Who Invented Burnt Ends?
The origins of burnt ends are not clear, but it is widely believed that they were first served at Kansas City’s Arthur Bryant’s restaurant during the 1950s. It is said that the charred and crispy meat trimmings were once considered to be undesirable and were previously thrown away, but it was Arthur Bryant’s pitmaster, George W. “Shorty” Belton, who discovered the deliciousness of these burnt ends and began to serve them as an off-menu item to customers. The popularity of burnt ends grew, and they have now become a staple of Kansas City-style barbecue.