When Wendy Sight opened KC Cork Dork, a wine storage and members-only tasting lounge in 2020, it was already in a primo spot—catty-corner from the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts at 17th Street and Broadway Boulevard. The members-only lounge included a handsome marble bar with seating for 50 guests, right under the iconic Strahm Automation & Mailing neon sign that hangs on the outside of the building.
With 150-custom made, temperature-controlled wine lockers located in the back of the space and a luxurious and modern tasting room out front, KC Cork Dork was designed to make members feel both special and at home. They even raised the floor of the tasting room to offer a better view of the Kauffman Center in addition to the urban hustle and bustle of the traffic coming and going along Broadway Boulevard.
With more people interested in the wine storage than using the tasting room, building owner Brian Dicker and Sight sat down with the team at Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen. Tannin also happened to be looking for a location where they could host private wine-tasting events and parties. A deal was struck, and for the last two years Tannin has been booking out the tasting room at KC Cork Dork for their own private events, expanding their own event and catering business in the process.
Seeing their success in the space, the partners came together again, this time to discuss the possibility of flipping the KC Cork Dork tasting room into an intimate new bar and lounge. Mineral Lounge opened to the public in August, inspired by the food and wines of the Mediterranean, an expansive area comprised of many countries and parts of three continents.
Here, the chef Brain Aaron has assembled a creative menu of small plates with an eye on highlighting the flavors naturally found in Mediterranean cuisine. There’s a yellowtail crudo with capers and olives, bay scallop ceviche served with Spanish potato chips, heirloom tomato bruschetta, a charred carrot salad with crumbled goat cheese and pistachios, and Spanish tinned fish served with stuffed peppadews, olives, and crusty bread. For dessert, the creamy Turkish coffee panna cotta with toasted phyllo is a must to end your meal.
Each of the dishes were designed to complement the curated list of wines from all over the Mediterranean, including from France, Spain, and Italy as well as those from Greece, Lebanon, and Slovenia. The general manager and wine director, Barry Tunnell, is especially proud to be serving wines from long-established wineries, such as Chateau Musar located in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon and Domaine Tempier located in Bandol, Provence, France.
But wine isn’t their only forte here, as a full cocktail menu is available along with non-alcoholic selections. The refreshing spritzes are all lower in alcohol and made with wines and spirits that tie back to the Mediterranean, like their Spanish-inspired Atxa Pacharán Spritz.
Pacharán is a sloe berry-infused liqueur, with ancient roots in the Basque country of Spain. It comes from a family recipe that uses two different maceration steps, one involving locally picked sloe berries and the other mixing three different kinds of anise. The product of both is then blended with sugar and more alcohol before it is bottled, giving it a distinctive red color and smooth, rich licorice flavor. Pair that with some sparkling wine and water for a refreshing lower-alcohol sipper you can easily make at home or enjoy at Mineral Lounge the next time you are in the neighborhood.
Atxa Pacharán Spritz
- 1.5 ounces Atxa Pacharán
- 2 ounces Suriol Brut Nature Cava
- 2 ounces Mineragua Sparkling Water
- 1 star anise
Mix the first three ingredients in a Collins glass, add ice, and stir to combine. Top with a star anise for garnish.