RJ's Barbecue — Review by Food Network
Mission, United States — Barbecue
Guy Fieri visits RJ's Barbecue in Mission, Kansas, where he meets Bob Palmgren, a classically trained French chef who discovered his true passion in competitive barbecue. The restaurant features innovative smoked dishes including signature jalapeno sausages wrapped in corn husks and traditional barbecue staples prepared with sophisticated technique.
What was great: Jalapeno sausages cooked in corn husks with great smoke ring and tenderness, brisket soup, creative takes on traditional barbecue, high-end chef approach to smoking meats
What could improve: Nothing mentioned
The Dishes
RJ's Barbecue showcases creative barbecue dishes that blend high-end culinary technique with traditional smoking methods. The standout jalapeno sausages are wrapped in soaked corn husks and cooked for over three hours, emerging incredibly moist and tender with mellowed jalapeno flavors that burst with each bite. The sausage recipe features ground pork butt, fresh garlic, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, allspice, diced jalapenos, and red peppers, creating a complex flavor profile that crumbles perfectly in the mouth. Beyond sausages, the menu includes classic barbecue foundations like brisket, pork butt, and ribs prepared with precision. The brisket soup represents another example of Bob's willingness to think outside traditional barbecue box, combining smoked meat with unexpected preparations. Deep-fried corn dogs round out the menu with additional textural variety.
The Experience
The experience centers around meeting Bob Palmgren, a pitmaster with an unusual background. After spending 25 years working high-end French restaurants in New York City, Bob moonlighted in competition barbecue before realizing his true calling. His culinary training distinctly influences how he approaches smoking, bringing chef-level thinking to traditional barbecue preparation. The restaurant welcomes visitors into the cooking process, with Bob enthusiastically explaining his methods and allowing Guy to participate in sausage preparation and technique demonstrations.
Value & Pricing
Pricing information was not mentioned during this segment of the video.
Notable Moments
Bob very tasty. A Bob thing?
I will be ripping off the corn husk sausage idea. Legally borrowed.
Everything good? That'd be Bob Palmgren.
The Verdict
RJ's Barbecue represents a unique intersection of fine dining expertise and barbecue passion. Bob Palmgren has created something special by applying two decades of culinary training to smoking meats, resulting in dishes that transcend typical barbecue fare. The jalapeno sausages alone make this restaurant worth visiting, offering flavors and textures unavailable elsewhere. This establishment is perfect for barbecue enthusiasts seeking innovation and depth of flavor beyond standard smoked meat offerings.