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
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.
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.
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.
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.