Dining With Denise

Denise Neil

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Restaurant Reporter and Columnist, Wichita Eagle

As seen in: Wichita Eagle, MSN, U.S. News & World Report, Miami Herald, Seattle Times, Washington Times, Tampa Bay Times, Kansas City Star, The Charlotte Observer, Boston Herald, The Sacramento Bee and more

Wichita Eagle restaurant writer, NU journalism teacher, chauffeur to Alexis

Fundraiser started to help downtown stabbing victim, a longtime local restaurant manager

Courtesy photo The 22-year-old Wichitan who was stabbed on Nov. 21 while walking on North St. Francis is out of the hospital and recovering from a wound that resulted in a lacerated liver. Now, Autumn Haverkamp's friends, family and co-workers are trying to raise money to help cover medical bills and other expenses while Haverkamp's recovery continues.

New speakeasy featuring dinner, drinks and dancers is planned for West Kellogg in Wichita

Courtesy photo There's a new business coming to the former Carrie B's and Oh My Sushi spot at 6339 W. Kellogg. Austin Henry, who oversees several nightclubs in Wichita, is venturing out on his own to open The Shadows, which he describes as an upscale speakeasy that will include craft cocktails, dinner and — later in the evenings — burlesque style dancers performing onstage. He hopes to have it open sometime in late December or early January.

Jimmie's Diner in Wichita can trace its roots all the way back to the first White Castle

The inside of an early Kings-X diner Courtesy Jack and Linda Davidson Today, Wichita's two Jimmie's Diner restaurants are owned by Jack and Linda Davidson.

Need ideas for your holiday meals? Find them from Wichita restaurants you once knew

Ken Hill created this garlic salad for his north Wichita restaurant in the 1940s. The recipe will be included in a special newsletter that begins Nov. 29. Eagle file photo Step into the past with this special newsletter of recipes from some of Wichita's restaurants. The restaurants are long gone, but you might still remember their food with fondness. This newsletter features recipes for menu items created in local restaurants.

Bob Saget is sick of all the anger, just wants to share 'not G-rated' comedy with Wichita

Comedian and actor Bob Saget will perform in Wichita on Dec. 2. Brian Friedman A tip for any journalist nervous about a phone interview with Bob Saget — the comedian best known for both his X-rated humor and for starring in one of the most G-rated television shows in modern history: "Full House." There's no need to pore over your questions in advance. In fact, you don't even need to come up with any.

Trying to persuade a Wichita native to move back home? This free box of goodies will help

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Wichita is down two restaurants and a brewery | The Wichita Eagle

Knolla's Pizza has closed its carryout spot at 13th and West. Denise Neil The Wichita Eagle For those keeping track, Wichita is now down a few more restaurants. One came as a shocker over the weekend: Knolla's, the local pizza chain that Pat Knolla started in the 1980s, has closed one of its locations: the tiny but popular carryout spot that had been open since 1995 at 3817 W. 13th St. North.

Customers love his portrait of Tanya Tandoc. Now, he's painted the whole restaurant staff

Artist Richard Davies, left, was commissioned by Tanya's Soup Kitchen owner Kelly Rae Leffel, right, to create portraits of staff members to go along with a famous painting he did of late owner Tanya Tandoc. Denise Neil The Wichita Eagle For five years, an oil painting of Tanya's Soup Kitchen's late founder, Tanya Tandoc, has hung in a place of honor in the restaurant at 1725 E. Douglas.

Local artist, Liz Koch team up for new artwork at Botanica's Carousel Gardens

New sculpture unveiled at Botanica Liz Koch commissioned artist John Ernatt, who made a new bronze statue titled "The Attendant, 1923." The piece was unveiled during a ceremony at Botanica on Wednesday afternoon. By Denise Neil Liz Koch commissioned artist John Ernatt, who made a new bronze statue titled "The Attendant, 1923." The piece was unveiled during a ceremony at Botanica on Wednesday afternoon.

Koch family donates new sculpture to Botanica | The Wichita Eagle

Wichita chef didn't win 'Guy's Grocery Games,' but she did conquer a bizarre ingredient

Wichita chef Natasha Gandhi-Rue, owner of The Kitchen, landed in a three-way tie for second on Wednesday night's Thanksgiving-themed episode of "Guy's Grocery Games" on Food Network. Screen grab Midwesterners don't eat canned bread. We don't even know what it is — and that's not necessarily a bad thing, as it turns out. So when Wichita chef Natasha Gandhi-Rue, owner of The Kitchen at 725 E.

T'Geaux Cajun opens Thursday at Central and Tyler in Wichita | The Wichita Eagle

When he painted the world "Cajun" on the roof line of his Wichita restaurant this week, Jason Fowler got the neighborhood's attention. Courtesy photo Aieee! Wichita's newest Cajun restaurant is ready to open. On Thursday, owner Joseph Fowler plans to officially open his T'Geaux Cajun restaurant in the former Pizza Hut building at 8977 W. Central, near Central and Tyler.

Wichita burrito restaurant that closed nearly 3 months ago is reopening with new owners

Courtesy photo A Wichita build-your-own burrito chain that closed in early September is about to reopen with new franchisees in charge. California Tortilla, a Maryland-based chain that Mark Polling brought to town in January of 2020, closed nearly three months ago at 2244 N. Greenwich after Polling said he had to step back to deal with ongoing health issues. Now, another Wichita couple is taking the restaurant over and plans to reopen it in the first or second week of December.

Sleek new shop that serves flaming boba tea, decadent desserts is opening in east Wichita

An example of a typical interior at a Feng Cha tea shop Courtesy photo Wichita is about to get a new high-end boba tea and dessert shop whose specialty is on fire — literally. The first location of Feng Cha should open sometime in December in Eastgate Place, the same strip center on the southeast corner of Kellogg and Rock Road that also has Aldi, TJMaxx and more. Franchisee K. Nguyen said that he's taking over a vacant spot at 8007 E.

Wichita chef gets a second shot at popular Food Network show. Episode airs this week

Natasha Gandhi-Rue, chef and owner at The Kitchen in Wichita, won an episode of "Guy's Grocery Games" that aired in 2020. This week, she'll appear in another episode. Courtesy Food Network It was April 2020 when local chef and restaurant owner Natasha Gandhi-Rue appeared on — and won — an episode of "Guy's Grocery Games," a popular game show hosted by celebrity chef Guy Fieri on Food Network.

New Wichita bar Douglas Social opening soon with 1980s touches, a neighborhood feel

Douglas Social should open in Wichita in the next four to six weeks. Denise Neil The Wichita Eagle The bright neon sign went up in June — all pink and teal with a Miami feel. But until just now, the owner of the new Douglas Social at 2518 E. Douglas wasn't ready to talk about what he's up to. Now, Travis Hatfield says he's close to opening, and he recently shared details about his new bar, which he says he hopes will become a neighborhood hangout.

Country singer who sparked controversy earlier this year announces tour stop in Wichita

Wichita brothers looking for space for Italian restaurant | The Wichita Eagle

FioRito Ristorante is still looking for a home, but brothers Jason and Jordan Rickard plan to serve upscale, contemporary Italian fare. Courtesy photo They both grew up in Wichita, graduating from East High School's International Baccalaureate program. They both then left home and launched culinary careers in big-city restaurants. Then, they both returned home to cook, and now, brothers Jason Rickard and Jordan Rickard have big plans for their hometown.

Third generation of Connie's owners putting stamp on restaurant with changes, upgrades

Sisters Adele Garcia, left, and CiCi Garcia have taken over the day-to-day operations of their family's almost 60-year-old restaurant and are making changes to give it a more modern vibe. Denise Neil The Wichita Eagle Connie's Mexico Cafe — Wichita's oldest family-owned Mexican restaurant — is closing in on 60. The restaurant at 2227 N. Broadway turned 58 this year.

New east-side Wichita restaurant Doma should be open by year's end, owners say

A 2021 list of where to dine in Wichita on Thanksgiving — and of where to get meals to go

Wichita restaurants are serving Thanksgiving meals in-person and to-go this year. Kirk McKoy MCT In pre-COVID-19 Wichita, a long list of local restaurants would open every year on Thanksgiving Day and serve lavish buffets to people who didn't want to cook. In 2021, there's still a decent number that are opening for in-person dining, including many fine-dining restaurants as well as some casual diners and buffet restaurants. But the big trend now is Thanksgiving meals to go.

A list of Wichita restaurants offering free, discounted meals on Veterans Day 2021

Texas Roadhouse is among the many Wichita restaurants offering Veterans Day deals. Courtesy photo Veterans Day is Thursday, so for veterans and the people who love them, it's time to start mapping out how to best collect on the many free thank-you meals being offered at Wichita restaurants. This year's list is longer than last year's, when COVID-19 concerns made many of the freebies carryout only or canceled them all together.

Free screening of Eagle documentary on Father Kapaun scheduled for Thursday at Newman

Trailer for new documentary film on Kansas war hero Emil Kapaun "Once Was Lost: The 70-Year Search for Chaplain Emil Kapaun" chronicles the incredible story of how the remains of the famed Medal of Honor recipient from Pilsen, Kansas were located and identified. Kapaun died in a North Korean POW camp in 1951.

A growing area of Wichita is slated to get the city's fourth free-standing Chick-fil-A

Growing Wichita restaurant concept led by 2 former Kobe chefs embraces the Mr. Miyagi way

The crew at Mr. Miyagi Japanese Grill includes, from left, D'Shawn D'Feng, Randy Poll, Jayden Bui, Brittany Bui, Mike Phan, Andy Nguyen, Sam Adams and LeEllen Chu. Any fan of the 1980s movie "The Karate Kid" knows what Mr. Miyagi was all about. Mr. Miyagi — the wise karate instructor played by Pat Morita — was generous. He was likable. He was mysterious. And he wanted to share his skills with the next generation.

Dining With Denise

Source: https://muckrack.com/deniseneil/articles

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Dining With Denise