Murray's Ice Cream

After our dinner last night, we thought we would stop in at Foo's Frozen Custard for another old favorite, but the line was too long. We decided instead, to check out Murray's in Westport since we were going that way. Murray's has been our favorite ice cream place for a very long time, we used to walk there when we lived on the Plaza, thinking that the walk would work off the calories. All of the ice cream is home made and comes in a variety of flavors that changes constantly. You can have your name put on a list, so that when they make a favorite, they will call you. Every time they make Peppermint Chip I get a phone call letting me know! They have good service and will let you try out a flavor before you buy, so that you make the best choice. Last night I had a single scoop of Root Beer Float on a sugar cone and it tasted just like it's name. Dan had a scoop of Banana Cram Pie in cup and it had little pieces of pie crust in it. As always, both flavors were very good. They have all the traditional items like sundaes and banana splits, a coffee bar and wonderful home made cookies. Murray makes the best Gingersnap around and her cinnamon icing is too die for, getting these when they come right from the oven is a real treat. Murray, herself, is usually around making sure that everything runs well. The location is 4120 Pennsylvania, KCMO 64111 , 816-931-5646.

Jalapenos Brookside

I was going to grill out last night, but after doing yard work and trying to dismantle the master bath, I was in no mood to cook. We decided to eat Mexican and drove 20 miles to Brookside to eat at Jalapenos. We used to live in the Brookside area and loved eating there, so we thought a small road trip would be in order. It was worth the drive, the food has not changed and the service was good. We both ordered Margarita's on the rocks with salt and a bowl of Jalapeno Dip ($7.15). The dip is the reason we went and for that price I think I can come up with the recipe. I will work on it and see. For my meal I went with my old favorite, #3 Tacos, Tacos, Tacos, which as the name implies, is three crispy tacos with beans and rice. I get the beef , but you can opt for chicken or a combo of both. They are very filling and not greasy. Dan ordered his favorite, #5 El Pollo. This is a platter of 2 chicken , cheese and onion enchiladas and a crispy chicken taco and it was all very good. They have a very good brown enchilada sauce that tastes like the kind my mom used to serve. Jalapenos is not the most authentic Mexican place to eat at in the city, but we do enjoy it for a change. They have 3 locations in the area and we ate at the one at 6318 Brookside Plaza, Kansas City , MO. The web address is http://www.jalapenoskc.com/.

The Journey Wood-Fired Steaks

I should just change the name of my blog to Eating Out in Kansas City. Since my week long birthday celebration, I can't seem to get back into the kitchen. We were out last night trying to pick out tile for our new bathroom and at a loss for where to eat. The Northland is slowly getting new restaurants, but they all seem to be going north of Barry Road and we wanted to stay close to home. Of coarse we have exhausted all of the places that are worth eating at and we can't eat Italian every night can we? Steak sounded good to me, but we did not want to go all the way to Zona Rosa to eat. That was when we remembered The Journey at the Argosy Casino. We had eaten there before and had a good experience, so we headed on over thereto dine only, no gambling. I did not want to push my luck since I hit 777 on 07/07/07 playing on a dollar machine without realizing it.

The Journey has a small menu, which is not bad if you have just been overwhelmed with tile choices. I ordered the Rib-eye ($29), which includes a choice of salad, vegetable and potato. I went with the garden salad, asparagus and baked potato. My meal was perfect and very satisfying. Dan had the Salmon ($19) and all the same sides as me. His salmon was one of the best I have eaten out! It was perfectly cooked and the flavor was nice and smoky, not fishy at all. We each had a glass of wine and were glad that their wines by the glass were all only $5.50. It is getting harder and harder to order wine at a restaurant, with all the $8 to $10 prices. I had a very nice Farnese Montepulciano and Dan had a very good Riff Pinot. Our server Mark was very good and attentive, which also seems to be getting scarcer. We will definitely go back. They are located at The Argosy Casino 777 Argosy Parkway Riverside MO. 816-746-3100

Cascone's Italian Restaurant

For my ongoing birthday celebration, we went to Cascone's Italian Restaurant at 3737 North Oak Trafficway, KCMO 64116. The place is just down the street from where we live and it has become somewhat of a tradition to go there on my birthday. It is one of my favorite places to eat in Kansas City, although there were a few issues last night. The restaurant was practically empty and the service was very slow. Also, they have changed their dinner salad and I do not like the new one. Way too much dressing which made the lettuce limp and it just did not taste like it used too, plus there were squishy pieces of artichoke hearts which I cannot stand in my salad.
They serve really good Italian bread, I believe it is from Roma Bakery, and we ordered the Olive Oil Dipping Service for $2.95. It's a good combo of olive oil, Parmesan cheese, basil and roasted garlic.
As for the entrees, I was a little wild and crazy and ordered something different.I went with the Chicken Parmigiano ($16.95), a breaded boneless chicken breast, baked with 3 cheeses and served with a generous serving of spaghetti which was all very good. Dan had his usual, the Tortellini Savina Marie ($15.95), tortellini served in a cream sauce with peas and prosciutto. He did not like it as well as he has in the past. Chris ordered the Baked Cannelloni Florentine (13.95), 3 pasta tubes filled with spinach and veal, baked in red and white sauces. Typical of Chris, he had pasta envy and wished he had ordered what everyone else had. Myla had the Ravioli ($10.95) , cheese filled pasta in a red sauce that was just as good as always. And Auggy ordered the Cannelloni Cascone ($15.95), pasta crepes filled with ricotta and Italian sausage with mozzarella cheese and he loved it. Myla had a Tuscan Melontini for $7.50, Auggy drank tea and Dan, Chris and I shared a bottle of Rocca Chianti that was $37, but we had a half off coupon for. The wine was okay, I have had better, we should have ordered the Ruffino. Myla and Auggy shared the canoli ($3.95) and Dan and I shared a slice of cheesecake ($4.95). The total bill came to $135.54 after the discount. www.cascones.com

Houlihan's Kansas City North

On Sunday, we were out running errands and decided to stop in at Houlihan's since we had not eaten had breakfast or lunch. They have a great Happy Hour that runs all day on Sundays and 4 to close Moday through Saturday. During that time you get $5.00 appetizers and 1/2 price draft beers and house cocktails. The only stipulation is that you have to sit in the bar. On a Sunday afternoon this is no big deal, because the bar area is empty, at least it has been the last few times we've been there. We ordered the chicken nachos and the lettuce wraps. They were both good and more than filling. Dan had a Sam Adams and I had 2 Boulevard Wheats and the tab came to $21.32!! That is a great bargain in my book. They are located at 8660 Baordwalk Avenue, KCMO 816-584-9910.

Houston's Restaurant Kansas City

On Friday, after our disappointing turn away from 1924 Main, we headed for the Country Club Plaza looking for a place to eat. I had a hankering for the Grilled Chicken Salad and some of the e Spinach Artichoke Dip at Houston's. At 2:00 PM on a Friday the place was packed, I think that they are always packed. The service was a little slower than I remember, it took our server a while to get to our table for our order. We started with the Spinach Dip and it was good, just not as good as we remember it being. For $10, it should be the best Spinach Dip out there, but I don't think it is. We both ordered the Grilled Chicken Salad ($13) and again, it just didn't do it for me. It wasn't bad, it just did not taste like I remember it tasting. The dressing seemed a little bitter to me. Oh well, they say sometimes you just can't go back. We lived on the Plaza for awhile back in the mid 90's and ate there once a week. Maybe my taste buds have moved on as well. They are located at 4640 Wornall, phone number 816-561-8542.

Pressed Ciabetta Sandwich

What??!!You fixed a sandwich for your own birthday dinner!! I know it seems strange, but I was tired of going out, that is all I have done for the past 4 days and I did not want to cook.

In fact, I have a stack of reviews to post from all the dining experiences over the past few days and then some. I spent the day with my sister and she was talking about Martha Stewart's pressed sandwiches, so I went to the store and put one together for Dan and me. I bought a nice ciabetta (maybe a little too crispy) and cut it in half. I layered it with thinly sliced prosciutto, thinly sliced tomatoes, sliced fresh mozzarella, drizzled it with Italian salad dressing, layered it with Bibb lettuce and slathered the top piece of bread with light Miracle Whip. I wrapped it with plastic wrap, placed it in the fridge and placed something heavy over it. After a couple of hours we had a very tasty sandwich. It reminded us of eating the sandwiches in Rome and Florence that you buy from street vendors. A very nice birthday dinner!!