As temperatures start to drop and fall begins, it's time to start thinking about culinary standbys that characterize the season.
From root vegetables to fresh apple cider, there are plenty of seasonal ingredients and dishes in the Kansas City area to get you in a fall mindset.
Here are Central Standard's Food Critics' and local callers' choices for good seasonal dishes in the Kansas City metro:
- Port Fonda (morel mushrooms in spring, grilled corn in summer, various ingredients in fall) — 4141 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, Mo.
- Donut King (pumpkin donut) — 2320 Armour Road, Kansas City, Mo.
- Jasper's Restaurant (pumpkin ravioli) —1201 W. 103rd St., Kansas City, Mo.
- Café Sebastienne (asparagus dishes in spring, apple crisp in fall) — 4420 Warwick Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.
- Happy Gillis Cafe & Hangout (BLTs and other tomato based dishes) — 549 Gillis St., Kansas City, Mo.
- The Farmhouse (root vegetable dishes in fall and tomatoes in summer) — 300 Delaware St., Kansas City, Mo.
- Accurso's (watermelon and goat cheese salad in summer) — 4980 Main St., Kansas City, Mo.
- Justus Drugstore (desserts using persimmon fruit, other various menu items) - 106 W. Main St., Smithville, Mo.
- Louisburg Cider Mill's Ciderfest (apple cider donut, Sept. 27-28 & Oct. 4-5) — 14730 K68 Highway, Louisburg, Kan.
- Weston Applefest (apples and ciders, Oct. 4-5) — 526 Main St., Weston, Mo.
- Rye KC (corn soup in summer, various seasonal ingredients in fall) — 10551 Mission Road, Leawood, Kan.
- Bluestem (desserts with peaches and corn ice cream in summer, persimmons in desserts in fall) — 900 Westport Road, Kansas City, Mo.
- Frida's Contemporary Mexican Cuisine (corn milk ice cream) — 7200 121st St., Overland Park, Kan.
- Ixtapa Mexican Cuisine (corn milk ice cream) — 7103 N.W. Barry Road, Kansas City, Mo.
- Room 39 (various seasonal dishes) — 1719 W. 39th St., Kansas City, Mo., and 10561 Mission Road, Leawood, Kan.
- The Rieger Hotel Grill & Exchange (tomato based dishes in summer, roasted root vegetables in fall) — 1924 Main St., Kansas City, Mo.
- Limestone Pizza (various seasonal ingredients throughout the year) — 814 Massachusetts St., Lawrence, Kan.
- 715 Restaurant (root vegetable dishes in fall) — 715 Massachusetts St., Lawrence, Kan.
- Story (beets and other root vegetables in fall) — 3931 W. 69th Terr., Prairie Village, Kan.
- Jess and Jim's Steakhouse (pickled beets) — 517 E. 135th St., Kansas City, Mo.
- Webster House (BLT) — 1644 Wyandotte St., Kansas City, Mo.
- Powell Gardens (farm-to-table dinner, Sept. 21) — 1609 N.W. U.S. Highway 50, Kingsville, Mo.
- Café Provence (various seasonal dishes) — 3936 W. 69th Terr., Prairie Village, Kan.
- The Westside Local (various seasonal dishes) — 1663 Summit St., Kansas City, Mo.
- Uncommon Stock (seasonal soups) — 1000 W. 25th St., Kansas City, Mo.
