PLEY With Your Food at the Culinary Center of Kansas City

I would second what Daniel and Alecia wrote.
I really enjoyed the space and the people this time out. Thanks to Joi, who is just amazing and an event, in and of herself. :)
Interestingly, I did not think too much of the food. But I am a self taught culinary wizard and expectations are high at a culinary center. So there you have it. The best thing I had were the bruschetta. And I assembled them! lol
BTW, the difference between crostini and bruschetta was a question that the culinary center folks could not answer. Really!!! Okay… for the young woman who asked…
Crostini is simply toasted bread with toppings
Bruschetta is grilled or roasted bread. Almost always with olive oil, salt pepper, and garlic. And then other toppings.
Bruschetta is better, because it is seasoned. My opinion. :)

Thanks Unilocal and Joi for yet another awesome gathering!

I had a good time at the event last night — it made me realize I need to start attending more Unilocal events again. ;-) Met some really nice folks and saw some people I hadn’t seen for a while. Cool party.

Thanks Joi for putting together such a great event. Those Weight Watcher cards were scary… I can’t believe WW thought those were good ideas!
The food was fab and I’m so glad they had the recipes available, that brisket is going to be appearing at my house sometime very soon. I did sort of expect a little more from the cooking demo and it would have been nice if there had been room for a couple more tables w chairs.
Looking forward to the next one!

Another Fab-​YOO-​luss Elite event from the fabulous Joi. The Culinary Center of KC has moved to the top of my «must come back & try out more stuff» list — what a huge class list they have! — but last night, the space was filled with fun people, good food (oh those truffles) and crazy recipe cards. Seriously, I don’t know who thought that a crown «roast» made of frankfurters was a swell idea, but it provided much amusement. I loved it that the event was turned into a fundraiser for Joplin tornado relief, too; kudos to Joi & the CCKC for organizing that.
Off to look at the class list some more… can’t wait to get my Julia on!

Yes, it was I who rose my hand and asked what is the difference between Crostinis and Bruschetta. Bruschetta is a favorite of mine, and last night, I had it in the form of a crostini, with goat cheese, mushrooms, scallions, chutney, cream cheese, feta cheese, and other toppings. It was served by guy with the word «Barbecue Dude» on his jacket. The artichoke dip was warm and quite possibly the best I’ve had. The food was exquisitely prepared. The chocolate truffles, filled with ganache… this is the Culinary Center, and there’s a class for that.
When entering. we were given one free drink, and also funky weight watcher’s recipes (one of them had a «slimming’ drink, made with 2 cubes of boulianne… slimming? It was for the game.) They collected money for Joplin and those who donated recieved Unilocal aprons. Much needed, I get icing everywhere when I decorate cakes.
The lady, at this point I don’t remember her name, acted like she knew me, and was very personal, I think she knew in her heart I’ll be back for a class eventually. Thank goodness for name tags.
The game was hilarious. I don’t normally like party games because I’m shy, but I don’t feel like a Unilocal outsider anymore, and actually came out of my shell. The game was fun and laughable. I found myself walking across the room, to talk to Christyn and Jess on the other side.
The Culinary Center is a freakin awesome place. I love cooking stores, and baking and grilling even. I’ve seen the little store part, but not the restaurant and classroom. I love everything about cooking.
We were in a large rustic looking classroom. I like the style and how comfortable it was. There was a cake sculpture in the corner, and a fire place, and several stoves. It was cool. Awesome event. good job Joi, and Unilocal

Thank you, Joi and The Culinary Center of Kansas City, for providing another splendid night of scrumptious food and lovely conversation.
Perhaps it was the vodka/​sprite I downed at the beginning of the evening, but this event was a social break through for me. I found myself moving from table to table mingling with my usual friends and striking up conversation with faces I didn’t recognize.
My favorite part of the evening was the Make-​your-​own Crostini bar. The chef had atleast 3 different kinds of cream cheese which delighted my insistant craving for cheese!
The liquor infused truffles were my next favorite snack; rich and chocolately and delicious!
Myself, and all those whom I talked to, expected to be cooking that night. But, none the less, we all got free food and drinks, so there’s not much to complain about!
Thanks for a great night!

This was a fun event. I really enjoyed the atmosphere that was developed in the instruction room at the Culinary Center of KC. The wonderful grilled veggies and truffles that were available for my fellow Unilocalers and I to sample were excellent, and I also enjoyed the foccacia and beef sandwiches (exta horseradish sauce, please).
Although I was hoping for a more instructive demonstration for the talented chefs at CCKC, the interactive bruschetta bar was delish and I greatly enjoyed getting to know some new folks while making a «meal» with my fish stir-​fry and my fellow guests’ surprise chowder, frankfurter pie, and slimming dessert beverage (made of beef bullion and water) – yum!
All in all, another great Unilocal event! Thanks Joi!

The venue was great, and I had a great time thanks to Joi! The beer-​braised beef was so tender, and I intend to make the foccaccia from the provided recipe. I liked the bruschetta bar — I can never get enough goat cheese. The truffles were a great end to the evening, especially the cherry-​chocolate ones! The space at the KC Culinary Center was very nice, and I’m considering taking a class there after visiting.
I met lots of great people and have 2 new Unilocal friends :) Brushed up on a bit of my French with Sev, and have a great new apron to show for it.

I had a great time at my first ever Unilocal event at the Culinary Center of Kansas City. The folks there were so helpful and friendly. The food was fantastic! The beer braised brisket on focaccia bread was a-​ma-​zing. I am so excited that I got the RECIPE! Woot Woot! The crostini bar was fun and inspiring. The «Cook’s Note» in the recipe booklet said,“You can top your crostini with anything! Use your imagination and have fun!” I bet my kids would LOVE to do that at home. Maybe with different nut butters and preserves? What a fun summer lunch!
How many times do you go out for a wonderful meal and think, «I wish I could make this at home.» Well, this time you CAN. Just sign up for a class and recreate all the wonderful items in your own home. Your friends will be so impressed! LOL
Thanks to Joi for a wonderful experience and for seeing an opportunity to help the tornado survivors in Joplin through the sale of Unilocal aprons! You rock!

As always, Unilocal Elite have the best ticket in town!
Thanks to Joi and the Culinary Center of KC for making this very chill and sophisticated event possible. Make-​your-​own Crostini? Yes, please! Unilocal aprons? I’m in! Random Weight Watchers 70’s recipe cards as a catalyst to meet and greet? Made the food on the table even better lookin’!
The venue is so stinkin’ welcoming and «homey» — making anything they do there look so appealing, accessible, and fun. I love the décor and cleanliness of the facility.
Would’ve loved to have learned a bit more about how to make the food we ate, rather than just be told how to do it with a recipe to match… guess I will have to read the mini-​cookbook they handed out — sigh!
Bön Appetite, Elite!

I was late for this event and my coworker wasn’t kidding when she told me that I should leave a little earlier (I didn’t leave earlier). I was about 15 minutes late but this event was already packed. One thing to note was this event was in a small room so that’s why it looked packed. I met up with my fellow photographer, Chloe M., and together we took pictures of everybody. She got some food for me which I had no idea what I ate; regardless, they were all pretty good. I tried the 2009 Beringer White Zinfandel wine and it was pretty good!
I think most, if not all, Unilocalers here were expecting to learn how to cook something (unless they did that before I came). However, I don’t think that happened which might have been the reason why this place was a lot less packed after the two chefs talked. The event wasn’t over but I guess a bunch of Unilocalers left. Before that happened, we all had a page from a cookbook (maybe?) that was for meeting other Unilocalers. That was fun and the one I got looked like a glass of raw meat but it was actually tomatoes or something. lol
I still had fun though! I went around to ask everybody if they wanted a picture instead of having a bunch of «in the moment» kind of pictures. It almost reminded me of a Unilocal Elite Event back in California where I was the official photographer going around asking everybody if they wanted a picture while I walked around in my toga (it was the White Grecian Party) except I wasn’t wearing a toga at this event. lol
Thanks to Joi B. and whoever else involved in setting up this event! =D
Here are the original-​sized pictures which may or may not look good as the small ones posted on here.