Overland Park Rehearsal Dinners, Bridal Showers + Parties

The Culinary Center of Kansas City

Historic & Unique Venue in Downtown Overland Park

Heather DeFeo Minor

GENERAL MANAGER

The Culinary Center of Kansas City in Overland Park, KS, offers a unique venue for wedding rehearsal dinners, engagement parties, and bachelor/bachelorette parties. They also offer fantastic cooking classes ideal for fun send-offs with your wedding entourage. Come and bond in our kitchens! The CCKC is situated in walkable and historic Downtown Overland Park, Kansas, in a beautifully restored 6,500 square foot turn-of-the-century buggy barn with a soaring, arched wooden roof. Their facility is 5,900 square feet in size, and is composed of two teaching kitchens, an event space, and a retail shop curated with culinary tools and gifts. The Culinary Center of Kansas City has been in operation for almost 30 years. Throughout this time, they have made it their mission to help people connect through cooking and food. This team is dedicated to education and appreciation of food, wine, and culinary traditions. They will ensure you and your loved ones enjoy a wonderful private dining experience that is curated to suit your vision. At The Culinary Center of Kansas City, the crew will strive to make your dreams a delicious and wonderful reality. They will blend exceptional dishes with your desired theme for an event you and your guests will remember for a lifetime. You will work with your chef to design a menu that inspires and delights you as well as your nearest and dearest. Reach out to The Culinary Center of Kansas City to find out how they can help you plan an event you will never forget.

Veteran-owned Business

30+ years in business

Speaks English, Spanish

Large team (21+ members)

Details

Settings

Historic Venue

Venue Service Offerings

Bar & Drinks

Cakes & Desserts

Wedding Activities

Getting Engaged

Engagement Party

Rehearsals & Parties

Bachelor Party

Bachelorette Party

Bridal Luncheon

Bridal Shower

Brunch

Couples Shower

Engagement Party

Rehearsal Dinner

Welcome Party

Wedding

Rehearsal Dinner

Any questions?

Meet the team

Heather DeFeo Minor
General Manager
Heather is the General Manager of The Culinary Center of Kansas City, leading this beloved downtown Overland Park cooking school and retail shop for the past year. Over the last 15 years, Heather has also been responsible for booking all our private events -- over 150 events a year, including dozens of rehearsal dinners and engagement parties. Heather works with her team to design amazing events that help create memories for our guests that last a lifetime. Heather and her team are proud that The Culinary Center of Kansas City has been selected as the “Best Team-Building Experience” in the Kansas City metropolitan area by Ingram’s Magazine readers in their 2025 survey, marking a significant achievement for the Midwest’s premier culinary arts destination.
Vicky Lara
Instructor/Chef
During her 18 years at The Culinary Center of Kansas City, Chef Vicky Lara has taught hundreds of classes, team building events, and private events. Chef Vicky can do it all, and she’s earned rave reviews over the years for her delicious food and friendly, approachable teaching style. Vicky is an accomplished Chef and Instructor in the art of Mexican cuisine, as well as culinary topics as varied as cake decorating, Asian Cuisine, and Gluten-Free cooking. Growing up, she cooked right beside her mother as assistant and “the taster,” and is a master at recreating the authentic dishes of her family. Chef Vicky leads many of our team-building and private events, making guests feel right at home as they cook up delicious communal meals.
Catie Wiley
Pastry Chef/Instructor
Executive Pastry Chef Catie Wiley joined our teaching staff full-time in 2024 after an illustrious career on the East Coast. Since early childhood, when Catie was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she always answered “a baker.” She grew up in the Hudson Valley, and often spent her birthdays at the Culinary Institute of America’s Apple Pie Cafe. She began pursuing her passion for baking at Johnson and Wales University, and followed that up with a Masters of Art in Teaching. On the East Coast, Catie worked at a number of bakeries, including an iconic French patisserie in Providence’s historic Federal Hill neighborhood. After honing her skills across Rhode Island’s vibrant food scene, Catie spent time teaching baking and pastry arts to high school students in Falls River, Massachusetts. Her passion for learning and exploring new techniques continues, with a current obsession for sourdough, perfecting pizza dough, and discovering Midwestern regional favorites like bierocks and gooey butter cake. Catie’s classes will inspire you to fall in love with baking!
Sergio Lara
Chef/Instructor
Chef Sergio Lara has been working in professional kitchens for more than 20 years, from senior living communities and country clubs to hotels and fine dining restaurants. Chef Sergio started out as a Sous Chef at The Culinary Center of Kansas City, where he worked under the tutelage of his twin sister, Chef Vicky Lara. Chef Sergio eventually became an instructor at The Culinary Center, and taught a variety of international cuisines, including Italian, Greek, Chinese, and Mexican. He spent years as the Executive Chef at The Farmer’s House, which provides innovative community-based programs for youth and adults with developmental disabilities. In November 2025, Chef Sergio joined The Culinary Center full-time as an in-house instructor focusing on classes and private events. Chef Sergio has a gift for conveying cooking techniques to our guests in a simple, approachable way.

Service area & Contact info

7920 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, KS

Open map

(913) 341-4455

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The Culinary Center of Kansas City

Heather DeFeo Minor

General Manager

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The Culinary Center of Kansas City

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