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
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.
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.
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.
Devan’s Dozen: Sauce Edition
Kansas City BBQ is all about the sauce! Or at least, that’s what strangers try to tell us. Our barbeque is so much more than the sauce but there is no denying it has an important role in our city’s history and whether it is robust, smoky, salty, sour, sweet, savory, or spicy - that barbeque sauce is delightful. It’s the cherry on top of the sundae. In honor of National BBQ Month, I ranked the Top 12 Kansas City BBQ Sauce lineups!
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.
FCS: BBQ Meats
Fountain City Superlatives (FCS) represent the best that Kansas City has to offer in a given category. This edition focuses on the pinnacle of KC’s culinary identity - barbequed meats.