Happy Birthday to Tay!

   My little Taylor is 4 years old today. I adopted him 2 years & 3 months ago, and he has been a great addition to the family: well-behaved & with an endless appetite for fun. And also for food. I let him up in the dining room chair just long enough to check out the delicious birthday treats that Mary Ann brought him from Brookside Barkery. How sweet! They didn't last long!

   Taylor loves to run & run & run and is surprisingly fast, despite his portly proportions. (Mike calls him "The Bratwurst," which seems fitting.) He's one of the reasons I got back in to running. (Even though I'm much less talented than he is & am only holding him back from a prestigious career in Doggie Olympics.) Tay loves everyone, but Kelly is his best buddy.

     As for me, I celebrated Taylor's birthday by attending a multi-course dinner at Broadmoor Bistro, led by Chef Rick Tramonto, famous for his restaurants as well as his turn on Top Chef Masters. The amuse bouche were not my favorites (the beef tartare literally tasted like a spoonful of raw ground beef with a little seasoning... with a gross, creamy texture), and the roasted beets course was... well, they were roasted, pickled beets for crying out loud! Not a taste I've been successful in acquiring, although I've given them a fair shot. But the mussels were very tasty & not at all chewy, and the dinner course of balsamic-marinated filet and truffled mac & cheese were truly outstanding. And I dare anyone not to like a caremelized banana split with peanut butter ice cream. Whatever was in the bottom of the glass looked & tasted like very soft mochi. Delicious!
   As always, the best thing about the meal were the enthusiastic students who prepared & served it, and Rick was extremely gracious in sharing his humble beginnings (he started in food by working at Wendy's, and never finished high school!) and complimenting the students on their hard work & accomplishments. Chef Bob Brassard is like a proud Dad, and he also bestowed great praise on his class. It's an organization I'm glad to support, and truly one of the best meals you can get in Kansas City, no matter what's on the menu.

Amuse:

“Spoon” of Lobster Ceviche, Lobster Oil and Lobster Roe

Beef Tartar Spoon with Quail Eggs on Brioche

Honey Dew Melon Juice with Pink Peppercorns

Kumamoto Oysters with Blood Orange Aspic

Warm Mini Foie Gras Club Sandwich

Dinner:

1st Course: Roasted Heirloom Beets, Burrata Cheese (mild, like soft, fresh mozzarella), Walnut Vinaigrette

2nd Course: Ale-Braised Mussels, Belgian-Style

Dinner Course:

Balsamic Marinated Filet, Mushroom Jus, Wood grilled Broccoli Rabe; “Truffled” Mac and Cheese

Dessert Course:

Vertical Banana Split; Peanut butter Ice Cream, Bananas