7 minute read
It’s a Secret
Couple offers special dinner parties with hush-hush menus and rides on Gardner Lake.
Article by Debbie Leckron Miller
Photography by Sarah Reeves
The word’s out about Selah Secret Supper! Its sumptuous multi-course meal, lakeside setting and sunset cruise are literally drawing a boatload of fans.
On Saturday evenings, May through October, Sandra and Anthony Liperuote host dinner parties for area residents at their Gardner Lake home. After front-door greetings, introductions and signature cocktails, the party of six to eight people moves outdoors for a group photo and the main attraction, a “secret” dinner on the Liperuotes’ lakefront deck. But there’s no rush to dig in. Guests get a chance to unwind and slow down for a three-hour dining affair while they soak up the scenic surroundings.
Sandra and Anthony, both chiropractors in Olathe and parents of two children, moved to Gardner Lake eight years ago. “When our youngest child was graduating, Anthony and I had a heart-to-heart about what the next phase of life was going to be like,” Sandra says. “I’d always loved cooking for people, and we had hosted countless dinner parties at our homes. We decided that at Gardner Lake—where we have the best view and such a calm and peaceful setting—what if we hosted dinner parties at our house?”
So, two summers ago, the couple cooked up their first Selah Secret Supper and have delighted diners ever since.
To be clear, they’re not trying to keep their creative feasts a secret, as the name might indicate. Instead, it’s the menu served to guests that’s a secret. “When you come to our supper, you don’t know what you’re going to eat throughout the meal. When we serve each course, we tell them what it is,” Sandra explains.
Guests indicate if they prefer pork, beef, chicken or seafood when they make reservations and advise Sandra if anyone has food allergies. Beyond that, the menu is hush-hush.
All in a Name
The “Selah” in the supper’s name (and etched on a stone in the front yard) symbolizes a pause, a time to reflect and rest, “similar to the rest symbol in music,” Sandra explains. “We’ve always wanted this to be a place where people could come, take a deep breath, relax and let everything melt away.”
For Sandra, it’s also a chance to share the culinary skills she’s been honing since childhood. “I’ve been experimenting and cooking for as long as I can remember. In elementary school, I used to play restaurant a lot with a neighborhood friend,” she says. And in high school and college, Sandra learned to cook nutritious meals for herself due to a serious medical condition that required a special diet. She was eventually introduced to a chiropractor whose alternative health care brought her relief and inspired her to enter chiropractic college.
“Throughout my 30-year career, I have paralleled both my chiropractic and cooking skills, and used food alongside my medical knowledge to help patients heal and thrive,” she says. “I have family members who are gluten- and dairy-free, and I like to advise my patients on dietary techniques they can take home.”
At Selah Secret Suppers, Sandra’s creativity shines, starting at the front door with signature cocktails named after friends who live at the lake. “I’ve served a lot of ‘Brendas’ this season,” she laughs. It’s a jalapeno-strawberry-lemonade margarita, which describes my friend Brenda perfectly.”
The culinary parade moves to the backyard gazebo, where Anthony serves as waiter and Sandra comes and goes with her food. “Anthony gets along with everybody,” Sandra says about her easy-going, congenial co-worker.
First course is a nibble board, often served with her popular butter candles and homemade bread that’s dipped into the butter and herb candle as it melts. Soup follows and, like all her dishes, depends on her creativity and the local ingredients she buys at the Wednesday farmers market— from artichoke soup to a cold peach recipe.
After a grilled romaine or maybe a fennel-orange salad, fresh figs with goat cheese often highlight the fruit course. A veggie—such as delicata squash deep-fried with cranberries and apples—leads to the entrée. “Everything is served as small plates. I don’t want anyone feeling uncomfortable when they leave,” Sandra says about the glazed salmon or Italian beef roll that might appear as the main course.
Next-door neighbor Sandi Davidson has the enviable job as taste tester. She was a reliable reviewer when the suppers first started, sampling whenever Sandra needed an opinion. “And today, when Sandra tries something new, she lets us taste it,” Sandi says about the neighborly arrangement.
Among Davidson’s favorites on the menu: the melting butter candle with its flavorful herbs and Sandra’s Mexican coffee served with homemade ice cream and chocolate torte for dessert.
“Outside, overlooking the lake, it’s a relaxed atmosphere and not rushed. There’s time for chit-chat between courses and camaraderie,” Davidson says about the experience.
All Aboard
After the entrée, guests board a pontoon boat for a leisurely sunset cruise around the 100-acre lake. Capt. Anthony narrates the float trip, where they often encounter ducks, geese, herons or eagles. He also points out a special house—home of the namesake of the Brenda cocktail! Upon return, Sandra has dessert ready for the finale, which usually includes her chocolate torte and a second complementary creation.
Shawnna Steele, a friend and neighbor who has been a guest at several Selah Secret Suppers, gives rave reviews. “From the exquisite food to the impeccable service and the setting, every aspect of the experience is elevated,” Steele says. “Sandra’s passion for cooking shines through in every dish she serves, seamlessly blending traditional comfort with unexpected and innovative twists.
“The boat ride is the perfect ending to the evening,” Steele says about the peaceful sunset excursion.
It’s just what Sandra hopes for. “We want everyone to simply have fun, good food, laughter, joy and calm,” she says.
For Reservations
Selah Secret Supper reservations (on Facebook or Instagram) are required for Saturday evenings, May–October, for groups of six to eight people ($100 per person).
In winter, the food and socializing move indoors at the Liperuotes’ home for Ladies’ Nights (limited to six women).
