The food was great, but more importantly, I proposed and Linda accepted. 

After an afternoon at the Tower, we visited the Arc de Triomphe, shopped on Avenue des Champs-Elysées and finished the day with supper at the nearby Villa Spicy.

View from our table

In the evening, we had supper at Chez Denise, which has been featured on Anthony Bourdaine's show. After dark, we walked over to Pont-Neuf bridge to take a river Seine cruise. We followed up with a walk over to Notre Dame and returned to our hotel along the Left Bank.

The two biggest highlights of the day were the Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle and the musical Love Never Dies - the sequel to Phantom of the Opera, which premiered in March.

Linda had a 9 ounce filet mignon with baked potato and salad for $34.95. The steak was properly cooked and still juicy while being well done. My $30.95 16 ounce ribeye was also good, but the seasonal vegetables were limp and uninteresting.

But the food has improved.

Woody's Pub serves 7 flavors of chicken wings, with the hottest being Mount St. Helens and "Ghostly." The smallest order is 10 wing thirds for $7.49 and the ordinary "hot" were quite flavorful.  The burgers are 1/3 pound and come with the choice of home cut fries, sweet potato fries, cottage cheese or slaw for $6.49 to $8.49 depending on the toppings. The fresh fries are quite good.

Woody's also offers several salads. The $7.99 grilled chicken salad was enormous, but didn't have nearly enough chicken to balance the other ingredients.
 

Of the various "fries & rings," I think the onion straws are the best. But the combo of any three is probably the best choice for 2 or 3 people.

The roasted half chicken with provincial herb seasoning, mashed potatoes, cold slaw and corn bread for $13 was a nice alternative for someone not looking for a burger or sandwich.

The enormous Double BLT (sugar cured bacon, iceberg lettuce, seasonal tomatoes, and mayo on toasted ciabatta) for $8 had good ingredients - particularly the bacon and toasted Italian white bread - but there wasn't nearly enough bacon to go with all of that bread.

roasted chicken

L was equally pleased with a $7 fried catfish poboy.

Continuing through Lawrence, we drove to Clinton Lake, stopping first at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Information/Visitor Center located northwest of the dam. In addition to providing detailed information the Visitor Center has displays covering on the history of the area, reasons for the dam, and the wildlife of the area.

Finally we traveled below the dam to the spillway forming the Wakarusa River where we found a nice waterfall which had been pointed out by a reader almost a year ago. The spillway has water year around, but the amount of water being released varies greatly. It was quite attractive this day and there were many people playing or fishing nearby.

Heading back toward Kansas City, we made one more stop in DeSoto at Steve's Meat Market. Steve's has been operating for 40 years. Steve's is more than just a full service butcher and sells many items prepared on the premises. We purchased two flavors of Steve's Kill Creek Barbecue Sauce, beef jerky and pickled beef tongue (2.5 pounds for $8.99). They were out of the pickled Polish sausage which I like.

So far I have tried only the jerky and the tongue. The jerky is fine, but the tongue is the real treat. I've already gone through most of the jar and plan to returned to get more to keep on hand for a quick, easy snack or sandwich.

At supper time, two friends joined me in my second meal at El Camino Real in Kansas City, Kansas. The authentic Mexican Restaurant has some of the best tacos in metropolitan Kansas City. The language barrier kept them from getting our order exactly right, but we enjoyed all of our meal including assorted tacos, fried shrimp, salads, very good refried beans, Biztek Encebollado (steak cooked with onions served with rice, beans and lettuce) for $8.95. Al of the servings were generous. El Camino Real offers both American Coke and Mexican Coke which is made with sugar instead of corn syrup.

Clinton Lake Visitor Center

Wakarusa River spillway waterfall

Products from Steve's Meat Market

As an alternative, we visited the new Master Wok Chinese Restaurant, just up the street. This is the third location for the self styled "Gourmet Chinese Restaurant" which is also in Lee's Summit and Independence. It occupies the space vacated by the Olathe Tannahs Restaurant when it move to Overland Park. 

Master Wok offer a number of reasonably priced luncheon combinations which include an entree and the choice of egg drop or hot & sour soup, and egg roll or 2 crab Rangoon, and steamed or fried Rice. I was quite happy with my pork with garlic sauce.

For supper, we made a second trip to Barley's Brewhaus in Shawnee, Kansas. The dinning room of the bar and grill was much less crowded on this Thursday evening. The Seven Hour Roasted Pork (slow roasted pork served over green onion risotto with asparagus) had great flavor, but the serving was smaller than I wanted for $17.

Seven Hour Roasted Pork

We had pan fried chicken and chicken gizzards. The gizzards were as good as I have ever had, with a great flavor and not at all tough. I like them with a little gravy and hot sauce. 

As always,
there was too much of the family style food and we ended up taking home 3 or 4 pieces of chicken and half of the gizzards, plus cinnamon rolls, potatoes and gravy.

The service was good, but the kitchen was slow. It must have been 35 minutes before we had anything but our salads. Stroud's food has been slow coming the last three times I have tried the Fairway location.

Dishes tried today were cabbage rolls (steamed cabbage leaves stuffed with beef, rice, and onion topped with a traditional tomato sauce served with a small salad for $9.95), shepherd's pie (garlic masked potatoes, seasoned ground beef, onions and cheddar cheese are layered together and served with a mushroom sherry sauce for $9.99) and pub pickles (deep fried dill pickles spears, hand dipped in beer batter and served with tarter sauce for $6.99). I was surprised how well the tarter sauce went with the dill pickles.

Several friends joined me for supper at Jazz - A Louisiana Kitchen, at the Legends in Kansas City, Kansas. This is the first time I have been to one of the Jazz restaurants since the one closed that was in the same location as the present Oklahoma Joe's BBQ in Olathe. The oldest Jazz is at 39th & State Line in Kansas City, Missouri.

I liked most everything about this restaurant: the menu, food and prices, but was bothered by the continuous loud sound from the air handling system. The best items tried were the fried oysters ($10.99), garlic seafood tilapia ($13.99) and shrimp etouffee $11.49) The alligator bites ($7.99) appetizer were too thin and heavily breaded to taste like alligator.

Jazz - A Louisiana Kitchen

There are two adjacent Antietam Circles. Both contain Civil War graves. Circle #2 also has an American flag, cast iron gate, and four copper statues. Circle #1 has two 8 inch Columbiad cannons and a 28 foot tall concrete rotunda which was constructed in 1905.

From Parsons, I returned to Highway 59 and drove south a few miles to Oswego. Before investigating the town, I went on through to see a low water road crossing waterfall which I learned about from Larry Hornbaker's Notes: Cherry Creek Low Water Bridge. It is always a little scary going through one of these the first time and the water did come up a bit higher than I liked. I wish they would put a depth gauge on these crossings.

Back in Oswego, I stumbled across John A Mathews Park, which is basically a vacant lot with an old stone well and a historic marker. Mathews settled in the area in 1841. The well was an improvement to an everlasting spring used by native Americans for generations before the first white settlers arrived. Mathews' slaves dug and walled the well in the 1840s.

Riverside Park is a few blocks farther north, along a bluff which overlooks the historic Neosho Crossing for "the old Indian Trail" between Missouri and the Osage buffalo hunting grounds in central Oklahoma. The crossing was above the present dam and falls.

The land along the bluff was purchased for the park in about 1885 by a group of local women who raised the money to pay for it by conducting food sales and ice cream socials. Many of the structures in the current park were built as a WPA project during the Great Depression.

I had a nice conversation with one of the Oswego Park Department employees near the scenic overlook. He told me a but of the history of Riverside Park and future plans. He also gave me a couple of leads on other waterfalls including one in Riverton, Kansas which I visited later in the day.

On my way out of Oswego, an interesting building on the south side of town caught my eye. Circling around, I found Jay's Repair at 810 8th Street. The sides of the building are covered with interesting old automotive related signs and there was a beat up old sign saying, "Antique Parts & Pieces, Buy - Sell - Trade, Antique Vehicles - Antique Gas Pumps - Antique Signs - Open by Chance, call or write, open by appointment." It looked worth investigating farther, but I decided to save it for another trip.

Continuing south, I drove on to Chetopa, just 4 miles north of the Oklahoma State Line. There is a sign proclaiming that Chetopa is the Catfish Capital and Pecan Capital of Kansas at the edge of town.

Driving through town, I found several unusual buildings, which I stopped to photograph, then went to the Chetopa Dam on the Neosho River. This man made waterfall isn't as attractive as most, but I did stay to watch the Paddlefish (spoonbill) fishermen. Unfortunately no spoonbills were caught during my brief stop. The primitive scaleless fish is one of the largest freshwater fish in North America and have a long, paddle shaped rostrum (bill) that is about 1/3 of their body length. They are plankton feeders and are caught by snagging.

Back in town, I stopped at Kansas Nutz N Stuff on Maple Street. When I entered the gift and design store, I could hear something loud going on in the back. Investigating, I found a pecan cracking and shelling machine in operation. Before leaving, I purchased both raw and roasted pecans to enjoy later.

The next stop was another Larry Hornbaker find, the Fly Creek Pony Truss Bridge, east of Chetopa and west of Melrose. Although listed elsewhere online as still open to traffic, the roadway has been removed from this 100' long Warren pony truss bridge and it has long been replaced with a low water crossing just below the bridge.

Back along highway US 166, I ran across another interesting scene - a field filled with old farm equipment lined up like a row of elephants. This is on the north side of the highway, just east of county road SW 90th St. There is a state highway sign nearby by with the name of the community of Faulkner, apparently misspelled at "Falkner".

Continuing east to Baxter Springs, I stopped at Cafe on the Route (on old Route 66) for lunch. The neat local restaurant was featured in a 2007 episode of the Food Network's Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. I can always tell when the episode about Cafe on the Route airs - traffic to its page on this site suddenly jumps from a handful a day to a hundred or more.

I had been impressed with the food at Cafe on the Route on my two previous visits and was not disappointed today.  I selected nut crusted catfish (7 ounce catfish with cornmeal, almonds and walnuts served with Ozark sauce). It came with vegetables, wild rice, the choice of salad/fruit/soup and a choice between several potato dishes or tobacco onions for just $7.

The salad was very good. It came with heavy flavorful crackers and a tasty house bleu cheese dressing. The catfish filet was so large that it looked like a pork tenderloin. The cornmeal nut coating was distinctive and worked well with the unique house tartar sauce. The tobacco onions turned out to be in the style of the Durkee French Fried Onions that are popular on casseroles. I had mixed feelings about the taste of their coating.

I drove along the 13 miles of historic Route 66 that are in Kansas, making stops to photograph the Brush Creek Rainbow Bridge and revisit 4 Women on the Route, the restored old Kan-O-Tex service station that is preparing for the new season.

At Riverton, I turned at the traffic light and drove south a half mile to investigate the Empire District Electric Company's power dam. The quarter mile long, man made waterfall is the most impressive water feature that I have found in Kansas to date.

Heading north from Riverton on US 69, I had gone only a little over a mile when I saw a sign saying "Ted's Old Iron Farm & Museum - Exit Here." I drove west on Lostine Road about 4 miles without seeing it and was about to give up when I saw a mail carrier and asked him for directions. The Farm was another half mile.

Pulling back into the small rural farm, I found 70 year old Ted Houser, working on a neighbor's lawn mower. Ted graciously took a break to show me around his collection of agricultural implements and equipment. The collection was scattered around the yard and also filled three rooms and the two bathrooms in a fairly large out building. Many of the items on exhibit had been used on the farm which has been in the Houser family for over 100 years.

Continuing north to Pittsburg, I took a break at the great 1106 Drive In. All I had was a soda and some good fresh made onion rings. 1106 also makes its own chili and grinds its beef for hamburgers lately.

Before leaving Pittsburg, I stopped by the Hance White Building at 2nd and Locust. The interesting old stone building now houses Faces Saloon, but 100 years ago it was the home of Hance White's tombstone business. The stones around the building's windows are decorated with carvings of the faces of famous Kansans like Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, Jesse James and Carrie Nation.

My final stop of the trip was at The Buffalo Grill in the century old Stout Building. Three friends joined me in checking out the steakhouse which opened in 2008. The Buffalo Grill is Fort Scott's only place for fine dinning.

Although the restaurant wasn't that busy for a Saturday night, our server had a hard time keeping up with our table and we had long waits for drink refills and other service. I might have been a little more forgiving of the service issues, if it didn't feel like the server wasn't trying (unsuccessfully) to be pretentious.

The presentations were all nice, but the food was less consistent. The Gorgonzola Buffalo wings were OK, but I think they would have been much better if the homemade gorgonzola cheese had been in a dipping sauce rather than in the Louisiana style Buffalo sauce. The best main course sampled was the Balsamic Glazed Bacon Wrapped Pork Filet, a grilled wrapped pork fillet basted with a sweet balsamic vinegar glaze, served with sautéed spinach for $11.95.

The biggest food disappointment was the badly overcooked fresh French fries. I am amazed that they were even served.

Cherry Creek Low Water Bridge

John A Mathews Park
 

Neosho River dam & falls
 

Antique Parts & Pieces
 
 
 

pecan cracking and shelling machine

Fly Creek Bridge

Antique threshers
 
 

nut crusted catfish
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Empire District Electric Company Power Dam

Ted Houser

1106 Drive In menu

Hance White Building
 

  The Buffalo Grill

My first stop of the evening was at Dinosaur Not So National Park, a few miles south of Erie, Kansas. I saw nothing new, but it was a chance to make sure that the interesting outsider art is still on display this year.

Then back on Highway 59, turning east on K-47 toward St. Paul. This was my first time on this stretch of highway, which has lots of ponds in what looks like reclaimed mining land.

A square tower was visible from the distance as I approached St. Paul. Driving through town to the tower, I found the handsome, St. Francis Church. The stone, 1881 church was unlocked and I took a series of interior photos. 

The grounds are also lovely, with several statues and a walkway with the stations of the cross.

Than back through town to The Lodge Steakhouse & Lounge. The outdoors themed restaurant opened just this past year by the Roy Carter family which has the nearby Big Island Hunting Club.

The menu at the Lodge had too many things that looked good to me. I am going to have to return with friends to sample more of the items.

But tonight I started with the Big Island Duck Tenders ($7.50). The breaded, deep fried duck pieces were served with warm pineapple marmalade. I liked them, but really couldn't taste the flavor of the duck. Chicken cooked the same way would have tasted the same.

I tried the rime rib, which is available on just Friday and Saturday evenings. It comes with two sides for $20.99. The large cut of prime rib was slightly more rare than I had ordered, but otherwise perfect. My side dishes were a so-so vinegar based coleslaw and a very good vegetable medley.

Following diner, it was a short ride to Parsons, Kansas where I spent the night.

reclaimed wetland

St. Francis Church
 

The Lodge Steakhouse & Lounge

The Coleslaw was fresh and tasty, with a flavor that I couldn't identify. I seem to have that problem often at Smoke'N Babes. 

I am still unimpressed with the battered fries.

Update the review of Stroud's Restaurant in Fairway, Kansas, with the new shorter hours.

Eggtc is a bit unusual for a restaurant that is open only from 6AM - 2PM, it has a full bar. I assume that it is inherited from the restaurant previously occupied the space.

I'm afraid that for the most part, the descriptions of the food sounded better than it tasted. The grilled turkey sandwich (turkey, Monterey jack cheese, arugula, tomato with cranberry cream cheese on wheat for $8 with the choice of French fires, sweet potato fries or fruit) was OK, but really, just another turkey sandwich. The $8 eight ounce cheeseburger was a little dry and a bit overdone.

Eggtc is yet another restaurant with battered fries. Is a local supplier having a sale on them?

The best item sampled was the chili, which I thought was very good despite the unexpected sour cream on top.

I selected the rib dinner - a half slab of spare ribs with one side, fries and bread for $11.49. My side dish was cheesy corn. It was a generous serving, but pretty much just tasted like corn. The fries are lightly battered, which many places are doing lately, apparently trying to be "special" without the effort of making fresh fries.

But the ribs were very good. They have a full, spicy flavor from a dry rub. Other than salt, I'm not sure what is in the rub and the counter person refused to tell me when I asked.

Smoke'N Babes has two sauces, which are available to take home, or purchase online. The regular sauce is quite sweet. It is ketchup based with Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, garlic and hot pepper sauce. The "spicy" version has less sugar and I thought it worked best with the strong flavor that the ribs already have.

The restaurant is tiny, with only 5 three-person tables in the dining area, but there is more seating outdoors. Smoke'N Babes is considering enclosing that space before this winter comes. The rest room is a very small, unisex room that you must go outdoors to reach. It is not handicap accessible.

For supper, two of us went to Fortune Palace Chinese Restaurant, which just opened in the old Jalapeno's Mexican Restaurant location at 12102 West 87th Street Parkway in Lenexa, Kansas. It is so new that someone was up on a ladder replacing the coming soon banner with now open. The owner of this restaurant used to work at one of my favorite Chinese restaurants - Tea Garden in Olathe.

The dinning room has been dramatically changed and no longer looks like the old restaurant. 

The presentation of the food was quite attractive nd the servings were generous, but the food didn't impress me on this first visit. I will wait a few weeks for them to settle down, before a 2nd visit and a more serious review.

  . 

Fortune Palace Chinese Restaurant

Most of the group went with the Easter Pre-fixe menu which offered a three course menu with several choices for $28.50.

Among the starters, the lobster mac & cheese was popular, but the Maryland crab bisque was the most popular. My "cowboy cut" ribeye was one of the "wow" dishes, with a great rub and perfectly cooked. The 18 ounce bone-in ribeye came with white cheddar chipotle mashed potatoes, ancho chili onion rings and pico de galio for $35.95.

The twin fillet medallions and the chipotle BBQ pork chops were also very good, but the pan seared George's Bank scallops and the Alaskan halibut were other "wow' dishes.

This time I had an opportunity to sample many items of sushi and sashimi as well as some of the hibachi dishes. Most of the sushi items were well liked, with the exception of the Lenexa roll ($8.95) which was mostly uneaten. The crab meat with mango roll ($8.50) was so popular that I didn't get to try it.

I was happy with the baby octopus salad ($5.95), which was cold, spicy. The crab Rangoon (6 pieces for $4.95) was also a hit.

Although they do not offer table side cooking, Edokko offers several hibachi style dishes. We tried the shrimp, scallops, chicken and shrimp. The Shrimp was the best of the group. The chicken was so tasteless and dry that very little was eaten and no one wanted to take home.

Service was also off. Our server kept making major errors, then pretended that she meant to do things that way. 

I know that Edokko Japanese Restaurant has been a treat for many people, but after two visits, I'm not very interested in going again.

The service was prompt and attentive. The large side serving of beer battered onion rings was generous for only $2.75, but just ordinary frozen rings. The $7.95 Grilled Chicken Wrap (Grilled, sliced and diced chicken wrapped in a flour tortilla with shredded lettuce, tomatoes and cheese, served with ranch dressing on the side) with one side dish was a good value. The ranch really made the sandwich and did a lot to help out the onion rings. I had corn for the side. It was also a generous serving, but tasted like canned.

Several friends joined me for supper at the Blue Koi in south Leawood Kansas. My favorite items were all appetizers and all were good values. The dumplings (order of 8 - $6.50) were a hit with all of our group.

The duck wrap consisted of roast duck, cucumber, onion, cilantro and a touch of hoising sauce in one large, soft wrap and served with homemade braised peanut salad on the side. It was a great bargain at $5. But the 4 Egg Plant Pockets (Crispy eggplant pockets filled with vegan stuffing and served with raw garlic sauce) for $7, had great flavor and texture.

Blue Koi