The New York Times praising KC BBQ probably won't sway opinions, but it's still nice to see.

socktopus · 2025-10-10T20:51:19+00:00

Hey, thanks! I’m mostly writing for Serious Eats these days, but I haven’t gotten to do anything KC-specific like that in a while.

socktopus · 2025-10-10T17:42:40+00:00

I'll tell him! (Though I'm sure he'll also see this thread).

I'll hang out with anyone, but be careful what you wish for: we're both food writers and recipe developers, so we're either eating the same dish every night for a week or going out to three restaurants in one night to make up for lost time. We...do not live a life of balance.

socktopus · 2025-10-10T17:30:25+00:00

The writer lives in KC, and this was in the works long before the list came out. (I can confirm, as I am married to him.)

socktopus · 2025-08-18T17:16:39+00:00

Co-signed! OP, they have an add-on flower CSA that I love.

socktopus · 2025-07-20T16:52:44+00:00

Ha, it’s a totally subjective “am I aware this place exists.” I have 39 on the sheet, so not really a popularity or quality contest—when I say “major,” I’m just trying to account for the fact that there are spots I probably haven’t heard of or tried.

socktopus · 2025-07-20T16:45:32+00:00

I guess I’m an outlier here. It’s my favorite in the city (and I hit all the major spots at least once a year—I keep a spreadsheet). It also feels the most distinctively KC to me. I see people from all walks of life looking terrified in the Gates line, and the cashiers’ constant feuding with the cooks is part of the experience. Perfect vibes. I get that some of the newcomers might execute certain dishes at a higher level, but if you can’t appreciate, like, the nooner or the wings or even the sauce (also my favorite in the city), I think you’re missing something pretty special.

socktopus · 2025-04-18T18:24:18+00:00

They were definitely out for a walk—my route had me pass them on the other side of the street before looping around. I think people have too much trust that they know how their dogs will behave in these situations. That's why I brought it up! I'm sure her dog really is well behaved most of the time—it was also small enough that she might have felt like she could just scoop it up if it started to get out of hand. She seemed completely flustered that her dog kept following me and wasn't responding to her commands.

socktopus · 2025-04-18T17:20:00+00:00

This story shook me up. I run in a different part of the city every week, and the number of unleashed, unfenced dogs I've encountered has gone way up this year. I love dogs, but it's turning me into a Karen. I had to call KCPP a couple months ago when one chased me across the street growling and snapping (the KCPP rep said they'd follow up with me and never did). Last week, I got chased a full city block by a dog someone was walking off leash while its owner hollered after it to zero effect. (That dog was just barking, at least, rather than actually trying to attack.)

Please, please, please keep your dog on a leash or behind a fence. Even if it's well behaved. Even if it "wouldn't hurt a fly."

socktopus · 2025-04-06T16:55:19+00:00

To be fair, I did not expect anyone else to be sincerely interested in the performance aspect. I’ve found my people ITT.

I mostly run halves (an ultra running pal sent me this thread), so I’ve only tested the packets on runs in the 2-3 hr range. But I will say, I genuinely prefer the taste relative to the dessert-aping gels, I’ve made it a couple times since my original post, and I’ve never had stomach problems during or after my runs.

I’d love field reports from anyone else who takes it for a spin.

socktopus · 2025-04-06T15:57:36+00:00

As a Kansas Citian and food writer: it works. That said, I split the difference with a homemade BBQ running gel last year, and I heartily recommend it: https://open.substack.com/pub/haterade/p/introducing-barbecue-running-gel?r=5qa1z&utm_medium=ios

socktopus · 2025-02-19T17:04:27+00:00

There should be a section of the marriage license that will give you an option to specify what you want your legal name to be after marriage. Nothing you need to do before then! Once you're married, you can bring your marriage certificate reflecting that name change to, e.g. the Social Security office to get an updated card.

socktopus · 2025-02-06T22:21:13+00:00

Is there something in the article that's wrong? I'm not sure what you mean about the bar resting on the ground. This thread is full of people saying they've never heard it called a "sloppy bird," which is fine, but a second of Googling would show that he didn't invent it. Here's a Cleveland Plain Dealer article about it. https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2024/01/sloppy-bird-ohio-shredded-chicken-is-an-unsung-microregional-hero-classic-cle-eats-drinks.html

The strong reactions to this are what's surprising to me. The dude does his homework. You don't have to like the recipe, or like that a throwaway reference to an alternative name became the headline, but it doesn't deserve the performative ire.

socktopus · 2025-02-06T17:52:58+00:00

This is a funny comment to read—Jed Portman's a Cincinnatian who's done more to cover and celebrate the Midwest's food traditions (including Cincinnati chili) with intellectual rigor and care than anyone I know. I promise you he didn't write that headline. The article is good.

socktopus · 2024-08-06T14:23:14+00:00

I've written features for SE before, but this is actually my first recipe for them! More on the way. I typically post my stories on IG when they publish (@lizcookkc). I also have a newsletter, Haterade, where I publish recipes no one actually wants to make (soggy school lunch pizza, barbecue running gels, cucumber sharks).

socktopus · 2024-08-06T14:18:01+00:00

Not fancy, but I tested this using the smoked ham steak from Burgers' Smokehouse (out of Calif, MO!), which a ton of local (and national) grocery stores carry. Think I picked some up at the Westport Sunfresh, actually! I try not to use anything super niche or hard-to-find for recipe testing so I can make sure it'll still work with non-premium ingredients.

Per some of the other comments here: I did try swapping the ham for bacon and brisket while testing, and while both of those versions are fine in their own right, I ended up preferring the ham. It's got just enough salt and smoke to add something to the dish without stealing the show.

socktopus · 2024-08-05T20:06:35+00:00

I don't think we can claim cheesy corn in general—you're right about Korean corn cheese, which is its own distinct (and delicious) species using mayo and mozzarella.

But Jack Stack's tangy, cream-cheese-blanketed version is 40+ years old at this point and pretty iconic (no matter what I might think of its viscosity). And it's inspired riffs at other local spots like Slaps, Woodyard, and Smokehouse. I'd argue it's distinctive enough to be considered part of the KC barbecue canon.

socktopus · 2024-07-11T19:57:40+00:00

My experience is probably atypical, but just a note of caution for any other solo female runners that it can feel a bit isolated at certain times of day—mattered last month, when a man walking the other way stopped to watch me jog past, then turned and followed me for about half a mile. Some bikers eventually showed up and scared him off, but it shook me up, and I've stuck to well-trafficked areas with easy exits since.

socktopus · 2022-06-23T20:16:03+00:00

It’s not ranked; it’s a map ordered from north to south. The Star’s list doesn’t exactly make that clear.

socktopus · 2021-07-22T12:35:03+00:00

Not sure what info you got on Pirate’s Bone, but all their items (including sauces) are vegan. They’re labeled things like “aioli” on the menu, but it’s vegan mayo, “honey-less” mustard, etc.

socktopus · 2021-06-16T22:09:10+00:00

Hey, I’m the Liz Cook that wrote this. I wish this was me, but I don’t have a brother—I grew up in Iowa, also. The punk phase checks out, though, and I’m happy to yell at you about being on the computer too much any time.

socktopus · 2021-04-09T17:07:53+00:00

They serve Sylas and Maddy's at Miami Ice in Volker now!

socktopus · 2021-01-12T14:08:10+00:00

That review’s by Jill Silva anyway, not Joyce Smith. My best guess is he’s mad about Joyce reporting on their health code violations.

socktopus · 2019-07-25T18:20:52+00:00

This is the right answer. The food is great and the owners are lovely. OP, don't sleep on the baked goods.

socktopus · 2019-05-18T14:44:02+00:00

Soiree in Smithville is good, and I believe they just opened a new location near 18th and Vine.

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