Kansas City Likes BBQ With a ‘Q’
Sparxafire!
Today, we deliciously explore Kansas City barbeque. Yum. (understatement)
When I Google “Kansas City barbeque” I get about 31,000 hits. It appears, I am not the first to mention KCBBQ online. So, the history and the developments and the milestones and so on are already well-documented. And, it is not the point of this blog to provide what is already provided elsewhere. Thus I provide you my unique perspective on this subjective topic.
KCBBQ is not only ecstatically delicious, it really is the best in the world - all subjectivity aside, native Kansas Citians know this to be fact. We know this, even though, when we travel to other cities, we do not bother to sample their bbq. This includes Texas bbq, which attempts in a blunt-force Texas-y way, to insinuate its inferior, ham-handed bbq product on the unsophisticated.
There may be other cities or regions that try to claim bbq as an asset. I couldn’t/wouldn’t say.
If KCBBQ owes a nod or debt of gratitude to any other region for its unqualified superiority, it might be Memphis, the home town of Henry Perry, who moved to Kansas City in 1907. Perry set up a little alley stand in Kansas City’s Garment District to serve smoked meats to the workers. It was the marriage of his peppery sauce with Kansas City beef that clicked. So, thank you, Memphis for Mr. Perry.
Two of Perry’s employees were guys named Charlie Bryant and Arthur Pinkard. Charlie established the KCBBQ institution now known as Arthur Bryant’s, and Arthur Pinkard teamed up with George Gates to found another - Gates and Sons Bar-B-Q.
Thus, in Kansas City, Bryant and Gates are perhaps the two fundamental legs upon which all others stand.
Which is better? Bryants or Gates? Ah, this depends completely on the unique, one-of-a-kind configuration of taste buds and papillae and gustatory cells that are precisely configured on your particular tongue map, soft palate and epiglottis.
So while KCBBQ is not strictly a Kansas City “identity,” it is certainly a fundamental characteristic, steeped in truth and the purest authenticity. And please, remain calm. This is only my first post about KCBBQ! Sparxafire, indeed.
June 23rd, 2007 at 8:00 pm
What?!
Anybody who knows anything about BBQ knows that Memphis is the home to the best BBQ around.
Have you ever even tried Memphis BBQ? Obviously not, because if you had you would be writing about how Kansas City could learn a lot from Memphis about BBQ.
You should take a road trip to Memphis so you can see just what you’re missing over there in KC.
I just can’t believe you think Kansas City has the best BBQ.
I’m going to go eat some delicious Memphis BBQ right now to help me get over this terrible insult to Memphis BBQ!
June 24th, 2007 at 12:14 am
Ah, Sara,
I understand how you would feel so defensive… as people who are No. 2 always do. No… I’ve never tried Memphis BBQ… I didn’t even know you had any! I mean, Kansas City is widely known for its BBQ whereas Memphis is widely known for Elvis! And that’s fine! Really! You should be proud of Elvis! But while my post offers a proper nod to the Memphis birthplace of Kansas City’s BBQ King, that’s all you’ll be likely to get… just a nod. The sauce is one thing, it’s the MEAT that matters… and obviously, Memphis can’t compete with KC, located as we are, right in the middle of cattle country! I’m sorry you feel insulted, but I’m afraid you’re just embarrassing yourself here!
November 12th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
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November 21st, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Well I would say that I like BBQ
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:04 am
Excellent content and style…keep up the good work!