Four Inane Questions with Scratch Gourmet Kitchen’s Tyler Morrison
Photo Courtesy of Tyler Morrison
Restaurateur Tyler Morrison will be the first to tell you that he went from divot to pivot a few years ago. After moving up the ranks at Topgolf’s Dallas headquarters, he got the chance to expand his career horizons. “I was lucky to travel the world creating experiential events in professional sports stadiums and alongside major brands,” he says.
In 2019, Morrison moved to Kansas City to become the vice president of operations for a golf simulator startup concept in Downtown Kansas City. Unfortunately, the pandemic squelched that pretty quickly, so Morrison switched gears to open Scratch Gourmet Express & Catering. “In May of 2020—during the height of the Covid pandemic—we found ourselves in a position to start our own carryout and catering concept in Prairie Village,” he says. “Since the end of the pandemic, we have turned it into a casual fine dining restaurant with an emphasis on fine wines and elevated comfort food.”
The ever-busy Morrison also tells us he’s gearing to “open a speakeasy called Noir in the second half of 2024.” The foodie-centric entrepreneur is also a big philanthropic proponent. “Since opening in 2020, we’ve helped raise or donated over $250,000 for local Kansas City charitable organizations,” he says.
Before his 16-hour day, we caught up with Morrison for an early morning coffee to pepper him with our whacko questionnaire. We procured a couple of extra espresso shots for him for posterity. Bless.
Photo Courtesy of Tyler Morrison
The Pitch: What’s the world’s most underappreciated ingredient?
Tyler Morrison: This one hits a little close to home for me, but I would have to say cucumbers. It’s such a simple and clean flavor, but it seems to be highly contentious for some. For example, my wife is not a cucumber fan—yet she’s a fan of dill pickles. When I try to explain to her it’s a vinegar-pickled cucumber, it doesn’t move the needle for her to try one. You see her cucumbers moved off to the side on plates. Gotta love your antioxidants!
What is a great movie that you’ll never, ever, ever watch again.
I remember when Napoleon Dynamite came out when I was younger. I think my father and I collectively watched that movie fifteen times when it came out on DVD. We loved it so much that for Father’s Day, we bought my dad a “Vote for Pedro” shirt.
While I love dumb humor movies—my favorite movie category—I don’t think 20 years later I can go back and watch that movie and have the sheer joy I had watching it then.
What was your all-time favorite Halloween costume growing up and/or as an adult?
Photo Courtesy of Tyler Morrison
Halloween costumes have always been hit or miss. Most of the time I forget to plan ahead and have to figure it out with a few hours to spare.
My favorite was a Superman onesie pajama with a cape that I wore one year in my young twenties. I wore it out to Aggieville in Manhattan the night before the opening of duck season. We didn’t have much time to change, so I ended up wearing it into the duck blind that next morning. I have photos in camouflage duck waders with the blue Superman pajama set showing through! Not sure whatever happened to those. (PS. It’s quite maddening to think I didn’t keep those around with my two young boys who now love superhero pajamas themselves.)
In theory, how long could you survive as a vegan? Be honest.
Honestly, six days if I’m starting on a Monday. By the seventh day, I’m craving sushi. I grew up eating it almost every week at a local restaurant near Fort Worth, Texas with my family. (PPS. I’m a big fan of eating very clean. Our freshly produced foods are why I love our style at Scratch Gourmet Kitchen so much).
Bonus 5th Question: Name a dance song you’d like to choreograph, then crush on the dance floor.
It’s funny timing because just last week, I was asked if I would do a stage performance for a local charity group that’s near and dear to my heart.
I am not the dancing type by any means, especially in front of a crowd. When I was in high school, a group of guys and I did the “Thriller” dance by Michael Jackson while walking out to a remix of T.I. and Jay-Z’s “Bring Em Out.” I feel like I could bring it back out if I needed to!
