Not long ago, I was given the opportunity to attend the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts Fall Media Tasting and venture into a bit of food blogging. I’ve always been interested in wine, beer and craft cocktails, but food critique proved to be a new adventure altogether. The Kauffman Center’s new fall menu features a variety of cozy delicacies, from brussels sprouts to pheasant. When you dine at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, you can choose to nibble on small plates or sit down for a 3-course meal priced at $39 per person. You can also indulge in premium cocktails, specially crafted for the fall season. Let’s take a quick walk through some of the featured menu items I had the pleasure of sampling!
Starter
Goat Cheese & Fig Panna Cotta
Figs, Port, Duck Fat Cracker, Candied Pecan-smoked Bacon
This dish was overall light, yet hearty due to the duck fat cracker. A lovely way to start off the dining experience. Figs are always a thumbs-up in my book, and you really can’t go wrong with a dash of candied bacon.
Featured Cocktail
Magi’s Saffron
This creamy saffron drink was bursting with spiced flavors. It’s basically fall, served in a martini glass with a side of class.
Entree
Elote Pappardelle
Cotija Cheese, Charred Corn, Lime Olive Oil, Cheese Corn Sauce, Popcorn Shoots
This pasta was by far my favorite dish of the night. Something about that Cotija cheese gave it perfect amount of kick. I’m also a sucker for cilantro, which garnished the plate nicely. I’d never paid much attention to popcorn shoots before, but they added a nice texture to this already exotic dish. The ladies I was sitting with suggested spritzing a bit of lime juice on the entire dish, and I was not disappointed.
Entree
Roasted Mackerel
Coconut Broth, Coconut Arepa, Brunoise Vegetables
This mackerel would be a fine entree option any night of the week, especially if you’re a pepper person. I enjoyed the combination of the roasted mackerel with the breaded arepa, alternating bites until my plate was eerily clean.
Featured Cocktail
Piggly Wiggly Manhattan
This rye cocktail absolutely blew my mind. The bartender actually got out a blowtorch of sorts and smoked the drink before pouring, creating a deeply charred manhattan with a smoky, bacon finish. While I’ve been to Europe and had many a drink lit on fire, I’d never seen anything quite like it. You could tell the emphasis was less on a wow-factor presentation and more on the quality of the sipping experience. Each drink is garnished with – you guessed it – a smoked piece of bacon.
Dessert
Pumpkin Crème Brûlée Tart
Cranberry Gel, Toasted Meringue, Candied Pepita
I’m usually a chocolate-only dessert gal, but this Pumpkin Creme Brulee Tart didn’t fail to impress. This dessert was perfectly toasted, with a balanced flavor profile and surprises tucked away in every bite. The cranberry gel was superbly tart, balancing out the sweetness of the pumpkin. However, the addition of the candied pumpkin seed was the showstopper for me and really brought this dessert beyond words.
Dinner, plus a show
After attending the Kauffman Center Fall Media Tasting, I had an overwhelming urge to jet back for dinner and a show(Harry Potter symphony anyone?) I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for an opportunity to go back. Learn more about the Kauffman Performing Arts dining experience or peruse their list of upcoming events!
