My Last Great Meal

I was relieved, as a chef, to find a really decent place to get a gourmet “fix” nearby KC in Lawrence. This is not to say we don’t have good restaurants in Kansas City, we do, but once in a while as a chef you really want the good stuff; truffles and foie gras and offal all expertly prepared, ingredients flown in from opposite coasts served remarkably fresh in the same meal, even mundane vegetables prepared in a new and exciting manner can all play a part in this special foodie “jones” we get. Find a place that does a couple of those things well and few foodies can resist spending a lot of hard earned foodie-dollars on the “goods.”

The relief came when I was introduced to Chef Robert Krause and family who operate an exclusive little high-end eatery out of their house!! Yes, depending on the week Robert and one sous chef will prepare a meal for one seating of up to 30 people on specific chosen nights in the Krause family home. Call ahead and grab a spot and you can (for $80) eat a pretty terrific 6 course meal. Another $50 and Robert will pair each course with a wine from what proved to be an excellent cellar.

My first experience there went something like this;

1st course - Smoked Muscles and Oysters mixed with Dungeness Crab and Micro-Greens, topped with a Blue Point Prawn
served with a Pinot Grigio
2nd Course - Corn Meal dusted, first of the season Soft Shell Crab served on Carrots and Radishes with a Moroccan Spiced Aioli and Turmeric Sauce
served with a Gewurztraminer
3rd Course - Risotto of Mushrooms made with White Truffle Butter topped with a Parmesan Crisp and surrounded by a Garlic Nage and Balsamic Gastrique
served with a Pinot Nero (I think)
4th Course - Lamb Chop with Rhubarb Demi Glace served with housemade Gnocchi and Pistachio Pesto
served with Rock Block Syrah
5th Course - Rhubarb Soup with Strawberry Frozen Yogurt and Goat Cheese Cream
served with Prosecco Spumante
6th Course - Chocolate Soufflé with Chocolate Ganache and Chantilly Cream
served with Vintage Sherry

The picky eaters need not apply as there is one menu served per night and you find out what it is when it is served to you. I won’t be making “midnight-flights” to Lawrence often but it is nice to know it is there for long stretches off the road. If you want a serious meal experience I do recommend: http://www.krausedining.com/