The best bites from the 2019 Houston BBQ Festival (plus the week’s top BBQ news & events)
For the third time this year, I traveled to Houston to visit one of the hottest barbecue scenes in the country. I was fortunate enough to have the chance to attend the seventh annual Houston BBQ Festival at the Humble Civic Arena on Sunday, April 14. The weather was sunny and beautiful, despite being a bit windy at times, and the crowds of families and barbecue enthusiasts appeared to love every minute of it.
Thousands of people enjoyed sunny weather and delicious food at the Houston BBQ Festival.
Festival attendees were served dishes by 30 area restaurants and vendors. , the Houston barbecue scene reflects the city’s culturally diverse population, drawing influences from a variety of different cuisines. The dishes served at the festival were no exception, including the Togarashi pulled beef with drunken onions and pickled apple served by Blood Bros. BBQ as well multiple Mexican, Cajun/Creole, and Asian-inspired dishes.
The Smoked Pastrami Beef Tongue Dish from Corkscrew BBQ was the best bite of the festival.
My favorite bite of the day was the Pastrami beef tongue with caraway and mustard seed sauerkraut served by Corkscrew BBQ in collaboration with chef Austin Simmons of Tris in the Woodlands. This deconstructed Reuben was a delight for the senses, with the smoky meat complemented by tangy dressing and coupled with the crunch of cabbage and crumbled rye croutons.
Many in attendance brought trays to gather samples from multiple vendors during the event.
With so many wonderful dishes being served, festival goers had to have a good game plan in order to try everything. I caught up with Bryan Norton from the Tales from the Pits podcast, who was able to try every dish served at the festival and asked him to give his impressions of the event. Rather than loading up a tray with every dish at the festival, he suggested to try no more than 5 or 6 dishes at a time and then go back for more later.
These Jumbo Chili Relleno Sausages from Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue were a hit at the event.
The lines were long throughout the day for Pearland’s Killen’s Barbecue, which served pork belly burnt ends, wagyu tri-tip, and perhaps most surprisingly — delicious crispy fried chicken. Tomball’s Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue served a spectacular jumbo version of their famous chili relleno sausages as well as their popular carrot souffle. Reveille Barbecue Co., one of my favorite area establishments, wowed with their peppery brisket with red cabbage and peanut butter and jelly sauce. Louie Mueller Barbecue and Southside Market, veteran Texas barbecue establishments from outside the Houston area were also on hand to serve their signature dishes — beef ribs and sausage.
The crew from The Rusty Buckle BBQ Co. served bacon-wrapped ribs and bbq sauce cookies.
I loved the dishes served by festival newcomers Eaker Barbecue and The Rusty Buckle BBQ Co. Eaker Barbecue served pulled pork fries with house-made kimchi and beef ribs with smoked gouda macaroni and cheese, while The Rusty Buckle served bacon-wrapped pork ribs and a sweet “barbecue sauce” cookie. Despite the fact that Texas is beef country, several purveyors served pork, with Feges BBQ and Daddy Duncan’s BBQ serving whole hog, and Roegels Barbecue Co. and Pinkerton’s Barbecue serving pulled pork dishes.
Scotty Moore, Jr. and Greg Moore from Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue with Quy Hoang of Blood Bros. BBQ at the end of the festival.
Though the food at the Houston BBQ Festival was spectacular, by far the best part of the event was both seeing old friends and meeting new people in the barbecue community. I experienced a sense of camaraderie amongst the pitmasters who are truly supportive of one another. Houston reflects what I like best about barbecue. I will be making the Houston BBQ Festival an annual tradition.
For more Houston BBQ Festival highlights, check out this amazing video from Cost of Goods Told, this blog post from Coal Hearted BBQ, and Yoni Levin’s Best BBQ podcast, which was recorded during the event.
Ryan Cooper (BBQ Tourist)
Co-Founder, The Smoke Sheet
Here are the top recent barbecue news stories from around the country:
Blood Bros BBQ in Houston was featured in Texas Monthly’s top 25 new barbecue joints and their barbecue does not disappoint, especially the Thai green curry boudin. (Photo by Ryan Cooper)
Texas Monthly’s Daniel Vaughn has just released a huge feature on the top 25 best new barbecue joints in Texas. This list shows off the evolving and experimental state of Texas barbecue including places like Austin’s Loro, Houston’s Blood Bros. BBQ, and Waco’s Guess Family Barbecue.
Last Saturday, Pig Beach in Brooklyn hosted a huge, successful fundraiser for the family of deceased pitmaster Jeff Michner. Big names from around the country showed up and it even showed a preview of what NYC’s BBQ scene has in store in the future.
Speaking of NYC, Juicy Lucy BBQ, a soon-to-open Staten Island joint with a pitmaster from Franklin Barbecue, won top honors at the recent Brisket King NYC event.
Barbecue hotshot Adam Perry Lang has added a new barbecue menu at his Hollywood restaurant APL. The daytime barbecue menu runs from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, with brisket, burnt ends, and more.
Ray Lampe, aka Dr. BBQ, shares with Food & Wine the five most common home barbecue mistakes to avoid over-smoking, dry veggies, burned barbecue sauce, and more.
Busting Texas barbecue myths is an unenviable task, but the Houston Chronicle’s J.C. Reid is up to the task. This week, he dives into the idea that “spritzing meat is simply a continuation of a long tradition in barbecue cooking known as the ‘mop.’”
Cinder BBQ, a new Washington D.C. joint, has just opened and is attracting a lot of looks. Pitmaster Bill Coleman’s meats don’t fit into one regional style, and the menu features brisket, ribs, chicken wings, and much more.
The Tennessean chatted with Shane Nasby about his decision to leave his day job and open a food truck and catering company called HoneyFire Kitchen.
Southern Q BBQ in Houston has brought its spicy boudin to a second location. Steve and Sherice Garner’s joint pays homage to the authentic, Louisiana-style sausage they grew up with.
Popular St. Louis BBQ joint Salt + Smoke has opened its third location on historic (and beautiful) Main Street in St. Charles, Missouri.
Last week, Florida police thought they caught a car thief. But alas, it was just North Carolina barbecue legend Sam Jones. “Looking back, it was one of the most dehumanizing things I’ve ever experienced,” he said. “They didn’t seem real apologetic.”
In July, a giant new Hard Eight BBQ steak and barbecue restaurant will open in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Here are BBQ shows, podcasts, or books you should check out this week:
Watch: Whole Hog BBQ - Nourish
When most people think "barbecue," they don't think "whole hog." But that's not the case for Dr. Howard Conyers, rocket scientist and South Carolina whole hog pitmaster. Watch this episode of PBS’s Nourish for a short course on everything you need to know to fire up the pit for this regional Southern tradition. Watch it here.
Listen: BBQ War Stories Episode 100 - Behind the Smoke
Derek Marso and Shawn Walchef of the Behind The Smoke podcast announced on their 100th episode that they will be ending their popular podcast in its current format. They said that they will “cherish all the incredible memories we have been fortunate to make with each of you, whether it was in person at an event, or online through social media.” They have left the door open to experimenting or restarting in the future but for now, the show is done. Listen to the episode here.
Read: Smoked: One Man's Journey to Find Incredible Recipes, Standout Pitmasters and the Stories Behind Them - by Ed Randolph
New York pitmaster Ed Randolph of Handsome Devil BBQ hit the road to discover the best barbecue the United States has to offer—from South Carolina to California and everywhere in between. In Smoked, Ed gives you the inside scoop on the country’s best barbecue joints and the grilling legends behind them—as well as their iconic recipes for you to try at home. And as an extra bonus, the foreword is by The Smoke Sheet’s Sean Ludwig. Order it here.
April 26-27: Smoke On The Water Barbecue and Music Festival - Fort Myers, Florida
Enjoy tasty barbecue, rocking tunes, and fun for the whole family at the Smoke on the Water Barbecue Competition and Music Festival. Don’t miss this Florida Barbecue Association sanctioned event, featuring teams from all over the South competing for a chance to win. More info here.
April 26-28: Austin Food and Wine Festival - Austin, Texas
The Austin Food + Wine Festival returns in April to spoil your palate with a handful of global and nationally renowned talent. This 3-day weekend in the culinary capital is the epitome of high spirits, with a packed schedule of hands-on grilling demos, up-close tastings with top chefs and sommeliers, and more interactive demos and panels. More info here.
May 3-4: BBQ Fest On The Neuse - Kinston, North Carolina
The 38th annual BBQ Festival on the Neuse kicks off on Friday, May 3rd, in Kinston, North Carolina. More than 40,000 visitors are expected to attend the festival with over 100 teams cooking in the competition. The festival will include barbecue, food competitions, shopping, arts and crafts, wine garden, children’s activities and more. More info here.
May 4: Red Dirt BBQ Festival - Tyler, Texas
For five years, the Red Dirt BBQ & Music Festival has been one of the most unique food and music experiences in Texas. The sixth annual event returns to the brick streets of downtown Tyler, Texas. Tickets are sold out at present. More info here.
May 12: All-Star BBQ at L.A. Times FOOD BOWL: Night Market - Los Angeles, California
The All-Star BBQ at L.A. Times Food Bowl event has everything from backyard enthusiasts to sit-down restaurants. Join Adam Perry Lang and the team from L.A. Times Food as they showcase the best BBQ in L.A. featuring pitmasters Aaron Franklin from Texas, Pat Martin from Tennessee, Bill Durney from New York and Sam Jones from North Carolina. Local participating restaurants include Kra Z Kai’s, Slab BBQ, Moo's Craft Barbecue, Horn Barbecue, East LA Barbecue and Bludso’s. All food and drinks will be included in the price of admission. Please note this event is 21+. More info here.
May 15-18: Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest - Memphis, Tennessee
This huge, four-day competition is held in Tom Lee Park on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Memphis. Nearly 250 teams travel from around the world to compete for the title of World Champion and a share of the more than $115,000 in prize money. The Contest draws more than 75,000 attendees. More info here.
May 30-June 3: Atlanta Food & Wine Festival - Atlanta, Georgia
The Atlanta Food & Wine Festival is an entire weekend dedicated to Southern cuisine. From great down-home delicacies to the freshest fusion dishes, the most sought-after wines to hot new bar favorites, this festival aims to please even the most finicky foodie. Over the course of the weekend attendees have the chance to participate in exclusive wine and food tastings featuring more than 250 restaurants, artisans, chefs and producers. More than 90 classes are offered to educate and entertain guests as they explore regional flavors and traditions, including cooking classes. More info here.
June 8-9: Tony Stone BBQ Competition - Amsterdam, Netherlands
The eighth annual Tony Stone BBQ Competition takes place June 8-9 in Amsterdam. The competition was Europe’s first contest sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society and a popular event for Americans to attend. The event is free and open to the public and will include a BBQ market, demonstrations, and activities for children. Competitive events include KCBS barbecue competition, Kids Q competitions, Steak Cookoff Association contest, and Tailgating competition. More info here.
June 14-15: The Great Eldorado BBQ, Blues & Brews Festival - Reno, NV
Fire up the grills, tap the kegs, and crank up the tunes for Reno’s best summer kick-off party. Join the fun at the Great Eldorado BBQ, Brews and Blues Festival, June 14 and 15. The event is equal parts barbeque block party, microbrew tasting event with more than 50 microbrews from around the world and music festival with two stages featuring nonstop rock and blues. More info here.
June 14-16: Denver BBQ Fest - Denver, Colorado
Get ready to go hog wild this Father’s Day weekend at the second annual Denver BBQ Festival. They will be bringing back may of the best pitmasters to serve the Q that made them famous. Even better, they’ve added a few new faces and expanded our menu way beyond the basics. There will also be live music and activities for the whole family. More info here.
June 22-23: The Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle - Washington, D.C.
This June, historic Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., will become the epicenter of barbecue perfection. The biggest part of the event is the Cooking Contest, which will feature big names like Myron Mixon, Tuffy Stone, and Moe Cason competing with teams from around the U.S. Also, lots of U.S. barbecue joints from will be there serving food and more than 30 bands will perform live on three stages. More info here.
Vegan BBQ “Pulled Pork” Sliders With Jackfruit
While we don’t normally feature vegan barbecue, sometimes it’s good to shake things up a little. This week’s recipe of the week from YouTube star Nikki Limo is an irreverent look at someone unsure if jackfruit can make for a quality substitute to pulled pork. She walks through the recipe step by step and by the end of video, Nikki highly approves these vegan jackfruit sliders. View the recipe here.
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