Kansas City BBQ (and bbq in general)

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

No surprise who #1 is, but always interesting to see who are the other top competitors in these lists.

America's Best Cities for Barbecue | Travel + Leisure

[cartman]

Really isn't surprising who #1 is, but it is always interesting to see what other cities are considered.

Best BBQ Cities in America - Best Places to Eat BBQ

[albionmoonlight]

. . . wonders when a poster from Memphis is going to show up

[britrock88]

Glad to see Lexington get a bit of recognition.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

. . . wonders when a poster from Memphis is going to show up

Memphis actually has some good stuff. Had some dry rub ribs last time I was down there that were fantastic.

[albionmoonlight]

I have not (yet) done a national BBQ tour. But in my head, and from everything I've heard, Kansas City, Memphis, and Austin are 1,2,3 in some order.

[MizzouRah]

I have the best BBQ right from my backyard.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Forgot to post this from earlier this month, but the World Series of BBQ Championship (considered the top crown for BBQ cooks) is being moved to Arrowhead Stadium to accommodate the growing crowds.

American Royal Announces Move for Annual World Series of Barbecue Championship

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Forgot to post this from earlier this month, but the World Series of BBQ Championship (considered the top crown for BBQ cooks) is being moved to Arrowhead Stadium to accommodate the growing crowds.

American Royal Announces Move for Annual World Series of Barbecue Championship

[JAG]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Forgot to post this from earlier this month, but the World Series of BBQ Championship (considered the top crown for BBQ cooks) is being moved to Arrowhead Stadium to accommodate the growing crowds.

American Royal Announces Move for Annual World Series of Barbecue Championship

Hope they wear ear protection.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Photo from today at Q39 here in KC. Andrew Zimmern is evidently in town filming his show.

[Cap Ologist]

Originally Posted by JAG

Hope they wear ear protection.

Nicely played!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

America’s 35 Best Ribs 2015 | The Daily Meal

[cartman]

If any of our STL area FOFCers are going to Q in the Lou in a couple of weeks, The Salt Lick will be there, as well as several other nationally known pitmasters.

Q in the Lou Pitmasters

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by cartman

If any of our STL area FOFCers are going to Q in the Lou in a couple of weeks, The Salt Lick will be there, as well as several other nationally known pitmasters.

Q in the Lou Pitmasters

Thanks!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Reading Joe Poz's article about my favorite restaurant makes my mouth water.

The Proper Way to Order Bryant’s Burnt Ends | NBC SportsWorld

[flere-imsaho]

Right before lunch, too. Thanks a lot, jerk.

[cartman]

Looks like my dinner plans are set for next Friday and Saturday night.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lone-st...ts-19364541866

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lone-st...ts-19368469614

[dave731]

If ever in Hilton Head, try The SmokeHouse bbq....really good stuff!

[Julio Riddols]

I learned to make my own BBQ sauce this past year using a recipe.. Slow cooked pulled pork at my house is the best BBQ I have ever had.

The recipe is this one:

Sweet/Spicy BBQ

With a few mods:

Instead of 1 tbl worcestershire sauce use 1/2 cup.
Add 2 cloves of garlic (minced).
Delete pepper sauce.
Use 1 teaspoon of ground cayanne pepper.

Boil that til it mixes real well, then sit it in a fridge over night. Put it in a slow cooker with some pork shoulder the next day and let it go for about 8 hours. For added flavor, marinate the pork in it while it sits overnight.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Replay of the KC episode of Bizarre Foods is replaying today at 1:00 EST on the Travel Channel if anyone missed it last week. It's very BBQ heavy for obvious reasons.

[cartman]

Finally made it out to Snow's BBQ in Lexington, TX. Only open on Saturday mornings, and several places have named it the best BBQ in Texas. The pitmaster is an 83 year old grandma, and she recently was named a James Beard semi-finalist.

The food definitely lived up to the hype. Had to wait a little over an hour, and then drive an hour and a half back home.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by cartman

Finally made it out to Snow's BBQ in Lexington, TX. Only open on Saturday mornings, and several places have named it the best BBQ in Texas. The pitmaster is an 83 year old grandma, and she recently was named a James Beard semi-finalist.

The food definitely lived up to the hype. Had to wait a little over an hour, and then drive an hour and a half back home.

[albionmoonlight]

Very likely going to KC at the end of the month for a training.

I'm actually thinking of going up a day early just to make sure I get enough BBQ before my co-workers show up and I have to start agreeing with people where to go. (Complicated by the fact that that would be Memorial Day, so several places will be closed).

It seems like the consensus now is to try and hit at least a few of

Bryant's
Joe's
Jack Stack
Gates
Q39

If folks here have updates, I am happy to hear them.

[Scarecrow]

If you're coming to KC, this my be of some help: The A-Z list of Kansas City-area barbecue restaurants, food trucks

My opinion of those you listed:
Bryant's: great meat, don't like their sauce. I have taken Gates BBQ sauce into Arthur Bryant's before.
Joe's: A must. I've waited in line 60 minutes before, and I hate waiting in lines. Can't go wrong with a Z-Man or their ribs
Jack Stack: Was alright. A little too formal for me. The atmosphere has more of a steakhouse vibe to it
Gates: Great sauce and great atmosphere (Hi, may I help you). Been many times to most (if not all) of them. Food is usually on, but there are times I've been and it misses.
Q39: Like Jack Stack, the food was good, but didn't care for the atmosphere. It has that 'industrial for millennials' look/feel.

[albionmoonlight]

Thanks!

What are your thoughts on Danny Edwards?

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

Thanks!

What are your thoughts on Danny Edwards?

Never been there, only because the 2 best mexican restaurants (Ponaks and Margaritas) are within a couple blocks of Danny Edwards.

[kcchief19]

Danny Edwards is good but it’s more of a lunch place. Don’t think they open for dinner and it’s super casual. I wouldn’t put in my Tourist Top 5. It’s more of deep dive for locals.

Bryant’s carries a historic reputation but I think the consensus is that it’s not what it once was. Scarecrow is right about Jack Stack downtown. The original restaurant is where to go but it’s only practical if you’re staying on the south side. Go to the one downtown if you need a fancy dinner place.

I’m a Q39 hater although it is the hip trendy place. Side dishes are mediocre, menu is overpriced and the meats are inconsistent.

Definitely hit Joe’s, it’s worth it. I think Gates is worth it for a local experience. But 90 percent of KC barbecue restaurants are worth it. Bad ones don’t survive.

[albionmoonlight]

Thanks for all the advice.

I flew in early the first day and Ubered to Joe's to get there when it opened. I got the pork ribs and brisket plate. It was the best BBQ of the trip. Amazing. And the spicy slaw was great (and NC is known for slaw, so that's a real complement).

Then I walked to HopCat to try local beers. Notable how things got much more developed when I crossed from the KS side to the MO side. (And I realize I might be entering into a huge debate here. I don't mean to take a side. I just noticed that it was less run down when I crossed into MO). The local beers are good.

Then I walked back downtown to the hotel to walk off the beer and BBQ. Hot day. Y'all could stand to plant more shade trees :-)

My co-workers had heard of Jack Stack, so we went to the downtown one. It was fine. My co-worker got the fried mushrooms. They were big as your fist and had a real rich mushroom flavor. Surprisingly great as a side.

Got Bates pulled pork at a catered event. It was meh, but steam tray catered BBQ is always meh, so the real grade is incomplete. Won't hold it against them.

Finally, got the burnt ends at Bryant's Amazing. Not quite Joe's, but really really good.

Couple random KC observations:

I love that y'all have very few chain places in town. Most cities, you have CVS or a Kinkos on every block. Y'all have managed to keep that stuff out. Not sure if that's intentional or organic, but it's refreshing.

Very few pedestrians. Even at night when it wasn't as hot, there just weren't a lot of people walking on the roads.

Your airport is weird. Not saying it's better or worse. But it's weird.

Overall, a good trip. Thanks for the advice.