Second Coffee, Chocolate Pairing Released in Art-Inspired Series

Nelson-Atkins Caravaggio Masterpiece Informed Flavors

Kansas City, MO, August, 11 2021 – Bold, dramatic flavors characterize the second product launch of coffee and chocolate inspired by an iconic work of art in the collection of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Caravaggio’s Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness represents the artist’s mature style in a monumental work that was painted toward the end of his career. To complement this masterpiece, The Roasterie created The Wilderness Blend, a medium roast coffee with notes of brown spice, finishing with a hint of orange blossom. As a complement to the brew, André’s Confiserie Suisse crafted a deep, rich blend of dark chocolate infused with bold flavors of brown spices blended with Swiss Alpine salt.

“Our partnership embraces three beloved Kansas City institutions and has resulted in an unexpected and delightful series of products,” said Julián Zugazagoitia, Menefee D. and Mary Louise Blackwell CEO & Director of the Nelson-Atkins. “This painting depicts Saint John as a brooding adolescent with a monochromatic palette and Caravaggio’s signature chiaroscuro, which is a technique of depicting contrasting light to place emphasis on certain areas of a scene, giving his characters both a historic dimension and a theatrical feel. I continue to be amazed at the creativity The Roasterie and André’s employ to fold their products so seamlessly into the feeling and mood of a painting.”

The coffee and chocolate provide an all-encompassing sensory experience of food, drink, and art. In contrast to the previous Monet-inspired products, these are intriguingly dramatic. The products emulate a ballet of ingredients to coincide with a world-class art piece, curated to enliven all five senses.

“The second installment of this partnership personifies what we set out to do with this collaboration,” said Dawn Bishop, Chief Marketing Officer for The Roasterie. “It was important for us to deliver a sensory experience for Kansas Citians and patrons that helped bring the masterpiece to life through our crafts. The Wilderness Blend coffee will bring out tasting notes of brown spice, chocolate and peanut butter, finishing with a hint of citrus; all characteristics that can be experienced by seeing the Caravaggio and pairing with the André’s chocolate. This series continues to celebrate the arts and we can’t wait for people to experience this next installment.”

“We are tremendously excited to continue a partnership that has seen such great support and appreciation throughout the community,” said Nancy Bollier, Owner/Director of Marketing, André’s Confiserie Suisse. “We love the opportunity to celebrate the Nelson-Atkins in collaboration with The Roasterie to create these unique, combined experiences of sight, smell, touch, and taste through visual and edible works of art. Our Wilderness Dark Chocolate Bâtons are made with our signature Swiss 60% dark chocolate. The deep, rich chocolate showcases notes of blueberry, dried plum, coffee, and black tea. We’ve infused this blend with cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cayenne, and Salt of the Swiss Alps to further embody the bold, dramatic feeling that Caravaggio creates with his vibrant use of dark shadows and bright shafts of light.”

The coffee and chocolates will be available for purchase on Aug. 12 at all three businesses.

Photo credit: The Roasterie

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 museum, which strives to be the place where the power of art engages the spirit of community, opens its doors free of charge to people of all backgrounds. The museum is an institution that both challenges and comforts, that both inspires and soothes, and it is a destination for inspiration, reflection and connecting with others.

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. In 2017, the Nelson-Atkins celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Bloch Building, a critically acclaimed addition to the original 1933 Nelson-Atkins Building.

The Nelson-Atkins is located at 45th and Oak Streets, Kansas City, MO. Hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Friday through Monday; 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Thursday; closed Tuesday and Wednesday. 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