Genghis Khan

I like Genghis Khan Mongolian Barbecue. It is loads better than that BD's place out in Johnson County; they have excellent cocktails, cool photographs up on the walls and I just get a really good vibe every time I'm there. They're always really kind to the boy, and I like talking to the owner when she makes her rounds to make sure that everything was good and that we're happy. I especially like the location up north, in the Shops at Boardwalk at I-29 and Barry Rd.

Sometimes, I'm just hungry for a giant bowl of broccoli and edamame cooked over outrageously high heat by men wielding wooden paddles.

This week, on our lunch outing, my Mom veered from the barbecue to order one of the specials listed on the board outside - it was shocking! Unheard of! I don't even look at the menu anymore! Now (thanks, Mom) I have a serious quandry on my hands. Her special was so delicious that, were they to make it a regular menu item, I would be unable to order anything else. It was the Sriracha Shrimp - and it was amazing. The big beautiful fat shrimp, very lightly breaded and perfectly cooked, were served in a bowl atop shredded romaine lettuce and dressed with a creamy but slightly spicy sauce that had a color that reminded me of light curry and a taste that was smooth with a hint of coconut milk. It was served with Taiwanese Sesame Bread, which was a chewy delight with loads of sesame flavor.

Just a tip from me to you: if they offer it, order it.

Genghis Khan Mongolian BBQ
3906 Bell in Midtown
816*753*3600
or
8634 N Boardwalk
816*587*8883

A Watched Pot

This baby is fashionably late (in case you were curious), and I am the proverbial watched pot.
This watched pot has been escaping the stove for a few "last meals" and tasty treats, however.

* Miami Ice (1624 w 39th St): The ice cream (Yay! Peanut Butter ice cream!) is smooth and and creamy and the passion fruit Miami Ice (with a dollop of custard at the bottom of the cup) is refreshing and amazing.

* Spit Fire Grill (1809 W 39th St): Well-priced entrees and a comfortable interior make this a really great addition to 39th Street. My only complaint was with the plating of the food - the food itself is really well prepared (juicy pork chops, moist and well-seasoned rotisserie chicken, truly excellent french onion soup, crisp grilled sandwiches) that it seems like the presentation of it doesn't match the food itself. The macaroni & fondue side would have benefited from some parsley, and the dinner plates could use a little flair. Food that is made with this much attention to flavor (the sandwich with grilled asparagus and Gruyere was a standout) deserves to have a little more attention paid to how it is presented. Otherwise, a truly excellent meal in a great new spot.

Dessert vs Dessert

After eating dinner on 39th Street, we decide to treat ourselves to dessert. We have two new choices! We can either head down to the newly opened Miami Ice, which has a color and design scheme that makes me feel slightly uneasy, or we can try out Little T's Big Lick, in the space formerly occupied by Angie's. Little T's Big Lick has an unfortunate name, and when pitted head-to-head against Miami Ice, it is chosen simply by virtue of proximity. Sometimes decisions make themselves based on laziness.
After perusing the menu, we settle on custard. They have shaved ice, and the very delicious option of a shaved ice/custard combination, but we go straight for the custard. Straight chocolate for the less adventurous, and some ridiculously indulgent concoction of custard, caramel, Nutella, sliced almonds, whipped cream, and a cherry for me. You really can't go wrong by putting Nutella on anything - remember that. The almonds are unnecessary, and the cherry is donated charitably to the top of the chocolate custard next to me, but the rest of the dessert is a winner. My dessert is $4.88, but a single custard is a very reasonable $1.49 - and if you try out one of their hot dog combos, you can add a single custard or a brownie for a very low price.

Little T's Big Lick
1710 West 39th
open Wed & Thurs 11am - 9pm
Fri & Sat 11am - 10pm
Sunday 12 - 8pm

pb & anything

*I think I've been just a little bit peanut butter obsessed as of late. When in NY, we visited Peanut Butter & Company in Greenwich Village and bought a jar of their spicy peanut butter. I was mainly thinking of all the satay and peanut noodles I could whip up with it, but it also makes a surprisingly good (and odd) pb&j sandwich. They sell PB&Co products at local Super Target & Dillon's stores.

*Ever since Otto's closed, I've had a hole in my heart shaped exactly like one of their truly amazing peanut butter milkshakes. They used chunky peanut butter, so you always got little peanut surprises coming up your straw along with the lusciousness of the peanut butter & ice cream combination. Last weekend, on a soujourn down 24 HWY (Independence Avenue), we stopped in at the Hi-Boy Drive In and I had a nearly Otto's experience. The peanut butter was creamy, but the milkshake itself was ridiculously thick and good. The menu also boasted a peanut butter fudge shake, which will just have to wait until next time.

Hi-Boy Drive In
(click the link to see a Google Map of all three locations)
924 W US 24 Hwy
Independence, MO
(816) 252-4050

*Spring Rolls dipped in peanut sauce trump pb&j or peanut butter milkshakes any day of the week. And Saigon 39 has the best damn peanut sauce in town. You can even buy it to-go and act like you made it yourself, if you're a good liar. Sometimes I double the peanut sauce pleasure and add a tiny serving of it to my spicy rice noodles with chicken when we eat there.

Saigon 39
1806 1/2 W 39th Street
(816) 531-4447

Room 39

We had lunch at Room 39 today, and it was truly a perfect lunch. We got there early enough to sit at a nice table (although I like all the tables there the same) and eat their wonderful warm bread with meltingly good butter. I had fresh-squeezed lemonade simply because it was sunny outside and I wanted to celebrate that a little. It was perfect - tart, but not too tart. Sweet, but not too sweet. And then, to completely clash with my lemonade, I had the winter risotto. The arborio rice still had the perfect amount of firmness, the oyster mushrooms were curled little pieces with a really pleasing texture, and the butternut squash was perfectly paired with the romano cheese.
My husband's steak and egg sandwich featured steak that was grilled to the perfect point with a gooey egg on top. Two of his favorite things, really - pink steak and runny eggs. Then they topped it all off by layering it on a soft egg bun with mayo, truffle oil, lettuce, and gruyere.
Our service was perfect - lively and attentive. The sun was shining. It was a good lunch.

Room 39
1719 West 39th Street
816*753*3939

Pangea

I'm fighting a big fat cold. Yesterday, when just getting out of bed was a victory, I had carryout Ginger Basil Chicken from Blue Koi. When I'm sick, this is my go-to meal. That and a pot of really hot tea with honey.

Today I made it to work for about 3 hours. On my way home, before crawling into bed, I decided that soup was in order, and made my way to Pangea on 39th. After a Creamy Humita Empanada (with potato, corn, broccoli, and garlic) and a bowl of Soup au Cerefuil (a delicious puree of potato and chervil), I started to feel pretty human.

When I can really enjoy it, I'm going back for a Banana and Nutella crepe.

Pangea Cafe and Market
900 West 39th
816*960*1616