Pull Up A Chair and Let's Eat!

Thursday -
Hereford House, one of the major reasons for flying in a day early.  Several reunions ago, we ate at the original on Main Street and made a point of doing so every time.  To accommodate friends who live not far from the airport, and even closer to a major shopping mall called Zona Rosa in North Kansas City,  the four of us went to the one there.  

The Hereford House is such a favorite because it is pure '80s steak house.  It hasn't changed even if it is in a different location.  Such was its fame that a guy who worked with Richie, loaded up his wife and parents; they all flew to Kansas City, had dinner there and got back on the plane and flew home!

We opened the bidding with an order of crab-stuffed mushrooms ($11) with our drinks - a dirty gin martini ($10) and a gin and tonic ($8).  We both ordered the  bacon-wrapped filet mignon with Béarnaise sauce ($28) with creamed spinach for Richie and a Caesar salad for me.  It was allll good.  The kitchen did forget the Béarnaise for the beef, but made up for it by sending out a gravy boat (practically) of the stuff.

Friday -
A quick breakfast of orange juice, Danish and coffee and off to sightsee.

My great friend Jim Newman (we've been friends since we both lived in KC) recommended Pierpont's in Union Station.  Jim is the retired Financial Analysis News announcer for KABC-TV, a member of the Overseas Press Club, President of the Economic Broadcasters Association. thus, he knows the posh places.    (jimnewman.com)

It was a late lunch due to the WW1 Museum and Money Museum that preceded our knees under a table at a booth there.

Our server told us that this site of Pierpont's (apparently there are others) was once the waiting room for women and children when it functioned as a train station.  Directly beneath our feet was their bathes.  Richie remarked, "Segregation of a different sort..." and the waiter said, "Think about war's ends; wives freshening up themselves and the kids to welcome Daddy home..." and that was a poignant thought.

Out of sheer curiosity, Richie ordered a cup of the Chilled Cactus Pear Soup due to his major infatuation with Las Brisas sopa nopales at home.  This version was a bright magenta, quite a change from the pea green version at home.  The color was due to the fact that ingredients included strawberries, pomegranate and honey dew melon and it all tasted like cough syrup to me. ($6)

I fared a great deal better with my corn and crab bisque (the kitchen ran out of lobster rolls).  There was very little crab or corn kernels to be found in it, but the flavor was extraordinary.  No mashed potato thickening and I would bet the "broth" used for it was fresh crushed corn kernels milk and boiled crab shells.   Excellent! ($8)

Richie's shrimp tacos arrived on a piece of slate instead of a plate which is passe here now.  ($12)

Light lunches mean, "Bring on the dessert!)  Mousse au chocolat ($8 each.)

Saturday -
The list of near-by restaurants for the reunion attendee's had two barbecue joints and being unable to find one of them (apparently Siri is a vegetarian) we settled for the other.  Smokin Joe's BBQ  We both had excellent pulled pork sandwiches with beans for him and onion rings for me.  The onion rings were outstanding!  Gritty coating and well done, baby!

Hereford House, 8661 N. Stoddard, Kansas City, Mo.
Pierpont's Union Station, 30 W. Pershing
Smokin Joe's BBQ, 519 E. Santa Fe, Olathe, Kansas