NNTP-Posting-Date: 3 Sep 2002 23:43:49 GMT Xref: usenet.INS.cwru.edu rec.food.restaurants:56324 The American Restaurant Located at 25th and Grand, Kansas City, Missouri, was completed in 1974, as part of the Crown Center Complex In 1910, a young Joyce C. Hall stepped off the train from Norfolk, Nebraska with two shoeboxes full of imported postcards. He came to Kansas City to make a living - what he made was a legacy. J.C. Hall was the founder of Hallmark Cards, and he is recognized as the father of the social expression industry. But that's just the beginning of the story. In the late 1960's, J.C. and his son, Donald J. Hall realized that the area surrounding Hallmark headquarters was falling victim to urban decay. Rather than moving the company to suburbia, which was the trend of the day, they decided to inject some life back into the neighborhood. The Halls created the concept that is now Crown Center. This one-of-a-kind shopping, dining and entertainment complex is a favorite destination for families near and far. An integral part of the Halls' grand plan was to establish a world-class restaurant to anchor Crown Center. At the time, fine dining in America was associated almost exclusively with restaurants promoting a specific European cuisine. But, like all men of vision, J.C. And Don had a different idea. They imagined a restaurant that would showcase the finest food America had to offer. With a monumental effort by many talented people, The American Restaurant was born in 1974. James Beard, the father of American cooking, and Joe Baum, the legendary restaurateur, provided culinary counsel for the project. Warren Platner, who designed Windows on the World in New York and Water Tower Place in Chicago, created The American's timeless design. Bradley Ogden, then of Kansas City, was the chef. While retaining the timeless fan shaped oak canopies overhead created by Platner, in 1990 the restaurant was remodeled and updated by design architect Jim Calcara and his firm of Kansas City. The American Institute of Architects honored the work with its Allied Arts and Craftsmanship Award in 1991. For more than 28 years, The American Restaurant has been striving to set culinary standards, using talented chefs and the freshest ingredients to prepare the highest quality foods. Today, the restaurant the Halls' envisioned is one of Kansas City's crown jewels. The American Restaurant is Kansas City's only Mobil Four-Star Restaurant, we hope you visit us soon. To read the rest of this article go to http://www.gourmetfoodplaza.com/Series/Restaurants/TheAmericanRestaurant.htm
Kansas City, MO