This post is the first in a series exploring all that Kansas City, Missouri (the location of NAFSA’s 2010 Annual Conference & Expo) has to offer. Thanks to Michael Hernandez of Park University and the 2010 Local Arrangements Team for this contribution. Add your own Kansas City barbecue recommendations, barbecue recipes, and barbecue trivia as comments!
“Kansas City barbecue” refers to the specific inner-city style of barbecue that evolved from the pit of cook Henry Perry in the early 1900s in the city’s 18 th and Vine district. (That neighborhood soon became famous in its own right for fostering the development of jazz greats like Count Basie and Charlie Parker. Visit the district and learn about its history at NAFSA’s cultural evening at the American Jazz Museum on Wednesday, June 2!)
Today Kansas City has more than 100 barbecue restaurants and is known in Missouri as “world’s barbecue capital.” U.S. presidents and presidential hopefuls have all made a point to feast on the city’s barbecue when passing through.
Some of the best and most diverse barbecue restaurants in Kansas City are within a short cab or bus ride from the convention center and NAFSA hotels, and many of them have direct connections to Henry Perry, including Arthur Bryant’s, which carried on Perry’s tradition after he passed away, and Gates and Sons Bar-B-Q, started by George Gates and one of Perry’s cooks, Arthur Pinkard, in 1946.
For the same traditional barbecue in an upscale setting, try Fiorella’s Jack Stack BBQ. You can also hit Winslow’s, Rosedale Barbeque, and Danny Edwards BBQ. No matter which restaurant you choose, after consuming large amounts of pork ribs, smoked chicken, brunt ends, or sausage, you will never think the same about barbecue again!
You should definitely try Oklahoma Joe’s bbq while in KC – the original one. It’s in a gas station, and you will have to wait in line for their amazing pork sandwiches, beans and fries. (There are more things there too but those are the best) They’ve been on the Food Network multiple times and are the absolute BEST! http://www.oklahomajoesbbq.com/
Michael: Don’t know if this is true or not, but one day we were in Gates Barbeque sitting next to a group of men from out of town. They are a group of barbeque aficionados that travel across the US to taste barbeque. They said Kansas City is the only place to get burnt ends. That is why they traveled to KC. Something new for NAFSAs to try out while they are here.
Julia
KU Medical Center
KC and BBQ… Yum yum..
Next time I’m in KC, I’ll be trying the burnt ends at Gates Barbeque myself..
In fact, burnt ends would also be a nice addition to my bbq chicken recipe site. Know where I could find a good one to share with my readers?
If not, no biggie, I’ll figure it out eventually=)
Cheers to Great Events and Delicious BBQ!
Shane in Wyo
Follow BBQChickenRecipes on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/bbq_chicken
My all-time favorite BBQ restaurant has to be Oklahoma Joe’s BBQ and Catering (http://www.oklahomajoesbbq.com)! From it’s one-of-a-kind locale – check it out inside a gas station! – to its melt-in-your-mouth onion rings and season-just-right fries…the barbecue isn’t the only reason to go! I’d recommend the smoked turkey, although my husband says you can’t go wrong with the Z-Man sandwich! It’s definitely one of the restaurants I miss most when I travel, and one of the first things I want to eat when I return! And, it’s just a short 9 minute (9 km) cab ride from the Convention Center. OK Joe’s isn’t open on Sundays, so plan accordingly and ENJOY!
Ribs and beans! If you have like BBQ beans, must try Zarda’s, Gates’, or Jack Stack’s…
Hi from Kansas City, Missouri. I am also giving props to Fiorella’s Jack Stack. Definitely one not to miss. There are two locations, one on the Country Club Plaza and the other is in the Freight District – which offers a more urban vibe. My favorite is the turkey, but the beans are excellent as they use the drippings from the beef brisket. *Salivating*
Hello from Upstate NY! Having lived in Kansas before, I can attest to how amazing the BBQ is in this city. Is there any chance we can organize a BBQ crawl?
I absolutely love KC BBQ. There’s nothing better