I’ve been furiously blogging for about five years and have yet to write a restaurant review … until now.  Over the weekend, I had a culinary experience/adventure that was so epically food-gasmic I chose to write about it.

If you’ve never been to Renee Kelly’s Harvest in Shawnee Mission, you need to go. Stop reading this blog. Stop doing whatever you’re doing. Just grab your BFF, your significant other, your life partner or your crazy Uncle Vern who’s locked in the basement and go visit.

A little back story … Chef Renee Kelly has been doing her thang for over a decade now.

She’s honed her craft over the years and recently introduced a farm-to-table themed restaurant in KC that’s getting rave reviews.

If you’re not familiar with the concept of farm-to-table, let me break it down for you. The beet you’re eating on your salad was plucked off an organic farm earlier that day.  The beef you’re ingesting was likely butchered mere days ago. No freezing, no preservatives, no kidding.

Oh … and did I mention her restaurant was nestled inside a castle?  Yep, she’s renovated a turn-of-the-century castle in to a private dining Mecca.

I think the thing I liked best about Chef Renee’s menu is the playfulness of it all.  For one, it’s a carnivore’s paradise.  From delicious duck to wascally wabbit … free-range chickens to happy cows … there’s a protein for everyone.  On the night we were there, we only had mere moments to glance at a menu before food started arriving at our table.  I think I started getting the meat sweats between the fifth and sixth course. Everything was so decadently delicious; I wouldn’t be surprised if she used bear lard.  Yes, it was that rich.

Renee has been on Kansas City Live several times since the show’s inception.  She makes for good TV.  With her jovial sense of humor, her flaming red hair and her ability to cook anything in less than four minutes, she’s the perfect TV chef.  Why her little shooting star hasn’t gone Supernova is beyond me.  Hello, Food Network … are you listening?

If you’re dying for some place that’s slightly off the beaten path, slightly eclectic and slightly upscale without being pretentious, you’ll want to try Harvest.  My only beef (pun intended) with the evening? I ate so much I didn’t have room for dessert.  I don’t think that’s ever happened in the history of my stomach. Ever.  Of course, that means I have another excuse to go back and dive head first in to whatever sweet treats she’s whipped up in her magical kitchen.

Bottom line … Chef Renee’s dishes are made with love, made from scratch and made with local ingredients.  What more could you ask for?  I mean, besides dining inside a castle.  Oh wait …