City: Kansas City
Population: 476,000 (2 million metro)
Local specialties: BBQ and meat in general, local produce, dairy
When you think about chowing down in Cow Town, the first thing that comes to mind is barbecue. Smoking and cooking meats of all shapes and sizes is a badge of honor in these parts and we are quite serious about the craft. That isn't to say there aren't other delicacies found in the area!
We're packed full of farmers supplying the country with amazing produce, and don't forget about the army of dairy farmers that keep us pumped full of tasty snacks. Our prices are inexpensive, our food is amazing and even though our mass transit isn't exactly awesome, you'll forget all about it after you've tasted the freshest of the fresh!
Foods You Must Try
• Locally Brewed Beer: Flying Monkey & Boulevard
• Barbecue: It's not cooking at home, but you'd hate to miss out while you were in town. Our favorites are: Oklahoma Joes, Arthur Bryants, Gates & Danny Edwards.
• Blueberries, Apples and Peaches from Sibley Orchards
Farmers' Markets
• Downtown City Market: The regions largest and busiest market by far. You're sure to find the best of the season, make sure to go early to get best pick and avoid heavy traffic and parking jams.
• The Bad Seed Farm & Market: This market is only open during First Fridays (except for classes) and is dedicated to providing foods grown sustainably in the immediate community. Boasts local organic delights including colorful fruits and veggies, baked goods, gourmet mushrooms, goat cheese, eggs and free-range meats.
• 39th St. Community Market: This is a Wednesdays only market, but takes great pride in providing only organic and sustainably grown product. A true asset to the neighborhood and a shining star in the community.
• Parkville Farmer's Market: Go extra early as the regulars are morning birds and aim to get in and out fast.
• KC Organics and Naturals Organic Market: Marking the 17th year of bringing the metro all organic, cream of the crop produce and product, this market is a sure bet to find something delicious!
• Brookside Farmers' Market: The foot traffic to this market seems low in comparison to the quality of meats, eggs and produce that's on hand. Still slighty undiscovered and only really visited by the immediate neighbor hood, it's a perfect choice to hit up while being able to stay in the area for great shopping and cuisine.
• Zona Rosa Market: Wedged in between a Victorias Secret and a Hot Topic, sits a Farmers Market that's a true hidden gem. Surrounded by shopping and more shopping, it might seem obscure at first, but there's something to be said for being able to pick up fresh goods and a new pair of pants at the same time.
• Olathe Farmer's Market
• Shawnee Farmers' Market
• Independence Farmer's Market
• Downtown Overland Park Market
• Blue Springs Farmers Market:
Best Grocery Stores
• Roeland Park Price Chopper: This store has some of the best produce, a mini farmers market and hands down one of the best selections on fresh produce, meats and cheeses.
• Whole Foods There are several in the area now and carry the same wide variety that you would find at the Whole Foods near you.
• Independence Hy-Vee: This store is particularly awesome at finding amazing deals on meat. Don't venture in unless you have room in your freezer.
• Cosentino's Brookside & Downtown Markets: Both stores have a fabulous wine and liquor selection, not to mention gourmet to go foods and beautiful pastries.
• China Town Food Market: This Asian grocery store carries a high volume of Asian fare, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Filipino, Malaysian, and Indian. There is also an excellent selection of fresh seafood on hand!
Specialty Shops of Note
• McGonigle’s Market: They've been providing KC with one of the best meat selections in KC for half a century. Make sure to stop in for lunch for meats right off the grill!
• Manila Grocery Company: Filipino Grocery at its finest. This is the place to go for those items you just can't find anywhere else for Asian cuisine!
• Gilbert & Whitney: Nestled on the Independence Square, just east of downtown KC sits this specialty grocer that amongst their artisan products always has amazing clearance where buying special items are easy on the pocketbook!
• Pryde's Old Westport: This store is wall to wall kitchen gadgets, linens, specialty items and fresh baked goods. Don't plan on leaving empty handed!
Independent Food Artisans
• Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates: A trip inside the doors at CE's downtown location will leave you weak at the knees and planning your next vacation back. A must stop location for your travels.
• Fresher Than Fresh Snow Cones: This small trailer holds some of the finest flavors in all of KC. Handmade artisanal snow cones that are worth the usually lengthy line!
• Shatto Milk: It might be a small drive north of the city, but this dairy farm is worth the trip to see. Look for their glass bottles in all major grocery stores in the metro.
• Flying Monkey Beer: Has a strong cult following of fanatics that will tell you it's hands down the best beverage in town.
• Boulevard Beer: If you get the chance, take a tour (free) of the Brewery, along with a great brew, the architecture of their building is fantastic!
About The Kitchn's Food-Lover's Guides
We focus mainly on home cooking here at The Kitchn, and we know that one huge source of inspiration is travel. We want to give you ideas for things to eat and places to visit even when you're away from your home kitchen. We want to inspire your inner chef and introduce you to the best spots for food-lovers in a dozen or so major cities.
These guides don't deal with restaurants; there are plenty of other resources for that. These are the spots for food-lovers and cooks: the markets, specialty cookshops, and best small-batch artisans. If you're traveling in one of these cities this summer, we hope these guides help you find something inspiring. And if you live here, maybe you'll find a new resource to inspire your daily cooking!
We need your help, too, with these guides. Each city's thread will have at least some recommendations, but of course they will be incomplete. So we need your insider help. Tell us where the best markets, food shops, jam-makers, brewers, butchers, independent groceries, bakery supply stores, and quirky, strange, out-of-the-way food experts are. What are your favorite places to shop, as a cook?
(Images: Flickr Members Adam Kuban, art and chel licensed for use under Creative Commons, Sarah Rae Trover)
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i just wanted to add broadway cafe, the roasterie, and parisi for local coffee roasters, and a few restaurants which provide great local flavor (and support local food producers): eden alley, westside local (new!), and justus drugstore.
i'm sure i'll think of others with more time, but that's a start. :)
Werner's; best damn sausage around. They grill outside the store on Saturdays and the line gets to running down the street sometimes.
www.wernerswurst.com is the website.
I have to agree that Roeland Park's Price Chopper is one of the best stores around for produce. And it's especially great if you are looking for Hispanic produce: jalapenos, banana leaves, tomatillos, plantains, etc.
I was blown away by City market.
I loved the fact that there were so many different little vendors and that the ethnic markets were also located at the City Market. I also loved that the market is indoors/outdoors, temporary and permanent. There were also places to sit down and eat at the market and a place to get coffee. (They could lose the smoothie place that uses artificial powder) but besides that, there are just a whole bunch of reasons to get excited to cook something when you go to that market. If people need inspiration to motivate them to cook then is there such a thing as too much inspiration? I don't think so.
I'm planning on returning to KC to do a tour of their restaurant scene and to hit some other farmer's markets.
Actually, Badseed is open every Friday during the season.
A great round up of the places I frequent! I'd add Beddar Cheddar, a local cheese shop on the Plaza (and one other location) and Broadway coffee for the best beans in town.
BBQ but not Jackstack/Smokestack? Fritz meats (103rd & State line). The farmer's market in old Overland Park has a honey vendor w/whipped honey in various flavors that are fabulous. The also have a great vendor w/pie. The tea shop in Westport (I'm blanking on the name) has a great selection of teas and wonderful customer service. If you want to travel to Lawrence, Wheatfields bakery has amazing bread. Farm to Market bread is local and excellent also. Louisburg Cider Mill produces cider and apple butter. Dolce bakery in Prairie Village has great desserts.
I'm with twosavoie...no Jackstack!? On his way up to Omaha, my dad stopped and brought me some burnt ends from Arthur Bryant's and they were incredible...but not quite Jackstack...man...I really love Jackstack.
If you're in KC go give a visit to the good people at the Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture. They're doing really neat things and they sell at the Bad Seed market. The produce that they grow is beautiful.
Thanks to everyone for adding their suggestions, they are great ones! I can't believe I forgot about a few of the meat markets!
Twosavoie - are you thinking Tea Drops? I love that place and am looking forward to a bubble tea from there this weekend!
A third on the no Jackstack. Come on now. I'm also with twosavoie on the Louisburg Cider Mill. I have yet to find a better cider. I miss it now that I live in TN. They also have their own brand of root beer and some awesome donuts.
There's also Tea Market. I forget the name of the shopping area it's in, but they have great loose leaf teas. The shop is also cute as heck.
Yes, it is Tea Drops. Also Amy's meats is a local family ranch that provides Angus beef and pork. They have a CSA subscription and you can buy bulk meat from them. We just bought a 1/8th cow. I'm looking forward to a winter of braises!
Does anyone know of any great guides online to local independently owned shops outside of the food realm for KC? I'm going to be visiting KC a a week, and I swear every guide I've seen online is all about the national chains I can shop in, many of which already have a presence in my local malls. blech. I want to support local merchants when vacationing too.
I don't know of any online guides. However, KC is basically a collection of small cities under one umbrella. Many of these cities have their own downtown where you can often find locally owned shops. You would want to look for the downtowns of Waldo, Westport, Overland Park, Lees' Summit... Downtown KC has an artist's area that is basically at 18th & Main (they have a first Friday's if that matches your timeline). There is also the Rivermarket area.
Nearby is Weston, Parkville, and Lawrence - all with historic downtowns and shoppes. I hope this helps. I'll check back to see if you have any questions I can help with. Have a nice vacation.
cool, I'll check out those towns too. Thanks for the idea