Nelson-Atkins Masterpiece Inspired Flavors

Kansas City, MO. Oct. 21, 2021–A third coffee-chocolate pairing in the Nelson-Atkins collaboration of a series of art-inspired products will be released to coincide with a unique digital experience celebrating the work of Vincent van Gogh. The Roasterie created The Rispal Blend, a dark coffee with punchy acidity, inspired by the Van Gogh painting Restaurant Rispal at Asnières in the Nelson-Atkins collection. It is complemented by milk chocolate batons laced with bright, citrus flavor crafted by André’s Confiserie Suisse.

“This Kansas City collaboration has proven to be energizing, enriching, and ultimately satisfying,” said Julián Zugazagoitia, Menefee D. and Mary Louise Blackwell CEO & Director of the Nelson-Atkins. “Discovering the creations of The Roasterie and André’s as they are inspired by Van Gogh’s painting, which captures the artist’s evolution and understanding of brilliant color, is nothing short of thrilling.”

This latest coffee and chocolate pairing coincides with the large-scale, multi-sensory experience Van Gogh Alive at Starlight Theatre, which opens Oct. 23 and runs through Dec. 31. It also dovetails with a free, focus installation at the Nelson-Atkins, Van Gogh: An Evolution in Color, which highlights Van Gogh’s changing palette and application of color through three Van Gogh works in the museum’s collection.

“With the third installment of this partnership, we continue to highlight all three Kansas City institutions, the Nelson-Atkins, André’s Chocolates and The Roasterie, and bringing their craft to life through a full sensory experience,” said Erika Carey, Director of Marketing, FairWave Coffee Collective. “The Rispal Blend will bring out tasting notes of dried maple leaves, apple cider, and gentle aromas of vanilla and fresh pipe tobacco. We can’t wait for Kansas Citians to enjoy this coffee paired with an André’s chocolate and the start of fall.”

“We’ve been thrilled with the reaction to the art-inspired series thus far and loved getting to create a product for Van Gogh’s Restaurant Rispal at Asnières,” said Nancy Bollier, Owner/Director of Marketing, André’s Confiserie Suisse. “We chose milk chocolate infused with lemon to emulate the bright, sunny, relaxed setting. We then added fresh ground Gotham Espresso beans from The Roasterie to add a distinct follow-up note in honor of Van Gogh’s love for a rich cup of coffee. Like the painting, the flavors are intended to be brilliant and defined on their own, yet blend and evolve to create a surprising balance of flavor, mirroring the evolutionary experience in the visual art.”

The Rispal Blend and accompanying chocolates are available for sale at the museum store, The Roasterie, André’s Confiserie Suisse, and at Starlight Theatre.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
The Nelson-Atkins in Kansas City is recognized nationally and internationally as one of America’s finest art museums. The Nelson-Atkins serves the community by providing access to its renowned collection of more than 42,000 art objects and is best known for its Asian art, European and American paintings, photography, modern sculpture, and Native American and Egyptian galleries. Housing a major art research library and the Ford Learning Center, the museum is a key educational resource for the region. The Nelson-Atkins is located at 45th and Oak Streets, Kansas City, MO. Hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays, and closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Admission to the museum is free to everyone. For museum information, phone 816.751.1ART (1278) or visit nelson-atkins.org.

For media interested in receiving further information, please contact:
Kathleen Leighton, Manager, Media Relations and Video Production
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
816.751.1321, kleighton@nelson-atkins.org