Don’t miss the cream puffs or pie … or the salad bar offering … or the entrees ... at The Inman Harvest Café. It was one of our destination stops for my latest article in KANSAS! (2026 / vol.82 / issue 5 / kansasmag.com, 35-50), one titled The Foods That Settled Kansas” that was co-written with Beccy Tanner—she wrote the history of the featured food cultures, I covered the restaurants . . . and we had lots of fun in the process.
This is a food-driven issue, so it is jam-packed with places to go and things to see. And since space was at a premium, the editor selected portions of my original write up. Below, following the recipe is the unedited segment.
Inman Harvest Cafe, 112 S Main St, Inman, KS, (620) 585-6925 / Facebook Page: Inman Harvest Café – check out how to qualify for a complimentary fried chicken dinner.
RECIPE FROM INMAN HARVEST CAFE
While not a traditional Mennonite recipe, popcorn salad reflects many characteristics associated with Mennonite cooking. Practical and thrifty, it combines familiar pantry ingredients into a dish that is simple, satisfying, and designed to feed a crowd. Its creamy dressing and crunchy texture mirror the mild flavors and comforting qualities often found in Mennonite fare, where foods are typically hearty rather than highly spiced. Part novelty, it also sparks conversations at community potlucks, church dinners, family gatherings, or when it’s on the salad bar at the Inman Harvest Cafe.
Inman Harvest Café’s POPCORN SALAD
Yield: About 10 servings
Ingredients for Dressing
1 cup real mayonnaise
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
Ingredients for Salad
1 (3.3-ounce) bag microwave popcorn, or 3.3-ounces unpopped popcorn
4-ounces water chestnuts, drained & diced (half of an 8-ounce can)
1/4 cup onion (yellow or white), diced
1 cup celery, diced
1/4 pound bacon, fried crisp, drained & crumbled
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions
1. Dressing: Combine ingredients and set aside. Best if it sets overnight.
2. Salad: Pop the popcorn and remove any unpopped kernels. Allow it to cool completely
3. Prep all remaining salad ingredients as specified in the ingredient list. (They could be prepped a day ahead.)
4. Add the mayonnaise mixture to a large bowl. Stir in the water chestnuts, onion, celery, bacon and cheese.
5. Add the popcorn to the large bowl of ingredients 10 to 15 minutes before serving so the popcorn stays crisp while absorbing just a little of the dressing.
Note: This salad will hold up for several hours but will become mushy if stored in refrigerator overnight. Plan to make just the amount needed for a meal or gathering
STEP BACK IN TIME at a Mennonite Cafe
Step back in time at the Inman Harvest Cafe where the food, service, and fellowship, even the setting reflects a simpler era. Part everyday gathering place and part destination dining spot, the cafe has fed generations of local families while welcoming visitors eager to experience traditional Mennonite fare.
The menu celebrates hearty, practical dishes made the old-fashioned way from ingredients that are mostly homegrown or locally sourced. House specialties include verenika — cheese-filled dumplings topped with ham and cream gravy, and slow-cooked roast beef smothered in rich gravy. The cafe’s Mennonite-German sausage ropes are made on-site from house-ground pork, lightly seasoned in the traditional style. They are often served alongside classic made-from-scratch favorites such as sauerkraut, mashed potatoes and gravy, and hash browns. Even the horseradish sauce is hand made, and the salad bar is fresh and inviting. “Real Ingredients for Real People,” is the motto that guides owners Katy and Nick Reinecker in their everyday food preparations.
Katy uses area flour from the Stafford County Flour Mill and a recipe passed down through the generations to make traditional zwieback rolls and other baked goods that are staples of Mennonite kitchens.
This is the real-deal kind of comfort food that encourages diners to slow down, savor every bite, and linger a little longer around the table. With an impressive lineup of irresistible confections — fruit pies (such as fresh rhubarb with homemade ice cream), cream pies, luscious cream puffs loaded with creamy filling and dusted with powdered sugar, and other seasonal specialties — many guests may find themselves planning the entire meal backward, from dessert first.
