la Barbecue Gameday Giveaway: Week 10

Ready for another chance to win some free BBQ from Austin's la Barbecue? Good. Let's do this. This week's Gameday Giveaway matchup is Oklahoma State at Texas Tech (Saturday, 6:00 PM Central). 

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 (6:00 PM Central). Winner gets a free BBQ sandwich & side item from la Barbecue. Good luck!

National praise for some Houston BBQ buddies

It's great to see people get credit they're due. This is especially true when those people are friends. So, we're excited that our buddies Michael Fulmer and J.C. Reid are included in Zagat's 24 Restaurant-World Power Players Around the U.S. Their efforts to ramp up Houston's BBQ scene are unmatched in H-town. They held their inaugural Houston Barbecue Festival this year, & you should check out the 2nd-annual event & follow it via Twitter. Congrats, fellas. You deserve it!!! (I took the top picture back in July 2010, when we joined Fulmer & J.C. at the original Franklin Barbecue. They're on the left. Fulmer in white shirt. J.C. in black shirt & red cap. The bottom picture was taken in October 2011 at la Barbecue. J.C. on far right. Fulmer 2nd from right.)

What's the best BBQ joint in El Paso?

By population, El Paso is the 6th biggest city in Texas. I've already polled readers re: the best BBQ in the 5 cities bigger than El Paso, and I want to poll readers about the 25 biggest cities, so EP is up. I never hear about BBQ in El Paso. I have several friends from El Paso, and they've never mentioned a place they like. Are they just not in the know? Surely there's a spot worth trying in EP, right? What's the best BBQ joint in El Paso?

Schmidt Family Barbecue opens today

Today is the first day of business for Schmidt Family Barbecue. According to their Twitter account, the first customer was already in line about an hour ago. Check out a pic of the man behind the joint, & follow SFB on Twitter! Welcome, Schmidt Family Barbecue!

Beef & sausage at TCU stadium

Went to the Texas-TCU game last night in Fort Worth. Snagged a chopped-beef sandwich & sausage wrap from concessions.

Welcome to All-Star Sauces, Uncle Bob's Sauces!

I'm thrilled to announce that Uncle Bob's Sauces, one of this year's Gettin' Sauced! Bottled Contest winners (Fruit Division), has joined All-Star Sauces! Uncle Bob's will be the All-Star Sauces vendor for September/October 2014. We are so excited to add Uncle Bob's, whose home is Montgomery, TX! Welcome, Uncle Bob's!

Lockhart Smokehouse Gameday Giveaway: Week 8

The Houston Texans are off this week (which is, well, really good for the Texans), so just 1 pro-football Gameday Giveaway this weekend. All eyes on you, Dallas Cowboys. Up for grabs: 2 links of Lockhart Smokehouse sausage for closest prediction for: 

Dallas at Detroit (noon Central)

To be eligible to win, I need the following: (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 of the respective game. Good luck!

la Barbecue Gameday Giveaway: Week 9

It's another great weekend to win some free BBQ from Austin's la Barbecue! This week's Gameday Giveaway matchup is Texas at TCU (Saturday, 6:30 PM Central). 

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 (6:30 PM Central). Winner gets a free BBQ sandwich & side item from la Barbecue. Good luck!

Schmidt Family Barbecue opening October 28

We now have an opening date for Schmidt Family Barbecue. Doors will open for business on October 28. Check out a pic of the man behind the joint, & follow SFB on Twitter! Welcome, Schmidt Family Barbecue!

Best BBQ in Abilene?

I've been interested lately in knowing readers' favorite BBQ joints in the some smaller markets in Texas. I recently asked for your favorite joint in Lubbock & in Amarillo. Today, I'd like to know your #1 BBQ stop in Abilene, which has several BBQ joints. So, which one gets your vote?

Whole Foods BBQ in Los Angeles

Just found some pics I took at a Whole Foods in Los Angeles back in August. The picture quality isn't great, but you get the idea.

What's the best BBQ in Amarillo?

I've never been to Amarillo, so I have no idea what the BBQ is like there. I'll eventually find out, but in the meantime, let me hear from those of you in the know. I don't even know how many BBQ joints Amarillo has, but which one is the best? The best BBQ in Amarillo is _________.

Inside look at outside-chopped-pork sandwich

Just before heading to the airport to fly back to Texas a couple of weeks ago, I grabbed a sandwich at Full Moon Bar-B-Que (Hoover, AL): outside-chopped pork, sauce, pickles, & chow chow. Here's a look inside:

Dallas & Houston Gameday Giveaways: Week 7

Another football weekend. Another chance to win BBQ. Up for grabs: 2 links of Lockhart Smokehouse sausage for the winner of the Dallas Cowboys prediction, & a slab of Pizzitola's pork ribs for the Houston winner. Both Dallas & Houston are on the road this week. Here are Sunday's giveaway games: 

Dallas at Philadelphia (noon Central)
Houston at Kansas City (3:25 PM Central)

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

la Barbecue Gameday Giveaway: Week 8

Here we go again. Another chance to win free BBQ from Austin's la Barbecue! This week's Gameday Giveaway matchup is Auburn at Texas A&M (Saturday, 2:30 PM Central).. 

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). Winner gets a free BBQ sandiwch & side item from la barbecue. Good luck!

Opie's to-go!

On the way back to Austin from a weekend outta town a few weeks ago, I stopped at Opie's Barbecue (Spicewood, TX) and picked up a big ol' dinner: sweet-and-spicy baby back ribs, sausage, chicken, pulled pork, tater tot casserole, spicy corn, beans, pickles, bread, carrot cake, cobbler, & banana pudding.

What's the best BBQ in Lubbock?

Okay, Red Raiders. You're up. What's the best BBQ in Lubbock?

Chopped pork at Full Moon (Birmingham, AL)

A lunch earlier this month at Full Moon Bar-B-Que (Hoover, AL): outside-chopped pork, collard greens, slaw, & chow chow. Roll Tide.

Like father, like son: Hernandez men at Hays Co. Bar-B-Que

Pics with father & son pitmasters Michael & Aaron Hernandez during our Texas Q Tours visit to Hays County Bar-B-Que (San Marcos, TX). To learn more about them & the story behind the joint, check out this piece.

The pit at Two Bros. BBQ Market (San Antonio, TX)

Pit pics at Two Bros. BBQ Market (San Antonio, TX), taken during our most recent public Texas Q Tours trip: 

Dallas & Houston Gameday Giveaways: Week 6

Until 11 AM Central tomorrow, you can submit your pick for the Texas-Oklahoma game (Winner snags some la Barbecue.), and starting now, you can enter for 2 more chances to win some fee BBQ: 2 links of Lockhart Smokehouse sausage for the winner of the Dallas Cowboys prediction, & a slab of Pizzitola's pork ribs for the Houston winner. Here are tomorrow's giveaway games: 

St. Louis at Houston (noon Central)
Washington at Dallas (7:30 PM Central)

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

la Barbecue Gameday Giveaway: Week 7

Time for another chance to win free BBQ from Austin's la Barbecue! This week's Gameday Giveaway matchup is the Red River Rivalry: Oklahoma v. Texas (Saturday, 11 AM Central). 

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 (11 AM Central). Winner gets a free BBQ sandwich & side item from la Barbecue. Good luck!

2013 Gettin' Sauced! People's Choice Top 10

While more than 100 BBQ sauces competed in this year's Gettin' Sauced! Bottled Contest, the 22 sauces served from the booths at the festival all snagged votes in the People's Choice Contest. This year's People's Choice Top 10, as determined by the festival's attendees:

1. The Holy Smokers Righteous Servin' Sauce
2. Mike's No Holds Bahrbeque Sauce
3 (tie): Stellar Gourmet Spicy Mesquite
3 (tie): Stellar Gourmet Pecan Smoked Mesquite 
5. Cowboy Joe's Pit & Grilling Sauce Original 
6. BigDawg BBQ Sauce
7. Louie Mueller Barbecue Sweet Jalapeno
8. Stellar Gourmet Original Mesquite
9. Uncle Bob's Sweet & Spicy
10. Cowboy Joe's Pit & Grilling Sauce Spicy

Which Texas city has made the biggest BBQ stride?

In the 6+ years I've been in Texas, I've seen big improvements, BBQ wise, in several cities. Perhaps you have, too. I'm interested to know which Texas city you feel has made the biggest BBQ strides in the past few years. If, say, 5 years ago, you invested money in each Texas town to help improve the BBQ scene, which town would have given you the biggest return on investment? Tell me how/why the city you choose has progressed more than the rest.

What's the best BBQ joint outside of Texas?

My presumption is that most of my readers' favorite BBQ joint is in Texas. Whether that is true, I'm interested to know your favorite BBQ joint outside of Texas. Give us the joint's name and its city/state. If you're so inclined, tell us why it's your pick!

Texas Q Tours visit to Two Bros. BBQ Market (San Antonio, TX)

The 5th & final stop of our most recent public Texas Q Tours trip was Two Bros. BBQ Market (San Antonio, TX):

Tomorrow's Dallas & Houston Gameday Giveaways!

Still time to get me your pick for today's TCU-Oklahoma game (Winner snags some la Barbecue.), and now you can enter for 2 more chances to win some fee BBQ: 2 links of Lockhart Smokehouse sausage for the winner of the Dallas Cowboys prediction, & a slab of Pizzitola's pork ribs for the Houston winner. Here are tomorrow's giveaway games: 

Dallas plays at Denver on Sunday at 3:25 PM (Central)
Houston at San Francisco at 7:30 PM (Central)

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

la Barbecue Gameday Giveaway Week 6

Time for another chance to win some free BBQ from Austin's la Barbecue! This week's Gameday Giveaway matchup is TCU at Oklahoma. 

To be eligible to win any, 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 (6PM Central). Winner gets a free BBQ sandwich & side item from la Barbecue. Good luck!

Smoked mesquite at Ranger Creek (San Antonio, TX)

One of the stops on our Texas Q Tours public trip back in August was Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling (San Antonio, TX). Our group had a tasting & a tour, which included a look at the old storage container they converted to a smoker. There, they smoke mesquite wood for their Mesquite Smoked Porter.