I'm a Kansas boy raised on BBQ. And Kansas City boasts some of the BEST BBQ joints in the world! A bit of a problem though, I'm also diabetic. Eating right is always a challenge and that makes enjoying those sauces and sides even more challenging. I've compiled a list of 85 restaurants and food trucks in and around Kansas City that bill themselves as Kansas City BBQ. I am going to visit them all on this blog and do my best to stick to a diabetic-friendly diet (but I might cheat a little).
This is my quest!
As of this writing, I've already had the pleasure of eating at about 25 of the places on my list.
To be fair...
...I will revisit them all in my journey.
Starting today, my first experience will officially be Brobecks Barbecue.
Brobecks' sign states they do Smokey Mountain Style, not one of the Big 4 Regional styles with which I am familiar.
Their menu goes on to explain, "We do barbeque a little differently here at Brobecks. We use our special rub recipes on the meats and then smoke them and serve 'em dry (without sauce). There are several choices of sauce you can use, including some local favorites. Use as little or as much sauce as you like, but we think our meats are good enough you may just eat them without sauce!"
Given the restrictions of the pandemic dining conditions, I won't comment on the atmosphere, because it's just weird everywhere. I will say the interior was simple with a few folksy signs and decorations.
I started off with a tall glass of water and an appetizer of Smokey Hot Wings. And they were both! A delightful sauce with just the right amount of heat. My server was friendly and attentive, but never gave her name - she did however recommend the house specialty of Smoked Ham Salad. I will save that for next time. Yes, there will be a next time, if only for the wings!
They offer some rotating specials such as Smoked Baked Potatoes, Burnt End Stew and Red Beans & Rice. However, I was raised on brisket and that is the standard by which I will rate all of my experiences. I ordered Ol' Ray's Favorite.
It came down to my choice of three meats and two sides. I didn't ask if the baked beans had sugar, but they were standard fare. The white cheddar mac and cheese was good, but the sauce ran down to the bottom of the bowl leaving some bare noodles on top. As for the meats: thin sliced brisket, ham and jalapeno cheddar sausage. Ultimately, the smoked ham was my favorite. And they were right, it stood quite well on its own, without sauce. Both the sausage and the brisket were on the dry side. Pairing the slices of sausage with some pickles did the trick there. The brisket was sliced very thin, which left it the driest item on the plate, but still with a good smokey flavor. My server offered two house sauces to relieve the dryness - a vinegar-based mustard and a sweet molasses-based sauce. I used them sparingly to finish off the brisket. We don't waste food around here.
All in all, reasonably priced with friendly staff. I would keep them on the list for future visits, but on to the next one!
More info at their official website - BrobecksBBQ.com
About the Foodie: After spending almost 15 years in Florida, Mark has returned home to Kansas. He has achieved some success as a Kindle Best Seller and having one of his short stories selected as a winner in the Florida Writer's Association Short Story Collection. Growing up in Kansas, Mark graduated from Sumner Academy of Arts and Sciences and received his Bachelor's in Film from the University of Kansas. Mark has written numerous novels, screenplays, short stories and digital series. Inspirational stories with positive messages are his goal with everything he writes. Find Mark's books with keyword "MillerWords" on Amazon or other online book retailers and connect on Facebook.
This is not a paid review. I am an independent customer expressing a non-biased opinion.
No comments:
Post a Comment