31 - Chef Burger

It seems like only yesterday I was standing in front of the Hereford House launching my veggie burger adventure. The backdrop of a burned-down steak house seemed to me a deliciously poignant symbol of my absolute disinterest in meat (but I swear, I didn't start the fire!). The following day I would embark on my journey, to hungrily go where no veggie burger fan had gone before.
Having the last of my 31 veggie burgers at Chef Burger was a decision I made early on. It only made sense to end my undertaking at the place where the idea was born. From the very first time I visited Chef Burger on their opening week, I fell in love with the place. It is a fun dining environment with tasty burgers and shakes. The falafel burger quickly became a standard of mine, but then one day it was sadly and inexplicably dropped from the menu. Fortunately, they continued to offer a black bean veggie patty, which is no match for the legendary falafel burger, but still packs a punch in any of their burger combinations.
The fact that I'm so sad that this has come to an end makes me feel really silly. I mean, it's just veggie burgers, right? But then again, it was more than just veggie burgers. The blog and daily trips quickly turned into an opportunity to connect with friends and family as well as make new friends. It became a daily celebration of the simple things in life, the simple things that bring us closer to what really matters in life ... people.

29 - Ted's Montana Grill

It was a beautiful morning today. The sun was out, the ice and snow were melting quickly, the sky was bright blue. I didn't really want to drive 40 minutes for my veggie burger. That's why I was so pleased to learn I could have one a few blocks from home. Ted's Montana Grill in the Power and Light District is a restaurant I never even thought about. I mean, their logo is a bison, for crying out loud. It just didn't seem like the right habitat for veggie burgers to thrive. Boy, was I ever wrong!
If Pottery Barn went back about a hundred years ago and decorated a saloon in the Wild West, Ted's Montana Grill is what it would look like. And I mean that in the best possible way. The food is just good old American food, done right. Which is to say, it is not necessarily a vegetarian's haven. But what they lack in veggie options, they make up for with the heartiest Boca patty, served in any of among 20 burger combinations. These burgers are not for the faint of appetite, they are generously sized and require both hands at all times.
Aside from the great food and excellent service, we were quite taken by this restaurant chain's commitment to the well-being of the environment. You wouldn't expect a restaurant that has a mounted bison head on the wall to make such a big deal about green issues. And they're not just all talk. Their menu and website claim that the restaurant is 99% plastic free, the exception being the drinking straws (which are eco-friendly, by the way). But for further proof of their commitment, all you have to do is step in the bathroom, where you'll find water-free urinals as well as natural soap dispensers and air hand dryers.
So yes, I think Ted's Montana Grill is a great place, even though the only thing I'll ever be able to eat there is the veggie burger (it's a good thing the veggie burger is tasty!). And that's not just the melting snow talking.

21 - Free State Brewing Co.

Mustard is my favorite condiment. Oh, I'm sorry, did I already mention that? Well, I'll say it again. Mustard is my favorite condiment, and at Free State Brewing Co. it is Mustard March Madness. Unfortunately I didn't make it early enough and they had already run out of all but one little jar of garlic mustard. But I enjoyed it all the same.
The veggie burger was great. Top points for texture and flavor, bonus points for hand cut fries and an honorable mention for the delicious barley wine. I have to confess it took some convincing to make another trip out to Lawrence. The thought of spending more than ten minutes in the car just makes me antsy. But I'm really glad we ended up going anyway and we couldn't have chosen a more beautiful day.
Next year I will make sure I get to Mustard March Madness at the beginning of the month. For now, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed for the mustard drawing. Now, wouldn't that be a phenomenal way to end my veggie burger project!

19 - Record Bar

The menu at Record Bar used to feature a veggie burger with an awesome name, "The Pretender." So, of course I added it to my list several weeks ago. But then, last week when I checked online again, just to make sure (especially after the Barley's Brewhaus incident), it was nowhere to be found. I was very disappointed about that, so I called and spoke to the manager (I think he was the manager). He said that although the veggie burger was no longer on the menu, if I ordered it, they'd make it for me.
I related this story to the server, who was incredulous, and she went away to confirm my assertion. Those few minutes of wait were fraught with anxiety, what if they no longer had it? What if the person I spoke with on the phone was not the manager but rather a distraught employee? But she came back eventually, maintaining her clear position of utter disinterest, and said "yeah." I had to bite my tongue not to say "I'll have the pizza then." So I ordered the veggie burger (surprise, surprise).
I cannot begin to imagine why they would have taken such a tasty, hand-made veggie burger off the menu. The flavor and texture were great, and it had long been a shoe-in for my "best named veggie burger" award. Record Bar has a number of veggie and vegan options, my only guess is that veggies and vegans were ordering all of those instead of the veggie burger. Whatever the case, I hope enough people will order the veggie burger and maybe they'll put it back on the menu. So what are you waiting for? ¡¡Ándale, ándale!!



This one goes out to my Sinceramente friends...

18 - The Brick

Hey, you know what? If you want to have a fun time and a good burger on a Wednesday night, The Brick is your place. Wednesday nights are 2 for 1 burgers, and yes, that includes veggie burgers! In fact, you can have any of their signature burgers with a veggie patty. Although it really would be weird to order the bacon burger with a veggie patty. You do whatever you want, though ... I'm just saying.
One of the best things about The Brick is the place itself. The walls are adorned with odd and bizarre pieces of art. The whole place has a freak show vibe that makes any meal a fun experience. It turned out great that it was 2 for 1 burger night, because the Emily wanted a veggie burger, too. So we had a fun little veggie burger duet. The burgers were tasty and the sides were fun. All in all, it was just another tasty veggie burger in the wall.

15 - Jazz

I have not been fortunate enough to visit New Orleans. But I suspect I got a little taste of it tonight at Jazz. There are a number of restaurants on 39th Street that I frequent, and I always was curious about Jazz. I guess I never imagined they'd have anything I could eat there. Well, fortunately enough, my friend Joe mentioned he had seen a veggie burger on the menu. So, of course I had to check it out.
The moment I walked in the door, I felt like I had left Kansas City and arrived in a little less landlocked place. The live music, provided by Rich Berry, was soulful, a little bit spicy and it really brought the place to life. The decor, the atmosphere and the crowd made me feel like I was about to have a good time. And I did.
Jazz doesn't have French fries (which I thought was a little funny, I mean, the French part). Instead, there were a number of sides to choose from such as hush puppies (which the waiter was kind enough to point out contain pork), cole slaw and okra. We had to have the okra. And by "we," I mean Emily. The burger was fine, but after I enhanced it with some voodoo sauce and seafood spices, it was perfect!
I still plan to visit New Orleans some day. But until then, Jazz will have to do!

11 - One80

I used to think people just went to One80 for drinks. Well, tonight was my first time to dine there and I was impressed with the menu offerings and the delicious food. I will definitely be going back for the veggie burger and more. In the meantime I am honored to welcome my second guest blogger, friend and band mate, Sarah Mueller.

- - -

Recently my vegan-eating world came crashing down around my shoulders. One of my favorite comfort food luxuries was McCoy's veggie burger: simple, smothered in guacamole and ketchup, surrounded by fried-just-right fries. I cheerfully gave my regular order the overly helpful waiter--veggie burger, no cheese--and the overly helpful waiter looked up with a smile and delivered Five Words of Doom: "Our veggie burger isn't vegan." Dum, dum, DUM. Turns out that sucker was packing some serious egg. Not one to throw away a year of consciously choosing vegan food, especially in front of my parents, who were visiting from the Iowa farm where they raised me to be a polite carnivore, I quickly switched to the vegan wrap. But, man, I missed that burger. Thankfully, Sergio has launched the 31 project, and he offered to help me find a new go-to vegan solution.
Luckily, there was a willing contestant right across the street. One80, operated by the same good folk who run McCoy's and The Foundry, offers a vegan patty made with white and black beans and topped with sprouts, fresh avocado slices, tomato and lettuce. (I skipped the aioli to be on the safe side, but next time I'll ask if their version is eggless, and, therefore, vegan.) The burger tastes great. The bean mix makes for a great texture and the hint of garlic spiced things up. You can't go wrong with ripe avocados, and the bun was a soft but substantial white roll (a welcome change from the regular whole-wheat stand-in that often gets paired with veggie burgers). Two disappointments: 1. The patty immediately crumbled when I picked the burger up, with all non-bun-supported chunks kerplatting on my plate. Although this does indicate it's a handmade patty, the whole burger experience is more satisfying when you can woman-handle your whole meal. Don't get me wrong. I like a good, thick, messy burger that you have to switch from hand to hand as you lick your fingers. I just like most of the burger to stay in the burger. 2. The fries were subpar. Thin-cut, lukewarm, not quite crisp, not quite soggy. I'll try out a different side next time.
Yes, that's right: Next time. One80 has a big selection of vegetarian (and vegan-izable) entrees. Plus big, comfy booths. And during our stay they played the new U2 album straight through; that never hurts. Overall, One80 delivers a great tasting option that doesn't quite deliver on the whole burger experience. I found a worthy interim solution, but I still haven't found the vegan burger I'm looking for.

- Sarah

7 - Local Burger

Of all the veggie burgers I planned for my veggie burger extravaganza, the "World's Best Veggie Burger" at Local Burger was perhaps the one I was most excited to try. It has been very highly acclaimed and frequently recommended. My vegan friends told me it was amazing and even some of my omnivorous friends raved about it, too. So I was glad to make my way to Lawrence today to try it. I was not disappointed. The distinctive quinoa patty was well worth the 42 minute drive.
The journey was especially fun because we shared it with our dear friends, Deena and Sidney, whom we don't see often enough. They used to live in Lawrence, so after Local Burger they took us to one of their favorite spots, La Prima Tazza, for coffee, before heading back to KC for a concert. Music, friends, coffee, the "World's Best Veggie Burger" - not a bad way to spend a Saturday.

6 - Barley's Brewhaus...er...Elephant Bar

Well, it was actually kind of funny. We made the trek out to Overland Park, waited about twenty minutes before we were seated, looked at the menu and couldn't find the veggie burger that I'd been told on the phone they had. The server at Barley's Brewhaus was very kind and I felt bad for him - it happened to be his first night - when I explained that it was nothing personal but we were going to have to leave. "Are you serious?" he asked. "Yes, I'm really sorry, it's just that I was really kind of set on having a veggie burger," I replied, in the friendliest tone I could muster. "It's a bit of a project," Emily offered.
A few minutes later, we were arriving at Elephant Bar, which was also on my list, but not scheduled till later in the month. The people at Elephant Bar are really nice, I really enjoyed the service. But the veggie burger was a little tough on the edges. Still, it was a great night to sit outside while the weather was nice.
I'm really excited about tomorrow's veggie burger. As soon as we got in the car, I called to confirm their hours and the existence of said veggie burger. It's all good. I'm also excited about sharing the veggie burger experience with a couple of great friends who will make a guest appearance. So, you won't want to miss it. Happy veggie burgers!

3 - Bulldog

Our friend Ben introduced us to Bulldog back in the day when he still lived in Kansas City. The menu hasn't changed much, and that's a good thing, because the options they have for vegetarians and vegans are delicious and fun. Tonight the service was a little less than perfect, they were clearly short-staffed. But the food was worth the wait. Their veggie burger, which I hadn't had before, was great. I think my favorite thing was the bun, it was toasted to perfection.
Tonight I ordered a salad instead of fries. Just because it's a veggie burger, it doesn't mean you can be careless! Sure, you save yourself the cholesterol, but you still have to be mindful about the calories - especially when you have a metabolism as slow as mine.
During these 31 days, I'm making every effort to keep 31 veggie burgers from becoming 31 additional pounds. In order to accomplish this, I'm sticking to a strict exercise schedule. Monday nights I do treadmill for an hour. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday I practice karate two hours a day. Wednesdays I have weight training and yoga. And on the seventh day, I rest.
Of course, this isn't just because of the veggie burgers. This is an ongoing journey toward fitness, which started last June, when I got serious about cycling. While the weather was still agreeable, I was riding up to 30 miles at a time. In August, I started karate training, and then as it got colder and I couldn't ride my bike, I took on weight training and yoga. All of that exercise, in addition to calorie counting, has enabled me to lose 30 pounds. In the last few months, I've exercised more than I ever did in my life, and I'm feeling great.
It's only day three and this veggie burger adventure has already been more fun than I ever imagined. I've enjoyed everything, finding new restaurants, planning my calendar, making the videos and most of all, reading people's comments. I'm glad this adventure took me back to Bulldog. I'm not really sure why I stopped going there, but I'll certainly be back!

2 - Sharp's 63rd St Grill

Tonight I stepped slightly outside of my comfort zone. This was the first time I had ever been to Sharp's and I didn't quite know what to expect. Sharp's is not the kind of eatery I frequent. From the menu I found online, and the website itself, I didn't get the sense that it was a very veggie-friendly place. But my philosophy is to try everything once. So I went, and I quickly felt at home thanks to the relaxed atmosphere and the great service.
I wondered if a meat eater might feel about veggie burgers the same way I felt about Sharp's. Perhaps as a meat eater, you find absolutely no reason to eat a veggie burger. But, I wonder if you can find a good reason not to! That's what adventures are all about, finding pleasure in experiencing new things. Right?
It goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway) that not all veggie burgers are created equal. Yesterday's burger was perhaps what one might consider out of the ordinary; it was, after all, a Hippie Burger. It had avocado, cucumber and pesto mayo...but no ketchup or mustard! The veggie burger at Sharp's is built like a good old, standard burger. No frills or thrills, just that old time religion - with a touch of the contemporary in the form of a veggie patty. Even with that slight misunderstanding with the server, my visit to Sharp's proved to be a pleasant experience I might repeat in future.
Sometimes it really pays to try something new. You may even be surprised.

1 - Flying Saucer

Day 1 of my veggie burger adventure took me to Flying Saucer. This is one of my two favorite establishments in the Power & Light District. While it is a recent addition to my repertoire of veggie burger purveyors, it has quickly become a place with which I associate happy times and delectable food and drink. It was at the Flying Saucer that we witnessed history as Barack Obama was elected president.
I always appreciate it when an establishment goes out of their way to provide something yummy for vegans and vegetarians. Most people don't go to a bar for the food, so bar owners really don't need to worry about picky vegetarians -- but they do anyway! And I'm grateful.
The Hippie Burger at Flying Saucer is a yummy little sandwich. The veggie patty has a very satisfying texture and smoky flavor. The jalapeño pesto mayo adds a fun touch and happily blends with the cucumber, lettuce and avocado. The only thing I'll do differently next time I order it will be to leave some of the onion out -- it was live!

I like veggie burgers.

The idea came, as many wonderful ideas do, from the Emily. We were enjoying a late night meal at ChefBURGER. I was talking about how much I love veggie burgers and how many good places there are in Kansas City for veggie-burger-lovers like me. Then we started talking about birthdays, and how my birthday was coming up. One thought led to another, and before we ate the last garlic parsley french fry, the idea for this blog was born.
When I first became a vegetarian, many years ago in Mexico, my mom used to make eggplant burgers for me and regular burgers for the rest of the family. That was before I even knew such a thing as a veggie burger existed. It was also the first time I realized that a burger without the meat could be just as much fun! Surprisingly enough, my love of veggie burgers has found a more than suitable home here in Cowtown.
I've been compiling a list of local restaurants that offer veggie burgers and putting together a calendar for this culinary adventure. A couple of the restaurants are vegan and/or vegetarian, but the majority are not -- I love finding veggie burgers hidden in the most unexpected menus! In the next 31 days, I will be visiting some of my favorite spots, but I'll also be trying new places for the first time. I'm also hoping to get recommendations from people like you.
Cheers.