Look No Further For A Taste Of The West Coast: Head To The Westside

"My neighborhood is extremely diverse and my neighbors are some of the most creative, supportive, amusing people I've met in Kansas City," says Lindsay Laricks, owner of Fresher Than Fresh Snowcones and Westside resident. "I'm lucky to be surrounded by them."

Perhaps that is why, when Laricks was looking for a place to park her mobile snow cone trailer on Sundays, it was only natural that she turned to her neighbor, Kathy Marchant, about using the garden at 17th and Summit streets. "She was 100 percent enthusiastic about it, and I knew I had found my spot. It is sweet and charming and feels like a hidden gem."

Coincidentally, "sweet," "charming" and "gems" are all words I'd choose to describe Laricks' gourmet snow cones. Made from all-natural ingredients with creative flavors including pineapple and Serrano pepper, espresso Mexican cane sugar and blackberry lavender, they are quite possibly the best snow cones ever and they come in flights of five samples, so determining your favorite flavors is easy.

And there will be more to sample in 2011. "I've been in cahoots with my good friend Gregory Kolsto at Oddly Correct Coffee," Laricks says of her 2011 lineup. "We've been working on a new and improved coffee flavor using his locally roasted beans."

In fact, local collaborations reign supreme in Westside. Perhaps best known for its vegetarian fare, Blue Bird Bistro has worked with local farmers for years to produce its innovative menu, which today offers entrées and appetizers that appeal to omnivores, as well.

During Blue Bird's once-a-month Farmers' Table event, your five-course dinner might include locally grown and raised treats like lamb from Campo Lindo Farms, tomatoes from the Little Muddy Farm, ricotta from Green Hills Harvest Dairy and port from Somerset Ridge Winery. The food is, of course, delicious, but it's the company that makes the meal: Local dining takes on a new dimension when you actually get to know the farmers!

Relative newcomer to the neighborhood, The Westside Local considers its use of regionally grown ingredients important enough to include in their name. While the restaurant's menu changes with the season, it always includes some of my favorites—delicious deviled eggs and a pint of French fries, very lightly battered and dusted with salt and pepper. The fries actually are served in a pint glass, which is both charming and effective: Since they're not in a pile, none get greasy, and they're good 'til the very last fry.

Lill's on 17th offers a charming patio for people watching, as well as a menu of Spanish-influenced tapas and mains. Do not miss the enchiditas, a glorious mix of spinach, cheese, pine nuts and raisins, or the avocado cream toast, both of which I have dreamed about on two occasions since eating them.

Dog lovers can even take their four-pawed friends along to dinner on the patio; the staff at Lill's will happily bring them treats and a water bowl. Inside, Lill's is an eclectic mix of mismatched furniture, china and linens that all comes together to create one of my favorite dining rooms in the city.

Right next door, Füd is a place where vegans can eat without having to quiz the wait staff about ingredients while wowing carnivore friends with surprisingly meat-like options. The Avocadowich (an avocado, cucumber and vegetable sandwich on cracked wheat bread) and Rainbow (collard leaf with avocado and mixed greens) are two of my favorites, but the Jack Barbeque (pan-seared and oven-roasted Jack Fruit with barbecue sauce) is a vegan option that passes muster in a BBQ city.

The best days to go to the Westside are Thursday through Saturday, when Fervere Bakery is open. The breads—some of my favorite in the city—are baked onsite in an oven the owners had built to order. Call ahead this summer and reserve a cheese slipper; they sell out fast, and paired with bright, fresh summer tomatoes and bacon, the smoky bread turns a classic sandwich into something transcendental. And then there's Fevere's orchard bread, which makes toast so good that it doesn't need butter, and the grain travel, which turns getting your recommended daily allowance of whole grains into a delicious experience.

Chez Elle Creperie and Coffeehouse might very well be the new hangout for francophiles. With more than 25 savory and sweet crêpes on the menu alongside wonderful coffee drinks and juices, it's the perfect spot to meet friends for a lazy Saturday breakfast or lunch. I love the Citron crêpe—lemon curd with strawberries and whipped cream—but if you're looking for something savory, you can't go wrong with the Tour Eiffel (salmon, capers, artichokes, cream cheese) or Le Franco (green apple, walnuts, figs and brie).

When Friday night leaves you looking for a Saturday morning hangover cure, Los Alamos Market y Cocina and its bowl of menudo is just what the doctor ordered. The restaurant also offers a great bowl of posole for dinner, as well as a nice selection of street tacos and various entrées like chile rellenos and carne adobada. If you can't decide what to eat, ask what's good: The servers won't steer you wrong.

In truth, you really can't go wrong anywhere in Westside. It may have the relaxed vibe and forward-thinking tastes of California, but it's a whole lot closer to home.

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