Best of KC 2026: The year of the Blue Blaze

Blue Blaze // Photo by Sarah Sipple

Earlier this month, we published The Pitch’s annual Best of Kansas City issue. You can take a peek at the results of the readers’ poll here. The issue also included a list, compiled and written by our editorial staff, of some local people, places, and things that we think make 2026 KC life feel like a winner. We’ll be publishing these online throughout June and July.

We’ve been gabbing about Bay Boy Specialty Sandwiches’ hearty Dutch crunch sammies for ten years now, but one particular savory and sweet heat combo rose to new heights in 2026. 

The Blue Blaze is not your average turkey sandwich.

Between chewy Dutch-crunch buns with its signature crunchy exterior rests smoked turkey, local blueberry jam, melty white cheddar, hot cherry peppers, arugula, and mayo. We recommend subbing in Swiss cheese, though. The sandwich is like a summery sister to a Thanksgiving leftover sandwich. It’s complex and satisfying. 

Our Food & Drink Editor Sarah had this sandwich when it was a limited-time summer special in 2024. During a conversation with Bay Boy owner Julian Garcia, Sarah lamented how she’d love to write about it, but couldn’t since it would be gone before the next magazine hit the streets. Garcia uno-reversed the situation, saying he would keep the Blue Blaze on the menu a little longer. 

Two years have passed, and not only is the Blue Blaze still on the menu, it won top spot as a fan favorite in this year’s March Madness voting bracket. Blue Blaze, thanks to its many loyal fans, is now a permanent sandwich at Bay Boy… and Sarah will make good on her bet to get a Dutch crunch tattoo.