Reflections on Restaurant Week
Just a couple of thoughts
I’m following my heart today. I had an entirely different post outlined and ready to go, but it just didn’t feel right. That’s the beautiful thing about having my own Substack, I make the rules (cue Lover by TSwift). Today, I’m talking about KC Restaurant Week and why I am deeply passionate about food.
For one week each January, Kansas City restaurants put together multi-course, prix fixe menus in hopes of enticing residents out of their homes. While some of the meals are still expensive (and not a good value IMO), if you pick the right places it gives you a chance to try fancier restaurants or places you’ve never been at a discount.
Equally as important, if not more so, it gives you the chance to make dining an event with your friends. Because it’s a multi-course experience, you are typically enjoying the meal for longer than a regular restaurant stay. It gives you the chance to really talk with your friends (or just relax) and create a shared memory as you obsess over the food.
So far, I’ve made it to two restaurants, with two more reservations on the books.
Jinya Ramen Bar
This was SUCH a steal. It was $20 for the whole meal - seaweed salad, crispy rice with tuna, spicy chicken ramen, and matcha tiramisu
I don’t eat ramen often, so this gave me a chance to try something unique. The flavors warmed my soul and gave me so much inspiration for what to cook this winter (Translation: I want to go buy more sauces). Plus, that matcha tiramisu was divine. It was sweet, yet earthy. Creamy and fluffy, yet chewy. Recreating that tiramisu may be my next baking project.
One of the most beautiful things about this experience was it transcended ‘just a meal.’ My friend and I had to drive 30 minutes to get there, so when we left we decided to take our time and explore some of the thrift shops in the area. What started off as lunch plans turned into a 4-hour excursion. This is why I believe in the power of sharing meal!! It’s not just about the food, but everything that surrounds the food.
Zero Zero
Sunday night I went to a teeny-tiny pasta shop that transported me back to Italy. They had a handful of tables and an open kitchen. Little lamps sat atop each table and pillows lined the bench seats. It was cozy and the perfect setting for a Sunday supper.
This meal was more expensive than the ramen, but worth every nickel. We started with arancini and focaccia (the whipped ricotta and honey I could have eaten by the spoonful). They gave a couple of options for the remaining courses, but my friend and I chose the same thing - meatballs in pomodoro, butternut squash agnolotti, and tiramisu.
I’m very excited to say that agnolotti is now a new favorite pasta shape. It’s similar to other stuffed pastas, but it appears slightly elevated (and it’s fun to say). The sage paired with the crispy breadcrumbs gave the dish dimension and texture and it was nearly impossible to stop eating it.
After the pasta, I somehow found room for the tiramisu. It was delightful and really reinforced that I need to learn how to make some form of tiramisu ASAP. When a dessert pairs sweet and bitter with clouds of cream, I become entranced. Honestly, there were parts of the meal where my friend and I had to stop talking because we were so focused on the food.
Outside of the phenomenal meal and time with a friend, I loved my Zero Zero experience for two other reasons:
I adore a Sunday evening activity. It keeps the existential dread of the upcoming workday at bay and helps me make the most of my weekend.
Eating at small, local gems like this really makes me feel like I’m part of the community. I’m reminded that, as much as I LOVE to travel, I can find joy in my own city.
I believe that food is art. It is creativity and storytelling. It is fuel and comfort. I also believe the circumstances surrounding the dish have as big of an impact on the meal as the ingredients themselves.
Maybe for some it’s not that deep, but I think it’s fun to view food in that way.
Maybe one of my creative pursuits for the year will be to host my own restaurant day at my apartment 🔹🦋🔹