Home of the One and Only Kansas City #BBQBible!
Home of the One and Only Kansas City #BBQBible!
FLYOVER
COUNTRY
IS A MYTH
www.kcdiscovery.com
Head for the Hill
A few years ago, when I proposed a Monopoly board layout for KC and included Strawberry Hill, a friend asked, “What’s a Strawberry Hill”. This vibrant Slavic and Latin American community in KCK has a rich history and is full of fantastic spots but even those who may have been to one or two spots have never dug in. Hopefully this highlight reel of Strawberry Hill favorites changes that.
FCS: Best of 2023
For me, this edition of Fountain City Superlatives is always special as I get a chance to recap the year that I had. However, after a year of focusing on almost-exclusively barbeque, I worried that I may not have much more to give. Thankfully, that was not the case. This breaks down the best new things I tried in Kansas City in 2023. Some of the categories you know and love are missing. Some others are brand new. But here lies a, mostly, non-barbeque recap of my year.
FCS: Best of 2022
Every year brings its own path of discovery. 2022 was not only a big year for Kansas City but for me and my own attempts to be more of a tourist in my own city. Of all the new places and things I tried this year, these were my favorites. And so once again, I bring you my end of the year Fountain City Superlatives.
FCS: Best of 2021
As the year comes to a close, I award my Fountain City Superlatives for the 2021 year. As a deviation from what many publications do, these superlatives are much more personal. They are not necessarily the best in KC - they are just the best new experiences I had in KC in 2021. As always, there’s no voters - it’s just me.
The Family Restaurant
Coincidentally, it was my family that introduced me to KoZak’s Laketown Grill because everything this restaurant does has always been about family. It drove the vision to start the restaurant, their local partnerships, and the culture they’ve established for employees and patrons. In less than a decade, KoZak’s has became a cornerstone of Smithville and their elevated comfort foods have created a strong social media presence and a loyal customer base.
Sing The Queen City
In the aftermath of COVID-19, I could not wait to travel again! As a baseball fan with the obvious goal of visiting every Major League Baseball stadium, one had always evaded me - Great American Ballpark, home of the Cincinnati Reds. Prepared to fly for the first time in 16 months, I had no doubts where my first trip would be. While I came for the baseball and chili, I found in the Queen City an absolute gem of a city that more people should be talking about.
The Microquewery
One of the latest entrants to Kansas City’s barbeque scene, there is nothing typical about Fox & Fire Barbecue in North Kansas City. Permanently parked by the Callsign Brewing patio, Fox & Fire is Texas-inspired and Kansas City-infused. A marriage of microbrews and microque, the day-glo orange trailer (and affiliated brewery) is quickly becoming a must-visit weekend destination for many in the metro.
A Most Dangerous Game
At the Hi-Dive Lounge on West 39th, the vintage vending machine that serves as a “mystery beer” dispensary has long been the star attraction. The sweet science of mystery beers is incomplete without the Mystery Beer Draft to determine the selection order of the randomized brews. This piece explores a handful of games that you can play with your friends to determine who drinks which beer.