For Robin Krause, chef and founder of Billie’s Grocery, the best food comes from the heart.
Many of Krause’s favorite flavors come from Latin America, so it was only a matter of time before she put together a dedicated Mexican restaurant in Kansas City. That day has arrived, as Casa Ama just opened its doors in the former Salty Iguana location at 83rd and Mission.
Marie Effertz, the Director of Marketing for Billie’s Grocery and Casa Ama, says that Krause made a move very quickly when Salty Iguana in Corinth Square announced it was closing. “Robin’s son worked at Salty Iguana as his very first job,” Effertz says. “She has a lot of fond memories of the area and that space in particular. When she had the chance, she knew this was where she could bring a Mexican-inspired menu to life.”
Working with Chef Anourom Thomson (of Strang Hall’s Anousone) and Director of Operations Rico Hernandez, Krause’s team developed a menu inspired by her travels and transformed the Salty Iguana space into a modern, inviting spot. Though it reads as a Mexican restaurant, Krause aimed to develop a menu that was more influenced by traditional ingredients and dishes than dictated by them. You’ll find menu items like tacos, birria, aguachile and more, but with plenty of playful spins to remind you that you’re in the wheelhouse of a well-rounded chef…