Jonathan Bender
Reporter
Jonathan Bender is a former KCPT Food Content Editor and the founder of the Recommended Daily. He is the author of "LEGO: A Love Story," "Cookies & Beer" and "Stock, Broth & Bowl." He lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where has judged the American Royal World Series of BBQ, eaten sandwiches for a month, and pitched grain as a brewer’s assistant — all in pursuit of learning more about what Kansas Citians eat and drink.
Stories by Jonathan Bender
Tap List | Grains & Taps is Launching a Brewery
Chicago had Mrs. O’Leary’s cow. Grains & Taps (10 SW Third St., Lee’s Summit, Missouri) will likely someday point to an exhaust fan as the reason it’s brewing beer this winter. Brad Boehm still remembers the moment in February when he came to Grains and Taps, the business he co-owns with Brian Bixby, and smelled smoke. He wondered…
Coffee & Donuts & Other Weekend Possibilities
It’s all donuts, all the time, Kansas City. So lean into this trend and build up that winter layer of warmth a bit early. Brioche Pastry Shop (2000 Main St.) started serving fried donuts two weeks ago. They have blueberry cake donuts and apple crisp (think pie in donut form) and glazed or old fashioned…
Order Up | Kobi-Q’s Japchae
Order Up is a regular series that takes a layered look at drinks and eats across Kansas City. You can see previous selections here. Got a dish you think we should feature? Drop us a note below or on Twitter @FlatlandKC. — Follow @FlatlandKC on Twitter and Facebook for all your food news.
Tap List | Colony KC Finds Its Passionfruit
In its first year, Colony KC (312 Armour Road, North Kansas City, Missouri) hasn’t just pushed the envelope. They’ve stuffed it full of Lucky Charms and black currants and raspberry sherbet. As the nanobrewery inside of a coffeehouse and taproom attached to a performance space (The Rino) nears its first anniversary, Flatland sat down with head brewer…
Sunflower Fest & Other Weekend Possibilities
After more than 50 years operating as a chili parlor, Fritz’s Chili (6737 W. 75th St., Overland Park, Kansas) closes this Friday. It was originally a Dixon’s Chili parlor that opened in 1966. Three years later, the Fritz family purchased the business and later renamed it Fritz’s Chili. The dining room is lined with counter…
Tap List | Servaes Brewing Co. Coming to Shawnee
You never know what might happen if you just look around a bit during your commute. Courtney Servaes moved to Shawnee with her family three years ago. She’d regularly drive through downtown on her way to prenatal appointments. And it was on those drives that she discovered a place that felt primed for a neighborhood brewery….
Flying Horse Taproom Opens Wednesday
Trey Sabates has had a front seat to the explosion of the craft beer scene in Kansas City. And when the Flying Horse Taproom (600 E. 63rd St., #100) opens this Wednesday, he’s hoping to fill a few seats of his own. “We’re trying to keep it local. There’s just so much good stuff in…
Ethnic Enrichment Fest & Other Weekend Possibilities
See the world without leaving Swope Park (4600 E. 63rd St.). The Ethnic Enrichment Festival is from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. There are traditional dance performances, crafts for purchase, and cuisine from across the globe — think crepes to ceviche. Admission…
Tap List | Transparent Brewing Co. Coming to Grandview
Nolan Brown can see the future home of Transparent Brewing Co. He can literally see it across White Avenue from his job at Gayle’s Harley Davidson in Grandview, Missouri. Brown and his mother, Michelle Brown, have been working for the past three years to bring Transparent Brewing Co. and The Chive, Simply Good Café &…
Hand Pies, Grape Harvesting & Other Weekend Possibilities
Waldo Thai Place (8431 Wornall Road) opened this Wednesday in the former Swagger space. The restaurant run by the Liberda family, who has owned and operated several area Thai restaurants over the past two decades, has main dishes (gaeng gai, a coconut red curry, and fried rice) and shareable plates (house fried chicharrones called Buddha Chips,…