Restaurants open on Christmas Day

Dec. 19, 20129:18 a.m.

Mmmmmm, the flavor of Christmas Day.

The chorus of demands for our annual list of restaurants open on Christmas reached a fever pitch this year. Lots of people are either sick of turkey, craving holiday fried rice, or just don’t feel like cooking on Christmas Day.

Here it is.

This year, our amazing intern Matt made the calls and found the usual list of Asian restaurants, hotel buffets and family diners. And TWO of Wichita’s Starbucks will be open on Christmas this year.

Later today, we’ll also provide the names of several restaurants that will be open on Christmas Eve, which has been the second-most requested list by readers.

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under Holiday buffets, Holiday meals | Comments

The flavors of fall have arrived

Sept. 20, 201210:29 a.m.

Panera's pumpkin pie bagel. Holy yum.

I always, always love it when September rolls around and restaurants start rolling out their pumpkin flavors again.

You know the long, hotness of summer is almost over when Starbucks starts serving its pumpkin spice latte again. (They brought it back extra early this year — on Sept. 1.) And more places every year are adding pumpkiny, spicy flavors to their menus. I was just in Panera the other day and noticed a PUMPKIN PIE BAGEL. Calories shmalories. I’m havin’ one of those.

Have you spotted any other places selling pumpkiny goodness? Let me know in the comments section below.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , Filed under Seasonal treats | Comments

Restaurants open on Christmas

Dec. 14, 201110:37 a.m.

Syed Abbas plans to open his Middle Eastern restaurant Zaytun on Christmas Day.

It might seem a little bit early, but I’ve compiled my list of restaurants planning to be open on Christmas Day. The more time you have to plan, I figure, the better. Plus, I’ve already received about a dozen e-mails from people wanting to know.

As usual, the list includes an interesting mix of Asian eateries, family buffets and a few random restaurants willing to give Christmas hours a go.

There are a few new players this year: Zaytun owner Syed Abbas is planning to open and serve a Middle Eastern brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Christmas Day. And the Starbucks at 29th and Rock will open from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Christmas. It’ll be the only Starbucks in town that will be open.

Follow this link to see the full list, and if you see that I’ve missed a restaurant, e-mail me. I can still add it between now and Dec. 25.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , Filed under Asian food, Holiday buffets, Holiday meals | Comments

Question of the week: Best hot drink?

Dec. 7, 201111:03 a.m.

Suddenly, it’s c-c-c-c-cold outside. Not quite the school-canceling cold from earlier this year, but definitely an uncomfortable cold.

Doesn’t a hot drink sound good?

This week’s question: What’s your favorite hot drink served in Wichita? Where do you get it, and how would you describe it?

For me, it’s probably a hot chai latte, frothy with sweetness and exotic spice. I like the one at Starbucks, but I’m sure it’s brewed well at some local coffee shops, too.

What’s your favorite? Answer in the comments section below.

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under Coffee, Question of the week | Comments

Starbucks giving away free drinks through Sunday

Nov. 17, 20119:43 a.m.

I always get excited each year when the red holiday cups return at Starbucks. Why, that’s a more sure sign of Christmas than anything I know of.

But this might be even more exciting.

From 2 to 5 p.m. today through Sunday, customers who buy one holiday beverage at Starbucks can get one free. Holiday drinks include the peppermint mocha (my favorite), the gingerbread latte and the caramel brulee latte. I shot this photo of the promo sign while waiting in line at the Kellogg and West street Starbucks drive through just a few minutes ago.

Although drinking coffee after noon is generally a bad idea for me, not getting free Starbucks is an even worse idea.

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under Coffee | Comments

Flavors of fall keep keep coming

Sept. 27, 201110:35 a.m.

Several local chains are putting fall-friendly foods on their menus, and I, for one, approve.

Some of the dishes are new. Others are old favorites that the hungry masses wait for every year.

IHOP's Scary Face pancake is too cute to be scary, if you ask me.

I already told you about the glorious return of the pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks.

IHOP will return its fabulous pumpkin pancakes to the menu on Monday and serve them until Halloween. During that time, the breakfast chain also is offering all-you-can-eat buttermilk pancakes, and for children 12 and under, “Scary Face” pancakes made with whipped cream mouths, strawberry noses and Oreos and candy corn for decorating. On Oct. 28,  children can get a free Scary Face pancakes, and parents even can sign up on ihop.com for a wake-up call on October 28 from Count Spatula reminding them about the free scary pancake day. Bwahahahahaaaaaaaaaaa.

Panera also has added several fall items to its menu, including a roasted turkey artichoke panini, a chocolate pecan babka pastry, a cherry vanilla bagel, steak chili with cornbread, pumpkin cookies and pumpkin spiced lattes.

Know of any others?

By Denise Neil | Tags: , , Filed under Seasonal treats | Comments

The flavor of fall has arrived

Sept. 2, 201110:45 a.m.

Now if fall would just arrive, we’d be good.

The weatherfolk are promising some more seasonal temperatures by the end of this weekend, and if they know what’s good for them, they’d better follow through on those promises. I, for one, have had enough of this blazing inferno. But I digress.

One of the surest signs that fall is actually on the way is when the pumpkin-flavored coffees arrive. Starbucks‘ popular pumpkin spice latte will officially return on Tuesday, but I’m told that anyone who asks for one starting today can get one.

As of Thursday, Scooter’s Coffeehouse locations also added fall drinks to the menu, including pumpkin lattes, chai tea, caramel apple cider and more. Scooter’s has drive-up locations at 3480 N. Ridge, 7399 W. Central, 13335 W. Maple, 626 S. Andover Road in Andover and First and Main in El Dorado. There’s also a Scooter’s on the Newman University campus.

Does anyone know of other coffee shops serving up the flavors of fall?

By Denise Neil | Tags: , Filed under Coffee, Seasonal treats | Comments

Dining dispatch from 29th & Rock

June 13, 20113:34 p.m.

I drove out east today to check on Oh Yeah! China Bistro, the restaurant formerly known as Zen (and formerly known as vegetarian), and I was struck by how much restaurant activity is going on in the block of Rock between 29th and K-96.

Oh Yeah! opened at 3101 N. Rock Road with its new name and approach on May 15. The restaurant had operated as a vegetarian place for a couple of years, but the owners decided to put meat back on the menu and rename the place.

Across the street, a sign announces that El Agave will soon take over the space at 3320 N. Rock Road that most recently held Top China, a Chinese buffet place. El Agave will be a Mexican restaurant with a big tequila and margarita menu, and its owners hope to have it open later this summer.

A little further south, another sign announces that Wasabi, the sushi restaurant downtown at 912 E. Douglas, will open its east side location in the former Froz spot at 3242 N. Rock Road. Owners say it should be open in August.

And of course, right on the corner of 29th and Rock, Ben Arnold is busy working on his new breakfast-and-lunch spot in the former Chelsea’s space at 2949 N. Rock Road. He plans to open in July.

The new Noodles & Company is on that block, too, at 3300 N. Rock Road, and it’s always busy. And Amber Dunn just opened her Yogurt Xplosion yogurt shop at 3236 N. Rock Road.

That doesn’t even count the recently closed restaurants on the block, including the Bossa Grill at 3242 N. Rock Road and the Taco Tico at 3131 N. Rock Road. Wazabz Sushi Bar and Grill, which just opened in February at 3236 N. Rock Road, also is already closed.

The only restaurants on that block not hopping on merry-go-round, it appears, are Carlos O’ Kelly’s, Chipotle, Starbucks, Buffalo Wild Wings,  Il Ponte, Jimmy John’s, and Jimmie’s Diner.

And Hooters.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Filed under Just opened, Restaurant closings | Comments

Trenta!!

Jan. 19, 201110:10 a.m.

You’ve no doubt by now heard about the Trenta, Starbucks’ new 31-ounce beverage size. (That’s bigger than your stomach, according to one blogger.)

Only iced drinks will be available in the Trenta size, which rolled out this week in 14 states, not including Kansas. Everybody else’s Starbucks will introduce the new cup size on May 3.

The drinks will cost 50 cents more than the Venti, which contains 24 ounces. Trenta is Italian for “30.” Guess the “Trentuno” didn’t have the same ring.

In the spirit of the Trenta, please enjoy this apropos movie clip from the 2008 Paul Rudd movie “Role Models.”

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under Coffee | Comments

Free peppermint mocha

Nov. 18, 20109:55 a.m.

starbucksStarbucks is attempting to get even more people hooked on its incredibly decadent holiday drinks with a buy-one-get-one-promotion.

From 2 to 5 p.m. today through Sunday, those who buy one holiday flavored drink at Starbucks get one free. Choices include the caramel brulee latte, peppermint mocha, gingerbred latte, eggnog latte and more.

My vote, for the record, is for the peppermint mocha, which somehow tastes even better served in one of those festive red Starbucks cups.

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under Coffee, Restaurant specials | Comments