Culinary Explorations: Barbecue

When I came to live in the Kansas City area,in 1981, one of the great foods I was introduced to was Barbecue. Of course I probably ate BBQ previously in New England, North Carolina and Michigan, where I lived, before moving to Kansas. I guess I don't remember either because of one of several reasons : (1) the BBQ wasn't that good; (2) I have tasted much finer BBQ fare in Kansas City, and remember the meal better : (3) or maybe my BBQ tastebuds have been honed and refined since then.

My first introduction to (Kansas City ) barbecue was meaty and moist beef burnt ends, which I still love. I believe it was from the first Fiorella's in Martin City, MO but in any case, this is the place that I remember as being the first. The ambiance, the smoky delicious smells, the food, everything was great. While I have been to the others in this mini BBQ chain, this one is the best because of the food and ambiance.

Since then, I have eaten in several BBQ places but decided to get in on the judging of BBQ at various cook offs. It's fun, informative and I've met some interesting people. Some of the judges, I see at other cookoffs and we renew BBQ memories and what they have eaten lately that they enjoyed. I also chime in with my recent favorites. I have been judging for 6 years and became certified a few years ago. To become certified requires a little cash and time. There is a three hour seminar/ workshop that is held in parts of Kansas City and I took part in one that was fun and informative. Then we were sworn in and can call yourself a judge.

Here is a listing of upcoming BBQ (judging and cookoff events). They are all over the country but I usually go to the ones in Missouri and the Kansas City area.


http://www.kcbs.us/events.php

I also know more about the other BBQ meccas Memphis, Texas, North Carolina and their differences with meats, sauces, condiments, rubs and more. I've learned a lot by tasting , making my own with my Weber grill and cooking international BBQ recipes. I love Korean beef BBQ that I made. I am always looking for good BBQ favorites (so if you have one email me. I will also post with your permission if you want).

Another place is Jess & Jim's Steak House that I ate at once with a bunch of teachers as a going away party. All I remember the steak was huge, the taste was delicious and the price (which I did not have to pay for , was exhorbitant).

One place I loved is LC's near Raytown, MO. I had heard about its great BBQ for a long time.I finally found it coming back in Missouri while stormchasing one afternoon. The place is not much to look at inside or outside. But it's the food that calls for the main conclusions. I ordered burnt ends. I received the order and it was literally full of burnt ends not the measly little bunch you get at other BBQ places (like Foreilla). It lined the whole Styrofoam box. That is what you pay for - the meat. If you want sides that is extra but hey I came for the meat and the BBQ just that is it was bargain. My wife and I made 5 good sandwiches out of it. The burnt ends were meaty, had plenty of flavor and the sauce was one of the best I have ever tasted.

Another is Oklahoma Joe's which now is closer for me to reach as a short destination, in Olathe, KS. The sauce rivals LC's in my opinion, (fantastic). But the burnt ends were meaty, smoky and had a superb taste and my wife agreed which really puts it high on the listing.

I've also had burnt ends here once or twice and is very good too. Place is not as fancy as OK Joe's in Olathe, but the food is good BBQ.

I've been at Golden Corral, Ryan's, Home Town and others. They offer BBQ at some of the buffets either all the time or once certain days. While I did not really like the Home Town Buffet restaurant, the best dish at Hometown Buffet in Shawnee, KS was the sweet tomato juicy baked meaty beef ribs. Now that was awesome.

I have been to Gates once or twice but it is not my favorite BBQ place. The burnt ends were not as good and I definitely do not like the watery sauce and its flavor.


The same goes for Arthur Bryant's.

Several of the other Asian places have had beef and pork ribs. I only try beef ribs they are usually good but to tell your the truth I prefer the ones I make on my BBQ and with ethnic BBQ recipes that I find on the Food Channel, in all my cookbooks and more. I will be posting some more soon.

Also in 1999, while helping with a group to see an eclipse in Hungary, we traveled ate Medieval BBQ in a castle. It was an awesome night of interesting BBQ. Everything was good except for the nasty Blood Sausage. I am always "game" to try something new and I did. But it definitely ranks up there up there with one of the all time nasty and bizarre foods that I have eaten.

Now in South Africa, BBQ alligator was interesting and not as bad.

Someday I would like to eat at one of the all you can eat Argentinian restaurant where there are many different types of meat on a big metal spear. The one in Overland Land Park was too costly (starting at $33 a head) so I did not try it. I am looking for a cheaper alternative somewhere in New England or where I travel. If you find such a place , email me .

More about BBQ to come in later musings with KCTG.

Gastronomic Musings: It's the beef, why is it better and how much do you pay?

 The Midwest is known for its beef. Having come from out East originally, I became enamored with the beef and its taste because it seemed so much better for some reason. There are so many steak houses all around the Kansas City area ranging from reasonably priced to expensive. Hereford is one of the ones that is the class of the latter. At this Leawood restaurant (as well as the other two), a wide array of choices also include chicken, salads and more. But if you come to this restaurant or one of the other ones, you have to go with a signature meal that comes from a steer, not a bird, fish or a set of greens. I mean its just heresy if you get something other then steak.
This place is relaxing and has a fine ambiance. The steaks are broiled over a hickory charcoal fire, which give it a nice flavor. Maybe that's what makes the beef better here, or one of the reasons? I had the small 5oz Top Sirloin. ( l love Prime Rib but I wanted to try "real steak"). At $12.95, its one of the lowest priced meals as well as the smallest steak. Twice baked potato with it is fine. The rest of our family and friends had the chicken and the higher prices steaks.
But the prices are much higher when you go about the small salmon steaks, grilled chicken and others. I guess there is something to be said for ambiance. But when do you choose a much higher priced entree in a restaurant ? Lately we've eaten steak at Ruby Tuesdays, Grill 54 and Outback and the steaks, like the one I ate here, have been flavorful and fine and were bigger pieces of steak for the price. I guess you could say " that's when bigger is better".
It is truly amazing to see the prices that people pay for higher priced steaks. I just can't do it though. If we go for steak, more "bang for the buck" is what I aim for . Still it was nice to try this venerable restaurant. Beef is where this place is at!





Gastronomic Musings: In my travels do I compare the food, restaurants and cuisine to Kansas City?

I not to compare the state of the art of food in Kansas City eateries (well maybe except BBQ)and try to tell how better other states and cities are to Kansas City's food and restaurants. I love the food in Kansas City and think the restaurants and the food are just fine. Sampling from other places around the country helps me appreciate many times what we have in Kansas City. But I do like to broaden my horizons.
Having just returned from RI, Connecticut and New York City ( reviews coming), I am even more reminded that I love to eat at other places outside of Kansas City. Scoffing at our restaurants, how they don't measure up to other gastronomes is not my style. There are similarities and contrasts and finding more eateries outside of Kansas City. Analyzing other places outside of Kansas, "picking on" how they don't meet the standards of other cities' cuisines is not my style. However as I perused the Kansas City Star article " Area chefs stir up National Known" (3/21/2009), I noticed that I am 0 for 9 for eating at several of the award winning restaurants noted in the article.

The first two are being considered for the prestigious James Beard Award ( coming up in a couple of days). These are Colby Garrett's Bluestem and The American (with Debbie Gold). The other establishments are fine restaurants in their own right and have garnered considerable notice as : Room 39 (my wife has and liked it), Michael's Smith's Extra Virgin, Krauses Dining in Lawrence, Lidia's (Lidia Bastinanich) and Jonathan Justice's Justice Drugstore (noted for its ongoing litigation to keep the name Drug Store in its title) , Lawrence's Local Burger (Hilary Brown). So have I not attended these places? It's not because I don't know about these places, because I do. I know where they are (I was near Justice Drugstore for a party nearby!) but its money that the factor.

The main factor for me not entering the fray is $$$. Eating at most of these places (well Local Burger is one I can make in the future) requires serious amounts of change. In this economy in particular, I don't have it. I really look for the "hidden jewels", the restaurants in Kansas City and on my travels, that have food with reasonable prices but yet are a level above the normal fare either with ambiance, quality, service, differences in menus and more.

Possibly the first one I will try will be Local Burger and then Bluesteam (I've been dying to at least try happy hour there). The others will have to wait. I hope that our local chefs get the James Beard award. It's another feather in their cap and may inspire Kansas City eateries. I don't have to be inspired as I liked what I see already and what is happening. But if more people know about our (fine) dining and other eateries all the better. That is on the reasons why I started this blog and others write theirs. To spread the word what we liked about Kansas City and how our foods' fare.

Gastronomic Musings : Salsa from New York city- you hear the ads

You hear it all the time. The Pace picanta sauce is one they talks about that good sauce should not come from New York City. They brag about that. Well I originally come from nearby Rhode Island . Pace's picante sauce is no big deal. I don't care even if it has won awards. It just has jalapeno so big deal. But the one I like is World Classics and their excellent Corn and Black Bean medium salsa. It's even a little better then Pace's bean an roasted corn. World Classics is Tasty, addictive and the whole line is good with distinctive flavors not just heat. If you find them at Hen House or other grocers try it and you decide.

www.worldclassicstrading.com

Gastronomic Musings

Gastronomy is the “art or science of good eating or a style or custom of cooking or eating”. This differs from the word “culinary” which pertains to much that “ is used in the kitchen or cookery” . I have thought about and applied information about my travels and food and more through my writings in this blog. But for all intensive purposes, these writing have been identified in these two categories. So I am glad that I am finally able to “ see the light “ and finally decipher and compare the two. All of these writings are part of my explorations, part synthesis/reflection and part conclusive ideas related to the “sums” of the parts, my thoughts and ideas, relating to tastes, foods, recipes, ingredients and more. I am always seeking to take these adventures to “another level”, whether in Kansas City, outside of the United States or in the kitchen. Where ever they originate from, the writings go from my thoughts, to computer to blog and hopefully read by many others. I hope one or more of my culinary exploits and thoughts or ideas connect with you all. If you have additional thoughts or ideas relating to gastronomic musings, (coming up weekly and monthly), let me know. More musings coming up s’il vous plait (if you please).