Kansas Specialty Foods     Kansas Restaurants

Kansas has many interesting specialty foods. Some are based on Kansas Agriculture, but more are inspired by the (usually) European Heritage of many of the immigrants to Kansas. This page was inspired by a wonderful meal I prepared at home using Krizman's smoked Polish sausage, Extra Inning's jalapeno mustard, and Porubsky’s horseradish pickles.

Hartford, Kansas - The European BakeShop came about because a local man married a woman from France and John and Evelyne O'Connor eventually moved back to the area. The shop has tremendous baked goods - if it was in a metropolitan area, they would sell out shortly after opening each day.  Although Evelyne creates a wide variety of pastries, ice cream and quiche; only a few are available on a given day. I recommend reviewing the items on their website and calling ahead to have your favorites prepared.
Kansas City, Kansas -  The Bichelmeyer Meat Market in Kansas City, Kansas opened in 1946 and is operated today by Joe and Jim Bichelmeyer.  In addition to being a full service butcher shop, the Bichelmeyers also raise cattle, and offer custom slaughtering, aging. and smoking. Bichelmeyer Meats smoke slim Jims, beef jerky, 12 kinds of sausage, 7 kinds of bacon , pork loin and pork chops.  Open Tuesday through Saturday. 704 Cheyenne Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas 66105 (913) 342-5945
Kansas City, Kansas - Krizman's House of Sausage has been producing ethnic sausages since 1939 and supplies a number of Kansas City restaurants. Although Krizman's has a Croatian heritage, they produce a number of other ethnic sausages and knockwurst.  Open Tuesday through Saturday. 424 North 6th Street - (913) 371-3185.
Leawood, Kansas - Fritz's Smoked Meats opened in 1927, and has been at this location since 1969. Four generations of Fritz Plapp's family have operated the popular store. Fritz's produces and sells several varieties of sausages, as well as hams, turkeys, brisket and ribs. I am particularly fond of their hot Polish Sausage. They also serve sandwiches and prepare hot ribs, sausages, chicken and brisket on the smoker in front of the store. Shipping available. Open 8-5:30 on Tuesday to Friday. 8-4:30 on Saturdays. 10326 State Line Road - (913) 381-4618.
Lenexa, Kansas - I almost hesitate to include the photo of Old Country Bakery. If you first sampled their product, you would expect it to come from a beautiful old kitchen, not from this small section of a modern industrial park in Lenexa. Old Country Bakery produces wonderful  povitica - Croatian style cake bread. It is so good and unusual that it is my favorite item to give as a house gift.  Because they mostly ship their bread, they are only open retail for very limited hours: Mornings on Monday, Wednesday & Thursday. Longer hours in November and December. 14438 W. 100th Street - (913) 495-9700 Order online
LeRoy, Kansas - Luther's Smokehouse is one of Kansas' fairly little known gems. A restaurant & convenience store in a fun old building, and a new modern smokehouse next door. Luther's smokehouse produces several varieties of beef, buffalo & turkey jerky, buffalo sausage, and pemmican (lean buffalo roasts ground tender & dried - preserved with raisins).
Lincoln, Kansas - Extra Innings Barbecue is best known for its old time baseball memorabilia, but I am most impressed with the jalapeno mustard sauce. More sweet than hot. Get a couple of pints to go. Open 7 days a week. 116 S 5th Street - (785) 524-5335.
Lucas, Kansas - Brant's Meat Market features fine fresh meats as well as dry cured bacon, beef jerky, homemade Czech bologna, and wonderful smoked link sausages. The market has been operating for 83 years, over 70 of those years by the same family. Brant's ships beef jerky and prepares gift boxes of meats and cheeses for pickup. My coworkers have a standing order for Brant's Czechoslovakian bologna whenever I get by Lucas. Open Monday - Saturday.
Mission, Kansas - Werner's Specialty Foods has been selling their own handmade sausages since 1973. The market offers a variety of German and Scandinavian style, or imported grocery products.  The market is open Monday through Saturday. On Saturdays, Werner's also offers all 5 of their own sausages cooked and served on a bun outside the store. On Thursday's at lunch they serve one of them, rotating which one each week. 5736 Johnson Drive - (913) 362-5955
Overland Park, Kansas - Andre’s Confiserie Suisse and Rivaz Tearoom in Overland Park, Kansas makes high quality chocolate candies, French pastries & tortes and service light authentic Swiss lunches. Andre and Elsbeth Bollier immigrated from Basel, Switzerland to Kansas City in June of 1955, and opened typical a Swiss Confiserie south of the Country Club Plaza at 5018 Main Street in Kansas City, Missouri in October of that year. Andre's quickly became a Kansas City tradition.  Andre's daughter Brigitte and husband Kevin opened Andre’s Confiserie Suisse in Overland Park, Kansas in 2002.
Topeka, Kansas - Since 1947, C.W. Porubsky Grocery and Meats has lain across the railroad tracks in the Little Russia district of Topeka. Porubsky’s has amazing horseradish pickles, superb chili in season, and big plump deli sandwiches. Meals are only served 11 AM - 2 PM on Monday through Thursday, but the grocery is open 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM Monday through Saturday. Not everyone likes the hot horseradish pickles, but those that do, love them and stock up whenever they visit. There are three quarts of the pickles in my refrigerator as I type this.  508 N.E. Sardou - (785) 234-5788
Williamsburg, Kansas - Pome on the Range Orchard and Winery near Williamsburg, Kansas has a country store which offers produce, fruits, cider, their own wine, products from Kansas producers such as, nuts, jams, and Alma Cheese. During the season, there is also pick your own vegetables and fruits. Just off I-35 at Exit 176 .
Yoder, Kansas - This small farming community south of Hutchinson is largely made up of Mennonite and Amish families. Yoder Meats is best known for many unusual cuts and types of meats, but they also sell other locally produced Amish candies, cheese and baked goods. Open Monday - Saturday 8 AM - 8 PM - (800) 952-6328

Still to be reviewed: Laura's Bakery & Grill (Kansas City), and the Dutch Mill Bakery (Yoder). Email me about your favorite Kansas specialty foods.

copyright 2005-2008 by Keith Stokes