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
The Bogdon Candy Co. Made Sweet Treats For Three Generations
The next time you bring a gift to a wedding, you should think of Walter Bogdon. The late chocolatier first invented the reception stick — a crunchy, chocolate-enrobed hard candy — for a local couple about to get married more than 70 years ago. A Flatland reader asked what happened to the Bogdon Candy Company. So…
Pie, Thai & Other Weekend Possibilities
Curry, pad thai and all the ginger has arrived in Independence, Missouri. Thai Kitchen is now open at 19321 E. U.S. Highway 40, Suite A. The restaurant serves papaya salad, fried rice and Thai iced coffee. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and…
Dream Coffee Wants To Know If You’d Like Your Coffee With or Without Butter
Timothy Shockley Jr. doesn’t mind a little butter in his coffee. On occasion, he’ll even add in a splash of milk protein. “I’ll say, ‘it’s butter and coffee,’ and they’ll say, ‘Butter and coffee?’” Shockley said of the patrons at Dream Coffee.”It’s like a shot to the brain.” In October, he opened a cafe with…
Tap List | Get Out There Imperial Stout Troopers
Leave the weights to someone else. True feats of strength involve imperial stouts. And as the mercury dips, breweries begin releasing beers to make you forget just how cold your toes are in your shoes. This is a week of imperial (just a formal word for strong) stouts. If big beers seem scary. Don’t worry….
Breakfast Burritos & Other Weekend Possibilities
Grilled cheese. Beer. Don’t overthink it. Cheesy Street will be parked outside New Axiom Brewing Co. (949 NE. Columbus St., Lee’s Summit, Missouri) from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday. The new brewery is now canning four-packs of beers. Keep an eye out for IPAs in cans to take home. If it’s still on tap, try…
Tap List | Say Hello To The Maine Beer Co.
New-England style IPAs are the latest darling on Kansas City taps. Brewers in and around the metro have been trying to nail the juicy, hazy style of pale ale. With lots of fruit notes and arresting color, it’s easy to understand the infatuation. That’s why I want you to know that Maine Beer Co. is…
Whiskey & Waffles & Other Weekend Possibilities
Beignets and crepes have come to Westport. Beignet has opened a second location at 3959 Broadway Blvd. The restaurant serves up Southern fare, like po’boy sandwiches, red beans and rice, jambalaya and gumbo. The new Beignet is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and…
You Won’t Believe Eskimo Pie’s Connection to Kansas City
[FLEX-CONTENT] Want to see the other pieces in the #OriginStory series, click here. Got an origin story you think we should illustrate? Drop us a line on Twitter.
Christopher Elbow & Torn Label Are Making a Chocolate-Inspired Beer
Last year, Kansas City chocolatier Christopher Elbow developed a unique process for roasting cacao beans that distilled the flavor of a place into a chocolate bar. This year, however, in collaboration with Travis Moore, brewmaster at Torn Label Brewing Co., Elbow wants to take you from bean to bar to bottle. Residing blocks from one another in the Crossroads area,…
Tap List | Spirit Cowboy & Bring Out Your Dead
Stouts are like Lifesavers. You’ve got a lot of different flavors in the pack, and if you find one you don’t like, you can just offer it up to a friend and move on to the next one. Go discover milk stouts and coffee stouts and oatmeal stouts this week in #TapList. Tap Notes Colony…