John Friend, vice president of Farm to Market Bread Co., talks barbecue, the streetcar, jazz and more in The Pitch Questionnaire

Twitter handle: @JohnFriend_FTM

Hometown: KCMO

Current neighborhood: Brookside

What I do: I run Kansas City’s premier hometown bakery. We deliver fresh, all-natural breads, with no preservatives, seven days a week.

What’s your addiction? Kansas City is my addiction. I love all things KC barbecue. I grew up on Gates, but I am huge fan of Q39, Joe’s KC and Arthur Bryant’s.

What’s your game? Disc golf is my main game, but I love to play rugby and soccer when my body is up to it.

What’s your drink? Boulevard 80 Acre

Where’s dinner? If not barbecue, the Rieger.

What’s on your KC postcard? Kansas City Born, Kansas City Bread.

Finish these sentences: “Kansas City got it right when …” It passed the streetcar.

“Kansas City screwed up when …” Did not expand the streetcar line.

“Kansas City needs …” To do more to promote its music history. We are one of the four pillars of Jazz music, the purest American art form. I’ve heard Bobby Watson say, “Jazz was born in New Orleans, but it grew up in Kansas City.” I would like to see a music festival on par with New Orleans’ Jazz Fest, the Newport Folk Festival or Austin City Limits. When the rest of America thinks about music cities, they think of New Orleans, Austin, Memphis, Nashville, New York, Chicago. I want Kansas City to be up there, too.

“As a kid, I wanted to be …” an Olympian.

“In five years, I’ll be …” In Kansas City making the best bread we can.

“I always laugh at …” The Big Lebowski.

“I’ve been known to binge watch …” The Wire, The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad and, currently, Homeland.

“I can’t stop listening to …” Leon Bridges.

“My dream concert lineup is …” The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, the Black Keys, Stevie Wonder, Derek Trucks, Marvin Gaye, My Morning Jacket, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and I could keep going.

“I just read …” Jeff Rosen’s article on Rustin Dodd, the Royals new beat reporter for the Star.

What’s your hidden talent? I can juggle two to three objects.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure? Sticky Hickey from Foo’s Frozen Custard

The best advice I ever got: Don’t sweat the small stuff.

My sidekick? Merle, my dog

What is your spirit animal? Koala

Who is your hero? My dad

Who (or what) is your nemesis? Gluten allergies and celiac disease

What’s your greatest struggle right now? Dealing with snow and the safety of our delivery drivers.

My favorite toy as a child: He-Man’s sword of power

My brush with fame: Every now and then, I get to go on local news stations to talk about Farm to Market.

What was the last thing you had to apologize for? We ran out of Panettone and Stollen, our holiday breads, before Christmas. We just sold more than we were expecting.

Who’s sorry now? Wonder Bread

My recent triumph: I learned how to play Eric Clapton’s “Hey Hey” on guitar.