Smoke ‘n Magic Brings Authentic BBQ to New KC Airport
Travelers to Kansas City won’t even need to leave the airport to get a taste of the city’s signature barbecue, thanks to the new $1.5 billion Kansas City International Airport terminal that recently opened. The stylish new 40-gate airport terminal opened on February 28, 2023, after five years of construction, replacing the three outdated terminals that had been in operation since the 1970s.
The terminal highlights Kansas City’s important ties to competition barbecue in an area of the terminal known as the ‘Made for KC Barbecue Experience,’ which features an 8,000-square-foot competition-barbecue-themed restaurant and a retail location that sells barbecue rubs, sauces, and memorabilia. OHM Concession Group manages the large location with licensing agreements with BBQ Spot (a subsidiary of Old World Spices), the American Royal, Smoke ‘n Magic BBQ, and the Stockyards Brewing Company. Proceeds from the location benefit Operation BBQ Relief and the Kansas City Barbeque Society.
Bradley Colter and Breana Via of Smoke ‘n Magic BBQ recently opened a restaurant in the new Kansas City International Airport terminal. (Photo by Bradley Colter)
As we reported in The Smoke Sheet last year, Bradley Colter and Breana Via of the Smoke ‘n Magic BBQ team (formerly Black Magic BBQ) were crowned the Grand Champions of the inaugural Made for KC BBQ Championship. The grand prize for winning the competition was a $25,000 payout and a one-year licensing opportunity to be featured in the new airport terminal restaurant.
Since they started their barbecue journey in 2020, Colter and Via have gone from barbecue hobbyists and relative newcomers to the sport of competition barbecue to restaurateurs and business owners. The two pitmasters have balanced competing in contests with developing the new airport restaurant, launching a line of sauces and rubs, and teaching barbecue classes, in addition to raising four children and maintaining regular day jobs.
Unlike at the old airport terminals, the dining and shopping options are located behind the airport security and are available to ticketed passengers, airport staff, or those who are accompanied by an official escort.
I had the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at the Made for KC Barbecue Experience thanks to Amy Jungk, who recently retired from Old World Spices to start Jungk Food Innovations. Her involvement in the Made for KC BBQ Championship led to her new role as a consultant to OHM Concession Group, where she focuses on adult beverage marketing strategy and event planning at the airport, including pop-ups, tastings, and product roll outs.
The BBQ Spot retail store at the Made for KC Barbecue Experience has a large selection of rubs, sauces, and memorabilia. (Photo by Ryan Cooper)
We met Via at the BBQ Spot retail store, where rubs and sauces from some of the top names in competition barbecue are sold to travelers. The new line of seasonings and sauces from Smoke ‘n Magic are displayed at the store. Via quickly provided recommendations to customers and helped share tips for the best ways to use these products.
Directly inside the BBQ Spot store location is a small bar that serves drinks, including Bloody Marys made with the Smoke ‘n Magic Bold ‘n Spicy Bloody Mary Mix, created in memory of Via’s father. Adjacent to this space is a full bar and restaurant space where patrons can get great barbecue. Both Colter and Via worked with OHM Concessions to build the restaurant menu, develop recipes, and train pitmasters and staff.
At the bar inside the Made for KC Barbecue Experience, you can get a Bloody Mary made with Smoke ‘n Magic Bloody Mary Mix. (Photo by Ryan Cooper)
Even more thought and planning went into the Smoke ‘n Magic BBQ location than would go into a typical restaurant. Because of the restaurant’s location behind airport security, all knives for trimming and slicing meat must be tethered to the wall and accounted for each day. “If even one knife goes missing, the airport goes on lockdown,” Via told me.
According to Via, the location has “the only wood-burning BBQ pit at an airport in the entire world.” An enormous ventilation system was put in place so that smoke does not fill the air inside the terminal or damage the jet engines of the planes taking off and landing at the airport.
During my morning visit, I ordered a breakfast burrito filled with smoked brisket. (Photo by Ryan Cooper)
Two massive Southern Pride Smokers were installed to keep up with the demand from hungry travelers who demand food around the clock. Via told me “selling out of food is not an option” and the restaurant doesn’t necessarily see the rush of diners at normal lunch and dinner hours.
During my morning visit, the restaurant was serving breakfast items. I ordered a breakfast burrito stuffed with brisket and a side of seasoned tater tots. Almost every item on the menu incorporates Smoke ‘n Magic rubs and sauces. According to Via, the “must try” menu item is the burnt ends but she also told me “don’t skip the french fries” with the special Smoke ‘n Magic seasoning, dipped in sauce.
Smoke ‘n Magic rubs and sauces are incorporated into nearly every item on the menu. (Photo by Brad Austin)
Beyond the Made for KC Barbecue Experience, the new airport terminal is a sleek and modern-looking facility that includes permanent art exhibits, with sculptures from internationally-recognized artists at the main entrance and paintings from local artists displayed throughout the concourses. The terminal is filled with some of Kansas City’s most beloved restaurants and shops, including a location of the Meat Mitch BBQ restaurant, Boulevard Brewing Company, Parisi Coffee, Pigwich, and more.
Via explained to me that all of the locations in the new terminal do what they can to help each other out. The team from Pigwich uses the slicer at Smoke ‘n Magic to prepare meat for their sandwiches, for example. “Just like the BBQ family at competitions, these folks are my airport family,” Via said.
Breana Via said she feels a sense of camaraderie with the other vendors at the airport, similar to the way she feels about the ‘BBQ family’ at competitions. (Photo by Ryan Cooper)
While the Made for KC Barbecue Experience is now up and running at the airport terminal, preparations are already underway for this year’s Made for KC BBQ Championship. The event will take place June 9-10, with 45 local teams.
Though Smoke ‘n Magic won’t be competing in the event, Colter and Via wouldn’t miss it for the world. “I’ll be there to cheer everyone on,” Via said.
Ryan Cooper (BBQ Tourist)
Co-Founder, The Smoke Sheet
—Since 2010, Big Poppa Smokers has been helping everyone from the competition pitmaster to the backyard enthusiasts with all of their cooking needs. Big Poppa Smokers has a large selection of smokers, grills, rubs, sauces and accessories available to help you this grilling season.—
—BBQ will return to Madison Square Park in Manhattan this summer for the first time since 2018.—
HOT OFF THE PRESS
For years, the largest BBQ event in New York City was the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party. That event ended in 2018 and sadly never returned. This summer, Madison Square Park will see the return of BBQ, but in a smaller form, with the Celebrate Big Apple Barbecue event on Tuesday, June 13. The park will host 20+ great BBQ joints from around the NYC metro area, including Bark Barbecue, Blue Smoke, Handsome Devil, Hill Country, Hometown BBQ, Izzy’s BBQ, Kimchi Smoke, Pig Beach BBQ, and more. READ HERE.
Chicago Tribune food critic Nick Kindelsperger has rounded up his list of the nine best barbecue restaurants in the Chicago area. “The fact is simple: Chicago has a dearly underrated barbecue scene,” Kindelsperger writes. “While we’re still not on most shortlists of the top national barbecue destinations, there’s no question the local barbecue options have gotten more varied and tempting. Our barbecue foundation remains the Black-owned operations on the South Side, where many pitmasters use aquarium-style smokers, so called for their rectangular shape and glass sides.” Entries on the list include Green Street Smoked Meats, Lem’s Bar-B-Q, Lillie’s Q, Slab BBQ, and Smoque BBQ. READ HERE.
Texas Monthly BBQ Editor Daniel Vaughn reports that Sisterdale’s Black Board Bar-B-Q is better than ever after new owners Joe Rodriguez and Melissa Garza took over. What’s notable is that the joint was showered with accolades in 2019 and 2021, but the duo has made improvements even while preserving the menu and decor. Vaughn praises the brisket, house-made sausage, and other meats but also says, “I’ve never had better mac and cheese at a barbecue joint.” READ HERE.
Devan Dignan writes in an op-ed in the Kansas City Star that the new Kansas City airport should be named for Henry Perry, the father of Kansas City barbecue. READ HERE.
ADDITIONAL READS
Texas Monthly notes that joint Brisket & Rice serves up great brisket fried rice and nui xào bò from a gas station in Houston.
The Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit on April 29th at Pig Beach Queens will be hosted by Michael Symon and be one of the biggest NYC-area BBQ events of the year.
Popular LA BBQ joint Maple Block Meat Co. is expanding with a new restaurant called Maple Block Chicken.
Gear Patrol outlines their picks for the best charcoal grills you can buy at every price point and for every backyard.
Ardbeg new BizarreBQ scotch whisky tries to emulate the flavors of smoky barbecue.
Pitmaster Garrett Rabel is serving up a “perfect” smoked sausage sandwich in New Berlin, TX, Daniel Vaughn reports.
The Seattle barbecue pop-up Outsider BBQ is cooking up Texas craft barbeque with a Turkish twist.
rnt Bean Co serves up some of the best BBQ you can find in Texas.—
WATCH
Topo Chico Presents "Pitmaster Days" feat. Burnt Bean Co — Flint Field TX
From Flint Field Tx & Tuxedo Goose Films comes "Pitmaster Days" — an in-depth 48-hour look at pitmasters Ernest Servantes and David Kirkland at their award-winning Texas barbecue restaurant Burnt Bean Co in Seguin, TX. WATCH HERE.
LISTEN
Jess Pryles of Hardcore Carnivore — After The Cook with Buddha & Darkside
Just Keep Flipping! That's the motto of Australian-born, Texas-influenced Jess Pryles of Hardcore Carnivore. Chris from The BBQ Buddha and Mel Chmilar of Darkside of the Grill chat with Jess about how she found herself in Texas, how she fell in love with barbecue and meat, and even some of the things she's faced while helping to pave the way for women in barbecue. LISTEN HERE.
READ
Campfire Cooking: Mouthwatering Skillet, Dutch Oven, and Skewer Recipes — Jakob Nusbaum
Sharing a meal around a campfire is one of life's purest pleasures. Whether you've come back to camp after a long day of hiking or you're stepping out onto the patio to sit around the fire pit, there's something special about the smell of smoke, the stories, the laughter, and the sound of food sizzling over the open flames. This book will take your campfire experiences up to another level with incredible food and invaluable advice. Find tips on how to split firewood safely, suggestions for choosing equipment, and advice for getting your fire going and keeping it hot. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts, and hot drinks are all covered in this beautiful and inspiring cookbook. PRE-ORDER HERE.
—Susie Bulloch of Hey Grill Hey has some incredible slow-smoked baked beans you need to try.—
Smoked Baked Beans with Brown Sugar and Bacon
By Hey Grill Hey
Smoked baked beans are a must-have barbecue side dish. Nothing goes better with your perfectly cooked BBQ than a spoonful of slightly sweetened, slow-smoked baked beans loaded with bacon. This recipe for Smoked Baked Beans with Brown Sugar and Bacon from Susie Bulloch of Hey Grill Hey was adapted from a recipe from The Pioneer Woman. Susie kicks things up a notch with the addition of jalapeños, peppered bacon, and real wood smoke!
—Don't miss out on awesome BBQ events this spring and summer like Brisket King NYC in Queens, NY. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)—
April 26, 2023: Brisket King NYC — Queens, New York
The 12th Edition of Brisket King NYC will be held outdoors at the huge Pig Beach BBQ location in Queens, NYC this April. The event will feature brisket dishes from upcoming barbecue pitmasters and chefs. Historically, Brisket King has featured many pitmasters before they were household names, so you’re also getting a look at the future of the barbecue scene. MORE INFO HERE.
April 29, 2023: 3rd Annual Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit — Queens, New York
Join the crew at Pig Beach for the 3rd Annual Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit, a full-day meat smokin’ extravaganza organized in honor late friend, Pig Beach BBQ Executive Chef Jeff Michner, who passed away suddenly in 2018 at age 36 leaving behind his wife Sara and daughter Hayes. This all-day “swine around” will feature more than 25 indoor and outdoor food stations helmed by celebrated chefs and barbecue royalty, plus complimentary beer, specialty cocktails, and non-alcoholic refreshments. MORE INFO HERE.
May 5-6, 2023: The BBQ Fest on the Neuse — Kinston, North Carolina
The 42nd annual BBQ Festival on the Neuse kicks off soon in Kinston, NC. The large festival will include a whole hog cookoff, food competitions, shopping, arts and crafts, wine garden, children’s activities, and more. Expect a good time for families and BBQ enthusiasts. MORE INFO HERE.
May 17-20, 2023: Memphis in May — Memphis, Tennessee
Recognized as one of the world’s most prestigious barbecue contests, the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is a four-day competition held in Memphis. Teams representing the best of barbecue that have been honing their craft for years compete for the title of World Champion and a share of the more than $145,000 in prize money. The event will be held again at Tom’s River Park after a hiatus. However, based on the reduction in space in the new Tom Lee Park the event organizers expect the contest will be limited to 150 teams. MORE INFO HERE.
May 27-28, 2023: Denver BBQ Festival — Denver, Colorado
The Denver BBQ Fest, held at Empower Field at Mile High (where the Broncos play), is a huge event that brings barbecue fans together to get a taste of great local and national barbecue bites. On top of the top-notch food, there’s also live music and great drinks to enjoy. To get a taste of this event, be sure to read writer Ed Reilly’s recap of the 2022 Denver BBQ Festival. If you’re near Denver, don’t miss this. MORE INFO HERE.
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