Bluestem Special

Bluestem

Kansas City, Missouri » Westport

------------------------------------------------------------

It's been a long while since I've had the chance to visit Bluestem. Even though it's one of my favorite restaurants, I haven't stopped by since last summer. A whole year is a long time to be away from your favorite drink, don't you think? I have a friend who loves tomato water and Bluestem's martini as much as I do so we made a date for Happy Hour and ate and ate and drank and drank. It was all so very good. PLUS we had a super cute server. 

---{1}---

Our tools. We sat on the banquette by the window.

---{2}---

Gazpacho Martini, $10

Best. Drink. Ever.

---{3}---

Le Provence, $9

Lillet Blanc, Grey Goose Vodka, house-made

herb de Provence syrup, sparkling rosé.

---{4}---

Some Loud Thunder, $10

Pineapple-jalapeño infused vodka, Aberol,

agave nectar, bitters, egg white, cream.

---{5}---

Wagyu Beef Tartare, greens, 18-month parmesan, $12

---{6}---

Kobe Burger, cheese, crispy onions, frites, $14

---{7}---

Campo Lindo Fried Chicken, potato mash, greens, pan sauce, $14

---{8}---

Corn Panna Cotta, sweetened peach, honeythyme foam, 

cobbler crumble, peach nectar, cream, $9

------------------------------------------------------------

These are regular lounge prices, but they do have special Happy Hour prices (T-R/5-7)

No HH drink pricing....not that we cared as we gleefully ordered one cocktail after another.

Special thanks to Lazer for taking my call and refreshing the old memory about drink

prices and descriptions. I was being a lazy blogger that day.

Photos by Linh Trieu

tomato water

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Tomato Water Martini

----------------------------------------------------------------------

The first time I tasted tomato water, I was sitting at Pachamamas Star Bar in Lawrence, Kansas. It was a clear with a hint of yellow, not at all what I expected when I thought of your average red tomato. Since then, I've tried to replicate it and have tried it whenever and wherever it's available. Recently, Vann at Bluestem made a Gazpacho Martini for me. After dinner and catching up at Pot Pie with old neighbors, we popped on next door for a quick après drink. With only a couple short weeks left for tomatoes, this delicious cocktail will be off the menu soon. This photo is of the Tomato Water Martini at Pachamamas. When we interviewed chef Ken Baker and shared my drink-changing experience with this cocktail, he brought some out from the kitchen so the bartender could whip something up for me. In Kansas City, you must, must go to Bluestem before it's all gone. Theirs had such beautiful, complex flavors that I seriously want to drink it without any vodka in it at all. But I think they call it a soup when that happens.