Donut King

Donut King is something we passed by for YEARS before we stopped in. And every time we drove by, I said to myself: That place has awesome doughnuts. You could just tell; it's no strip-mall doughnut spot. It's purple. With big lights around the sign. It's flashy.

And since I need to be in a certain mood to really want a doughnut, and I didn't want to be disappointed - we just kept passing it by. 2 in the afternoon? Not a time for doughnuts. 8 at night? Mmmm...no. And then, the first time we pulled in the parking lot, my husband got his door open and one foot on the pavement just in time for them to put up the "SOLD OUT" sign. Our date with doughnuts would have to wait.

Finally, just a couple of months ago, the stars aligned and I wanted a doughnut. A Donut King doughnut. And we made it in in time to bring home not only doughnuts, but sausage kolaches. (At Donut King, this is doughnut dough, wrapped around a breakfast or polish sausage and available with sliced jalapenos.) It's not a traditional kolache, it is more of a klobasnek - but whatever, it's like the world's best pig in a blanket. And these are awesome, especially with jalapenos.

Hmmm....what else can I say to make you go there? On Saturdays & Sundays, they have chocolate-covered doughnut holes. They are open until 9pm, for those of you who enjoy the evening doughnut. They have apple fritters, French crullers, and caramel pecan cinnamon rolls. They take credit cards. Are you still reading this?

Donut King
3913 Chouteau Trafficway in Kansas City
816*452*2012
Mon-Sat 5am to 9pm
Sunday 7am to 9pm

Good Gravy!

I've heard tell that a humble plate of biscuits and gravy can make any hangover a little more bearable. Or maybe it's that it lulls you into a food coma, which allows you to nap, and that nap is what makes the hangover go away. Whatever it is, it's a hearty breakfast sure to cure something that is probably ailing you, even if the only thing that you're suffering from is hunger. Hunger is painful enough.
The Brick takes a plate of b&g to new heights on Saturday mornings, by offering a Biscuits and Gravy Bar for $3.95. Last Saturday the gravy choices included savory ham, traditional country sausage, and a cider house gravy with apples, sausage, and maple syrup. It was good gravy - especially the cider house - served with perfectly dense little drop biscuits and even more excellent with a side of bacon.
Their "Brickfast" menu has some standard choices on it, all good, but I recommend you ask about the specials. Last weekend's special was a crab cake benedict and it was awesome. Not too much hollandaise, the egg wasn't too runny, and the crab cake was especially crisp - good for holding its own against the egg and sauce. Served with potatoes (with a dollop of sour cream, a nice touch) and a little fruit, it was a bargain at $5.95.
In the cool dark interior of the Brick, with some hot coffee and good service, you can start to think about facing your Saturday. Or heading home to take a nap.

The Brick
1727 McGee in downtown KCMO
open Monday-Saturday from 11am to 3am
Saturday Brickfast served 11am-3pm

Poco's

I miss the gleaming toasters that filled the windows, but the breakfast at the new Poco's (in the old Waid's spot st SW Blvd & Bell) is a bustling & tasty affair. The pecan pancakes were loaded with pecan pieces and perfect with a glass of milk. The huevos con chorizo came with your choice of toast or tortillas (corn or flour), crispy hashbrowns (we asked for them "extra crispy" and our waitress checked to make sure they were just right before putting the plate in front of us), and homemade hot sauce. All around us people were enjoying menudo, breakfast burritos, and traditional eggs & bacon. The coffee wasn't just steaming hot, it was good coffee. It was a great mix of people and a friendly atmosphere.

Poco's on the Boulevard
3063 Southwest Blvd in Kansas City

I also say tomato.

you say breakfast croissant
Originally uploaded by noodletown.

I mentioned You Say Tomato when I was on the Walt Bodine show on Friday, and I wanted to mention it again, here, in case you hate listening to the radio or something.

You Say Tomato at 28th & Holmes is the kind of place I wish was my neighborhood spot, where I could stop in for a cinnamon roll - crisp on the edges, gooey in the middle, and drizzled with sugary icing - and a hot cup of excellent coffee. Their muffins are fresh-baked and soft, hot quiche sit cooling on the counter, and the shelves are lined with homemade sweet pickles which go into their truly excellent egg salad. You can fill a little grocery cart with milk, fresh eggs, bread, and local produce, or cool off with a snow cone. It's the kind of place you will feel proud of yourself for supporting.

hours: Tuesday- Saturday: 7:00am-7:00pm
Sunday: 9:00am-2:00pm