TS

CLAY AND FIRE

HIDDEN IN THE Westside neighborhood, a glowing neon sign hangs above a cascade of concrete steps, leading diners toward what was once a modest two-story house. The former living room, kitchen and bedrooms have been transformed into Clay and Fire, a restaurant that prides itself on a blend of local produce and a menu inspired by the Near East. Their live-fire kitchen employs a combination of direct, indirect and spit-roasting techniques to deliver Turkish, Georgian and Persian flavors. Clay and Fire’s mastery of the open flame elevates simple dishes into culinary experiences. Must-trys

are the warm, oily and spicy hummus starters, juicy meat kebabs with charred tomatoes, and roasted peppers. The Persian butter rice, rich and aromatic, is the perfect complement.

Don’t underestimate the Grandma’s pizza. Straight from the inferno, their wood-fired pies emerge crowned with pools of rich tomato sauce and irresistible melted cheese.

Clay and Fire rotates its entrees and pizzas to keep the menu fresh and exciting. It’s this blend of innovation and tradition that makes them one of the best restaurants in the neighborhood. – KW

PHOTOGRAPHY

THE ITALIAN SAUSAGE COMPANY

7319 N. OAK TRAFFICWAY, GLADSTONE

theitaliansausageco.com

$

ALTHOUGH I HAD heard tales of these mythical sammies from the Gladstone wilds, I was not prepared to encounter this beast. They serve easily the best Italian deli sandwich in the city—if you can, python-like, unhinge your jaw far enough to consume. Piled high with more meats and cheeses than my word count will allow me to describe, each bite is perfection. Between a fluffybut-strong seeded Italian loaf, the components are stacked high and spaceless. The discreet pepperoni, capocollo and provolone harmonize into a singular verse of cured meat and cheese. Chewing is work, but as the saying goes: Do something you love and you will never work another day in your life. That might be strong hyperbole, but the sandwich is good, folks.

Owners Joe Jr. and Michelle Brancato’s dedication to their Italian heritage doesn’t just shine through their hot and cold sandwiches. Like the name implies, they also make and sell craft sausages, which topped our audience-rated local list. The amount of heart, charm and kindness smooshed into this strip mall deli can’t be understated. Don’t get overwhelmed by all the words on their menu. Bring a friend and get the No. 7. – RR

EARL’S PREMIER

EARL’S OFFERS THE city’s best seafood raw bar, along with a short list of superb cooked seafood dishes, served up in a not-quite-divey classic bar and grill space.

Months before opening, chef-owner Todd Schulte and his business partner Cory Dannehl traveled to the coasts to build relationships with small, local oystermen whose bounty of rare varieties is shipped in daily. Oysters are served on the half shell over ice with classic cocktail sauce, a cava mignonette in a miniature glass shaker bottle and a delightful horseradish ice.

The oysters, crudos and seafood towers from the raw bar are augmented with trendy items such as tinned fish and caviar bumps. The rest of the menu has evolved steadily since the 2022 opening. Current selections include a lobster roll, skillet-roasted mussels with garlic and white wine, pan-seared scallops with “dirty” beurre blanc and a fresh catch of the day. The well-stocked bar is noted for its daily selection of frozen cocktails, always including their signature gin and tonic. Not to worry for the landlubbers: The classic cheeseburger is made from wagyu and dang good, too. – JM

DISTRICT BISKUITS

504 ARMOUR ROAD, NORTH KCMO districtbiskuits.com $

GUROUX KHALIFAH, OWNER and head chef of the Northland’s District Biskuits, has made something big, and it’s not just his homemade biscuits. Trained at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Atlanta, Khalifah has brought his skills back home and applied them to a fast casual restaurant selling biscuit sandwiches that are almost too big to wrap your hands around.

While not everything is made in-house in this Northland gem, the biscuits—the vehicle for almost all the sandwiches found on the menu—are always made from scratch daily. As your eyes scan the menu, you’ll notice each biscuit sandwich has a theme and represents a different area of Kansas City.

The Wonder, named after the Wonder Bread building on Troost Avenue, is the staple. The fried-chicken breakfast sandwich also shoulders scrambled eggs, bacon and American cheese. No one component is overpowering or takes the stage (though the biscuit and the chicken alone would be a hit). There is a pepperiness to it, and the fried chicken isn’t too salty, so it makes a beautiful, savory song with the biscuit and the bacon. As for the cheese, well, it just keeps it all together. Khalifah is crushing it here, and District Biskuits is bringing others along on the journey by featuring local businesses, such as Black Drip Coffee. – RR

MATTIE’S FOODS

633 E. 63RD ST., #110, KCMO mattiesfoods.com

VEGAN FOOD HAS two levels. The first, and by far the most common, is “good for what it is.” That is, vegan food that’s trying to be a replacement for meals made with animal products. Then there’s the second level: vegan food that’s just plain good. It’s not fake. It’s not trying to be a substitute for anything else. It’s simply being its own, delicious self. Mattie’s Foods falls into the second category. These homestyle dishes aren’t just “good for vegans.” They’re good, period.

That’s not to say there aren’t any approximations on the menu. The chicken and biscuit has no chicken, for instance, and the sausage gravy has no pork. But they still make fantastic standalone meals, rich and fulfilling—not in spite of their ingredients but because of them.

The best thing about this restaurant, says Jada Woods, daughter and niece of the owners, is the culture. “We have a very family-oriented culture. Everything about Mattie’s comes with love and happiness, and everything’s just joyful.”

It’s true. You can taste it. And it’s a taste that’s second to none. – HS

DESPITE HAVING BEEN open since 1996, Le Fou Frog has always remained slightly under the radar as far as KC’s French restaurants go. Nestled on a corner in the River Market, the interior is just as much part of the experience as the meal itself.

The dining room oozes a sort of je ne sais quoi with its reddish-pink glow, red curtains, French art scattered along the walls and white tablecloths draping over each table. It hasn’t changed in the 15 years I’ve been dining there. That’s just the way Le Fou Frog is, and it doesn’t seem to go out of style.

As for the food, it’s classic—meaty and rich. There’s buttery escargot, lamb chops, steak tartare, veal osso buco and creme brulee, to name just a few items. A server once told me that Le Fou Frog has some of the freshest fish in the city. I’m not sure how true that is, but I do know I had the best Chilean sea bass ever while in their midst, so I’m prone to believe him. And if you can’t get into a steakhouse for your night out, their ribeye is one of the best steaks in the city. – TS

TAILLEUR

3933 MAIN ST., KCMO tailleuronmain.com

TAILLEUR’S MODERN FRENCH menu has gotten bigger, and meatier, with chef Jeff Workman helming the kitchen. Workman was a semifinalist for the James Beard’s Emerging Chef category last year while working at the West Bottom’s The Campground.

The French bistro should be visited for its duck alone. Wildly juicy and tender, it sits in a buttery jus with shallots and herbs and is served with a side of fries. My server said it was intended to be the restaurant’s new signature dish, and I think it’s worthy.

Roasted half chicken, rack of lamb and bacon-wrapped filet mignon also take on a sophisticated profile with rich yet restrained pairings. These are all dishes you’ve seen before but done very well. The cocktail menu, extensive wine list and French bakery are the cherry on the gâteau. – TS

FARINA

1901 BALTIMORE AVE., KCMO farinakc.com

SINCE IT OPENED nearly six years ago, Michael Smith’s Crossroads restaurant Farina remains a polished staple among KC’s fine dining scene. Throughout his decades of working as a chef and restaurateur, Smith, who has been consistently recognized through the years by the James Beard awards, nails one of the hardest parts of operating a restaurant: delivering consistency.

Service is always prompt and the food, regional Italian fare, is always satisfying—grilled octopus, house-made rigatoni all’Amatriciana and smoked mozzarella-stuffed veal chops are die-hard favorites. Some of the best seats in the house are at the oyster bar. While you’re there, treat yourself to the Sardinian black rice. Cooked in squid ink with shallots, Calabrian chiles and a spicy tomato sauce, it’s crunchy with a little bit of heat. – TS

WESTPORT CAFE

419 WESTPORT ROAD, KCMO westportcafeandbar.com

WESTPORT CAFE HAS always been a fan favorite when it comes to KC restaurants, but since head chef Thomas Milesi joined the team in 2023, the menu has taken on an innovative Mediterranean flare, reflecting Milesi’s Southern French roots. Maybe that’s what helped the restaurant’s executive chef Romain Monnoyeur gain national recognition last year as a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Midwest award. Either way, this French Westport gem is going strong and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.

Walleye from Lake Erie wrapped in a puff pastry with a chorizo rosemary sauce and perfectly cooked lamb chops sitting on a bed of fava beans, strawberries and mint are just a few examples of Westport Cafe’s indulgent and unique dishes. But you don’t always have to go for the big entrees when dining there. Sitting at the bar with a Bronson’s milk punch cocktail while grazing on hors d’oeuvres of chilled oysters and steak tartare with shaved foie gras is a great move any day, any time. – TS

OF COURSE

7753 W. 159TH ST., OVERLAND PARK ofcoursekc.com

SITTING BETWEEN FAST casual chains like Five Guys and Jinya Ramen in the deep south of Johnson County, Of Course is unexpected.

The upscale and modern Indian restaurant is swanky, innovative and cool, and Chef Swetha Newcomb solidifies her talent with a menu that plays off both her Indian roots and Midwestern upbringing. French fries seasoned with peri peri spice, filet mignon with coconut moilee and lamb ragu with pumpkin masala all pay homage to the duality of Newcomb’s heritage.

Whether ordering table shareables or having a 14-day dry aged ribeye to yourself, pair your meal with a cocktail. I recommend the Can’t C Me 2 cocktail with cucumber mezcal, clarified milk punch and a hint of spice from infused jalapeno. – TS

900 WESTPORT ROAD, KCMO chewologykc.com $$

CHEWOLOGY CONTINUES AS the stalwart spot in town for dumplings and bao buns. The entree items, like threecup mushroom ramen and braised pork belly rice, will call out to you, but tie yourself to the mast like Odysseus and keep your eyes on the prize. Chef Katie Liu, a James Beard Best Chef: Midwest semifinalist last year, solidifies my devotion to the steamed bun, and I can’t suggest highly enough that you don’t miss the Gao Bao.

Chewology’s bao resembles a slider more than the sandwich style you may have had before. The bread, or steamed bun, is divine—warm and fluffy, it holds whatever protein you’ve chosen with a delightful snap and tang. The Gao Bao has pork belly, mustard relish, cilantro and peanuts. It sings. The others are great, too, and must be paired with one of the innovative and fabulous cocktails.

Try Chewology’s take on an old fashioned, the Oolong Sling, made with oolong palm sugar syrup and tiki bitters. It’s subtle, pervasive and solid. As the ice melts and the presence of the star anise garnish increases, the drink just keeps getting better. – RR

THE TOWN COMPANY

1228 BALTIMORE AVE., KCMO

thetowncompany.com

$$$$

COSMO BURGER

7438 WORNALL ROAD, KCMO AND 8750 PENROSE LANE, LENEXA, KS

cosmoburgerkc.com

$

WE CAN SAFELY assume “do one thing and do it well” is the mantra of Cosmo Burger’s chef and owner Jacob Kruger. Cosmo Burger’s menu is without a doubt the smallest of any other restaurant on this list. At both its locations in the Lenexa Public Market and Dodson’s Bar & Commons in Waldo, the menu features a smash burger available with a single, double or triple patty. As for the single side option, it’s tots. Trust me, you won’t be craving anything else.

The greasy beef patties, American cheese, grilled onions and a perfectly smashable, slightly toasted, buttery potato bun are smash burger necessities. But Kruger takes it to new heights with his housebrined crispy pickles and a tangy secret sauce, making it the best burger in the city.

Pair that with a premade old fashioned available from Cosmo Burger’s cocktail menu (available only in the Lenexa Public Market location) and you’ve got one hell of a meal. – TS

HEAD CHEF Johnny Leach of The Town Company was a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: Midwest award last year. While highly recognized, he brings a personal approach to a restaurant with high standards.

Located within the iconic Hotel Kansas City, The Town Company focuses on what matters most: the guests. If you’ve dined here before, you’ve already been added to their guest book. The restaurant, like the hotel, places great emphasis on hospitality, ensuring every guest feels valued.

The Town Co. is intentional in every detail, from its timeless design and open kitchen to the pressed chef jackets and captivating natural wood-burning stove. The menu reflects this attention to detail, highlighting seasonal changes with local ingredients while maintaining a foundation of signature dishes that keep guests coming back.

One standout is the popular beef tartare. While a common starter dish at many restaurants, Leach’s version is rich, with a mild bite from the daikon and added saltiness from bottarga (cured fish eggs). Another crowd favorite is the roasted garlic and smoked chili pork chop—hearty, simple and satisfying. – KW

Savor and save with multi-course menus at hundreds of the region’s hottest restaurants –all with a portion of proceeds benefitting House of Hope.

Founding Partners

Platinum Sponsors:

J. Rieger & Co.

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Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop

Pierpont’s at Union Station

Meat Mitch Barbecue

Presented by

The new year sparks change, and we’ve teamed up with local professionals to help guide the way to a fresh start. You’ll find ways to feel better, look better, live better and come alive in ’25.

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weight loss

quality of life

Miles Medical Group

A lot of individuals make New Year’s resolutions to exercise or eat healthfully. One area of health and wellness that is frequently overlooked is hormone optimization. Men and women are at increased risk for hormonal imbalances as they age. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement can assist in improving bone density, heart health, memory, energy and sex drive, among other things. For more information about Bioidentical Hormone Replacement and functional wellness, contact Dr. Shynda F. Miles at 913-261-9812.

Dr. Tague's Center for Nutrition

Losing significant weight safely, and keeping it off, requires more than just a prescription. During any serious weight loss journey, a thorough medical evaluation, including lab work and body composition analysis are essential. Unmonitored weight loss on the new GLP-1’s may cause loss of muscle and bone. At the Center for Nutrition, powerful, rejuvenating nutrition plans are combined with weight loss medications that are available at affordable, generic prices. Their team of specially trained CFN physicians, nurse practitioners, and dietitians will ensure your safety and help you achieve optimum health results. Schedule a free consultation at TagueNutrition.com.

focus on your career

Staffing Kansas City

With each new year comes a renewed sense of change. Your career may be an area of focus and there are local experts that offer support and knowledge about the local job market. The career professionals at Staffing Kansas City is a WBE-certified employment agency that specializes in the placement of office professionals. Having a professional staffing partner means your resume is front of more employers and it can open up opportunities that effectively match your skills with an employer’s needs. You will have a team of local owners that reviews your resume, so you are assured it’s presented to the hiring manager, rather than getting lost in the AI shuffle. Job postings are available at staffingkc.com.

healthy skin

Georgous Aesthetic Bar

Make 2025 the year of healthy skin. Experience DiamondGlow®, the clinically provendermabrasion treatment that rejuvenates your skin using a signature 3X1™ technology. The power of three treatment benefits is harnessed into one luxurious facial treatment. It’s designed to exfoliate with diamond tips that remove the top layer of dead skin. The diamond tips also extract with varying degrees of abrasion and high-powered suction, giving a deeper cleaning. Lastly, the DiamondGlow ® tip infuses serums that permeate the skin down to the dermal- epidermal junction, which is where pores are more open and receptive, delivering immediate and lasting results. Georgous Aesthetic Bar is a local provider, and you can learn more at georgouskc.com or call 816-946-8484.

The Ice Cream Club

By Shauna Gilden

WHAT DO ICE cream shops do in winter?

At Brookside’s French Custard, they create a club—the Cold Weather Ice Cream Club, that is. Every other week, this beloved neigh-

Photography by Kelly Powell

borhood spot releases a unique pint flavor in limited quantities, like Tahini Maple Blondie and Cookie Butter Monster Mash.

Don’t worry: Anyone can become a member of the club. If you want to score one of these exclusive flavors, just sign up for their mailing list and you’ll get a notification when the pints drop.

French Custard (5905 Main St., KCMO) also embraces the winter spirit by offering beanies

embroidered with their logo. While you’re rocking it, feel free to indulge in other menu items like a warm brownie sundae and hot chocolate. The shop stands out with its made-fromscratch ice cream base. “You can truly taste the difference,” says owner Jessica Wood of her homestyle approach to creating the perfect frozen treat. For those with dietary restrictions, French Custard also offers gluten-free and nut-free options.

BBQ Aficionado

Devan Dignan takes a deep dive into KC’s ’cue scene with his constantly updated online Kansas City Barbecue Bible

By John Martellaro

WHEN DEVAN DIGNAN came to Kansas City, he was looking to fully immerse himself in all the city has to offer, and being a lover of food, delving into KC’s barbecue scene was natural.

So he begat the Kansas City Barbecue Bible—probably the most complete and comprehensive online guide listing every barbecue purveyor in the expanded KC metro region, including nine Missouri counties and five Kansas counties.

Dignan’s “Bible” takes its subject matter seriously but is written in a wry, tonguein-cheek style (“In the beginning, Henry Perry created Kansas City barbeque”).

It lists more than 100 barbecue restaurants, divided into Missouri and Kansas “testaments.” Each testament is divided into “books” by county – i.e., “The Book of Jackson,” “The Book of Wyandotte.” Entries for individual restaurants range from

200 to 300 words and include addresses, hours and, in most cases, “What Should I Get?” and “Buyer Beware” recommendations. It’s not a ranking, though; the restaurants are listed alphabetically by county.

In two years, the bible has garnered more than 13,000 page views.

The barbecue bible was originally posted in 2023, and Dignan updates it monthly. It is an outgrowth of an earlier project, a website called disKCovery, designed to promote all the good things about Dignan’s adopted hometown.

“Once I moved to Kansas City and dove into all that the city had to offer, exploring this city’s barbeque scene and learning all I could about it was of the utmost priority,” says Dignan, who grew up on a farm a few hours north of KC. Dignan credits raising hogs and cattle on the farm for fostering his appreciation for meat and its preparation.

Dignan launched the Barbecue Bible’s parent site, disKCovery, in 2021 and includes posts on everything from the best fried chicken and doughnuts to neighborhood guides, local theater, the Parade of Hearts and more.

Like more than a few unique creative efforts launched in the early 2020s, Dignan was spurred by the impact of the Covid pandemic. He saw a lot of the things he loved in Kansas City struggling to survive and wanted to do something about it. “My desire was to, as safely as possible, get people out there to support the local sights and small businesses,” he says.

Dignan describes the overall venture as a labor of love and estimates that he devotes more than 400 hours a year to maintaining it and adding new articles.

The disKCovery site also includes Dignan’s two-part ranking of the region’s 24 best barbecue restaurants, separate from the Bible.

His top three:

Slap’s BBQ, 553 Central Ave., KCK

Joe’s Kansas City, 3002 W. 47th Ave., KCK

Chef J BBQ, 1401 W. 13th St., Suite G, KCMO

For that list, he provides a fairly deep dive into his evaluation standards:

“The primary consideration has to be the pedigree of smoked meats,” he writes. “Yet, an appraisal of the sandwiches, sides and sauces is equally essential. The level of service, accessibility, general atmosphere, value for the price, flexibility of the menu, uniqueness of signature offerings and overall atmosphere all have to be factored in as well.”

Bubbles and a Bump

By Shauna Gilden

NESTLED IN DOWNTOWN Kansas City, a new trend is making waves at Blanc Champagne Bar—caviar served directly on your hand alongside a glass of champagne. Bubbles and a Bump is the name of this innovative menu item that consists of Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs champagne and five grams of luxurious Osetra caviar.

Once the caviar is scooped onto the back of your hand, you’ll form a fist, enjoy it in one delightful bite and follow it immediately with a sip of bubbly. The saltiness of the caviar beautifully complements the acidity and effervescence of the champagne, resulting in a harmonious taste sensation.

While this unique method doesn’t alter the caviar’s flavor, it mirrors the traditional use of mother-of-pearl spoons, which caviar is usually served with, to avoid the metallic taste that comes with using a traditional spoon.

This playful way of eating caviar has captured the attention of social media, particularly TikTok, creating a buzz that ensures an Instagram-worthy moment. As caviar becomes more accessible to younger consumers, this trend has gained traction among influencers who have popularized this fun and kitschy approach to enjoying the delicacy.

Blanc (3835 Main St., KCMO) is the city’s newest champagne bar, having opened in fall 2024. Its owner, Jordin Johnson, expresses excitement about the venue’s vision, stating: “Our goal was to create something unique and luxe that makes champagne approachable for everyone. I can’t wait to toast on our 11th-floor rooftop this spring.”

Photography by Zach Smith

Letters From a Farmer

Meet

Carol Maddick, the writer behind the notes in the Campo Lindo Farms egg cartons

By Tyler Shane

IF YOU’VE EVER purchased a carton of Campo Lindo Farms eggs from your neighborhood grocery store, you’ve opened it to find a personalized note from farmer Carol Maddick. The notes often detail the latest happening on the farm, the good and the bad (recently, Maddick wrote about the loss of her beloved old horse). It’s a small detail that takes us city folks along for the journey of farm life while also uniquely connecting us to our local food system.

Maddick started Campo Lindo Farms alongside her husband and two children in 1991. The 280-acre farm is located in Lathrop, Missouri, just about 40 minutes north of KC. The idea to add little notes to the egg cartons came just a couple years after starting the farm. The Maddicks

realized chickens were becoming their bread and butter, more so than the grass-fed beef they were hoping to be known for (Maddick is originally from Chile, where grass-fed beef is the norm). Plus, the more she delivered to KC grocery stores and restaurants, the less Maddick was interacting directly with her customers, so she wanted a way to continue communicating with them. She writes a new note every two weeks. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a cartoon in there as well, created and drawn by her mother.

“I think a lot of people have been so far removed from farms, so I try to incorporate where the food comes from and what it takes to grow it,” Maddick says. “I try to be lighthearted, but I like for people to keep in mind what it takes for us to raise the food that they’re eating.”

It’s not just Maddick’s notes that make a carton of Campo Lindo Farms eggs special. It’s also how the chickens are raised—pasture-raised, that is. Campo Lindo Farms is certified by the Global Animal Partnership, a food-labeling program that, let’s just say, some consider to be a little more meaningful than the FDA’s or USDA’s categories.

CAROL MADDICK’S PERFECT DAY IN KC

Breakfast

Michael Turner, who used to be the chef at Classic Cup, was one of the very first chefs to give us a chance. Of course, I’m having something with eggs.

Scenic Walk

I drive by Loose Park while making our deliveries and always wish I could stop and take a walk through there. It has a beautiful pond and gorgeous tall trees.

Shopping

I love Pryde’s in Old Westport. You can be there two or three hours and not even realize it. I found a Chilean cookbook there, and it’s one of my favorites.

Lunch

The guys at Room 39 are my buddies. They have some of the best tacos I’ve had in I don’t know how long.

Bookstore

Right across from Room 39 is Prospero’s. It’s just incredible. There’s everything in there.

Along with eggs, you can also buy Campo Lindo’s chicken in the grocery stores, although they’re usually sold whole. (Both the eggs and chicken are sold in most local grocery stores, but head to the website, campolindofarms.com, to find one near you). From raising the chickens to dispatching, butchering and packaging the foul, it’s all done by hand on the farm. Doing everything by hand takes longer in comparison to the larger automated processing plants, which can dispatch 800 chickens a minute (Campo Lindo dispatches 600 chickens in three hours). The slower process is also much cleaner, so there’s no need for all the antimicrobial chemicals.

“It’s more like how old-fashioned chicken used to be processed,” Maddick says. It’s also why Maddick and her many customers believe Campo Lindo’s chicken tastes better. Fewer chemicals means more natural flavor. Because of the timely manner of Maddick’s notes, they’re a reminder that you’re buying one of the freshest products in the store. I went to the grocery store recently to buy a carton of Campo Lindo’s eggs. The next morning, I cracked the eggs open to find yolks the color of a tangerine—but not before reading Maddick’s note talking about preparing the chickens for the winter.

Newsfeed

What’s new in Kansas City food and drink

Authentic North Indian cuisine opens in OP

By Joyce Smith

In the middle of working to open an Indian restaurant near their home, a Lee’s Summit couple learned of a great space in Overland Park, abruptly switched gears and opened in the OP location just last month.

Kiran Kaur and Andy Singh opened Spice of Bombay Indian Kitchen & Bar (9940 College Blvd., KCK) in The Shops at Corporate Woods. The establishment serves authentic North Indian cuisine.

The couple has gutted their Lee’s Summit restaurant (436 S.W. Ward Road, Lee’s Summit), are remodeling it and have plans for a summer opening.

The restaurant serves such items as tandoori chicken, chicken tikka, chicken curry and chicken daal, along with special family recipes.

“The garlic cheese naan, that’s something my dad made in his restaurant,” Kaur says. “Even the kids that come in, they love the butter chicken and the cheese naans.”

Kaur’s father had an Indian restaurant in Columbia, Missouri, and Singh’s family owns the decades-old Waldo restaurant Taj Mahal. So between the two of them, they have more than 20 years of restaurant experience, despite both being in their early 30s.

Public market

By Joyce Smith

The Lenexa Public Market is introducing a new Asian food vendor this month: Saap Saap Noodles.

Adison Sichampanakhone, owner and chef of Saap Saap Noodles, has created a menu full of family recipes inspired by his Laos and Thai heritage.

“Saap Saap translates to ‘good good’ in Laotian,” says Sichampanakhone. “We aim to provide everything a ‘good’ meal embodies within southeast Asian cuisine. Our mission is to offer homestyle recipes passed down from our families that create a sense of comfort when eating them.”

Menu items include traditional home dishes like Lao-style pho with a choice of protein (oxtail or chicken, for example), pad Thai, khao poon (red curry noodles) and egg rolls. Exotic desserts include mango sticky rice, taro ice cream and coconut ice cream.

Lenexa Public Market is known for its diverse group of food vendors, including African Dream Cuisine and Sohaila’s Kitchen, which serves Pakistani cuisine. This month, Kimchi and Bap, a Korean food vendor, closed but will continue doing pop-ups.

Prefix Coffee closed one shop and then opened another

By Joyce Smith

Kansas City’s Prefix Coffee has closed one cafe just as it is opening another.

It recently shuttered its Grandview location, but it will soon open downtown on the first floor of The Grand apartment building (1125 Grand Blvd., KCMO) It will have a few seats inside and, later, a drivethru (using the drive-thru of a former bank tenant).

Prefix is owned by three couples: Joel and Lindsay Friedrich; Joel’s brother Jonathan Friedrich and his wife Sarah; and Colin and Melissa Dwyer.

Prefix roasts its own coffee beans. Drinks include espressos, lattes, Americano, cold brew, tea and chai.

There’s the 801, described as a decadent espresso hot chocolate with vanilla and hazelnut; the Golden Latte, a caffeine-free steamed milk with a turmeric spice blend; and Espresso & Tonic paired with

its seasonal syrup (currently cranberry). All of its syrups are made in-house.

The cafes also sell a variety of pastries from Fox & Bull Baking Co. including chocolate croissants, Danishes, Pop-Tart-like treats, cinnamon rolls and more.

“Whenever people walk through our doors, we have the opportunity to change their day for the better,” Melissa says. “We want to share the food that we love, the pastries that we love, the coffee that we love.”

The other locations are in Lightwell KC (1100 Main St., Suite 119, KCMO), and Midtown (325 E. 31st St., Suite 101, KCMO).

All in the family: The next generation takes over JJ’s on the Plaza

By Kyle Wisecarver

Jimmy Frantzé, owner of the popular JJ’s Restaurant, is stepping down and passing the torch to the next generation of Frantzsé.

The restaurant has been a Plaza mainstay for 40 years, and the Frantzes’ want to ensure it stays that way. The new owner is Kevin Frantzé, Jimmy’s nephew.

“I’m incredibly proud of what my uncle has built,” says Kevin, who grew up in KC but headed to Arizona for college before moving to Southern California, where he worked at various restaurants and hotels. “I’m excited to honor the family legacy.”

Known for its contemporary menu and popular wine selection, regulars flock to JJ’s for longtime favorites like Paco Shrimp and the wild boar ragu.

Kevin and head chef Kodiak Baer plan to keep JJ’s popular classics, but also incorporate more seasonal local ingredients, switching up the menu as the seasons change.

surreal estate

Rosedale Remembers

The Rosedale Arch turned 100 this year

By Sophia Lacy

MORE THAN 100 years ago, a World War I unit stood on top of Kansas City’s Mount Marty Park as they were sworn in before leaving to fight in France. Among them were 375 local Rosedale and KC residents. Ultimately, the unit faced more than 16,000 casualties and was noted to have been in combat longer than any other division.

To welcome home the soldiers, the citizens of Rosedale not only hosted an impressive parade but also passed a bond to create a dedication to memorialize the Rosedale veterans. The fruit of their labors: The Rosedale Arch.

“There’s a strong community desire to make sure that it has the needed upgrades and repairs so it will be here for another 100 years.”

John LeRoy Marshall, a WWI soldier and a KU architecture student, designed the arch, taking inspiration from Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. The monument was completed by 1924, just as the city of Rosedale became part of Kansas City.

“They put forth a bond and raised money so they could build it,” says Sara Oltvedt, the Rosedale Development Association’s executive director. “When they dedicated it, they had a big parade down Rainbow Boulevard, and then had a ceremony at the arch.”

Since its inauguration, the arch has been through several restorations. A small memorial was added in 1993, featuring the names of Rosedale veterans whose lives were lost in WWI, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War.

Today, the Rosedale Development Association and Rosedale Alumni Association help maintain the monument with support from a preservation fund. The community celebrated the arch’s centennial earlier this year.

“There’s a strong community desire to make sure that it has the needed upgrades and repairs so it will be here for another 100 years,” Oltvedt says. “It really is a symbol of our identity as a neighborhood in Kansas City.”

by Zach Bauman

Photography