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| About Jasper's |
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| Kansas City's most popular Italian market
and restaurant has reopened at 1201 West 103rd, in the Watts
Mill Shopping Center. Jasper Mirabile Jr., and his family, has
opened Jasper's and Marco Polo's Italian Market. The market
serves from 10:00 A.M.-10:00 P.M., Monday through Saturday.
Prices range from $2.75-$6.95 and features Italian sandwiches,
pasta, chicken. The grill is still outside and Italian sausages
are fired up daily. The market seats 55 and also does catering. |
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Jasper's restaurant seats 125 and is
open for lunch Monday-Friday 11:30-2:00 and for dinner Monday
through Saturday, from 5:00 P.M. till 10:00 P.M. Lunch prices
range from $5.00-$9.00 and dinner from $8.95-$15.95. The menu
features favored items from Jasper's and the old Trattoria,
including the famous Shrimp Livornese, Caesar salad, peppered
steak, a wide selection of appetizers, pasta, chops, fresh
seafood, and fresh baked breads and pastries. The wine list
includes over 200 selections from Italy, with a wide variety
priced at $18.00 a bottle. The bar features Kansas City's
largest selection of grappa and espresso drinks.
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| The kitchen is headed by Jasper Jr.
and his chef of 22 years, Marvin Lewis. Every cook has returned
to the kitchen, including Jasper's sous chef, sauté cooks, pasta,
and pastry chefs. Of the 50 employees, only 5 new employees
were hired for the front of the house. |
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| Come let us serve you today! |
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The restaurant was designed by Matthew
Connolly, A.I.A. of MDC Architecture. He incorporated many
items from the old restaurant on 75th Street including carpet,
mirrors, 80 year-old doors, and other dining room fixtures
for the contemporary rustic Italian decor. A patio offers
a view of the Indian Creek and seats 50. The dining room features
a private dining room that seats 8-10 and includes all of
the awards, family pictures, and articles from the former
Jasper's. Jasper Sr. helped design the restaurant and menu
before his recent death. Many of his signature items are on
the new menu. The dress is casual, reservations for parties
of 6 or more are accepted. For more information, contact Jasper
Jr., at 816.941.6600.
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| In 1954, a small neighborhood Italian
restaurant and bar was opened in Kansas City by Leonardo Mirabile
and his son, Jasper. The restaurant, named Jasper's, quickly
became a popular Kansas City dining spot. The Mirabile family's
old-world recipes produced hearty and delicious dishes. From
a .79 cent, three course meal, Jasper's gradually expanded its
menu and remodeled the restaurant as it evolved into one of
America's premiere locations for gourmet Italian food. Caesar
Salad, Fettucine Alfredo, Scampi Livornese and a variety of
authentic Northern Italian dishes marked Jasper's introduction
of fine dining to Kansas City. (see timeline) |
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| By 1978, Jasper's dedication to fine
Italian cuisine and impeccable service resulted in Jasper's
becoming the first Kansas City restaurant to win the coveted
Mobil Four Stars for dining excellence.. .a rare honor awarded
to only ninety-five restaurants in all of North America. The
AAA Four Diamonds and DiRONA awards quickly followed along with
every other nationally recognized award for dining excellence.
These and other, often sought, but not easily won awards have
been awarded to Jasper's every year since. |
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| In 1984, joined by his sons Leonard,
Salvatore, and Jasper, Jr., the Mirabiles opened Marco Polo's
Groceria, an authentic Italian grocery store, delicatessen and
pizzeria just around the corner from the award-winning Jasper's.
Again in 1990, the Mirabiles introduced Marco Polo's Trattoria,
next door to their deli, thus creating a true Italian neighborhood
in the midst of Kansas City. This was Kansas City's first and
only Trattoria featuring casual Italian dining. It was acclaimed
as "the finest restaurant of it's kind in Kansas City." |
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| As the year 1996 began, Jasper's received
two of the restaurant industry's highest honors. That year Jasper,
Sr., was inducted into the DiRONA Restaurant Hall of Fame, one
of only 15 restaurateurs in all of North America to be distinguished
with such rare honors. In April, Jasper Jr., was invited to
cook at the James Beard House in New York, another rare honor.
For the first Kansas City chef chosen to cook there, he received
high acclaim and honors from NY food critics and Beard House
members. |
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| The year 1997 brought great changes
to our Wornall location. Jasper and his sons decided to sell
their property at 75th Street to Walgreen Drugs, thus ending
44 wonderful years at the same location. |
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| After a year of researching restaurants
in Italy and America, the Mirabiles then purchased the Watts
Mill Shopping Center and moved their offices to their new 103rd
Street and State Line location. A new Jasper's Restaurant and
Marco Polo Italian Market was then built to begin serving Kansas
Citians once again. |
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| On October 8, 1998, the family and all
of Kansas City was deeply saddened by the death of our founder
and the city's eminent restaurateur and host, Jasper, Sr. Up
until a week before his passing, Jasper worked diligently with
his sons to bring Kansas City back its treasured restaurant. |
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| Today, the Mirabile Family begins a
new era and brings a new dimension to Italian dining in Kansas
City. |
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We hope you enjoy the true Italian
tradition of our fine food and personal impeccable service.
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| The history of Jasper's Restaurant at
1201 W. 103rd Street in Kansas City, Missouri is an Horatio
Alger story, an American saga of success attained through hard
work and steadfast devotion to excellence. |
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| Today, enjoying a premier status among
American dining establishments. Jasper's was a simple enough
neighborhood place at the time of its founding forty-five years
ago. But even then, an uncompromising standard of food quality
and service set Jasper's apart from its contemporaries. The
progress from simple steak and pasta meals to exotic meat, fowl,
and seafood specialties with distinctive, subtle sauces has
been a dramatic one. But it has also been a logical development,
given the restless perfectionism of the restaurant's founder,
Jasper J. Mirabile. |
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| In the earlier years, Jasper pursued
his quest for culinary excellence through restaurant trade journals.
As his business grew, he started to travel to the places, both
here and abroad, where the finest food is served. Today, he
might fly to either coast or to Europe for a single meal at
a restaurant where he has heard of an outstanding dish being
served. Recognition has been gratifying on a nationwide basis.
In addition to its position as "Kansas City's Most Prized Restaurant"
in terms of prestigious awards, Jasper's has been praised by
national media and celebrated personages. |
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| In reporting the 1976 Republican Convention
in Kansas City, TIME MAGAZINE spoke of Jasper's as one of the
two best restaurants in the city. America 's foremost food critic,
Craig Clairborn, has included a Jasper's recipe in his book
on great veal dishes. A bevy of famous celebrities such as Bob
Hope, Walter Cronkite, Hank Stram, Milton Berle Anthony Quinn
and Mitzi Gaynor, and many others have all dined at Jasper's
and have praised its service. The Jasper's tradition promises
to be a continuing one. |
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The restaurant's operation, which is
overseen by Jasper's two sons, Leonard and Jasper Jr. Leonard
is an alumnus of the School of Restaurant Management at the
University of Denver. Jasper Jr. has attended the counterpart
of that school at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. A
thorough going family enterprise in spite of its cosmopolitan
dining atmosphere, Jasper 's makes all its own pastas and
desserts. The latter are generally the work of Jasper's wife,
Josephine. Every Sunday night, the family tests new recipes
in the spacious kitchen at the Mirabile Home, where three
generations of Mirabile's and an assortment of friends provide
a rigorous standard of judgement. "If a dish can pass this
test", says Jasper Jr., "it's good enough for our customers."
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| For Jasper J. Mirabile Jr., working
in the kitchen of Kansas City's most award winning restaurant,
Jasper's, has become a homecoming of sorts - a homecoming to
his family-owned establishment. |
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| Jasper was named executive chef of Kansas
City's premiere dining room in May of 1984 at the young age
of 22. Jasper had spent the past college years at the University
of Nevada, Las Vegas, Hotel and Restaurant School. During the
summer vacations each year he would travel to Europe to visit
cooking schools in Paris, Venice, and Milano. |
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| Mirabile's family history reflects a
love for fine food and elegance. His grandmother helped his
father launch Jasper's back in 1954, now almost 45 years later,
Jasper has taken over reins of the 2000+ square foot kitchen,
as he oversees the staff of 15 assistants. In his own style,
Jasper creates dishes from his own Sicilian background, along
with a very heavy influence from Tuscany and the Piemontese
regions of Italy. |
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| In 1986 Mirabile began offering cooking
classes in the Dining room at Jasper's, with such themes as
Cuccina 101, Primi-Primi-Primi, Pasta Cookery 101, Veal Cookery,
Cucina Sicilia, as well as his special Christmas, Valentine's
Day and Mother's Day luncheon classes. For the past 8 years,
every class has been a complete sellout. |
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| Since 1990, Jasper has become a naturally
acclaimed chef in his own rite. He has made guest chef appearances
at The James Beard House in L.A., New York, Milan, and Paris.
He has been written about by every major newspaper and magazine
including Laudes by USA Today, New York Times, Midwest Living,
and Italy's Cucina. |
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| When dining in Kansas City, Jasper's
has become a must visit for many. Jasper J. Mirabile Jr. has
come home to Jasper's - and he invites you to join him soon.
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| Date
Opened: |
November
23, 1998 |
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| Seating
Capacity: |
Market - 55
Marco Polo's Patio - 18
Restaurant - 105
Bar - 20
Jasper's Patio - 48
Private Dining Room - 10 |
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| Marco
Polo's Hours: |
10:00
AM -10:00 PM Monday thru Saturday |
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| Jasper's
Hours: |
Lunch:
11:30 AM -2:00 PM Monday thru Friday
Dinner: 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM Monday thru Saturday
Restaurant seats 125 |
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| Prices: |
$5.95
- $9.95 lunch; $8.95 - $17.95 dinner |
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| Reservations: |
6 or
more |
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| Signature
Dishes: |
Scampi
alla Livornese, Capelli d'Angelo alla Nanni, Vitello Valdostavo |
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| Atmosphere: |
Contemporary
Rustic Italian |
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| Architecture & Design: |
Matthew Connolly, M.D.C. Architecture |
| Website Designer: |
Seth Ansil Chapin |
| Venetian Glass: |
Dierk von Kepple, Rock Cottage
Glassworks |
| Equipment: |
Abbot Zolotar, BJ Food Services
Equipment |
| Construction: |
Bear Development / F&W Construction |
| Electrical Contractor: |
Metro Electric |
| Electrical Engineering: |
Joseph Keane, Design Energy Group |
| Heating and Cooling: |
Air Control |
| Stoves and Grill: |
Wolf |
| Ovens: |
Bakers Pride |
| Pasta Cooker: |
Frymaster |
| Ice Maker: |
Hoshizaki |
| Refridgeration: |
True |
| Espresso and Coffee: |
Lavazza |
| Carpeting: |
Axminister |
| China: |
Homer Laughlin |
| Glassware: |
Minners |
| Silverware: |
Oneida Eaton |
| Dish Services: |
ECO-LAB / Hobart |
| Seating: |
KC Booth / M. Deat's Manufacturing
/ Waymar Tables |
| Art and Photography: |
Advances in Art |
| Dinner and Menu Design: |
B&C Printing |
| Wine Menu Design: |
Mark Hebner |
| Artists / Murals: |
Steve Murillo |
| Linen: |
Excel Linen Supply |
| Music: |
Musak |
| Accounting: |
Robert McGuire, CPA |
| Attorney: |
Salvatore J. Mirabile, ESQ. |
| Public Relations: |
Danny Porrevechio, Porrevechio
& Associates |
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| 1954: |
JASPER MIRABILE STARTS A SMALL
NEIGHBORHOOD BAR AND RESTAURANT AT 75TH & WORNALL
IN SOUTHERN KANSAS CITY. |
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| 1959: |
JASPER COMPLETELY REMODELS THE
NEIGHBORHOOD BAR INTO A GRAND LUXE DINING ROOM AND LOUNGE
AND ADDS A NORTHERN ITALIAN MENU AND ADDS A PRIVATE DINING
AREA. |
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| 1967: |
JASPER PURCHASED THE WHOLE BLOCK
AT 75TH AND WORNALL AND TORE DOWN THE BUILDINGS AND EXPANDED
THE RESTAURANT AND THE MENU INTO A FOUR STAR DINING ESTABLISHMENT. |
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| 1972: |
JASPER 'S RESTAURANT IS DESIGNATED
AS A HOLIDAY AWARD RESTAURANT A WORLDWIDE AWARD AND DESIGNATED
AS ONE OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN THE WORLD. |
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| 1975: |
JASPER ADDS A NEW PARTY ROOM AND
EXPANDS BUILDING WITH A NEW LOUNGE AND LOBBY AREA. |
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| 1978: |
JASPER 'S BECOMES A COVETED MOBIL
FOUR STAR RESTAURANT "WORTHY OF A SPECIAL TRIP". |
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| 1981: |
JASPER 'S TOTALLY REMODELS RESTAURANT
AND LOUNGE AREA TO BECOME KANSAS CITY'S ONLY GRAND RESTAURANT. |
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| 1984: |
JASPER'S OPENS MARCO POLO'S DELI
A SMALL ITALIAN NEW YORK STYLE DELI TO CATER TO THE FAST
PACED PEOPLE OF TODAY. |
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| 1984: |
CARTIER NAMES JASPER 'S ONE OF THE BEST
RESTAURANTS IN AMERICA. |
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| 1985: |
EAST-WEST NETWORK VOTED JASPER 'S AS
ONE OF THE TOP 75 RESTAURANTS IN AMERICA, VOTED BY 100,000
FREQUENT FLYERS ON AIRLINES. |
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| 1989: |
JASPER 'S TOTALLY REMODELS THE LOUNGE
AND LOBBY AREA AND REMODELS THE DINING AREA TO ENHANCE
A GUESTS DINING PLEASURE. |
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| 1990: |
MARCO POLO'S DELI EXPANDS TO A TRATTORIA
STYLE RESTAURANT WITH CASUAL ATMOSPERE AND REGIONAL ITALIAN
COOKING. |
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| 1991: |
JASPER'S BECOMES ONE OF 9 ITALIAN RESTAURANTS
IN AMERICA TO BE NAMED WORTHY OF THE COVETED 4 DIAMONDS
FROM AAA MOTOR CLUB. |
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| 1991: |
JASPER IS NAMED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF BOTH THE NEWLY FORMED, DISTINGUISHED RESTAURANTS OF
NORTH AMERICA, AS WELL AS GRUPPO RISTORANTE ITALIANO. |
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| 1992: |
JASPER 'S IS NAMED ONE OF THE TOP RESTAURANTS
IN AMERICA BY THE DiRONA AWARDS COMMITTEE. |
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| 1992: |
JASPER 'S IS NAMED BEST OF THE BEST
ITALIAN RESTAURANTS IN AMERICA AWARDED FIVE STAR DIAMONDS. |
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| 1993: |
JASPER 'S IS THE ONLY RESTAURANT IN
KANSAS CITY TO BE NAMED WORTHY OF THE MOBIL 4 STARS, AAA
4 DIAMOND, THE DIRONA AWARD, AND THE GOLD FIVE STAR-DIAMOND
AWARD. |
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| 1995: |
JASPER JR., EXECUTIVE CHEF, INVITED
TO COOK AT THE JAMES BEARD HOUSE IN NEW YORK CITY. NEW
YORK FOOD CRITCS GIVE OUTSTANDING REVIEWS. THE BEARD HOUSE
IS KNOWN AS THE CULINARY MECCA FOR CHEFS TO SHOWCASE THEIR
TALENT. |
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| 1996: |
JASPER JR., EXECUTIVE CHEF IS AGAIN
INVITED TO DO THE JAMES BEARD DINNER THIS YEAR. |
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| 1996: |
JASPER IS VOTED INTO THE DIRONA HALL
OF FAME. 1 OF ONLY 18 OTHER RESTAURANT OWNERS IN AMERICA
TO BE SO HONORED. |
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| 1997: |
JASPER 'S RESTAURANT NAMED AS THE BEST
ITALIAN RESTAURANT IN KANSAS CITY BY THE ZAGAT GUIDE. |
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| 1998: |
JASPER'S RESTAURANT AND MARCO POLO'S
ARE SOLD TO WALGREENS DRUG, THUS ENDING 44 YEARS IN BUSINESS
JASPER RETIRES AND HIS SONS, LEONARD AND JASPER JR. PURCHASE
THE WATTS MILL SHOPPING CENTER ON 103RD AND STATE LINE.
PLANS FOR A NEW RESTAURANT, TO BE OPEN IN 1999, ARE MADE. |
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| 1999: |
THE NEW JASPER 'S RESTAURANT AND MARCO
POLO'S ITALIAN MARKET OPENS OVERLOOKING WATTS MILL AND
INDIAN CREEK. |
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