Serving Up Delicious Dishes at Tallgrass Creek

Overland Park, Kans., is an area known for great restaurants. But residents at Tallgrass Creek, an Erickson Senior Living community located there, say that the food is so good that most people opt to dine at its six on-campus restaurants. 

That's thanks to the Signature Dining program, which focuses on cooked-to-order entrees made with fresh ingredients, and Dining Services Director Tom Barnett's commitment to making mealtime an exceptional experience.

Bobbie Bower, who has lived at Tallgrass Creek with her husband Ken since November 2022, says, "They absolutely make an effort to make things special."

Eat in or dine out

While Bobbie still enjoys cooking in the full kitchen of their two-bedroom, two-bath apartment home with a balcony, she and Ken typically eat at one of the restaurants several times a week. 

For lunch, residents often dine in or carry out from Amelia's, named after Amelia Earhart. Order a burger, house-made pizza, fresh salad, sandwich, or wrap. Amelia's also offers a variety of vegetarian options, items from the grill, and entrees like chicken piccata or grilled salmon.

"We usually go to Amelia's for lunch and have something light. Then we have dinner at Heartland or Champions," Ken says.

The Heartland Restaurant, boasting an upscale menu with sit-down dinner service, offers a wide variety of dishes including beef, chicken, seafood, burgers, sandwiches, handhelds, and salads. Although the menu changes often, recent entrees have included beef filet mignon, grilled bourbon pecan chicken, shrimp pomodoro, and tofu tikka masala. 

"The salmon's always good," says Ken, who is also partial to the rack of lamb or lamb chops when they're on the menu. Bobbie says the shepherd's pie takes her back to one of her favorite restaurants in Chicago.

Something for everyone

At Champions, a casual bar and grill, the bar menu offers pub fare and small plates. Champions Restaurant features offerings from pub fare and small plates to  a variety of dinner entrees, including  healthy options, in a vibrant setting. Champions also offers two signature items, homemade pizzas, and cloverleaf rolls.

Blue Sky Restaurant—another full-service dinner restaurant—recently reopened after renovations to rave reviews. Diners can choose from beef, chicken, pasta, and vegetarian entrees. 

The casual Sunflower Bistro offers traditional pub fare and healthy, contemporary options with a small plates menu. 

Milo's Cafe and Market offers breakfast entrees like waffles, egg sandwiches, oatmeal, and fruit, along with custom-made deli sandwiches, wraps, tacos, and premium ice cream treats. Grab-and-go premade soups, sandwiches, salads, and groceries are also available.

Cooking up conversation

In addition to the delicious food, Ken and Bobbie say it's the people who make mealtimes special at Tallgrass Creek. 

From a dinner date with friends and engaging with student servers to sitting with strangers and striking up a conversation, "It's always enjoyable," Bobbie says, "and you can have amazing conversations."

Fun and interactive themed dinners, holiday meals, and events also bring the whole community together.

"We want to get people involved," Barnett says, a few days after hosting a campus street fair that featured multiple food stations.

One of the most popular themed events is an interactive murder mystery dinner. Chefs create a menu based on the region in which the mystery is set. For the most recent setting in France, chefs crafted a unique beet mashed potato that took on a gory red hue—but tasted scrumptious. 

"It was fantastic! Residents came dressed as their part and played their roles. It was more fun than watching a play," says Barnett. "We try to be inventive with our offerings. With our themed dinners, we challenge our chefs to create and find recipes and that focus on flavor, presentation, and nutritional value."

Fresh fare

What truly makes dining at Tallgrass Creek stand out is that each meal is made to order and can be customized upon a resident request. 

"We really embrace Signature Dining, and we are continuing to build on that concept," Barnett says. "We have a lot of diners who have experience with 'à la minute' cooking and the latest and greatest in the restaurant world. That inspires us."

Balancing modern cooking methods with traditional favorites, chefs at Tallgrass Creek are always coming up with new dishes. For example, a menu might feature a macadamia nut encrusted sea bass entree alongside meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

Barnett adds, "Signature Dining empowers residents who may have food sensitivities or allergies to make mealtime their own, since modifications can be requested for nearly all of the dishes on the menu. It's a win-win all around!"

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