BBQing

Well, yesterday was July 4th and as we left Chicago we had only one thought in mind: getting to Kansas City and getting some good BBQ.

Being on the road, we were missing out on all the BBQs taking place across America, so finding some good 'cue in Kansas City would fill the void. Unfortunately, the long drive from Chicago and our stop in Hannibal meant we arrived to KC late and very few of the renowned restaurants were still open. So, we resolved to find a place to stay, clean up and venture into the city's downtown area to find some late-night grub to sate our appetites.

While we didn't find any food in the downtown area, we did find a brewery to grab a beer and seek advice on where to head next. A friendly waitress directed us to the city's historic district, Westport, believing that restaurants and bars would still be open at that late hour. We headed that direction, soaking in the cool summer night of the midwest city, when our noises were overpowered by the smell of some smoky BBQ. Will swiftly turned the car around and we pulled into the parking lot of Gates Bar-B-Q, a spot we'd heard little of, but chose to risk trying.

As we walked in, the staff immediately began bombarding us with instructions, which was a bit overwhelming and annoying, but the smell of the food was all we could focus on at that point. I was acting indecisive, so Will made an executive decision and order the Slab, which at 20 bucks seemed pricey to me, especially considering we had no idea of its size. As the following photo will attest, it was plenty; but more importantly, it was delicious. The ribs had a great, smoky flavor and the sauce was tangy  with a bit of a kick. I wished the meat had been a bit more tender, but Will felt that it was on par with the best barbecue he'd ever had.

I'm still holding out, as this afternoon we'll be heading to Oklahoma Joe's, which locals suggest is the best in the city. Still, for late night grub, this stop was a success.