Remember gathering with pals at the mall food court? One could grab a giant slice of pizza, another a sub sandwich, and no one had to compromise. Food halls, trendy eatery conglomerates popping up across the metro, are the food court concept all grown up. Now, true chefs bring their signature cuisine to a shared space where the greatest challenge for a diner is narrowing down which fantastic items to order! Next time you’re gathering with friends or family for a meal, consider heading to a local food hall where you can support small businesses, enjoy delicious dining, and ensure no compromise of choice afflicts anyone in your group. It’s what we call a win-win-win!
Nutritious Fall Meals
Fun, On-the-Go Health Hacks
Easy After-School Snack Ideas
Check out theseeasy—and fun—snack ideas for your kids:
Ants on a Log: This is a classic. Wash and slice celery sticks and fill them with peanut butter (or any nut butter) and top with raisins. You can even use other dried fruits if you wish to add a variety of flavors.
Fruit Cutouts: Use mini cookie cutters to cut shapes out of all sorts of things. One idea is to slice various fruits (kiwi, watermelon, apples, pears, peaches) thinly and then use small cookie cutters to cut them out into fun shapes.The kids think they are eating a star and don’t know it’s good for them.
Silly Snack Faces: Take rice cakes or bread and spread cream cheese, peanut butter, cheese sauce or another spread. Provide your child with raisins to use for eyes,apple strips to serve as a mouth, grated carrots to use as hair, etc. You spread them and let your child do the rest. The kids love to get creative and have fun before they gobble down their snacks!
Kebabs: What kids don’t love to play with their food? Take Popsicle sticks (safer than skewers) and cut up various fruits into cubes. Help your child thread them onto the stick to make a kebab. Give them some yummy caramel dip or cream cheese for dunking.
Yogurt Parfaits: Get some fun cups (try the dollar store to find some fun ones that can be your parfait cups) and layer in yogurt and then fruit with another layer of yogurt and fruit. Top with nuts, granola or even chocolate chips. Yum!
Trail Mix: Purchase various nuts, raisins, dried fruits, granola, popcorn, pretzels and some M&Ms. Pour equal amounts of each item into a large bowl. Cover, shake and snack!.
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.
A Peanut Butter Lover’s Guide to KC Goodies
Best Peanut Butter Cookie:
McLain’s Bakery, Multiple locations, McLainsBakeryKC.com
Since 1945, this bakery has been a local landmark and favorite. They are well-loved for perfect baked goods, including the best peanut butter cookies in town!
Best Peanut Butter-Topped Waffles:
Kate’s Kitchen, 8002 N. Oak Trfwy., Kansas City, MO, 816.436.7200, KatesKitchenKC.com
Kate’s Kitchen serves up diner-style meals with the freshest ingredients and friendly service. Even among a variety of breakfast items, waffles remain a favorite. Adventurous patrons love “the King,” waffles topped with warm peanut butter, bananas, powdered sugar, and butter!
Best Peanut Butter Ice Cream:
Sylas and Maddy’s, Multiple locations, SylasAndMaddysIceCream.com
Sylas and Maddy’s makes fresh homemade ice cream and waffle cones daily and a variety of delicious flavors loved by customers since 1997. They won our hearts with their scrumptious Peanut Butter Freak ice cream and Peanut Butter Crunch! The Lawrence location serves The King. The flavor, inspired by Elvis Presley, is peanut butter ice cream with bananas, peanuts, and a chocolate swirl mixed in.
Best Peanut Butter Donut:
Donut King, 2320 Armour Rd., North Kansas City, MO, 816.472.1412
A Northland favorite since 1969, Donut King makes all their donuts from scratch behind the counter where you watch. Their diverse menu features 44 types of donuts, all with that delicious homemade quality customers love, including the much-loved peanut butter and jelly cronut.