We're a long way off from grilling season, butbrthat doesn't mean you can't feast on all your favorite cookout fare. Just take a jaunt over to Jasper's Plano, an upscale grill hidden away in thebrShops at Legacy. The restaurant specializes inbrgourmet backyard cuisine, which is exactly whatbrit sounds like: comforting classics with a sophisticated twist. We're not talking about the usualbrburgers and dogs, though; this food is elegant yetbrso good you'll want seconds. Think fall-off-the-brbone ribs, perfectly prepared steak and more.br
Jasper's serves Sunday brunch, lunch and dinner, and offers a lively happy hour scene as well.brThe cuisine centers around the highest quality, fresh, seasonal ingredients. When Chef KentbrRathbun developed the concept for gourmetbrbackyard cuisine, he wanted to provide simplebryet unique meals in an environment that's bothbrcasual and upscale.
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“I remember what it was like as a kid when mybrmom and dad were cooking. They both were really great cooks but also enjoyed high-end restaurants,” Chef Rathbun says. “When you couple good techniques with everyday food, you getbrsomething on a completely different level. It'sbrnot just steak and ribs anymore but somethingbrspecial.”br
The James Beard nominee and Iron ChefbrAmerica winner takes pride in serving up freshbrtwists on comforting favorites – and it seemsbreveryone wants to get a taste. Chef Rathbunbrhas prepared meals for such notable guests asbrGeorge W. Bush, Queen Elizabeth and Oprah.br
“I want everything to have a level of comfort,bryet for people to feel like they have dined in abrsophisticated restaurant,” he says.br
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When you step inside Jasper's, you'll immediately understand his vision. The ambience is modern and appealing in every way, from thebrserene lighting to the elegant drapery. Thoughbrour party visited on the weekend, we could justbras easily dine at Jasper's for a business lunch orbrromantic dinner.
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With Valentine's Day approaching next month,bryou might consider Jasper's if you're looking tobrwine and dine your date. The restaurant is Zagatbrrated as one of “Dallas' Best Spots for Wine Pairings,” boasting an impressive wine list with plentybrof interesting selections. From chardonnay tobrcabernet and everything in between (includingbrchampagne and more than a dozen offerings onbrthe Captain's Wine list), Jasper's is ready to caterbrto those looking to enjoy a glass of fine wine.br
Once you've made your wine selection, we sug-brgest starting with the restaurant's signature appetizer: the Maytag Blue Cheese Potato Chips. Prepare for your world to be flipped upside down. Thebrhouse-made chips are perfectly crunchy and warm,broozing with creamy, rich cheese. There's nothingbrlike them.br
As for the main course, we opted for thebrSlow Smoked Baby Back Ribs. Upon tasting thebrbeautifully tender and juicy meat, we heartily agree with Bon Apetit that these ribs earned thebraccolade as one of the “Top 3 Choices for America’sbrBest Ribs.” They’re that good.br
A range of mouthwatering castiron sides such asbrJalapeño-Charred Corn and Crispy Brussel Sproutsbrnicely complement the entrées. We particularlybrenjoyed the Mac and Cheese with aged gouda andbrsmoked ham. The gouda wasn't overpowering andbrthe addition of ham gave it some exciting flavor.brThis is definitely comfort food taken up a notch.br
If you're a regular bruncher, add Jasper's to yourbrrotation. Its elegant jazz brunch runs until 3 p.m.brevery Sunday, so you can take your time making itbracross town. The Pecan Waffles dish with marinatedbrstrawberries and smoked bacon is a fusion of sweetbrand savory. It's as indulgent as it is filling, so comebrhungry. We also recommend Gramma Minnie'sbrFried Chicken. It's served with chunky Yukon potatoes and a black-pepper maple gravy that'll havebryou licking your plate clean (if that sort of thingbrwas acceptable in a fine-dining establishment).br
Should you spring for dessert, Jasper's thankfully has built-in portion control. All of its desserts are minis. Our group shared a SnickerdoodlebrCheesecake and Espresso-Hazelnut Ho Ho. Candiedbrwalnuts gave the cheesecake a sweet crunch, andbrBailey's Irish Cream really stood out in the cake.br
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If you find yourself craving some cookout cuisine in the winter months ahead, you don't have tobrfire up your grill. Jasper's offers the best of backyardbrcooking in a swanky setting. Comfort food doesn'tbrget any more comforting than that.
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JASPER'S PLANO
7161 Bishop Rd.brPlanobr469.893.9400 JaspersPlano.com