Joes Kansas City Barbecue, (original location) Kansas City KS

Joes Kansas City Barbecue, Formally known as Oklahoma Joes is a Kansas institution. You can’t talk about the best BBQ in Kansas City without mentioning Joes. It has been voted one of the top barbecue restaurants in the county, and Joes Z-man sandwich is on many peoples must try list. Check the link to see some of their accolades, https://www.joeskc.com/pages/in-the-news

Like any good Barbecue restaurant there is always a line a Joes. The line moves fast but be prepared to spend at least 20 minutes in line. We arrived right when the opened on a Saturday morning and that meant for the first time I was going to be able to try Joes burnt ends. Orders of burnt ends are limited so don’t be surprised if you get there later in the day and they are sold out.

I got the burnt ends with a side of fries, it comes with a slice of bread and a few pickles as well. It has been said many times Joes has the best fries in Kansas City and I would agree. They season them with their barbecue rub and they are delicious. The burnt ends were also spectacular. They were moist, tender, with a good bark and they melted in your mouth. Joes bbq sauce pairs perfectly with their spice rub. It is one of my favorite barbecue sauces I have had at a restaurant. I do prefer the burnt ends over their sliced brisket.

To round out the meal we ordered a half slab ribs with red beans and rice and a chicken Z-man with corn. Joes ribs are among my favorites. They cook them perfectly, their rub flavor pops on the ribs and if you want to add a little sauce it takes them to another level. I always order ribs at Joes. The chicken Z-man was good, but not as good as the rest of the meal. The fries are definitely the best side but the red beans and rice, and the corn are both very good.

I have been to Joes other location and the original gas station spot is hands down the best. The atmosphere is unmatched, and the food always seems to be a touch better than at the other places. It is easy to see why many consider Joes the best in Kansas City. For me it is definitely in the top 5 of places I have tried. I hope everyone gets the opportunity to get out this year and has a meal with a loved one. Check out Joes Kansas City barbecue website: https://www.joeskc.com

travelingbbqer

January 12, 2023 0

2022 wrap up

It is easy to get lost in the day to day grind, but looking back on 2022 as whole makes me realize what an amazing year it has been. We have once again been fortunate enough to travel to some amazing places, some new, and some more familiar. We have seen gorgeous scenery, and have ate some amazing food along the way. We have camped, Airbnb-ed, adults only resorts, and luxury hotels. We took a trip to Texas hill country just the two of us, met family high in the San Juan mountains of Colorado, and went with some dear friends to Rocky Mountain National Park.

2022s best places we stayed in no particular order…

The Imogene Hotel, Ouray Colorado. The Imogene is located on downtown Main Street, within walking distance of bars, restaurants, and shopping. We stayed in the mountain queen room and it was spectacular. https://theimogene.com
Stonebrook resort, Estes Park Colorado. Stonebrook resort is adults only located on Fall River just outside of downtown Estes Park. We stayed in cabin 15, a two bedroom cabin with kitchen, fireplace, and private hot tub. https://www.stonebrookresort.com
Agave nest cottage, Fredericksburg Texas. We found the Agave Nest cabin on Airbnb. It was one block off of Main Street, it was quaint, had a kitchenette, one bedroom with a bonus sitting area.
Loews Hotel, Kansas City Missouri. We visit Kansas City several times a year and have stayed at many different hotels, but none compare to the Loews. It is a luxury hotel located in the crossroads district, just blocks away from the T-mobile Center. We were lucky enough to stay there during our favorite time of year, Christmas and it was spectacular. https://www.loewshotels.com/kansas-city-hotel

2022s best meals (in no particular order)…

Franklin Barbecue, Austin Texas. Franklins is probably the most well Barbecue restaurant in the world, people come from all over the globe to try Franklins brisket. https://franklinbbq.com
Secret Stash Pizza, Crested Butte Colorado. Secret Stash is located on Elk Avenue in the heart of Crested Butte. It is one of the more popular restaurants in town so the wait can be long, but it is worth it. http://www.secretstash.com
Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ, Austin Texas. We were at Valentina’s for breakfast and it was amazing. If I had to choose a last meal the breakfast taco I had that morning at Valentina’s would be on the menu. https://www.valentinastexmexbbq.com
Coffee on the Rocks, Estes Park Colorado. Coffee on the Rocks is a top notch spot to grab a cup of coffee, but what makes special is the ambiance. Get your coffee, head to the pond, feed the ducks, watch the elk, and enjoy the mountain surrounding. https://coffeeontherocks.co/?fbclid=IwAR3xzK_Zm4yrbFVmJOFOXt1XJnR0QY7c4rcaZ9cquFRHGsxE1AC-qWFH6Lg
Hitchin’ Post Steakhouse, Fredericksburg Texas. After a day of wine tasting the steak fingers at the Hitchin’ post really hit the spot for dinner. https://www.hitchinpoststeakhousefbg.com

There are many things to look forward to in 2023 and some planning has already begun. A trip to three national parks has been booked. A few shorter trips to Kansas City are on the calendar. A fall winter trip is currently being discussed, but of all I want to enjoy the day to day. I want be more consistent with posting blogs, cook more, make more videos, focus on a healthier lifestyle, be more present everyday and not get lost in the daily grind of work. I hope everyone makes 2023 a year to remember.

travelingbbqer

January 8, 2023 0

Thee Pitts Again, Silverton CO

Located in the San Juan mountain range, right off the notorious million dollar highway lies Silverton Colorado. Silverton is a small town bustling with activity from tourist shopping and eating along Main Street. Sitting in the middle of Main Street is a bright pink building that is home to Thee Pitts Again BBQ, an award winning barbecue restaurant that has been featured on Diners, Drive-inns, and Dives.

We ordered a variety and shared between all of us at the table. We had chopped brisket, pulled pork, slab of ribs, corn, potato salad, corn bread, beans, and fried pickles.

I have never had much luck with barbecue in tourist towns, but Thee Pitts Again changed that. The food was very good. The pulled pork and brisket were tender, juicy, with good smoke flavor. The ribs were cooked perfectly with a good bark and that same smokey flavor that makes you want to come back for more. The corn was just a basic corn, the potato salad was good, corn bread was delicious, and the beans had good flavor that complimented the meats. Everyone at the table enjoyed their meal on that rainy afternoon. I would definitely recommend Thee Pitts Again Barbecue if you are in Silverton. The scenery around town is definitely worth exploring while you are there.

LRR

travelingbbqer

September 19, 2022 0

Harp Barbecue, Raytown Missouri

Is Texas Barbecue taking over in Kansas City? To answer that question there is one place to start, Harp Barbecue. Harp Barbecue serves out of a back room inside Crane Brewing Company in Raytown Missouri, about 20 minutes outside of downtown Kansas City. Head pit master Tyler Harp grew up in the KC area, but his travels influence his barbecue just as much as his Kansas City roots. Harp Barbecue was recently voted Kansas City’s best barbecue by kansascitymag.com that included the typical KC heavy hitters like Joes, Gates, Arthur Bryants, Q39, and Fiorellas Jack Stack. Ranking number one on a list that includes those names is quite the accomplishment.

Grab a beer up front and head on back to join the line

Harp Barbecue typically only serves their full barbecue menu on Saturdays starting at 11, and offer a taco night on Fridays that starts at 5. This particular weekend however they were serving the full barbecue menu on Friday as well. Follow them on Facebook or Instagram for menu updates.

We joined the line about 5:30 and made it to the front to order in about 20 minutes. While we were there the line stayed pretty consistant in length, so I would say be prepared to wait about 20 minutes to order. With this being our first time we wanted to try a variety of items. We ordered sliced brisket, burnt ends, turkey, half slab of ribs, cheesy corn, beans, and banana pudding. We were sharing ok people lol.

Lets get the sides and dessert out of the way first. The cheesy corn was good, but nothing special. The beans were one of my favorite beans I have had. They were flavorful, with a bit of spice. They had a Texas chili flavor to them, that paired well with BBQ. I will definitely be getting those again.The banana pudding was packed with flavor. It had a pumpkin pie spice, and maybe almond flavor. I enjoyed it, the wife was disappointed there were no banana chunks or wafer in it.

Now for the meats. The Texas influence is all over the flavor profile. The ribs had great flavor, and were meaty, but they needed a little more time in the smoker. They were a little tough. I think about 30 more minutes in the smoker would have done the trick. The brisket was what you would expect from a top pit master, smokey, great beef flavor with good salt and pepper bark, and very tender. I can see why people in Kansas City are loving this brisket. The burnt ends were packed with moisture, with that same bark. They can would up to any KC burnt end I have had. When ordering the cashier mentioned the turkey was the best thing on their menu, and honestly it was right up there with the best on the tray. It had that Texas flavor, very moist, and paired excellent with the tangy sauce Harp offers. Usually turkey is so so but if you go make sure you try it, it is worth a spot on your tray.

Overall the experience at Harp was outstanding. It felt similar to the places I have been in Texas. The atmosphere in Harps serving area, the food, even the line adds to the experience. It is unique to the Kansas City area as far as I know. So is Texas style barbecue taking over KC? I would say not entirely, but Harp Barbecue will be on the scene for a long time to come. They have worked hard to carve out their place in the Kansas City barbecue scene, and have developed quite a following. I can see why many people are ranking Harp Barbecue as one of the best around, it truly is a special place in the Kansas City area. I encourage everyone to plan a visit on a Saturday afternoon. I would like to thank everyone at Harp Barbecue for a memorable evening. Tyler and the team at Harp have created something special in Raytown. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram. I will leave a link to their website as well. https://www.harpbarbecue.com

LRR

travelingbbqer

September 13, 2022 0

BBQ Special Showdown

Almost every Barbecue restaurant does specials. Some run one special all week, others do different items on certain days of the week. These specials can be a big draw for the restaurant. A few weeks ago I happened to try two of these specials just days apart.

Pig In! Pig Out! started in Wichita in 1996 and has recently started serving BBQ pizza on Thursdays. I had driven past the sign for a few weeks before I got the opportunity to stop in for lunch. This was hands down the best BBQ pizza I have had. National pizza chains have tried BBQ pizza in the past but I promise you this beats all of them. Their smoked meats combined with a sweet sauce and perfectly proportioned cheese, this is as good as it gets. One pizza is big enough to split with two people. I had half leftover for lunch the next day. I hope this BBQ pizza is a Thursday staple at Pig in! Pig out! for a long time.

A few days later my in-laws came to town and wanted When pigs fly for dinner. When Pigs fly does weekly specials and this weeks was a BBQ burrito. The person taking our order said it was one of their most popular specials so I decided to give it a shot. It had pulled pork, crispy onion straws, Mac and cheese, bbq sauce, and came with a bag of chips. The burrito was good, meat was a little dry, but overall good flavor. I added a little more bbq sauce to the burrito, but overall I was satisfied with my choice. Every special I have had at When Pigs Fly has been good. They truly are one of the best spots in Wichita to eat.

So which one did I like better? This round has to go to the BBQ pizza at Pig in! Pig out! I was blown away by how good it was. It was one of the best pizzas I have had, and it was from a BBQ spot. Pig in! Pig out! knocked this one out of the park in my opinion. I hear they have added a second pizza to the Thursday lineup, a BBQ chicken pizza that I cannot wait to try. I may just block my calendar this Thursday to ensure I make it over there. Check out both restaurants, link to websites below. https://pipobbq.com https://www.whenpigsflywichita.com

L.R.R.

travelingbbqer

September 6, 2022 0

Franklin Barbecue, Austin Texas

Franklin Barbecue is one of the most talked about and celebrated barbecue restaurants in the country. Honestly if you are reading this you more than likely already know who Aaron Franklin is. He has long been the face of Texas barbecue, celebrated in Texas Monthly’s top 50 multiple times, and James Beard award winner. His book Franklin Barbecue a meat smoking manifesto spent 12 weeks on the New York Times best seller list, an absolute most read for anyone with a smoker.

Knowing the only chance I would have to try Franklins on this trip would be the day we were traveling home we opted to order ahead. Franklins opens preorders 42 days in advance. They require a minimum of 5 pounds for preorders, I got 3 pounds of brisket, a pound of sausage, and a pound turkey. Sauces and bread were provided. I really wanted ribs but I ordered a little to late in the day and they sold out of ribs for preorders. Also, I have no idea why but I didn’t order any sides. I cannot believe I did that, total fail on my part.

When preordering you choose a pickup time and upon arrival they slice and package your order, just like they would inside. Wanting to get out of downtown Austin, we drove about 20 minutes north before setting up lunch on the tailgate of the Jeep. Let’s talk about the turkey and sausage first. The turkey was still moist when we started eating. Franklins cooks whole turkey breast with the skin removed. It had good flavor, smokey, buttery, with a salt and pepper rub. The sausage was similar to the others we had in the Austin area. Both sauces that were provided paired well the turkey and sausage. I would give La Barbecues sausage the edge over Franklins but they are both very good. Now on to the brisket…

Franklins is world renowned for their brisket, and rightfully so. The pictures look good, but I promise it looks better in real life. That bark is a work of art. My mouth waters just thinking about it. The fat is perfectly rendered down and just melts when you touch it. The beef is the star of show, complimented by the salt and pepper based rub. We got a mixture of fatty and lean in our 3 pound order. I have eaten and cooked my fair share of barbecue and I can honestly say Franklins brisket is the best I have ever had. The barky, smokey, juicy, meaty flavor is absolute perfection. Perfectly tender on both the flat and the point meat. There is no need for sauce, it somehow takes away from the brisket.

The next time we are in Austin we will be going to Franklins and waiting in line to get the full Franklins experience. This place is special. The best meal my wife and I have ever had was Franklins barbecue that we ate on the tailgate in the parking lot of an outlet mall in north Austin. Get to Austin, wait in the line, and eat the best brisket around. There could not have been a better way to end our Texas adventure.

travelingbbqer

August 28, 2022 0

Kreuz Market, Lockhart TX

When planning our central Texas road trip we knew a stop in Lockhart needed to be on the agenda, and Kreuz Market was our destination. Kreuz is a staple of the central Texas barbecue scene. The name Kreuz Market first appeared in 1900 and has been operating in Lockhart in a couple of different buildings ever since.

The setup inside Kreuz is unlike anything this Kansas boy has witnessed.

We arrived in Lockhart right at 11 on a Monday. There were a few other patrons already there, but no line that early in the day. Walking in the smell surrounds you, and taking in a deep breath you know you are in the right place for BBQ. I had been in Texas for a few days and hadn’t had a beef rib yet, it was time for that to change.

We ordered at the counter and dug in. We got half a chicken, sausage, brisket, and a beef rib, along with a couple of sides. I dove into the beef rib first, and it was my favorite item on the tray. It was very tender, and moist with a good smokey flavor. It had that traditional central Texas bark. The half chicken had good crispy skin, moist on the inside. The overall flavor of the chicken was a bit salty for my taste, but overall it was good. The sausage was typical for what we had in Texas, good smokey flavor but I wanted something different in the texture. The brisket was a little disappointing if I am honest. It was overcooked slightly which made it dry and crumbly. It had more of a pot roast flavor than I like in brisket. Kreuz was my least favorite brisket of the trip. If I had not ordered the beef rib I would have been disappointed in their beef offerings that day.

For sides we got beans, Mac and cheese, and green beans. The Mac and cheese and green beans were both good. Nothing outstanding about either one, but solid options if you stop there for meal. The beans were by far and away the best side we had there. They had a Mexican flavor, with a hint of smoke, and were delicious. I would definitely recommend getting an order of them.

Overall Kreuz Market was a good meal, but my least favorite overall of the places we sampled while in Texas. They where competing with some of the best so being last on this particular list isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Would I eat there again? Probably, but if I was back in Lockhart I would want try some of the other places before making my way back to Kreuz. Check out their website here: https://www.kreuzmarket.com

Traveling BBQer

August 15, 2022 0

La Barbecue, Austin Texas

Our second stop on our central Texas road trip was La Barbecue. What started as a food truck in 2012 has found a home at 2401 E Cesar Chavez where they have created something special. We arrived on a Sunday morning about 10:45 and joined the line that had wrapped around the corner of the building already.

The smell of the smokers filled the air and everyone in line was eager to eat. It took about an hour from our place in line to the time we got our food. The atmosphere is fun, the Mrs. was digging the music selections, and the decor was unique.

We ordered at the counter, they cut the meat as you order (and pass out a bite of brisket or two while they prepare your order) and we went outside to eat. The weather was gorgeous that day. We ordered sausage, ribs, and brisket. With beans, onions, pickles, and bread to fill out the platter.

Lets start with the sausage. It is a German style sausage like most are in central Texas. It was smokey, flavorful, moist and very good. The ribs were absolutely dynamite. We got the end of the slab which tends to be not as good, but they were still fantastic. The seasoning was perfectly complimented by the glaze. It was a little sweet, a little tangy, with a little heat.

La Barbecue was my first real central Texas brisket experience. Just look at that bark! The bark on a brisket in Texas is sacred. Dark color, moist, and a little sticky to the touch. That bark lets you know the pitmaster put in the time and effort to cook it to perfection. The kind of bark I have only ever seen accomplished by a well ran offset pit. The flavor was outstanding, the fat was well rendered, and was very moist. There were a few sauces on the table to try, but the brisket didn’t need anything, it was great. The beans were different than what I am use to getting at BBQ restaurants, and they were delicious. I would say more of a Mexican style baked bean. We loved them.

It was easy to see why La Barbecue is considered one of the best in Austin by locals and barbecue tourist like myself. Waiting in line smelling the smoke and meat cooking while you anxiously wait your turn to order somehow adds to the experience. The food is incredible, the service was great and people were very friendly. I can see why people say Texas barbecue is the best. I like a lot of spots in my little hometown of Wichita KS, but La Barbecue is on another level. We have nothing that compares to it here. I cannot recommend enough adding La Barbecue to the top of your list of places to eat in Austin if you ever find yourself in central Texas.

June 1, 2022 0

Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ, Austin Tx

I have heard about Valentinas Tex Mex BBQ for a few years so when we started looking at taking a trip to central Texas I saw my opportunity to try their famous breakfast tacos.

One of the breakfast features that morning was The Knockout Taco and after reading the description that is what I decided on. The wife chose the other feature the Manchaca Taco. We ordered, grabbed our drinks out the cooler and sat down outside in the sun to enjoy the spring Texas morning.

The smell coming from the smokers was heavenly

The Knockout Taco is creamy refried beans, potatoes, fried egg, crispy bacon, smoked chorizo, and mesquite smoked brisket, topped with queso and their “gangster salsa”on house-made tortillas.

I will be honest when I first saw this thing I got up and grabbed a fork because I thought there was no way that tortilla was holding up, but it did all the way to last bite. I honestly cannot say enough good things about this. It has a lot going on in that delicious tortilla but it all works! Nothing got overshadowed. The mesquite smoked brisket was tender, and juicy, with great flavor. The chorizo was perfect paired with the brisket, and the egg was a nice over easy with a runny yoke. The potatoes, refried beans, and bacon where all delicious. The queso and gangster salsa topped everything off perfectly. This is hands down the best breakfast taco I have ever had.

I snagged a small bite of sausage off the wifes’ Manchaca Taco, and it was delicious. She was very happy with her choice as well, but I still think she wishes she would have gotten the Knockout, lol. Overall our breakfast at Valentina’s will not be forgotten anytime soon. Do not pass this place by when you are in Austin. It is the real deal. I have two regrets about Valentina’s, 1- we did not go back a second time before leaving Texas. 2 – not trying the barbecue by itself. I would have like to sample more of their of the menu. Please do yourself a favor and go to Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ, it truly was amazing.

The Traveling BBQer

Spotted these two Mill Scale 1000 gallon offsets outback of Valentina’s

April 3, 2022 0

Delano Barbecue Company, Wichita KS

I am no stranger to Delano Barbeque Company, I have eaten lunch there periodically over the last few years. Knowing I would be leaving for central Texas in a couple of days I switched up my order. I chose the two meat dinner with sweet heat pulled pork, and sloppy joe (chopped brisket). It comes with two sides, I selected smoked Mac and cheese and fries. It comes with a drink, and my total was around $13, not bad at all.

Food was ready quick, and I was ready to eat. Lets start with the sides. the fries are hand cut, and seasoned with what I am guess is some of their rub. That is a nice touch in my opinion, it is a great way to incorporate the bbq flavor into the sides. They crispy and were very good dipped in the mild sauce on the table. The smoked Mac and cheese was your typical Mac and cheese, nothing really stood out about it. There was no smoke taste to it, which was kind of disappointing.

Now lets get down to business, the meats. The sweet heat pulled pork had a unique flavor. There was a little heat in the pork, it was tender, and flavorful. Overall it was good, and nice change from the usual pulled pork. The mild sauce paired well with it, and balanced out the heat in the pork. The chopped brisket sloppy Joe mixture was good, but it belongs on a bun. The brisket was very finely ground and is hard to tell that is brisket. This would make a very good sloppy Joe, but it was a little much for me on its own. I will say this was an usual order for me, I would usually order sliced brisket so maybe that is why it really didn’t do it for me.

Overall I would give my meal that day a 3.5. Good overall, but nothing that made me think I have to get this again. If you find yourself in the Delano district shopping, or going to a game at riverfront stadium stop at Delano Barbeque Company and give it a try for yourselves and let me know your thoughts.

The Traveling BBQer

March 19, 2022 0