The Bella Luna Cafe

Good Morning, Wichita!

In keeping with my tradition of recommending all my favorite places it eat in Wichita, today I bring you The Bella Luna Cafe. Bryan and I had dinner there before the Blues Ball on Saturday, and it was delightful! I had their baby spinach salad, which comes with enough delicious cheese, candied walnuts, and pomegranate vinaigrette to make it a complete meal:



If you like Mediterranean flavors and a fairly intimate atmosphere, you'd probably love Bella Luna! They have a few locations in Wichita, including the ones I've tried: one at Bradley Fair and one at Central and Oliver. The Bella Luna Cafe is one of my favorite places to go on Date Night with Bryan because it feels a little classy without being over-the-top or expensive. The menu is short but very diverse, and I've liked everything I've tried.

Stay tuned this week for another post about some live music this weekend brought to you by the Wichita Swing Dance Society!

Have a great week!
-Chelsea

Hu Hot

When I started Chelsea's Wichita, I promised recommendations for restaurants. I would be remiss if I left out Hu Hot Mongolian Grill, which is located at 21st and Rock. It's CONVENIENTLY close to my office at 22nd and Rock, which probably has something to do with my undying love for the place.

At Hu Hot, you can order appetizers like Crab Rangoon, or soup or salad, but there are no entrees on the menu. That's because you choose ALL of your own ingredients from Hu Hot's massive buffet. The buffet includes meats, different types of pasta, fruits, vegetables, and a vast array of sauces. You pick whatever you like, and the cooks at Hu Hot will stir-fry your ingredients on a massive cook top. If you're not a culinary master, don't worry; there are recipe cards and guidelines provided by the restaurant.

Personally, I like to go for chicken, pad thai noodles, pea pods, a ton of water chestnuts, min-corn, plenty of pineapple, and some mandarin oranges. I mix 1 spoonful of peanut sauce with 4 spoonfuls of teriyaki, a spoonful of ginger sauce, and sometimes a spoonful of lemon juice. After it's cooked I top it with Hu Hot's crushed peanuts and shredded coconut. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Click here for a menu. See you out there, Wichita!

-Chelsea