Culinary Style

Hip-hop heads shouldn’t be relegated to nachos and fries. That’s what Adrienne Luna, 24, and Adell Hendon, 27, have decided. The couple — he’s a dancer, server and photographer; she’s a manager at swank Piropos and a really great chef — have always dreamed of opening their own restaurant. But like most young couples, they lack the cash. They want to meld hip-hop culture with high-quality food, but rather than round up investors, real estate and debt, they’ve decided to give their idea a trial run.

The experiment, a party Luna and Hendon have named Beats and Bites, takes place the third Monday of each month at the Hangout (3611 Broadway, 816-931-9200). Tonight it starts at 9, and for $5, patrons can chow down on Luna’s tasty creations, which are like tapas but aren’t limited to Spanish flavors. DJs Miles Bonny and Marcus Shadden play a hip-hop-funk-house fusion that ought to go nicely with diced tomatoes, chopped sirloin, tortillas, potatoes, eggs, mangos … you get the picture.

Third Monday of every month, 9 p.m., 2006