One 19 North in Kirkwood, MO- Restaurant Review

 Tapas.  The first time I encountered a Tapas restaurant, I was flabbergasted that I spent $8.75 on a little white platter with 6 hor d oeuvres barely the size of a 50 cent coin.  (Do they still make those? The 50 cent coins, I mean) For $1, I can get a bean, cheese and rice burrito at Taco Bell which is as thick as my arm and as long as my foot.  So guess which wins?  However, One 19 North in Kirkwood, Missouri was my second Tapas restaurant and I think I now understand. It isn’t about the size or quantity,  the delights are in the tastes, the service, the ambiance, the company you keep and the sangria that refreshes and compliments the entire atmosphere!

The  word ‘tapas’ is a Spanish word meaning “cover” or “lid”  So one theory is that the inn where one would stop to get a bit to eat, drink and sleep when traveling on the Spanish roads, would have small pieces of bread that you can use to cover your wine glass with to keep out the fruit flies.  This makes sense.  After Jill and Kamyla tasted their sweet but not-too-sweet, fresh fruit-filled Sangria last night, they seemed to be close to heaven. Kam had the red wine Sangria with orange and lemon while Jill had the white with lime and orange. I think there was pineapple involved as well. Either way, they both were, as always, so fun to be with, relaxed and very happy. I believe the sangria contributed. Both remarked how well it complimented the food. The Spanish tradition of serving the small platters of food to keep coach drivers (and now car drivers!)  sober turns out to be a great idea and now seems like a brilliant idea!
The food was tasty and fun.  Jill had the Mac and Cheese which was a white cheese and tasty and warm and actually more than Jill could eat, therefore. like, true friends, we offered to help her!  Jill and Kam and I share food.  Be warned if you are to ever share a meal with us as we may inadvertently dish something off your plate onto ours or graciously give you something of ours. (We are conscientious and do use clean utensils…..Elegance is Everything and we certainly know proper decorum!)

We had the Baba Ghanoush Flatbread  (Roasted Eggplant Hummus, Roasted Red Peppers, and Feta Cheese)  the Grilled Brussel Sprouts (with smoked bacon, Parmesan Cheese in Olive Oil) and the Oven Baked Goat Cheese with Puttanesca Sauce on toasted Ciabatta bread.   With Jill’s Mac and Cheese, we had plenty to eat!

All in all, we loved the wall of timber boards next to us which gave a bit of rustic mixed with the new.   Tapas is about relaxing with friends, tastes, conversation and wine and One 19 North was perfect for us to socialize.  We especially liked Brad,  our server, who generously took the time to explain the food, the private room for gatherings and the ingredients in the Sangria.  We three agreed he had the nicest smile.  (Leroy, smiles are more appealing without a cigarette hanging from one’s lips…..I’m just saying….)

One 19 North is at 119 North Kirkwood Road in Kirkwood, MO  314-821-4119.

Scale of 1-7 🥣 (7 being Outstanding)

One 19 North 🥣🥣🥣🥣🥣🥣🥣

 

So far this year……..

It’s now February 2018 and I’m still trying to get over the holidays.

It all started the Sunday after Thanksgiving. (yes, technically that was last year) when we decided to rake the leaves outside before the snow.  LeRoy’s idea of raking is not the same as mine.  I actually rake while he is deterred by other things.  He rakes then he is gone for an hour looking for leaf bags.  So this particular day, I invited my nephew Kurt Motor over and pay him $20 to help rake.  He, of course, brings his girlfriend Carleen and they’d stay for dinner. I was thinking Hamburger Helper, cheap, easy to make (much like Carleen) and we’d be done with it all.  Anyway, I’m not sure where LeRoy disappeared to but I think it had something to do with the day being Sunday and televised football games.  The hint was when the song “Basket Case” was blaring on the massively sized speakers that Kurt set up on our porch, I yelled out to Kurt “Who sings this?”  And he yelled back “Green Day”.  LeRoy face froze and he yelled out “Green Bay!??” then tossed the rake aside and ran into the house. It wouldn’t have been so bad or made me so mad if it weren’t for the fact he ran under our cedar tree almost taking a large tree branch with him.  It forcefully bounced back and hit me square in the eye and I spent two hours at the emergency room being treated for two superficial poked holes in my retina. Carleen drove me in her truck.  The one that has the bumper sticker  “Horn broke, watch for finger”.  We had to stop for gas which of course I offered to pay for.  She filled up the tank.  (Add 34.67 to my $20) Meanwhile, I had no idea that she had monocular vision or could drive with that lazy eye….but we made it.  Since I could only see out of one eye, I suppose it was our necessary teamwork…..

I would like to say this didn’t really happen but it did.

When I called Leroy from the ER to give him an update, he very guiltily and sweetly announced that he would make dinner.  About an hour later, he called and asked if Carleen and I could pick up some KFC.  I hate doing that. I pride myself on my cooking and I swear my sisters Rosemary and Minnie (Her real name is Cinnamon. My mother loved themes) anyway, Rose and Minnie are very jealous of my fame (I’m the oldest) and are always trying to destroy my career. Every time I get take-out somehow they know and take pictures for blackmail purposes.

So we stopped for KFC and it cost me $46.72 cents.  (I mentally added so far this has cost $101.39).We finally were home, ate the chicken then, I find out that the Packers game was on at 7:30pm.  I politely begged off and went to rest my eyes and put in my                                                                                     prescription eye drops (add 8 more dollars=109.39),  It was difficult to sleep since Kurt and LeRoy were yelling and shouting at the TV.  And I was mentally worried about the ER bill which my insurance company assured me wouldn’t be over $300. (It ended up being only $70. I thank God every day for Medicare Insurance.) ($170.39)

Finally, the house was quiet. LeRoy came into bed and put his arms around me.

He was sniffing.   I said “LeRoy, I hope you aren’t getting sick, honey.”

He said sadly.  “No, I’m not sick.” and he held me closer.

“Well, honey, I hope you aren’t worried about me. Is that it?  I’ll be fine”.

He hugged me harder and I thought how sweet LeRoy can be and how lucky I was to be his wife.  That was until I heard him mutter. “They lost!  How could Green Bay have lost!!!”