Courtesy Kansas City CVA
Kansas City Barbecue
Kansas City, Missouri
As a hub for stockyards and beef trade, Kansas City has earned the name “Barbecue Capital of the World.” “With more barbecue restaurants per capita than any other city, over 100 restaurants, it truly has earned this official title,” said Derek Klaus, communications manager for the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association.
The defining trait of this savory treat, typically beef or pork, is that the meat is smoked for up to 18 hours over hickory. “It has a wood-fired smoky taste. And our barbecue doesn’t rely as much on sauce as others do, although every restaurant does have its own specialty sauce,” said Klaus.
The Father of KC Barbecue, Charlie Perry, started the tradition by selling barbecue on newspapers in the 1920s. “Others, with names like Bryant and Gates, learned traditions from him, and their restaurants remain some of our most famous,” said Klaus.
Other places to get your barbecue fix are Jack Stack Barbecue, a more upscale version of a barbecue joint, and Oklahoma Joe’s, located in a gas station and listed as “one of the 13 places to eat before you die” by television’s food expert Anthony Bourdain.
Klaus suggested that groups attend one of the biggest barbecue contests in the world, the American Royal Barbecue Contest, held every October in the historic Kansas City Stockyards District.
“It’s got a great street atmosphere; there’s music and, of course, the best barbecue. We find groups love the event,” he said.
800-767-7700
www.visitkc.com
Kentucky Hot Brown
Louisville, Kentucky
Eighty-five years ago, some high-spirited patrons at the Brown Hotel in Louisville were feeling hungry in the wee hours of the morning. There were no restaurants open, but the attentive chef at the historic hotel whipped up a dish that would become a signature dish for Louisville — the Hot Brown.
“It’s typically an open-faced turkey sandwich on toast with cheese sauce, bacon and tomatoes. and cooked until bubbly,” said Nancy Stephen, communications manager for the Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Stephen added that the best place to feast on the Hot Brown today is, of course, the Brown Hotel. “But there are many places that serve this local favorite, including Lynn’s Paradise Cafe and Winston’s Restaurant,” she said.
Food Network fans will recognize Lynn’s Paradise Cafe by the kitschy atmosphere and the homey food that has put Lynn’s on the culinary map.
At Winston’s, the Hot Brown is served with a twist: fried green tomatoes, shrimp, crab and spinach are additions to this sumptuous meal.
800-626-5646
www.gotolouisville.com
Cuban sandwich
Tampa, Florida
In the 1880s, a combination of ethnicities, including German, Italian and Spanish, were mingling in the community of Ybor City in Tampa, not only at work but also in the kitchen. One of the tastiest results was the Cuban sandwich, today a favorite meal in Tampa and throughout Florida.
“But the Cuban sandwich you find in Tampa you won’t find anywhere else,” said Travis Claytor, communications manager for Tampa Bay and Company.
Although variations on the sandwich depend on the location, the two distinct features are the fresh Cuban bread and the sandwich press, an implement similar to a panini press that heats and presses the finished sandwich.
In Tampa, the ingredients are typically ham, pork, Genoa salami, Swiss cheese, pickles and yellow mustard.
“The most popular place to enjoy this delicious sandwich is the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, the oldest Spanish restaurant in Florida and the largest in the world. It’s been around since 1905 and covers a city block,” said Claytor.
Claytor also suggested Gaspar’s Grotto in Ybor City as a place to enjoy not only the sandwich but the flavor of this Cuban community.
800-448-2672
www.visittampabay.com
