Link Love for the Weekend

All the pretty horses. At Heartland Presbyterian Center in Parkville, Missouri.
Photo by Linh Trieu

Mmmmmm, Cheddar Drop Biscuits.
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Minneapolis design always knocks my socks off.
This burger joint got a complete rebrand and it looks fantastic.
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Another one from Allan Peters. He's a gold mine. Type Sandwiches!
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This is the kind of menu I love to steal.
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Instead of a whole turkey for Thanksgiving, how about turkey meatballs instead?
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The Runcible Spoon has their new foodzine up for the holidays.
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Gorgeous and kind of expensive cheeseboards.
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It's finally feeling like chicken pot pie weather.
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Pumpkin Soup with Chanterelles.
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Going girly - these are amazing dresses.
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Watch this cool video of how to syphon coffee.
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Link Love for the Weekend

Light play in a barn in Weston, Missouri. Photos by Tina Magee-Jenks, Backyard Ink.

With holiday parties right around the corner, these fancy little snacks

would be great whether you're hosting at home or for bringing to a party.

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Ohmygawd. Too funny. Teenage Mutant Ninja Noses. via @FrancisLam on twitter

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Kansas City - Top 10 Destination of 2012, World's Most Beautiful Museums,

one Personal Top 10 of our city.

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A Donut Tree! This post was for Halloween, but great for any day really.

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A blog for our gluten-adverse readers.

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Life on a Cocktail Napkin – really lovely writing, I was only one post in

and hooked. Sad, heartfelt in one, then, next post, I was cracking up.

Thanks to David from Tips for Tips for sharing this link!

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Even though they don't need anymore sweaters for penguins

affected by the old spill, we think this is still a great project.

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Two things I like about this: it's a folded pie you can eat with

one hand and it has goat cheese. via Jennifer Young Photography

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My shower curtain rings/hooks drive me absolutely crazy.

This is an ingenious trick and the photos, of course, are pretty nice.

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33 Ways to Stay Creative - I think we do a lot of these but we'll keep doing it more!

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T is for Tile

FOR THE LOVE OF KANSAS CITY

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Where are we?

This beautiful tile sits at what T-intersection?

Look up and think hard. Tell us where we are.

 Don't forget to check here for last week's answer and winner.

Leave your answer in the comments section below or

send us a message via facebook or twitter @ELoungeKC.

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the finalists!

2011 Greater Kansas City Bartending Competition - Teaser from Kansas City Bartenders' Alliance on Vimeo.

video by Brandon Cummins

 GREATER KANSAS CITY BARTENDING COMPETITION 

For more information about the competition, including press, videos

and photographs, or how to buy tickets to the event, please visit www.gkcbc.com.

Restaurant sponsors an event volunteers still needed. A big congratulations

to all the talented finalists below. We can't wait to try your drinks!

 WIN TWO FREE TICKETS!!! 

We're giving away to free tickets to the event. All you have to do is 

like the GKCBC facebook page AND leave a comment here on the blog.

Tell us who's your favorite Kansas City bartender and what's your favorite drink. 

 ***THE 2011 FINALISTS*** 

Tony Beyer

Benton’s Prime Steak House // Kansas City, MO

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Valdez Campos

Manifesto/The Rieger // Kansas City, MO

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Chad George

Demun Oyster Bar // St. Louis, MO

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Matthew Herman

Trezo Vino // Leawood, KS

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Jason Kimbrell

Tannin Wine Bar // Kansas City, MO

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Shannon Ponche

Taste // St. Louis, MO

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Justin Richardson

The American Restaurant // Kansas City, MO

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Berto Santoro

Extra Virgin // Kansas City, MO

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Matt Seiter

Sanctuaria // St. Louis, MO

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Travis Stewart

Chaz on The Plaza // Kansas City, MO

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Jennifer Tosatto

Manifesto/The Rieger // Kansas City, MO

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Paige Unger

M&S Grill // Kansas City, MO

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Jon Yeager

Watanabe Asian Cuisine // Nashville, TN

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The Employee Lounge is an official sponsor of the

5th Annual Greater Kansas City Bartending Competition.

ryan r.

Ryan R. | Bartender/Bar Manager

Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen

Years of Industry Service: 15

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Ryan was born in Kansas City but raised in Jefferson City, Missouri. He's lived in Boston, Denver three times and had a four-month stretch camping out at Yellowstone. Although he's back in Kansas City now, he travels frequently and has made his way through most of Western Europe, the Caribbean, Costa Rica and in four short weeks, he will be in Nicaragua. "It's a great job, if you want to take two months off to go traveling, you can and your job will be there when you get back," he says. "I like to get away about 3-4 times a year, whether it's three hours a way or seventeen, it doesn't really matter." Being in the service industry affords him the time and luxury to travel as often as he does, but those days might be fewer and further between now that he's on the management side. 

He started in the kitchen when he was sixteen and made his behind the bar at Vinny Testa's, a restaurant outside of Boston when he was 20-years-old. "When I started, it was fruity and daiquiris, now they want Manhattans and Aviations. Definitely, the cocktail culture has shifted, for sure." For a while he was mostly a beertender, and then he got into wine. "The reason I like wine is the same reason I like craft beer. It's a quest for knowledge. Wine will never get boring because it always changes."

Ryan used to live across the street from me, during my first stint at working from home. We'd have similar late night hours; anytime I was sitting on my front porch drinking, so was Ryan. We'd shout over to each other and/or end up merging onto one porch to shoot the shit and play neighborhood watch. Some nights we saw raccoons wreaking havoc on our garbage cans. Other nights we'd be saving our totally drunk nursing-student neighbors from falling face-first down our hill and propping them back up against their own doors. Mostly, Ryan and George liked to gab on (and on and on and on and on and on) about wine.

Ryan likes to disc golf and travel (of course); he spends his free time cooking and having people over for dinner. We were the lucky recipients of his most current meal: curry chicken and rice. I know for a fact, he also likes to drink. He looks kinda funny without a beard. He loves Katy Perry and wearing flip flops. And although I question his choice of footwear, he was a good neighbor and is still definitely a great friend and drinking buddy.

  Make KC Better » Public transportation. 

natalie w.

Natalie W. | Barista

One More Cup

Years of Industry Service: 5

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Natalie is a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, her parents have come to Kansas City by way of Vancouver and Montreal and they visit family back home several times a year. "My parents both say eh all the time." Before Natalie got into the coffee business she was making smoothies at the Juice Stop close to her high school. "It was run by really fun people, friends stopped by all the time and my friends worked there too." 

Natalie is not one to sit around counting coffee beans in her spare time, she has three jobs in three different industries: food and service, skincare, and photography. Photography is something she does as part of her work, but it's also something she enjoys along with playing the piano and learning the guitar. Natalie recently shot her first wedding. She said it was a difficult and long day; she was the only photographer and had to run back and forth a lot trying to capture every moment for the bride and groom. "It turned out to be a beautiful shoot and a beautiful wedding." You can see more of her gorgeous work here.

  Make KC Better » Public Transportation...subway, train, buses, 

 anything besides expensive taxis. 

nick g.

Nick G. | Chocolate Assistant

Annedore's Fine Chocolates

Years of Industry Service: 3

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Even though Nick had only been working at Annedore's for three days, he easily said there's "no better job than making chocolate." In most cases, we would have said whoa, whoa, whoa chief, let's not jump to conclusions here. But being surrounded by chocolate at work doesn't sound like a bad thing at all, does it? Usually, Nick is in Wisconsin with his family for the summer, doling out scoops of yummy goodness at an ice cream shop. But this year, he decided to stay home, learn to make chocolate, play guitar and hang out with his friends. In the fall, Nick will be returning to the college of William & Mary as a junior where he is studying business.

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Full disclosure: Annedore's offered us each a free chocolate. We hesitated for one second,

then chose a chocolate caramel and milk chocolate imperial truffle. So. Good.

  Make KC Better » More concerts. 

rita a.

Rita A. | Bartender/Server

Twin City Tavern & Genessee Royale Bistro

Years of Industry Service: 29

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Rita, a former bartender at the now long-gone The Hurricane in Westport, affectionately joked, "I spent my youth and beauty at that dump." After nearly three decades in the service industry where she has worked most of the Broadway corridor, she says, "You don't do this forever and not know everyone in town." A self-proclaimed dive bar girl, Rita's favorites are Chez Charlie and the Six Ten in KCK.

Rita does not know her background since she is adopted, but said "I was raised by Sicilians and you can't shake that." Rita is a mother and a grandmother, however, she's not like any parental figure I've ever known. Tattooed, always stylish and that day, hung over from a Lucinda Williams concert where she danced the night away in the rain, Rita surprises you at every turn.

She likes antique and vintage things. She adores horses, especially horse races and hosts a Kentucky Derby party every year. Big, outrageous hats are the standard along with really great food and lots of drink. "There's a lot of carrying-on and silliness. It's fun," she says. She loves to garden, but mainly pretty things like flowers and herbs. And she's a total Luddite; most likely, Rita will not see this post unless someone prints her a hard copy.

  Make KC Better » Better Public Transportation. 

 I didn't have a car for seven years. It's tough and cabs are expensive. 

cara y.

Cara Y. | Server

Cafe Trio

Years of Industry Service: 8

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Cara is an anomaly in the service industry. Besides the occasional glass of wine, she tries not to drink too much. Serving is a transition for her at the moment. She was in marketing, but still, out of all the jobs she's had, Trio has been the best. Although Cara thinks Kansas City is fantastic, having lived in Colorado for a while, she wouldn't mind having some mountains as part of the landscape.

  Make KC Better » Add more outdoors stuff. I want to hike. I want trails. 

metal sculpture

FOR THE LOVE OF KANSAS CITY

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Where are we?

Where is this metal art located? And who is the artist (we don't know, just curious).

Leave your answer in the comments section below

or send us a message via facebook or twitter @ELoungeKC.

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We have a winnah! Kristen Sikorski hit the nail on the head...this very

unique home and probably studio is located at 46th and Genessee.

Kristen, email us with your addy so we can send you a prize!

Photos by Linh Trieu

amy h.

Amy H. | Partner

spool

Service Industry Detour

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Amy bought into spool (open since 2007 by Kelly Ann Allen) late last year. Amy and Kelly, both mothers, split their time in the store and their buying duties, "combining their powers" to make one really good business. Amy is a vintage junkie, scouring estate sales for that side of the business while Kelly looks after the boutique side. Spool is flanked by independent, strong, women-owned businesses (Peggy Noland, Peregrine Honig), which Amy finds "really inspirational." Y.J's, a local coffeeshop and hangout lends to the conversation and community on their little street. Amy is a vocal proponent of investing in Kansas City for its growth. "You can make your neighborhood anything you want it to be. Get off your butt."

  Make KC Better » Reinvest in the community instead of fleeing 

 to neighborhoods you think are "safer." 

bronson k.

Bronson K. | Bartender

Westport Cafe & Bar / R Bar

Years of Industry Service: 3

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Bronson is a musician (keyboardist, piano player, singer) but he's also an excellent bartender who likes his job. "I wouldn't call this my career choice. It started as a way to make money but I really enjoy it. I don't really see it as work." Bronson is part of a surging cocktail culture in Kansas City, always learning, experimenting, and discussing the finer points of how to make the perfect drink. And he wants to share his appreciation of finely-crafted cocktails with his customers. "You don't have to get drunk on vodka and Red Bull. Anyway I can thrust the city in that direction, I will."

  Make KC Better » A good start would be getting bike lanes to make it easier for those of us who pedal ourselves everywhere in warmer months. 

jason h.

Jason H. | Server

La Bodega

Years of Industry Service: 10

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Jason, who is studying for a degree in music therapy, plays the piano and is a recent transport to the West Side. He walks to work on most days, especially on snowy, wintry days when it's challenging to navigate up and down the hills around Summit street. Having worked for both corporate and locally-owned restaurants, Jason said his experiences have shown him that local businesses have a sense of community and "you get to know your customers better." He frequents neighborhood bars Rhythm & Booze and The West Side Local, both because they're local and for their proximity. He does not like standing in crowded buses.

  Make KC Better » Definitely some main form of public 

 transportation that actually connects the city. 

stephanie g.

Stephanie G. | Server

La Bodega

Years of Industry Service: 8

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With a degree in environmental studies, Stephanie says, "I have a ton of dream jobs." She definitely wants out of the ups and downs of the service industry to become a part of changing environmental policy for Kansas City. Health-conscious Stephanie enjoys working out and would like to see an increase in pedestrian and cycling traffic. The staff favorite after work? Brodioke at the The Drop on Tuesdays.

  Make KC Better » I would push the entire metropolitan together. 

 We're too segmented.