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
Mi Gia Gives Gladstone a New Spot to Noodle
You never know what you’ll discover in a thrift shop: a pair of bell bottoms, the latest Babysitters Club graphic novel or a Vietnamese noodle shop. Mi Gia (6569 N. Oak Trafficway) opened last September in a former thrift shop space that has been gutted and divided into three Asian eateries (Poke Bar and the…
Doughnut Lounge Arrives in Overland Park & Other Weekend Possibilities
As January draws to a close, it’s time to officially abandon your New Year’s resolutions. Dive headfirst, or roll, into February with the new outpost for Doughnut Lounge (7926 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, Kansas). The doughnut bar’s second location opened earlier this week in downtown Overland Park in the former El Salvadoreno space. The…
Order Up | Torn Label’s Monk & Honey and M&M Bakery’s Snickerdoodle
Order Up is a regular series that takes a layered look at drinks and eats across Kansas City. Click here to check out the other eats and drinks in the series. Got a dish you think we should feature? Drop us a note below or on Twitter @FlatlandKC.
Downtown Lawrence Restaurant Week & Other Weekend Possibilities
Go exploring in Lawrence, Kansas, this weekend as the fourth annual Downtown Lawrence Restaurant Week kicks off Friday and runs through next Saturday. More than 30 restaurants are offering lunch and dinner specials. Ramen Bowls (918 Massachusetts St.) has a jalapeno-infused sake, Mr. Bacon (624 N. Second St.) has a coffee-rubbed smoked beef rib (pro tip: Mr. Bacon…
Order Up | Big T’s Ribs
Order Up is a regular series that takes a layered look at drinks and eats across Kansas City. Click here to check out the other eats and drinks in the series. Got a dish you think we should feature? Drop us a note below or on Twitter @FlatlandKC. Note: A previous draft of this post…
Tap List | Whalez Candles Launched With Hunt for Elusive Craft Beers
Matt Wiley quietly launched Whalez Candles in late 2017 as a side project. Unlike commercial candle lines with a uniform look and packaging, Wiley uses empty bottles and cans of hard-to-obtain brands of craft beer to make his candles from scratch. Whalez is an allusion to the craft beer term “whale,” lingo that refers to…
Pop-Up Waffles & Other Weekend Possibilities
Channel your inner Eleven this weekend and eat…all…the…waffles. Hammerhand Coffee (22 North Main St., Liberty, Missouri) is hosting a Pop-Up Waffle Shop with The Waffle Iron from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. We’re talking sweet and savory options. The Ainsworth (11653 Ash St., Leawood, Kansas) opens today in the Park Place development….
Best Eat In the House | EJ’s Urban Eatery’s Espresso-Rubbed Smoked Brisket
Best Eat in the House features dining recommendations from people in and around Kansas City. For this episode, we asked Columbus Park Ramen Shop and Happy Gillis Café and Hangout co-owner and chef Josh Eans for the one dish he loves. He couldn’t wait to talk about the espresso-rubbed smoked brisket with white BBQ sauce…
Nashville Eats & Other Weekend Possibilities
If you don’t want to root for the Tennessee Titans, the first round opponent of the Kansas City Chiefs, that’s completely understandable. But that doesn’t mean you have to shun the foods of Nashville. We’ve got plenty of the top Nashville hits right here in KC. You can check out a meat and three concept…
Karaoke Friday & Other Weekend Possibilities
Whether you’re full of spirits or simply need to get out of the house, The Indie on Main (1228 Main St.) has Karaoke Friday from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. If you can’t make it this Friday, there is always next Friday. Should you need liquid courage, The Indie has a Horsefeather made with Bulleit…