Best of 2014

As 2014 comes to a close, I thought I'd join the reflective bandwagon and look back at the cocktails, coffee, tea (as well as soda, wine, chocolate, beer, ice cream, etc) that I've enjoyed over the past year (really since April when I started this little blog) and share with you my top ten favorite beverages. Cheers!

P.S. You can find all the beverages on the spirits, beans, and leaves pages of the blog.

Ten:  

Cali Cola, One More Cup

Nine:

Harry's Reviver, Harry's Bar & Tables

Eight:

Autumnal Seasonal Italian Soda
Second Best Coffee

Seven:

Cream Royal
The Blue Teapot

Six:

Lavender-Honey Latte
Second Best Coffee

Five:

Pendergast
The Rieger Hotel 

Four:

Brown Sugar & Rosemary Latte
Kaldi's

Three:

 Charlie Sour
The Westport Cafe

Two:

Red Velvet Rooibos Tea
Anna Marie's Teas

One:

The Old Square, Bluestem

Happy New Year, Kansas City! Here's to more great beverages and local love!

Christmas Bakery Tea

Drink: Christmas Bakery Tea
Type: Tea
From: Anna Marie's Teas
Price: $6 / 2 oz.
Description: spicy


What an aptly named tea. This warming winter tea is full of baking spices and flavor. From Anna Marie's in Liberty, this flavored black tea has bits of orange, ginger, cinnamon, cocoa, coconut, coriander, rose petals, cloves, cardamom, and almonds. Together it lends itself to a subtly spice (flavor-wise, not heat-wise) tea perfect for snowy days and nights.

The drink: aromatic, sweet, full, unique.

This tea, along with all the other winter and Christmas tea classics offered at this quaint shop are perfect for sharing with family and friends after a large meal or while opening gifts. Be sure to visit the shop online or on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays to get your loose-leaf fix!

Festive Cocktails

Need some easy cocktails to impress family members and friends this holiday season? I served the Brandy Cider Champagne before Thanksgiving dinner as a festive fall cocktail, and the Hot Toddy after dinner and dessert while we watched The Plaza Lighting. 

Brandy Cider Champagne

Ingredients:

Prosecco

Brandy

Apple Cider

Powdered Cinnamon

Directions:

Put a splash of brandy and about 3/4c. of cider to a shaker with ice. Shake. Fill champagne flutes 1/4 way, add Prosecco, dust with cinnamon, and garnish with an orange twist. 

Hot Toddy

Ingredients:

J. Rieger Whiskey

Hugo Black Tea

Lemon

Honey

Hot water

spices

Directions: 

Boil water and steep with black tea (1 t. per 8 oz water), whole cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice, and lemon peel. Meanwhile, add 1 oz. whiskey and 1-2 t. honey to mugs. Add hot water to mug, garnish each mug with lemon peel, star anise, and grated nutmeg. Serve immediately. 

Hot Toddy Recipe

Drink: Hot Toddy

Type: Tea / Alcoholic

Description: Soothing

It's definitely hot toddy season, especially with this recent cold front. Between the winter weather and the cold I've been suffering from, this hot toddy has been my go-to drink. There are a million ways to make a toddy, this just happens to be my favorite: 

Recipe

1 oz. whiskey

8 oz. black tea

1 T. honey

fresh lemon

Brew tea. Steep 1 t. dry tea leaves in 8 oz. hot water for 3-5 minutes. While steeping, add about 1 T. honey, 1 oz. whiskey, and a slice of fresh lemon to a mug. When tea is finished brewing, add to the mug, stirring to mix honey and whiskey in the tea. Sip and enjoy. 

I like to choose my whiskey based on the tea that I'm using. My preferred tea for a hot toddy is Cream Royal Black Tea, with which I like to use American Honey or Jameson. A more floral tea, like Earl Grey, would pair better with a bourbon. I like the creaminess and smooth flavor that comes with the Cream Royal tea combined with the spiciness in Jameson and smoothness of American Honey.

Iced Ginger Lemon Sencha Tea

Drink: Iced Ginger Lemon Sencha Tea
Type: Tea
From: Kaldi's
Price: $2
Description: Hydrating

It's difficult (in my opinion) to find a good iced tea. The defining characteristic of a good tea is that its bitterness doesn't overwhelm its natural flavor. This green tea from Kaldi's is a great example of a good tea.

The drink: super refreshing, lemony, light, flavorful.

The great lemon flavor is complimented by the subtle ginger, both flavors which are leveled out by the natural acidity of green sencha tea. The overwhelming sense of hydration came through with this drink, which would be my go-to if I were incredibly thirsty or feeling dry.

Fall Tea

Autumn is the perfect time to up your loose-leaf tea game. Anna Marie's Teas in Liberty debuted their fall tea collection last weekend by hosting a sampling. Some of the most popular teas were served with perfectly moist scones; it was a great opportunity to try some wonderful teas. 

Brief descriptions and evaluations are located below the photos of the teas I sampled. Head to The Terrace Avenue Inn to pick up your own fall teas! 

Great chocolate and fruity aroma.
Smooth, indulgent, subtle;
perfect as a dessert tea. 

Fruity, peachy, very very light.
Would be wonderful hot and cold. 

Very aromatic, floral, calming.
The lavender is lovely and not at all
overwhelming. 

Smooth, syrupy, lightly spicy.
Perfect for fall; has the heartiness of bread. 

Very bread-like, heavy on the tongue;
spicy and warming. 

Strong cinnamon aroma, naturally sweet;
orange and cinnamon are perfect for warm nights;
just enough cinnamon to be a bit spicy. 

With the addition of sweetened condensed milk,
this tea is thick, creamy, like a Pumpkin Spice Latte
in tea-form. 

Local Blogs

There's something special about Kansas City. Perhaps it's our central location in the country, the easy port access that made it historically pertinent, or just the fact that we're the perfect mix of urban and rural. Regardless, the Kansas City food and beverage industry is exploding. Phenomenal new restaurants, bars, and shops are popping up faster than any of us can keep track (you should see my list - every time I cross off one location, I seem to add two or three more).

It's evident from the success of local events like the Paris of the Plains Cocktail Festival and the Caffeine Crawl that KC is becoming more important and influential on national food culture.

So how does one person keep track of it all? One of the easiest ways is to follow local bloggers. These people are passionate about food, beverage, and all things Kansas City. With each blog's individual speciality and focus, it allows the reader to grasp and locate exactly what he or she is looking for.

Here are a few of my favorite local food blogs:

Around the Block

Located at  http://aroundtheblockkc.com/

Written by Mary Bloch, the author of the Kansas City Star's Restaurant Guide as well as regular contributor to the Star's Food section and member of the Association of Food Journalists. This blog features restaurant profiles, travel recommendations, cooking tips, and food trend discussions.

Chow Town

Located at http://www.kansascity.com/living/liv-columns-blogs/chow-town/

This blog, run through The Kansas City Star, has over a dozen contributors ranging from local foodies to chefs and experts in the field. With daily posts about the entirety of the Kansas City food scene and easy-to-read posts, this is a great location to find out what people are loving the most in Kansas City.

Eat It Kansas City

Located at http://eatitkansascity.com

Written by Kansas newcomer, Shanley, this locally-focused blogger has been featured in Ink Magazine, Kansas City Home & Garden, Better Kansas City, and National Geographic with her blurbs about restaurant openings, local food events, and abundant recipes.

The Feed

Located at http://thefeedmeblog.com

Run by culinary creative and marking agents Jeff Akin and Emily Farris, this blog features recipes dining diaries in the form of posts and podcasts. Regular contributors to Food and Wine, they started Feed Me Creative - a food based marketing firm (branding, marketing, design, and content development) where their blog is now located.

KC Beer Blog

Located at http://kcbeerblog.blogspot.com

Full of calendar events, beer travel guides, homebrewing resources and every beer-related event in Kansas City, this blog is a can't-miss for beer lovers. Run by Pat, Kyle, David, and Jay this blog is completely full of information and events. These guys have done their research and do a great job of keeping up-to-date with local events.

KC Morsel

Located at http://kcmorsel.wordpress.com/

Elegantly designed and run by Laura Clark, talented barista and educator at Kaldi's Coffee, this blog covers more than just coffee, beer, and cocktails. Laura does a great job including food, restaurants, and events around the metro area. Be sure to follow her on social media, as she has a great online presence.

The Making of a Foodie

Located at http://www.makingafoodie.com/

With a focus on becoming a better "foodie", Jenny Vergara is all about learning and teaching others about the best sides of food and drink, and how to better enjoy them and refine the palate. Her in-depth posts are full of detail and information and explanations that are accompanied by lovely photographs from around the Kansas City area.

Shang Tea Blog

Located at http://www.shangtea.com/blog

Considered the "educational arm" of the Shang Tea company, this blog is a wonderful addition to any tea-lovers resources. With posts about growing, harvesting, brewing, and enjoying tea, the reader gets an abundant amount of information ranging from tea history to current tea events. Straightforward and well-written, this is my favorite place to gain a little tea knowledge.

Team Cocktail! 

Located at http://blog.teamcocktail.com/

If you're looking for cocktail recipes from local drinkers and travelers, this blog is for you. With the idea of "travel globally, drink locally," this local blog has a much larger stake in international drinking and traveling, which is a great thing for Kansas City. Search their blog for recipes, merchandise, and local events.



Other resources to find the best of Kansas City are Yelp, Urbanspoon, The Kansas City Star, The Pitch, and Visit KC. What are some of your favorite locals to follow for the best of food and drinks in KC? Leave your answers in the comments!

Full Steam Black Tea

Drink: Full Steam Black Tea
Type: Tea
From: Hugo Tea Company
Price: $9.99 per tin
Description: Smooth

This local tea company has been on my radar for awhile. Hugo Tea Company is based here in Kansas City, providing organic loose - leaf teas all around the metro area. Sold in both grocery stores, restaurants, and coffee shops, this tea is definitely worth checking out.

The drink: pure, clean, light, tasty.

This black tea is perfectly blended without being tart or sweet. There's a wonderfully pure tea flavor that comes through, both when brewed traditionally and made as sun tea. Found in the Natural Section of my local Hen House, I had trouble selecting which tin to purchase: Berry Rooibos, True Jasmine, White Cloud, or the Full Steam. I'm glad I selected this black tea - it's incredibly versatile.

Fast Focus Juice

Drink: Fast Focus Juice
Type: Tea
From: t. Loft
Description: Fresh

I finally had the opportunity to go back to t.Loft after the Caffeine Crawl and I was not disappointed. The clean-eating and gluten-free shop was full of great summer drink options from teas to juices to smoothies. The freshly pressed Fast Focus Juice was both refreshing and energizing. I spent the rest of the afternoon feeling pretty good thanks to my tea-based juice (and peanut butter protein ball).

The drink: flavorful, cool, filling, naturally sweet.

What I liked most about this drink was the mix of flavors from pear, cucumber, pineapple, and apple and how the black tea cut through it making it light and smooth. The tea adds a lingering flavor and keeps the drink from being overly sweet from the fruit. It was both filling and delicious.

Blueberry Matcha Latte

Drink: Blueberry Matcha Latte
Type: Green Tea Latte
From: Headrush Roasters
Price: $4.49
Description: Unique

 While not technically coffee, this beverage is made as a latte complete with frothy smoothness. It's made with matcha - a very fine Japanese green tea known for it's health benefits and natural ability to work well in cooking and beverages. Traditionally it was served in ceremony, but with a burgeoning popularity has found itself in cookies, smoothies, scones, and lattes.

The barista at Headrush, located on North Oak Trafficway, suggested this due to it's overall popularity, and after tasting it I can see why.

The drink: fruity, sweet, light, warm.

The blueberry aroma and the greenness from the matcha is the first things you notice before even sipping the sweet froth and enjoying the smooth and light green tea and blueberry flavors. It wasn't heavy or too strongly flavored (and went really well with my chocolate chip orange scone). I imagine it would be awesome iced. Next time I think I'll try it with the lavender syrup (I am a sucker for lavender).

Love of Paris

Drink: Love of Paris
Type: Black Tea
From: Anna Marie's
Price: $4.75 per oz.
Description: Light

Wonderful weather this week means lots of time spent on the porch drinking tea. This particular type of black tea makes an awesome iced tea. It's subtly fruity from the lemony bergamot and naturally sweetened by vanilla -making it light and refreshing.

The drink: aromatic, floral, vanilla, smooth.

Anna Marie's Teas in Liberty is one of my favorite places to purchase loose-leaf teas because of their high quality and natural ingredients. This tea is no exception. This particular tea is decaffeinated, which makes it great for late summer nights.

Need more tea in your day? Check out the Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Cosmo De Provence

Drink: Cosmo De Provence
Type: Tea Cocktail
From: Tea Forte
Price: $12*
Description: Floral

The Cocktail Infusions from Tea Forte are meant to be steeped directly into alcohol to add the depth and freshness of tea to cocktails. There are an abundance of recipes and ideas available through their website and in a packet included in the box of infusers.


I was introduced to these Tea Cocktails through Stacie at Tea Market in the Crestwood shops at E 55th Street.

* A box of 8 pyramid infusers from Tea Forte (including Lavender Citrus, Lemongrass Mint, and Silkroad Chai infusers) costs $12. This cocktail only costs minimal uses of the spirits, fruit and juice and $1.50 for the one infuser.

The drink: Smells of fresh lavender, springlike, fruity, light.

Recipe:

1 Lavender Citrus infuser
2 oz vodka
1/2 oz French orange liqueur
1 1/2 oz white cranberry juice
splash of fresh lime juice
1 fresh lemon (optional garnish)

- Place infuser in glass.
- Pour vodka over infuser and steep to desired strength.
- Mix infused vodka, French orange liqueur, cranberry juice, lime juice and shake vigorously with ice.
- Strain into a martini glass.
- Garnish with infuser and lemon peel if desired.


In case you're interested - here are the recipes and notes I took for the Tea Cocktails.

Peach Apricot Honey Bush

Drink: Peach Apricot Honey Bush
Type: Tea
From: Anna Marie's Teas
Price: $5.90 / 2 oz.
Description: Fruity


Since there are a limited number of tea shops around the KC area, I tend to visit shops frequently to try new blends. The ladies at Anna Marie's in Liberty are friendly and informed about all things tea. During my last visit, I was fortunate enough to snag some tea samples to try. This organic and caffeine-free green honey bush tea is mixed with natural pieces of orange peel, apricot, peach, candied pineapple, candied papaya, and rose blossom leaves.

The drink: sweet, refreshing, fruity.

Honeybush is an herbal tea, similar to rooibos, but sweeter. It makes for a strong flavor of fruitiness and natural sweetness. You won't need to add any sugar or simple syrup to this tea. Even when I mixed 1 part tea to 3 parts water, it had plenty of flavor and sweetness: perfect for hot summer days.

Prince Henry Tea

Drink: Prince Henry Black Tea
Type: Black Tea
From: Anna Marie's Teas
Cost: $7 per 2 oz.
Description: Floral

National Iced Tea day was this week, and in true KC style - it was cold and rainy. But that doesn't mean the rest of the month isn't perfect for some lightly-fruity iced tea. I gathered some samples at my last visit to Anna Marie's (located in The Terrace Avenue Inn in Liberty) and this naturally flavored black tea was one of them. I chose to make sun tea, since I'm inherently lazy and it requires such little effort.

The drink: fruity, light, floral, and fresh.

To make sun tea, I fill my large pitcher with water and add two self-made tea bags. In each bag, I put about 4 t. of loose leaf tea. There's no real math behind this - in regular tea you should use 1 t. of loose leaf tea per 8 oz. water. This iced tea measurement comes from a lot of trial and error. Then I put the pitcher in a sunny spot for about four - six hours.

I also like my iced tea weak (more like flavored water), so what I do is fill my glass about 1/4 of the way with tea and then add ice and water - it also helps the tea last a long time (I mentioned the laziness, right?), but if you enjoy a stronger flavored iced tea, just add ice.

Caffeine Crawl

The KC Spring Caffeine Crawl was May 31 and June 1. This weekend full of coffee, tea and chocolate was created by The LAB to teach passionate beverage drinkers about the processes and techniques of local fare. I attended Sunday Route 1, which covered a range of coffee and tea shops. 

Our first stop was Second Best Coffee in Waldo. Nathan's presentation focused on how the three variables of brewing coffee affects the final product: pressure, time, and temperature. The Panamanian bean (which earned a 95) was served as an espresso, a kyoto, and a cold brew alongside a house-made jalapeno cheddar scone. It was enlightening trying the same coffee prepared three different ways and I have to say, the espresso was mind-blowing-ly awesome. In addition to great coffee, Second Best also makes their own syrups (Lavender Honey? yes), in order to enhance the flavor of coffee, instead of cover it, and you can attend cuppings every Wednesday at one. 

Second on our route was t.Loft, a tea and juice bar on State Line Road. The shop, one of three locations, is gluten-free, organic, with clean-eating snacks, like their delicious Peanut Butter Protein Balls.

Megan's presentation focused on the teas and juices served as samples. The Fast Focus Juice, which has passion berry black tea in it, is a favorite among customers with its fresh-pressed fruits. The other loose leaf teas included the White Peach Tea, Pomegranate Green Tea, and Passion Berry Black Tea. One thing I liked was how the tea is never brewed for you - its given to you in a to-go cup with a filtered lid so that the leaves can be reused and brewed to your own taste. 

The third stop was the incredibly cute One More Cup, also in Waldo. This family oriented shop has great outdoor seating and some awesomely unique options. Stacy provided fresh Strawberry Lemon Biscuits, Cali-Cola, and super-handy DIY handouts on how to brew toddy. Cali-Cola is a combination of Mexican Coke and cold-brewed toddy. It's amazing, and perfect for summer. 

I was particularly excited about this stop on our route, as Thou Mayest hasn't even opened yet. Located in the Crossroads Arts District next to Grinders, these roasters have taken their passion of locally made products, horticulture, and having a good time has resulted in a seriously awesome space with delicious coffee. A fully stocked bar, two floors of space, and a patio overlooking the Crossroads KC stage means this place will undoubtedly be packed once they open the doors. 

Bo offered two hot coffees and fresh toddy, proving he and his crew doesn't need a lot of marketing because the great tasting coffee combined with a great space really speaks for itself. 

Mud Pie Vegan Bakery and Coffeehouse was the fifth stop for our route, at 39th street. These incredibly friendly vegans provided a large selection of gluten-free and vegan snacks - all of which were moist, flavorful, and completely delicious. In addition to snacks, the guys prepared their signature Dirty South drink - a coffee based drink with "milk." Mud Pie makes all of its milks (i.e. cashew, almond, hemp, etc.) and provides organic soy among loads of other drinks like their new Tea Spritzers with green coffee extract. I tried the Earth Balance Dirty South coffee drink and loved the smooth, creamy flavor, especially compared to the Coconut Dirty South, which was light and refreshing. 

Our final stop was a great, high-energy presentation at The Roasterie, which focused on the different hulling and drying processes of coffee berries and how that affects the end flavor. I appreciated the comparison of coffee to peanuts in terms of explaining the difference between wet and dry hulling and the straight-forward discussion about the drying process. Even though I've been on a tour at The Roasterie factory, I felt this added a new layer of understanding and appreciation. I also really enjoyed how they provided the same coffees brewed different methods in order to compare and contrast flavors and texture changes. 

Despite my "newness" to the coffee world, I felt included and welcomed at all of the locations along our route, and I think The LAB has done a really great thing providing informative tour guides, easy-to-follow routes, and time and location options. I'm already looking forward to October's Fall Crawl! 

Tea Cocktails

If you haven't had the chance to make it to Tea Market at the Crestwood shops just south of The Plaza, you need to add it to your to-do list. The shop, owned by Stacy, opened in 2002 and hosts a variety of afternoon teas and classes. This particular class in May focused on infusing tea into liquor through the Tea Forte infusers.* 

According to Stacie, the great thing about infusing is that you can use lesser quality ingredients "for more party," and you can reuse (resteep) the infusers like when making loose leaf tea (for example, to make a pitcher of cocktails for a party). 

The class was held in the basement of the lovely tea shop in an intimate and casual room. Stacy showcased how to make several of the recipes from Tea Forte in addition to a few of her own. 

The first (and my favorite) tea cocktail was the Cosmo de Provence. It smells of fresh lavender from the Lavender Citrus Infuser from Tea Forte, and is very light and spring-like with fruity undertones. 

Infuse 2 oz. vodka with 1 Tea Forte Lavender Citrus Infuser,
1/2 oz. Cointreau, 1.5 oz. White Cranberry Juice, splash of
fresh lime. Mix or shake with ice. 

During the Holidays, Stacy likes to spice up cheap wine with her house-made Mulling Spice Tea to create Tea Mulled Red Wine.

Infuse 1 full bottle of mediocre (but drinkable)
red wine with 3 T. Mulling Spice Tea for 3-5
hours, strain and re-bottle. 

The Brandy Macaroon tea cocktail is another of Stacy's creations, using her Macaroon tea (flavored with coconut, almonds, citrus, and cloves, among other spices) and brandy.

Steep 1.5 scoops Macaroon tea in 8 oz. 195* water for
5 minutes, add 2 T Brandy. 

The Tea Forte infusers come in threes: Lavender Citrus, Lemongrass Mint, and Silkroad Chai.

The Wild Mint Mojito tea cocktail comes from Tea Forte as well, using the Lemongrass Mint infuser. The lemongrass flavor really comes through and is emphasized by the club soda and freshened by the addition of fresh mint.

Infuse 2 oz. White Rum with 1 Tea Forte
Lemongrass Mint Infuser and simple syrup,
lime, ice, and club soda. 

The Chai White Russian was smooth, creamy, and sweet without being overly-sweet. 

Infuse 1.5 oz. vodka with 1 Tea Forte Silkroad Chai Infuser,
1 oz. simple syrup, stir with ice and add 2 oz. cream. 

The final cocktail of the day showcased Tiger Spice Chai, available for purchase at the Tea Market, in the Godiva Chai. It's another drink born from "Holiday in Crestwood" like the Tea Mulled Wine. It's very indulgent, rich, ultra smooth with an extra depth of flavor from the chai.

8 oz. boiling water, add 3 T. Tiger Chai, 2 T.
Godiva Chocolate Liqueur and 1 T. cream, stir.

If you're ever hosting a small get together, or a large party, these tea cocktails can really put it over the top. They're indulgent, and easy to make in large batches, or small. Any of these would make a great signature cocktail for a party. I can't wait to put mine to use!

* Tea infusers can be purchased at the Tea Market and through Tea Forte's website.