Zarda’s new Justin Reid BBQ sandwich raises money for KC kids, comes with Creole kick

Kansas City never needs an excuse to chow down on barbecue , especially during football season. But here’s one more: This spicy sandwich named after a Super Bowl champ will help the city’s kids.

Two years ago Zarda Bar-B-Q partnered with Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to create and sell a specialty sandwich called The KC Takeaway. It paid homage to the Chiefs’ winning defense and raised money for Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City .

It was a hit, raising $30,000 for an organization that matches children — “Littles” — with adult mentors, called “Bigs.” Last year, all of the program’s senior Littles graduated from high school, according to its website.

Beginning Friday, Zarda is bringing the sandwich back, this time partnering with Chiefs safety Justin Reid who has helped create a sandwich true to his Louisiana roots. The former Stanford University industrial engineering student, 27, grew up in Ascension Parish south of Baton Rouge.

Reid has a particular interest in helping children. His own charitable organization, JReid InDeed , provides access to technology, nutritious food and athletic training to children in underserved communities in Baton Rouge, Kansas City and Houston, where he played for the Texans.

The Justin Reid KC Takeaway sandwich features Zarda’s limited-reserve burnt ends topped with melted pepper Jack cheese, pulled pork, ham, a slice of Pepper Jack cheese, Louisiana-style spicy Creole seasoning and Zarda sauce.

The $11.99 sandwich will be available during the NFL season beginning Friday at both Zarda locations in Blue Springs and Lenexa.

Hy-Vee will also sell it beginning Sept. 5 — the day of the Chiefs season opener — at Hy-Vee Market Grilles and Wahlburgers inside its metro stores.

Zarda has a longstanding relationship with the Super Bowl champs , serving barbecue at the team’s training camp for more than 35 years. The hand-cut burnt ends are a player favorite.

Earlier this month Zarda supplied the Chiefs with 150 pounds of limited-reserve burnt ends for Zarda day in St. Joseph.

For a fourth year, Zarda is also raising money for the American Royal’s scholarship program this Labor Day weekend.

In honor of National Burnt Ends Days, Sept. 1, burnt end sandwiches will be sold Friday through Sunday at both Zarda locations and all metro Hy-Vee stores for $7.99 each day from 11 a.m. until they sell out.

A portion of the sandwich proceeds will go to the scholarship program, which awards 100 scholarships annually to students for their leadership and academic excellence.

The American Royal and Zarda founded the national burnt ends holiday in 2021 to celebrate KC-style barbecue.

The American Royal’s biggest fundraiser is the World Series of Barbecue, said to be the largest barbecue competition in the world. This year’s event is Oct. 31-Nov. 3 at the Kansas Speedway. Tickets are available at americanroyal.com .