CLICK HERE for KC's famous #BBQBible!
CLICK HERE for KC's famous #BBQBible!
FLYOVER
COUNTRY
IS A MYTH
www.kcdiscovery.com
KCRW 2025 in Review
Simply put, my relationship with Kansas City Restaurant Week (KCRW) is complicated. In recent years, the promotion does not represent the value it once did. However, it still marks the beginning of the calendar for any Fountain City Foodie. The opportunity to support businesses I love and try new things was too much to ignore. This year, I enjoyed five different spots during KCRW, which I chose to grade on meal quality, service, and promotional value.
FCS: Best of 2024
No matter how aware I am of it, this exact article sneaking up on me is becoming a bit of an annual tradition. I am always thankful for this time to reflect on the year that was. So as I recount the “Best of 2024”, and the “Biggest Loss” of the year, it is important to remember that the places named within were not necessarily the very best in KC of a given category or that they were brand new, they were just the best of things that were brand new to me. That distinction is always important.
Shipping Off to Austin
In certain parts of this great nation, barbeque is so much more than food—it’s a religion. Ribs, briskets, and sausages are meant not only to be consumed but revered. Here in Kansas City, we know this all too well. But the burden of my curiosity left me wanting more, so when the chance presented itself to dig into the offerings of another barbeque mecca, I had to take the leap. This is the story of my smoke-filled odyssey through Central Texas.
Manhattan Knight
As Grand Boulevard re-opens after another successful Big XII Basketball Tournament, I think back on my first year as a fan of a Big XII school. As a passionate UCF fan, the addition of the Knights to the conference gave me a number of opportunities to support my team this year, including a memorable day in Manhattan, Kansas. These were some of the highlights.
KCRW 2024 in Review
Every year, Kansas City Restaurant Week (KCRW) creates a golden opportunity for Kansas Citians to try new restaurants and visit familiar favorites, and enjoy unbelievable deals on multi-course meals. Despite the weather and a busy schedule, I found a way to enjoy KCRW as I do every year. And while I enjoyed three fantastic meals, I found myself asking, “Is KC Restaurant Week really the unbelievable deal it once was?” This was my experience.
FCS: BBQ Sides
Oftentimes, my recommendation on what BBQ joint a person should try is simply based on the question of “What do you like?” While that typically is all about the meats, the fact is that the side dishes are just as much a part of the barbeque experience. Typically, BBQ restaurants aren’t judged on everything else but as a follow up to my meat rankings, I decided to rank, well, everything else that can be found at KC BBQ joints.
FCS: The Meats
“With great palate comes great responsibility.” Perhaps that was not the line exactly as Ben Parker famously delivered it, but does it not hold true? Oftentimes, my recommendation on what BBQ joint a person should try is simply based on the question of “What do you like?” With that in mind, after a year that took me to every BBQ joint worth visiting, this column names the best BBQ joints in the metro, based on the cuts of meat where each spot excels.
Everything but the Bread
Every year thousands travel to Kansas City to try the best that the World Capital of Barbeque has to offer. With over a hundred spots to choose from, locals and travels alike visit a number of barbeque restaurants, joints, stands, trucks, and pop-ups, and enjoy a variety of sauces, sides, and smoked meats. Regardless of where they choose to eat or what they order, nearly every single sandwich and tray in the city is united by a common thread. Everyone in KC seems to know it, but nobody really acknowledges KCQ’s best supporting actor.
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.