Ruby Jean’s comes to Troost, plus a Kusshi pop-up, a Rieger brunch and more of the week’s food and drink events

Thursday, November 9

Lawrence’s Bon Bon (804 Pennsylvania) is offering a mezcal tasting tonight from 4 to 7. Attendees will taste seven mezcals as reps from Standard Beverage walk them through the selections. Snacks will also be available. The tasting is $10; no reservations are necessary. 

In the Crossroads, Tannin Wine Bar (1526 Walnut) is hosting a tapas wine dinner featuring selections from Jose Pastor, a Spanish wine label that specializes in traditional techniques. A few of tonight’s dishes: paella arancini
with Spanish rice, peas and red pepper; chorizo- and goat cheese–stuffed chiles; and green pork tamales with cilantro crème fraîche. The dinner is a very reasonable $55 a person (15 percent off for wine-club members). Email barryt@tanninwinebar.com or call 816-842-2660 to make your reservations. 

Friday, November 10

Chef Joe West recently departed Stock Hill to return to creating pop-up dinners, under the name Kusshi. Tonight, he is hosting one such event in the Crossroads (the exact location will be announced within 24 hours of the event), in which he’ll return to some of his favorite dishes from throughout his career. Among the four courses are a scallop with celery-root tortellini, bacon lardons and lemon; and a duck breast served with apicus honey, smoked potato and apples. Each course will include a wine pairing. The dinner is $79. More information and tickets are available at Kusshi’s events website. 

Saturday, November 11

The Rieger (1924 Main) is hosting a rare, one-off whiskey brunch today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: three courses for $29 (not including tax or gratuity), with specialty cocktails available featuring J. Rieger and Company spirits. Keep an eye on its Facebook page for menu updates, and reserve your seats via Tock. 

A new health-oriented, local option is coming to the East Side today with the grand opening of the new Ruby Jean’s Kitchen and Juicery (3000 Troost). Opening at 11:11 a.m. (presumably because of the date, 11/11), the restaurant will be hosting DJs and announcing giveaways all day. This will be the third KC location for Ruby Jean’s (including one store downtown and one under renovation in Westport), which centers on cold-pressed juice, smoothies, sandwiches and grab-and-go lunches and snacks (including vegan options). 

Fans of high-ABV beers should be on alert for the Westport Strong Ale Festival, taking place outside McCoy’s Public House  (4057 Pennsylvania Avenue). More than 70 beers with an ABV of 8 percent or higher are featured from approximately 30 breweries. Among the labels represented: Defiance Brewing Company, Founder’s, COOP Ale Works, Perennial Artisan Ales, Dogfish Head, Cinder Block and many more. Tickets are $40 in advance, $50 at the gate. More information and tickets are available via the fest’s Eventbrite page.  

P.S. Speakeasy (106 West 12th Street, inside Hotel Phillips) is hosting Tom’s Town Distilling Company’s brand ambassador, Matt Seiter, for a “Tom’s Town Takeover” tonight from 5:30 to close. Among mixologists, Seiter is a well-known quantity, having received recognition at Tales of the Cocktail, among other industry awards of note. The event is open to the public; there is no cover charge. 

Sunday, November 12

In the great pie-vs.-cake debate, pie will always come out on top. But even a champ can be improved with the addition of a cocktail. Or five. Today from 1 to 3 p.m., Lifted Spirits Distillery (1734 Cherry) is hosting a holiday pie-and-cocktail pairing. You get five samples of each, with pies coming from local bakeries (no word on which ones), and cocktails from Lifted Spirits. Your ticket ($22 in advance, $27 day of) comes with two full pours of your favorite drinks. Tickets are available via Eventbrite.