A Feast of Italian Adventures, New Restaurant Launches and Innovative Drinks

The latest episode of Jasper’s Kitchen, hosted by Chef Jasper Mirabile, turned Kansas City’s airwaves into a vibrant kitchen studio, delivering fresh inspiration, bold flavors, and a deep dive into the latest culinary happenings in the region.

A Taste of Italy from Milan to Bologna

Mirabile opened the show by recounting his recent three-day Italian tour with his partner Lisa. The duo visited Milan’s oldest 14th-century restaurant, explored a historic café in Marghera where panettone is said to have originated, and rode the train to Bologna. Highlights included a stop at Moe Mortadella, where the group sampled authentic mortadella—often mistaken in the U.S. for bologna—prompting a lively debate about the true nature of the cured meat.

The chef also described a thrilling truffle hunt in the Alpine hills, where a specially trained dog, Tommaso, unearthed nearly a kilogram of prized truffles valued at roughly $550. Mirabile praised the experience, noting how the truffles were shaved over pasta, prosciutto, chicken, and even rabbit. He emphasized that the rabbit, slow-braised in a farmhouse setting, tasted “just like chicken,” a revelation for many listeners.

Introducing Loretta Jeans: A Historic Downtown Destination

Chef Rick Mullins, a longtime Kansas City restaurateur, joined Mirabile to announce the upcoming opening of Loretta Jeans. The new venue will occupy 935 Broadway, a building dating back about 150 years and once home to a furrier and a pharmacy. Mullins and his business partner, Candice Moore, plan to preserve as many original elements as possible—doors, windows, vintage advertisements, and even old sewing machines—while integrating modern design touches that honor the building’s heritage.

Key points of the Loretta Jeans concept:

• Midwestern-inspired cuisine with a modern twist, focusing on excellent food and drinks rather than overly technical plating.
• A preservation program that blends historic dishes from Kansas City with innovative new creations.
• A family-friendly atmosphere that encourages guests to relax, enjoy the space, and engage with the community’s history.

To build excitement, Mullins announced a pop-up event on April 26 at the Kansas City Museum’s historic Northeast campus. The pop-up will run from 1 p.m. until the menu sells out, typically within 60–90 minutes, and will feature five to six food items and three to four beverage selections.

The event will be first-come, first-served, with an à-la-carte format allowing diners to order, pay, and receive their dishes on the spot. No tickets are required, and the event will be open to diners who wish to picnic on the museum’s lawn.

Yummy Sips: Plant-Based Drinks That Taste Like Ice Cream

The show also highlighted Yummy Sips, a Kansas-area brand founded by Indian-American entrepreneur Kezia Viravale. The beverage line offers dairy-free, sugar-free drinks in vanilla and cardamom flavors, each providing seven grams of protein per eight-ounce bottle and a spectrum of vitamins and minerals.

Viravale explained that the drinks are crafted to make vegetables appealing to children and adults alike, delivering a “melted-ice-cream” texture while remaining nutritious.

Viravale’s vision includes placing Yummy Sips in farmers markets, cafés, office lounges, airports, and even car showrooms, expanding the brand’s reach beyond Kansas City. The product will be available at the Olathe Farmers Market beginning the week of May 25.

Call Sign Brewing: Craft Beer with a Veteran’s Story

Finally, Mirabile welcomed Paul Gardner of Call Sign Brewing. Founded by Air Force veteran Steve Saroy, the brewery blends American and European ales and lagers, emphasizing drinkability and a strong community focus.

Their flagship American Freedom Lager offers familiar flavor with a subtle punch. The brewery supports local veterans through regular poker tournaments and partnerships with organizations such as Defenders of Freedom KC, St. Michael’s Veterans Center, and Friends in Service of Heroes.

Call Sign Brewing’s new taproom, located at 1340 Burlington in North Kansas City, features a 99-seat outdoor patio, a service window for patio orders, and a heritage room that recreates the original 2018 brewery atmosphere.