Culinary Adventures Across Kansas City
A Trip Back in Time
A visit to this brand new coffee shop in Overland Park, KS, will take you back in time to the ’70s with themed decor, groovy soundtracks and overall good vibes. Opened by a mother-daughter duo, Jinkie’s (named as an ode to Scooby Doo), offers drinks like Here Comes the Sun, a sparkling raspberry hibiscus tea, or Strawberry Fields, a strawberry cream espresso-based drink. In addition to handcrafted beverages made with local Blip Roasters coffee and Hugo Teas, they serve a variety of baked goods that are made in-house daily. Watch for current specials on their Facebook page so you don’t miss out on treats like their tie-dyed Pop-Tarts!
Beyond Farm to Table
If you’re a fan of locally-sourced, high quality meats and are ready to take your knowledge to the next level, the Local Pig offers a variety of classes at their shop in the River Market. With small class sizes of six to 12 people and regular class schedules, it’s a unique hands-on experience—and you’ll gain a whole new appreciation for how your food is made. You could start with the basics of making sausage (bonus, you get to take some home with you!) or go straight on to the Whole Hog class, where you’ll learn how to butcher various cuts of pork. They also offer a charcuterie class that covers curing pork belly and fermenting items for your own Pinterest-worthy board! While you’re there, make sure to check out Pigwich, their restaurant next door that offers mouthwatering sandwiches made from their fresh meat selections.
From Seed to Plate
Kansas City’s agrarian treasure, Powell Gardens, is always a beautiful place to visit, but the Heartland Harvest Garden, dubbed “America’s premier edible landscape,” allows you to explore food from the ground up, and each plant tells a story of where food comes from. This horticultural gem showcases multiple garden displays like the Apple Cider Court, Quit Garden and the Children’s Garden, to name a few. After you work up an appetite exploring the history of our food sources, you’ll be able to do some taste-testing at the pop-up visitor tasting stations and during special events. You can even take home fresh, organically grown produce purchased from the Perennial Lounge. Between Sept. 23 and Oct. 24, the Harvest Days Festival encourages people to gather in the gardens in outdoor “living room” spaces with fire pits to enjoy the fall foliage.
Kombucha on Tap
This North Kansas City, MO, taproom is a bit different than the other great microbreweries we have in Kansas City. Instead of beer, you’ll find kombucha on tap. Kombucha is a green tea-based drink that is fermented added to give you a (nonalcholic) end product that has probiotics, fizz and flavor! The Brewkery is owned by a Kansas City duo that started with bottling and selling their product then expanded to open a brick-and-mortar taproom. You can try flights (featuring their rotating flavors on tap), kombucha floats and even enjoy house-made paninis and soups. Their core flavors, like Grape Limeage or Hibiscus Rooibos, are always available, and you can watch their page for seasonal specialties like the pineapple, mango and jalapeno Hot Tropic flavor.
All Hands on Deck
If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and broaden your culinary horizons, Taste Buds Kitchen in Leawood has a variety of classes for every palate. They offer adults-only classes where you can BYOB and learn how to make sushi, tapas, pasta and a myriad of other cuisines. For the younger crowd, they have themed cooking camps throughout the year that are broken out by ages, so kids can safely learn cooking basics with new recipes each day. If you’re looking for something to do with the whole family, to celebrate a special occasion, or to plan a girls night out, they also offer custom private parties and lessons!
A Taste of Italy
Besides a full-service restaurant specializing in artisan Italian dishes passed down through generations, Jasper’s offers immersive culinary experiences throughout the year. Their regular Supper Club events are themed (January’s was Carnivale, complete with masks and a festive Venetian menu) and offer a chance to explore expertly paired regional cuisine. They are also bringing back cooking classes where you can learn Italian staples from Chef Jasper himself, all while enjoying lunch. If you’d rather someone else handle the cooking but are looking for a unique experience over dinner, you can watch as they prepare mozzarella tableside (seasonal) or learn more about heirloom farming during Kurlbaum’s Tomato Supper.
Andrea Plunkett Ishmael is a local writer and business owner with a passion for adventure.