Ah! Molto bene! Ottimo! After a great lunch at Chef J Nancy and I drove over to the Truman Library in Independence. We are fans of Presidential Libraries, and this one really captured Truman as a person and as a President. The museum was full of reminders of the extraordinary challenges Truman faced — an overflowing plate even by Presidential standards. I especially liked Thomas … Continue reading Garozzo’s Ristorante, Kansas City, Missouri
During our great dinner at Porky Butts in Omaha, barbecue guru Ryan Cooper (BBQ Tourist and The Smoke Sheet) suggested that Nancy and I should go to Chef J in the West Bottoms, or the former Stockyards District, of Kansas City. After a fine breakfast at Winstead’s and a wonderful tour of the very moving World War I Memorial and Museum, Nancy and I dutifully … Continue reading Chef J BBQ, Kansas City, Missouri
Winstead’s is a gem. It’s been around even longer that I have, since 1940, and it has changed little since then, either from the outside with its drive-through open 24/7, or the interior. I’d heard a lot about the place, so Nancy and I walked over to Winstead’s for breakfast very early on Sunday morning after our dinner the night before at Jack Stack. I … Continue reading Winstead’s, Kansas City, Missouri
The morning after our great dinner at Porky Butts, Nancy and I headed to Topeka to compete another 10K state capital walk, our 41st. Then, after a quick pork sandwich at Boxer Q, we drove straight to Kansas City and set up shop at a hotel cheek by jowl with the Country Club Plaza. If you look at a list of the ten best barbecue … Continue reading Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue, Kansas City, Missouri
Nancy and I knocked off a couple more states in our quest to do 10k walks in all 50 state capitals. After walking Lincoln, Nebraska, and having a memorable dinner with Ryan Cooper (BBQ Tourist, The Smoke Sheet) at Porky Butts in Omaha, we got up early, had a forgettable breakfast, and drove down US 75 to Topeka. We proceeded on our walk. Here’s Topeka … Continue reading Boxer Q BBQ Food Truck, Topeka, Kansas
Nancy and I recently resumed our quest to do 10k walks, “Volksmarches,” in all 50 state capitals, this time to check Nebraska and Kansas off the list. We rose well before the dawn to catch a flight to Kansas City. picked up a rental car, drove to Lincoln, did our 10k walk — which by the way was very nice, with lots of old areas … Continue reading Porky Butts BBQ, Omaha, Nebraska
Pappy’s Smokehouse is the highest-rated barbecue place in St. Louis on Yelp and Trip Advisor and most other “Best” lists. Pappy’s is especially known for their ribs, which some consider the best in the US. That made it a must-stop on our last day in St. Louis. The approach to Pappy’s is beautiful. There are five big Ole Hickory cookers outside, each one of which has … Continue reading Pappy’s Smokehouse, St. Louis, Missouri
Sugarfire Smokehouse is a hot new barbecue chain, one of the top three-rated barbecue places in the St. Louis area. There are now 14 branches, and the chain — network would be a better word — has spread from Missouri to Illinois, Kentucky, and Indiana. Nancy and I went to the Downtown St. Louis location for an early supper the evening after our AVA 10k state … Continue reading Sugarfire Smokehouse, St. Louis, Missouri
It was a benign fate that led us to Belleville, Illinois, and the excellent BEAST Craft BBQ. Our project of completing those AVA 10k walks in every state capital drew us to St. Louis over the Columbus Day weekend. We arrived in town in the early afternoon and headed northeast to Springfield, Illinois. Actually, we headed southeast for 30 miles to Belleville, Illinois. Belleville is the home of BEAST … Continue reading BEAST Craft BBQ, Belleville, Illinois
I went to Chubby’s by accident. Sort of. My original plan was to visit family and eat at the Dixie Pig in Blytheville, Arkansas, and then cross the Mississippi just above Blytheville en route to Helen’s in Brownsville, Tennessee, on Day 2 of my Great Memphis Region Barbecue Sandwich Tour. The first hitch in that plan was the suggestion that I try the barbecue at … Continue reading Chubby’s B-B-Q, Hayti, Missouri
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