When Anthony Bourdain visited Kansas City on his show No Reservations Anthony Bourdain Kansas City, he chose to make it a barbecue tour. It makes sense, after all: a few years before, in his book Medium Raw, he stated that “when I was seen to put anything barbequed in my mouth, ratings skyrocketed”. Why not make a full episode of it? Here’s where his meat-filled epic took him: all of the addresses, all of the dishes on No Reservations Season 8 Episode 2 (originally aired April 16, 2012) – all in a convenient list.
NOTE: Everyday Wanderer is a helpful resource for Kansas City barbeque joints you must visit.
DISH – Anthony Bourdain Kansas City – Pulled Pork, Burnt Ends and Smoked Chicken
WHAT IS IT?
Burnt ends are tasty meat pieces cut from smoked briskets. The ends are cooked further and sometimes re-seasoned.
Barbecue can also be in the form of pulled pork. Pulled pork is typically prepared through slowly roasting a chunk of pork until it is fork-tender. It is then shredded using forks and tossed into barbecue sauce.
In Kansas City, smoked chicken is among the favourites. Bourdain had all three at Joe’s.
WHERE IS IT?
Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que
3002 W 47th St
Kansas City, KS
NOTES
Anthony Bourdain considers the ribs and burnt ends as the best at Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que.
DISH – Anthony Bourdain Kansas City – Barbecued Beef Short Rib
WHAT IS IT?
Short ribs are the short portion of the rib cage. The bones are covered with layers of meat of different thickness.
READ MORE: BARBECUE: MONTREAL CHEFS SHARE THEIR TIPS TO GET THE PERFECT GRILL EVERY TIME
WHERE IS IT?
Jack Stack Barbecue
101 W 22nd St #300
Kansas City, MO
NOTES
Jack Stack Barbecue is known for its family-friendly ambiance. Bourdain finds it too proper, stating that he prefers “a patina of filth and element of risk”.
READ MORE: ANTHONY BOURDAIN JEDDAH : ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS PICKED ON NO RESERVATIONS
DISH – Anthony Bourdain Kansas City – Brisket Sandwich and Burnt Ends
WHAT IS IT?
Anthony Bourdain maintains that “there cannot be enough said about the importance of the mysterious pink ring. But the burnt ends demand something different. They go beyond the ring.” The mysterious pink ring he refers to is also known as the “smoke ring”, which is the pink colour of cooked meat just below its bark or surface crust. It defines how well a smoked piece of meat has been cooked. To prepare a brisket sandwich, a slow-cooked brisket is cut in long strips and can be drenched in generous amounts of barbecue sauce. It can be served with sides or as it is.
WHERE IS IT?
LC’s Bar-B-Q
5800 Blue Pkwy
Kansas City, MO
NOTES
LC’s Bar-B-Q is a traditional spot for time-honoured barbecue and sides in a no-nonsense setting.
DISH – Anthony Bourdain Kansas City – Barbecued Ribs, Brisket and Chicken Wings
WHAT IS IT?
Barbecue is not just about the meat, it is also about the wood. The kind of wood used in barbecuing meat influences how the final product tastes. Ribs, brisket and chicken wing are often smoked using oak, hickory, mesquite, maple, apple and cherry. And it is not just the taste that is influenced by the wood used, wood also has a certain effect on the colour of the barbecued meat.
WHERE IS IT?
Woodyard Bar-B-Que
3001 Merriam Ln
Kansas City, KS
NOTES
Woodyard Bar-B-Que uses a combination of apple and cherry wood for its barbecue, giving their dishes a memorable flavour.
DISH – Anthony Bourdain Kansas City – Burnt Ends, Pork Ribs and Smoked Catfish
WHAT IS IT?
This time around, there’s a twist: Anthony has smoked catfish. The restaurant also offers all of the usual cast of characters.
WHERE IS IT?
B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ
1205 E 85th St
Kansas City, MO
NOTES – No Reservations Kansas City
At B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ is a roadhouse joint where customers can eat at shared picnic tables while enjoying live blues music.
DISH – Anthony Bourdain Kansas City – Steak and Potatoes
WHAT IS IT?
The rib-eye steak is considered best for grilling. And steak is often grilled medium or medium-rare to maximize its flavour and juiciness. Potatoes are usually served as a side to grilled steak. It’s one of the original all-American dishes!
WHERE IS IT?
Savoy Grill
219 W 9th St
Kansas City, MO
NOTES – No Reservations Kansas City
The Savoy Grill is a historic Kansas City restaurant that traces its roots to the 1900s. It was re-launched in 2018 under the 21c Museum Hotel banner and its menu now features mid-century dishes like prime rib, steak tartare, lobster thermidor, chicken a la king and escargot.
DISH – Anthony Bourdain Kansas City – Beef Brisket Sandwich, Pork Ribs and Chicken Wings
WHAT IS IT?
Guess what: Anthony eats more meat!
WHERE IS IT?
Rosedale Barbeque
600 Southwest Blvd
Kansas City, KS
NOTES – No Reservations Kansas City
Rosedale Barbeque’s version of pork ribs and chicken wings is known as “The Flying Pig”. It features half of a chicken barbecue (with a wing part) and 3 pork rib bones.
READ MORE: ANTHONY BOURDAIN BBQ TRIANGLE : ALL OF THE RESTAURANTS PICKED ON A COOK’S TOUR
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