Via GAYOT.com: "Top 10 Barbecue Restaurants in the U.S."

Last week, Huffington Post posted GAYOT.com's list of the top 10 BBQ joints in the country. It's quite an interesting list. California snagged 2 spots. Only 1 Texas joint made the list: City Market in Luling. My home state of Alabama landed a spot in Full Moon, a favorite of mine. Check out the full list, & share your thoughts. As a teaser, here are the locations of the 10 spots:

Luling, TX
New York City
Kansas City, MO
Hoover, AL
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta, GA (Apparently, this is an article misprint. Supposed to be listed as Cincinnati, OH)
Chicago, IL
Rockville, MD
San Francisco, CA
Montrose, CA

National love for Texas BBQ

"On the reg," as my students would say, Texas BBQ is featured in national food publications.  Some recent mentions worth, well, mentioning:

1. In their annual BBQ issue, which came out a couple of weeks ago, Taste of the South magazine listed its 16 best Southern BBQ joints. Three Texas spots made the list: City Market (Luling), Franklin (Austin), & Louie Mueller (Taylor).
2. In their February issue, Spirit, the in-flight magazine of Southwest Airlines, had a feature entitled, "Your Adventure in Austin." The piece highlighted places to go and things to do when visiting Austin. Three restaurants were mentioned, one of them BBQ: Franklin.
3. On May 1, Bon Appetit published Matt Duckor's piece recapping his 9-BBQ-joint trip to Central Texas. While in town, he tried (listed in order listed in his piece): Franklin, Black's (Lockhart), City Market, Louie Mueller, Luling BBQ (Luling), Smitty's (Luling), Lamberts (Austin), Taylor Cafe (Taylor).

Is City Market in Luling among the best in the world?

I didn't know about it until this weekend, when the Austin American-Statesman's John Kelso wrote about it, but City Market was named back in August by Newsweek magazine as one of the World's 101 Best Places to Eat. The list was apparently compiled by 53 chefs. The City Market contribution came from Ford Fry, of JCT Kitchen in Atlanta. He writes of City Market, "The best Texas barbecue—a little less than an hour south of Austin. Everyone says brisket is king in Texas, and yes, it is, but in the Hill Country, beef sausage is king!" To Joe and all at City Market, congrats! City Market, as much as anywhere else, CM is somewhere you know will be good the moment you first smell what is coming from the pit. Real smoking. Butcher paper. Grease. Great. It's always good to see Texas joints getting national exposure. Speaking of which, how do you feel about City Market's inclusion on the list? Warranted? Would it make your list of the 101 best places to eat in the world? Would another Texas BBQ joint?

A day of BBQ with The Daytripper

This past Saturday, my good buddy Chet "The Daytripper" Garner led a group of hungry folks to Luling & Lockhart for some BBQ. I couldn't attend the "Meat Up," as I was in Kansas City, but I have no doubt it was a great time. BBQ in Central Texas on a Saturday afternoon with The Daytripper? Come on. One of the attendees posted some pics on his site, Austin Pixels. Check it out. (Follow Austin Pixels on Twitter.)

The rest from City Market (Luling, TX)

Around the table at City Market (Luling, TX)

Latest trip to City Market (Luling, TX)

Luling & Lockhart videos

Here are 3 of the 8 short videos I made when I got to tag along to Luling and Lockhart with some BBQ heavyweights. In order from top to bottom: the holding pits at Kreuz Market (Lockhart), the ordering area at Smitty's Market (Lockhart), & sitting down at City Market (Luling). See all videos on Man Up Texas BBQ's YouTube channel. Loads of pictures to come.

"A Rib Too Far"

Over at Soviet Steeds, Kevo recounts his BBQ/bike tour through Gonzales (Gonzales Food Market), Luling (City Market), and Lockhart (Smitty's, Black's, & Kreuz). Enjoy!

Two stops in Luling

The day before Gettin’ Sauced!, while Todd was making a sauce pickup at Snow’s (Lexington) and Kelly & I were picking up sauce at Cooper’s (New Braunfels), Russell, Jason, and Co. headed South to Luling for sauce pickups and lunch at 2 joints: Luling Bar-B-Q and City Market. Though the former’s sauce fared better the next day, it’s safe to say the crew enjoyed the latter’s food much more. Here’s what they had to say:

Russell: “Man, I give overall scores as follows: Luling City Market -- tremendous ribs, sausage & sauce, supplemented on this day by nice brisket & service (they gave us LOTs of extra sauce!). Pork ribs: moist, meaty, sweet, delectable! Maybe the best pork ribs anywhere, def in my man up top 3 & def my recommended item here. The other place wasn't really worth scoring as a BBQ joint---it's just another ok restaurant---4.77 overall. We had great fun with the fam picking up the sauces!”

Dana’s scores pretty much mirror her big brother’s: “Luling City Market -- excellent brisket, ribs, beans and even sausage - 9.95. Other place gets a 5 for effort and the ability to see a competitive opportunity and open a place next to City Market to grab their overflow!”

J-Pa just weighed in on City Market, not “the other place,” writing, “I had never been but heard nothing but good things so I was pretty excited to go. This trip I ordered brisket, pork ribs and sausage. Brisket at the very first bite! Amazingly moist flavorful and perfect balance of salt. The deckle was pretty darn good. But I must say, I was disappointed at how fast the brisket dried out. But the first bite was amazing!! Pork rib was awesome! It’s got a light sauce served with it. Excellent flavor and tenderness. This is def. what they do well! Sausage was good as well. The sauce at city market is pretty awesome I must say, a mustard base BBQ sauce which I enjoyed very much! Great atmosphere and good food. This was evident from the massive line.”

Joel has the final word: “Hey y'all, I agree with RP that City Market was top o' the line for BBQ. Everything about that place was a 10. And I further agree with RP that the other place--can't remember the name--wasn't really worth scoring. City Market is the place to spend your time and fill up on Texas BBQ. If you really want to hit another place, go by Kreutz--what's the spelling of that RP?--that place we swung by but didn't go in b/c we'd already eaten at two places, and there was lots of fire wood out in the parking lot? I haven't tasted their BBQ but would rather have gone there as the second run of the day, or even Black's or Smitty's would for sure have been a good follow up to City Market. City Market--can't say enough good about, and thought the sauce was a great change of pace from other sauces, and very delicious. I'll be back!!! I would put Smitty's and City Market and probably Kreutz as the top tier in that area of Lockhart/Luling (do I have that right guys?), then a distant second is Blacks, and very distant from the distant second Blacks is that 2nd place we went after City Market if you can even rank it for BBQ as RP said, but since they did have the kind of meat you would expect for BBQ I guess I'd go ahead and rank them anyway, but very low. Of the top three in the top tier of Smittys, City Market and Kreutz, and leaving out Kreutz since I haven't been, I'd put Smitty’s a little ahead of City Market, but not sure how Kreutz figures in yet--must mean it's time for another BBQ run, huh?”

City Market scores:

Russell – Brisket: 9.55; Pork ribs: 10; Sausage: 9.93; Sauce: 9.88; Overall experience: 9.91

Dana – Overall experience: 9.95

Jason – Brisket: 9; Pork ribs: 9.5; Sausage: 9.6; Sauce: 9.4; Overall experience: 9.4

Gina – Brisket: 7; Pork ribs: 8.2; Sauce: 9.4; Overall experience: 8.3

Joel – Overall experience: 10

Overall Man-Up Score: 9.512



City Market pics:







Luling Bar-B-Q pics:

Pics from Russell

Best of 2008: Best Brisket

When you think Texas BBQ, you probably think beef. Most likely, you think beef brisket. It's pure Texas, arguably Texas BBQ's signature item. Thus, it's our last Best of 2008 individual-item award. We tasted some outstanding slices of slow-smoked brisket in 2008. Of the 17 places where at least two people tried the brisket, here are the Top 5:

1. Snow's BBQ (Lexington, Texas): 9.612

2. Louie Mueller Barbecue (Taylor, Texas): 9.43625

3. City Market (Luling, Texas): 8.76

4. Smitty's (Lockhart, Texas): 8.751

5. Rudy's "Country Store" and Bar-B-Q (Austin, Texas): 8.6

Best of 2008: Best Sausage

By a convincing margin, the Best of 2008 award for Best Sausage goes to The Salt Lick in Driftwood, Texas. Of the 12 places in the running, here are the Top 5, with average scores:

1. The Salt Lick (Driftwood, Texas): 9.5167

2. Kreuz Market (Lockhart, Texas): 9

3. Black's Barbecue (Lockhart, Texas): 8.788

4. Smitty's (Lockhart, Texas): 8.608

5. City Market (Luling, Texas): 8.6

And more from City Market

More from City Market

Saturday, August 30, 2008: City Market (Luling, Texas)

Our trek to City Market in Luling was great, for several reasons. First, everyone loved the food. Secondly, Erica and Rich were in town and got to make the trip with us, and they brought their A game. Hopefully, it won’t be their last outing with us. Lastly, and maybe most importantly, it made a Man-Up believer out of Brad, who previously, for reasons unknown, was not a man. Gone forever are the gentle mockings of my latest amazing idea to traverse his great state to survey its finest barbecue. Welcome to the fold, Brad. We’re glad you’re here.

After an almost-hour drive (half of which was amidst the craziness that is I-35 South and half of which was scenic), we pulled up to a packed house at City market, Luling’s main attraction (and also a Texas Monthly Top 5). After making our way through a long line that only got longer behind us, we stepped into the BBQ pit and loaded up on brisket, ribs, and sausage.

I did not like the sausage at all, but I was in the minority. Everyone else gave it rave reviews, including a perfect 10 from Erica. But maybe I experienced a temporary lapse in judgment, as did several on our first visit to Opie’s.

The highest average score for meats was an 8.76 for the brisket. Sausage garnered an 8.64 (excluding my score, sausage snagged a 9.3). Ribs took home an 8.42. Brad, btw, was the toughest scorer among us.

Everyone loved the sauce. Very similar to Salt Lick’s. 2 perfect 10s and an average score of 9.3.

A few things to know: (1) Cash only. (2) Their tea is made with Nutrasweet and lemon and was, surprisingly, quite good. (3) No plates. Just butcher paper. (4) You can buy their sauce. Rich took home a half gallon for what has to be the best use ever of $5.50.

Russell, always to be counted on, has some comments: “awesome brisket, sauce, beans and sausage…and friendly folks….sauce was on the level of Salt Lick….9.35 on the RGP scale of manly excellence (taking into account the classic TX BBQ atmosphere, sweet tangy sauce, and excellent sausage and beans, all made with a very obvious labor of love…the quaint if not crowded atmosphere and relatively skinny ribs kept this place from receiving a perfect 10, but it was real close).”

Russell’s rankings – Brisket: 9.5; Sausage: 9.5; Ribs: 8.8; Sauce: 9.5; Overall: 9.35

Erica’s rankings – Brisket: 8.5; Sausage: 10; Ribs: 8.5; Sauce: 10; Overall: 10

Rich’s rankings – Brisket: 8; Sausage: 9; Ribs: 8; Sauce: 9; Overall: 9

Brad’s rankings – Brisket: 8; Sausage: 8.5; Ribs: 8; Sauce: 8; Overall: 9.5

Drew’s rankings – Brisket: 9.8; Sausage: 6; Ribs: 8.8; Sauce: 10; Overall: 9.6

Overall Man-Up Ranking: 9.49