Friday, September 30, 2011

New BBQ joint in Austin: Double Trouble BBQ

Pulled out of the back of my neighborhood last night and saw that a BBQ trailer has set up shop: Double Trouble BBQ at 5300 South Congress (Head down S. Congress, go past Hill's Cafe, & you'll see it on the right.). It's a boat, people. A boat. Dry docked on South Congress M-F and floating on Lake Austin during the weekend. Run by Kline & Jamie, they have 2 smokers (one pellet fed & one with 100% natural lump charcoal). They smoke with oak & apple wood. They've got a nice covered seating area, and they cater. Catch them during the week from 11:30-2:30 and 4:30-8:30. Head up there today after 4:30 for free beer to wash down the brisket, chopped beef, pulled pork, pulled chicken, & jalapeno sausage. They've been serving on the water for about a month and at the South Congress location for just a week. Check them out on Facebook & Twitter. Welcome to Austin, Double Trouble!





Thursday, September 29, 2011

Todd tackles Podnah's Pit (Portland, OR)

Another report from contributor Todd Plunk:

During a recent trip to Portland I went on a search for authentic Texas BBQ and boy did I find it! Helped along the way by a long-time friend of the blog, Aaron Franklin (@FranklinBBQ), I found myself in NE Portland at Podnah's Pit Barbecue, that's pronounced 'pardner' for you Texas folk. With the sign a bit hidden from the road, this was indeed a rare find.

By arriving around 3pm, I missed the lunch rush; it also meant however, I missed Rodney, the owner. I had actually met Rodney back in April at the Texas Wine and Food Festival 'Live Fire' event, but that's another story for another day. I stepped up to the counter, met Felicia and we were underway. Felicia was great, walked me through the menu and even bragged about the beans!

When it came time to order, I went the a-la-carte route ordering 5 different meats, a humble lunch by any means, brisket, pulled pork, pork ribs, chicken, and sausage. Each meat was great, full of flavor and perfectly complimented by home-made sauces. I personally think the pulled pork and brisket stood at the front of the class. When I travel, I use brisket as my barometer for BBQ joints, and I'm happy to say that Podnah's brisket could easily compete with the best Texas joints. I rounded out the meal with some beans, cornbread and yes...sweet tea!

If you are ever in the Portland area, let me recommend Podnah's for great Texas BBQ. I snapped a few photos along the way, hope you enjoy!

Podnah's Pit BBQ on Urbanspoon








Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Todd tries Bird Dog BBQ (Colorado Springs, CO)

From contributor Todd Plunk:

Texas BBQ in Colorado? Bird Dog BBQ sure comes close, despite the fact that they are from that state just north of the Red River. After a hard day's work in the Mount Princeton Hot Springs (excellent by the way), I needed something good to eat, so naturally I end up at a BBQ joint. I decided to drive past Rudy's Country Store. No offense, it's just that I can get you in Texas. And through a local recommendation, I found my way to Bird Dog BBQ in Colorado Springs.

The menu offers up brisket, pork spare ribs, turkey, sausage and chicken, along with some sides and dessert. I ordered the Smokehouse sandwich, a sliced brisket sandwich with sausage on top, what a novel idea. The meat was very juicy and packed with flavor. I added a drizzle of their BBQ sauce, which added some extra flavor, but the meat could certainly stand on its own.

I'm not sure if this place is ready to compete with the best of the best in Texas, but for a bunch of Oklahoma boys, it's pretty darn good BBQ and a great option for our readers in CO and those passing through. I snapped a few photos along the way. Hope you enjoy!

Bird Dog BBQ on Urbanspoon




Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Yesterday's lunch at Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q (Jasper, AL)

Double Decker (pulled pork & brisket) sandwich & collard greens, with cheddar biscuits at Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q (Jasper, AL)






Sunday, September 25, 2011

Friday's lunch at Full Moon Bar-B-Que (Fultondale, AL)

Within 45 minutes of wheels touching down in Birmingham on Friday morning, I had this plate in front of me at Full Moon Bar-B-Que (Fultondale, AL): outside-chopped pork, collard greens, slaw, chow chow, & cornbread.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

QOTD: What's the best college town for BBQ?

With college football well underway, I'm curious what college town you pick for BBQ. Austin? Memphis? Kansas City? New York City? Oklahoma City? Dallas? Atlanta? Tuscaloosa? Birmingham? Nashville? Norman? Houston? Raleigh?

Whether you pick based on the # of BBQ joints in the town or on the quality of even 1 joint in the town, what's your pick for best college town for BBQ?

Friday, September 23, 2011

Event Announcement: Red River BBQ Shootout (Oct 6-7, Dallas)

From D Magazine:

Here’s another great reason to head downtown during Texas/OU weekend: the folks at DRG (Dallas Chop House, Wild Salsa, Dallas Fish Market) and Downtown Dallas Inc. have teamed up to create the Texas/OU Red River Barbecue Shootout. What is the Red River Barbecue Shootout, you ask? It’s a competition between four pitmasters from Oklahoma and four from Texas on one night followed by a rocking party the next. The dudes doing the cooking are:

TEXAS: Black's (Lockhart), Baker's Ribs (Dallas), Big Daddy's (Lavon), & Cousin's (Fort Worth)

OKLAHOMA: Elmer's (Tulsa), Leo's (Oklahoma City), Van's Pig Stand (Shawnee), & Smokin’ Joe’s Rib Ranch and RV Park (Davis)


The competition will take place on October 6. Pitmasters will be cooking their signature St. Louis pork ribs and sauces all day in Downtown’s Main Street Garden (St. Paul and Main Street) for a 7 p.m. special private judging by a panel of food experts, sports industry members, and community leaders. From this “blind” judging (where judges will not know who cooked what recipe and judge only on food) , two winners, one from Oklahoma and one from Texas will be selected. (The panel of judges will be announced in advance of October 6.)

Then, the two winning pitmasters will cook their winning recipes up all day on Friday, October 7, to be sold at The Texas/OU Red River Barbecue Shootout Celebration in Main Street Garden from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Ultimate Champion Winning Pitmaster will be determined by a People’s Choice vote among the 2,000-plus attendees expected at the event. This will also be a “blind” contest, during which attendees will be invited to purchase a Shootout Rib Plate with “Ribs A and B” identified only and for which they will place a vote. A $1,000 prize, and additional gifts and prizes will be presented to the Champion Pitmaster at 8:30 p.m.

Then on Friday, October 7, Main Street in downtown will be the spot to be for music, food and fun. As a part of the celebration, DRG Concepts and Downtown Dallas inc. are bringing in music from Dallas’ Eleven Hundred Springs, Norman’s Damn Quails, and Austin’s Backporch Mary. The bands will perform all evening on October 7, starting at 5:30 p.m. The concerts are free and open to the public. Everyone is invited to bring their lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the music on the lawn at Main Street Garden.

Food, including the Red River Shootout People’s Choice Rib Plate, as well as beer, wine and margaritas, will be available for purchase at the October 7 event.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Salad & guacamole at a BBQ restaurant?

I had just come from dinner but decided to stop into Q on the Riverwalk at the Hyatt Regency in San Antonio for a bite or two of something. It's an international BBQ restaurant, but I decided to go with the guacamole (made at the table) and a cobb salad with rotisserie chicken.