local food

Mike King calls himself a chocolate maker as one of those who starts with the raw beans to create his boutique chocolate bars. The bars are featured at his one-man operation — Encore Coffee and Chocolate in Grandview.

When consumers get their utility bills every month, it’s not always clear why energy costs as much as it does — and there are usually no other options. Why? The upfront investment and barriers to entry create natural energy industry monopolies. Plus: Learn why local fruits and veggies are often more expensive than produce shipped thousands of miles.

As part of the “Food Routes” series, Harvest Public Media explores three big factors that affect produce prices in the Midwest and Great Plains.

The food hall, just up the hill from the Plaza, is set to open Monday in the Cascade Hotel, 4600 Wornall Rd. Plaza Provisions takes the place of the Strang Chef Collective, which closed in December after just a year.

Betty Bremser has been running Foo's Fabulous Frozen Custard for nearly 30 years, turning the Brookside locale into a dessert destination and the start of many local teens' careers. But Bremser is hanging up her scoop at the end of the month.

Sandwiches are versatile, portable, and filling, which makes them perfect for a hearty breakfast, a picnic lunch or a low-key dinner. Kansas City’s food scene is full of delicious hoagies, tortas and bahn mi. Here’s where to find the cream of the crop.

Silvia Miguel started Pan Caliente in 2012, making alfajores, empanadas and other baked goods from her native Patagonia. After leaving her teaching job to focus on the business full-tmie, she now sells at cafes across the Kansas City metro.

More food trucks are popping up around Kansas City, especially during the summer. Around town you'll find these restauranteurs offering menus inspired by Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander cuisines.

Kansas City’s taco scene has it all: out-of-this-world al pastor, tender tripa and even veggie delights, all wrapped in corn tortillas or flour. Here’s where to find the tastiest street tacos, Sonoran-style tacos and more across the metro.

Chicken can sometimes get a bad rap but, fried, pan-seared, or smoked, it’s a versatile meat that sops up flavor like a sponge. Here’s where to find the tastiest broilers, fryers, and roasters in the metro, including crispy Korean fried chicken and succulent wings.

The 22-acre development along Independence and Hardesty avenues will include an apartment building, a public market, coworking and community gathering spaces. The developer hopes it can become a “third space” for residents of the Historic Northeast.

Chef Jonathan Justus and his wife Camille Eklof were widely known for their Smithville eatery, which won national acclaim. For the last few years, they've been hosting intimate pop-up dinners and consulting while dreaming up their next Kansas City restaurant.