Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Meat Church vies for BBQ Pitmasters

Yesterday, my good buddy Matt Pittman sent me his audition tape for Season 5 of BBQ Pitmasters. Matt's a Texan (Waxahachie), knows how to smoke meat, has a great personality, and is just an all-around good dude, so I hope the show selects him. I'm not a competition guy, but I'm a Matt Pittman guy (not least b/c he, too, is an Alabama Crimson Tide fan), so I want to share it with y'all. Check out Matt's @MeatChurch on Twitter!

Monday, December 30, 2013

Final la Barbecue Gameday Giveaway of the season!

This season's final la Barbecue Gameday Giveaway is today's Alamo Bowl in San Antonio: Texas vs. Oregon (5:45 PM Central)Closest prediction gets a free BBQ sandwich & side item from la Barbecue. 

To be eligible to win, I need the following predictions: (1) winner, (2) final score, & (2) total combined yards [in case we need a tiebreaker]. You can submit your prediction as a comment below this post, as a Facebook comment, via Twitter, or via email. Your prediction must be received by kickoff (2:30 PM Central). Good luck!

HUGE THANKS to la Barbecue, for their generosity all season. Without the generosity of BBQ joints like la Barbecue, we wouldn't have the privilege of giving away food & other prizes to our readers. Thank you, la Barbecue! 

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Double-Duty Joints: BBQ & Steaks

I received an email yesterday asking about destinations in Texas for great steaks. It got me thinking about how some Texas BBQ joints double as steakhouses. For example, in Salado, you'll find Johnny's Steaks & Bar-Be-Que. In Killeen, Texas BBQ & Steakhouse. In San Benito, Longhorn Cattle Company Barbeque & Steak Restaurant. Or how about Gabby's in Houston or J. Cody's Steaks & BBQ in Bryan/College Station? You get the point.

Today, I'm interested to hear your favorite BBQ/steak joint, and I'd also like to create a list of all the joints in Texas that pull double duty. So, if you know of a place, send me the name and town, and I'll add it to the list!

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Best BBQ in Garland?

Lubbock is the 11th-biggest city in Texas, but I asked about the best BBQ there back in October. So, continuing down our list, #12 is Garland, a city of almost a quarter million. Which of Garland's BBQ joints is the best?

Friday, December 27, 2013

Texas BBQ Wannabe: 89

89. Jim's Pit Bar-B-Q (Reddick, Florida) - "Texas Style Brisket"

Hat tip to @TxLnghrnJen & @compubryan for posting about this joint last night on Twitter. Exterior picture courtesy of @compubryan. Brisket picture courtesy of @TxLnghrnJen.



Updated list:

1. Texas Smokehouse (Decatur, AL)
2. Hill Country Barbecue (Manhattan)
3. Dallas BBQ (Manhattan)
4. Tim's Texas Bar-B-Q (Beijing)
5. Capital Q (Washington, DC) - RIP
6. Little Texas (Iasi, Romania)
7. Back Forty Texas BBQ (CA)
8. West Texas Barbeque Co. (Jackson, MI)
9. Dr. Hogly Wogly’s Tyler Texas BBQ (Van Nuys, CA)
10. Barn Burner Texas Barbeque (Pasadena, CA)
11. JR’s Texas Bar-B-Que (Sacramento, CA)
12. Texas West BBQ (3 CA locations)
13. Tootie’s Texas Barbeque (Cathedral City, CA)
14. Armadillo Willy’s Real Texas BBQ (Los Altos, CA)
15. The Original Texas Barbecue King (Los Angeles)
16. Longhorn Barbecue (3 WA locations)
17. Bubb's Big Texas Style BBQ (Big Bend, WI)
18. The Texas BBQ Company (Northborough, MA)
19. DJ's Texas Style BBQ (Lewiston, ME)
20. Serious Texas BBQ (3 CO locations)
21. Abbey's Real Texas Bar-B-Q (San Diego, California)
22. Jake's Authentic Texan Bar B-Q (Rensselaer, NY)
23. Buster's Texas Style Barbecue (3 OR locations)
24. Howard's Texas Barbecue Service (Portland, OR)
25. Bennett's BBQ (CO, TN, & NC)
26. Kin Folks Texas Style BBQ (Altoona, IA)
27. Cecil's Texas Style Bar-B-Q (2 FL locations)
28. Shaw's Texas Style BBQ (Hercules, CA)
29. Backwoods BBQ (Corona, CA)
30. Cedar River Smoke House (Renton, WA)
31. Big Al's Texas BBQ (Lehi, UT)
32. East Texas BBQ, LLC (Huntsville, AL)
33. Bonehead's Texas BBQ (San Francisco, CA)
34. Texas Pride Barbecue (Huntsville, UT)
35. Bart's Texas Style BBQ (Traverse City, MI)
36. Roland's Bar-B-Que Company (Hot Springs, AR)
37. Ralphies Texas Style BBQ & Ribs (Fairmont, WV)
38. Taste of Texas Bar-B-Q (Spencerport, NY)
39. Danny's Little Taste of Texas (South Windsor, CT)
40. Taste of Texas BBQ (McCook, NE)
41. Lockhart's BBQ (Royal Oak, MI)
42. Big John's Texas BBQ (Flagstaff, AZ)
43. Big Star Texas Barbeque (Flagstaff, AZ)
44. Big Mouth BBQ (Great Falls, MT)
45. Bull Durham’s Texas BBQ and Steakhouse (West Chester, PA)
46. Texas Ribs and BBQ (Clinton, MD)
47. The Silver Spur Texas Smokehouse BBQ (Elm Grove, WI)
48. Elmer's Authentic Texas BBQ (Battle Lake, MN)
49. Doc's Texas BBQ & Burgers (Sonora, CA)
50. Dixie's Smokehouse Texas BBQ & Rotisserie (Kings Park, NY)
51. Bob's BBQ & Mexican Grill (Pattaya, Thailand)
52. Bob's Texas BBQ (Boise, ID)
53. Hickory River Smokehouse (6 locations in OH & IL)
54. Texas Tony's BBQ Shack (Naples, FL)
55. Roosters Texas Style BBQ & Steakhouse (Nashville, TN)
56. Lee's Texas Style Bar-B-Q (Detroit, MI)
57. Texas Smokehouse Bar-B-Q (Woodinville, WA) - RIP
58. Austin BBQ (Wheaton, IL)
59. Alamo BBQ (Richmond, VA)
60. Austin's BBQ (Mountain View, CA)
61. 4C BBQ (Ponce De Leon, FL)
62. Rotuno's Texas Style Barbeque (Elyria, OH)
63. Smoke City Market (Sherman Oaks, CA)
64. The Ranger Texas Barbecue (Manhattan)
65. 4Rivers Smokehouse (2 FL locations)
66. Podnah's Pit Barbecue (Portland, OR)
67. Taste of Texas BBQ (Keystone, NE)
68. Bubba's Barbecue (Jakarta, Indonesia)
69. Molly's Smokehouse Texas BBQ (Wahiawa, HI)
70. Smokin' J's BBQ - Real Texas Barbeque (Gulfport, FL)
71. Texas BBQ & Steaks (Nha Trang, Vietnam)
72. Texas BBQ (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
73. Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer (Las Vegas, NV) - RIP
74. Red River BBQ (Melbourne, Australia)
75. Triple A Bar (Toronto, Canada)
76. Texas Bar-B-Q (Puebla, Mexico)
77. Bubba's Texas BBQ (Philadelphia)
78. Tex's World Famous Bar-B-Q (Nashville, TN)
79. Gilley's BBQ (Las Vegas)
80. Texas Pit BBQ (St. Thomas, VI)
81. Texas Best BBQ (Valley Village, CA)
82. Selma's Texas Barbeque (Moon Township, PA)
83. Texas BBQ House (Phoenix)
84: Bludso's BBQ (Compton, CA)
85. Wayne's BBQ Shack (Superior, CO)
86. Little Miss BBQ (Phoenix, AZ)
87. Wise Barbecue Company (Los Angeles)
88. Hickory River Smokehouse (multiple locations in OH & IL)
89. Jim's Pit Bar-B-Q (Reddick, FL)

Thursday, December 26, 2013

What's the best BBQ truck/trailer in Houston?

Austin is dotted with BBQ food trucks/trailers; and, to be honest, when I think of BBQ trucks, I think of Austin. But I live in Austin, so that's not too surprising. But Houston Metro has its share of BBQ trucks/trailers, as well. Of all the non-B&M BBQ joints in The greater Houston area, which one is the best?

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

What's the best BBQ in Laredo?

I doubt many, if any, think of BBQ when they think of Laredo, Texas. I had good food on my first and only visit to Laredo but wasn't seeking BBQ on the trip. But they have some. Of the BBQ joints in Texas' 10th-most-populous town, which is the best?

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Texas BBQ Wannabe: 88

88. Hickory River Smokehouse (multiple locations in Ohio & Illinois) - "Real Texas-style barbecue. There's nothing better. And no better place to get it than Hickory River Smokehouse. Every cut of beef brisket, pork shoulder, turkey breast, pork loin and on-the-bone chicken are carefully selected and hand-rubbed with our signature spice blend. Then, we infuse them with real hickory smoke for our juicy, award-winning Texas flavor. It's all served-up with our own special-recipe sauce and our famous sides. FOR A TASTE AS BIG AS TEXAS."


Updated list:

1. Texas Smokehouse (Decatur, AL)
2. Hill Country Barbecue (Manhattan)
3. Dallas BBQ (Manhattan)
4. Tim's Texas Bar-B-Q (Beijing)
5. Capital Q (Washington, DC) - RIP
6. Little Texas (Iasi, Romania)
7. Back Forty Texas BBQ (CA)
8. West Texas Barbeque Co. (Jackson, MI)
9. Dr. Hogly Wogly’s Tyler Texas BBQ (Van Nuys, CA)
10. Barn Burner Texas Barbeque (Pasadena, CA)
11. JR’s Texas Bar-B-Que (Sacramento, CA)
12. Texas West BBQ (3 CA locations)
13. Tootie’s Texas Barbeque (Cathedral City, CA)
14. Armadillo Willy’s Real Texas BBQ (Los Altos, CA)
15. The Original Texas Barbecue King (Los Angeles)
16. Longhorn Barbecue (3 WA locations)
17. Bubb's Big Texas Style BBQ (Big Bend, WI)
18. The Texas BBQ Company (Northborough, MA)
19. DJ's Texas Style BBQ (Lewiston, ME)
20. Serious Texas BBQ (3 CO locations)
21. Abbey's Real Texas Bar-B-Q (San Diego, California)
22. Jake's Authentic Texan Bar B-Q (Rensselaer, NY)
23. Buster's Texas Style Barbecue (3 OR locations)
24. Howard's Texas Barbecue Service (Portland, OR)
25. Bennett's BBQ (CO, TN, & NC)
26. Kin Folks Texas Style BBQ (Altoona, IA)
27. Cecil's Texas Style Bar-B-Q (2 FL locations)
28. Shaw's Texas Style BBQ (Hercules, CA)
29. Backwoods BBQ (Corona, CA)
30. Cedar River Smoke House (Renton, WA)
31. Big Al's Texas BBQ (Lehi, UT)
32. East Texas BBQ, LLC (Huntsville, AL)
33. Bonehead's Texas BBQ (San Francisco, CA)
34. Texas Pride Barbecue (Huntsville, UT)
35. Bart's Texas Style BBQ (Traverse City, MI)
36. Roland's Bar-B-Que Company (Hot Springs, AR)
37. Ralphies Texas Style BBQ & Ribs (Fairmont, WV)
38. Taste of Texas Bar-B-Q (Spencerport, NY)
39. Danny's Little Taste of Texas (South Windsor, CT)
40. Taste of Texas BBQ (McCook, NE)
41. Lockhart's BBQ (Royal Oak, MI)
42. Big John's Texas BBQ (Flagstaff, AZ)
43. Big Star Texas Barbeque (Flagstaff, AZ)
44. Big Mouth BBQ (Great Falls, MT)
45. Bull Durham’s Texas BBQ and Steakhouse (West Chester, PA)
46. Texas Ribs and BBQ (Clinton, MD)
47. The Silver Spur Texas Smokehouse BBQ (Elm Grove, WI)
48. Elmer's Authentic Texas BBQ (Battle Lake, MN)
49. Doc's Texas BBQ & Burgers (Sonora, CA)
50. Dixie's Smokehouse Texas BBQ & Rotisserie (Kings Park, NY)
51. Bob's BBQ & Mexican Grill (Pattaya, Thailand)
52. Bob's Texas BBQ (Boise, ID)
53. Hickory River Smokehouse (6 locations in OH & IL)
54. Texas Tony's BBQ Shack (Naples, FL)
55. Roosters Texas Style BBQ & Steakhouse (Nashville, TN)
56. Lee's Texas Style Bar-B-Q (Detroit, MI)
57. Texas Smokehouse Bar-B-Q (Woodinville, WA) - RIP
58. Austin BBQ (Wheaton, IL)
59. Alamo BBQ (Richmond, VA)
60. Austin's BBQ (Mountain View, CA)
61. 4C BBQ (Ponce De Leon, FL)
62. Rotuno's Texas Style Barbeque (Elyria, OH)
63. Smoke City Market (Sherman Oaks, CA)
64. The Ranger Texas Barbecue (Manhattan)
65. 4Rivers Smokehouse (2 FL locations)
66. Podnah's Pit Barbecue (Portland, OR)
67. Taste of Texas BBQ (Keystone, NE)
68. Bubba's Barbecue (Jakarta, Indonesia)
69. Molly's Smokehouse Texas BBQ (Wahiawa, HI)
70. Smokin' J's BBQ - Real Texas Barbeque (Gulfport, FL)
71. Texas BBQ & Steaks (Nha Trang, Vietnam)
72. Texas BBQ (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
73. Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer (Las Vegas, NV) - RIP
74. Red River BBQ (Melbourne, Australia)
75. Triple A Bar (Toronto, Canada)
76. Texas Bar-B-Q (Puebla, Mexico)
77. Bubba's Texas BBQ (Philadelphia)
78. Tex's World Famous Bar-B-Q (Nashville, TN)
79. Gilley's BBQ (Las Vegas)
80. Texas Pit BBQ (St. Thomas, VI)
81. Texas Best BBQ (Valley Village, CA)
82. Selma's Texas Barbeque (Moon Township, PA)
83. Texas BBQ House (Phoenix)
84: Bludso's BBQ (Compton, CA)
85. Wayne's BBQ Shack (Superior, CO)
86. Little Miss BBQ (Phoenix, AZ)
87. Wise Barbecue Company (Los Angeles)
88. Hickory River Smokehouse (multiple locations in OH & IL)

Monday, December 23, 2013

Texas BBQ Wannabe: 87

87. Wise Barbecue Company - "Authentic Texas Cowboy Barbecue in Los Angeles CA!" (Their website seems to be having issues, so here are their Twitter and Facebook pages.)


Updated list:

1. Texas Smokehouse (Decatur, AL)
2. Hill Country Barbecue (Manhattan)
3. Dallas BBQ (Manhattan)
4. Tim's Texas Bar-B-Q (Beijing)
5. Capital Q (Washington, DC) - RIP
6. Little Texas (Iasi, Romania)
7. Back Forty Texas BBQ (CA)
8. West Texas Barbeque Co. (Jackson, MI)
9. Dr. Hogly Wogly’s Tyler Texas BBQ (Van Nuys, CA)
10. Barn Burner Texas Barbeque (Pasadena, CA)
11. JR’s Texas Bar-B-Que (Sacramento, CA)
12. Texas West BBQ (3 CA locations)
13. Tootie’s Texas Barbeque (Cathedral City, CA)
14. Armadillo Willy’s Real Texas BBQ (Los Altos, CA)
15. The Original Texas Barbecue King (Los Angeles)
16. Longhorn Barbecue (3 WA locations)
17. Bubb's Big Texas Style BBQ (Big Bend, WI)
18. The Texas BBQ Company (Northborough, MA)
19. DJ's Texas Style BBQ (Lewiston, ME)
20. Serious Texas BBQ (3 CO locations)
21. Abbey's Real Texas Bar-B-Q (San Diego, California)
22. Jake's Authentic Texan Bar B-Q (Rensselaer, NY)
23. Buster's Texas Style Barbecue (3 OR locations)
24. Howard's Texas Barbecue Service (Portland, OR)
25. Bennett's BBQ (CO, TN, & NC)
26. Kin Folks Texas Style BBQ (Altoona, IA)
27. Cecil's Texas Style Bar-B-Q (2 FL locations)
28. Shaw's Texas Style BBQ (Hercules, CA)
29. Backwoods BBQ (Corona, CA)
30. Cedar River Smoke House (Renton, WA)
31. Big Al's Texas BBQ (Lehi, UT)
32. East Texas BBQ, LLC (Huntsville, AL)
33. Bonehead's Texas BBQ (San Francisco, CA)
34. Texas Pride Barbecue (Huntsville, UT)
35. Bart's Texas Style BBQ (Traverse City, MI)
36. Roland's Bar-B-Que Company (Hot Springs, AR)
37. Ralphies Texas Style BBQ & Ribs (Fairmont, WV)
38. Taste of Texas Bar-B-Q (Spencerport, NY)
39. Danny's Little Taste of Texas (South Windsor, CT)
40. Taste of Texas BBQ (McCook, NE)
41. Lockhart's BBQ (Royal Oak, MI)
42. Big John's Texas BBQ (Flagstaff, AZ)
43. Big Star Texas Barbeque (Flagstaff, AZ)
44. Big Mouth BBQ (Great Falls, MT)
45. Bull Durham’s Texas BBQ and Steakhouse (West Chester, PA)
46. Texas Ribs and BBQ (Clinton, MD)
47. The Silver Spur Texas Smokehouse BBQ (Elm Grove, WI)
48. Elmer's Authentic Texas BBQ (Battle Lake, MN)
49. Doc's Texas BBQ & Burgers (Sonora, CA)
50. Dixie's Smokehouse Texas BBQ & Rotisserie (Kings Park, NY)
51. Bob's BBQ & Mexican Grill (Pattaya, Thailand)
52. Bob's Texas BBQ (Boise, ID)
53. Hickory River Smokehouse (6 locations in OH & IL)
54. Texas Tony's BBQ Shack (Naples, FL)
55. Roosters Texas Style BBQ & Steakhouse (Nashville, TN)
56. Lee's Texas Style Bar-B-Q (Detroit, MI)
57. Texas Smokehouse Bar-B-Q (Woodinville, WA) - RIP
58. Austin BBQ (Wheaton, IL)
59. Alamo BBQ (Richmond, VA)
60. Austin's BBQ (Mountain View, CA)
61. 4C BBQ (Ponce De Leon, FL)
62. Rotuno's Texas Style Barbeque (Elyria, OH)
63. Smoke City Market (Sherman Oaks, CA)
64. The Ranger Texas Barbecue (Manhattan)
65. 4Rivers Smokehouse (2 FL locations)
66. Podnah's Pit Barbecue (Portland, OR)
67. Taste of Texas BBQ (Keystone, NE)
68. Bubba's Barbecue (Jakarta, Indonesia)
69. Molly's Smokehouse Texas BBQ (Wahiawa, HI)
70. Smokin' J's BBQ - Real Texas Barbeque (Gulfport, FL)
71. Texas BBQ & Steaks (Nha Trang, Vietnam)
72. Texas BBQ (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
73. Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer (Las Vegas, NV) - RIP
74. Red River BBQ (Melbourne, Australia)
75. Triple A Bar (Toronto, Canada)
76. Texas Bar-B-Q (Puebla, Mexico)
77. Bubba's Texas BBQ (Philadelphia)
78. Tex's World Famous Bar-B-Q (Nashville, TN)
79. Gilley's BBQ (Las Vegas)
80. Texas Pit BBQ (St. Thomas, VI)
81. Texas Best BBQ (Valley Village, CA)
82. Selma's Texas Barbeque (Moon Township, PA)
83. Texas BBQ House (Phoenix)
84: Bludso's BBQ (Compton, CA)
85. Wayne's BBQ Shack (Superior, CO)
86. Little Miss BBQ (Phoenix, AZ)
87. Wise Barbecue Company (Los Angeles)

Sunday, December 22, 2013

What's more Texan: BBQ or chili?

Back in April, when I didn't know otherwise, I asked readers whether BBQ is the official food of Texas. I found out later that day via Twitter that Texas, indeed, has an official dish: chili. The past couple of weeks, a nice little debate has popped up about whether brisket should replace chili as Texas' official dish. Well, ribs aren't brisket, but last night, I had chili and pork ribs for dinner (And, yes, I know: Texas chili shouldn't have beans. I'm not from Texas!). Seems appropriate, then, to renew the discussion: What's more Texan: BBQ or chili?


Saturday, December 21, 2013

Which Texas BBQ joint has the best merchandise?

Since it's holiday time, I'm curious what your thoughts are on BBQ-joint merchandise. Specifically, which Texas BBQ joint has the best swag? If you were going to give t-shirts and what not as gifts, from which Texas BBQ joint would you purchase? 

Friday, December 20, 2013

Best BBQ in Plano?

Continuing down the list of the largest Texas cities (by population), #9 on the list is Plano. Speaking of which, lots of people I know from Plano say they're from Dallas. I'd buy that if Plano weren't the 9th-biggest city in the state. You're from Plano. Own it! Anyway, which Plano BBQ joint is the best?

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Good times with brisket at this year's Texas Monthly BBQ Festival

I was out of town the day of this year's Texas Monthly BBQ Festival, but Man Uppers Brad and Todd attended. Here are some pics of them kicking it with Aaron Franklin (Franklin Barbecue), Daniel Vaughn (Texas Monthly), & brisket (unidentified cow). More pics from the festival to come.





Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Best BBQ in Corpus Christi?

Continuing down the list of the largest Texas cities (by population), #8 on the list is Corpus Christi, a town of more than 310K people. Of all the BBQ spots in the "Sparkling City by the Sea," which one is the best?

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Cowboy Joe's BBQ sauces added to January 25 tour!

On January 25, we're heading to Lexington, Taylor, & Georgetown for our 1st public Texas Q Tours trip of 2014. The van sold out, so we are going to open up 1 more. The trip is all-inclusive, and now we are adding even more value: Each person on the trip will take home 2 bottles (1 original, 1 spicy) of Cowboy Joe's Pit & Grilling Sauce!

Both of these BBQ sauces placed in the People's Choice Contest Top 10 at this year's Gettin' Sauced! At the 2012 Gettin' Sauced!, Cowboy Joe's won the Vinegar (Mild) category of the Bottled Contest AND won the Overall Category of the Bottled Contest! Cowboy Joe's is based right here in Austin, & they will be on the trip, so you will have the opportunity to meet them & chat. Join us on the trip!

Speaking of Cowboy Joe's, they are the first vendor in the 2014 lineup of All-Star Sauces! They'll be shipping 2 bottles of sauce (original, spicy) to each All-Star Sauces customer. The deadline to receive the January shipment has passed, but you can still nab Cowboy Joe's February shipment by ordering by January 15!


Monday, December 16, 2013

Texas BBQ Giveaway: Riscky's Barbeque's "Easy Meal Deal"

As I tweeted yesterday, we love the privilege of giving away Texas BBQ to our followers/readers. I'm so thankful for the generosity of the BBQ joints that donate items for us to give away. This past weekend alone, we held giveaways from Opie's (Spicewood), Pizzitola's (Houston), & Lockhart Smokehouse (Dallas); and we're so appreciative of each of these joints. Today, I announce a new giveaway. We've never held a giveaway for this BBQ joint, so we are very excited to do so now:

Riscky's Barbeque, a Fort Worth Stockyards joint that has been serving customers for 86 years, has donated to us their "Easy Meal Deal." Priced at $59.99, the "Easy Meal Deal" includes a half ham or turkey, cornbread stuffing, rolls, turkey gravy, BBQ sauce, & choice of 2 sides (potato salad, cole slaw, creamed spinach, sweet-potato casserole). A hearty way to ring in the holidays! To learn more about Riscky's, check them out online, on Facebook, & on Twitter

On Saturday, we'll hold a drawing for winner. So, you have through Friday to enter. There are 4 ways to enter. You are allowed to enter more than 1 way, so if you enter, say, all 4 ways, you get your name in the hat four times! Here are the 4 ways to enter:


Email us

Tweet us
Leave a Facebook comment
Leave a comment (with contact info.) to this blog post




Sunday, December 15, 2013

Year 2 of All-Star Sauces!!!


The new year is almost here, and we have an entirely new lineup of BBQ sauces for our 2nd year of All-Star Sauces! Just as it was this year, next year's program will consist of 6 BBQ-sauce vendors, each of which will ship 2 sauces per program customer. If you don't order in time to receive the first order, you're not out of luck, b/c each vendor will ship 2 separate shipments. For example, TODAY is the deadline to order the January 2014 shipment. If you don't order by today but still want the sauces from the January vendor, you can order by January 15 and receive that same vendor's February shipment. March/April is the 2nd vendor. May/June is the 3rd vendor. July/August is the 4th vendor. September/October is the 5th vendor. November/December is the 6th & final vendor.

There are 3 order options: single shipment (1 shipment: 2 bottles), half year (3 shipments: 6 bottles), or full year (6 shipments: 12 bottles). If you want any single shipment, just order by the 15th day of the month before the particular shipment. For example, if you want sauces from the May/June vendor, then either order by April 15 or May 15. If you order the half year or the full year, then your shipments will come every other month. For example, if you order the half-year membership by today, you will receive the January, March, & May shipments. If you miss today's deadline and still want the January/February vendor's sauces, then your half-year membership will ship sauces to you in February, April, & June. Got it? If not, check out our FAQs.

The 2014 vendors are...

Jan/Feb - Cowboy Joe's (Austin, TX)
Mar/Apr - GrillMaster Chuck (Holly Springs, NC)
May/Jun - Pemberley Foods (Hinsdale, NH)
Jul/Aug - Stellar Gourmet (Austin, TX)
Sep/Oct - Uncle Bob's (Montgomery, TX)
Nov/Dec - TWG (Santa Rosa, CA)

So, hop on, & let us send award-winning BBQ sauces to your door. ORDER TODAY for yourself and/or friends/family!


Saturday, December 14, 2013

The pit at Cranky Frank's (Fredericksburg, TX)

More of Brad's pictures from our last Texas Q Tours visit to Cranky Frank's (Fredericksburg, TX): One of our favorites, Colby, checking out the smokers!









Friday, December 13, 2013

Serious Eats: "Four Hours for Barbecue: the Psychology of Waiting in Line for Food"

Yesterday, a food-writer friend of mine in New York City sent me an article on Franklin Barbecue, written by Naomi Bishop, a food-writer friend of hers in Seattle. The article, Four Hours for Barbecue: the Psychology of Waiting in Line for Food, recounts her first visit to Austin's Franklin Barbecue and the wait that ensued before taking her first bite. Great detail & pics. Enjoy. (picture below mine)


Thursday, December 12, 2013

Texas BBQ Giveaway: Opie's Barbecue (Spicewood, TX)

It's holiday season, a time to give! Thanks to the wonderful folks at Opie's Barbecue, we have another Texas BBQ Giveaway for you. One lucky winner will snag (1) a $50 Opie's Barbecue gift certificate & (2) an Opie's Barbecue t-shirt! (Speaking of $50 & t-shirt, did you know that if you spend $50 at Opie's & present The Q Card, you get to pick one of their awesome t-shirts and take it home for free? Well, you do.)

On Monday, we'll hold a drawing for winner. So, you have through Sunday to enter. There are 4 ways to enter. You are allowed to enter more than 1 way, so if you enter, say, all 4 ways, you get your name in the hat four times! Here are the 4 ways to enter:

Email us
Tweet us
Leave a Facebook comment
Leave a comment (with contact info.) to this blog post

But wait. There's more! If you email me an entry and include in your email the Opie's (unofficial, meaning as determined by me!) slogan, I'll throw in an extra entry. So, enter all 4 ways AND include the (unofficial) slogan in your email to me, and you have 5 entries! If you don't already know the 5-word (unofficial) slogan, you can find it on the homepage of the Opie's website.

All entries due by Sunday. The drawing will take place Monday. In the meantime, connect with Opie's via Facebook & Twitter!

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

More pics from Cranky Frank's (Fredericksburg, TX)

Back in July, we took a Texas Q Tours group to Cranky Frank's in Fredericksburg. I posted my pics form the visit, but I snagged Brad's memory card, so now I can post his pics.