Dish & Drink KC: Cozy up with quiche at Tailleur and pot pies at Wheatfield’s Bakery

Tomato basil bisque and bacon gruyère quiche at Tailleur. // Photo by Lauren Textor

Tailleur starts 2024 off strong with its events line-up

If you told me that the majority of decor in Tailleur was lovingly combed from an old, rich French man’s estate sale, I’d believe you. 

The deep blue walls are lined with ornate mirrors and floral oil paintings in gilded frames. Chandeliers hang overhead, adding a charming Beauty and the Beast feel. The coat racks feel too fancy to actually use. 

Like its sister businesses, Cheval and Enchanté, Tailleur feels like a brief window into another time and place. While you’re inside, it’s possible to forget the bitter cold and even the ongoing construction on Main.

Statement wall at Tailleur. // Photo by Lauren Textor

Even before you step inside, Tailleur can feel intimidating. It’s not the type of place where most people would nip in for their lunch break, but we’ve got you. It’s totally acceptable to solo dine here in an Old Navy sweater and stay within your newly designed 2024 budget.

If you’re limited on time and money but still want to experience the plush library-turned-eatery aesthetic, order the $15 daily quiche combo. It’s served with either a side salad or a soup (and given the weather, I’d heartily recommend the soup). 

The tomato basil bisque is warming with a slight surprising kick. While sipping, I pretended that I was a French peasant on death’s door, invited into the palace on a whim and that I’d never tasted anything other than plain bread and gruel before. I highly recommend you do the same. It enhances the experience immeasurably. 

The body of the bacon gruyère quiche is thicker and more substantial than many others I’ve had—especially the flaky crust. Although I’d planned to order a pastry across the street at Enchanté after lunch, I was full enough from the quiche to shift my plans. It’s not going to satisfy you if you’re actually a starving peasant, but for a light lunch, it more than does the job. 

Tailleur is hosting several events in the near future. From now until the end of January, a three-course, chef-inspired tasting menu will be offered for $55 per person. Valentine’s Day is made easy with a $50 four-course menu that’s available for the entire week of the lovey-dovey holiday. Finally, a Feb. 20 wine dinner will feature guests from Sonoma County’s Trione Family. 

Tailleur is located at 3933 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111. 

Chicken and vegetable pot pie at Wheatfield’s Bakery. // Photo by Lauren Textor

Take a Lawrence field trip to Wheatfield’s Bakery

My idea of a perfect winter day is hiking down to the beach at Clinton Lake, watching the seagulls circle overhead, listening to the waves slap the shore, and then compensating my body for its hard work with pastries from Wheatfield’s Bakery. 

Wheatfield’s is literally one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas Cuisine, according to the Kansas Sampler Foundation. It’s one of those places that I feel I cannot overhype. 

Right when you walk in the door, the smell of fresh-baked bread envelopes you. It’s one of my favorite smells in the world, and after a trip to Wheatfield’s, it’ll probably become one of yours, too. 

You can’t really go wrong here, but in cold weather, I prefer their empanadas and pot pies to sandwiches. An eternal classic, the spinach, mushroom, and artichoke empanada is $4.95. It’s filling, but I’m always tempted to gorge myself on more than one. The chicken and vegetable pot pie is $6.35, and the thought of its creamy gravy already has me salivating. Both of these items feature flaky, buttery, golden crusts.

If you haven’t saved room for dessert, then at least opt to take some home with you. 

The cowboy cookie ($2.25) is coconut, pecan, chocolate chip, and oatmeal, and it tastes even better while warm. Stash one of these near your microwave for a heaven-sent late-night snack. 

The lemon raspberry cookie ($2.25) and raspberry hazelnut rugelach ($2.95) are my personal favorites. Even with all of the delicious options in the display case, I have a difficult time straying from these two. Both are perfectly suited for tea parties, dinner gatherings, or a sunshiney afternoon of reminding yourself that life can be good. On the bleakest winter days, I turn to pastries for comfort, and neither of these has ever disappointed me. The rugelach is heavier than the cookie, but only slightly, and the raspberry is refreshing and balanced when paired with the hazelnut and sugar dust. The cookie is marginally tart, not oversweet, and dainty. 

Wheatfield’s Bakery is located at 904 Vermont St., Lawrence, KS 66044.