Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Louie Mueller donates beef-rib bones to local animal shelter!

We've documented our love for the huge beef ribs at Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor, but it turns out that dogs dig 'em, too. And some mutts were in luck, as LMB recently donated about 750 bones to a local animal shelter. The LMB press release has the story:


NO BONES ABOUT IT...DOGS LOVE BBQ, TOO LOUIE MUELLER BARBECUE DELIVERS BEEF RIB BONES TO WILLIAMSON COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER (GEORGETOWN, TX) July 26, 2012 - Dogs held at the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter in Georgetown, TX were the recipients of a Texas-sized treat on Thursday, July 26 when Louie Mueller Barbecue delivered nearly 200 pounds of beef rib bones gathered from their restaurant in Taylor, TX. Wayne Mueller, co-owner of Louie Mueller Barbecue, has been collecting the beef rib bones over the past weeks with the intention of sharing some of his family's Texas barbecue tradition with the canine community. "It really makes sense. We provide unused products to local food shelters and churches so why not make the effort to provide a few barbecue treats to some of our disadvantaged canines. After all, dogs love barbecue, too", Mueller exclaims. Inspiration for the gift developed as guests of Louie Mueller's would occasionally request bones for their dogs at home. "We sell a tremendous number of beef ribs each week and the bones were just going in the trash." Mueller states. Mueller began saving the bones from the dining refuse, cleaning and storing them until a large enough quantity could be amassed to make a donation worthwhile. The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter houses about 150 dogs at any given time so a sizable number of bones was required to satisfy every dog in the facility. The 200 pound donation equates to approximately 750 bones, meaning every dog will have at least 5 beef rib bones to snack on over the upcoming days. The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter provides a tremendous service to the community by housing, treating and placing hundreds of unwanted, discarded and displaced animals each year. "As a member of the community, we are trying to act as good stewards and provide assistance to the Shelter's tremendous efforts", said Mueller. Louie Mueller Barbecue is a heralded barbecue icon serving authentic Texas barbecue in Taylor, Texas since 1949. The recipient of many national awards and honors, Louie Mueller Barbecue is family owned and operated by third generation pit master and co-owner Wayne Mueller and his mother Patricia Mueller. Contact Date: 7/26/12 Wayne Mueller Louie Mueller Barbecue 512-352-6206 wayne@louiemuellerbarbecue.com www.LouieMuellerBarbecue.com

Monday, July 30, 2012

Roy Perez: Pitmaster, Kreuz Market (Lockhart, TX)

Snapped this pic of pitmaster Roy Kreuz during my latest visit to Kreuz Market in Lockhart. Dirty apron. Pitside. A rack of ribs. Love it. Keep up with Roy on Twitter!

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Backyard BBQ: Boston Butt

Our 21st Backyard BBQ submission was sent from a faithful blog follower and Twitter friend, Marshall Owens (@WestTX_BBQ). In his own words: "My brother-in-law, James (@cutbyjameskoch), and myself smoked our first Boston Butt. We used a New Braunfels Banderra style smoker with mesquite wood. We are also tech nerds and used the iGrill. The iGrill is a bluetooth thermometer that sent to our iPad the internal temp of our pork and the temp of our smoker. Like I said we smoked a boston butt, but we spiced it mexican style. Once off the smoker we pulled it and stuffed some grilled avocados with it. Turned out to be the best thing we have smoked yet, and we think the iGrill helped us out." Well done, Marshall!

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Backyard BBQ: Brisket

Our 20th Backyard BBQ submission comes to us from Jeff Turner (@jeffturnerjr) in Midland, TX. His submission is a 10-pound certified Angus brisket he smoked last weekend for some friends. He smoked it over pecan and mesquite for 10 hours at 250 degrees. Guess my invitation got lost in the mail!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Latest stop at Full Moon Bar-B-Que (Hoover, AL)

Not the clearest pics, but you get the point. Latest stop at Full Moon in Birmingham, AL:

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Texas BBQ Wannabes: 74

74. Red River BBQ (Melbourne, Australia) - "Low n' Slow authentic Texas BBQ" (Shout out to our good friend Burger Mary, Australia's hottest food blogger, for suggesting we add this one.) 

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)
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)
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)
74. Red River BBQ (Melbourne, Australia)

Monday, July 23, 2012

Texas BBQ Wannabes: 73


73. Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer (Las Vegas, Nevada) - "Texas-Style BBQ & Beer. The band behind such classic American hits as “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird” is the inspiration for Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer at Excalibur Hotel & Casino. Michael Frey and Craig Gilbert of Drive This! Entertainment, the team behind such classic Vegas venues as RHUMBAR and Tacos & Tequila, unveiled this unique restaurant and nightlife concept in the former location of Sherwood Café in early December. The rock n’ roll-inspired venue features classic hits, signature sips and the best down home, Texas-style BBQ to be found on the Las Vegas Strip."

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)
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)
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)

Sunday, July 22, 2012

What Texas BBQ joint is the best value?

Not necessarily the best food. Or the lowest prices. But rather the combination of what you get for what you pay. What Texas BBQ joint offers the best value?

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Backyard BBQ: Brisket

Our 19th Backyard BBQ submission is the first repeat submission to be featured. First, Wes Broussard (Pflugerville, TX) gave us some barbacoa. Now, some brisket he smoked last weekend.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Lunch at Greenbrier Bar-B-Que (Huntsville, AL)

I didn't plan to land a couple of weeks ago at the Huntsville (AL) airport, but it gave me a chance to hit up a place I haven't been in years: Greenbrier Bar-B-Que. By the time I got there, it was pushing 2PM, so the lunch crowd was gone. They were out of a couple of menu items. I got a pork sandwich; half chicken with white sauce for dad. Maybe it was b/c it was an odd hour, but it was nowhere as good as I remember it. Bun wasn't soft. Pork and chicken were too dry (I'm sure they'd been sitting out for a while.). Oh, well. And maybe I would've liked it more if I still ate fried food, so that, as in the old days, I could douse white sauce on the hushpuppies they bring out when you sit down. Let this serve as evidence that I don't just go give my imprimatur to a place/meal just b/c it's in Alabama!

Greenbrier Bar-B-Que on Urbanspoon

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

What's the best hotel/casino BBQ in the country?

A handful of hotels & casinos around the country have a BBQ restaurant. There's Q on the Riverwalk at the Hyatt Regency in San Antonio. There's Big Bubba's BBQ at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT. Las Vegas' Treasure Island has Gilley's. Excalibur has Lynyrd Skynyrd. And so forth. Anyone have a favorite?

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Monday, July 16, 2012

What's the best brisket outside of Texas?

Simple question: What is the best brisket you've eaten outside of Texas?

Sunday, July 15, 2012