KC BBQ Is A Scrumptious Food Choice At Kansas City's First Fridays

Brisket Sandwich w/chips, pickle and drink

Heading to Kansas City's Crossroads District for First Fridays is a great way to spend an evening...a little art, a little entertainment, and some really good food.

But what has made First Fridays even better over the last year or so are the numerous food trucks that are now allowed to set up shop (you can find them all at approximately 21st and Wyandotte) and serve anything from tacos to snow-balls.

On one recent trip to First Fridays I decided to try the offerings of the KC BBQ truck.  First of all, it was hard to miss.  It was a huge red truck with flames on the side.  But what really drew me to them were the free pulled pork and brisket samples they were handing out - yummy!

The KC BBQ Truck At First Fridays

As I ravenously checked out their menu, not only were my taste buds pleased with their delicious "teaser" meat samples, my nose was happy as well.  Coming from their truck was the irristible smell of fresh smoked meat.

On the menu that evening was either a pulled pork or brisket sandwich with chips and a pickle for $7 or a rib basket with either potato salad or coleslaw for $8.

They also offered several kinds of soda, bottled water and frozen lemonade.  The side items by themselves (potato salad and coleslaw) were $2.

Lots of BBQ Sauces To Choose From

I ordered the brisket sandwich with chips, and it was delicious.  I also had my choice of four different BBQ sauces - mild, sassy, zesty and hot.  Additionally, they had onion and pickle slices available to top off their sandwiches.

After I wolfed down my food, I told the gentlemen working on the KC BBQ truck how much I enjoyed my meal and that I was going to write about them in my blog.  They were nice enough to answer questions about their business and give me a tour of their truck.

Inside The KC BBQ Food Truck

When I stepped inside, the first thing I noticed was how clean it was.  I also noticed that besides a full kitchen, they had two built-in smokers in the truck.  And when they opened those smokers, the smell made me want to eat all over again.

I also learned that KC BBQ has been catering for aproximately eight years.  They work most First Fridays, state fairs, and cater for many special events in the area.

Imagine How Good This Smells!

I found their brisket to be juicy, flavorful and a choice I would make again.  They also stressed to me they only make and serve what they call "honest food."  That means their premium cuts of meat are minimally processed, the rubs they use are MSG free, they don't believe in using fillers or "mystery solutions" to enhance taste, and they only use fresh, natural ingredients for all of their dishes.

So, with First Fridays coming up again at the end of this week, if you find yourselves in the Crossroads and hungry, consider giving KC BBQ a try.  I don't think you'll be sorry, and you might even find yourself heading back for more!

 

KC BBQ at the Crossroads

Visiting My First Kansas City Food Truck For Lunch Is A Tasty Experience

DECO "Street Eats" Food Truck Proves To Be A Good Choice For Lunch

DECO Street Eats Food Truck

Recently I found myself in downtown Kansas City during the lunch hour.  I was hungry but also looking for something different to eat, so I decided to visit my first food truck. 

I wasn't exactly sure where the trucks would be located, but I thought somewhere around the Jackson County Courthouse would be a good guess.  I was right.  Lined up on the street behind the courthouse was a row of food trucks offering Kansas City's  urban population a variety of lunch options.  

For a few minutes I walked back and forth in front of the trucks, scouting out what choices were available.  The most popular option by far was BBQ, but something about the first truck in line, the DECO Street Eats truck, caught my attention.

I walked back to their big red truck for another look at the summer menu.  It was then that I noticed their logo, Fresh + Simple = Delicious.  That sounded pretty good, and I didn't really want anything greasy or fried, so I decided to put them to the test.  

Their menu included turkey, roast beef, Mediterranean, buffalo chicken, BBQ pork and chicken salad sandwiches, along with chicken club wraps and a variety of side items like garden and Caesar salads, fresh fruit, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans and macaroni and cheese.  They also had cookies for dessert.  In other words, they were an upscale deli on wheels.

By the time I decided what I wanted to eat and stepped up to their window, I was ravenous.  When I ordered, however, I received my first lesson about food trucks.  Get there early or they will run out of certain items.  I was crushed that I didn't get to sample the macaroni and cheese for that reason, but I was still determined to try one of their tasty-sounding sandwiches.  

1/2 of a Woodsman sandwich with chips and drink

I selected The Woodsman, which was freshly-sliced roast beef topped with caramelized onions and creamy horseradish sauce, served with my choice of cheese and bread.  Their sandwiches also came with one side item and a drink, so I chose chips and a soda.  

And how did my sandwich taste?  Just like they promised - Fresh + Simple = Delicious.  

Classic Turkey sandwich with potato salad

My sister, who was with me, ordered the Classic Turkey sandwich, which included freshly-sliced, honey-smoked turkey breast and cranberry aioli (mayonnaise) with her choice of cheese and bread.  She picked the potato salad for her side item.  

So what did she think about her lunch?  She was somewhat neutral about the potato salad, but loved her sandwich, especially the fresh cheese, and she decided she would definitely try DECO Street Eats again. 

As far as price, each meal was $7, which we thought was reasonable for what we received.  Side items purchased on their own were between $2 and $3, and the cookies were two for $1.50.

While waiting for my food, I did speak to the gentleman working inside the truck to find out more about DECO Street Eats and Catering.  I discovered that they do not have a regular street food route as some trucks do.  They are sometimes at the courthouse or at First Fridays (in the Crossroads), but more than anything, they cater for special occasions, corporate events, and weddings.

This makes it hard for me to tell you exactly where you can go to sample their yummy deli selections, but you can contact them at their DECO Catering website if you want further information about where they might be in the future.  

As for me?  If I happen to see their food truck again, I will be a repeat customer.  Their food was fresh, slightly different (in a good way), and a much healthier choice than a lot of other food trucks for a quick and delicious lunch.

DECO Street Eats Truck