Four Inane Questions with Kansas City Smoked pitmaster Ronnie Oswald
Courtesy photo
If you smoke it, they will come.
Or at least that’s how pitmaster Ronnie Oswald approaches his take on barbecue. The Kansas City native says his love of barbecue “has been a lifelong journey, but in the last three years, it’s gone from a hobby to a full-blown passion.”
To hear him tell the tale, Oswald was a former gym owner but found he needed to punt during the pandemic.
“I pivoted to creating and serving craft barbecue,” he says. “If you’re reading between the lines, I went from helping people achieve their fitness goals to providing the best cheat meals in the city!”
These days, the “father of two beautiful little girls and husband to Mrs. Oswald” builds and fabricates smokers—including the one he uses. And he can be found around town serving out of his perpetually busy Kansas City Smoked food truck.
“We create mouthwatering barbecue dishes ranging from Texas-style brisket to smoked birria ramen,” he says. “And my signature dish at Kansas City Smoked? Pork belly burnt ends over jalapeño bacon cheesy grits!”
We caught up with the carnivore caterer to zing him with our litany of lame-o questions. We can’t be sure, but we likely gained four pounds inhaling his food while waiting for his answers. (That birria ramen gets us every time!)
The Pitch: You’re gifted a lifetime supply of something. What is it?
Ronnie Oswald: My one daily vice is freakin’ Diet Dr. Pepper! At least one with dinner every night. Having them on hand at all times would just make life easier. Nothing worse than going out to dinner, and all they have is Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi—two of the absolute worst things of all time.
If you came with a warning label, what would it say?
Beware! Quick-witted sarcasm. And it usually involves others laughing at your expense—and will ensue if you try to match wits with me or try to have the last word.
What’s one thing you could legitimately smoke but refuse to do so.
I won’t smoke something if I think it’s done better in a different way. I’ve seen people smoke crab legs—and I just don’t get it.
What’s your all-time, hands-down favorite Xmas ornament?
I’d have to say my 1985 Royals World Championship ornament. I was a huge George Brett fan growing up. My dad even had me batting lefty and throwing righty just like him, so I’d have that extra step towards first base after a hit.
Bonus 5th Question: If you were a barbecue sauce, what kind of barbecue sauce would you be?
Sweet and spicy, for sure. I typically get along well with everyone, but a bad first impression is hard for me to get over. Not impossible—but not easy.
