I got sidetracked this last month by a collection of neverending tasks, but I finally have the time today to continue my "Goals Update" series. So, without further adieu, let's discuss my fourth goal from a year ago:
Check out every BBQ joint on Texas Monthly's Top 50 list.
If you recall, I set this goal after I visited Franklin BBQ for the first time about fifteen months ago. Before Franklin changed my worldview, I honestly did not care for smoked beef brisket. It was always so tough, dry, and lacking in flavor. Franklin changed all of that. My first bite into a slice of Aaron Franklin's brisket was pure smoky nirvana. I was hooked from the get-go, and I made it my goal to find the best BBQ joints throughout the great Texas countryside.
My journey started off fast and furious, and I explored small Texas town after small Texas town with a collection of friends. Lockhart, Elgin, Luling, Lexington, La Grange. Eventually, I discovered that I would have to travel obnoxious distances to continue my BBQ quest (Texas is an enormous state), and my great Texas BBQ adventure naturally slowed down. Nonetheless, whenever I have a spare weekend and a few hours to kill, I try to knock off another BBQ joint or two on my expansive list. I have no illusions that I will actually accomplish my initial goal of visiting all the Top 50 BBQ joints, but I am already quite happy with the progress I have made.
Here is a list of some of the BBQ joints I have checked out over the last year: (1) Franklin BBQ in Austin, (2) Cooper's in Llano, (3) Smitty's Market in Lockhart, (4) Kreuz Market in Lockhart, (5) Luling City Market in Luling, (6) Snow's BBQ in Lexington, (7) JMueller in Austin (now closed), (8) Opie's BBQ in Spicewood, (9) Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor, (10) Stiles Switch BBQ and Brew in Austin, (11) The Salt Lick in Driftwood, (12) Southside Market in Elgin, (13) Opie's BBQ in Spicewood, (14) Prause Meat Market in Lagrange, (15) Zimmerhanzel's Bar B Que in Smithville, (16) Lambert's Downtown Barbecue in Austin, (17) Wilhite's Barbecue in Creedmoor, (18) Gonzales Food Market in Gonzales, (19) Cousin's BBQ in Fort Worth, (20) Black's Barbecue in Lockhart, and (21) Big Boy's Barbecue in Sweetwater. Of all these joints, Franklin BBQ, Snow's BBQ, and Louie Mueller Barbecue are my undoubted favorites. Stiles Switch has also become a bit of a favorite for me, if only for the convenience of location. I can easily bike to Stiles Switch for a quick bite, and, if I like, I can stop by Black Star Co-Op afterwards for a gluten-free brew or two following the 'cue. Good times to be had by all.
In the next few months, I would like to visit a few last places before I leave town. Yes, it's true, I will be leaving town in July - blog update to follow. In particular, I would like to hit up Fargo's Pit BBQ in Bryan, Pecan Lodge in Dallas, Heavy's BBQ and Gatlin's BBQ in Houston, City Market in Schulenberg, and Maywald's Sisterdale Smokehouse in Sisterdale. We will see if I actually will be able to actually visit all of these places. And yes, before you ask, I would love the company.
Goal Status: Satisfactory Progress
Check out every BBQ joint on Texas Monthly's Top 50 list.
If you recall, I set this goal after I visited Franklin BBQ for the first time about fifteen months ago. Before Franklin changed my worldview, I honestly did not care for smoked beef brisket. It was always so tough, dry, and lacking in flavor. Franklin changed all of that. My first bite into a slice of Aaron Franklin's brisket was pure smoky nirvana. I was hooked from the get-go, and I made it my goal to find the best BBQ joints throughout the great Texas countryside.
My journey started off fast and furious, and I explored small Texas town after small Texas town with a collection of friends. Lockhart, Elgin, Luling, Lexington, La Grange. Eventually, I discovered that I would have to travel obnoxious distances to continue my BBQ quest (Texas is an enormous state), and my great Texas BBQ adventure naturally slowed down. Nonetheless, whenever I have a spare weekend and a few hours to kill, I try to knock off another BBQ joint or two on my expansive list. I have no illusions that I will actually accomplish my initial goal of visiting all the Top 50 BBQ joints, but I am already quite happy with the progress I have made.
Here is a list of some of the BBQ joints I have checked out over the last year: (1) Franklin BBQ in Austin, (2) Cooper's in Llano, (3) Smitty's Market in Lockhart, (4) Kreuz Market in Lockhart, (5) Luling City Market in Luling, (6) Snow's BBQ in Lexington, (7) JMueller in Austin (now closed), (8) Opie's BBQ in Spicewood, (9) Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor, (10) Stiles Switch BBQ and Brew in Austin, (11) The Salt Lick in Driftwood, (12) Southside Market in Elgin, (13) Opie's BBQ in Spicewood, (14) Prause Meat Market in Lagrange, (15) Zimmerhanzel's Bar B Que in Smithville, (16) Lambert's Downtown Barbecue in Austin, (17) Wilhite's Barbecue in Creedmoor, (18) Gonzales Food Market in Gonzales, (19) Cousin's BBQ in Fort Worth, (20) Black's Barbecue in Lockhart, and (21) Big Boy's Barbecue in Sweetwater. Of all these joints, Franklin BBQ, Snow's BBQ, and Louie Mueller Barbecue are my undoubted favorites. Stiles Switch has also become a bit of a favorite for me, if only for the convenience of location. I can easily bike to Stiles Switch for a quick bite, and, if I like, I can stop by Black Star Co-Op afterwards for a gluten-free brew or two following the 'cue. Good times to be had by all.
In the next few months, I would like to visit a few last places before I leave town. Yes, it's true, I will be leaving town in July - blog update to follow. In particular, I would like to hit up Fargo's Pit BBQ in Bryan, Pecan Lodge in Dallas, Heavy's BBQ and Gatlin's BBQ in Houston, City Market in Schulenberg, and Maywald's Sisterdale Smokehouse in Sisterdale. We will see if I actually will be able to actually visit all of these places. And yes, before you ask, I would love the company.
Goal Status: Satisfactory Progress
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