BBQPALOOZA 2023: A FAMILY AFFAIR

 BBQPALOOZA 2023: A Family Affair

Leroy and Lewis 

It's year 13 of the annual BBQPALOOZA, and we head back to the capital (in more ways than one) Austin, TX. This year was a first as the wives and kids tagged along on a 4 day journey that made its base camp in Dripping Springs. At times it definitely felt different to have the families tag along, but it was also an awesome experience to get a full day of DADS ONLY BBQ... but also get to share some of the magic that is BBQPALOOZA with the wives and the next generation. We visited a few of our favorites and several new spots this year as it is apparent that the Austin BBQ scene continues to roll like the smoke from a well tended pit. 

We arrived in Dripping Springs on Monday and had an awesome time hanging out on the outskirts of Austin. Tennis, frisbee golf, basketball, swimming, hiking.....it was a lot of family fun that definitely stoked the BBQ appetites. On Tuesday it was the first ever Ladies Day. Basically, the direct opposite of BBQPALOOZA as our significant others enjoyed a day of vineyards, shopping, pampering, and returning smelling like various fruits as opposed to the holy baptism of smoke. The ladies had fun.....but it was time for the real reason of the trip. Wednesday we awoke early and headed out to secure tacos from the World Famous Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ!

We have been to Valentina's many times, but being nearby gave us the perfect chance to secure the World's Greatest Breakfast Taco "The Real Deal Holyfield". I can't think of a better way to begin a BBQPALOOZA than partaking in the Gold Standard of BBQ breakfast tacos. The potatoes, the beans, the bacon.....but then the Fried egg.....and the star of the show...a perfectly rendered full slice of moist Valentina's brisket! Valentina's is all about family and love for the food, and nowhere does it come through better than in one bite of The Real Deal Holyfield. Just in case we weren't covered in the BBQ breakfast department Steven Jablonski (the 1 member who was meeting up with us this year brought some delicious kerlaches from former BBQPALOOZA favs Kerlin BBQ!

Breakfast was amazing but we had to practice moderation (I know...I know) because our main man and BBQPALOOZA veteran Cole Parkman of Leroy and Lewis Barbecue had assured us that the main meal of the day would be a special tray from the food truck on Pickle Rd. Cole did not disappoint! Beef cheeks, pork steak, house made sausage, whole hog, and the #1 burger in the World the L and L burger! Everything was spectacular! We've been infatuated with Evan Leroy's food ever since we first stumbled into Freedmens many years ago. Him and his crew take such pride in even the smallest details, whether it's the perfect snap on the sausage, the exact melt of the cheese on their brisket burgers, or the way they convert local foods into the delicacies of meat and sides that have no equal. Many of us were surprised that Leroy and Lewis didn't grab the #1 spot on the last Tx Monthly list.....yes....that is how good it is. If the meats aren't enough, they take just as much care crafting some of the best sides in Texas! My personal favorite is the pork hash. New #1 spot Goldees also does a hash, and I realize they are different, but honestly the L&L pork hash is to Goldees hash as Franklin brisket is to Rudy's.....it's that much better! The brisket frito pie is also without comparison, and if you love the sauce.....L&L has you covered as well with everything from the delicious beet BBQ sauce to the tangy and delicious hog sauce! Others rave about the delicious kale caesar slaw, but I would also say that the braised cabbage is the best cabbage I have had! Leroy and Lewis has consistently been at the very top of Texas BBQ for a few years now, and if you have yet to try it you are missing one of the true artists of the scene. 

Our next stop was the first new spot on this trip for us CM Smokehouse. CM food truck is located at Bouldin Acres on S. Lamar and that's where Cade Mercer is throwing out some unique BBQ bites. We tried the ribs in a white sauce, the cauliflower with a sriracha, and the famous brisket crunchwrap! This is definitely not your traditional Texas BBQ fare, but the cauliflower was a standout and the crunchwrap delivered. Imagine getting a crunchwrap from Taco Bell....but instead of the mystery meat it is filled with smoked brisket. Delicious....and maybe the only time BBQ has been revered as the "healthier" option. We did all agree we would have rather had the ribs sans sauce to get a better idea of their true value, but overall it was a nice alternative snack after the L&L feast. Much like the 2 unathletic dudes trying their hand at the pickle ball courts right next to our table... it was time to walk away. 

After CM we headed to yet another new to us spot Distant Relatives. Located at Meanwhile Brewery, this is a great place to hang out and an excellent location for a BBQ truck. We got an order that included brisket, ribs, chicken, and burnt end black eyed peas. They tout themselves as "Modern African-American", but for me it was a little hit and miss. I really enjoyed the burnt end black eyed peas as a side and loved the toasted sourdough as a tasty alternative to the standard white bread fare. The chicken was OUTSTANDING and some of the best I have had, but the BBQ left something to be desired. It was good and acceptable, but nowhere near BBQPALOOZA favorites. Also, it was generally agreed at the table that we don't care much about sauce.....but Distant Relatives was probably the worst sauce we have ever had....so if that is your thing fair warning. However, if you are looking for a tasty meal at a beautiful brewery order the chicken, black eyed peas, and toast and enjoy the scenery!

Our next stop was dubbed the "2023 Revelation" for this year's edition of BBQPALOOZA....the delicious, amazing, full of culinary surprises....Mum Foods! What an amazing collection of deliciousness. I feel like I would need at least 5 more visits to truly be able to grasp all the amazing foods offered here. We were blown away by the small sampling we had of red beans and rice, sausage, brisket burnt ends, house made bread, pickle plate, a babka?, and the famous pastrami. You know the pastrami is going to be legit when there is a picture of Sandy Koufax in the restaurant! Place that perfect pastrami on a piece of homemade bread, spread a little house made mustard across it, sprinkle some pickled onions and I challenge you not to have an out of body experience. Whatever a babka is....they threw one on our plate and it was the perfect post BBQ snack....until we had a bite of the brown butter chess pie. Like the silky smooth left handed delivery of Sandy Koufax that chess pie snuck sweetly onto your taste buds and then BOOM knocked you out with a flavor explosion! We bought several pieces to bring back to the wives cause we weren't born yesterday my friends. There was not a bite we had here that wasn't delicious and top notch. I need another visit to try the ribs, all the baked goods, and a Rachel sandwich.....Mum Foods is an Austin superstar and you need to try it!

The last stop of the day would be recent Texas Monthly #2 InterStellar BBQ. Unfortunately while enjoying the fantastic spread at Mum Foods we learned that Interstellar had sold out for the day. We preordered to make sure we wouldn't miss out, but now we would have to pick up after "hours" and bring it back to the house. Our order consisted of brisket, ribs, jalapeno popper sausage, peach tea glazed pork belly burnt ends, scalloped potatoes, and gouda mac and cheese. I'm not sure if it was the fact it had sat premade, the hour long drive home, or the fact it was the last meal of the day...but for the #2 spot it was very good.....not revelatory. Everything tasted fine....but it didn't taste as fresh as getting it made on your plate in front of you and the burnt ends were a little tough. Overall, it was a good meal and the families were definitely excited to find out we were bringing it home to share (they enjoyed it more....maybe because they didn't already have 5lb of BBQ in the tank?), but I felt a little underwhelmed much like my experience at Goldees. #1 and #2....maybe it's not fair....like they have an unrealistic expectation on their heads, or maybe Texas Monthly's most recent list just didn't align with my personal tastes and rankings, but I can guarantee that my personal top 10 (and especially 1-2) would differ a lot more from the most recent list than any previous lists. 

If Interstellar was a little disappointing, the next day was nothing but absolute fire. Kids and families packed up and tagged along for 2 more top notch stops before the trip home. We started out at 11am at quirky, eclectic, completely original KG BBQ. Kareem El-Ghayesh and his crew are bringing a brand new Egyptian twist to the Austin Texas BBQ scene and according to this BBQ lover it is a HOME RUN. We had a completely original and delicious tray that included mac and cheese, brisket, brisket shawarma, brisket rice bowl, the Egyptian Cowboy (explanation coming lol), baladi salad, and Mediterranean rice. All of it was amazing.....like visiting the pyramids of Giza in the courtyard of the Alamo! The mac and cheese was like nothing I've had....(the kids were disappointed....as like most children they think of yellow cheesy goodness when you say mac and cheese) these were closer in kinship to an Italian tomato based pasta. Smooth, creamy, and delicious....it might be sacrilegious...but this Texan may actually prefer Egyptian mac and cheese to traditional. If the mac and cheese was fire...the Egyptian Cowboy was another level as KG takes the mac and cheese and tops it with lamb, sumac onions, and pomegranate BBQ sauce! Really the only thing that missed for me was the oum ali (Egyptian bread pudding), I guess unlike the other alternatives I just preferred the original bread pudding to the Egyptian style....but many loved it. KG BBQ was as wild, imaginative, and original as its owner. A meal truly original and in my opinion.....fantastic!

As a side our good friend Cole Parkman showed up again to hang with us on Day 2 and he brought what might be one of the top 5 bites from ANY BBQPALOOZA.....a massive bacon rib from Leroy and Lewis! This mythical slab of pork is like nothing else.....belly still attached, this delectable rib is glazed in maple syrup! The result is what amounts to a gigantic perfectly smoked pork belly burnt end topped in maple syrup. Sweet....then salty....with the flavor of Grandma's bacon from the cast iron skillet.....OMG....this might be the single best bite of pork I have ever had and we are forever grateful that Cole shared the Legendary item with us. 

We contemplated going home before realizing we were 10 minutes away from BBQPALOOZA favorite and criminally underrated Micklethwait Craft Meats. One final stop couldn't hurt. We ordered a Texas trinity plate with some chicken and not a single person was disappointed in the decision to stop. The best bite of brisket I had all trip, top tier sausage from "The Sausage Champ" as always, and excellent ribs. Honestly, it's hard to come up with spots that can put together as good of a trinity plate as Craft Meats! The house made bread was devoured by all our kids, as was the always fantastic mac and cheese and grits. If I had to choose a final meal on death row.....Craft Meats would be on my short list of possibilities....they have NEVER disappointed. As if the perfect BBQ and sides were not enough....we picked up homemade moon pies, oatmeal cream pies, and OH FUDGE FOR THE RIDE BACK HOME. Honestly, Tom Micklethwait has crafted a small slice of heaven in the middle of Austin, Texas. 

Everyone fell deep into a BBQ induced sleep as the Dad's drove home to end BBQPALOOZA2023. It was a fun week visiting a few favorites, finding a few new favorites, and introducing the families to a little peek at why the Dads act like kids before Christmas the week of BBQPALOOZA. As I drove back I couldn't help but think back to my very favorite bites of the trip in no particular order: L&L bacon rib, KG Egyptian Cowboy, Mum pastrami, Micklethwait brisket, and the Real Deal Holyfield. Now it's time for my annual water/salad BBQ detox and dreaming of next year's smoked meats! 

BBQPalooza 2022: Back to the Future

The new Texans monthly BBQ list came out in November of 2021 and there were many surprises on it.  The new number 1 spot was Fort Worth area Goldees BBQ, and three of the top ten were in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.  Now, being from Houston, we jokingly refer to Dallas as Mordor.  My own children think that "Dallas Cowboys" is a curse word, and we obviously have never taken the Palooza to Oklahoma South. However, it was time to venture into enemy territory to see what all the fuss was about.  We were going back to our roots of a smaller group since this would be our furthest journey yet, but we were taking the Palooza into a new era of exploration.  The blog will also be different this year. Fist of all, I apologize for the delay as I had major shoulder surgery two days after returning.  My wife gets 50/50 credit as she is currently transcribing so I could get the write-up out. Instead of the usual chronological review, I will be breaking down our trip into tiers.  Since I usually refer to the Dallas/Fort Worth area as hell, we will call these tiers the three levels of meat heaven as an olive branch that reflects the change of heart we had on this amazing journey.  

TIER 1 THE INNER CIRCLE

CATTLEACK BBQ

Even though we are not going chronologically, our first spot is a great place to start as we all agreed that it contained the greatest collection of smoked meats of BBQ Palooza 2022. We packed up and headed out of Houston in the 4am hour loaded with coffee and a stack of BBQPALOOZA stickers to hand out (courtesy of my bro-in-law). Before we entered Cattleack BBQ, we first had to take care of some business.  This would be the first year that our good buddy and long-time veteran of BBQ Palooza Eric Cummings would not be with us.  We lost our good friend in August of 2021 and there would be a noticeable void this year.   Before any meat was consumed, our fellowship had a toast to a great friend and meat lover who will always be remembered.  After the toast, as we were waiting outside amidst the fantastic murals of BBQ icons along the wall of Cattleack, Misty came outside to give us the run down on what to expect.  Misty David definitely knows how to get you ready for a feast, and a big plus for our group was that despite having an already early opening time of 10:30 am, we were actually first in line and entering before 10:15 am.  Once we got inside, the smell of meat was overpowering. Misty had basically talked us into ordering some of everything.  Along with the Texas Trinity, we also got a beef rib, pastrami brisket, and even smoked bologna.  This is one of the best plates of meat we have ever had.  Every one of the cuts was smoked to perfection and nothing was left on the plate.  Brisket was top shelf, ribs were immaculate, sausage was juicy with a great casing, the beef rib in my personal opinion was in my all time top three, and the pastrami brisket rivaled hometown Roegels and Tejas.   I was slightly weary of smoked bologna but this was not the Oscar Meyer junk your mother packed in your lunch.  I witnessed one man as we were eating, sit down with what looked like three pounds of smoked bologna and after tasting it, I understood his fascination.  This was an all timer for our group.  A clear top ten BBQ joint with meat that could rival any location.  The one side that we did have of mac and cheese was tremendous.  This was an excellent start to the trip. 

PANTHER CITY BBQ

On day 2, after the Oak Texas BBQ himself joined us, we visited my personal favorite of this year's trip: Panther City BBQ.  It is widely known my love for Texas and Mexican culture so Tex-Mex BBQ spots hold a special place in my heart.  Panther City is firmly on my Mount Rushmore of Tex-Mex BBQ joints.  First of all, the location and set up for Panther City is fantastic.  The people working there love what they do and take extreme pride in their work. One of the owners, Ernest, was extremely kind and showed us where all the magic happens in the pit room.  Here they turn out brisket, ribs, and sausage that can rival any old school Texas Smokehouse.  But on top of that, they literally have a taco station right next to the smokers where some of the greatest tacos that have ever met this Houstonian's mouth are churned out daily.  And the sides???? I would literally go to Panther City every day if all I could order was the sides.  The best corn and beans that I've had at a BBQ location. If I was on death row and had to choose one place for my last meal, I can't tell you that it wouldn't be a heaping tray of meat, tacos, and sides from Panther City BBQ before I die with a giant smile on my face. I love this place! 

HURTADO BBQ 

Speaking of places that I love, the last but certainly not least location we visited was Hurtado BBQ.  For the entire ride home, there was Hurtado vs Panther City debate raging in the car and honestly, you can't go wrong with either.  Perfect brisket, juicy turkey, and amazing tacos were a part of our meal.  Top tier sides of corn, mac and cheese, and green beans were a perfect compliment to our last meal.  My personal favorite was the bbq tostada.  How this place was not in the top ten, I cannot give you a solid answer. Pitmaster Brandon came over to our table and discussed all the awesome things they are doing at his mecca of meat.  I definitely look forward to my next meal at one of Texas' best joints....Hurtado BBQ. 

TIER 2 THE PEARLY GATES 

GOLDEES BBQ

Let's address the elephant in the room right off the bat. Stephen, how can you relegate the number one BBQ joint in Texas to tier two?  First of all, I can.  Secondly, this is not as big an insult as you would think.  The three locations above were some of the best meals I've ever eaten and in my opinion all worthy of top ten.  Goldees' was a fantastic meal. The best comparison for me would be Snow's BBQ which is one of my all time favorites.  An early forming line, a secluded location, and a very traditional menu brought these feelings on.  I can definitely see how Goldees could be number 1 on their best day especially if you value a very traditional plate of Texas BBQ.  The brisket was slightly below the first three.  The ribs were pristine. The sausage was fantastic, and the turkey was delicious. You are not going to find BBQ birria tacos on their menu or smoked bologna, but what they do... they are pros at.  The one side we did have, kennedale stew (basically pork hash),  was one of my favorites of the trip. Goldees was a fantastic meal and well worth the experience of waiting in line for it. 

ZAVALAS BBQ 

Gringos Beware: Zavalas puts the MEX in TEX-MEX.  Their verde salsa and pizza pepper sausage will have you reaching for the nearest cold beverage in haste.   This is a giant plus for this Houstonian.  I enjoyed everything about my meal at Zavalas.   The brisket, turkey, and pulled pork were perfectly smoked and deliciously complimented by the homemade tortillas and pico.  The potato salad was a perfect creamy respite from the smoked heat of the Mexican meats.  The people here couldn't have been nicer.  A special shout out to my man Joe who talked with us while giving us the pit tour.  I cannot wait to return to Zavalas and get a chance to try the breakfast tacos and house made coffee that we heard several raving about! 

DAYNES BBQ

Unfortunately, we got to Dayne's too late for some sides.  Really, the only regret I have from this year's trip.  We were; however, able to get in an order of brisket, ribs, and pork belly that was as good as any meat plate we ate that weekend.  They also found us the very last link of sausage from the day and that turned out to be the best surprise of the weekend.  I am so glad we didn't miss that sausage as it was my favorite of the trip.  Dayne's is a four star BBQ experience that is going to demand a return trip to be able to try the sides that I was so looking forward to, and expect to perfectly compliment the amazing BBQ that this trailer puts out. We didn't have one, but we were immediately regretting not ordering a smoked burger when we saw several being brought out. What little I had of Dayne's left me thirsty for more like a traveler getting a small cup of water in the desert. I will be back! 

SMOKEY JOES 

At the end of our first day, we decided to get a little crazy and add a fifth stop before hitting the hotel.  We were all glad we did.  Smokey Joes is a true "neighborhood" BBQ joint.  Almost everyone we saw in here seemed like a regular....and we could see why!  The brisket was great, the giant pork ribs were an arm workout to lift and a meal in themselves, and the mac and cheese, could rival any top ten sides.  The star of the show was their homemade buttermilk pie that is the stuff of legends.  By far my favorite dessert of the trip.  Smokey Joes is definitely worthy of a top 50 spot and I love to see a smaller joint so embraced by it's community get the recognition it deserves. 

TIER 3: OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

THE SLOW BONE

First let's get to the positives....the slow bone has some of the best fried chicken I've had and one of my all time favorite sides, sweet potato praline (two items I don't usually order).   As for the meat, it left a lot to be desired.  For sure, the least impressive brisket on the trip and very pedestrian sausage.  The slow bone has a super sexy logo but the day we went lacked the sexy meat to back it up.  I would occasional dine here if I lived nearby, but my order would be fried chicken and sweet potato praline. 

TERRY BLACKS BBQ 

The best part of this restaurant is the location and space.  This is BBQ I could imagine a northern transplant taking their family to on their first visit to Texas.  It looks the part, but it is trying to coast on looks alone.  There was nothing inherently wrong with our meal, but the meat, sides and desserts seemed like something I could put together at a local church potluck.  How Terry Blacks is in the top 50 and not a prestigious joint like hometown, underrated Roegels BBQ is a mystery for more prestigious "smokeheads" than myself. 

In closing, this trip brought me a new appreciation for our neighbors to the north (Especially Fort Worth).   I can see why the top 50 list was so controversial.  I wouldn't want to be in charge of it and have a ton of respect for those who put it together, but I definitely have more questions than in past lists. One thing that is for certain, much like Houston, Dallas has become a beacon of tremendous BBQ.  God Bless Texas (even Dallas) until next year, friends! 

BBQPALOOZA 2021

This year's BBQpalooza almost didn't happen. The pandemic put a damper on plans, as most of us remember the 2020 palooza as the last "normal" day we had. A few stalwarts like the Palooza Godfather himself @theoaktxbbq were unable to make it, but after a few changes, some member additions/subtractions, and even a city swap....I am glad to say we made the Palooza work and it was a ROARING SUCCESS! 

This year we got started at @smokinzsbbq. Owner Zaid let us head down to his Mecca of Meat in Bayou Vista early and him and his family are such great hosts. We lucked out and when we arrived they still had their relatively new brisket kolaches left. What an amazing opening bite! No doubt some of the best kolaches I've ever had. After a little bbq small talk Zaid brought out the goods.....LOOK AT THAT MEAT PLATE ABOVE. We had all 4 sausages: the best in Texas imo Loco Links, Brisket boudin,  chorizo and egg, and crawfish mac and cheese. YES ....you read that correctly. Smokin z's is not playing around with the sausages. I would dub him #SausageKingOfTexas....but don't take my word for it....these guys have won Sausage battles against some of the best in Texas. The Sausages are the belle of the ball, but make no mistake....Smokin z's can do top 10 level brisket and ribs as well. And if the sausages aren't wild enough for you? Grab yourself one of those brisket grilled cheese.....a comfort food to rival all others.  This was also my first chance to try their pulled pork tacos which were 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. Unfortunately, we were absolutely stuffed after 1 of the most EPIC meals of ANY BBQPALOOZA, so we didn't try the smoked cheesecake (which BBQPALOOZA member Steve who can be seen MANY weekends at smokin z's has been raving about), but I will be trying soon. This spot isn't afraid to try something new and that is what makes it a favorite! Can't wait to see where these guys end up on the next top 50 list.....and I will be there whenever the rumored brisket shawarma happens 👀👀👀👀👀

From there we headed to @bloodbrosbbq. The Alief-inspired Asian/BBQ mash up is a palooza favorite.  We had pork belly burnt ends, brisket, Korean wings, turkey, oatmeal cream pie, and the blood bros staple BRISKET FRIED RICE.  The stars of the show were the brisket (fantastic bark), turkey,  and of course the fried rice! There is always some kind of special going on at blood bros and you should try as many as possible....these guys are magicians in the pit room/kitchen and are constantly churning out unique bites that you won't find at any other joint. Great meal from the Houston legends 👏👏👏

Now it was time to hit the staples beginning with good friend @pinkertonsbbq. Grant was actually getting married THAT EVENING and so several palooza members toasted him from afar with an iconic Pinkerton old fashioned (Congrats Grant!). The meat as you can see above was on point this day. Several giving the brisket top marks while the jalapeno cheese sausage was tremendous.  Pinkerton's is known for the ribs, and they never disappoint....and let's be honest....you can't NOT get the duck jambalaya. Overall fantastic plate that kept us coming back even though we already had several lbs in the tank. We lingered outside at the best patio in the Heights for a few hours before saying goodbye to one of my personal favorite plots of land in the great state of Texas....gotta get to the new spot in San Antonio as soon as I can!

The @thepitroombbq was our last spot (it's becoming a tradition) and as you can see it was a 🌮 party! Brisket, pulled pork, chicken it doesn't matter.....there are 2 kings of the taco in Texas: The Pit Room and Valentinas.....that's Texas Taco Royalty.  We hung out next door at sister spot The Patio where we also got to sample the boiled crawfish and shrimp. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the wagyu beef rib that palooza vet Will grabbed (this was the only spot he could make this year so he had a little more room than the rest of us)...do you see that thing? The pic doesn't do it justice....that was quite possibly the largest rib I have ever seen.....roughly the length of his elbow down!!!! We stayed at the Patio a few hours reminiscing about the day with Will and a few of the wives who enjoy linking up for the last location, and then it was time for water, tums, and a very long night of sleep/digestion 🤣

We almost took this Spring break off, but I am so happy we kept the tradition going. I think for many members it was a reminder back to last year when we all had our last day of normalcy and hopefully a preview of how we are heading back towards better days. BBQ is the best medicine and we are all ready to feel better! 

BBQPalooza10: Calm Before The Storm

Every time I reflect on BBQPalooza, it always comes back to the people. Sharing meals and interacting with friends, acquaintances, and the awesome people that make the Texas BBQ community so unique. This year was no different, but obviously sitting here a few days later it is surreal to reflect on what might have been many of our last communal experiences for a while. Saturday was an awesome time as always, and I am going to recap it for you here as always, but it's with a heavy heart that I know all of the establishments we visited a few days back and all the numerous favorites that we frequent over the years are facing their most difficult challenge in an industry that can be full of difficult challenges. Before I get to the recap let me just say....our thoughts and prayers are with the BBQ community and those businesses that are probably experiencing even more hardship than most of us at this very difficult time. We LOVE all you guys and sincerely hope each of you pulls through to the other side of this challenge. If you enjoy reading this blog....may I suggest that 1 day a week during this quarantine you frequent one of the many BBQ spots I have been raving about over the years (almost all are doing to go orders) and replicate some of that BBQ experience at home with your family (maybe throw some good music on the alexa and set up some cornhole in the living room to get the full effect). Let's show some love to these guys! Here's a few suggestions.....

We began BBQPalooza 10 with our earliest departure time ever. 4AM. We wanted to get to Snow's BBQ and be up front so we could complete the day's activities. We were 3rd in line, but we did get there early enough to have some great conversation with Clay as he tended the pits. Ms. Tootsie appeared more remote than usual looking back, and that is understandable. Snow's has the added dilemma of having a bonified Texas legend (very much in the at risk age) that we all want to be protected during this time. After chatting up Clay we had the privilege of having some BBQ "insiders" join BBQPalooza for some feasting. Of course BBQPalooza founder The Oak Texas BBQ and everyone's favorite Truth BBQ employee Cole Parkman were present. As were Yoni from Best BBQ show, Mauro from Texicana BBQ, and Mel and his dad Juan from La Traila. Snow's opened promptly at 8am and we feasted. Brisket, ribs, sausage there is a reason Snow's is the reigning #1 according to Texas Monthly. I can also recommend the pork steak and chicken which I never miss when making the Saturday trek to Lexington! There truly is nothing like a Saturday BBQ breakfast at Snow's, and in my opinion if you haven't crossed it off yet....your BBQ bucket list is severely lacking.

From Snow's we were all a little apprehensive, but followed the direction of our fearless leader The Oak who claimed we had to make the short trek North to all get our first tray from Brett's Backyard Bar-B-Que. What an awesome set up Brett has! Think your perfect Texas backyard hangout: Old beer signs, picnic tables, giant jenga, cornhole, shade trees....Brett's has everything!  We had an awesome time hanging out and waiting for them to open. Now pro tip: Brett's website says they open 10:30am, but we were first in line Saturday and made the order around 11:15...no sweat if you are hanging out at Brett's and enjoying the day (RECOMMENDED), but a little frustrating if you have a long day of BBQ times to keep up with. Once we received our tray we marveled....exquisite brisket, juicy pork steak, the entire plate was AMAZING. Oh yeah...and Brett's is one of those spots you have to order the sides....my personal favorite was the jalapeno cream corn. Despite being full from Snow's, we demolished our tray, gave thanks to Brett and crew, and headed back on the road. If you are ever near Rockdale I have to say that Brett's is a MUST STOP.

Now we were running a little behind and had to head to DandT drive In for our other spot that none of us had ever experienced: Eddie O's. Eddie was running low by the time we got there on most of the meats but we aren't rookies and knew to place a preorder for his beloved brisket empanadas.....HOLY SMOKED MEAT TEJANO GOODNESS! Few bites on BBQPalooza have affected me as much as that brisket empanada did! I CANNOT stress this enough....place a preorder and pick up some of these doughy, salt encrusted, moist brisket filled pieces of TexMex heaven STAT. I could eat those things every day. Fairly certain Eddie's empanadas are the best thing to happen to brisket since salt and pepper. Unbelievably, as good as that was Eddie's barbacoa tacos caused a small argument whether or not they were even better than the empanadas (#Team Empanada). Once we finished our meal we got to hang out and talk with Eddie and get some pics. As is almost always the case I enjoyed his food even more after his hospitality. Eddie O's is a real family love affair, you can see members of his family serving, taking orders, and just hanging out with the customers. Houston is my home too, and few places I have been have exemplified the things I love about Houston more than Eddie O's...what a fantastic addition to the best BBQ community in Texas!

Unfortunately due to time constraints we had to eliminate Blood Bros. BBQ, but you can read my glowing review from last year. Instead we went right down the street to one of my all time favorite places: Pinkerton's Barbecue. First of all congrats to Grant on his upcoming marriage! We saw him pull up and got to say hello on our way out. He and his staff consistently throw down one of the best BBQ trays in all of Texas. Top line brisket, sausage and boudin, and some of the best ribs you will ever find! You can't go to Pinkerton's without grabbing some smoked duck and sausage jambalaya (undefeated as a BBQ side for years now). Another unique aspect of Pinkerton's is the full service bar where patrons can order an old fashioned, a bucket of beers, or just enjoy the tremendous ambiance of feeling like you are sitting at somebody's cabin bar in the Hill Country. Pinkerton's is a personal favorite, and as always....it did not disappoint.

For the second year in a row we closed down BBQPalooza at The Pit Room. One of the few locations with top line barbecue that almost always has food left in the evenings! The Pit Room tacos stuffed in their brisket fat tortillas are legendary. If you just want a traditional trinity, The Pit Room can rival the best....and yet few can come close to their tex-mex taco offerings. After a full day of smoked meats, it's also nice to be able to go right next door to The Patio (owned by the same group) and top everything off with some crawfish. The wives once again showed up at the last stop to help us finish our plates and end a great day with some friends and camaraderie. The Pit Room and Patio is one of the best hang out spots in all of Houston and once we get done with this interesting time would be a perfect place to have a post quarantine party (until then might I suggest some tacos to go? ). 

To recap: We enjoyed an amazing day of old favorites (Snow's, Pinkerton's, and The Pit Room), and I think everyone would agree that the biggest takeaways were the 2 new spots: Brett's amazing tray and Eddie O's dueling empanadas and barbacoa tacos! We continue to be surprised and blown away by new offerings in the world of Texas BBQ every year at BBQPalooza. As I wrap this up I can't help but go back to my initial thoughts. We feel extraordinarily lucky to have been able to enjoy BBQPalooza on Saturday like we did. The BBQ family style gatherings and large community fellowships may be over for the foreseeable future, but we cannot forget about the people that have forged many of those bonds. The Texas BBQ community needs each other now more than ever. I sincerely hope to see some of my favorites like Roegel's, Truth, those we visited this week and others along with the newer school like Eddie O, Brett, Feges and others come out on the other side. I look back at the experience Saturday with thanks and a full heart, and I look forward to one day soon seeing many of you and communally getting together over great BBQ again! Until that time....let's get some take out friends!

BBQPalooza 2019

For our ninth annual BBQPalooza we decided the time was right to return to our home city and navigate some of the growing bbq scene in "The New Capital of Texas BBQ" (sorry Austin) ....the greatest city in Texas....and thereby the World.....Houston! In light of the recent move by Truth inside the city limits, the continuing excellence of Tejas, and a plethora of new and exciting spots we decided, why travel AWAY from the hottest BBQ spot in the country. The ninth edition of BBQPalooza contained some firsts for the group and as always the best food around.

To kick off BBQPalooza9, we decided that we needed an attention getter. One of the coolest things happening on the Houston BBQ scene has been the rise of Pastrami Thursday. The two joints most associated with Pastrami Thursday and the smoked Reuben sandwiches are Tejas Chocolate & Barbecue and Roegels Barbecue. If we were going to ensure ourselves of a coveted Reuben sandwich at each joint we were going to have to divide and conquer.....and if we were going to divide and conquer, might as well split up into 3 groups and include the oft selling out and Houston favorite Corkscrew BBQ. So a plan was hatched. We would divide up the first leg into three groups and secure a spread at each location, then kick off BBQPalooza9 with the ultimate family feast....but where to meet? Where else should you kick off a Houston BBQ feast than at 8th Wonder Brewery? Chowing down on Hou smoked meats while sitting in Astrodome seats? Yes please. So as soon as we all arrived at 8th Wonder the spread was unveiled: a record breaking meal upwards of 9lbs! Six Reubens, brisket, sausage, pastrami, turkey, a few sides..... it was a FEAST. Several of the group immediately latched on to the Roegels' Reuben which delivers the ultimate flavor explosion. Russell has perfected the art of just the right amount of tangy, acidity to pair with what we all thought was the best smoked pastrami. His Reuben has bark and.....bite. But before you crown him, let me assure you that several other members swore by the smoother yet just as tasty Tejas sandwich. From the toasted rye down to the house made sauerkraut and Russian dressing this sandwich is a slightly smoother and silky Reuben. Everything in the Tejas Reuben perfectly compliments each other. If you ask me to pick? That feels like trying to choose between my son and my daughter. I take the easy out and say that both are the best sandwiches I have eaten and declare this Pastrami-off a draw.....the winner.....ME and the rest of the crew that got to eat both. Other than the Reubens, the star of the show was Tejas' chile relleno sausage which almost caused our BBQ fellowship to fracture one meal in, when the last bite was up for grabs. I can tell you that nothing was left from that Tejas spread....there is a reason they were in the last TX Monthly top 10. Corkscrew was not quite on par with our previous visits. Not sure if the ride in the car affected the meat more, but we have had some amazing spreads at Corkscrew and will have to get back soon to eat on site. Epic start to BBQPalooza9!

The Spread

After 8th Wonder, we took a short trip over to relative newcomer Feges BBQ. We have heard great things about this joint located inside 3 Greenway Plaza's food court (don't let this discourage you as we found parking easy in the garage where Feges will validate for you). If you go, go early as we missed out on brisket and were relegated to whole hog, pulled pork, and smoked meat loaf. The pulled pork was top tier though, and whole hog and meatloaf were a unique and tasty treat. The real star here are the sides....we were lucky enough to get to try nearly everything from spiced cracklins to elote corn salad. The sides were amazing. My favorite was the Moroccan spiced carrots ---I don't even like carrots! We will definitely be returning to Feges to indulge in those sides and hopefully have some of the brisket we have heard about. We wrapped the meal up with some PB&J chocolate cake. Excellent.

Feges Sides

Finally, we decided to head over to the best patio in Houston at Pinkerton's Barbecue. Luckily, we caught Grant right before he headed out on a previous engagement and got to visit for a bit. When you go to Pinkerton's you are literally visiting Grant at his house, and there is no better host. BBQPalooza mastermind and current BBQ missionary to Nashville, Chris Hicks, was able to place one of his The Oak TX BBQ stickers on the door at Pinkerton's which was awesome.....then we went out on the patio for college basketball, drinks, and settling food. We ended up spending about 5 hours at Pinkerton's enjoying the absolutely perfect Houston spring break weather. Once the appetites returned as always Pinkerton's did not disappoint. Firmly in my Hou top 5 with moist brisket, great sausage, world famous candy painted ribs, and the best side in barbecue....duck jambalaya! Although I am not a huge sauce guy, another big reason Pinkerton's is a personal favorite is that his sauce is my favorite. Perfect for dipping complimentary bread into between meats, I love it! A few other friends showed up late, and we actually made a second order before finally bringing day 1 of BBQPalooza9 to a close. In the words of Borat....SUCCESS!

Pinkerton's

Day 2 of BBQPalooza began as several days lately have.....waking up early to be first in line at Truth BBQ! In fact we were actually the first patrons waiting at the door not so long ago when Truth first opened their Houston location (we kinda have an unhealthy love for Leonard and his smoked meats). BBQPalooza OG Jason Denham is said to often be waiting at the door as the workers show up! This visit was especially cool because one of our own, former student/athlete Cole Parkman is working at Truth and got to help make our tray. Super proud to see a former student who got to tag along on some of BBQPalooza this year living the BBQ dream! Another first is that the wives were finally allowed to break through the smoke ceiling and tag along for day 2 to "see what all the fuss" was about. Truth has the cities best brisket IMO, and their ribs somehow continue to get better every time. Combine those with the excellent sausage, ridiculous sides (tater tot casserole #1), and the homemade cakes and you can see why we feel Leonard could soon find himself in the top 5 and a legit #1 overall contender in the next TX Monthly list. The other thing about Truth is that more than any other pit master Leonard recognizes the art of making the perfect tray. Every meal at Truth is meticulously crafted as an artist would paint a canvas! I could sit at the line for hours and marvel at the trays he puts together.....the ultimate Instagram spot. So once the ladies got their fill of cake and pics we left Leonard and Cole and crew to a packed house and wrapping up yet another sold out day in Houston. 

Truth Meats!

After Truth we thought the ladies might enjoy some "off the grid" BBQ so we headed over to Blood Bros. BBQ. Holy Brisket Fried Rice Batman! This was the revelation of the trip for me personally. I had heard how great the brisket fried rice was, but none of the superlatives actually did this perfect mash up justice! I never thought anything would give tacos a run for "best use of Texas brisket" title, but I could eat that fried rice every night. One of the "Bros" Terry, and pit master Quy were there and could not have been nicer. Terry talked to us for a long time about our adventure, and Quy was cool enough to give us a behind the scenes tour. We had brisket, ribs, reuben sausage (the ONLY sausage of the weekend to compete with the Tejas chile relleno), Big Al's gumbo, Thai Green Curry boudin, brisket fried rice, a turkey banh mi, and Quy threw an extra slice of wagyu on our order. FANTASTIC! These guys are doing things I have never tasted before and it ALL works. I loved the meal and this spot further solidified my hypothesis that some of the coolest and most creative people in the world are currently doing Texas BBQ. Thank you so much Terry and Quy.....can't believe it took me this long to come by but rest assured I WILL BE BACK!

Blood Bros.

Much like Day 1 it was now time to chill out for a while, and what better place to do that than The Pit Room? With an entire corner of Houston including outdoor seating, tacos, The Patio, craw fish, cold drinks....we once again spent several hours at our last stop of the day. After a few hours of the first ladies of BBQ hijacking the digital jukebox, some cold drinks, and some well timed craw fish it was once again time for Q. The Pit Room has the best tacos in Houston. If you have not been here you are ineligible to have a taco opinion or develop any kind of Houston taco ranking. They can throw a trinity plate together with the best of them, but the true star are the brisket, chicken, and pulled pork loaded with Tex-Mex favorites and wrapped in brisket fat tortillas! We had several tacos, and then like the night before we made a second and final order of BBQPalooza consisting of perfect chips and queso and the best smoked frito pie I have had. The Pit Room is another of my top5 Hou joints and if you haven't been put it at the top of your list. 

Pit Room Tacos

BBQPalooza9 contained the largest ever spread, service from one of our own, and the first ever bring your wife to BBQPalooza day. Once again the eating was tremendous, but the real take away was the awesome people of Texas BBQ and how it brings friends together. I had my first experiences at Feges and Blood Bros. and spent time in some of my favorite places on Earth (In the NEW TEXAS BBQ CAPITAL). It's probably time for my yearly month long BBQ hiatus, but rest assured I will be back eating with the rest of you soon!

See you out on the BBQ trail!

BBQPalooza 2018 "The Ocho"

This was the eighth annual bbqpalooza and in light of the distinct Tex-Mex flavor, plus our first trip to San Antonio it was nicknamed "The Ocho". We made six stops in two days. Not our heftiest itinerary, but we have become older and wiser in recent years. The first two stops were legit pig out meals, so rest assured we are all on 200 calorie a day diets as of Monday. The itinerary was up in the air till the last minute (Truth vacations, Hays Co. building, and Sundays being extremely limited in San Antonio all made impacts), and we even made changes on the fly (Leroy and Lewis sold out? Hello Valentina's tacos and Kerlin ribs!), but in the end some old favorites and new revelations made this version of bbqpalooza as memorable as usual.

Our first stop was supposed to be bbqpalooza fav Truth BBQ. Alas, days before we set out Leonard and the gang announced they would be taking a much needed break. I'd be lying if I didn't say we were disappointed, but we quickly rebounded by agreeing to revisit TMBBQ #6 spot Tejas Chocolate! We were honored to be joined there by Andrew and Bryan from bbqpalooza's favorite podcast Tales from the Pits pod. Bryan was able to get us a pit tour (yes....I saw the legend "The Dude" at work) and some great bbq small talk with the always cordial and down to earth pitmaster Scott. Our slight disappointment was quickly turned to good fortune when the food hit the table. Tejas has vastly improved since our last visit (and that was right before being named #6). Some joints can crumble a bit under the pressure of a top 10 ranking, but we all felt Scott and company have accepted the challenge and continued to get better! The brisket was excellent, the burnt ends were a treat, and while I am still a huge fan of their green sauce...several bbqpalooza members were in love with the mole. The belle of the ball though was the ridiculously tasty pork belly which disappeared faster than anything on the table. Seriously, I thoroughly enjoyed every visit to Tejas, but I can honestly say I fully understood their top 10 ranking after this year's meal. Thanks for a fantastic kickoff meal!

From Tejas we said our goodbyes to Bryan and Andrew (who also graciously provided some swag and koozies for the remainder of the trip) and headed to South Austin. We really wanted to try Leroy and Lewis, but once again our plans were foiled as they were sold out. However....we followed up our Tejas audible with yet another stellar option by heading over to Valentina's new location on Manchaca. Holy Tex-Mex Heaven.....the new spot Valentina's has is amazing! We first went to this favorite when they were a small truck operating outside a bar, then as a larger unit in a run down grocery strip, but now the location feels worthy of the food. They have an awesome seating area and plenty of space. Great decor highlighting their "hecho con amor" slogan fills the much larger spaces and provides a major upgrade on the ambiance factor. The food? Well, my love of Valentina's goes back several bbqpaloozas ago. The tacos are the best in the world. Brisket and pork were amazing, but as we have found in visits past the often overlooked chicken tacos are some of the most flavorful items I've ever sampled. This trip we got to try a beef rib sandwich that made us all believe in heaven (full of Tex Mex food). Someone stabbed me with a plastic fork for the last bite of smoked corn.
We had an excellent meal as always and I can't wait to get back to this new location again.

After Valentina's we decided we would go by oft overlooked and highly underrated Kerlin BBQ. It was actually right after their normal closing time, we had to fight through the sxsw crowd with a rousing game of "Hipster or Hobo", and apparently the x games were going on right behind the food truck while some sort of "music" wailed at 9000 decibels.....and still we were blown away by the ribs. Kerlin's had a little food left and luckily for us a few of their juicy, succulent pork ribs. This spot is an excellent option for bbq in Austin and should not be overlooked. We have been a couple of times and I can assure you you'd have a hard time finding a better pork rib even in the tmbbq top 10! Check them out next time you are in Austin.

Now it was time to head to San Antonio for the first time. We planned this trip around 2m on Sunday morning, but decided to double dip with reservations at The Granary Saturday night. While the dinner BBQ board offered a little to be desired compared to the fare we had that morning at Tejas, the rest of the eclectic menu was a delicious end to a smoky day. The Maitake mushrooms and fried quail were big winners here, and the Texas toast with what they call BBQ butter (as amazing as it sounds) was a personal favorite (I could have downed 20 slices alone). The desserts were much appreciated too....especially a savory chess pie! I can't say the brisket we ate was comparable with our top joints, but I could easily recommend coming here and partaking in some extremely tasty off the radar menu items that you will definitely not find on any other bbq joints menus.

I would be remiss and under duress from bbqpalooza captain Chris Hicks @theoaktxbbq if I did not mention the food that our host for the night, Alan Esguerra, had ready when we arrived. The man had reverse seared steaks that he personally dry aged for 30 days! Exactly what you need after eating BBQ all day right?.....actually Chris swore it was the best meat he'd had all day. After an unbelievable surprise fifth dinner from Alan it was time to rest up for the next morning.......

If Valentina's is Tex-Mex heaven......then 2m is Tex-Mex Nirvana. What an absolutely AMAZING tray of Tex-Mex goodness! First, the trinity.... for those anxious traditionalists.....is LEGIT top 10. Excellent bark and fat rendering for a well better than average brisket. Ribs were right there with Tejas and Kerlin, and the sausage......the SAUSAGE! The pork sausage with serrano and Oaxaca was possibly my favorite item on the trip! If that doesn't do it for you let me drop our sides list: Chicharoni macaroni, borracho beans, pico de gallo, and pickled nopales!!!!!! SHUT. IT. DOWN. BBQ fans.....this was a top 3 sides spot for me. Add in homemade tortillas and I could seriously eat this meal EVERY day for the rest of my life....no complaints. (As seen on TV voice) But wait! We're not done!  Because 2M follows that up with a top 3 dessert as well. Think Micklethwait moon pies or Truth cake. These guys crank out daily tres leches specials! We got to sample peanut butter and red velvet tres leches and it was as savory as the meal. Several very happy glances were exchanged across the table and the feeling I had post meal at 2M was probably the best I've felt since the Astros won the World Series.....that good friends. If you are in San Antonio....or within 200 miles of it I highly recommend sampling 2m soon. Get there early, because the Sunday we were there they sold out in 2 hours....and it is easy to see why!

We were ready to head back to the homeland and close out the weekend for the second year in a row at a personal favorite Pinkerton's. Grant is one of the best dudes in BBQ, super friendly, welcoming (it is literally his HOUSE), and he was really involved in the Harvey recovery efforts. Sunday he was out at the rodeo (he's also a big supporter of the FFA community) so we missed him, but his terrific staff he's put together had the Q on point as always! My love of Pinkerton's has been well documented (even my wife and daughter are always begging me to take them back), and this plate was no different. We ate some of Grant's now World Famous "candy painted" ribs (soon to be the most popular shirt on the BBQ market). We had some brisket and burnt ends.....several members said it was their favorite brisket even as the last. Sausage was on point as well, but the last few visits I have been blown away by Pinkerton's smoked turkey! It is not to be skipped on. I especially like it with a little of the homemade BBQ sauce that is supplied in a tub for you. So....so...good....like any BBQ lover I search out that brisket (Pinkerton's is top tier), but I could definitely eat a whole meal of that turkey and not feel cheated at all. Of course, what would any Pinkerton's meal be without a side of duck jambalaya?

 So we cherished that last meal, purchased a few to go orders for family and friends and closed the book on bbqpalooza "the ocho". All in all it was another tremendous weekend of Q, friends, and gluttony. Tejas started it off by setting the bar extremely high. 2M was an absolute REVELATION. Pinkerton's sent us all home full and happy. In between we visited old favorites like Valentina's and Kerlin's, and had a very eclectic BBQ meal at The Granary.....oh and don't forget that 30 day dry aged steak (I know The Oak won't). Thanks to all the spots that hosted us and friends who tagged along on the way! See you guys out on the BBQ trail!

BBQPALOOZA2017: The Truth About HTown

When we started bbqpalooza 7 years ago it was the passion of our good friend Chris Hicks to go off in search of the greatest BBQ that Texas, and thereby the World, had to offer. We had to venture outside our home base of Houston, because while being the greatest city in the greatest state in the greatest country in the world it was surprisingly lacking in life changing BBQ. Our adventures took us to Lexington, Taylor, Giddings, College Station, Lockhart, and of course the capitol ...Austin. We ate BBQ that literally changed our lives. We documented it. We blogged about it. We talked about it until our wives put a moratorium on meat talk. And then a funny thing happened....we started to notice that good BBQ, great BBQ, even LEGENDARY BBQ began popping up right here in the H. This year we decided the time was right to show H town some love. We have spots where people wait hours, we have spots just as eccentric as Austin, heck...we even have our OWN BBQ festival now! It was time to represent for our hometown.


Before we get into the trip let me address the giant elephant in the room. When most people think of Houston BBQ the two places most likely to come up are Killen's BBQ and Corkscrew BBQ. Both are tremendous joints that are absolutely in the top 50 upper tier, however we have visited these fine establishments.....ALOT. Killen's is our closest top 50 joint and combined we have feasted there no less than 25 times....with many more meals to come. Corkscrew is a personal favorite of mine and we have also frequented this establishment more than 10 times the past few years. Both are MUST TRY for any BBQ aficionado and I can't recommend them enough. In fact, I would be mistaken if I didn't acknowledge that much of the Houston BBQ explosion and thereby the idea to do BBQPalooza2017 at home can be traced back to these two meccas of meat. We left them off the trip, but rest assured they are two of our very favorites.

One favorite we did return to this year is back where it all started....Snow's BBQ in Lexington. My feelings on this previously awarded #1 BBQ joint by Texas Monthly are well documented. This was the first spot BBQPalooza ever journeyed and it holds a special place in all our hearts. Ms. Tootsie is the hardest working, most generous, and hospitable pitmaster to ever tend a fire. And oh by the way...she has been churning out central Texas BBQ that is universally acknowledged as some of the best in the world since before that stuff was documented. The brisket has never been sub 10 out of 10 in any of my trips here. This particular time we were all impressed at the higher quality of ribs than what we felt we got last time. I started getting chicken here 3 visits ago (not a part of my usual order) because it can't be missed. Top it off with some jalapeno sausage and you quickly realize why showing up at 8am at Snow's is the best breakfast Texas has to offer!

Now we were headed back towards Houston and stopping at a joint none of us had ever been to: Truth BBQ in Brenham. We had varied levels of excitement as we waited about 6th in a line of roughly 15 for the 11am opening. The spot is fantastic, right off 290 with recent additions to outdoor seating and great Texas decor. We got up to the counter and immediately noticed the color, consistency, and smell of the brisket was outstanding. We forgot all about having to eat at 4 more spots and ordered several pounds of meat. This is where owner/pitmaster Leonard Botello went next level on us. LOOK AT THAT PRESENTATION ON THIS PLATE OF MEAT! No....look at it. I could hang this picture at the Louvre! Most BBQ lovers know the importance of presentation, and Leonard was the best I've seen. The care he took to make our plate reminded me of the first time I held my firstborn....making sure everything was in place and its full beauty could be appreciated. He thrice moved our perfect beef rib until he got it in just the right spot....being sure to show us the jiggle (even giving it a love tap) like some kind of cameraman on the set of Baywatch. Leonard threw on about 10 pieces of burnt ends that nearly caused a knife fight in line. By the time we paid we were full of the type of anticipation usually reserved for a line of lightsaber wielding nerds at a midnight premiere of the newest Star Wars movie. Then we ate....and ate...and ate. Very little was said for roughly 20 minutes. There was nothing on that plate that wasn't top 5 I'd ever had. Brisket that had a perfect pull with the thumb and forefinger, ribs that were cooked perfectly, house made sausage that had a perfect consistency, a beef rib that was the BEST I had ever tasted. The mac and cheese, corn pudding, and greens were Micklethwait level sides. By the time we had contemplated what was happening ridiculous comments like "Best meal I've ever had", "Greatest meat spread in Texas", and "Might be #1....period" were being brandied about. It was that good.....and then we ate some of Leonard's Mom's cakes....God Bless Texas. Apparently it's not enough to possibly be churning out the world's finest BBQ, but Truth also delivers the best cake I've ever had (Banana Caramel was the favorite and most fiercely fought over). Truth BBQ was an absolute revelation. I'm going to be honest....from here on out any top BBQ list that neglects to include Truth BBQ is automatically going to be disregarded.

Our final stop before getting inside the city limits was at Tejas Chocolate Craftory in Tomball. This is a real family labor of love. We got to speak with Scott (the BBQ brains), Michelle (the Chocolate maker) and Scott's son who was working too. You can't find nicer people in the business or a better setup than they have there in Tomball. Craft chocolate, beer, and bbq in the middle of the shopping district with an awesome outdoor seating area. The meat was delicious (we were especially fond of the pork belly) and my wife can vouch for the chocolate I offered as a peace offering upon my return. The Craftory is appropriately named as this truly is a factory of craft foods and drink. If you are in the Tomball area, I can't imagine getting a better meal or having a better time than you will at Tejas Chocolate.

Now we headed towards a spot I alone had previously been to ....Roegel's Barbecue. I was a little disappointed owner/pitmaster Russell would not be there this visit (I think he was doing his own BBQ trip to NY), but he left a message for right hand man Bruce who took tremendous care of us! Roegel's brisket is top notch. The rest of his trinity is excellent, and I can tell you the boudin we procured was the first thing gone. Bruce asked us about our trip so far and heard us mention the Truth beef rib. We didn't order a beef rib as we all felt incapable of conquering another so late in the day, however Bruce cut some tasty morsels off one and I can verify they were eaten with zeal. Nobody in Houston can make a better beef rib, and I still have the Thursday only pastrami (one of the most sought after meals in H town) on my personal bucket list. Getting a personal pit tour from our gracious host Bruce was the icing on the cake. I already knew it, but now our whole group could recognize that Roegel's belonged with the best BBQ Texas has to offer. Extremely proud of the quality of meat they are cranking out each day from my hometown. Keep up the good work Russell, and tell Bruce we said thanks!

Now we were feeling it.....but pressed on to The Pit Room. The first time I had Valentina's in Austin I was blown away.....REAL Texas BBQ melded with Mexican cuisine....everything great about Texas. Well, now you can get a similar experience in Texas' most diverse city. The Pit Room can throw a trinity down to rival many top 50 joints but let's be honest, the stars here are THOSE TACOS! Brisket, pulled pork, and chicken topped with the likes of cilantro, griddled cheese, pickled red onions, charred garlic, salsas (verde and rojo) all on top of tortillas made with brisket fat! What is the perfect thing to follow up 4 BBQ plates? BBQ tacos of course! These guys do a tremendous job and I'm really glad somebody took the BBQ/Mexican pairing and is doing it at such a high level here in the city. Get to The Pit Room and get yourself some tacos ASAP.

At this point several members were questioning the need to make our final stop. Stomachs had stretched, belts had been adjusted, mini vans smelled like BBQ pits, but we pressed on to our final destination...Pinkerton's Barbecue. If The Pit Room is Houston's Valentina's, then Pinkerton's is very much Houston's Freedmens. A plush set up, craft cocktails being churned out from a full bar, and barbecue rarities like duck and sausage jambalaya set this place apart from the rest. We were extremely glad we sucked it up and came to our last spot. In fact after tasting the brisket, sausage, ribs, and jambalaya we actually ordered seconds .....AFTER 5 MEALS! I can't think of a higher compliment or recommendation than that. Owner/pitmaster Grant Pinkerton was nice enough to come by the table to talk some Q and marvel at the day's accomplishments. He seemed like an extremely cool guy to hang out with earning bonus points for mentioning the new TV's coming in just in time for Astros season (he's a huge fan too!). The vibe of this awesome hang out place seems to reflect his personality. We all agreed that we needed to come back with some friends one evening (when not engorged on BBQ) and spend some time really appreciating all that Pinkerton's has to offer. If you're looking for a place in the Heights to bring some friends and possibly blow them away with real authentic Texas BBQ head here. I can't imagine any best of list leaving this jewel out. Even though we had doubled down on our sin of gluttony we couldn't stop talking about the quality of meat Grant and his staff produced.


It was time to head home. We were full: of meat, drink, dessert....but mostly full of pride. Our city represented... and if BBQPalooza2017 taught us anything (besides that we may all want to start practicing some moderation) it was that you no longer need to travel away from Houston to experience the very best Texas BBQ has to offer. You want a chocolate/beer/smoke meats craftory? Check. Do you prefer a traditional spread with top shelf beef ribs? Check. Care for tacos that perfectly blend the Tex and Mex sides of our state? Got it. Want to entertain friends for an evening of BBQ that will knock their socks off and discuss the meal over cocktails? Can do. Are you searching for the VERY best meal you've ever experienced? May not have to go farther than an hour. Snow's was the solid beacon it always is, each of the Houston spots brought something different and represented our hometown extremely well, and the Truth is.....Leonard might just be smoking the finest BBQ in all the world!