Chef's Table: A Coastal Mediterranean Six-Course Holiday Dinner with Chef Sandy DiGiovanni

Christmas is almost here, and it's the time of year for special evenings with loved ones. Some evenings are just dinners. This is not one of those evenings. Tonight, The Culinary Center of Kansas City transforms into an intimate pop-up restaurant for one of our most celebrated holiday Chef’s Table events — a six-course Coastal Mediterranean demonstration dinner where all you have to do is pull up a chair and let our Chef do the cooking. This is an exclusive, limited-seat evening designed to transport you to the sun-drenched coastlines of the Mediterranean, one exquisite course at a time — and there is no better way to celebrate the holiday season. The evening begins with an Amuse-Bouche of Whipped Feta Tartlets crowned with roasted grape, pistachio, and thyme honey. The first course is Butter-Poached Lobster — silky and luxurious — resting on a Saffron Cauliflower Purée with Citrus Beurre Blanc, fennel, and chive oil. A Roasted Golden Beet & Whipped Goat Cheese Salad follows, with blood orange, pistachio, baby arugula, and a Pomegranate Vinaigrette. The main course is a Moroccan-Spiced Beef Tenderloin — deeply aromatic and perfectly seared — served over Silky Parsnip Purée with Charred Baby Carrots, a Pomegranate-Port Reduction, and Crispy Shallots. A Blood Orange & Mint Granita Intermezzo cleanses the palate before the grand finale: a Honey-Pistachio Phyllo Napoleon — crisp phyllo layered with Orange-Blossom Mascarpone, honey, roasted pistachio, and fresh berries. To round out the holiday evening, our Chef has curated a wine and drink selection for each course — from Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne to Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauternes. Each pairing is available for purchase separately at the bar, so you can sip along course by course or simply choose your favorites. Sit back, ask questions, pick up techniques, and enjoy every course. Salute!