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"With their rich flavors and strong personalities, you're sure to form your own opinion about barbecue. And once you've visited two barbecue restaurants, you'll be ready to debate which one is better," Jonathan Bender, founder of the BBQ Museum, told CNN Travel.
Jonathan Bender, the founder of the BBQ Museum, is a writer who has written about barbecue for over 15 years and has served as a judge at the KC's American Royal World Series of Barbecue. He also created the documentary "Burnt Legend" about Kansas City's signature barbecue dish.
Dubbed "the world's first barbecue museum," the BBQ Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, is like a living book.
CNN Travel noted that this will undoubtedly spark debates about barbecue in different regions. Many argue that a museum dedicated to the art of excellent barbecue should be located in Texas, the Carolinas, Memphis, or Tennessee.
Kansas City is famous for its more than 100 barbecue restaurants and is the location of many competitions, including the World Barbecue Championship. At the museum, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the elements that make a delicious barbecue, from the type of meat, spices, wood, fire, smoke, to the sauce. The gift shop will offer sauces, spices, and other themed products.
Here you can see giant grills up close, smell the delicious smoke, and even enjoy delicious grilled meats.
The interactive exhibits at the BBQ Museum will take visitors on an exciting culinary journey, from learning about the fundamental elements of grilling such as meat, spices, wood, fire, smoke, and sauces to exploring the diversity of grilling styles around the world, where you can experience and discover the secrets of professional grillers firsthand.
Grilling is "sharing and bonding," Bender says. "And butchers and grillers are the best storytellers I've ever met. Grilling isn't just food. It's culture." The dishes will showcase different grilling styles after providing visitors with knowledge about the components of grilling: meat, spices, wood, fire, smoke, and sauces.
Many people are looking forward to the museum's opening.
The store's merchandise will include sauces, spices, and other barbecue-themed items. Scheduled to open in the spring of 2025, the museum will utilize a large space at the Crown Center shopping mall in Kansas City.
Those wishing to enjoy a lavish meat feast are in luck. There's a barbecue restaurant called Burnt End BBQ on the ground floor of Crown Center where you can sample smoked pork slices. Bender also has many other suggestions for meat lovers.
Barbecue is considered a part of American culture.
Kansas City is home to over 100 local barbecue restaurants and numerous competitions, including the World Series of Barbecue, which takes place in late October.
The cultural significance surrounding barbecue is undeniable. "Barbecue is authentic and delicious. It can't be done haphazardly," Bender shared. "It's also been a part of American culture for centuries, connecting people through meals and serving as a way to mark or celebrate important community moments."
