KC International Passport
Locals and visitors alike know Kansas City has become a top-rate metropolis with all the quality attractions it has to offer—places like Union Station, Crown Center, the 18th & Vine District, the Crossroads and the Power & Light District. But other areas wait to be explored and discovered as well: Kansas City’s International scene! Did you know our city has a smorgasbord of international culinary delights and cultural sites worth sampling and experiencing?
Let’s begin with the oldest continuous Irish business in Kansas City and all of North America: Browne’s Irish Marketplace! Browne’s was first opened in 1887 by the current owner’s great-grandparents from County Kerry, Ireland. The present location in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods opened in 1901, and since then, each generation has continued the beloved family traditions and business. Kerry Browne, who inherited the establishment in 1981, recently remodeled the market back to its original layout, with the addition of six more retail rooms. Sample one of the many Irish whiskeys available or enjoy a pint of Guinness on tap while devouring one of Browne’s award-winning, mouth-watering Rueben sandwiches from the deli. Browne’s has an assortment of imported Irish groceries, as well as an extensive, well-curated selection of Irish wares, jewelry, textiles and keepsakes. Browne’s occasionally offers a traditional Irish breakfast on Saturdays and also hosts Gaelic music seisiuns. The entire family can enjoy true Irish hospitality at this long-standing establishment. Another great Browne’s event to attend is their annual Irish Street Festival, held on the grounds every second weekend in June. You can enjoy headliners such as Kansas City’s own The Elders and Eddie Delahunt, while enjoying Irish drinks and food. Our city has a rich Irish heritage, so Browne’s is not the only Green Isle extension to discover in the area. Be sure also to visit Sheehan’s in Waldo, the Irish Center of Kansas City and the Celtic Ranch and O’Malley’s in Weston, MO.
Another Kansas City neighborhood known for its long cultural history is Strawberry Hill. Eastern European settlers began arriving in what is now known as the Strawberry Hill area at the turn of the last century, attracted by agriculture and the closeness of the two rivers: the Missouri and Kansas. While setters initially were primarily of Croatian ethnicity, many other cultures soon settled and contributed to this community: Lithuanian, Polish, Slovakian, Slovenian, Russian, Ukrainian and Dutch. The Strawberry Hill Museum and Cultural Center celebrates this unique heritage. It’s located in a former orphanage, where you can take a tour (weekends noon-5:00), purchase traditional Baltic-Slavic souvenirs in the gift shop or sample authentic ethnic desserts in the tearoom on the first weekend of each month (1:00-4:00). Speaking of desserts, one company from Strawberry Hill has made Kansas City famous for its delectable, highly-popular dessert breads: Strawberry Hill Povitica. In 1984, Harley O’Leary took his Croatian grandmother’s sweet nut bread recipe and made it famous. Baked with love, this delicious treat is now a very popular addition to holiday tables around Kansas City. Be sure to visit their new facility in Merriam, KS, where you can watch the povitica being made, savor free samples and take home your favorite flavor!
Two other Kansas City neighborhood districts are defined by their international cuisine restaurants and businesses: The River Market and West 39th Street. In addition to the farmers market that is in residence every weekend spring to fall, many store fronts are open year-round so guests can experience a slice of international culture. Try out the Taste of Brazil Market, Le Fou Frog, Carollo’s Groceria Italiana, Chinatown Food Market, Vietnam Café and the fun Yoki novelty store, just to name a few. In the Volker neighborhood of West 39th Street, choose from these ethnic eateries: Blue Koi Noodles & Dumplings (Chinese), Island Spice (Jamaican), Taj Palace (Indian), Bob Wasabi Kitchen (Japanese), Aladdin Café (Mediterranean), Sultan’s Café (Middle Eastern) and Komatsu Ramen.
Kansas City also has a strong German heritage, as can be seen by the many authentic restaurants and breweries throughout the metro. Werner’s on Johnson Drive is a great example and a must-sample! Werner’s got its start all the way back in 1898, and the current proprietors continue the long-standing tradition of making Old World-style sausages from the original recipes. Werner’s is one of the few remaining local butcheries still in operation. The current location in Mission, KS, opened in 1972 and has been serving its faithful customers ever since. Stop by at lunchtime during the week for one of their famous German sausages; a different one is featured every day. You also can stock up on many German groceries not easily found elsewhere while stopping in for a fresh deli sandwich or a package of their famous, high quality sausages to take home. A newer addition to the German heritage scene is the Kansas City Bier Company in Waldo. Steve Holle, the founder, became enamored with German lager-style bier during his time studying abroad. Serendipitously, the craft beer movement was exploding at the same time in the Midwest, so Steve and his team of brewers were able to combine the best of both worlds to create this hip, local, Bavarian-style brewery. Visit the tasting room, take a tour or, best of all, listen to a German polka band every Saturday in the communal biergarten while enjoying traditional German food. KC Bier Co. is the closest thing to the community-centered, family-operated biergartens of native Germany that you’ll find in the greater Kansas City metro. As in Germany, this biergarten is a family affair, and kids can enjoy the outside play area while their parents catch up with friends over a cold Hefeweizen or Dunkel. Other German establishments of note to visit are Grunauer in Westside, Rheinland in Independence and Affare downtown.
A fun, kid-friendly way to explore several nations in one place is the Kansas City Zoo! The whole family can put a stamp on their passport by watching Berlin, the North Artic polar bear, swim and play. Or by watching Antarctic penguins frolic and dive. Over in Africa, children can observe lions lounging, gorillas grooming or gazelles grazing. In Australia, don’t miss the antics of the kangaroos or the petting zoo full of Australian sheep waiting to be fed special treats. There’s also a small, fascinating museum on the extraordinary insects and reptiles native to Australia. Another great place for exploring international cultures with the entire family is the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. There you can uncover art treasures in the African and Egyptian, Asian and Southeast Asian, Chinese and Japanese and European and Ancient Greek and Roman galleries.
Our metropolis is truly a mecca of international delights! Other global-flavored local events and businesses worthy of exploration are the British Gala (April 29), the Kansas City Scottish Highland Games (June 10-11), the Ethnic Festival in Swope Park (August), the Japanese Tea Garden in Loose Park, Brits and Ten Thousand Villages in Lawrence, the Queen’s Pantry in Leavenworth, Redcoats (That British Store) in Overland Park, World’s Window in Brookside, IKEA (Swedish products and food), Jasper’s Italian Restaurant, Cupini’s Italian Deli in Westport, Longboards (Hawaiian) in Mission and Enchilada Madness on Southwest Boulevard (Salvy’s favorite!). Now get out and discover all that the world has to offer in Kansas City!