KC Sipps: Mau Mau House debut, three restaurant “closures”, and 10 Lucky years

KC Sipps logo by Theodore Rosen

Life in KC is pretty delicious. In fact, there is often so much going on that it can be hard to decide where to go and what to try.

That’s where I come in. 

I’ve curated this weekly list of events, openings, deals, and celebrations to keep you in-the-know. Cheers!

Something New

News Bites: About a year and a half ago, I wrote about Plift—the canned THC beverages available at Gomer’s, Mike’s, and more. The brand has a new product that already earned a spot on my non-alcoholic bar cart called Plift Select. It’s formulated and bottled like a spirit, ready to mix with juice or sparkling water to the exact dosage you want (and that’s a big selling point for a lightweight like me). I measured a careful serving of the peach flavor with a cream soda Popwell, and it turned out to be more than enough–I put half of it in the fridge for another day after the relaxed and grounded feeling hit me just right.

Plift Select // Photo by Sarah Sipple

Opening

BKS Artisan Ales: I teased this new location of BKS in last week’s column, but the new, second location is now open in Crossroads. As of yesterday, the brewery tasting room is now open Wednesday through Sunday, and offers tastings, beer by the glass, and some varieties to-go. 

Closing

Holy Brunch: Holy Brunch has announced plans to leave Westport. The restaurant began as a food truck in 2021, followed by a residency in a small Westport location, and then moved service to this large corner building in July of this year. The restaurant is still open, but has taken to social media to express how they’ve been impacted by the federal civil rights lawsuit against the Westport Community Improvement District and begin the search for a new neighborhood.

Jarocho: The south location of Jarocho, a Mexican seafood restaurant, announced that it will not be renewing its lease at the end of February. The State Line location will close then, but for now is still operating. In fact, kids eat free with an adult entree, and the South location has happy hour from 4 – 6 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays.

Second Best Coffee: Second Best Coffee has closed. The shop has been shut down since November 18, but an Instagram post recently updated customers to say that there is no plan to reopen, as of now. Online coffee orders, like their whole bean subscription, have continued to be fulfilled.

December 11

Billie’s Grocery: The Leawood location of Billie’s is hosting a vendor market. From 4 – 7 p.m., a few of my local go-tos for gifts and treats will be among the many on site, including Paulina Otero and H Sauce. And if you haven’t checked out Billie’s lineup of classes and activities, here’s your reminder.

December 13

Café Cà Phê: A new food popup is hitting KC this weekend, and it’s happening at Columbus Park’s Café Cà Phê. From 10 a.m. until sell-out, Maureen Remigio will debut Mau Mau House bulalo, or bone broth. I’ve been following Remigio on TikTok for a while now for her recovery and comfort cooking videos after Chiefs games. She is married to Chiefs wide receiver Nikko Remigio, and is a record-breaking track athlete herself. This new venture, Mau Mau House, focuses on her homemade Filipino soup made with bone broth that has been boiled for 15 hours, then topped with beef shank and vegetables.

Green Dirt on Oak // Photo by Sarah Sipple

December 14

Green Dirt on Oak: The Crossroads restaurant and market is hosting its second annual Holiday Cheese Tasting. Spots are still available for a 2:30 p.m. seating, and the cost is $50. Try out five of their local and handcrafted sheep’s cheeses, plus some treats and a drink in the lovely second-floor dining room.

Triune: Two of my favorites to follow along with in the KC culinary scene are teaming up for one night. Chef Guroux Khalifah (of District Biskuits and Howlin’ Fowls) is taking over the kitchen at Triune at 6:30 p.m. Chef will bring diners along for a “Journey Through” meal featuring flavors from the Midwest to Latin America and beyond. Tickets are $100.

Plan Ahead

Brew Lab: The Overland Park pub is host to a Boots on the Ground meetup on December 15. An RSVP is recommended so Boots on the Ground can provide enough small bites, but anyone is welcome to pop in and donate funds, waterproof boots (men’s sizes 10-13), socks, and gloves. These items are being collected to stock a KC hospital ahead of the seasonal uptick in frostbite cases.

Culinaria: Culinaria in Lawrence is hosting a Spanish tapas dinner to benefit Just Food on December 16. Tickets are $90 total before tax and gratuity, and include a welcome cocktail and a few rounds of tapas paired with wines from Kansas wine distributor Ad Astra Selections.

Lucky Boys: It takes more than luck to make it in the restaurant biz. Congrats on 10 years, Lucky Boys. The West Bottoms bar and lounge is celebrating with balloons and a photo booth from 5 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. on December 16.