Kansas City has an identity crisis; that is no surprise to anyone. Some people have suggested that we all embrace our cowtown roots as our identity. There would be nothing wrong with that, except that we are no longer a cowtown. It seems too much like a manufactured label when you have to create a cattle drive in order to embrace your identity. Some have suggested that we should promote ourselves as a sports town. I love sports as much as the next person, and that seems to be the problem—what town ISN’T a sports town? And how can we bill ourselves as a sports town when the populace won’t support the NBA and/or the NHL? So, in the search for identity, we should look at what stands out about the people here. You know what stands out about Kansas City? Kansas Citians love to eat.
Maybe you would look at that as something of which we should not be too proud. I would say there is nothing wrong with loving food. There seem to be a great many people proudly wearing the label of “foodie.” Think about the proliferation of food shows on television, the advent of the “celebrity chef,” and how many cable network channels are devoted to food. Think about how many restaurants we have and how all of our events include food—even going to a football game. I’m not talking about HOW MUCH we eat, per se, just how much we LOVE FOOD. Who do you know that doesn’t have a grill in the backyard? When was the last time you heard or participated in a conversation about food that turned into a passionate recommendation of some new dish or restaurant? Embrace it, Kansas City, we are a Foodie Town.
I view the current increase in food trucks in Kansas City as a logical extension of who we are. Most of the people running food trucks around town are passionate about the food that they serve from those trucks. They aren’t just out there to make money. It is important to them that people love the food they serve as much as they love to make it. There are many people in Kansas City who are passionate about cooking, but not everyone can afford to open up their own restaurant. Especially in these tough economic times, when even brick and mortar restaurants struggle to make a profit, it makes sense to keep your overhead low. Hence the current food truck trend.
On Friday nights in Kansas City, you can be part of the trend and embrace your identity as a Kansas Citian by stopping by 21st and Wyandotte, The Truck Stop in the Crossroads, to experience the culinary passion of your fellow foodies.
Friday, August 19th, found The Truck Stop full of mobile chefs offering a variety of specialty foods. Lufti’s Fried Fish, Curbside Cuisine, Gary on the Go, The Tamale Wizard, The Funnel Cake Truck along with first-time attendees Indios Carbonsitos and The Magical Meatball Tour offered their wares. The Barbecue Nachos (Indios Carbonsitos) and the Sampler Platter from the Magical Meatball Tour were particularly spectacular. These were both delicious, filling meals that will satisfy your love for great food at a very economical price.
Above: Indios Carbonsitos' Fabulous Barbecue Nachos. Brisket, Cheese, BBQ Sauce and chips combine for a surprisingly delicious fusion of flavor.
The Magical Meatball Tour's Sampler Platter includes an absolutely delicious vegetarian meatball that even you carnivores will love!
One more thing that I wanted to mention to all of you surburbanites; if you aren't venturing into the City for your entertainment on evenings and weekends, you are missing out. As we were leaving The Truck Stop on Friday night, up in the sky I saw the most awesome, strange and wonderful fireworks I have ever seen. I still don't know what exactly it was--it HAD to be fireworks, but I have never seen fireworks stay lit for such a long time. They were flying around the sky in formation above the city. Where were they coming from? I still don't know. My camera is too cheap to have taken decent pics, so you will have to take my word.
If you aren't at The Truck Stop on Friday nights, you don't know what you might be missing.
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