Whenever I finish a book and put it out there for you to read, there’s always a moment of hesitation. Will you like it? Will you recommend it to others? We all like different types of books and enjoy different styles of writing. I tend to write in broadcast style – short, to the point, with a creative flair. When I released “Unique Eats and Eateries of Kansas City” in October, my gut said people would love it. The color pictures pop from the page. The stories of these local restaurants and chefs are fantastic. But every writer still has a kernel of doubt in their head when their new book is released. Thankfully, all of you have destroyed that doubt with your positive comments. So many of you have reached out to tell me how much you LOVE the book. Thank you!

You get it – we have a vibrant and rich culinary scene in Kansas City and we SHOULD support our local chefs. Getting to know them and their stories only enhances our dining experience. It allows us to better appreciate the people who make the food and bring it to our table. The restaurant business is brutal. According to the National Restaurant Association, 30% of restaurants don’t survive their first year. One in three will close before they even get started. To see so many great restaurants not only survive the pandemic but continue to thrive today is wonderful. It means you – and the rest of our community – are going out to eat, visiting these restaurants, giving them your hard earned cash in exchange for a delicious meal so they can cook tomorrow for someone else.

I wrote this book to encourage ALL of you to eat local. That’s why I give you – for FREE – a restaurant checklist bookmark with every sale. I want you to visit every eatery in the book and check it off afterwards. People love a good checklist and become obsessive with checking off all the boxes. Good! Your patronage encourages other young chefs to start their own restaurants, hopeful they will be the two in three that survive that first year. I certainly hope you continue to encourage your friends and family to buy my book so they can get started on their own eatery scavenger hunt. Plus, you have to admit, many of these stories are fascinating! Be honest, you had no clue about the background for most of these restaurants. Reading how these chefs and their families overcame struggles through the years is inspiring. Thank you for your support, thank you for all your kind comments, and most of all, THANK YOU for eating local. I hope to see all of you at a book signing soon!