Jasper Mirabile, Jr., renowned chef at the popular Italian restaurant that bears his and his father's name, also hosts a popular weekly radio show on KCMO 710, Live! From Jasper's Kitchen.
Mirabile is an affable, outgoing chef who has an extreme passion for good food, fine wine and entertaining. His extensive knowledge of specialty foods and ingredients, unique and traditional food preparations and the fine dining experience has been enriched by years of collaboration with other great chefs from around the world. Mirabile's frequent travels take him to interesting and famous locales where specialty cheeses, wines and other food products are produced.
An enthusiastic traveler, Mirabile has visited most of the regions of Italy, where he has many friends and family members. In October 2006, he led a group of Kansas City residents on a tour of Florence, Torino and Rome, with visits to many prominent wineries and restaurants. One excursion included a visit to a farm in Piedmont where the guests participated in a truffle hunt.
Jasper's Restaurant was founded in April 1954, by Jasper Mirabile, Sr. and his parents at the corner of 75th & Wornall in Kansas City. Each of his four sons joined him in the restaurant as they grew up, including Jasper, Jr. in 1984. In 1997, the brothers sold the building and property at 75th & Wornall and built the new Jasper's Italian Restaurant and Marco Polo's, an Italian Deli & Trattoria, in the Watts Mill South Center.
For Mirabile, 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.
Mirabile's family history reflects a love for fine food and elegance. His grandmother helped his father launch Jasper's back in 1954. Today, Mirabile has taken over reins of the 2000-plus square foot kitchen, as he oversees the staff of nine assistants. Mirabile creates dishes from his own Sicilian background, along with a very heavy influence from Tuscany and the Piemontese regions of Italy.
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 eight years, every class has been completely sold out.
Since 1990, Mirabile has become a naturally acclaimed chef in his own rite. He has made guest chef appearances at The James Beard House in New York and has cooked around the country.