The Missourian Species

I have completed my field research on Missourians and have learned quite a great deal about their habitats, environs, and food sources. Above you can see a covert photo taken of young Missourians at play in a large, inflatable cage-type thing. Amazingly, they will enter the cage voluntarily and it can be quite difficult to remove them. I have discovered that they seem to like to eat large wads of pastel colored cotton on a stick although they must beg the older of the species to be allowed to eat this. Odd.

Much of my research was completed at something they like to call a "festival". The young Missourians participated in some sort of ritualistic face painting and then were given inflated tubes twisted into shapes representing animals. Some put them on their heads. Afterwards, we returned to the habitat and placed circular disks into a machine, thus creating images on a screen, which we watched for hours.

Other random facts I discovered while there:

Missourians can be quite generous. They will let you stay in their homes, feed you, and may even carry your luggage. You must brush your own teeth however. They will not do that for you.

They are carnivorous. Definitely carnivorous. The do not actually have to hunt for the animals however, and the food source will magically appear at the feeding place, already prepared. Voila!

Missourians are allowed to pass freely between Missouri and Kansas. No passport is needed!

A great time was had by all and I plan to return soon to continue my research.

Kansas City Barbecue

Jack Stack Barbecue
Kansas City, Missouri
http://www.jackstackbbq.com/

I believe I may have found the best barbecue in Kansas City. If you have been to Kansas City and have a favorite, you are welcome to beg to differ, however; Jack Stack has some of the most brilliant, cravable barbecue I've tasted. This is a local chain of four restaurants but it would not surprise me if they continued to expand (with the usual Dine-o-meter warning: Jack Stack, please don't lose quality in exchange for quantity).

The ribs, chicken, and burnt ends (very popular, very delicious) are great, but what impresses me the most is the attention to the side dishes. Most barbecue places focus on the meat and then serve baked beans from a can. At Jack Stack's, the beans are the best I've tasted--sweet and seasoned with pork. The cheesy corn is also great and not something I would typically see at a barbecue restaurant. The coleslaw was also flavorful and fresh.

We waited about 30 minutes for a table on a Sunday night, although we did have a large party. Smaller parties were seated much quicker. Given that the place was so packed on a Sunday night, I cannot imagine how crowded it would be on a Friday or Saturday.

I could have done without the paintings of doe-eyed cows on the ceiling, creating much guilt for me that I was about to eat their brethren. How about some angry, hostile looking cows to lessen my guilt?

We debated for a long time between a 9 and a 10. Some say they have tasted better barbecue, so we decided on a 9 or 90%, but really it's more like a 95%.


Dineometer rating: 90%

Jerusalem Cafe

Jerusalem Café
Kansas City, MO

Near the University of Missouri at Kansas City, this local chain of three Middle Eastern restaurant serves kabobs, falafel, Turkish coffee, and other traditional dishes in what may be the only of its kind in the area . I tried the lunch buffet option featuring roasted red pepper hummus, a very tender baked and seasoned chicken, gyro served cubed with sautéed vegetables, and a multitude of other dishes. The Jerusalem meatloaf was very similar to traditional US meatloaf. Something new for me were the wild pickles that looked to me like pickled okra but were entirely too sour for my taste. All dishes at Jerusalem Café seem to be fresh and homemade. There are regular menu options as well if you wish to bypass the buffet, and there is an ajoined shop serving wraps with non-middle eastern ingredients such as fajita chicken and Philly beef steak. This restaurant also has a small store which sells middle eastern foods and merchandise such as bottled rose water, dried figs, and elaborate tobacco pipes. Enjoy the large screen satellite TV broadcasting programs from the middle east while you dine.



Dineometer Rating: 80%

Blogging in the Hinterlands

(Anne Garney Painting, Kansas City Westside)









I am blogging today from the Kansas City area of Missouri and Kansas. I hope to find some unique restaurants to blog and review for y'all, and this being Kansas City, I am sure that some sort of beef and/or barbecue product will be involved at some point.

I also hope to take in a few tourist attractions while here, other than the lovely, lovely Sprint campus which, oddly, was designed to look like a college campus so that new hires would not be startled too badly when making the transition from school to work. The farmer's market here often has some great fresh produce buys, although there are no mountains in the backround like the Hidden Valley Ranch commerical would lead you to believe. Tomorrow, I will be observing Missourians in their natural habitat, whatever that may be. Will they finally "Show Me" what they have been promising to as advertised on all their license plates?

Happy Friday everyone!