Kansas City area CVB representatives agree that barbecue sauce is a perfect take-home gift for delegates, and there are several other options that make for terrific group mementos. Following are a few ideas.
Kansas City, Mo., is known as the “Barbecue Capital of the World,” so barbecue sauce is a particularly apropos gift option for groups convening here. According to the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association, the following purveyors offer small bottles that are regulation size for flying home.
Gates Bar-B-Q (800.662.7427; www.gatesbbq.com), Arthur Bryant’s BBQ (816.231.1123; www.arthurbryantsbbq.com) and Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue (816.942.9141; www.jackstackbbq.com), which has locations in Kansas City, Mo., and Overland Park, Kan., all have a variety of barbecue sauces and rubs to choose from.
Group outings in Kansas City might include a barbecue dinner plus a visit to a local music venue to listen to jazz—it’s worth noting the medium grew up here from the ’20s through the ’40s. Or perhaps the group might like an afternoon visit to the American Jazz Museum (www.americanjazzmuseum.org), where several different CDs of Kansas City-style jazz are sold.
According to the Kansas City CVA, two ideas are albums by local artists: singer Ida McBeth and saxophone player Lonnie McFadden.
Kansas City, Kan., is also home to barbeque, and according to the Kansas City Kansas CVB, many varieties come in small inexpensive bottles.
Oklahoma Joe’s BBQ (913.722.3366; www.oklahomajoesbbq.com) and barbecue sauce is an area original that delegates might like to have at home for summer picnicking.
The Kansas City Kansas CVB also says delegates get a kick out of bags of marbles from Moon Marble (913.441.1432; www.moonmarble.com).
Barbecue is also great in Overland Park, where Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue and the Culinary Center of Kansas City (913.341.4455; www.kcculinary.com) reside.
According to the Overland Park CVB, the chef at the Culinary Center (CCKC) makes and sells his own barbecue rub, and there is a CCKC cookbook filled with recipes from local chefs. Additionally, the center offers cooking classes, interactive team-building dinner programs and event space for off-site gatherings.
Attendees might also like to visit or take home a gift from The Tasteful Olive (913.649.7900; www.thetastefulolive.com), whose array of products include olive oil, olives, vinegars, spices and jams.
