il Lazzarone KC

Well, Kansas City … we’re coming for you!
As I’ve said before, Erik originally looked at putting a pizzeria in Kansas City but when we moved to St Joe, it made sense to start here! And we’re very excited to announce that il Lazzarone will be expanding to Kansas City Spring 2015!
We will be located in the River Market at 412 Delaware right next to our favorite coffee shop and friends, Quay Coffee.

Please visit our Facebook page for updates or follow us on Twitter and Instagram!

We look forward to joining the neighborhood and sharing some awesome pizza!

Caffeine Crawl: Broadway Roasting Co

Taking a break from pumpkin-filled goodies, and time for Part IV of the Caffeine Crawl recap!

Part I: Parisi
Part II: Benetti’s Coffee Experience
Part II: One More Cup

Part IV brings us to …. Broadway Roasting Company.



Broadway Roasting Co

Broadway Cafe began roasting coffee in 1998.  Broadway Roasting Co. has grown and evolved over the years and currently operates out of the former Westport Fire Station at 4012 Washington, just one block north of Broadway Cafe.  Broadway Roasting Company’s full-service espresso bar serves drinks 7 days a week.

This Crawl stop was all about culinary + coffee. Broadway Roasting Co. really went all out for this crawl stop as you will quickly see!

 

They highlighted how coffee can be incorporated into cuisine, and many examples awaited us!

Three different kinds of toddy drinks …



Oatmeal Toddy Stout Ice Cream a la Poppy’s and French Toast from Chef Michael Foust of The Farmhouse … yum!

 

And even beer! It was an awesome stop in the Crawl, and we were all thrilled to try the many delicious coffee inspired samples.

Caffeine Crawl: One More Cup

After far too long a break from Caffeine Crawl posts … let’s continue! Once we left Parisi and Benettis, our next stop was at One More Cup.



One More Cup

One More Cup is located at 7408 Wornall Road in the Waldo area, and hours are:

Monday..Friday  6:30am..7:00pm
Saturday  7:00am..7:00pm
Sunday  8:00am..7:00pm

I’m ashamed to say we had never been to One More Cup. I’ll use the excuse that we’re rarely in the neighborhood and hope that justifies it enough, ha. Though never there, I’d read a lot about them in the past so I felt like I already “knew” them and I was certain I’d love it there.

I was right.

One More Cup was opened by Jeremy and Stacy Neff in early 2009 and has been going strong since! The topic at this stop on the crawl was all about coffee within a community! We were greeted with coffee, toddys using Shatto chocolate milk, and homemade cookies (with vegan and gluten free options available!) The Neffs operate their coffee shop with the community in mind, not only in the atmosphere of their shop but also in what other local businesses they choose to support. We think they’re pretty great!



One More Cup has a big focus on local, organic and sustainable products. The map Stacy is holding in the above and below photos showcases the local areas they get much of their fare from. And so you can get a better idea of just what I mean … here’s a list of their local suppliers per their website:

Kansas City,MO

Benish's Bakery – biscotti

foldedpigs - unique drinkware

Fresher Than Fresh - all natural snow pops

GetReal Food Co. - localbucha (kombucha)
Le Monde Bakery – pastries

Mean Vegan - vegan tamales

Oddly Correct – coffee

Oishii Studio Sweets - caramels
The Nutty Girl – sandwiches

The Roasterie - espresso & coffee

Lee's Summit,MO

Be Free Bakers - allergen free baked goods

Kneaded Specialties - allergen free baked goods

Osborn,MO

Shatto Milk Co. - milk & ice cream sandwiches

Raytown,MO

Benetti's Coffee – coffee

Springfield,MO

Askinosie Chocolate – chocolates

Kansas City,KS
Bagelworks – bagels

Louisburg,KS

Louisburg Cider Mill - sodas & apple cider

Overland Park,KS

By Mindy - reusable coffee sleeves

Side note: One More Cup is also very vegan and gluten free friendly.

I think we may have to venture to the Waldo area more often!

American Meat Film Screening

Hey everybody!

I hope October is treating you well so far and that pumpkin, apple and soup are becoming a regular part of your diet I know they are in mine! Before I finish my Caffeine Crawl posts, I wanted to stop in and share an event that’s happening THIS Sunday evening that is not one to miss – a screening of film American Meat.



American Meat

American Meat is a film that Erik and I have been wanting to see since we first saw a trailer for it awhile back. It’s a pro-farmer look at hog, cattle, and chicken production in The United States. Rather than taking sides, it allows farmers’ perspectives to convey the challenges involved in both conventional and sustainable forms of agriculture. Take a look at the above trailer to get an idea of what it will be like!

The details:
When: Sunday, October 14th at 7 p.m.
Where: UMKC campus in the Student Union at 5100 Cherry
What: A screening of American Meat followed by a dynamic panel discussion and reception

We’re quite excited about the panel discussion because it will be featuring some of our favorite KC area people and places – local sustainable meat farmer Tom Parker, co-founder of urban farmstead and educational center BADSEED Brooke Salvaggio, 715 Mass Chef Michael Beard, The Local Pig’s owner Alex Pope with the film director, Graham Meriwether moderating.

Not only that, but word on the street is, there will be a reception afterwards with goodies provided by Local Pig as well. Yes, please!

Who else is going??

Caffeine Crawl: Benetti's

Onward with the Crawl!

The second stop of the Crawl brought us to Benetti’s in Raytown.

 

Benetti’s Coffee Experience

I had never been to Benetti’s before and enjoyed hearing what they’re all about. One thing that is very evident is how great Kansas City’s coffee scene is! As owner Ben Helt said, one thing he has learned is to never underestimate the Midwest palette.

 

Benetti’s is located in Raytown at 6109 Blue Ridge Blvd and has been open since 2007. They’re a locally owned and independent coffee roaster “committed to providing neighbors and guests with a fresh experience using longstanding traditions”.  They’re dedicated to delicious coffee, a cozy and friendly atmosphere, and have house made goodies as well as lunch items. Hours are Monday through Thursday 6-9, Fridays 6-10, Saturday 7-10 and Sundays 8-9.

 

The Crawl topic at Benetti’s was coffee unplugged.

 

Literally!

We all went out back the coffee shop to find a camp fire, tents and a pot of boiling water. Nick (left below) and Ben (right below) went over the logistics of coffee brewing with no equipment whatsoever besides a good ole campfire. The amount of time in the boiling pot of water along with the ground size will affect how the coffee turns out but when you’re working with so many different elements you can’t really control (fire heat, size, amount of smoke, etc) in the “unplugged” environment results always vary.

And though I don’t have any plans to be “unplugged” for awhile, this presentation was a lot of fun and I’m glad to have gotten in on a little of Benetti’s Coffee Experience!

Next up … One More Cup!

Caffeine Crawl: Parisi

Okay … better late than never.  We continue to settle nicely into our new abode, and I’m loving that the weather has welcomed us with cool breezes and orange autumn leaves! Perhaps I’ll post some pictures one of these days.

But right now … time for the Caffeine Crawl! First things first … what is the caffeine crawl?

Caffeine Crawl

The Caffeine Crawl originated right here in Kansas City by The LAB, founded by Jason Burton.  (It’s since moved onto many other cities so if you’re a non KC reader, there just might be a Crawl heading your way!) It’s created “to give enthusiasts of quality-driven coffee, tea, soda and chocolate a one-of-a-kind experience that has never been created. The Crawl is designed to give individuals an opportunity to learn, share and experience what the passionate baristas, tea soms, specialty coffee roasters and other local, artisan producers in their communities bring to the table.”

Erik and I attended Day 1 of the crawl, therefore we visited the following locations:

• Parisi Roasting Facility
• Benetti’s Coffee Experience
• One More Cup
• Broadway Roasting Company
• Oddly Correct
• Annedore’s Fine Chocolates
• Crossroads Coffeehouse

And I thought, what  better time to brag about feature some of Kansas City’s best coffee shops, baristas, and local business owners on The Purple Carrot? First up … Parisi!



Parisi

All 100 crawlers met at the Parisi roasting facility to begin the day. Our first lesson of the day, given by Kate Blackman of Parisi, was all about coffee processes and origins. She explained the difference between two types of processing; washed and natural and how each can have a significant impact on flavor. Natural processed coffees tend to have more body and lower acidity than their washed counterparts. We got to try a few samples of each to really be able to taste the difference for ourselves between these two processes.
 


Parisi began roasting coffee in Kansas City in 2006, founded by members of the Paris family, which established specialty food supplier, importer and manufacturer Paris Brothers Inc. In 2011, they added to their roasting facility a café in Union Station, open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends.

Their small batch roasted coffee is served in many Kansas City area restaurants and can be purchased from their café, online, or from a number of retailers such as Costco, Hyvee, Cosentinos, Price Chopper, Hen House and Sun Fresh.




After our time at Parisi, we split up into four groups of 25, hopped on our buses and continued the crawl! Next up … Benetti’s.

Greek Fest Recap and Giveaway!

Time for some much needed blog catch up!

Despite how many times I have moved (quite a few!) I always seem to forget just how tiring it is until I do it. We’re a week and a half into our move downtown, and we’ve made awesome progress. Boxes are getting unpacked, pictures are being hung, and we’re absolutely loving our closeness to all our favorite spots.  And now … some much needed time dedicated to the blog to give the recap of this year’s Greek Fest!

2012 Annunciation Greek Fest

The 51st annual Annunciation Greek Fest was held the beginning of this month, September 7th, 8th, and 9th at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church on Wornall Road. We were invited to come out, enjoy the fun, and taste the feast!



And feast it was!

The festival was filled with all kinds of delicious Greek food such as souvlaki (chicken or pork shish kabob), pastitsio (macaroni layered with ground beef topped with cheese bechamel sauce), gryos, dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves), spanakopita, pita breads, salads, desserts and much more.

Being our first time attending the Greek Fest, I was impressed with the vast amount of delicious and authentic food options.  It was evident right away this was definitely a foodie festival, and a lot of time in the kitchen goes in to making it what it is!



Along with all the awesome food items, the festival had a stage with all kinds of Greek dancing and entertainment featuring three children’s groups, two teen groups and an adult group, The Olympians, who are Kansas City’s oldest professional Greek Folk Dance Troupe.



And speaking of Greek food … last but not least, a giveaway!

The Purple Carrot was provided the cookbook “From Yaiyia’s Kitchen: A legacy of Greek Foods and Pastries" to give away on the blog! It was compiled by Ladies Philoptochos Society of the Greek Orthodox Church here in Kansas City.

From Yiayia’s (meaning grandmother) Kitchen is full of recipes from appetizers, soups, and salads to pitas by the pan, pastries, sauces, and even lenten dishes. Yum!



How to enter:

Simply leave a comment on the blog and you will be entered. If you want, comment telling me your favorite Greek food! That’s it. Winner will be announced and notified on Monday, October 1st!

Port Fonda

Time for some Port Fonda!

We had a great weekend enjoying this fabulous almost-fall weather, and part of that weekend including a stop for dinner at Port Fonda, the restaurant.

Port Fonda

In case you’re not familiar, Port Fonda started out as a very popular Mexican food truck housed in an awesome Airstream trailer. As of this summer, it now has a permanent home in Westport at 4141 Pennsylvania Ave (where KC Juice used to be). They even include many local and natural ingredients in their delicious Mexican fare.

This new Westport addition is owned by chef Patrick Ryan and partner Jamie Davila and is open Tuesday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.



We made the mistake (though we didn’t mind) of going on a Saturday evening during the Westport Air Fair which made them extra packed. We still got a spot outside pretty quickly, which ended up being perfect because of the beautiful weather.

Dinner started with some chips and salsa: "two housemade salsas, fresh, fried, corn tortilla chips".

 

Followed by Queso Fundido Especial for Erik "Green Dirt Farm bossa cheese, chorizo verde, poblana rajas, oregano, corn tortillas"



And Tacos de Calabaza for me "grilled zucchini, squash, sweet potato, salsa roja, queso fresco, cilantro, onion, lime".



Our absolute favorite part of Port Fonda is their décor and overall ambiance. One con to their Saturday night busyness and our sitting outside was that I wasn't able to get interior photos to show you all. We will certainly be back to eat inside another day, and I'm looking forward to trying some other menu items!



Excellent addition to Westport -- an awesome place to check out if you haven't been yet!

51st Annual Greek Festival

Just stopping in to tell all you Kansas City folks about an event coming up THIS weekend, The Greek Fest!

51st Annual Greek Fest

The information is as follows:

Date: September 7, 8, and 9th
Time: Friday 6-10, Saturday Noon-10, Sunday Noon-6  
Location: The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church at 12001 Wornall Rd.

Entertainment and parking is FREE.




For more information, check out their website!

Cheese Slipper Saturday

Time to blog? I think so!

I have not been a very good blogger since getting back from our trip, but I vow to get all caught up very shortly! But first … I wanted to share a new addition to Saturday nights in the Westside neighborhood that is …

Cheese Slipper Saturday

Cheese Slipper Saturday is a delicious collaboration between Fervere and Little Freshie.

As Little Freshie’s Facebook put it best, “start at Fervere, place your order, get your cheese slipper, then walk around the corner to Little Freshie for a place to sit and quench your thirst with a handcrafted beverage, after dinner coffee or an all natural snow cone for dessert!”

Details: Fervere for fresh cheese slippers, then Little Freshie for drinks // Westside neighborhood near 17th and Summit // Starts at 6:30, open until they sell out.



We have taken advantage of this the past few Saturdays and have not been disappointed!

 

iPhone pictured below is the “heirloom tomato & basil with fontina, provolone, and kasseri cheeses” as well as the “mushroom, onion, and fresh basil with gorgonzola, provolone, and kasseri cheeses”

Both are fantastic! But I must say, the mushroom onion version has been by far my favorite (which is no surprise, since I’m a mushroom and onion freak)!

 

And it’s probably more than obvious that you just can’t go wrong with Little Freshie! There’s not one soda, shrub, snow cone, or coffee I’ve tried of theirs that I haven’t liked.



So if you’re looking for something to do on Saturday nights … go enjoy the nicer weather and some delicious food with Cheese Slipper Saturdays. Fervere doors open at 6:30, and they usually sell out fast!