Dish & Drink KC: A Brunched discovery and Chef J’s BBQ

Dish & Drink KC logo by Theodore Rosen

I finally made it out to Brunched, The Pitch’s annual boozy breakfast club thrown at The Guild on April 12, and I’m so happy I did.

If you’ve never been, here’s the vibe: part breakfast crawl, part day party, part discovery lab for Kansas City’s food and drink scene.

You grab your wristband, make your way through a curated lineup of local restaurants, bars, and makers, and sample your way through everything from stacked brunch bites to cocktails, coffee, and unexpected pairings. It’s fast-paced, a little indulgent, and exactly the kind of event where you show up hungry and leave with a new list of favorites.

For me, it was a delicious journey of discovery. There were some familiar brands and faces in the room, but what stood out most were the new finds. 

On the Rocks // Photo by Tiffany Watts

On The Rocks Gourmet Jams was one of them.

Of course, as the name implies, jams are their jam, but not in a basic way. Their lineup leans into cocktail-inspired flavors like raspberry mimosa, peach bellini, strawberry daiquiri, Taste of Jazz Sangria, peach mango moscato, and strawberry margarita. Definitely a jam for an elevated meal or a charcuterie board. 

But what really got me? They pulled up to Brunched with something new: freshly pressed, all-natural juices, a tasty addition to their menu that still delivered that same bold, fruit-forward flavor.

We ordered two of the mango peach pineapple flavored juices, and after a couple of sips, I went right back and bought three more. No hesitation. They were bright, smooth, with no added sweeteners; just a clean, fresh flavor that hits the taste buds and settles your sweet tooth. It was such a good reset between heavier bites, but also something I’d genuinely go out of my way to grab again.

That’s the magic of Brunched. You come for the experience, but you leave with new obsessions. And if you’re doing it right, at least one of them ends up in your fridge the next day.

On The Rocks Jams can be ordered online, or follow their Instagram to find their next pop-up.

Chef J BBQ // Photo by Tiffany Watts

If Chef J BBQ in the West Bottoms isn’t on your list of must-try spots in Kansas City, it needs to be. I pulled up right at opening, and the line was already out the door, a clear sign that this was a hot spot and I was already late to the party.

I heard they sell out daily. And after experiencing it, that makes perfect sense.

A group of us went all in on the Full Monty ($100): A stacked spread of brisket, ribs, pulled pork, smoked turkey, and sausage, plus sides. It’s one of their family platters made to feed 6- 8 people. The four of us couldn’t finish, but the meat we did eat was superb. 

A little context, Chef J BBQ is rooted in traditional, wood-fired barbecue, so everything is smoked low and slow over hickory, then sliced fresh to order. You can taste that care immediately. The brisket is tender with a deep, smoky crust, the ribs have that clean, tender bite, and the pulled pork is juicy and full of flavor. 

Drizzle a little of their Carolina Gold BBQ sauce on top, and it brings in a tangy, slightly sweet kick that pulls everything together.

Chef J BBQ // Photo by Tiffany Watts

And the sides are a win too. The baked beans were rich and smoky without leaning too sweet, and the smoked elotes delivered that creamy, slightly charred balance with bold flavor in every bite. And the sauces? Fire. Each one adds something different, whether you want a little tang, a little heat, or something in between.

But the rolls? The table couldn’t stop talking about them.

Moist, warm, and just sturdy enough to hold everything together, but it’s the butter that takes it over the top. Savory and herb-forward, melting straight into the bread. It sounds simple, but it ended up being the favorite at the table.

And did I mention everything is made from scratch, in-house? From the meats to the sides to the sauces, and you can taste it in every bite.

And here’s a little news you might not have heard yet: they’re getting ready to open a new location in North Kansas City. Chef J BBQ is only getting bigger, and somehow, even better.

Chef J BBQ is located at 1401 W 13th St., Suite G, Kansas City, MO 64102.