CLICK HERE for KC's famous #BBQBible!
CLICK HERE for KC's famous #BBQBible!
FLYOVER
COUNTRY
IS A MYTH
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Bar-V-Que
Barbeque is a community food. It is best when shared with others. And yet? Not every member of every community eats meat. Year after year, vegetarianism becomes more popular in the United States. And whether it’s a lifestyle, or just for a meal, more and Kansas City pitmasters are flexing their creative muscles to serve up Kansas City flavors that are inclusive to a much wider audience. These are some of the best places to enjoy bar-v-que in the city.
Q in the Lou
Sandwiched between Kansas City and Memphis, St. Louis often struggles to stand out nationally from the styles of either. And even though St. Louis’ greatest landmark encourages all who see it to head west to the World Capital of BBQ, that does not mean their scene should be overlooked. While the majority of BBQ joints in St. Louis are rather new, the city very quietly owns one of the better BBQ restaurant scenes in America, and it should be enjoyed for what it is.
Devan’s Dozen: Burnt Ends Edition
While it is unclear exactly how long the beef burnt end has been a part of Kansas City’s barbeque tradition, they have been our national calling card for over half a century. These delightful chunks of meat candy are often replicated in other regions but have no doubt, they were created and popularized here. In honor of National Burnt End Day, I talked about my own love affair with burnt ends and ranked my Top 12, make that 13, places to find them in KC.
Once Upon a Time… in Kansas City
Have you ever wondered how it came to be?
That the default for American BBQ flavors is straight-up KC?
Not vinegary like Carolina or packed with Texas heat.
It’s KC sauces the people reach for - thick, tangy, and sweet.
So why does America associate BBQ with the Kansas City sort?
You will understand after reading these three barbeque shorts.
Devan’s Dozen: (Pork) Ribs Edition
When it comes to barbeque, I consider few meats more luxurious than a properly smoked pork rib. Given the wide range of ribs present in KC, from the truly great to the utterly inedible, I decided to rank the 12 best slabs of ribs in the city. But first, I laid out my own 4 C’s as it relates to ribs for explaining what one should look for in a truly great rib. After all, every single great rib has one key characteristic in common.
A Year at the Theater
Intrigued by the amazing line-up that was coming to town, I decided to pull the trigger on PNC Broadway tickets this year. The chance to catch eight shows at The Music Hall and the Kauffman Performing Arts Center was one that I had to take advantage of - especially given the chance to add-on Hamilton and Les Miserables. More than anything, each show brought with it the opportunity to have a standing date, downtown, with local dinner and drinks prior in a city where that’s not possible for sports.
Devan’s (Half) Dozen: Ted Lasso Edition
Last week, millions around the world said a bittersweet farewell to Ted Lasso and Premier League club AFC Richmond. Here in Kansas City, the finale hit especially hard as over the past three years, Ted became one of this city’s favorite sons. Given the love that Lasso always showed to his hometown, this edition of Devan’s (Half) Dozen ranks the best Kansas City / Kansas references from the show’s run.
The Fountain City Foodie’s Guide to the World Capital of BBQ (KS)
Setting out to try every single Kansas City barbeque spot, it can be easy to know where you start, but where does one finish? There’s no set checklist of every BBQ joint in the metro. There’s no order guide of what you must, and mustn’t get! That is, there wasn’t. As I recorded my own decade-long pilgrimage through the Q Capital, one friend joked this was a “BBQ Bible”. Not only did I confirm it, I got a little carried away with the concept.
Part 2 / 2 explores the 5 Kansas counties that comprise KC.
The Fountain City Foodie’s Guide to the World Capital of BBQ (MO)
Setting out to try every single Kansas City barbeque spot, it can be easy to know where you start, but where does one finish? There’s no set checklist of every BBQ joint in the metro. There’s no order guide of what you must, and mustn’t get! That is, there wasn’t. As I recorded my own decade-long pilgrimage through the Q Capital, one friend joked this was a “BBQ Bible”. Not only did I confirm it, I got a little carried away with the concept.
Part 1 / 2 explores the 9 Missouri counties that comprise KC.