How Leo Kim Makes Art Out of Desserts

In a society where people often value fast food and convenience above quality, Leo Kim is part of the counterculture. Kim is the chef and owner of The Gochu Handcrafted Korean BBQ Bowl and Keikeu Coffee, Tea and Desserts (both located at 14 Mill Market in Nixa), and isn’t one to settle for mediocrity. 

His process for choosing the coffee for Keikeu is a prime example. After sipping countless cups, he made the well-caffeinated decision to go with beans from Stereoscope Coffee in L.A.

Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea, but his family relocated to Argentina when he was 5. By age 8, he was already making his own snacks from scratch and watching cooking shows. When he turned 18 and moved to L.A., he became deeply immersed in the city’s diverse culinary scene. Kim attended the Sushi Chef Institute in Torrance, California. After completing the program and adding a few restaurants to his resume, his sushi sensei invited him to teach at the program.

This opportunity allowed him to meet students from all over the world, and he later traveled across the U.S. to help some of them start their own businesses.

Upon visiting his friend in Springfield, he unexpectedly fell in love with the Ozarks, specifically Nixa. “I grew up in a small town in Argentina, and I wanted my kids to experience that same small-town vibe,” he says. When 14 Mill Market opened, he became a regular and couldn’t help but notice it was lacking Korean offerings. He approached the owners to suggest adding some, and the rest is history.

Must-Try Items From Keikeu

Leo Kim invited us to try a sampling of Keikeu’s made-from-scratch desserts. Here are the ones we loved most.

Iced Strawberry Matcha

Kim considers the ceremonial-grade matcha they serve from Mizuba Tea Co. to be the “best quality you can get in the market right now.” The made-in-house strawberry purée adds sweetness, although the matcha is smooth enough to order plain.

Cream Cake

Keikeu’s cream cakes have a light, spongy texture and are decadent without being too sweet. Flavors change, but if they’ve got Dubai chocolate on the lineup, it’s your lucky day.

Maritozzi

Maritozzi is an iconic Roman pastry. In the 19th century, Italians would use it to hide a ring inside to propose. These brioche buns are stuffed with chantilly cream, and instead of a ring, you’ll find a gem of a different kind: a dollop of strawberry, blueberry or yuzu filling.