We’ve been asked what excites us to keep exploring barbecue after all these years. It’s not a simple question to answer because it’s evolved during our over decade long obsessions with barbecue. In this episode we go a bit down the rabbit hole of trying to explain what originally excited us, what interests us today, and how that has changed throughout our journey.

 

There may be no more majestic setting to cook barbecue than along the Columbia River Gorge in Hood River, Oregon. It is here that Brendon, Drew and Sam put down roots for their business, Grasslands Barbecue. Serving up superb smoked meats and seasonal scratch made sides, this trio is producing some of the best Texas influenced barbecue you’re likely to find not just outside of the Lone Star State, but the quality they’re providing would stand up against some of the best in Texas as well. Check the calendar on Grasslands website for their schedule which includes some exciting events and collaborations in addition to their regular service. Instagram: grasslands_barbecue Website: grasslandsbarbecue.com

 

This episode was brought to you by Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution. Rubs and sauces from some of the best BBQ joints in Texas and beyond now just a click away from being at your doorstep! Sign up for their new BBQ subscription box service! The first box featuring Blood Bros BBQ ships in July!

Check out http://bbqdistro.com/tales for all of your BBQ needs and be sure to follow zavalasbarbecuedistribution on Instagram.   Marvin Ross is a fifth generation farmer owning and operating Peculiar Pig Farm on some of the same land his family has been farming on for over a century. When Hector Garate started Palmira Barbecue, he quickly learned there was only one source for pigs that he would want to use.     

Dayne's Craft Barbecue is another quality edition to the growing barbecue scene in Fort Worth, Texas. Early memories of his dad cooking ribs eventually lead to Dayne’s fiancée Ashley buying him his first smoker and learning the craft.

Inspired by the underground barbecue scene of California, Dayne began hosting his own underground pop ups. As he continued honing his skills and building an audience, brewery pop ups would follow.

Dayne's Craft Barbecue recently made the leap to building out a brick and mortar with an anticipated opening date of late summer 2019. For the time being keep an eye out for regular pop ups as the restaurant is built. With a menu of high quality meats, housemade sausages and scratch sides, Dayne is well on the way to making his mark in the Fort Worth scene.

For more information catch Dayne's Craft Barbecue on the web at: https://daynescraftbarbecue.com/ Twitter: @daynetxbbq Instagram: daynetxbbq

 

It had been too long since our last roadtrip up to DFW so we gassed up the BBQ wagon and set off to the metroplex. While we have a long list of locations we need to scout out we were able to squeeze in five on this trip. Starting with Cattleack we checked into the Pitmasters and Punch morning chat that Todd David hosts, followed by whole hog and as much of the menu as we could eat at Cattleack before checking out Zavala's, Panther City, Dayne's, and Finally Flores before getting back on I45 and making our way back south.

We were very impressed with the barbecue scene and barbecue community that is really flourishing up that way.

Round two will come later this summer with Goldees, Smiley's, Riscky's, Hurtado, Brix, Slow Bone, and Ferris Wheeler's on our check list of places we need to go visit.

Who else should we put on our list? Let us know on Instagram: TalesFromthePits or Twitter: @BBQPodcast

We apologize for the audio quality on this one, as even more than normal its not optimal. We continue to experiment with microphones and recording options to improve as it is difficult to record in a moving car or at a busy restaurant, but this time we went a little backwards with the audio quality. 

The barbecue world has long been seen as a largely male dominated industry, with womens’ contributions to the profession often being overlooked. But the truth about many BBQ operations is that they would not be what they are without the hard work and passion of a growing number of women in BBQ. There are female pitmasters, BBQ restaurant owner/ operators, managers, sausage makers, cooks, meat cutters, and a myriad of other jobs in the barbecue world.  In this episode we’re joined by three of the great women in barbecue: Misty Roegels, Owner/Operator at Roegels Barbecue Co., Mallory Robbins, Owner/Operator at Evie Mae’s Pit Barbeque, and Aubrie Hood, General Manager at Evie Mae’s. Please tune in as they discuss a wide range of topics from the difficulties of being a woman in what is perceived as a male dominated industry, raising a family while operating a restaurant, and more.

 

We were privileged to sit down with some great people in the BBQ world during the Red Dirt BBQ and Music Festival. The Red Dirt Festival takes place every May in Tyler, Texas and is widely considered the can't-miss BBQ event in Texas. Some of the state's best BBQ joints serve up tasty bites and in the evening Tyler's downtown square turns into an even bigger party as prominent Red Dirt music acts take the stage for thousands of fans.

  Tickets for Red Dirt sell out within hours, be ready for 2020 and make sure to keep up with info at: https://reddirtbbqfest.com/ https://twitter.com/reddirtbbqfest https://www.instagram.com/reddirtbbqfest/     This year we were joined by Jordan Jackson and Bryan Bingham of Bodacious Bar-B-Q, Dylan Taylor of Goldee's BBQ, and Cody Sperry of HooDoo Brown Barbeque in Ridgefield, Connecticut for a raucous and wide ranging roundtable. Topics for this episode include everyone's BBQ "a ha" moment, everyone's "Death Row last meal," and so much more.      

We've been traveling across Texas for years seeking out the best and most unique barbecue stops around the state. Through lots of research and plenty of trial and error we've had a lot of successful BBQ runs where we've been able to try a wide array of places in a single day or weekend. As Texas BBQ has become increasingly popular, we've had so many folks reach out to us asking for tips about which places to go and which routes to take. To help out our fellow smoked meat travelers, we're putting together some episodes to help plan out the best route options suitable for everyone's interests.

  Part one of this series focuses on a few different groups: The Casual BBQ Fan, The Prospective Restaurateur, and The BBQ History Buff. Each type of BBQ traveler will want to plan their trip differently to suit their interests, so we've put together some thoughts and tips suited for each of these categories. Whether you're only looking to hit up a few spots over the course of a weekend, if you're looking to see different business models in hopes of starting your own barbecue operation, or if you want to focus your trip on the classic old school joints in Texas, we've laid out all of those options for you here.     Stay tuned for future episodes in this series in which we'll tackle more aggressive marathon trips for the BBQ superfan, including how to eat at the entire Texas Monthly Top Ten List in only a few days.   

When Ronnie Webber was ready to retire from the Houston Police Department, he and his wife Nancy had their sites set on opening a barbecue restaurant. With no restaurant operation experience but a passion for cooking, the Webbers invested their savings into opening Tin Roof BBQ in June 2001. The then small restaurant was a success in its original location, but as they were ready to grow the business they knew a change was needed for an expansion of their operation.

The Webber family moved their location and expanded it in Atascocita, a suburb north of Houston. Tin Roof BBQ immediately immersed themselves in the community, and the neighborhood embraced them as well. Tin Roof remains dedicated to giving back to their community and those in need, generously contributing their time towards raising awareness and funding for different worthy causes.   Ronnie and Nancy's son Brek grew up in the restaurant, went to school, and returned to help operate and continue to grow the family business. As the restaurant is about to turn eighteen years old, Ronnie, Brek, and crew continue to evolve and improve their expansive menu. Brek recently lead the charge in switching to making all of their sausages in house and now showcases a roster of different sausage specials. Making hundreds of pounds of sausage each week is no easy task, but it's a commitment to constant improvement that keeps Tin Roof BBQ one of the go-to restaurants for their community.   Catch Tin Roof online  Web: https://www.tinroofbbqtexas.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TinRoofBBQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TinRoofBBQ/   Location: 18918 Town Center Blvd. Humble, TX 77346

Hours: Tue – Thu: 11am – 9pm Fri & Sat: 11am – 10pm Sun: 11am – 3pm

There’s quite a bit going on in the BBQ world these days with openings and closings and special events happening seemingly every week. We take some time in this episode to talk about what we’ve been up to in BBQ lately, what’s coming up this spring, and answer some listener questions. We have a lot planned for the spring and summer, but if there’s anything you think we need to add to our calendar, let us know! We’re also always taking listener questions, so DM us on social media or email us anytime.   Twitter: @bbqpodcast Instagram: @talesfromthepits Email: talesfromthepits@gmail.com

 

Anthony DiBernardo had a long and distinguished culinary career that spanned cooking on submarines during his military service to working in fine dining in Charleston. Anthony eventually got to a point in his career where he wanted to make more approachable, affordable food. In 2013, he opened his first Swig & Swine BBQ location.

At Swig & Swine BBQ, Anthony and his team cook traditional South Carolina items alongside influences from other BBQ regions like burnt ends and Texas style brisket. Swig & Swine cooks with all wood and gives as much thought and care to their sides and sauces as they do to the meats they smoke.   In addition to having multiple Swig & Swine locations across the Charleston area, Anthony is very involved in charity endeavors as well as Charleston Wine + Food. Add Swig & Swine BBQ to your list of Charleston BBQ stops!   Online www.swigandswinebbq.com www.instagram.com/swigswinebbq/ www.facebook.com/swigandswinebbq/   HOURS

11am-10pm 7 days a week

  Locations

West Ashley Location

1217 Savannah Highway

Charleston, SC 29407

 

Summerville Location Returning soon

1990 Old Trolley Road

Summerville, SC 29485

 

Mt. Pleasant Location

2379 Hwy 41 

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466

 

Downtown Charleston Location

49 South Market St.

Charleston, SC 29401

 

Justin and Jonathan Fox grew up all over Texas and brought their love of Texas barbecue with them when they settled in Atlanta, Georgia. They began tinkering with cooking the familiar flavors of central Texas in their backyard near the turn of the century and soon began to contemplate how to take it to the masses. The Fox brothers began throwing large backyard parties and eventually started providing catering services in addition to serving at their friends and eventual business partners bar. 

When an opportunity arose to open their own place in 2007, they jumped on it and were well on their way. Fox Bros Bar B Q opened on Dekalb Avenue and began bringing their brand of barbecue to Atlanta full time. With an extensive menu of Texas BBQ staples alongside creative items like their chicken fried pork ribs, Fox Bros Bar B Q has been a staple in the Atlanta dining scene for over a decade. There are now Fox Bros outlets inside of BMW Stadium as well as outside the Atlanta Braves ballpark, and the future continues to look bright for Justin and Jonathan.    In addition to being successful restaurateurs, the Fox brothers are also extremely active in giving back whenever they can. Their joint venture with Home Team BBQ, Foxeria Del Sol, helps to raise money for Hogs for the Cause, a charity that provides financial assistance for families that are battling pediatric brain cancer. They've raised over $400,000 in the past five years for this cause. Good folks championing great causes and making memorable barbecue, Fox Bros Bar B Q is a business we should all be happy to support.   Catch Fox Bros. online at: http://www.foxbrosbbq.com/   Instagram: foxbrosbarbq Twitter: foxbrosbarbq Facebook: FoxBrosBarBQ   Original location: 1238 Dekalb Ave Atlanta Ga 30307 Hours: Sun- Thurs 11am-10pm Fri-Sat 11am-11pm   Que-osk, fast service walk up: 120 Ottley Drive Atlanta, GA 30324 . Hours: Mon-Fri  7am-10am and 11am-2pm    Mercedes Benz Stadium   SunTrust Park

John Lewis is one of the pioneers of the modern methods that have become so widely used in Texas BBQ over the last decade. From his innovations in pit design to seasoning and trimming methods and careful sourcing of meat, if you’ve enjoyed “new school barbecue” recently, there’s a high possibility it was prepared using methods Lewis popularized.

With a long successful career in Texas under his belt, John saw an opportunity to spread his brand of barbecue in Charleston, South Carolina, and began assembling a team to open his own restaurant. Phillip Powers, who you’ll also hear in this interview, had a strong culinary background and moved back home to South Carolina to be part of the opening crew at Lewis Barbecue and is the Chef de Cuisine at the restaurant.

Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner serving Lewis’ exemplary Texas barbecue along with menu specials, Lewis Barbecue is one of the must stop restaurants in Charleston today.

Visit Lewis Barbecue in Charleston, South Carolina 464 NORTH NASSAU ST. CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA 29403

SUN + MON 11AM UNTIL 9PM TUES-SAT 11AM UNTIL 10PM HAPPY HOUR: MON - FRI 4PM UNTIL 6PM

https://lewisbarbecue.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LewisBBQ/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lewisbarbecue/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/johnlewisbbq

This episode was brought to you by Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution. Rubs and sauces from some of the best BBQ joints in Texas and beyond now just a click away from being at your doorstep! Sign up for their new BBQ subscription box service! The first box featuring Blood Bros BBQ ships in July! Check out http://bbqdistro.com/tales for all of your BBQ needs and be sure to follow zavalasbarbecuedistribution on Instagram.   Cooper Abercrombie took his initial curiosity with barbecue, turned it into a passion and obsession and in a few years developed it into one of the best new barbecue spots to open in recent memory. Bar A BBQ opened their brick and mortar in February 2023 in Montgomery, Texas with all of the barbecue staples plus some of the Abercrombie family’s staple comfort food sides and breakfast options.    Whether it’s a homemade kolache, well smoked brisket, specials, or perfectly made house sausages, you can’t go wrong with a full tray from Bar A.    21149 Eva St. Montgomery, TX 77356 www.barabbq.com https://www.facebook.com/BarABBQ/ https://www.instagram.com/bar_a_bbq/      

Rodney Scott grew up cooking whole hogs at his family’s general store in the small town of Hemingway, South Carolina. The tradition of hogs cooked under the direct heat of coals burned down from wood splits was the way Rodney learned to cook and still utilizes today. As food media began to take notice of the whole hog traditions being carried on by Rodney, Hemingway would see an increase in tourists coming to try he and his family’s barbecue. Over the course of time Rodney would meet and become friends with Nick Pihakis, who encouraged Rodney to come to Charleston to open his own place. Rodney Scott’s BBQ opened in 2016 to huge success and acclaim. The city of Charleston embraced his barbecue traditions and in 2018 he became only the second pitmaster to win an acclaimed James Beard chef award.  Rodney and the Pihakis Restaurant Group continue to grow the Rodney Scott’s BBQ brand and spread more whole hog greatness across the country, the latest installment being the opening in early 2019 of a new location in Birmingham, Alabama.

https://rodneyscottsbbq.com/

Twitter: @rodneyscottsbbq

Instagram: rodneyscottsbbq

 

Charleston:

1011 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

Hours: 11am-9pm 7 days a week

 

Birmingham:

3719 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35222

Hours: 11am-9pm Sunday - Thursday

11am-10pm Friday - Saturday

 

B's Cracklin benefit dinner at Truth BBQ:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/truth-bbq-beyond-the-pit-dinner-a-benefit-for-bs-cracklin-bbq-tickets-58801987327

 

There are so many amazing events that take place during the five day Charleston Wine + Food (CHSWFF) festival and we were fortunate to be granted media access to many of them. From whiskey-centric experiences to barbecue excursions, we did our best to take in all of the sights and sounds of this incredible culinary opportunity.

This episode will give you a rundown of all of the events we covered as well as some food and drink highlights from each. We were fortunate to get to spend time with some amazing barbecue talents such as Rodney Scott, Sam Jones, Jonathan and Justin Fox, John Lewis, Anthony DiBernardo, and many more.

We've got some exciting interviews that we'll be posting in the coming weeks from these events, so stay tuned for those. A special thanks to Alyssa Maute Smith and the entire Charleston Wine + Food team for putting together such an outstanding collection of unbelievable events and excursions. Be sure to follow CHSWFF on social media to get tickets for next year's events when they are announced!

Charleston Wine + Food: Website: www.charlestonwineandfood.com

Twitter: @ChsWineandFood

Instagram: @chswineandfood

The barbecue industry is full of kind, passionate folks. But like any profession, there are always going to be things that will annoy a person if they do it long enough. Tune in as we hear from Russell Roegels, John Brotherton, Nichole and Will Buckman, Jordan Jackson, John Mueller, Brett Jackson, and Esaul Ramos talk about some of their BBQ pet peeves. Make sure to follow us along on social media, and if you'd like to order one of our new "11 am in Texas" T-shirts, let us know! Instagram: @talesfromthepits Twitter: @bbqpodcast E-mail: talesfromthepits@gmail.com

West Texas "Cowboy Style" cooking may not be as known as Central Texas style, but it is an important part of Texas BBQ history. As cattle drives made their way west across Texas, pits would be dug in the ground as the crews would stop along the way and whatever meats were available on the chuck wagons would be cooked quickly over wood that had been burned down to hot coals.

West Texas BBQ today is often mesquite cooked over live fire with signature "show pits" on display for the customer to look at and select their meats. Places like Cooper's and Hard Eight are some of the more known places that provide this experience.

Thank you for your support of the show. If you'd like one of our new shirts, please reach out to us via e-mail (talesfromthepits@gmail.com) or via Instagram (@talesfromthepits) where you can see our new shirts.

Before large scale meat packers and fast transport allowed for meat products to be cut offsite and sold by the case, towns were served by local meat markets and butchers who broke down entire animals and large cuts, called primal cuts, into portions that the end customer purchased. Unsold meats and the left over trimmings weren't tossed away, they were utilized in sausage. The art of sausage making came to Texas via Czech and German immigrants and you can still experience these meat markets, homemade sausages, and hot barbecue on the weekends across Texas. Many open early and they are a great first stop on a Texas barbecue road trip.

After deciding the big city life wasn't for him, Lukas Smrkovsky returned to his hometown of Schulenburg, Texas and is carrying on his family's meat market and sausage making legacy into their third generation.

City Market in Schulenburg has been part of the Smrkovsky family legacy since 1944 starting with brothers Rudy and Tony. Rudy bought out his brother in the early 1960s and in the 1970s moved the operation from downtown Schulenburg to where it is now, right on Highway 77 just south of I-10. Rudy's son Roy and his wife Carolyn took over the business in the early 1980s and Roy's son Lukas now oversees the day-to-day operations which includes producing approximately 10,000 pounds of sausage every week.

City Market is a classic style meat market which offers a variety of cuts for retail, over two dozen types of scratch made sausage, and their famous hot dog wieners. Be sure to try their jalapeno sausage, not overly spicy, and Schulenberg City Market may have been the first to develop the variety. On Saturday mornings they serve a BBQ menu out of their over 40 year old brick pits including brisket, ribs, sausage, pork steak, and chicken.

Check out this ad for City Market from 1952:

https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth569495/m1/9/

 

Schulenburg City Market 109 Kessler Ave. Schulenburg, TX 78956

Mon-Fri: 8 am - 5:30 pm Saturday: 8 am - 2 pm

Smokin’ Z’s BBQ

Smokin’ Z’s BBQ opened in Bayou Vista, TX less than a year ago, but young business owners Zaid and Mallory are already producing a menu of quality barbecue that is a welcome addition to the waterfront community of which they are a part.

Zaid’s passion for barbecue grew from his love of cooking and his family’s background of hospitality. A high school teacher showed an interest in Zaid and offered him her old BBQ pit, and he soon began tinkering with smoking meats. 

When Zaid and Mallory met after high school and settled in the communities around Galveston island, they began doing small catering jobs for friends. Zaid’s passion for Texas barbecue grew as he visits places like Truth Barbeque and became more aware of the craft barbecue movement.

The young couple purchased a food trailer and, after a few regulatory hurdles that often arise with new businesses, opened on weekends in Bayou Vista. Serving a menu of the essentials (brisket, ribs, pulled pork) along with embracing the craft of sausage making, Smokin’ Z’s BBQ has been a hit amongst the locals. They’ve also introduced creative menu specials such as tacos using Caramelo duck fat tortillas, brisket grilled cheese, and more. This is a truly family operated business with both Zaid and Mallory working to produce the menu and serve each weekend.

 

Smokin’ Z’s BBQ

Open Saturdays & Sundays: 11 am - sellout

3115 Hwy 6

Bayou Vista, TX

Instagram: @smokinzsbbq

Twitter: @smokinzsbbq

 

Also mentioned on this episode:

Caramelo Tortillas: https://www.caramelotortillas.com/

Sausage Kings of Austin: https://www.facebook.com/events/347167755890795/

HouBBQ Fest: https://houbbq.com/

Red Dirt BBQ Fest: http://reddirtbbqfest.com/

Pints in the Park: http://www.pintsintheparkwaco.com/  (Date to be announced soon)

 

 

 

Brett Jackson grew up in Katy, Texas eating at Nonmacher's BBQ, a long time institution in that community. After growing up and trying a few career paths, Brett went to culinary school in Austin and soon after answered a Craigslist ad to be a BBQ apprentice in Taylor, Texas.

Upon walking into the famed Louie Mueller BBQ and interviewing with Wayne Mueller, Brett knew where he wanted to be. He got the job and over the course of the next two years would learn how to make sausage and cook brisket by feel and instinct.

Brett eventually made his way back to the Houston area and after a few barbecue opportunities that ultimately didn't last, began exploring what it would take to open his own place. It was around this time they he had heard Nonmacher's, his childhood BBQ spot, had closed. Brett spoke with the landlord and owner and a deal was struck for him to open his own place in the spot he grew up eating and on the very pit Nonmacher's used for many years.

Brett's BBQ Shop opened in September 2018 and quickly developed a reputation of quality in the Katy area. Serving the BBQ essentials of brisket, pork ribs and housemade sausages as well as creative specials, Brett's BBQ Shop has hit the ground running and is a welcome addition to an area that needed more good barbecue.

Brett's Barbecue Shop https://twitter.com/brettsbbqshop https://www.instagram.com/brettsbarbecueshop/

606 Mason Rd, Katy, TX 77450

Hours: Monday Closed Tuesday Closed Wednesday 11:30AM–sell out Thursday 11:30AM-sell out Friday 11:30AM–sell out Saturday 11:30AM–sell out Sunday 11:30AM–sell out

We recently received some exciting news we wanted to share. We do our best to bring exciting, unique, and wide ranging coverage of the barbecue world and have been so fortunate to have had some incredible experiences. We were just made aware of another fantastic event for which we will be in attendance.

We'll be attending Charleston Wine + Food March 6-10 in beautiful Charleston, South Carolina. We'll be bringing you extended coverage of the event with of course a focus on the barbecue and live fire events. This event brings together dozens of acclaimed chefs, pitmasters, culinary talents along with wine and spirits professionals for a myriad of incredible events.

Just a sample of some of the amazing BBQ personnel in attendance: Sam Jones, Fox Bros BBQ, Rodney Scott, John Lewis, ZZQ, LeAnn Mueller, Jess Pryles, Mike and Amy Mills, Laura Loomis, Carey Bringle, and more. Our sincere thanks to Charleston Wine + Food for this unbelievable opportunity.

A few of the other BBQ events we're looking forward to in Texas coming soon:

• Super Beef presented by Saint Arnold and HOUBBQ
• HOUBBQ Festival
• Red Dirt BBQ and Music Festival

Please follow us on social media: Instagram: @talesfromthepits Twitter: @bbqpodcast

Please follow Charleston Wine + Food on social media: Instagram: @chswineandfood Twitter: @chswineandfood For tickets to all of the Charleston Wine + Food events please go to: www.charlestonwineandfood.com

 

The road to opening Black Board Bar B Q was a winding one for chefs Jo Irizarry and Jake Gandolfo.

Jo went to culinary school as a passion despite having a successful personal career. This eventually lead to being a personal chef for a professional football player, while Jake's passion for cooking earned him a spot on the popular cooking show MasterChef.

Jake and Jo began dating and through the perfect alignment of circumstances began to consider opening their own restaurant. After successful pop ups with former Sisterdale Smokehouse owners John and Lori Maywald, they were inspired to reopen that location as Black Board Bar B Q.

Black Board showcases the chef's culinary creativity and commitment to high quality ingredients alongside traditional Texas meats. With creative dishes such as Lukenbach Lollipops - mostly deboned flash fried quail - and whimsical plays on dishes such as an acidic Asian themed slaw and a version of corn maque choux featuring poblano peppers and flash fried Brussels sprouts, Black Board offers the customer a tasty and unique menu experience not commonly found in BBQ restaurants.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/127751881117224

Twitter: https://twitter.com/blackboardbarbq

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackboardbarbq

https://blackboardbbq.com/

Blackboard is located not far from Luckenbach Texas on some great roads, get out and explore Texas Barbecue

1123 Sisterdale Road, Boerne, TX 78006, US 830-324-6858

Hours Monday - Wednesday : Closed Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 12 PM - 8 PM Sunday: 12 PM to 6 PM

Direct heat is one of the oldest forms of cooking known to man. While the offset style of BBQ cooking has taken the world by storm, we have recently seen a resurgence in the old ways of direct heat coal cooking. Top BBQ cooks like Evan LeRoy and his crew, John Brotherton, Brett Boren and others have begun utilizing direct heat pits to cook different proteins, while places like Cooper's BBQ and Snow's have been utilizing this method for years. Even high end restaurants have begun preparing different items utilizing direct heat and live fire preparations. In this episode we discuss our recent direct heat-heavy BBQ tour and are joined briefly by Evan LeRoy and Brad Robinson to talk about their direct heat cooking.

This episode was brought to you by Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution. Rubs and sauces from some of the best BBQ joints in Texas and beyond now just a click away from being at your doorstep! Sign up for their new BBQ subscription box service launching this summer! Check out http://bbqdistro.com/tales for all of your BBQ needs and be sure to follow zavalasbarbecuedistribution on Instagram.   We were elated to once again sit down at the Charleston Wine and Food Festival with esteemed author and culinary historian Robert Moss. Tune in for a wide ranging discussion on the food and drink history of commercial dining in the south, Robert’s job as the restaurant critic for Post and Courier, and of course his role as contributing barbecue editor for Southern Living.    Robert’s incredibly well-researched books are a must read for any food lover and his knowledge on all things in the southern culinary realm are enlightening.    Order Robert’s books via https://www.robertfmoss.com/   Plan your trip to next year’s Charleston Wine and Food Festival via  https://charlestonwineandfood.com/

2018 was an incredible year for BBQ, and we were fortunate to be able to attend some great events and had many memorable experiences in the world of smoked meat. We traveled far and wide to help share some amazing barbecue stories in 2018. We ate BBQ in over 60 cities across a dozen states in 2018, and we have big plans for more great BBQ travel in the new year. A huge thanks goes out to the wonderful people in the barbecue world who were generous with their time in coming on our show and to all of those that took the time to listen to our 2018 episodes.

We begin winding down 2018 with a fun talk with some of our friends in BBQ. Patrick Hernandez, Kristin Collins, and Joseph Quellar from JQ's TexMex BBQ join us to talk about some of their favorite barbecue experiences in 2018.

After posing a list of question to our friends, we also take the time to look back at some of the more memorable moments of the year in BBQ for us and offer some predictions for what's to come in 2019.

Have any plans for BBQ in 2019? Reach out to us on Twitter @BBQPodcast or Instagram TalesFromthePits and let us know! If you are a business and have an event scheduled, tell us the info so we can share it and/or come visit

We don't have sponsors and are self funded, but want to do us a solid? You can send us a case of beer or give our podcast a review on whatever app you are listening to us on, we'd appreciate it! 

 

Todd and Kristin Ashmore started Opie's BBQ in 1999, a simpler time in the Texas barbecue world. The Ashmores had careers outside of the BBQ world, but decide to throw their hat in the ring after years of traveling around and eating at other places. They opened in Spicewood, Texas, a town 35 miles west of Austin. Opie's uses mesquite wood and takes some style hints from west Texas barbecue joints while bringing central Texas style cooking in as well as adding their own touches to provide an experience like no other.   Opie's started with a very humble roadside stand and over the years has expanded both in location size and menu options, and was one of the pioneers of the "full meal experience" we have come to love so much in Texas barbecue. With unique, high quality sides and desserts to complement their mesquite smoked meats, Opie's has long been a destination for BBQ lovers. Don't forget to budget for one or more of their great rock and roll themed shirts, too!   A family operation from day one, Todd and Kristin's daughter Courtney and her husband Seth also work in the restaurant as kitchen manager and pitmaster, respectively. With nearly 20 years under their built, Opie's is showing no signs of slowing down as they continue to provide a great experience for their customers seven days a week.   And don't forget, the butterbeans are dine-in only!

The second annual Houston vs Austin BBQ Throwdown presented by HOUBBQ was full of creativity and tough competition. A dozen competitors from both cities as well as two wild card entries battled it out for this year's BBQ bragging rights. The People's Choice Champion for this year was Beaver's in Houston, and the Judge's Choice Champion was wild card entry Bodacious Bar-B-Q (original location on Mobberly Avenue in Longview, Texas).   In our episode recapping the event we discuss the different dishes as well as speak to Jordan Jackson and Bryan Bingham from Bodacious about their winning dish. If you haven't signed up for the HOUBBQ newsletter, go to www.HOUBBQ.com  today and get signed up to get the latest news on all of their upcoming events, the next event being the Houston Barbecue Festival taking place April 14, 2019 at the Humble Civic Center in Humble, Texas.   The event was held at Friends & Allies brewery in Austin Texas, Participating Austin-area barbecue joints included: Banger's Sausage House, LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue , Micklethwait Craft Meats, Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew, and Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue

Houston barbecue joints participating were : Beaver’s, Daddy Duncan's BBQ, El Burro & the Bull, Harlem Road Texas BBQ, and Victorian's Barbecue.

Bodacious Bar-B-Q from Longview and Brett's Backyard Bar-B-Que from Rockdale participated as wildcard entries. 

 

As we continue to explore all aspects of the BBQ world, we once again took a crack at competition barbecue. We competed in a small, non-sanctioned cook-off recently and in this episode discussed our results and our thoughts on cook-offs. We also recorded live from the overnight hog cook at Reveille Barbecue Co. as they and Wade Elkins cooked a red wattle hog over live coals. We were joined by Austin Moore with Tejas Chocolate and Barbecue and talked about his role at the restaurant. Nick Rama from Nick's Local Eats also came out for the festivities and joined us to talk about his BBQ exploration.

Brett Mckenzie Boren was bitten by the BBQ bug at an early, starting with the competition barbecue world. After years of competing in cookoffs and winning multiple awards, Brett began to contemplate a retail business. After building up his profile with a series of successful pop-ups and many large catering jobs, long-term plans for a permanent spot began to take shape.

  After searching for the right spot for a while, Brett found a location in the small town of Rockdale, Texas that would allow him to put down roots. Brett began the build out of his spot and opened with a bang at the end of October, 2018 serving BBQ staples and specials cooked well on his custom made Moberg pits.   Brett's Backyard Bar-B-Que has been a welcome addition to the town of Rockdale and the Texas barbecue landscape as a whole, and the future is bright for Brett. Get out to his place and also check out Brett's food at the upcoming Houston vs Austin BBQ Throwdown taking place December 9th at Friends and Allies Brewing in Austin, Texas.

Catch BBQ Brett and Brett's Backyard Barbeque at:

449 W. Cameron Ave. Rockdale, Texas   (512) 688-7889   Hours:  Thurs - Sat 10:30am - 7 (or sell out) Sun - 10:30am - 3 (or sell out)

https://www.facebook.com/Brettsbackyardbarbque/

https://twitter.com/bbqbrett

https://www.instagram.com/brettsbackyardbbq/

 

We've had the privilege to talk to many great people in the BBQ world, but the opportunity to talk to true BBQ trailblazers is rare. Roland Lindsey is one of those pioneers of Texas barbecue. A few months prior to his passing we were fortunate to be able to spend an afternoon with Roland at his original Bodacious Bar-B-Q location in Longview, opened in 1968. In this episode you'll hear about Roland's early days cooking at his dad's cafe in Duncanville, Texas as well as his cooking methods and the origins of the Bodacious Bar-B-Q restaurants. We also spoke with Roland about his relationship with Bewley pits and his understanding of pit technology which, like many things in Roland's career, was far ahead of its time. Roland was a true pioneer of so much and his influence in east and northeast Texas barbecue is undeniable. More important than his BBQ legacy is the impact Roland had on his friends, family, and community. His kindness and spirit was unmatched and his memory lives on in the countless lives he touched.

 

In the midst of another BBQ road trip we recorded an episode to help our fellow BBQ friends with a bit of a Texas BBQ holiday guide. In the episode we go over some great options to take out of town friends and family for the holidays, including different options based on your crowd. We've got some BBQ travel and cooking plans we also discuss. And be on the lookout for some Black Friday giveaways from us! We'll be putting together another listener questions episode in the near future, so get those questions in either via DM or email! Twitter: @bbqpodcast Instagram: @talesfromthepits Email: talesfromthepits@gmail.com

For Andrew's 100th recorded visit to Roegels we join Eric Sandler in a discussion of Houston Barbecue.

CultureMap Houston Food Editor Eric Sandler has been plugged into the Houston dining scene for years, and his enthusiasm for barbecue rivals that of many of the BBQ hounds that travel Texas in search of great smoked meat. Being a born and raised Houstonian, Eric has had a firsthand glimpse at the changes in both Houston and across Texas over the years.

In our chat with Eric we talk about how he broke into the food writing scene, his childhood barbecue memories, and where he sees the Houston barbecue scene going over the next few years. Eric was kind enough to humor us with his patented lightning round questions that he asks his guests on his own podcast, "What's Eric Eating?" Give it a listen for Houston food news, including barbecue guests!   To stay in the know on breaking Houston restaurant (and BBQ) news, make sure you're following Eric's work on CultureMap and his social media profiles

Eric's articles on CultureMap: http://houston.culturemap.com/author/eric-sandler/articles/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/esandler

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericsandler/

"What's Eric Eating?" Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-eric-eating/id1231236807?mt=2

 

 

 

The husband and wife team of Patrick Feges (rhymes with Regis) and Erin Smith own and operate Feges BBQ in Houston, one of the city's excellent new barbecue establishments. Patrick sat down with us a few months ago to discuss his culinary career and new restaurant, but also chose to share with us a much more important story. Most people involved in the Houston dining scene are familiar with Patrick's history as a wounded war veteran, as were we prior to recording. But very few had heard the incredible details of Patrick's war history and harrowing story of survival. Patrick chose to share his story in depth with us, and you can hear the full story in Episode 47 of our podcast as well as the full versions of his culinary history and the opening of Feges BBQ in Episodes 48 and 49. All of these episodes were very well received, but we've since had numerous requests from listeners to produce a condensed version of our interviews with Patrick so as it could be consumed within the content of one episode. We appreciate the feedback and are happy to present you this special condensed episode with Patrick Feges of Feges BBQ. Please tune in for Patrick's amazing personal history as well as his long journey working in the Houston dining scene and finally, along with Chef Erin Smith, the opening of the much anticipated Feges BBQ. You can visit Patrick, Erin, and the crew at Feges BBQ Monday through Friday and at special events on some weekends

3 Greenway Plaza Ste C210 Concourse Level – The Hub Houston, TX 77046

BREAKFAST Monday-Friday, 7-930am

LUNCH Monday-Friday, 11am-3pm

https://www.fegesbbq.com/ Twitter:@FegesBBQ Instagram:@FegesBBQ Facebook: FegesBBQ

This episode was brought to you by Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution. Rubs and sauces from some of the best BBQ joints in Texas and beyond now just a click away from being at your doorstep!  Check out http://bbqdistro.com/tales for all of your BBQ needs and be sure to follow zavalasbarbecuedistribution on Instagram! —————————————————————-   Nick and Elliott Reese got bit by the BBQ bug while going to school in Austin. Their journey took them to far west Texas but eventually brought them back to their hometown San Antonio to launch Reese Bros BBQ. With a menu that has a great San Antonio flair to it, the Reeses and their talented kitchen team have helped continue to elevate the barbecue scene in the Alamo city.   Instagram: reesebrosbbq Website: reesebrosbbq.com  

John Brotherton has worked tirelessly for years to make his BBQ dreams a reality. With Brotheron's Black Iron Barbecue in Pflugerville, Texas a big success, John has been able to hire a pit crew to help alleviate a lot of his day to day cooking duties.

On the heels of that success, John and his business partners have made plans to open Liberty Barbecue in downtown Round Rock. In our latest episode we talk with John and some of his pit crew including Dominic Colbert and Alanmykal Jackson to discuss the creative menus of both restaurants as well as their respective BBQ resumes.

We also are joined by Joey Victorian of Victorian's Barbecue to discuss the upcoming Barbecue Throwdown taking in place in Austin on Sunday, December 9th presented by HOUBBQ.

Catch Brotherton online at @PFTXBBQ Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

And www.pftxbbq.com  for more information on his restaurant

PFLUGERVILLE LOCATION 15608 Spring Hill Ln #105 Pflugerville, TX 78660

HOURS T-Sat 11a–8p Su-M closed

Liberty Barbecue coming soon 103 E. Main Street Round Rock, Tx

We were fortunate to attend the third annual Butcher's Ball event in Brenham, Texas. This meat-centric, all encompassing event showcases responsibly raised high quality products prepared by talented chefs and pitmasters from all around Texas. The participants each prepare a dish to serve and the attendees vote on their favorite dish. The participant whose dish receives the most votes wins the coveted Golden Cleaver award for the year. In addition to the award, the stakes were raised this year with the winner also receiving a thousand dollars. Second and third place awards were also given out.   The setting for this event, Rockin' Star Ranch in Brenham, is picturesque and the weather is great this time of year in Texas. All food and drinks (including beer, wine, and liquor) are included with the ticket price. With a wide array of meats, beverages, and desserts to sample along with butchery demonstrations, silent auctions, and live music, this event is a food lover's dream. We're already excited for next year's Butcher's Ball.   What makes this event even more special is that it helps to raise funds for the Urban Harvest Farmer's Market Program! (http://urbanharvest.org/farmersmarkets)   There are a lot of great barbecue events coming up during the fall and winter and we're going to cover as many of them as possible.   Tune in to this episode to hear all of the details on Butcher's Ball, upcoming special events at BBQ joints, and upcoming BBQ pop-ups from us!    

The tradition of West Tennessee style whole hog cooking is an endangered species, with only three known business owners staying true to the method of hogs cooked under beds of wood coals. Pat Martin of Martin's Bar-B-Que (multiple locations in Tennessee and beyond), Ramey's BBQ in Parsons, Tennessee, and B.E. Scott's Bar-B-Que in Lexington, Tennessee are still carrying on this tradition.

 

We had the pleasure of dining at all three places on our recent whole hog road trip and were fortunate to be able to sit down with owner/operator Zach Parker of B.E. Scott's to talk about his life growing up in the business and how their restaurant operates. B.E. Scott's was opened in 1962 and owned by Early Scott until 1989 when Zach's father, Ricky, bought the business after working there for several years.

 

Zach grew up working in the restaurant at an early age, learning the laborious step by step method of cooking whole hog from his dad. Zach was going to school to be an EMT when his father passed away in 2013. Zach left school to run the restaurant and carry on both the family tradition and the tradition of West Tennessee style whole hog barbecue.

 

Southern Foodways Alliance produced a great video of the Parker family that we strongly encourage everyone to watch as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQfBqLK8vs4

 

Address: 10880 US-412, Lexington, TN 38351

Hours: 

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

9AM–6PM

Wednesday

9AM–6PM

Thursday

9AM–6PM

Friday

9AM–6PM

Saturday

9AM–4PM

Sunday

Closed

Wyatt McSpadden's love of Texas barbecue stretches back even further in time than his celebrated photography career which spans five decades. Growing up in a meat market family in Amarillo some of Wyatt's earliest memories involve barbecue. As a young man his hobby of photography began growing into a passion that evolved into a profession.

In our interview with Wyatt we cover his early days photographing the construction of the famous Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, the beginnings of his BBQ photography, up to present day with the release of his latest book, Texas BBQ, Small Town to Downtown, and all points in between. Wyatt has witnessed historic moments in Texas barbecue firsthand including the splitting of the Kreuz/Smitty's businesses in Lockhart, and his career has seen the advancements in both the meat quality of the barbecue produced and the many advancements in technology that have changed the photography world. Like the transition of film to digital, the Texas Barbecue scene has evolved.

Both of Wyatt's books are must-own items for barbecue lovers and are available at all major retailers. Wyatt's portraits of both the food and the people that cook it are beautifully laid out in these books designed by Nancy McMillan

 

Get Wyatt’s newest book at one of his upcoming book signings or buy online

https://www.amazon.com/Texas-Downtown-Smothers-History-Culture/dp/1477316701?crid=2JQYH0WJEAGC9&keywords=wyatt+mcspadden&qid=1539040443&sprefix=wyatt+mcsp%2Caps%2C212&sr=8-1&ref=sr_1_1

If you don’t already own one, pick up a copy of his first Texas BBQ book as well: https://www.amazon.com/Texas-Doris-Smothers-history-culture/dp/0292718586?crid=2JQYH0WJEAGC9&keywords=wyatt+mcspadden&qid=1539040443&sprefix=wyatt+mcsp%2Caps%2C212&sr=8-2&ref=sr_1_2

 

Bryan Furman left a career as a welder with a goal in mind: to cook and serve whole hog barbecue. Whole hog cooking was a tradition Bryan grew up with, but when his father challenged him with the question of "What's going to make your barbecue better than others?", Bryan decided that serving the highest quality heritage pigs would set him apart from the competition.

Bryan and his wife Nikki opened the original B's Cracklin' Barbeque in Savannah, Georgian 2014. The critical acclaim would come in time, but the Furmans would soon be faced with adversity as their restaurant was badly damaged by a fire. They rebuilt and came back stronger than ever. An Atlanta location would follow, and the Furmans have big plans for further expansion in the future.   B's Cracklin' boasts a menu of chopped whole hog, ribs, brisket, and chicken along with family recipes of cracklin' cornbread "hoe cakes" and a great family banana pudding recipe. Don't skip the mustard sauce with Georgia peaches! With a commitment to the highest quality product combined with a dedication to tradition, B's Cracklin' Barbeque is one of the premier BBQ destinations in Georgia.   Catch B's Cracklin at: https://www.bscracklinbbq.com/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BsCracklinBBQ/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/bscracklinbbq/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/377629193/bs-cracklin-bbq/  

Atlanta

2061 Main Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 678-949-9912

Closed Monday Tuesday- Thursday 11 am to 9 pm Friday and Saturday 11 am to 9 pm Sunday 12 pm until 7 pm

Savannah

12409 White Bluff Road, Savannah, GA 31419 912-330-6921

Thursday thru Saturday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM

 

Wayne Baker grew up in Luling, Texas eating classic central style barbecue. His youth was also spent competing in BBQ cookoffs with his dad Phil. Both of these experiences helped shape what would eventually become Baker Boys BBQ, opened in Gonzales, Texas in 2015. Serving traditional Texas BBQ staples like brisket, ribs, and housemade sausage combined with unique offerings like their acclaimed stuffed chicken leg, Baker Boys has been a welcome addition to the barbecue scene. Wayne and Phil Baker cook their meats on gravity fed Stumps charcoal smokers ( https://stumpssmokers.com/ ) which provide a consistent heat and different flavor to the meats than is normally found in Texas 'cue. Catch them online at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BakerBoysBBQ/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/bakerboysbbq Baker Boys BBQ 1404 N Sarah Dewitt Dr Gonzales, Texas Monday - Friday 10am - 6pm Saturday 10am - 4pm  

We drove almost 3,000 miles to visit nearly twenty restaurants for our #hogtripping adventure. We recap the trip with our traveling band of BBQ friends Chris Wood, Eric Ulery, Andrew Stowell, Terry Osborn, and Jimmy Ho. Having traveled from east Texas through Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, we stopped at as many BBQ places as we could with the focus of the trip being whole hog cooking.

Stay tuned to the end of the episode for a t-shirt giveaway!

We were fortunate to record interviews with Sam Jones BBQ (episodes 70 and 71) and have episodes airing in the near future with Zach Parker of B.E. Scott's Bar B Que in Lexington, Tennessee and also an interview with Bryan Furman with B's Cracklin Barbeque in Atlanta. Give those a listen to hear about some great family owned businesses.   The Carolinas have been hit hard by Hurricane Florence which caused massive widespread flooding and destruction. If you have the means and would like to donate to help this wonderful region of America, one option is Operation BBQ Relief. Operation BBQ Relief is an organization that mobilizes to disaster hit areas and provides meals for those communities. If you'd like to donate, please go to https://operationbbqrelief.org    

Sam Jones is one heck of a storyteller and that skill is no more apparent than in part two of our interview with him and Michael Letchworth. This episode details some of the challenges Sam and Michael faced during the construction phase of their restaurant and what they did to navigate the problems that come along with opening a restaurant.   In this wide ranging interview we discuss everything from Sam and Michael's strong friendship to their very different musical tastes, the origins of the famous Skylight Inn capitol dome and how Skylight Inn got its name. Sam and Michael are two of the busiest men one is likely to meet and we cannot thank them enough for being so generous with their time and for inviting us to hang out and learn some invaluable lessons about barbecue, business, and life. They're great people with a great restaurant.   The barbecue world lost a legend recently, and Sam Jones lost a dear friend when Garry Roark of Ubon's BBQ in Yazoo City, Mississippi passed away. In this episode Sam mentioned a podcast he did with Garry and other barbecue friends. Here is the link to that podcast. We hope you'll give it a listen and keep the Roark family in your thoughts. https://www.spreaker.com/user/10580793/ep-14-the-big-apple-bbq-part-one    

Having grown up in a family whose history in barbecue could be traced back to the 1800's, whole hog cooking was something that had always been a part of Sam Jones' world. Despite being reluctant to make barbecue a career as young man, Sam returned to the business full time when his grandfather Pete Jones, founder of Skylight Inn, became ill.

Sam navigated Skylight Inn through tough times after Pete's death and helped make the business thrive and prosper. Sam has a strong business mind and wanted to create a restaurant of his own, still focused on whole hog cooked the traditional way over wood burned down to coals, but something that would stand on its own and not be seen as a carbon copy of the now famous Skylight Inn.   Together with his longtime friend and business partner Michael Letchworth, they opened Sam Jones BBQ in Winterville, North Carolina in the fall of 2015. Check out part one of our interview with Sam and Michael where we discuss the history of Skylight Inn and its unique way of cooking and serving whole hog, and how the mindset of not being afraid to ask questions and to learn lead to the eventual creation of better processes for running a successful business and brand.   Sam Jones BBQ online at: http://www.samjonesbbq.com/ 715 WEST FIRE TOWER ROAD 

WINTERVILLE, NC, 28590

MONDAY — SATURDAY 11AM — 9PM

SUNDAY 11AM — 8:30PM

 

Skylight Inn BBQ online at: https://www.skylightinnbbq.com/

4618 S Lee St, Ayden, NC 28513

Monday - Saturday 10 am–7pm

Closed Sunday

 

 

 

Dylan Taylor has built up quite the resume at a very young age. After working at highly acclaimed BBQ spots such as Terry Black's, La Barbecue, Truth Barbeque, and 2M Smokehouse (among others), Dylan decided the time was right to start working toward opening his own place. While he scouts out possible locations, Dylan has launched Taylor Barbecue Catering, available for medium to large barbecue catering requests. In addition to the catering options, Dylan also offers restaurant consulting services as well as fully immersive, hands-on cooking classes.

Students who attend Dylan's classes learn the cooking process of any and all barbecue meats from start to finish. Dylan has class options that include everything from instruction on seasoning, trimming, cooking, and slicing meats to fire management, sausage making, and more. The services he provides are all encompassing and provide a rare opportunity for aspiring barbecue cooks to learn from someone with his level of expertise.   In this episode we discuss Dylan's classes, catering options, and future restaurant plans as he gears up to make the next big leap in an already acclaimed barbecue career.   To contact Dylan about catering or classes go to: www.taylorbbqcatering.com

This episode was brought to you by Zavala’s Barbecue Distribution. Rubs and sauces from some of the best BBQ joints in Texas and beyond now just a click away from being at your doorstep! 

Check out http://bbqdistro.com/tales for all of your BBQ needs and be sure to follow zavalasbarbecuedistribution on Instagram!   Shuai and Corrie Wang were ready for a change after years working in New York City restaurants. They’d settled on their next move being to Charleston to open a new restaurant with a friend, but when those plans fell through shortly after uprooting their lives, the Wangs struck out on their own.    After opening Short Grain food truck to much acclaim and success, Shuai and Corrie set their sights on a brick and mortar. The concept for the restaurant grew over time to something deeply personal for Shuai, and that’s reflected all over the menu at Jackrabbit Filly. Featuring the food he grew up eating and being influenced by, the menu is a fun and delicious mix of cultures and techniques which makes a meal at Jackrabbit Filly an adventure.    Last year as they began to look for ways to help their team grow with new opportunities, Corrie and Shuai began working with Brandon Olson, their then sous chef at Jackrabbit Filly, to help develop a new concept that would continue exploring Shuai’s Chinese upbringing while also incorporating barbecue flavors Brandon grew up with in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. The upcoming King BBQ will be another exciting addition to the Charleston dining scene with Brandon stepping into the role of pitmaster and chef de cuisine. Currently popping up on the menu at Jackrabbit Filly on Sundays, King BBQ will be opening this year in a brick and mortar location in North Charleston.    This episode was record live at The Podcast Cafe in the Culinary Village at the Charleston Wine+ Food Festival. Check out charlestonwineandfood.com for information about next year’s festival.   Jackrabbit Filly Instagram: jackrabbitfilly Website: jackrabbitfilly.com   King BBQ Instagram: kingbbqchs Website: eatkingbbq.com   Corrie’s novels can be ordered via corriewang.com    

As we continue to highlight the history of Texas BBQ, we spend time in this episode discussing some of what we consider the classic Texas BBQ joints. While craft barbecue is all the rage and is a great experience, its popularity has often made some of the long tenured places become less discussed.

In order to be considered for what we're calling a classic joint, the business has to be at least 50 years old. We of course highlight the famous historic places such as Louie Mueller, Smitty's, and City Market in Luling, we also spend time discussing some of the lesser known spots that provide a great experience and look into the past such as Giddings City Market and Novosad's BBQ and Sausage Market. In all we discuss over twenty spots in this episode that barbecue fans should stop in if they get the chance.

We'd love to hear from our listeners on any spots we might have missed that have a long history. Contact us on social media or via e-mail and let us know your favorite historic barbecue stops and we'll do our best to highlight them all in a future episode.

Twiter: @bbqpodcast

Instagram: @talesfromthepits

E-mail: talesfromthepits@gmail.com

 

Hays County Barbeque

The BBQ flame was ignited in Michael Hernandez after a memorable trip to Lockhart. Shortly thereafter, armed with a steadfast belief in their dream, Michael and Asenette Hernandez pushed all of their chips to the middle of the table and went headfirst into the barbecue business. In eleven years they've gone from owning a small place purchased from a former owner, then to their own small space, and have now opened a huge BBQ complex in San Marcos dedicated to providing a great and unique customer experience.

Hays County Bar-B-Que is located right off the freeway in San Marcos and is open seven days a week to serve its community's barbecue needs. With a newly opened full bar in a building behind the restaurant that can accommodate large parties and will showcase live music on weekends, Hays County is one of Texas' premier barbecue destinations for an affordable good meal in a laid back atmosphere.   Michael's dedication to preserving Central Texas traditions can be felt in the food itself and the pits the meat is cooked on. With a unique octagonal shape and flat top lids, the steel smokers are reminiscent of the famous Lockhart brick pits and all of the pitmasters at Hays are taught to cook by feel without the aid of temperature gauges on any of the flat top pits.   Every square foot of the place has personal meaning to the Hernandez family who built the space almost entirely themselves and have worked tirelessly to achieve their dream. From the classic car memorabilia that line the walls to the sturdy wood bar Michael built himself, the space is filled with personal touches.   Hays County is open seven days a week, and open for dinner service as well. The bar is open into the later evening on weekends and expect to see the return of live music soon. Say hello to Michael, Asenette, and Aaron Hernandez as well as Jessie, Omar, Zach, and the crew when you visit! 1612 South IH-35 San Marcos, Texas 78666 www.hayscobbq.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hayscobbq   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HaysCoBBQ/   Hours of Operation: Monday 11am - 9pm Tuesday 11am - 9pm Wednesday 11am - 9pm Thursday 11am - 9pm Friday 11am - 10pm Saturday 11am - 10pm Sunday 11am - 4pm or till sold out

The Tejas crew keep pushing the envelope on what great BBQ is and can be, and their latest projects are a showcase of their creativity. In the last couple months Scott, Greg, and the team have begun making their own sausage. While classic varieties such as an all beef Czech style and kielbasa are part of the rotation, Tejas has been also been hard at work with creative sausages such as linked versions of their Brisket and Blues and House prime sandwiches. In keeping with the spirit of the Tejas name, barbacoa boudin, elote sausage and chili relleno sausage have also been offered as specials and have been met with much acclaim.

  Another project that has been in the works at Tejas for some time is a market and bakery expansion of the business which will provide an outlet for co-owner Michelle Holland's great baked items, cold deli sandwiches, and of course chocolate. That project continues to move along and Tejas is hopeful to have the expansion completed in the fall of 2018.   Catch them online: http://tejaschocolate.com/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TejasChocolate/ Twitter: @tejaschocolate Instagram: tejaschocolate  

200 N. Elm Street

Tomball,TX 77375

Tuesday – Friday 11:00 – 6:00 or sell out Saturday – 11:00 – 5:00 or sell out Closed Sunday & Monday