Jonathan Bender

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

Megan Garrelts' lemon meringue pie

Recipe | Megan Garrelts’ Lemon Meringue Pie

You may cheat with a cookie exchange or a bit of peppermint bark, but if you want to bring the whole family to the table during the holidays, it’s time you learned to bake a pie. In order to get a pie right, you’ve got to have a pie mentor, someone who can navigate the…

Splitlog Coffee

Pawn & Pint Celebrates Festivus & Other Weekend Possibilities

Made in Kansas City, a local retailer, has opened a coffee shop with a dash of retail inside. The Made in KC Cafe (1114 Baltimore Ave.) debuted last week. It’s using Messenger Coffee for espresso and plans to rotate other coffees behind the bar. On the weekends, it’s offering a special — Cafe au Oui — a cereal milk latte, wherein…

My 5 | Savannah Northcraft

My 5 is a series wherein Flatland asks someone to show us five items from their life that help them do their job or tell their story. It’s a chance to learn more about the people in our community by getting a peek at what’s in their drawers, kitchens, briefcases, or desks. In the latest…

Shakey's Pizza sign

Whatever Happened to Cake Box…And Those Other Restaurants?

We’ve been telling the stories of restaurants from the past this year, diving into a trio of burger shacks: Smaks, Wimpey’s, and the Nu-Way Drive-In. It’s all part of our curiousKC series, wherein local readers, viewers and listeners get the chance to ask those burning questions about where we live. [FLEX-CONTENT] Today’s trio of questions…

Fringe Beerworks

Quay Opens at The Nelson & Other Weekend Possibilities

Quay Coffee is holding its grand opening at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (4525 Oak St.) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The new coffee bar is in the Block building, and they’ll have a latte art station for the next generation of baristas (i.e. children) and a photobus GIF booth. This is the…

Whatever Happened To…Those Other Burger Places?

It was that burger place your mom took you to after you bought shoes or the stop on the way home for an after school treat. Everybody has traditions around food — a restaurant that marks a moment in time or period in your life. Flatland recently told the story of Smaks, a local burger chain…

The Roasterie cold brew

SantaCon Lawrence & Other Weekend Possibilities

All the Santas will descend on Lawrence this weekend. SantaCon Lawrence is from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday. The Saint Nick-themed pub crawl kicks off at The Sandbar (17 E 8th St., Lawrence, Kansas) and a $5 contribution for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Douglas County is recommended. You have another coffee option for…

mclain's market's chocolate donut

Order Up | McLain’s Market’s Chocolate Donut

Order Up is a regular series that takes a layered look at drinks and eats across Kansas City. Got a dish you think we should feature? Drop us a note below or on Twitter @FlatlandKC.

A pair of bottles hang on a wall.

Ugly Holiday Sweater Dog Party & Other Weekend Possibilities

You know that onesie you bought for Christmas? Get it out of the drawer and head to Rhythm & Booze (423 Southwest Blvd). It’s hosting an adult onesie party this from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday. Not a onesie person? You can trot out your ugly Christmas sweater at the 403 Club (614 Reynolds Ave.,…

Ruby Jean's Juicery Vine Street Greens Juice

Order Up | Ruby Jean’s Juicery’s

Order Up is a regular series that takes a layered look at drinks and eats across Kansas City. Got a dish you think we should feature? Drop us a note below or on Twitter @FlatlandKC.