Burnt Legend: The Story of Burnt Ends

Burnt Legend, a joint project from KCPT, Flatland and Recommended Daily, peers inside the smoky, rich world of Kansas City barbecue and shines a light on one of the city’s defining foods. Host Jonathan Bender talks to pitmasters, barbecue fans and historians to look into how brisket is smoked, chopped and transformed into a saucy, crispy pile of heaven.

Kansas City PBS - KCPT, Kansas City

[caseywilson]

What an amazing representation of exactly what makes KC so special. Not just the food, but the people carry the spirit of the Heartland and it shows in almost every second of this documentary. Well done!
…..and now I’m hungry.

[kckgirl]

As a native of the KANSAS side of the viaduct, I grew up eating GATES AND SONS BBQ. Besides making the best food, they make their own sauce AND pickles. On every visit home, GATES is my first stop before I see my family and the last stop on the way back to KCI. I always bring back REAL BBQ to my friends in Texas!

[SNDTEK]

Good to see the real KC Bar BQ being showcased Bryants, Slaps, are the true, real BBQ

[pparks]

Joes Kansas City BBQ is my favorite for Burnt Ends and Brisket...

[pla]

I agree the fat is very important when making bbq its keeps the meat tender and add flavor

[richardstevens]

I lived in KC. They do have the best burnt ends. Would get an order to go every Friday after work!!!

[micheletalley]

I now live in Florida but KC is home and I have been dying for some burnt ends and pickles. So disappointed no good BBQ here in Florida. I so miss the food and jazz of KC.

[AGiantSloar]

"It's not about the sauce, it's about the meat." Hell yeah! However, KC also happens to have the best sauce.

[HistoricWrath]

I love a lot of different places’ burnt ends. But I had Q39’s last weekend and I think I saw God. They were truly unbelievable. good.

[christophersleight]

I was born in Kansas. Lived in Virginia, Missouri, New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Iowa, Nebraska,
I have good memories with each.
In 1974 I went to the Kansas City Art Institute (U of S & G or University of Sodom and Gomorrah) I quit school after 3 semesters. Went to work for an Artist who was struggling to start a Structural Steel Business. On Fridays we would take our "drops" or scrap to the scrap yard. Take whatever cash there was and go to Bryant's BBQ.
I enjoy people's love of where they come from, things they hold in high regard. I also enjoy the playful banter of comparative pride in locals.
But, this is something that gets ugly quick.
This is the kind of behavior that ruins College Sports.
I don't know if KC BBQ is the best, but I have some wonderful memories of ice cold Beer, heaping piles of Brisket on Wonder Bread.
I got to meet Mr. Bryant, very gentle man.
I have been to Texas, large in so many ways. I haven't lived there Greetings from Colorado Springs Colorado.

[dwaynesbadchemicals]

Good food and music will always bring people together.

[badhomeboy]

I'm getting emotional watching this. So much burnt ends, so little time.

[NYCfrankie]

I'm a professional poker player from Brooklyn who is lucky enough to travel around the 🇺🇸 and the 🌎 and burnt ends really are something special to BBQ in KC but KC is really special to bbq definitely a top 3 city for bbq in 🇺🇸 imo

[crisworkizer]

That was a well done vid. I learned a lot, History and great ways to make burnt ends.Thanks to all for putting this out there.

[davidloganguest]

I haven't lived in Missouri for 12 years. I have tried to explain KC/Missouri style BBQ to my wife (we live in GA now). Its all just smoked pork (no sauce, just some vinegar with seasoning) here as far as BBQ goes. Went on vacation to Tennessee and a restaurant had KC Style Burnt Ends and she tried some. Now she understands why I don't consider our local style to be BBQ. So ready to visit KC, Sedalia, Springfield and Branson again to hit up the old places that I loved.

[troygreen]

Thank God for these men and women that keep BBQ alive

[lgsteelo]

"Succulent buttery goodness". Well said

[pla]

I luv burnt ends juice flavorful and burnt 😉 I luv when Texas, St Louis, Kansas City and Memphis compete with who makes the best bbq

[brandonelliott]

Best burnt ends in KC LC’S
Best beef sandwich Bryant’s
Best sauce gates extra hot
Best ribs and overall best is joes bbq imo
Big T’s is no joke as well

[usp]

I can see where this came from. I once worked as a carver at a restaurant, I took the cutting board scraps and tossed them into mash potatoes with peas and corn for lunch. no point in wasting perfectly good meat.
unfortunately, I'm in Florida and you have to hunt down a roadside smoker to get decent BBQ here.