Blooms, Brews & Bloody Marys and brrrrrrrrrrs

April 30, 201312:01 p.m.

The Flying Stove’s Jeff Schauf at last year’s Blooms, Brews & Bloody Marys

I’m excited about attending Friday night’s Second Annual Blooms, Brews & Bloody Marys at Botanica– though I’m not very excited about the non-springlike forecast. A 51 degree high on May 3? Unacceptable!

The event was fun last year and featured local restaurants such as Newport Grill, The Anchor and Scotch & Sirloin, competing to make the best Bloody Mary. The Candle Club won with a traditional concoction floating with green beans, gherkins and a hunk of beef jerky.

Those who have a $40 ticket will be invited to roam the grounds sampling each of the Bloody Marys, or if they choose, stopping for a beer. The best part: The Flying Stove food truck is catering, which means the Schauf boys will put out a whole lot of their best dishes, which patrons can just walk up and take. That’s worth the price of admission all on its own.

This year’s event starts at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Botainca, 701 N. Amidon It will include live music by Spirit of the Stairs, beer provided by Wichita Brewing Company and River City Brewery, and lots of Bloody Marys, made using sponsor Pinnacle’s vodka.

Tickets are $40 and available at 316-264-0448 or by visiting botanica.org.

The Candle Club’s winning Blood Mary from last year

By Denise Neil | Tags: , , , , , Filed under Fundraisers | Comments

Anchor, Siena teaming up for monthly beer dinners

March 15, 20134:45 p.m.

Gross and Roth, living the dream

Schane Gross knows beer.

Marshall Roth knows food.

Now Gross, the owner of The Anchor at 1109 E. Douglas, and Roth, the executive chef at the new Siena Tuscan Steakhouse in the Ambassador Hotel at 104 S. Broadway, are activating their wonder twin powers for a new beer dinner series that will launch in a couple of weeks.

The monthly dinners will take place on the second Tuesday of each month in the Siena’s well-appointed dining room. They’ll feature multiple fine dining courses prepared by Roth and his staff, each course paired with a high-end beer that Gross selected.

Mmmm. Ribeye.

The first dinner is scheduled for April 9, and the duo is already taking reservations. Though they haven’t settled on a price or an exact menu yet, at a tasting a few minutes ago, the two were throwing around words such as “foie gras creme brulee” and “bananas Foster.”

Those who want to make a reservation should call Siena at 316-239-7100. Roth has clearance to offer a $119 room rate for beer dinner attendees who want to spend the night.

Also, Roth recently got a good deal on a shipment of Creekstone Farms  14-oz. rib eyes and is selling the beautifully marbled steaks, paired with mashed potatoes and asparagus, for $25 through the month of March.

Look how much he loves his steaks!

By Denise Neil | Tags: , , , Filed under Beer | Comments

Team Hyatt brings the best loaf

March 12, 201311:01 a.m.

Chef Paul Freimuth, left, and his Hyatt staff were the winners at Saturday’s Loaf Off.

I have the results of Saturday’s fifth annual Loaf Off, a meatloaf cooking competition that doubles as a fundraiser.

The event drew 175 people to The Anchor and raised $1,725 for Children’s Miracle Network. It also drew 12 teams who cooked a variety of loaves.

The panel of judges, which included local foodies Joe Stumpe and Barbara Baan, chef Chris Collier and two-time Loaf Off champ Don Lucero, chose the loaf created by Hyatt chef Paul Freimuth. Their “Top Loaf” was a sort of  meatloaf  Wellington, wrapped in pastry. I’m glad Chef Freimuth won, not only because he is a great cook but also because he almost never fails to donate his time to charity cookoff and food events.

The People’s Choice winner was Team Rico, made up of mother and son Eric and Diana Wittman. The team, which has won People’s Choice once before, made a rich, blue cheesy loaf.

Best of show went to the ICT Roller Girls, who arrived to compete in funky derby garb and brightly colored hair.

Organizers are already planning next year’s Loaf Off, so start formulating your recipe.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , Filed under Chefs, Fundraisers | Comments

First Tuesday talk will feature local food celebs

March 5, 201310:09 a.m.

Schane Gross

Two of Wichita’s most recognizable restaurant celebs will be speaking as part of a panel at Creative Rush’s First Tuesday talk, scheduled for 6:45 p.m. tonight.

Schane Gross, owner of downtown’s popular bar The Anchor, and chef Jason Febres, the chef and owner at Taste and See, will be two of the three panelists talking about “Success in the Unexpected.”

Local musican Ryan Windham also will be on the panel. The talk will be at Bluebird Arthouse at 924 W. Douglas.

The panelists will speak for about 45 minutes, then they’ll answer questions.

‎Anna Murdoc’s Cafe will be providing Indian tacos, and Febres is bringing dessert. Admission is free.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , , Filed under Uncategorized | Comments

The Anchor: Chicken wing expert, Strong Ale purveyor

Oct. 1, 201211:58 a.m.

Anchor owner Schane Gross, feeling confident about her wings.

I’m baaaaacccckkk. My basement is no cleaner, but my tan is a bit bronzer and should last at LEAST until Halloween.

Lots of food stuff happened while I was gone, including both the Midwest Beerfest, which I attended, and the Wichita Wagonmasters Downtown Chili Cookoff, which I did not attend because I was out of town. (But I will have the results here later.)

I return with news about The Anchor, 1109 E. Douglas, which not only swept THREE categories at the Midwest Beerfestchicken wing contest a week ago but also is putting on a little beer fest of its own this weekend.

First, the wings. I was one of the judges at the chicken wing contest, and the entries were better than ever this year. We had a hard time picking the best wing because they all were so good. Judge Jason Febres of Taste & See was particularly enthusiastic about a wing with a chocolatey sauce made by Tallgrass Country Club chef Ben George. And we all loved George’s Asian-y, sesame-seed coated wing, too.

Chicken wing judges, from left: Harrison Schenk, Guy Bower, me and Jason Febres.

But in the end, the best wing was a pan fried, crispy, straight forward version served by The Anchor. Owner Schane Gross told me it was just the restaurant’s standard wing recipe, and if that’s the case, I’ll be at The Anchor for wings soon.

A sampling of the competing wings.

The Anchor also won the People’s Choice award. George and his sesame wing got “Most Creative,” and The Anchor also won “Spiciest.”

On Saturday, the bar also is putting on its annual Strong Ale Fest, which offers samples of super potent beers. It’s from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, and admission is $15, which includes a souvenir glass. You can see a list of the beers that will be included on the Strong Ale Fest web page.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , , Filed under Bar food, Beer | Comments

Febres commits a Celeb & Chef Cookoff three-peat

June 13, 20125:03 p.m.

Tanya Tandoc, right, announces Taste & See's Jason Febres the winner of the cookoff.

As I stated earlier, the Celebrity & Chef Cookoff, a benefit for the Orpheum that happens each summer at the Corporate Hills Marriott, is one of the must fun fundraisers put on in Wichita.

I was a judge for last night’s event, along with Chef Tanya Tandoc and Beth Bower of the American Institute of Wine and Food, and our job was hard. We had to taste the dishes come up with on the spot in 45 minutes by eight teams of local chefs paired with well-known Wichitans, who worked as their sous chefs.

The experiment Febres conducted in these test tubes was a total success.

Though we didn’t want to be predictable, the dish prepared by Taste & See’s Chef Jason Febres was definitely the best. He’s already won the past two years, so we tried everything we could think of to talk ourselves out of giving him the title again. But we couldn’t. He created a four-course tasting that included a fried egg/scallop/bacon combo and a test tube gazpacho shooter. His flavors were all clean and fabulous.

We also loved the dishes prepared by The Petroleum Club’s Jake Lippincott, who along with partner Kelly Uran of Bank of the West, made a delectable salmon and scallop duo. And the dish by Kevin Derks of Newport Grill included some amazing fried potato and brussels sprouts shavings that I’d love to eat again. His partner was Splurge magazine publisher Jody Klein.

The event also included plentiful samples of dishes from restaurants all over Wichita, including Lotus Leaf Cafe & , The Anchor, Cero’s, Two Brothers BBQ and more.

Here are a few pictures from the event.

Congressman Mike Pompeo, right, was paired with Marshall Roth, the executive chef of Treat America at Beech Activity Center.

Splurge magazine publisher Jody Klein, right, and her partner chef, Kevin Derks of Newport Grill, prepared another of our favorite dishes.

The judges: Tanya Tandoc, Beth Bower and me.

Bocconcini's chef Nathan Toubia with his partner, the WSU Foundation's Elizabeth King. The duo prepared a homemade ravioli.

Event emcees Dick Honeyman and his wife Bonnie Bing.

The Petroleum Club's Jake Lippincott, with his partner Kelly Uran, made a delicious salmon/scallop duo.

Tallgrass Country Club chef Ben George.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , , , , , , , , Filed under Chefs, Fundraisers, Uncategorized | Comments

The Anchor is bringing back Sunday brunch

May 4, 20124:03 p.m.

YAY! HOORAY! The Anchor is 1109 E. Douglas is about to revive its Sunday brunch. It’ll be be back starting on May 20.

It won’t be the same delicious brunch I raved about back when former chef Ben George was making it, but it sounds very good.

Owner Schane Gross is calling it a “bar brunch,” and she’ll be serving it starting at 11 a.m. on Sundays. Diners can order brunch items until 9 p.m. Among the dishes she has planned: A “breakfast burger,” made with Yoder pork, bacon, a fried egg, and Havarti cheese served on a bagel.

She’ll also have a Bloody Mary bar, where patrons can decide what they want in their mixture, and on Sundays only, she’ll begin serving a hearty black bean and rice soup, and patrons can choose their own garnishes for the soup at a station near the Bloody Mary bar.

For more information, call 316-260-8989.

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under Sunday brunch | Comments

Next week’s menu: Burgers, bottles and Bloody Marys

April 23, 20122:54 p.m.

A cool shot I grabbed of my girls and me at Saturday's Midwest Winefest. Can you tell which one is me? We're like the Charlie's Angels of wine.

I’ve just now, at 3 p.m. on Monday, recovered from Saturday night’s Winefest enough to tell you a little bit about some more adult beverage-based events coming up next week.

I didn’t get too crazy at the Winefest, mind you. But the trip across the street to hang out at the bar of AVI probably was the opposite of what my group needed. (Amiright, Ben Arnold?) At least we were on foot!

The Winefest is one of my favorite food and beverage events of the year, and I never fail to have a great time. One of the highlights of this year’s events for me: The Dillon’s Marketplace booth, which was set up with a whole array of fabulous cheeses from the fancy Dillon’s cheese case. I sampled Merlot-flavored cheese, espresso-flavored cheese and raspberry-flavored cheese. The table also offered piles and piles of shaved Parmesan, which is only one of my favorite things on earth to nibble with wine.

And only two tables away, one of the vendors was serving up samples of Kim Crawford, one of our favorite Sauvignon Blancs. At some point, the kind pourer at the table wondered if we had sampled it enough to have decided whether we liked it. Woops.

Two more fun food and beverage events are coming up soon.

One is called Blooms, Brews & Bloody Marys and doubles as Botanica’s 25th Anniversary Kick-Off Party. The event will include a beer tasting by River City Brewery and a Bloody Mary competition among local bars and restaurants such as The Anchor, The Candle Club, Heroes, A.V.I., Newport Grill, Scotch & Sirloin and The Vagabond. The event also will feature food by The Flying Stove and music by Spirit of the Stairs. It’s at 6:30 p.m. on May 4, and tickets are $40 a person. Make your reservations here.

Chester’s Chophouse chef Bobby Lane is putting on a VinoBurger Cookbook tasting event at 6:30 p.m. on May 1. The event will be on Chester’s patio and is $40 a person. Lane will prepare two burgers of his own as well as two from the VinoBurger cookbook. The event includes five wine and four burger samples. RSVPs must be e-mailed to whitney@jacobliquor.com.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , , , , , , , , , Filed under Burgers, Dining events, Wine | Comments

Weekend of eating: Loaf Off, Palette to Palate

March 5, 201211:39 a.m.

Chef Don Lucero with his winning loaf, which he cooked in an angel food cake pan.

The amount of eating I did this weekend is shameful, but it was all in the name of charity. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself (and my scale) this morning.

It started Saturday with the Fourth Annual Loaf Off, a meatloaf competition that was a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Kansas. My co-judges and I sampled 15 different meatloaves prepared by both home cooks and restaurant chefs (Tallgrass Country Club’s Ben George and the Hyatt’s Paul Freimuth among them).

The competition was at The Anchor, 1109 E. Douglas, tasters crowded both sides of the bar so thoroughly, it was difficult to move around the bar. In the end, we could not resist the meatloaf prepared by Don Lucero, who’s the chef at Via Christi hospital on Harry and also happened to win last year’s competition. (Clearly, the man knows his meatloaf.)

My tray of samples. The winning loaf has the bright yellow mango on top, near the bottom left.

Lucero, whose recipe included ground chuck, veal and buffalo, Italian sausage AND bacon, also won the People’s Choice Award. Today, he told me that he’s stepping down as a competitor in next year’s competition (gotta give someone else a chance) and join the judges’ panel instead. He generously shared his recipe for this year’s loaf, which you can find at the bottom of this post.

After I’d digested all that loaf, I headed off Saturday evening to Palette to Palate, an art and wine auction at the Drury Plaza Broadview Hotel that’s a fundraiser for KETCH. The event is only in its second year but has grown exponentially and was one of the most fun parties I’ve attended in a while.

Bid! Bid! Bid! Bid!

The giant ballroom in the Broadview was positively packed with people, all sampling wine and appetizers prepared by restaurants such as Luca Italian Kitchen, Larkspur, Harvest Kitchen/Bar, Cero’s, Bocconcini, Newport Grill, Corporate Caterers and more. When they were all nice and fed and watered, attendees bid on art, lots of wine and other fabulous packages in a live auction. (A chance to tag along on a restaurant review with me was among the silent auction items, and I spent the evening hovering around the bid sheet, bullying people into bidding MORE MORE MORE MORE.)

Thankfully, my stomach gets a vacation until March 31, when I’ll be a judge at Death By Chocolate.

Here’s Chef Lucero’s meatloaf recipe, which could feed an army. My suggestion is you divide it by one fourth to make a batch at home.

Read More »

By Denise Neil | Tags: , , , , , , Filed under Chefs, Fundraisers | Comments

Prepare your stomachs to Loaf Off

Feb. 28, 20124:20 p.m.

Meatloaf samples I ingested last year.

I’m pretty sure I should just not eat again until Saturday.

That’s the only way my stomach will be prepared for the job it’s been assigned at this year’s fourth annual Loaf Off, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at The Anchor, 1109 E. Douglas.

The event is a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Kansas.

I’m one of three meatloaf judges, serving on a panel that also includes local foodie Joe Stumpe and his wife, Eagle biz columnist Carrie Rengers. As of the other day, there were 12 entries, and we have to sample them all to find the best.

Fashion maven Bonnie Bing will be there, too, but her job is picking the booth with the best appearance. (She loves meatloaf, too, for the record.)

My co-judge, Joe Stumpe. He's smiling because he hasn't eaten all that loaf yet.

Spectators are allowed to attend, observe and sample right along with us. Admission for spectator tasters is $10 for adults and $5 for kids ages 5 to 12. The Anchor will offer side dishes as well.

It was hard to choose a winner last year, but we finally settled on the loaf cooked by Don Lucero, the head chef at Via Christi Hospital on East Harry.  He created his loaf in an angel food cake pan, stuffing it in the center with all sorts of cheesy goodness. (I found last year that I prefer any loaf that includes bacon and cheesy goodness.) I heard that Don will return on Saturday to defend his title.

Will you join us?

By Denise Neil | Tags: , Filed under Dining events, Fundraisers | Comments