The lost meals entries consist of meals that occurred at various times throughout 2012 which, for any number of reasons, escaped my documentation – some due to a cross country move and a new job, some due to the Los Angeles Kings run to the Stanley Cup, and some simply as a result of too much travel. Having enjoyed many of these meals with friends or family and with some of them amongst the year’s very best the reality is that with time my memory has deteriorated and as life moves forward I’ve realized there is little hope to ever “catch up” or document these experiences as well as I’d hope, yet in order to preserve them I present these pictures, notes, and thoughts on the experience.
Burnt Ends, Short End Ribs, Pulled Pork, White Bread
My mother loves Barbeque and I like it well enough, but coming from the Midwest I guess I’d never really considered it an art form – as a matter of fact, aside from Slow’s in Detroit I cannot really say I’d ever had ‘great’ BBQ…until approximately 15 minutes after I arrived in Kansas City and made my way through the line at 18th and Brooklyn, paid $9.95 for Ribs and Pulled Pork and was gifted some Burnt Ends by a sleepy eyed young man behind the counter who inquired if this was my first time and then insisted I MUST try them.
Smoky and tangy, tender to the point of literally melting in your mouth, and without a doubt the best barbeque I’d had to that point in my life I’m rather certain the entire plate of food lasted less than five minutes after it was set on the table and although I’m sure some may find Arthur’s sauce a bit too sweet I personally found it fantastic, particularly on the more charred pieces of meat…but also sopped up with the white bread. Were it not for the line and brunch at Bluestem a mere ninety minutes later I’d have undoubtedly went back for seconds.