Category Archives: Barbecue

Wichita Ribfest details coming together

April 20, 20122:28 p.m.

The pieces of the Wichita Ribfest at Intrust Bank Arena have been slowly coming together over the past several weeks. And today, the arena announced its Friday, May 18 musical lineup, which includes headliners Gloriana, a country act that opened for Taylor Swift when she performed at the arena in 2010. Local bands The Watchers and Nobody’s Business also will perform that night.

The Wichita Ribfest is an outdoor barbecue festival featuring music and national rib vendors that originally scheduled for last August, but the arena canceled it citing “unforeseen conflicts.”  The annual BlackTop Nationa event was scheduled in the same area the same weekend. Arena officials announced in February that they were rescheduling the event for May 17-19 in Lot D, a city-managed parking lot east of the arena at 777 E. Waterman.

Gloriana will entertain Ribfest crowds on Friday, May 18.

The arena previously announced the Saturday, May 19, musical lineup: Former American Idol contestant Casey James, Mexican musician and singer Kareem Lopez and local groups Conjunto Anonimo, Poultry ‘N Motion and Pretty Ugly.

The lineup of six rib vendors also has been announced: Cowboy’s Barbecue & Rib Co. and Texas Thunder, both from Texas; Chicago BBQ Company; Uncle Bub’s BBQ from Westmont, Ill.; Johnson’s BBQ out of Virginia; and Porky Chicks BBQ out of Arkansas.

Wichita Ribest also will feature a beer garden and kids’ activities. It’s scheduled for 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, May 17, through Saturday, May 19. Admission is $4, free for children 12 and under. Half-price admission wlil be offeree from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Those with a Wichita River Festival button will be admitted free.

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under Barbecue, Food festivals, Uncategorized | Comments

Arena reviving Wichita Ribfest idea

Feb. 9, 20124:05 p.m.

People line up for their free lunch earlier today inside Intrust Bank Arena.

Intrust Bank Arena is reviving its idea for the Wichita Ribfest, an outdoor barbecue festival originally scheduled for last August.

The event, which will feature six national rib vendors, live music, a beer garden and kids’ activities, now is scheduled for May 17-19 in Lot D, a city-managed parking east of the arena at 777 E. Waterman.

I attended the press conference where the event was announced earlier today, and not just because the arena was passing out free ribs, potato salad and homemade chips. Although I certainly enjoyed that aspect of the event. A line of people that included nearby office workers were waiting to get in when the doors opened at 11:30 a.m. By the end of the event, about 300 people had taken advantage of the free lunch, I was told.

By the way, the arena also is asking people to vote on an official logo for the event. I like the bony pig with the flaming back, personally. You can cast your vote on the arena’s website between now and 10 a.m. Feb. 24

All the details about the Ribfest are in the story I wrote earlier today. Here are a few more photos from the event, shot by Eagle photog Jaime Green. Read More »

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under Barbecue, Food festivals, Uncategorized | Comments

Free lunch Thursday at Intrust Bank Arena

Feb. 7, 20123:34 p.m.

The folks at Intrust Bank Arena just sent out a very mysterious press release.

Starting at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, the first 400 people who show up inside the arena’s south concourse between entrances A and B will be treated to a free lunch of St. Louis-style pork ribs, potato salad and homemade potato chips. During the event, which lasts until 1 p.m., the arena will be announcing plans for a new food-based event.

My guess? Some type of barbecue competition similar to the River City Ribfest that the arena canceled earlier this year. I’ll let you know when I find out for sure.

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under Barbecue, Free food | Comments

Hank is so wise, he’s adding barbecue

Nov. 1, 201111:00 a.m.

Hank is Wiser Brewery, a well-regarded family-owned brew pub that’s operated in Cheney since 2005, is in the process of creating  a menu that will include all sorts of barbecue offerings, including ribs, brisket and more. Founder Hank Sanford and his brewer son, Steve, acquired a smoker and at the moment are perfecting their rubs and sauces. They hope to have the new menu launched by the end of the year or early in 2012.

They’ve also been busy remodeling the restaurant, an upgrade that’s adding 1,000 square feet to the space at 213 N. Main in Cheney. This summer, they also added a patio out back.

A bottle of Sam Adams Utopias.

Hank also told me recently about a rare offering he has in his brewery that will appeal to beer aficionados. He carries Sam Adams Utopias, which he says is the strongest beer brewed in the United States. The alcohol contest of Utopias is around 27 percent, and it costs between $13 and $18 an ounce. Hank has the Utopias from 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011. Very few businesses carry the beer, Hank said, and he believes his may be the only place in Kansas.

Hank is Wiser Brewery is open from 5:30 p.m. to midnight on Thursdays and from 5:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, call 316-542-0113.

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under Barbecue, Beer, Restaurant remodeling, Restaurants worth the drive | Comments

When Pigs Fly’s birthday rib eating contest

Oct. 20, 20111:11 p.m.

When pigs turn 1, they celebrate with a rib eating contest.

On Saturday, When Pigs Fly Bar-B-Que at 7011 W. Central is marking its first birthday with a rib-eating contest featuring representatives from Wichita EMS, the Wichita Fire Department and local radio personalities. The restaurant also will be giving away prizes and balloons.

The fun starts at noon, and spectators are welcome to watch the contestants chow down.

I’d also recommend you eat lunch while you’re there. Read my When Pigs Fly review to get yourself ready.

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under Barbecue, Restaurant birthdays | Comments

Bierocks, Brats N’ BBQ closed till after the fair

Sept. 9, 201110:42 a.m.

Mary Hansen is shutting down her restaurant until the Kansas State Fair is over.

She came from the fair, and to the fair she has returned.

I heard yesterday from Mary Hansen, the owner of Bierocks, Brats N’ BBQ at 1225 W. Douglas, who let me know that she has closed down her restaurant until after the Kansas State Fair closes on Sept. 18. Mary has been a long time food vendor at the fair, and that’s partially what inspired her last year to open her Wichita restaurant.

Her fans can still dine with her, they’ll just have to travel to Hutchinson. Mary operates the Roadhouse Bar and Grill, which is south of the big yellow slide on the fairgrounds. It serves steak burgers, chicken wings, smoked sausages, brats, ribs and more.

Speaking of the fair, I’m headed there now and will return this afternoon with reports on some of the whack-tastic fare they’re serving this year.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , , Filed under Barbecue, Restaurant closings | Comments

Hibiscus and Hurricanes at Botanica

Aug. 30, 20113:39 p.m.

With a title like that, there’s really almost no doubt where I’ll be tonight.

The Mudbugs Cajun & Zydeco Band will be performing at Botanica tonight as part of the gardens’ “Tuesdays on the Terrace” series. The music lasts from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and Two Brother’s BBQ will be selling food. There will also be a bar serving fabulous cocktails such as hurricanes.

Attendees also are free to bring picnics, chairs and blankets. Dancing is required. Not really. But it’s recommended.

Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and $5 for ages 3 to 12. See you there.

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under Barbecue | Comments

Bite Me will bring more barbecue downtown

Aug. 16, 20113:28 p.m.

Wichita barbecue fans will have another downtown option this fall.

Bite Me BBQ owners Coleman and Becky Lockett plant to move their restaurant from its current space at 151st St. west and Kellogg in Goddard to 130 N. St. Francis in downtown Wichita.

The move should be done by late November.

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under About-to-open, Barbecue | Comments

Three bites of BBQ news

July 15, 201111:46 a.m.

Wichita cannot be accused of depriving its citizens of barbecue. I have three  pieces of smoky barbecue news that might interest you today.

The first one is about Carrie B’s, a bar-just-turned-barbecue-joint that’s been attached to the Wichita Inn on west Kellogg since the early 1980s. (I have memories of staying there with my parents a few times as a kid and popping into Carrie B’s.)

The bar moved across Kellogg with the hotel seven years ago and kept its regular crowd, but when the smoking ban took effect, business took a hit. Owners recently decided to start serving barbecue and now are calling the business Carrie B’s Bar and BBQ. They’re serving ribs, brisket, pulled pork and smoked sausages and smoking all the meat themselves. They also created their own rubs and sauces and hired longtime chef-about-town Randy Hare to do the cooking. Hours are 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday and 4 p.m. to midnight Saturday. It’s at 6339 W. Kellogg. Call 316-260-8550 for more information.

In other saucy news, Fire It Up Pit BBQ at 4628 S. Seneca is putting on one of its all-you-can eat rib days tomorrow. From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., dine-in patrons can get all the ribs they can stomach plus two sides and a drink for $9.99. Call , call 316-425-7020 for more information.

Also, a reader called me last week wondering about the new barbecue place going in near the Loony Bin at 21st and Woodlawn. That restaurant is to be called Payne’s Smokehouse BBQ and it’ll open in the old Backstage Bar & Grill space sometime in August.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , , Filed under Barbecue | Comments

Feed your father on Sunday

June 16, 20113:29 p.m.

Restaurants are of the belief that dads like beef.

I always feel bad for dads. Restaurants don’t feel the need to roll out the buffet carpet for him as much as they do for mom or for Easter and Thanksgiving.

Sorry, dad.

Still, there are plenty of places willing to give dad a deal and a meal this Father’s Day, which is Sunday. Check out my story, which will appear in tomorrow’s Go! section.

By Denise Neil | Filed under Barbecue, Buffets, Holiday meals | Comments