May 15th 2012 07:30 am Art critic
As I told you yesterday, I’m in Kansas City, visiting Andrews McMeel Universal, the home office. And boy, howdy! I have seen—or tasted—an entire new dimension to our old best-barbecue argument. The barbecue here is great! And much of it is beef. When I was told last evening we’d be going out for barbecue, I imagined picnic tables and a roll of paper towels. Instead, we went to a renovated freight depot which is home to several fine restaurants, including a palatial barbecue establishment (“Joint” does not suffice.) like none I’ve ever seen. I knew you were going to ask me the name, but it escapes me at the moment. I’ll bet someone here can supply it. I must run now. Another day of hob-nobbing with syndicate execs, but I’ll be home tonight. Meanwhile, we wrap up the art-festival series.
Posted by jimmyjohnson / Vintage A&J
28 Responses to “Art critic”
Neal in Bahstawn on 15 May 2012 at 7:51 am #
We trust you are being treated like royalty. And that they are truly working on your behalf rather than the other way ’round.
sandcastler on 15 May 2012 at 7:58 am #
Jimmy, glad you are finding KC BBQ to your taste. Though I am afraid your gushing is only going to spark a smoking debate over BBQ styles.
Selbyq on 15 May 2012 at 8:01 am #
I’m guessing you were it Fiorella’s JackStack BBQ. If you think that’s good you ain’t tried nothin’ yet.
I suggest you make a stop in at Gates for a burnt ends sandwich.
billinbossier on 15 May 2012 at 8:11 am #
On your way home, if you get a chance, swing through Texas. Stop at anyplace that sells barbeque, (there is at least one at every Interstate Exit), and try some real Texas barbeque. I have never had any better.
Sam in Alabam(a) on 15 May 2012 at 9:11 am #
Breaking News: Opened the *Montgomery Advertiser* last night and there was A&J among the daily strips for the first time. Apparently one of those periodic comics page revamps. Unfotunately, nine of the previous strips were deleted, replaced by four new ones. (Lots of white space on the page.)
Throwing out favorite comics. Reduced local coverage. Several pages of features and national news are obviously provided by USA Today (same type and layout). And I’m sure the management is still wondering why readership keeps falling. (At least it got us daily A&J.)
Ptorq on 15 May 2012 at 9:54 am #
“Can I hep you!” (Just go to Gates and you’ll get it.)
Another KC tradition in BBQ is Arthur Bryant’s, and it’s certainly worth a try as well. One warning: AB’s is (at least, it was the last time I was there, which was unfortunately too long ago) much, much more about the food than about ambiance.
My family has a friendly rivalry going about Gates vs. Arthur Bryant’s.
Jeff in Ann Arbor on 15 May 2012 at 10:04 am #
Love the archive series. I remember it from when it ran. Also enjoying the current one.
Mindy on 15 May 2012 at 10:09 am #
Ambiance? One of the best places I ever ate had the ambiance of a cock fight. In fact, they did have cock fights out back, I just chose not to attend. There was sawdust on the floor [at least I think it was sawdust; I didn't look too closely] and calendars on the walls, none newer than 10-years-old, showing women with impossible figures in various states of undress and holding tools that could only be termed threatening. At one point, just like in a John Wayne movie, have to jump up holding my bowl of chili to allow two guys fighting to roll across the table, taking my French bread and soft drink with them. The bread was politely replaced by some fat guy wearing a T-shirt that had once been white and had never been washed along with a bottle of beer instead of my soda. But the food? Oh, Lord, save me, it was wonderful! John liked the floor show. So who cares about ambiance?
Mindy on 15 May 2012 at 10:10 am #
“Had” to jump up. Darned keyboard can’t speel this morning.
Mindy on 15 May 2012 at 10:11 am #
I forgot to mention the old hubcaps affixed to the wall like faded chrome acne. I’m hungry. I’m going back to _______ Parish for lunch.
sandcastler on 15 May 2012 at 10:27 am #
Wow, Mindy told a story without a TASFYAD. Just enough detail to paint the scene while letting our small imaginations fill in the finer details.
John in Richmond Texas on 15 May 2012 at 10:55 am #
I saw that a few day ago, I keep thinking of TYFSAK thank you for shopping at Kresge’s (or K-Mart) they put it on the registers for the checkers
Bruce in PSL Florida on 15 May 2012 at 2:52 pm #
Calvin Trillin, a Kansas City native, said that “you can’t get good barbecue served by a white man on a china plate.” His preference was Arthur Bryant’s. I have to say it is very good. Trillin’s recommendation for a hamburger was Winsted’s, be sure to ask for the grilled onions.
sandcastler on 15 May 2012 at 3:26 pm #
I am hoping some is recording all the dining spots mentioned on this blog. Could publish as the Arlo & Janis Traveling Diner. Just a thought.
Mindy on 15 May 2012 at 5:59 pm #
Just don’t eat at Mom’s, sandcastler. But that’s…:)
Mindy on 15 May 2012 at 5:59 pm #
phil in Missola, MT on 15 May 2012 at 6:42 pm #
Mindy, you reminded me of the old Ridgid Tools calendars. I haven’t seen one of those since the oil industry became politically correct (and they started making female petroleum/drilling engineers). Or it may have been because I moved into the office some time back where things are more tightly controlled. Maybe Ridgid makes beefcake calendars for the gals.
Joni in ND, you probably know what Ridgid puts on their calendars these days…
Mindy on 15 May 2012 at 6:45 pm #
Political Correctness, phil, has actually ruined a lot of things. But I have to ask: Are you making a pun with “Ridgid” and “beef cake?” And did I just stick my foot in mouth yet again?
Mark in TTown on 15 May 2012 at 7:11 pm #
Bruce in PSL, I have heard an old saying that “a good barbecue place can’t pass a health inspection.” Don’t know if that’s true or not, since none can operate without one these days. Wouldn’t want to find out, either. But most home kitchens couldn’t pass one, come to that.
sandcastler on 15 May 2012 at 7:39 pm #
Mindy, you need a space before doing
I can recall the non-politically correct days O:-)
Lost in A**2 on 15 May 2012 at 8:21 pm #
No, it wasn’t a pun; Home Depot carries Ridgid (brand) tools. The source is http://www.ridgid.com/
Never eat at a restaurant called “Mom’s.” If the only other restaurant in town is called “Eats,” eat at Mom’s.
Someone recently opened EAT in Our Fair City. I’ve seen good reviews but haven’t stopped by yet.
phil in Missola, MT on 15 May 2012 at 10:07 pm #
Ridgid made a line of tools you might use in the oilfield…things like cutters and pipe wrenches and such. I think it was their advertising that had a likely looking lass holding some tool, touting the molybdenum steel alloy in the tools with the line “Moly makes your tool hard”.
phil in Missola, MT on 15 May 2012 at 10:13 pm #
beef·cake? ?/?bif?ke?k/ Show Spelled[beef-keyk] Show IPA
noun Informal .
photographs of nearly nude young men in magazines or the like, posed to display their muscular bodies.
Origin:
1945–50; beef + cake, modeled on cheesecake
Hurd in Bay Minette on 15 May 2012 at 10:22 pm #
I have yet to try a style of BBQ that I did not like. As for health inspections when your wife/partner is a nurse you can bet your place will be clean.
Jerry in Fl on 16 May 2012 at 12:48 am #
Mindy, Your comment in the middle of the above discussion leads to an obvious comment, but I won’t be risque and maybe it’s best saved for the imagination. Someone brought up a while back about replicas of the Statue of Liberty? From the first of the year to the middle of April Pensacola has a Lady Liberty on the sidewalk every couple of blocks waving at traffic so there must be a lot of them.
Rick in Shermantown, Ohio on 16 May 2012 at 4:51 am #
The phrase “naked lady” has always been interesting for me.
What woman who is actually a lady – or at least ladylike – poses for nude paintings or photographs?
Not that I’m complaining, mind you.
David in Austin on 16 May 2012 at 8:24 am #
Rick, maybe “naked lady” originated with Lady Godiva. Her ride through the town, without clothes, was supposed to be unobserved due to the gallantry of the citizens. Of course there always has to be a peeking Tom.
I would guess that posing nude for “art” to be considered more acceptable than just average, run-of-the mill, nudity. It has to due with perfection of form. Don’t know about photography– in some cases it is art, in others it is porn.
Rick in Shermantown, Ohio on 16 May 2012 at 5:45 pm #
David:
Well, because you hit the serious button…
Models and actresses have never been held to be part of the gentle class.
Even the more attractive models and actresses are still regarded as common.
A few exceptions exist, of course, but not many.