The Art of Eating and Drinking at the Prairie Village Art Fair - 2014 Edition

I may not be able to define art, but I know it when I see it. I also know a good time when it's staring me in the face and the Prairie Village Art Fair is just that. This annual event takes place this weekend and as it's practically in my backyard I thought I'd share some eating and drinking information to help make it worth your while.

Foodwise this art fair has come a long way. Not only do you have nationally acclaimed French bistro Cafe Provence (previous review) right in the middle of the action but add to that Story (2013 James Beard semi-finalist chef; Food & Wine magazine's 2013 winner for The People's Best New Chef: Midwest), Tavern in the Village (locals love this place), and STANDEES (bar/restaurant/movie theater).

This year it looks like sangria may actually outnumber baby strollers. I think everyone is selling their version of this wonderful summer drink. If you try a couple think about posting your favorite in the comments section at the bottom of this post.

Information below was provided by the establishments themselves (with a couple of comments added from me). Unless noted below, restaurants will be cash-only for outside, patio, and tent purchases.

Kansas Town - Great Food, Bring Your Own Crowd

UPDATE: 7/7/2014 - Kansas Town is closed.


UPDATE: 6/24/14 - Chef Kasper is no longer at Kansas Town. Look for him at Lulu's Asian Bistro opening later this summer in Westwood, KS

On why he no longer dined at Ruggeri's, a St. Louis restaurant, Yogi Berra famously explained, "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."

It might be said of Kansas Town, "Nobody goes there yet. It's always empty."

There are any number of reasons that a restaurant might be empty. The most insidious reason is simply - it's empty because it's empty. Dining at a restaurant is not merely about eating food prepared by others. The whole process is theater. Attentive service, quality food, attractive plating, and buzz. Diners typically crave the company of other diners. There's always a point where too many patrons means slow and inattentive service but ultimately dining out is a social occasion and being surrounded by like minded people is a big part of the fun. So it stands to reason that potential diners walking by Kansas Town might just keep walking when faced with the thin crowd.

And that's a shame because there are some very good reasons to eat here.

Eight Reasons Chef Howard Hanna and The Rieger Hotel Grill & Exchange Should Be Your Next KC Dining Destination

This week Chef Howard Hanna of The Rieger Hotel Grill & Exchange was named a semifinalist for a James Beard Award - Best Chef: Midwest Category. Here in Kansas City he is joined by the very talented Ted Habiger of Room 39 (also Best Chef: Midwest) and Nick Wesemann of The American Restaurant (Outstanding Pastry Chef Category). Hearty congratulations to all three.

Chef Howard Hanna 

Seeing Howard Hanna on the James Beard semifinalist list reminded me that I've never properly and publicly appreciated his terrific Crossroads restaurant. I'm not sure why I've never written about Howard or The Rieger but this occasion seems like all the reason in the world to share my 8 reasons that this chef and his restaurant are among my very favorites.

If you've never been, let me start by telling you that there's no hotel. There was a hotel but that was nearly a century ago. However, much of the original architecture, details, and fixtures remain in this shotgun-style space lending the restaurant a great deal of it's charm.

Eight Reasons (In No Particular Order)

First Impressions - Novel

Kansas City's Newest Restaurant, Novel located 
in the charming Westside neighborhood

The little intersection at 17th & Summit in Kansas City's Westside neighborhood just keeps getting better. Last week Novel opened in a charming century-old house that overlooks 17th Street from its perch atop a small hill there. It's clear that they have been busy getting this place ready. I have personally rehabbed a 100-year-old house before and it's a lot of work. This space used to be home to Lill's on 17th so chef/owner Ryan Brazeal and team had a head start but they undertook some serious renovations all the same. The kitchen is significantly larger (no small feat) and they have added a cozy little bar tucked just off the entrance (a bit like the bar at The Westside Local just around the corner). This place oozes charm and feels like the neighborhood restaurant that it is.

Preserving the Harvest - Guest Spot on In the Kitchen with Bonnie

Last week I was asked to be a "Celebrity Taster" for an episode of Bonnie Rabicoff's, In the Kitchen with Bonnie. Celebrity? Not so much. Taster. I'm down with that.

This particular episode is called Preserving the Harvest and features some pretty cool preserved foods prepared by Chef Stewart Lane of Lon Lane's Inspired Creations.

As you can see from the photo below I was joined by (real local celebrity) Elizabeth Alex of NBC Action News.

Video episodes of Bonnie's show are shown on KHEN (Time Warner Channel 17 and Comcast Channel 25) and KCOD (Time Warner Channel 411) and on the web at In the Kitchen's archive. The show is broadcast on the radio on KMBZ as well.

Here's a photo preview of the delicious treats I got to sample...

Click Photo to Enlarge (and read my pithy comments)

The Art of Eating (and Drinking) at the PV Art Fair

Don't miss out on fresh crepes created by Nadine
before your eyes in front of Cafe Provence.

So, what's the best part about art fairs? You might say, "the art" but c'mon... isn't it just another excuse to mill around with a couple hundred people, have drinks-to-go with old friends, and eat some high-end street food?

The Prairie Village Art Fair is this weekend and as it's practically in my backyard I thought I'd share some eating and drinking information to help make it worth your while.

Foodwise this art fair has come a long way. Not only do you have nationally acclaimed French bistro Cafe Provence (previous review) right in the middle of the action but add to that Story (2013 James Beard semi-finalist chef), Tavern in the Village (locals love this place), and newcomer STANDEES (bar/restaurant/movie theater - seriously).

Information below was provided by the establishments themselves (with a couple of comments added from me). All restaurants will be cash-only for outside, patio, and tent purchases.