On the exploration of Kansas City this past Friday, Joan took me by Janssen Place, where the lumber barons lived at the turn of the century. She used to live in Central Hyde Park and my head was spinning this way and that as she pointed things out.
There are examples of Italian Renaissance, Jacobethan Revival, Neoclassical, and Georgian Colonial Revival house styles. I have no idea which is which. Here is what I do know. These houses are impressive. I wished someone would walk outside to shake the tablecloth after breakfast and invite us in, but they did not.
We also drove by "The Teddy Roosevelt House" where he may or may not have lived for awhile and where Earnest Hemingway may or may not have stayed for a period of time. It is best on these types of explorations to focus on innuendo and not concentrate on facts. Except for when it comes to lunch. Lunch must be at a place you are absolutely certain is good.
Keeping that principle in mind, we went to one of my favorite spots in the city. I told you about their grapefruit cake back in February.
I had the gallette of the day (sweet potatoes, tomatoes, yellow squash, sweet onions and smoked blue cheese), Joan had the pannini (ham, bacon, roasted pineapple, cumin cream cheese) and if that wasn't enough we split a piece of strawberry rhubarb pie with homemade vanilla ice cream. Joan is a rhubarb expert. She was raised on it up in North Dakota. She proclaimed this to be an excellent example of what can be done with rhubarb. I don't know anything about rhubarb. But I do know good when I taste it. Holy smokes!
After lunch we went outside and ran up and down the street about 25 times and each did a set of jumping jacks before we got back in the car to continue our day. Listen, if you live in the area and haven't been to YST. Make a date with yourself to GO.
if i am not taken here i will be seriously pissed. i want this exact tour. putting in my requests now. you might break your leg between now and then and have to take the week off. that could happen. it's very likely. we can make you a cast.
Posted by: sister | 07/20/2013 at 11:34 PM
Love this area of KC. The rhubarb pie looks fabulous; haven't visited YST yet. :)
Posted by: Judy H. | 07/21/2013 at 05:39 AM
I grew up in Kansas City and I am trying to figure out where this is--can you tell me some street names or numbers?
Posted by: Janet Ghio | 07/21/2013 at 08:21 AM
Is You Say Tomato (the name) anything to do with the differences in pronunciation - American and British? Our American friends make fun of our way but I suppose that's their right, considering the tomato is not native to our islands. The French ignore all that and leave the end of the word off all together!
Posted by: Chrissy | 07/22/2013 at 03:28 AM
It's a beautiful neighborhood. I visited one of the houses when it was a showcase house a number of years ago. It had gone from a home to an apt back to a home. My uncle had lived in an apt there in the 60's.
Posted by: dianne throop | 07/22/2013 at 07:36 AM
The upscale neighborhood looks fantastic. I love old architecture, so many flavors to enjoy.
Now mention Rhubarb Pie and you've got my undivided attention. Holy Moly, that looks so good. It's my all time favorite pie, bar none! My sister makes the best I've ever tasted EVER...her place is a lot closer than YST! I don't know how you say it but I say toe-may-toe...loved the ones that came from my grandad's garden, those big beefsteak tomatoes that were sweet as sugar and a little bit of heaven for the taste buds.
Joan
Posted by: Joan Clarke | 07/22/2013 at 04:39 PM