Home of the One and Only Kansas City #BBQBible!
Home of the One and Only Kansas City #BBQBible!
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Devan’s (Double) Dozen: BBQ Edition, Part I
After a year that took me to nearly every barbeque restaurant, joint, stand, pop-up, and concept in the Kansas City metro, a lot of readers were left asking the one question I had failed to answer, “Which is best?” Here in Kansas City, talking about barbeque is as common as discussing the weather or the local sports team, but far more precarious. The BBQ joint one person swears by will be the one another swears they won’t visit again. That didn’t stop me from weighing in with the first-ever double edition of Devan’s Dozen. This part contains a countdown from #24 to #13!
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: 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.
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.
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.
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.
KCRW 2023: A Preview
Every January, for 10 glorious days, the Kansas City restaurant community bands together to offer “affordable, adventurous dining” for all. As an added caveat, a portion of all proceeds always are donated to a worthwhile local cause. With the KC Restaurant Week menus starting to be released and so many options, here’s a few recommendations. Last year, I did a review of KCRW. This year, I offer a preview.
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!