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Section A·Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
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Wednesday, June 3, 1998
Potato lovers can eat their fill
Restaurant has rotating menu of mashed spuds
Brent McClun prepares the ingredients for a mashed potato entree at The Herbary and Potato Mountain Cafe. McClun owns the cafe, located at 1013 Massachusetts St., and makes 100 different kinds of mashed potatoes. Photo by Lizzy Weber/KANSAN.
By Michael Martin
Kansan staff writer
Lawrence resident Brent McClun has taken his lumps as a rock climber. Now he aims to master considerably softer formations.
As owner of The Herbery and Potato Mountain Cafe, which carries the motto "mountains of mashed," McClun offers a menu entirely composed of mashed-potato entrees.
The Herbery and Potato Mountain Cafe is located at 1013 Massachusetts St.
"The potato is so versatile," McClun said. "I just want to be able to give it the fame it deserves."
McClun's creations range from the vegetarian Granite Peak, mashed potatoes topped with spinach and asparagus, to the K-2 which at $5.95 is the price pinnacle of the menu. The K-2 features mashed potatoes blended with chicken curry, green peppers and onions.
"These dishes are for the kind of healthy eater, one who may be strained from a low-fat diet." McClun said. "They're not in the realm of fast, fat or low-fat foods."
McClun's business offers more than food. He sells medicinal herbs, vitamins and cooking spices. The products range from immunity-boosting supplements to recipe additives with names like Pizza Pizzazz.
There also are bookshelves along the walls of the cafe, loaded with the works of Shakespeare, recipe books, aromatic tapers and
various crafts for sale.
McClun said that a Good Morning America report on different ways to cook mashed potatoes had provided him with the impetus to open The Herbery and Potato Mountain Cafe.
"I thought, wow, I can do that more than 100 ways," McClun said. "The light went on, and I had no more questions."
McClun, who has no formal culinary training, said he designed the menu in one evening in an inspirational spurt. More than 12 entrees are featured at a time and range in price from $2.95 to $9.95.
McClun said that he would change the menu regularly to showcase 100 different entrees and that he would add breakfast items and an occasional potato bar.
The secret to his recipes is the mix. he said.
the right blend of milk and butter to get the right amount of creaminess," he said. "And you need to leave in a lump or two now and then to remind yourself you've got the real thing."
It takes McClun about 90 seconds to prepare any of the dishes on the menu. He said that the quick preparation time served him well during the cafe's first two weeks of operation, when he functioned as the sole host, waiter and cook.
"I use the right kind of potato,
"I've always been able to do three things at once," he said.
"But this pushed me to the limits and beyond."
Response to his idea has been overwhelming, McClun said. The 12-seat cafe has been filled to capacity every day at lunch time since its May 15 opening, McClun said that he had frequently run out of food and had to turn people away.
The result: McClun hired his first staff member last week. At the same time, he began shopping for a second downtown location.
"There are people who have tried to eat here three times and haven't gotten in," he said.
Lawrence resident Jeff Groves visited Potato Mountain at an typically quiet time after the lunch rush. Groves sampled the Perry Peak, a potato and mushroom concoction.
"It's a good idea," Groves said. "I'm not a vegetarian, but there are a lot of them in Lawrence, so I hope it's successful."
Patricia Stein, registered dietitian with Nutrition Counseling Education Services, Inc., in Olathe, said potatoes were a fairly nutritious food that provided a good source of carbohydrates. She said that potatoes lost vitamins in the boiling and mashing process and that they should be served with other foods to make a complete meal.
Stein said most people do not eat mashed potatoes for their nutritional value, however.
"Mashed potatoes are a comfort food," she said. "Something that reminds you of home and Mother." McClun would be inclined to agree.
"Mom taught me how to make the best mashed potatoes," he said. He founded Potato Mountain as a tribute to his late parents.
Pictures of mountains on the cafe walls and the reason behind the cafe's existence combine to make potatoes a very personal business for McClun.
"This place is a piece of myself," he said.
The Herbery and Potato Mountain Cafe is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Smartcard to serve same purpose as former KUIDs
By Duane Wagler
Kansan staff writer
University of Kansas students now can use their new student identification cards to check out library books and soon might be able to use them as bus passes.
"Functionally, the new cards will do the same things as the old cards," he said.
The University libraries began accepting both the old and new student KUID cards on May 29, said Kent Miller, libraries facility officer. Students expecting dramatic changes from the old to the new will be disappointed.
Miller said the libraries' acceptance of the new KUID card at the circulation desk was the first of several changes planned. Photocopiers eventually will be able to accept the new ID cards, allowing students to use the monetary value on their cards to make copies.
"We will get some relief in terms of cash-handling." Miller said. "At this point, we empty the copiers and count the money and deposit it. That will change."
The University libraries have ordered equipment and expect to have the copiers converted to KUID-card capability by Christmas. Miller said every library would maintain at least one coin and bill copier to serve non-University affiliated users.
Another form of new student KUID technology began Monday with a pilot project that placed the first electronic card reader in a KU on Wheels bus. Nancy Miles, campus card administrator, said a separately encoded chip card would be used in the pilot, and student and driver feedback would be monitored for the first few weeks.
"If it is successful, the vendor will come and install readers in the remaining nine buses," she said.
Miles said that if reviews were positive, pilot chip card technology would be transferred to the student card by the end of the summer.
Miles said bus riders would appreciate a new KUID that eliminated the need to contend with bus pass stickers.
Tiesha Kelley, Topeka junior, rides KU on Wheels regularly and said she was excited about the card's capabilities.
"I think it's a pretty good idea," she said. "I think maybe with the reader it will speed things up."
Sick of playing
"WHERE'S WALDO?" to find a parking spot?
Don't spend your time driving around in circles.
Buy your bus pass at the Banking window on the 4th floor of the Kansas Union
STUDENT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SENATE
THE LIED CENTER OF KANSAS
MIAMI CITY BALLET
Thursday, Sept. 24, 1998, 8:00 p.m.
SWARTHOUT
MINGUS BIG BAND with Kevin Mahogany
New York City Opera National Company in Puccini's MADAMA BUTTERFLY Saturday, Feb. 27 & Sunday, Feb. 28, 1999, 8:00 p.m.
ST. PETERSBURG PHILHARMONIC
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1998, 8:00 p.m.
ITZHAK PERLMAN, VIOLIN
Saturday April 19, 1999; 8:00 p.m.
FLECK/MARSHALL/MEYER
FLECK/ MARSH/T MAYER
FLECK/ MARSH/T Mike Mayer, mandolin; Edgar Mayer, double bass
Saturday 26, 19, 48 8:00 p.m.
TRIÁNGULO Paquito D'Rivera, clarinet; Gustavo Tavares, cello; Pablo Zinger, piano
Sunday Jan 24 1999 3:30 p.m.
ANONYMOUS 4
Sunday, Nov. 1, 1998, 3:30 p.m.
BRENTANO STRING QUARTET
SCHOOL 1200, 3300
ORION STRING QUARTET with Ida Kavafian, viola
Sunday, April 18, 1999 3:30 p.m.
CONCERT SERIES
YOU COME FIRST! Season and Single Tickets are On Sale Now to Students
CULTURE CLASH
Friday, Oct. 2, 1998, 8:00 p.m.
Jones/Zane Dance Company WE SET OUT EARLY...VISIBILITY WAS POOR
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1998, 8:00 p.m.
BALLET HISPANICO
Saturday, Nov. 14, 1998, 8:00 p.m.
Robert Wilson & Philip Glass MONSTERS OF GRACE
The Margaret Jenkins Dance Company TIME AFTER with Olympia Dukakis
Wednesday, August 7, 1990 - 8:00 p.m.
BROADWAY
AND BEYOND
STOMP
Friday, Oct. 23, 8:00 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, 5:00 & 9:00 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 25, 1998, 3:00 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30, 1998, 8:00 p.m.
THE KING AND I
Saturday, Nov. 21, 200 & 8:00 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 22, 1998, 2:00 p.m.
MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS
Tuesday, May 16, 1999 8:00 p.m.
BRIGADOON
BRIGADOON
Friday, April 30, 1999, 8:00 p.m.
AMERICAN CHAMBER THEATER ENSEMBLE
AnimOiation: Saturday, Oct. 10, 1998, 7:00 p.m. (ages 14 and up),
TellTales: Sunday, Oct. 11, 1998, 2:00 p.m. (all ages)
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 1998, 7:30 p.m.
NEW DIRECTIONS SERIES
The St. Petersburg State Ice Baller in ROMEO AND JULIET
Saturday, Feb. 6, 1999 - 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Thèche Sans Fil in DREAM CATCHERS
Sunday, Feb. 21, 1999 - 2:00 p.m.
SPECIAL EVENT Vienna de Motta International Music Foundation TAO CHANG, PIANO Sunday, Sept. 20, 1998, 3:30 p.m.
LIED FAMILY SERIES
For tickets or more information please call The University of Kansas School of Fine Arts Lied Center of Kansas Box Office at 785) 864-ARTS. Hours: Weekdays 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (except June 1-July 24: 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.).
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Single tickets go on sale to the general public beginning June 15, 1998.
1998-99 SEASON