Kansas City Gets Some Good, National Press This Week

Seen this week, out on the interwebs. We get some promotion.

Weekend Trips to Take This Summer

Missouri: Kansas City

Known for its jazz heritage and incredible barbecue, Kansas City, Missouri, a somewhat underappreciated city, is not only a cheap weekend getaway but an exciting one, too. This is the perfect family-friendly destination. Take the kids to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, enjoy Free Friday Night Flicks at Crown Center, view tons of wildlife in William M. Klein Park and explore nature at the Lakeside Nature Center. Be sure to make time for a Boulevard Brewing tour; taste drinks you can't get elsewhere.

So kudos, Kansas City. Maybe get out there and enjoy some old favorite place or find a new one. Enjoy. And have a great weekend.

Kansas City Gets Another Great Write-Up

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Kansas City did, in fact, get yet another good, positive, maybe glowing write up by way of this clickbait article from The Daily Mail. It was in the following article.

 

The Biggest City in Every State

What they had to say about us:

Not to be confused with the neighboring city of the same name in Kansas itself, this is a beautiful city of approximately 480,000 that is often missed by tourists. It said that only Rome has more fountains than Kansas City, Missouri, which also supposedly has more boulevards than Paris. Art deco buildings decorate downtown streets, and the historic city market has plenty of dining and shopping options, as well as a farmers market. The 18th and Vine Historic District houses the American Jazz Museum as well as the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and other museums in the city include the National World War I Museum and Liberty Memorial, Crown Center (home of Hallmark Cards and the Hallmark Museum), and a few art museums to boot. The Crossroads Arts District has been referred to as the SoHo of the Midwest, and is particularly busy during the summer. The Kansas City food scene is another reason to stop here. Barbecue food is a local specialty, and the American Royal BBQ Contest is the largest of its kind.

Not just the biggest city in the state but maybe one of the best, as well?

Enjoy your Sunday, y'all.

Kansas City gets some high profile recognition

Here it is, one more list Kansas City is on---and this time we hit it rather big. The number one spot over at the Huffington Post:

America's Top 5 Cities To Keep On Your Radar

What they said about us (after using our own Eric Bowers' photograph, no less):

Get to the Green Lady Lounge for some jazz, eat awesome BBQ at Q39, and don't forget to check out the historic City Market. The food is amazing, nearly everything is affordable, and the people are nice.

Sure, it's brief but hey, we got big exposure, some nice things said about us and we're in this number one spot.

So now go out there and be nice, people.

Have a great weekend.

Kansas City on "Best BBQ" list

As we should be, Kansas City is all over a list out last evening on Yahoo! News about the nation's "Best and Worst Barbecue":

Ultimate BBQ Sauce Taste Test | The Daily Meal

First up is

I'd never heard of it.

What they had to say about it:

"Tangy and sweet, well balanced, and lots of flavor," said one taster, and just about everyone else agreed.

Cattlemen’s had a nice blend of spice and a hint of brown sugar, but one taster found it "mono-dimensional."

Next up was

And they said:

The original Kansas City barbecue sauce, this one still stands tall among the pack. Heavy on the smoke and not too sweet, spicy, or acidic, the only negative was that the smokiness was a bit too overpowering for some.

Now, to be clear, these are the ones the rated:

KC Masterpiece, Stubb’s, Hunt’s, Bull’s-Eye, Sweet Baby Ray’s, Cattlemen’s Reserve, Kraft, Open Pit, Jack Daniel's, or pitmaster Brad Orrison’s new line called The Shed.

And that, right there, to me, makes the whole thing suspect. Very suspect, at that.

You rated corporate barbecue like Kraft and Hunt's?

Are you kidding me? 

And you want or expect to be taken seriously?

Where's all the Texas and North Carolina and Memphis brands and styles, let alone Bryant's and all the others that SHOULD be on this list?

Seriously people?

And then, too, they only rated 8 sauces.

Eight.

And again, they expect to be taken seriously.

The good news is Kansas City is on the list.

The bad news is that the list sucks and really can't be given any validity.

Links:

Click to see More of the Best and Worst Barbecue Sauces

Click Here for the Ultimate Barbecue Sauce Taste Test Slideshow

Good word out on our fair city

Out today from Travel & Leisure Magazine and now, the Kansas City Star:

Travel + Leisure ranks KC as nation's most affordable getaway

Not only that but we rank No. 1.

What they have to say:

No. 1 Kansas City, MO

It’s one of the few cities where hotel prices have stayed the same or even dropped in the past year (the average summer rate is $137, according to Kayak). Sightseeing also remains a great value: you’ll get in free at three of Kansas City’s main art museums, as well as two fun factory-style tours (the Hallmark Visitors Center and the Boulevard Brewing Company). The savings continue at dinnertime. KC won the survey for its budget-minded, slow-smoked barbecue: a classic “burnt ends” sandwich at Danny Edwards’ Boulevard BBQ is just $5.99.

So kudos, Kansas City. If anything, let's just make it better.

Link to the Star's coverage of it:  Travel + Leisure ranks KC as nation's most affordable getaway

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/21/4246261/kansas-city-offers-nations-most.html#storylink=cpy

Goin' down to Rosedale...

Interesting, teasing ad from Oklahoma Joe's today

From their Facebook page:

 

We can hardly wait.

October is "National Vegetarian Awareness Month"?

Does this seem like a good idea?

Don't get me wrong, I think it's great if someone is vegetarian, for sure. In fact, I try to eat lots more vegetables and fruits for my health and waist, everything, sure. I can't do away, totally, with meat in my diet yet but I do all right. I think I probably eat less red meat, at least, than the average American.

My point is, if we're talking increasing vegetarian awareness, wouldn't it make more sense to do it in, say, August, because of the heat? I know it's a lot easier for me to eat more vegetables in the form of salads and so on, because it's usually so bloody hot (no pun intended) here in the Midwest. And this year would have been a great one for it, since we were so much hotter than normal.

In October, when it's getting cooler, as it's about to, here in the Midwest this week, it seems like that's the time when people are maybe firing up more barbecues to grill--gasp--red meat (or chicken or pork or whatever).

Barbecue seems to taste especially good when it's cooler but maybe that's me.

Anyway, here's to National Vegetarian Awareness Month.

Maybe put on that big pot of vegetable soup.

Good luck with it.

Link: http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/features-month/october/vegetarian-awareness-month

Kansas City, from MSN

Link to original post: http://rediscover.msn.com/city/253392723

KC Barbecue gets heads up from Bon Appétit

Here it is, this time Trader Joe's Kansas City style barbecue sauce gets the raves with coverage on Yahoo! News last evening:

Supermarket Standoff: Barbecue sauces

Bon Appétit

When they're not busy tasting dishes over and over, Bon Appétit's food editors are tasting other stuff like different brands of chicken stock. Because while we're into making things from scratch, sometimes there just isn't time to brown veal bones for rich broth, or simmer strawberries into preserves. When we do cut corners, though, we want to do it in the tastiest possible way -- hence the taste tests of store-bought items.

Today's item: barbecue sauce.

Sure, food editor Hunter "Carolina Boy" Lewis might have a mean recipe handed down to him by his great grandfather, but most of us don't.

The good news? Many bottled sauces -- some of them made by big companies, some of them by two dudes with a passion and a big ol' stockpot -- are darn good. Here are six of our favorites.

Trader Joe's Kansas City Style

"This is a total cheat sheet sauce." Translation: It's adaptable, and you could "put it on chicken and fake that it's charred." It's smoky, sweet, and has a pronounced tomato flavor.

$2.69 at Trader Joe's in New York City.

The conclusion?

Trader Joe's has been good for Kansas City and in return, Kansas City has been good for and to Trader Joe's.

Bon appétit, indeed.

Link: http://shopping.yahoo.com/news/supermarket-standoff--barbecue-sauces.html

On Oklahoma Joe's Barbecue

I'll be happy--very happy--when the newness of Oklahoma Joe's Barbecue is over.

I'd like to get back to more people liking more than one barbecue joint in town.

This week, they're being covered yet again. This time by The Pitch Magazine. (link below).

I mean, come on, Joe's is good, sure, but this whole trendy, citywide zeitgeist that they're the best right now is far too lemming-like, for me, anyway.

As I've said here before, I hate trends and trendiness, period, but I especially dislike food trends. They're the worst.

Can we not think and act as individuals?

Are we not capable of that? Of independent thought?

Between its newness and the fact that Anthony Bourdain likes them and put them on his TV show ("No Reservations") and a local food blogger came out and said they were "best" on Mr. Bourdain's same show, it makes it "their time." And it's cool, too. I love the idea that it's in a gas station. So sure, I get all that. Fine.

I'll just be glad when all the new wears off and the hoopla is over.

The only thing is, it will all be replaced with some other new, "next" trend.

And it will start all over again.

In the meantime, you can find me at Arthur Bryant's.

Link: http://www.pitch.com/kansascity/oklahoma-joes-jeff-stehney/Content?oid=2914103

Happy National Barbecue Month!

Go get 'em! Get out there and enjoy your Kansas City barbecue, either at home or out at one of our restaurants! Go to a new place you've never been before! Go to an old favorite! Introduce friends to your favorite place, whatever. Let's get out there this month and enjoy!
(And did you even know there is a National Barbecue Association? You can find them here: http://www.nbbqa.org/).

In case you missed Kansas City Barbecue on the Travel Channel

For Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations" program last evening on Kansas City and our barbecue, go here: http://www.travelchannel.com/video/relive-kansas-city-with-tony

Arthur Bryant's big, national honor

The Daily Meal, an online media site about all things food, just ranked the "101 Best Restaurants for 2012" and--get this--Arthur Bryant's Barbecue came out in the 48th spot. Wow. You should see the big names they're in there with, nationally. Outstanding. Two other things to note about this list. First, the American Restaurant is nowhere on the list and I thought it would be and second, Bryant's is the ONLY Kansas City restaurant on it. Yikes. Link: http://www.thedailymeal.com/101-best-restaurants-america

KC: One of America's Best BBQ Cities

Okay, well, it's no surprise and we should be on this list, of course, but Kansas City is US News & World Report's Travel list of "America's Best BBQ Cities." Not only that, but we're ranked number 3, too, behind only Lockhart, Texas and Memphis, Tennessee. What they have to say: "This Midwestern town has cultivated its own (very popular) version of the cuisine. It's hard to resist the thick, tangy sweet sauce served at Kansas City heavyweights like Arthur Bryant's and Gates Bar-B-Que." We Couldn't agree more. Last note: My question now is, unless maybe you're from St. Louis, who knew they did barbecue? (No. 7 so yeah, we beat em). Link: http://travel.usnews.com/gallery/Americas_Best_BBQ_Cities/Kansas_City_1680/

Happier news coverage: NPR also went to Gates BBQ

Yes, fortunately, Scott Simon, reporter and voice for NPR not only covered our dreadful KCMO School District yesterday but also went to our very own Gates Barbecue restaurant, thank goodness, and reported on them, too: At Gates Bar-B-Q, The Ultimate Flavor Lies in Burnt Ends Link: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/02/18/147062213/at-gates-bar-b-q-the-ultimate-flavor-lies-in-burnt-ends

Kansas City, barbecue and Debbie Gold in "Taste of the NFL"

There is an article right now in Forbes Magazine on "Super Bowl's 'Taste Of the NFL' - The Best Food Event You Never Heard Of" and apparently, the city's own Debbie Gold of the American Restaurant represented our fair city. This is, as you might guess, an annual event and charity fund raiser--for food banks across the country--that takes place before the big day, in the host city, and has for the last 21 years. A description: "every one of the NFL’s 32 teams picks a chef, restaurant and dish they think represents their hometown taste, and these are all assembled under one roof. Each chef gets a stand and serves up a small plate, accompanied by a carefully chosen wine paring (you can go back as many times as you want). Also, each team sends an ambassador, a current or former player, to man the booth, signing autographs, and in many cases, talking food with the guests." It was also covered on NBC's "Today" show, for that matter. (see links below) According to the article: "The Kansas City Chiefs honored their legendary hometown BBQ heritage with Cider Braised Pork Shoulder with Caramelized Onions." Ms. Gold said of it "This is one of the years best events and I am proud to be a (sic) part of it!" So no, of course our team wasn't in the Super Bowl--as if--but at least we were represented here--and very well, I'm sure--by Debbie Gold, the American Restaurant and some great Kansas City barbecue. Many thanks to Ms. Gold, the Chiefs and the American Restaurant for representing us so very well, I'm sure. Links: http://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2012/02/09/super-bowls-taste-of-the-nfl-the-best-food-event-you-never-heard-of/2/; http://www.tasteofthenfl.com/index.htm;

NPR's Scott Simon in town

According to KCUR's Facebook page, "Scott Simon, host of NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday, is in KC this week. You can follow his adventures on twitter @nprscottsimon: 'Spoke w/ Ollie Gates of KC BBQ fame. Place is neat, clean, fabled. Urged 'burnt ends' on us. Sez real Q has smoke, fire.'" We'll see what comes from it, whether or not we're on the program, one way or another. Links: http://www.kcur.org; https://www.facebook.com/#!/nprweekend

Arthur Bryant's via Australia

There's an article in an Aussie rag about our own Arthur Bryant's Barbecue: Humble Kansas restaurant Arthur Bryant's Barbecue has some famous fans Don'tch'a just love how people so frequently assume that, because it's Kansas City, that it's also gotta' be Kansas? That kills me. A bit of what they say (link at bottom): "Arthur Bryant's resembles a cafeteria from the 1950s, because it hasn't changed since it catered to baseball players and fans from a nearby (and long gone) stadium." Link: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/travel/world/humble-kansas-restaurant-has-some-famous-fans/story-fn302659-1226254410567

Kansas City on Frommer's "Top Destinations of 2012" list!

Kansas City was named one of the top destinations for 2012 by Frommer's Travel Guide. And get this--we're the only US city on the list. They give us kudos for the Kauffman Center, the WWI Museum, the Nelson--of course--our barbecue, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and more. So good on you, Kansas City. Enjoy this ranking--and all the city has to offer. Links: http://www.frommers.com/micro/2011/top-destinations-2012/kansas-city-missouri.html; Full list here: http://www.frommers.com/micro/2011/top-destinations-2012/index.html#ixzz1bo9k9OCi