Y'all. Today, Sunday September 14, 2014, is the best day of the year. Today is Texas Monthly's Annual BBQ Festival in Austin. But to me, it feels more like Christmas morning. Two workouts, some tummy stretches and meditation are on the agenda for this morning before we head out to the Long Center for VIP access to the meat bonanza.
But first, what is Texas barbecue? The Marriott came up with this lovely little infographic I'd love to share with you. Know your beef, friends. This thing has some good advice for you fellow festival goers, i.e. DON'T WEAR WHITE.
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Link to original post by the Marriott |
Here are a few pictures from last year. This year, our strategy involves more tupperware, labels, a home base and probably some warm up bloody marys.
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Proudest label I've ever had. |
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This is the beginning of a meat-coma. |
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Greasy Fingers |
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Feeling pretty terrible at this point... |
These are the joints that will be there this year:
- BLACK’S BARBECUEPitmaster: Kent Black
Rating: 4.25 - BUZZIE’S BAR-B-QPitmaster: Harold "Buzzie" Hughes
Rating: 4.25 - CITY MEAT MARKETPitmaster: Gerald Birkelbach (since 1982)
Rating: 4.25 - COOPER’S OLD TIME PIT BAR-B-QUE (LLANO)Pitmaster: Multiple
Rating: 4.5 - COUSIN’S BAR-B-QPitmaster:
Rating: 4.25 - CRANKY FRANK’S BARBEQUE COMPANYPitmaster: Daniel Martin and Glenn Wilke
Rating: 4.25 - FRANKLIN BARBECUEPitmaster: Aaron Franklin
Rating: 5 - THE GRANARY ’CUE AND BREWPitmaster: Tim Rattray
Rating: 4 - HATFIELD’S BBQPitmaster: Kenny Hatfield
Rating: 4 - HAYS CO. BAR-B-QUE AND CATERINGPitmaster: Michael Hernandez; Aaron Hernandez (since 2009); and Omar Serna (since 2012)
Rating: 4 - HUTCHINS BBQPitmaster: Tim Hutchins (since 1999)
Rating: 4.25 - KILLEN’S BARBECUEPitmaster: Ronnie Killen and Manny Torres
Rating: 4.75 - LA BARBECUEPitmaster: Esaul Ramos, Francisco Saucedo, and John Lewis
Rating: 4.5 - LAMBERTS DOWNTOWN BARBECUEPitmaster: Zach Davis
Rating: 4.25 - LOCKHART SMOKEHOUSEPitmaster: Tim McLaughlin and Will Fleischman
Rating: 4.5 - LOUIE MUELLER BARBECUEPitmaster: Wayne Mueller (since 2008)
Rating: 4.75 - MILLER’S SMOKEHOUSEPitmaster: Dirk Miller and Robert Reid
Rating: 4.25 - OPIE’S BARBECUEPitmaster: Seth Glaser and Marina Sanchez
Rating: 4.5 - PECAN LODGEPitmaster: Justin Fourton
Rating: 4.75 - PODY’S BBQPitmaster: Israel Campos
Rating: 4 - SNOW’S BBQPitmaster: Tootsie Tomanetz
Rating: 4.75 - STANLEY’S FAMOUS PIT BARBECUEPitmaster: Nick Pencis (since 2006) and Jonathan Shaw (since 2009)
Rating: 4.5 - STILES SWITCH BBQ & BREWPitmaster: Lance Kirkpatrick
Rating: 4 - TWO BROS. BBQ MARKETPitmaster: Javier Rodriguez
Rating: 4.25 - TYLER’S BARBEQUEPitmaster: Tyler Frazer
Rating: 4
AND Dale Watson is playing today! If you haven't heard him perform in Texas, you have to.

Song of the Day: Fire and Rain -- James Taylor
Haha. I like your style.
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