Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Whether or not you celebrate, who doesn’t deserve a date night (or a simple night out) every now and then? From cozy cafes to city buzz, I’ve compiled a list of my personal favorite places to take someone special – ranked by quality, price, accessibility, atmosphere and overall experience for a romantic evening out. Be sure to read until the very end for my #1 pick for this Valentine’s Day!

5. Parlor
Location: Kansas City (Downtown)

What do you get when you cross a food court and a bar? Well, you get Parlor; a vibrant and exciting host for Kansas City nightlife with doors open to guests of all ages. Parlor curates a regularly changing lineup of vendors that serve customers food-court-style, and, for guests over the age of 21, they have two bars between three levels. If you visit on a weekend, you might find yourself eating to the sound of live music, too! 

Price Range: $$
Vegan Friendly: Usually
Allergen Friendly: Usually
Menu: Parlor (current vendors)

4. Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
Locations: Kansas City (Westport), Overland Park

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery provides a unique dining experience centered around fresh ingredients, a cozy environment, and a vibrant atmosphere that simultaneously feels both retro and modern. The menu offers a variety of breakfast and brunch items ranging from pancakes to scrambles. The welcoming energy and wide variety of options make this the perfect place to start off your Valentine’s Day!

Price Range: $$
Vegan Friendly: Yes
Allergen Friendly: Yes
Menu: Snooze, an AM Eatery

3. Sweet Emotion
Location: Kansas City (The Northland)

What’s not to love about an ice cream shop offering a menu themed around early 2000s emo and alternative music? This charming stop combines sugar and nostalgia for a memorable and flavorful experience. It’s the perfect spot to hit for a tasty dessert, neighboring all kinds of fun date destinations in the Northland.

Note: This Valentine’s Day will fall on a Wednesday, which means RINO will be hosting stand-up-comics right on the other side of the curtain that separates the two spaces. Talk about a two-for-one deal!

Price Range: $
Vegan Friendly: Yes
Allergen Friendly: Yes
Menu: Sweet Emotion

2. Blue Sushi Sake Grill
Locations: Westwood, Kansas City (Power & Light District)

For sushi fanatics, there is no greater dining destination in the Greater Kansas City Area than Blue Sushi Sake Grill. The colorful and lively atmosphere creates an experience that visually combines traditional Japanese culture with American culture and the dynamic energy of urban nightlife. Between the extensive drink selection, delicious desserts and appetizers, and, of course, dozens of creative sushi rolls you won’t find anywhere else, Blue Sushi is top-tier!

Note: Be sure to book your reservation in advance! Due to popularity, a several-hour wait is not uncommon if you do not make a reservation on a high-traffic night like Valentine’s Day.

Price Range: $$$
Vegan Friendly: Yes
Allergen Friendly: Yes
Menu: Blue Sushi Sake Grill

Honorable Mentions…
Before I reveal my #1 pick for Valentine’s Day dining, here are a couple of restaurants I highly recommend planning a visit to, in addition to the other entries on my list:

Meshuggah Bagels
Locations: Kansas City (Power & Light District), Kansas City (Midtown), Overland Park

Description: Kansas City tribute to authentic New York and New Jersey bagels. A new location is coming to Liberty this February! 

Price Range: $
Vegan Friendly: Yes
Allergen Friendly: Yes
Menu: Meshuggah Bagels

Baba’s Pantry
Locations: Kansas City (Westport)

Description: Family-owned Palestinian restaurant with a menu consisting of recipes mailed to the owner, Baba, by his grandmother, Tayata, while seeking an education in the United States as a refugee.

Price Range: $
Vegan Friendly: Yes
Allergen Friendly: Yes
Menu: Baba’s Pantry

The Fix
Location: Kansas City (Downtown)

Description: Plant-based comfort food operating out of a renovated historic building near Martini Corner in Kansas City.

Price Range: $$
Vegan Friendly: Yes
Allergen Friendly: Yes
Menu: The Fix

Minsky’s Pizza
Locations: Liberty, Kansas City, Lawrence, Independence, Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit, and more

Description: Local pizza chain specializing in creative pizzas, pasta, sandwiches, salads, and more. Heart-shaped pizzas will be available at select locations this Valentine’s Day!

Price Range: $$
Vegan Friendly: Yes
Allergen Friendly: Yes
Menu: Minsky’s Pizza

Mud Pie Bakery & Coffee
Location: Overland Park

Description: Plant-based bakery with a variety of sweets and savory goods, including everything from pastries to sandwiches. Both Valentine’s Day and “anti-Valentine’s Day” Mostess will be available to those who order before they sell out! 

Price Range: $
Vegan Friendly: Yes
Allergen Friendly: Yes
Menu: Mud Pie Bakery & Coffee

1. The Tree Hugger Kitchen
Location: Riverside, MO

The Tree Hugger Kitchen takes the #1 spot on my list for its wide selection of food, dedicated staff and unique ability to make your dining experience feel like an indoor picnic. Complete with a shelf full of board games, rustic décor, comfortable seating and delicious food, I could not think of a better restaurant to spend quality time with my favorite person. Bring your stay-at-home date night to The Tree Hugger Kitchen this Valentine’s Day for a peaceful dining experience you’re sure to remember!

Price Range: $$
Vegan Friendly: Yes
Allergen Friendly: Yes
Menu: The Tree Hugger Kitchen

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. To me, it is a combination of the best parts of Christmas reduced into a less commercialized and distracting holiday. The most important parts of every major holiday seem to center around family, friends and food, and Thanksgiving exhibits these at the most undiluted level. At Thanksgiving, the common tradition is to gather with family and friends around a lush fall harvest meal and give thanks for all of the blessings in our lives. 

Thanksgiving means something different to everyone and includes unique traditions, celebrations and food. For me, every year I look forward to the traditional Thanksgiving food that we normally do not partake in during the rest of the year. Cooking and baking are some of my favorite things to do, and while growing up I learned to cook by helping my mom and dad. Throughout my life I have witnessed and learned how the sharing of food can be an act of kindness, love and healing, especially around the holidays.

If you are looking for some suggestions for your Thanksgiving menu this year, here are some of my favorites and the recipes that I like to use:

Appetizer:

Baked Brie
One of my absolute favorite appetizers to share during the holidays is baked brie. Brie is a soft cheese with a really rich flavor that pairs well with a variety of flavor combinations. This dish is usually baked so that the brie melts and can be easily scooped up with crackers and shared amongst a group. One of my favorite things to pair with brie is a tart or sweet fruit jam flavor like cranberry or raspberry that matches well with the rest of your holiday meal. Some recipes even wrap the brie with a puff pastry that adds another layer to the dish. Baked brie is an easy dish to prepare and can be easily customized to include your favorite flavors and toppings. Here is an example of a fun holiday baked brie recipe that I have tried before:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/pastry-wrapped-cranberry-baked-brie/

Main Dish:

Honey Ham
This may be a slightly controversial opinion for Thanksgiving traditionalists, but I prefer a nice baked honey ham over the traditional roast turkey for my main Thanksgiving dish. Hams are an easy option that are not as difficult to get right compared to the roast turkey. Most of these hams come pre-smoked, fully cooked and spiral sliced so all that you have to do is add whatever flavors you like and heat it back up in the oven before serving. My favorite way to cook ham is to add a honey and brown sugar glaze to the top before putting it in the oven or the smoker so it carmelizes over the top for a delicious addition to the juicy ham. Some hams even come with prepackaged glazes and instructions that you can follow but here is another simple and delicious recipe as well:
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/trisha-yearwood/baked-ham-with-brown-sugar-honey-glaze-3361933

Side Dishes:

Cornbread Stuffing/Dressing
Stuffing is traditionally stuffed inside of the roasted turkey, but I prefer stuffing in its dressing form, which means that it is prepared and cooked in a separate dish that can then be served alongside the turkey or the rest of your meal. There are all kinds of variations that you can give to the basic spices and dried bread base of the stuffing/dressing to make it with your own favorite flavors for a unique taste. My favorite way to prepare dressing is with a combination of cornbread, french bread and ciabatta as the base. I then like to add celery and onions for some texture and aromatic flavors along with the traditional spices of thyme, rosemary and parsley. If I want to add some extra dimension to the dish, I also like adding some cooked ground Italian sausage or diced granny smith apples for some extra flavors. The recipe that I usually follow for the basic cornbread stuffing/dressing is linked below, but don’t be afraid to experiment with unique recipes and flavors!
https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a11893/thanksgiving-dressing-recipe/

Dinner Rolls
One of the most popular dishes at my family’s Thanksgiving are the dinner rolls that my cousins, sister and I always beg my mom to bake for us (as you can tell from this list, we really like bread). Rolls are the perfect addition to any meal to help tie in all of the other rich and decadent dishes that are being served. Warm, flaky and buttery all combined into a small little package, you can always find room to eat at least three in one sitting (although you probably should not). People sometimes find making and baking bread a daunting task, but it does not have to be a difficult process to get a delicious result. Our favorite recipe comes straight from the Pillsbury Hot Roll Mix that you can buy for just a few dollars at the grocery store and only needs water, eggs and butter to complete. If you still have reservations about your bread baking skills, there are always good pre-made options in the bakery section of your local grocery store, but here is my favorite easy recipe in case you want to challenge yourself this year:
https://www.pillsburybaking.com/recipes/buttery-hot-rolls

Honorable mentions for other side dishes include: mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole (best with marshmallows and cranberries on top), green bean casserole, roasted carrots, cranberry sauce and homemade gravy.

Dessert:

Pie
Now, getting to everyone’s favorite part of any meal: dessert. Despite stuffing ourselves with ham, turkey and all of the delicious sides, there is always room in our stomachs left for a sweet piece of pie for dessert. Pumpkin pie is a classic choice that you can’t go wrong with, especially with a dollop of whipped cream on top. The recipe I prefer uses canned pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, eggs and baking spices to make a traditional pumpkin pie. Apple pie is another top choice for me and tastes even better when it is fresh out of the oven with some whipped cream or vanilla ice cream melting on top. I prefer using fresh Granny Smith apples that are peeled and sliced for the filling, but if you want a simpler solution you can find premade filling at the grocery store as well. The great thing about pie is that you can get premade pie crust from the grocery store that makes the baking process much faster and easier, but still tastes delicious. Here are some of my favorite recipes for these pies:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/23439/perfect-pumpkin-pie/
https://www.bhg.com/recipe/apple-pie/

These examples are all fairly traditional Thanksgiving foods, but do not be afraid to experiment with different recipes. Most importantly, cook whatever you feel like expresses your thanks for the season and the people you are sharing the meal with.

While we wait for the fall weather to catch up with the official start of the season, people are already beginning to enjoy fall traditions and activities. From apple-picking to carving pumpkins to anything fall-flavored, we all have our favorite customs. One trend that has taken the fall season by storm is the Pumpkin Spice Latte.

Starbucks is the original inventor and distributor of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, creating its signature flavor and launching the invention in 2003 as part of the company’s special seasonal flavors. At first, the drink was only released at the Starbucks locations in Vancouver and Washington D.C., but it was an immediate hit with the customers and was soon expanded to their other locations. 

20 years later, the Pumpkin Spice Latte has become Starbucks’ most successful seasonal drink with hundreds of millions sold over the past 20 years during the fall seasons. Their menu has also expanded to include their Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew and Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte, which are available during the fall season as well.

Before the creation of the Pumpkin Spice Latte by Starbucks, the pumpkin spice flavor and scent was not yet present in the marketplace. Now in 2023, you can’t walk into a store during the fall season without seeing a pumpkin spice-flavored drink, candle or a variety of other products emulating the signature combination. 

The extreme popularity of the Pumpkin Spice Latte took off with the arrival of social media sites Facebook and Twitter in 2006. Media exposure through celebrity endorsements, viral videos and more brought the Pumpkin Spice Latte to its current status as a cultural symbol of fall. The original Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte has also been copied by innumerable coffee shops and can be found in almost every store that you visit in the fall. 

In Liberty and nearby areas, some of my personal favorite places for a Pumpkin Spice Latte (hot or iced) include:

Starbucks: There are various locations around Liberty. You can never go wrong with the original.

Hammerhand Coffee: Located near Downtown Liberty, Hammerhand offers their delicious Spiced Pumpkin Latte and Spiced Pumpkin Chai drinks that have a perfect blend of fall spices.

Paisley Perk: Located in Kearney (a short 15 minute drive from Jewell). Their Pumpkin Pie Latte has a rich flavor that doesn’t overwhelm the espresso.

Make sure to take advantage of these indulgent flavors before they disappear at the end of the season!

The walk from Jewell to Holy Grounds is around 10 minutes. Google Maps will tell you 13, but if you have long legs and/or embrace your inner New Yorker, it will take you 10. It is a nice walk through the historic neighborhoods of Liberty. Since the space is not a traditional coffee shop, it is quite an adventure. The front door to the coffee shop is on the south entrance of the church and down the stairs to the church’s basement.

The space is full of old books from the church’s library. alls that are not covered in books showcase the church organist’s original paintings. The dark oak of the table and bar creates a lovely, warm feel that contrasts with clean white spaces. They are always playing Gregorian chants or Anglican choir music, so, depending on your relationship with religion, you may find it peaceful and centering. However, if you are not used to being in church settings, you may find it a little strange. If you are not interested in the music, there is plenty of seating on their patio with shade and a peaceful ambience. 

The coffee shop’s menu is pretty standard, though a lot of their products are sourced from local small businesses. They roast their own coffee and they brew tea from Anna Marie’s Teas on the Liberty Square. I love their matcha because it is more on the gritty side. Their ratio of matcha to milk is the best in Liberty; many other local coffee shops dilute their matcha to the point where it is basically just green milk. Their espresso-based drinks are fine compared to the local standards of Liberty, but their espresso is just not quite up-to-par in my opinion. If you consider yourself a coffee snob like me, I would recommend getting a tea, a matcha or a drink with one of their many syrups. They make most of their syrups in-house, including my two favorites: vanilla lavender and cinnamon almond coconut.

There are many food options including pastries, and an extensive menu of more savory foods. Plus, they always have fudge samples from a local fudge maker up in Kearney.

Overall, it is a lovely walk from campus and a quiet place to study or hang out with friends. If you try it out, I recommend trying the fudge and getting a drink with one of their homemade syrups.