Worm Dip // Photo by Sarah Sipple
I never specifically asked you to trust me, but in this court I am playing that card.
Worm Dip ($10) at The Drunken Worm is perhaps the worst dish to present in food photography. I’m not sure a real professional photographer could make it any more appealing. And then there’s the problem with the name… So I ask you to trust me.
According to manager Courtney Yager, Worm Dip is a best-seller on the appetizer menu. This creamy dip, nachos and fried beef tacos were all menu items Yager and her team, including executive chef Josue Mendoza, knew they had to bring back from the glory days of Drunken Worm.
The appetizer’s ingredients are simple: a thin jalapeno cream cheese blend, black beans, Monterey cheese, and a drizzle of chipotle raspberry puree. Served with tortilla chips, the melting dip is hot, sweet, and salty, but also brings a slight heat from the peppers.
For a hearty dinner at The Drunken Worm, I recently paired the dip with a Worm Paloma ($13) and a Drunken Chimi ($15). However, I’m not ashamed to order an appetizer as a main course, which I certainly did with this dip. For those who can tolerate dairy, the Worm Dip is a relaxed meal that can be wolfed down slowly while sipping drinks with friends.
Worm dip has it all: It’s creamy, warm, cheesy, sweet, and, if you include the chips, crunchy. Once you get past the fact that it looks like grits (at best), you can see why this unique dip was a must-try when they reopened..
I first had this dip in the late 2000s at a Manhattan, Kansas, eatery—the So Long Saloon. I loved it immediately and have recreated it a few times each year for parties. Next time I go to Drunken Worm, though, I might order it like Yager: with chorizo and tortillas.
The Drunken Worm is located at 1405 W 39th St., Kansas City, MO 64111.
