The Rub Bar-B-Que

Dan Janssen, founder of The Rub Bar-B-Q, started off his culinary career in corporate America. He cut his teeth at, of all places, an Applebee’s in Grand Rapids, MI, where he eventually worked his way up to chief operations manager. For years, neighbors who attended Janssen’s cookouts encouraged him to ditch big business and open up his own restaurant. He was just too good for mass produced meats. In 2011, he did just that. And thank goodness, because The Rub is some of the best of the best when it comes to barbecue joints in Kansas City, MO. In a lot of ways, the dishes at The Rub stick strictly to tradition because if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. Meats are slow-cooked until tender and slathered with tangy sauce, as is custom, but Janssen wanted to do something just a bit different. These conventional dishes are served in unconventional fashions, pairing the right meats with the right sides to create unique and delectable flavor profiles sure to please your palate. If you’re thinking barbecue for your next event, give your guests something both new and familiar with The Rub Bar-B-Que. It’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser. MUST TRY

Hillbilly Bowl - Start with a base of sugar-crusted cornbread, then stack on top your choice of meat, barbecue beans, and onion straws for an epic, full-flavored feast.

Hash Bowl - A decadent dish that has a little of everything barbecue-wise, this bowl is packed with fried potatoes, grilled peppers, onions, pulled pork, burnt ends, chicken, and sausage. And if all that wasn’t enough, it’s all topped off with onion straws and cheese for a savory version of the cherry-on-top.