OT....Kinda

The wife and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary in the Plaza of Kansas City this weekend.  We had great dining and a complete carnivore experience at Fogo De Chao and Cooper's Hawk, with a peanut butter bacon cheeseburger for lunch in between the two.  The highlight for me was a stop at the Kansas City BBQ Store, a BGE dealer and BBQ store on steroids!  They had to have over 200 sauces and rubs, let alone the accessories and other goodies including Ozark Oak lump.

It was lunch time so we asked where we could get some good bbq that didn't include Bryant's, Gate's or OK Joe's (which are all overrated and commercialized IMO).  We were steered towards a small place in Overland Park called Jon Russell's and it was fantastic!!  It is in a small strip mall and has maybe ten tables, but the bbq is hands down the best I have eaten.  The trophies and ribbons decorate the place including a 3rd and 5th from the Jack in pork and an American Royal Grand Champion in 1992.

I have never had burnt ends like I experienced today and when I spoke with Jon Niederbremer (one of the owners) he referred to them as bbq marshmellows.  A perfect description!   The ribs also showed one of the best half moon bites I've ever seen and the flavors were spot on.  It's not my intent to sound like a food critic, or even advertise for this bbq shack, but if you get in the KC area and don't try it out you will be cheating yourself.

Love, Peace and BBQ Grease,

Mike