Fast Food? No way. Just a quick scoop on: JJ's, Nara, Cafe Sabastienne, Em Chammas, Thai Place, Lu Lu's Noodles, Blue Koi, Ghengis Khan, & 1924

I recently took a vacation, but my taste buds most certainly did not. I promise to elaborate more on these delicious divas, as they are some of my favorites. For now here is a quick dish on two.

JJ's - Be still my beating heart. You're going to fall in love with the warmth of JJ's fresh, crisp atmosphere. Brick, tile, wood and stained-glass windows blend together to establish an elegance that is refined, but not overdone. This must be a theme, because the food doesn't fall far from the feeling of comfortable and appealing taste. While you will want to focus on your plate, you can take advantage of basking in the glow of good company. The lighting is so soft, it almost hugs you in front of a heavenly backdrop of white walls and white table clothes. Speaking of the fantastic white tables, you've got to love those bread-scraping tools they use. I frequently eat with an adorable product of France - who will always tell me the appropriate name for this, but it is lost on me, at the moment. All I know is that if server whips one out and gingerly removes all breadcrumbs from your presence, be very impressed.

What's even more moving is the labyrinth list of over 2,000 bottles of wine. We celebrated (an interviewing triumph that I had with Morgan Spurlock) with an amazingly delicious and hard to find bottle of Brunello. It's smooth and full - and apparently one of the most expensive wines in Italy. (Wow and ouch). I tried it once in Miami and was just so excited to see it again. In the midst of my reunion, I didn't even check the price tag. But don't let the bling-bling bottles keep you away, there are plenty of tasty libations to serve any economical need.

As much as I hate to pull-out a Rachel Ray, the food here is absolutely "YUM-O." On this occasion I had a bouillabaisse that was honestly... not the biggest turn on. Otherwise, I can tell you that my plates have consistently been exquisite. I don't usually don't go gaga for sausage, but I'll be coming back for this hearty and tangy starter. Like this, everything is balanced and full of flavor without being a bit heavy. The word quality sums it up. (Try the rabbit, if you can).

910 West 48th Street, KCMO

816.561.7136

Nara: Living in the middle of America, I take pride in the Kansas City Strip and Kansas City's famous bar-b-que spots. Steakhouses are to Kansas City, what churches are to Memphis. Granted, we have our share of eastern delights, but you can imagine that unique Sushi experiences are few and far between in what is lovingly referred to as the "Heartland of America."

Last year, mostly thanks to way too much hype, we had a "not-so-great" first-time experience at Nara. It's an uber hip Sushi and Robata joint, the kind of place that almost always has a D.J. and advertises with pictures of people eating sushi off of beautiful, naked girls. (False advertising: as far as I know, this is not an available method of consumption).

The cool atmosphere initially lived up to my expectations and continues to do so. The modern, elemental design is enough eye candy that you can skip desert - which you might actually want to do. When we decided to give Nara one more shot, we capped a satisfying evening with some type of crepe filled with wasabi. Let's just say there is a special place in Hell's kitchen for the jokester that came up with this one.

Other than the wicked dessert, the sushi and robata passed the test this time around with flying colors. Can you not adore a roll that has apple in the ingredients? Originally, I think we stayed too close to our sushi-comfort zone. Things were good, but not great. So we went back and spiced it up. (Literally, the spicy roe was phenomenal).

The lesson learned is that if you have a bad experience, but almost everyone around town has not. Pick up your chop sticks and try,try again.

1617 Main Street, KCMO,64108

816.221.6272

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Up for another course?

More on these soon:

Cafe Sabestienne
Em Chammas
Thai Place
Blue Koi
Ghengis Khan
1924

Blue Bird Bistro

1700 Summit Street Kansas City, Mo



In one of his greatest works of sculpture, Michelangelo believed that David was already waiting inside a large block of Carrara marble. In 1501, the artist's hands would begin to set the beauty lying within the stone free.

Organic dining is on the rise and in the right hands, the experience can create a culinary masterpiece that is similar to this artistic act of emerging.

You can't fully imagine the power lurking inside your lentils, until you take a trip to Blue Bird Bistro located on the west side of downtown Kansas City.

With dishes that maximize hidden potential and natural essence, the menu is a manifesto in the health foodie revolution. Save the bland, cardboard-tasting rice cakes for the birds. These eclectic dishes are so hearty and savory, you'll think twice about your momma's home cooking.

It's like comfort food (without any guilt). It tastes good and you feel good about eating it; Bluebird takes pride in purchasing organic, all natural, sustainable and local.

The food is able to speak for itself with an original menu that does not "try too hard" to be funky or trendy. Plates are simple in their use of fresh ingredients, but still interesting and upscale. From bison burgers to green curry, there is something for everyone.

Amazing smells immediately hit me, when my guest and I returned to this truly unique building -which was once a pharmacy in 1890. The old tile flooring and tin pressed ceiling, give it a timeless, out of this world feeling. Delicious smells aren't the only thing lingering, there is also an air of creativity in the comfortable ambiance.

The people are lovely, as well. I find, this is often the case for staff at an organic-style restaurant. They care about the food in an unpretentious way, which inevitably flows to the customer. Like the food, they keep it real and natural.

It was very easy to cozy up with some organic wine and starter of what is possibly one of my most favorite dishes (ever): chicken livers. At first, it surprised me too. It sounds gross, but trust me: I'm hooked. I dream about them.

Complemented with vermouth butter, the chicken livers are dense, slightly rich and almost creamy. Cooked onions, bacon, and mushrooms give the dish a touch of sweetness and a light crunch.

The insanity of our colder than usual spring weather was a blessing, as we decided to share some soup. It was a spicy tomato and again, another dish that overwhelmed me with it's simple excellence. The vegetables were awesomely thick and a kick of jalapeno gave it a subtle, exciting boost. Consider it a "sexy" stew.

We moved on to our main courses. I absolutely love almost any kind of scallops, but often, they are more or less the same dish at any restaurant. So I was excited to try the scallops here that were on the special. Surely, Blue Bird would break the mold. I think the soup was a hard act to follow, but the scallops were still delicious. The size was appropriate. They were simple and cooked properly, while the rice was a nice complement. What really made this dish stand out was the fact that they didn't indulge the scallops with a rich sauce. The scallop, tasted like a scallop (not butter). I will say that there was a tad too much salt for my liking; however, my companion, who helped share the magic of the mollusks, begged to differ.

He went with a texturally remarkable choice of green curry and added tofu. To say the least, it's a brilliant dish. (I may start to dream about this one, too).

We ended our evening at this foodie haven with a house-made bread pudding that was delightful.

I'm a believer; I first heard of Blue Bird Bistro by word of month. I'm glad I listened. So don't just take my word for it, follow your taste buds and dig in!



ATMOSPHERE & DRESS: It's pretty laid back, but also chic.
(I've worn denim with a blazer, but have even worked a dressier black skirt number).

PRICING: Mostly moderate (Entrees range from $8 -$32).

FEATURES: organic, sustainable, local, some vegan/vegetarian dishes, private parties, breakfast, lunch, afternoon menu, Sunday brunch,

MOTTO: "upscale organic for the discerning diner"