Eat This Now: Blue Blaze at Bay Boy Specialty Sandwiches

Blue Blaze at Bay Boy Specialty Sandwiches // Photo by Sarah Sipple

The Blue Blaze was the sandwich of my summer. Now, by honest accident, I have used my powers as Food Editor to help make it the sandwich of your autumn.

I sat down at Bay Boy to interview the owner, as I planned to cover The Gobbler–their best-seller and my year-round go-to sammie. I expressed how I wished I could cover the Blue Blaze, but instead, I need to be practical and select something that readers can actually enjoy for the next few months. Julian Garcia, co-owner, made the generous decision right then to extend the Blue Blaze beyond a seasonal summer special. And here we are.

Before we chow down on the specific Blue Blaze sandwich, we have to cover the Bay Boy basics: Dutch. Crunch. Bread. 

Garcia first tried Dutch crunch bread in his hometown of San Fransisco but perfected the recipe in his years of working at Johnny Jo’s Pizzeria just around the corner from Bay Boy’s current location in West Plaza. The difference is a split crust on the outside of the bread, made from a rice flour batter. “That’s why you get that weird, crunchy texture on the outside, but keep the integrity of the soft and chewiness of the bread on the inside,” says Garcia. A finite amount of this specialty bread is made fresh every day, so the risk of sandwiches selling out is always a possibility.

Blue Blaze at Bay Boy Specialty Sandwiches // Photo by Sarah Sipple

Inside the pristinely chewy and crunchy sandwich buns of the Blue Blaze ($13) rests turkey, locally grown blueberry jam, melty white cheddar, hot cherry peppers, arugula, and mayo. Each ingredient is necessary and plays well together. The quality turkey meat grounds the sweetness of the jam and the heat of the peppers. It’s like a Thanksgiving leftover sandwich’s summery sister. The satisfaction is real.

I’ve paired this with everything from a Diet Coke to canned red wine, but Garcia says the dream pairing is a locally brewed beer. Cinder Block, Limitless, Double Shift, and Casual Animal are some of his favorites. Bay Boy does not sell alcohol, but this is a great time to bring up the carry-out window on ground level:

Dine-in is an option if you can climb a staircase, but to-go orders can be picked up at the downstairs window on the sidewalk of Holly St. Grab a sammie, bring along your favorite local brew, and post up at The Nelson or Berkley Riverfront for a casual fall picnic. Personally, I enjoyed this sammie as my Shakespeare in the Park picnic, a simple carry-out to enjoy at home, and a quick lunch at work. I have yet to dine in at the restaurant, but there is a welcoming patio and plenty of indoor seating up the staircase.

Bay Boy Specialty Sandwiches is located at 4706 Holly St, Kansas City, MO 64112.