Chef J BBQ is currently located in the West Bottoms area of Kansas City Missouri. I say currently because they plan to move to Pennway Pointe in downtown KC next to the new ferris wheel soon. Chef J BBQ has also picked up a small side gig this year, slinging barbecue at Arrow Head stadium on Sundays during the Chiefs home games. I will preface the rest of this blog by saying this is the best true barbecue I have had since our Austin Texas trip in March of 2022. We walked right past the pits on or way to join the line and the smell was intoxicating. The smell of slow smoked barbecue lingered i ..read more

The Overland Park/Kansas City area is known for its tons of barbecue spots, each with its own cool vibe. But in the midst of all that, there’s one place that really stands out — Buck Tui. Running the show at this joint is the awesome chef, Ted Liberda, who brings together Thai flavors with the classic Kansas City barbecue techniques. The slow smoked meats go through an amazing transformation as they soak up the delicious Thai seasonings, creating a medley of flavors that sets Buck Tui apart for real. This unique blend of culinary traditions gives you an extraordinary dining experience, where y ..read more

We were lucky enough to find ourselves in Phoenix, in August, during a heatwave. Not the best time of year to visit, but we made the most of it. I was chosen to present at a conference that was being hosted at the J.W. Marriott resort and spa in Scottsdale Arizona. A first class resort, and honestly for a work trip I felt kinda spoiled. I was able to enjoy a brief respite from work by taking a dip in the luxurious pool or unwinding with a rejuvenating spa treatment. The peaceful desert surroundings added a unique touch to the experience, offering stunning views and a serene atmosphere to balan ..read more

Image from Google 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 ..read more

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. Wine tasting in TexasOverlooking Oura ..read more

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. A busy rainy afternoon in Silverton 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, an ..read more

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 lis ..read more

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. the to go trailer Knowing the only chance I would have to try Franklins on this trip would be the day we were traveling home ..read more

Texas Hill Country is located in central/south Texas. Major spots include San Marcos, New Braunfels, Wimberly, Luckenbach, and Fredericksburg to name a few. In Fredericksburg you will find, shopping, restaurants, breweries, live music, and wineries by the dozen. Texas hill country has over 100 different wineries, with over 50 of them located in the Fredericksburg area. Be ready for day drinking Fredericksburg is rich with small town charm. Main street is mixed with old charm, restaurants, upscale shopping, and little dives to grab a drink and hear a local musician sing. Also it is the clear th ..read more

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 ..read more