I ate at 50 top Texas joints in 9 months (plus top news & events)
This week’s guest introduction is by barbecue enthusiast and road warrior Josh Swope from Ft. Worth, Texas. Josh has traveled the Texas highways and back roads on epic barbecue road trips with family and friends throughout his life. In 2017, he embarked on a mission to visit all of the Top 50 Texas Monthly BBQ Joints. Since then, he has created an Instagram channel called Pops Post where you can follow along with him on his barbecue journeys. If you would like to write a guest article for The Smoke Sheet, please get in touch.
A thousand miles begins with a single step. For me, when embarking on the journey to visit all of the Texas Monthly’s Top 50 BBQ joints, it began with a single car drive.
Before traveling around Texas for this adventure to try a ton of barbecue joints, I thought I understood just how big Texas really is. Traveling from the southernmost tip to the northernmost tip is a whopping 801 miles, and the Lone Star State is equivalent to the size of France. In fact, I think a more fitting name for this type of journey would be the Tour de Top 50.
So, when I started this journey with a late afternoon snack at Stiles Switch in Austin, I truly had no clue what I was getting into.
The Texas Monthly barbecue passport has stickers for each BBQ joint on the list.
Traveling around and eating barbecue was something I’ve always enjoyed. When the 2017 Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ list was announced, I bought a copy of the magazine and found the Yeti-sponsored Barbecue Passport inside. I had already eaten at 34 of the new top 50 barbecue joints in the 6 months or so prior to the list being released. But I had no social media presence or pictures of the food from these places, so I felt the need to re-visit each of these joints to document and prove I've earned my stripes in Texas BBQ.
What I didn't comprehend was that this journey would be such a huge commitment of time and travel. But it has provided more memories than I could have ever imagined. Parents, sisters, and brother-in-laws all joined in on the journey in a true Texas spirit to find our favorite barbecue in the state.
Josh stopped by the Micklethwait Craft Meats trailer in Austin.
As I mentioned earlier, my first stamp on the Texas Monthly Top 50 list passport was at Stiles Switch BBQ and Brew in Austin. Over the next month, I finished off everything in the Austin area, with the exception of Franklin Barbecue, plus the joints on the list from my home base in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Looking down at what I had left on my list was daunting. I would get the addresses, plug them into my GPS, and usually find a drive that was over three hours away. With most Texas BBQ joints only operating Thursday through Sunday, I knew it meant my weekends would be filled with long drives away from the family. That was also something I knew wouldn't go over well with my wife, so I came up with a plan to tour Texas as a family, which included landmark sightseeing, State Park hiking, historical-mile-marker viewing, and education-filled weekends.
Josh visited Baker Boys BBQ and all of the stops in South Texas in July 2017.
My July stops were Evie Mae’s in Wolfforth, Joseph's Riverport in Jefferson, Baker Boys BBQ in Gonzales, and other South Texas stops. August rolled around, which meant the kids were back in school, so we dropped them off and hit the rest of the remaining joints in our local area.
The cooler and more tolerable autumn temperatures meant increased activity. Our family woke up and took a trip to Tyler State Park and had a killer meal at Bodacious Bar-B-Que. We were blown away! After that, we headed back to Tyler for Stanley's Famous Pit BBQ to round out the day.
Josh's tray of barbecue from Truth Barbeque in Brenham, Texas.
When I was halfway done with the list, my sister and brother-in-law were also blazing the trail. My competitive spirit came out, and I got excited to finish. My brother-in-law and I knocked out Houston together, starting with Killen's and Gatlin's on Friday and epic Saturday visits to Corkscrew, Tejas Chocolate and Barbecue, and The Pit Room. This was definitely one of my favorite crawls on the journey.
Rounding out the end of 2017, I only had a few joints left. I made a goal of finishing by my birthday in March, making this entire journey just short of nine months. While waiting in line at Cooper’s, the couple behind me told me they had come from Tyler’s Barbeque in Amarillo and owner Tyler Frazer had told them to spread the word that anyone who saves him for last would get a special prize for finishing at his joint. So I decided to save my last stop for Tyler's.
Josh Swope of Pops Post and Tyler Frazer of Tyler’s Barbeque in Amarillo, Texas.
I woke up about 5 a.m. one late February morning. Cold, strong winds and a light drizzle awaited me for the end of my journey, a long five-hour drive. I arrived in Amarillo a little after 11 a.m., walked inside, and stood in line. When I got to the meat cutter, I saw Tyler, and told him he was my last joint to visit. He stopped everything he was doing, checked my passport, high fived me, and yelled, "Everyone, may I have your attention, please! This is Josh and he is finishing his Texas Monthly passport today!"
The restaurant cheered. More high fives ensued as he walked me over to the merchandise area and handed me a shirt, stickers, and personally made me my food. He sat and had lunch with me, then gave me a kitchen and pit tour.
That conversation with Tyler is why I started Pops Post on Instagram. Thanks to Tyler's encouragement, I have logged countless memories of barbecue in Texas and beyond. Thank you to Tyler and the rest of the Texas barbecue family for letting me showcase your passion and hard work, and for welcoming me into your world with open arms.
Josh Swope
Pops Post
Here are the top recent barbecue news stories from around the country:
Craig Layman, a well-known barbecue judge and an all-around great guy, passed away suddenly earlier this week.
Craig Layman — a top barbecue and culinary judge who was based in Kansas City — passed away suddenly earlier this week. Layman was a staple at the American Royal, World Food Championships, SCA steak competitions, KCBS events, and more. He also volunteered at the Kauffman Center of Performing Arts, Starlight Theatre, KC Cares, and his church. Friends and family posted many tributes to Craig on Facebook and our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.
The James Beard Foundation recently shared its list of semifinalists for the 30th annual James Beard Awards, highlighting talented, creative, and accomplished chefs and pitmasters. Nominees in the category of “Best Chef: Texas” include Norma Frances “Tootsie” Tomanetz, Snow’s BBQ in Lexington and Esaul Ramos of 2M Smokehouse in San Antonio. Nominees in the “Best Chef: Southeast” include Bryan Furman of B’s Cracklin’ Barbeque in Atlanta and Jiyeon Lee and Cody Taylor of Heirloom Market BBQ in Atlanta.
This past weekend, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo World Championship Bar-B-Que Contest took place with more than 250 competition teams fighting it out. The Fayette County Go Texan team was awarded Overall Grand Champion, while the Operation BBQ Relief team won Reserve Grand Champion Overall.
Sad news for the Texas BBQ: Austin barbecue heavyweight Micklethwait closed its smoked meats restaurant in Smithville, Micklethwait Market and Grocery, at the end of February.
The first batch of backyard smokers made by Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue “will be delivered in time for a Memorial Day barbecue,” writes Daniel Vaughn in Texas Monthly.
Miller’s Smokehouse in small-town Belton, Texas may be one of the few joints where you can get a three-meat combo plate and a fancy $5 latte from the same joint.
The owners of popular St. Louis barbecue joint Sugarfire Smoke House will soon open a fried chicken concept called Chicken Out in St. Louis. The new fast-casual joint is scheduled to open in the Delmar Loop this spring, reports Feast Magazine.
Carey Bringle, owner of Nashville joint Peg Leg Porker BBQ, has revealed the name and concept for his upcoming restaurant “Bringle’s Smoking Oasis.” It will offer Texas-style barbecue, which is different from his Peg Leg’s Tennessee-style grub.
Daniel Vaughn of Texas Monthly traveled through the less-populated corners of South Texas and came across an unusual-but-tasty barbecue specialty — smoked mollejas, which are the thymus glands from cattle.
A new slideshow of 32 rising restaurant stars from FSR Magazine includes Shawn Walchef of Cali Comfort BBQ in California and several other hotshots.
The Hot Box, formerly a barbecue food trailer in San Antonio, recently opened its brick-and-mortar location on San Antonio’s Southwest Side. The restaurant always offers prime brisket, but pork ribs are special on the weekends and many more items are yet to come.
Clyde’s BBQ, a rising star in Alabama, was forced to change its name after Clyde’s Restaurant Group in Washington, D.C. (which holds the trademark) threatened litigation. The restaurant will now be called Bark & Barrel BBQ.
Tickets are being sold to a mysterious Los Angeles barbecue event that doesn’t exist. The upcoming “Fusion BBQ Beer Fest” event claims on its website and social media to be happening on July 18 at Dodger Stadium, but it has no permit and no vendors.
Pik N Pig in Carthage, North Carolina also doubles as an airport and you'll have an air show while you chow down on high-quality barbecue.
The just-launched Flavored Nation State Dish Showdown is looking for people to vote for iconic dishes, including many barbecue items, in its competition. The voting ends March 31, so be sure to vote in some top BBQ items!
Here are BBQ shows, podcasts, or books you should check out this week:
Aaron Franklin talks about his journey going from the backyard to one of the hottest restaurants in Austin.
Watch: Still backyard barbecuing at Franklin Barbecue — Austin-American Statesman
In this short 2018 video from the Austin-American Statesman, pitmaster Aaron Franklin talks about his humble origins starting out cooking for friends in the backyard. These days, crowds of barbecue fanatics line up hours before opening just to get a taste of the world-famous food served by Franklin Barbecue in East Austin. Six years after opening the restaurant at the time this video was filmed, Aaron Franklin says that he does not plan on selling the business to franchisers, even though both the size of the building and food production are at maximum capacity. He is “still backyard barbecuing.” Watch here.
Listen: Pellet Cookers with Jason Baker of Green Mountain Grills and Derrick Riches — The BBQ Central Show
Last week, The BBQ Central Show explored the world of pellet cookers. Host Greg Rempe was joined by Jason Baker from Green Mountain Grills to talk about the differences between the two lines they offer and what new items they are looking to release during the course of 2020. They also talk about what role social media plays in the success and failure of a new product launch. Next Greg chats with barbecue and grilling expert Derrick Riches about the recent release of the Weber SmokeFire. They point out what the first looks have been like and what consumers should expect when buying a pellet cooker, along with what expectations a manufacturer should set for the buyer. Listen to the episode here.
Read: The Ultimate Burger: Plus DIY Condiments, Sides, and Boozy Milkshakes — by America’s Test Kitchen
The Ultimate Burger is filled with burgers of every type — from the juiciest, beefiest grind-your-own-meat burgers to crispy turkey and chicken burgers, bison burgers, lots of seafood burgers, and veggie burgers of all stripes, from black bean and falafel to portobello and spiced cauliflower. And what’s a burger without creamy, crunchy toppings; crispy, can’t-eat-just-one fries and onion rings; steal-the-spotlight salads; and frosty drinks to wash it all down? Achieve burger greatness, with updated classics, regional favorites, homemade everything (from meat blends to pretzel buns), and craft-burger creations, plus fries and other sides, and frosty drinks. Buy it here.
This weekend’s Charleston Wine and Food Festival will attract lots of culinary and barbecue fans.
March 4-8, 2020: Charleston Wine and Food Festival — Charleston, South Carolina
The Charleston Wine + Food festival infuses homegrown flavor with top chefs, winemakers, authors, storytellers, artisans, and food enthusiasts from around the globe for a five-day event that spans the first full weekend each March. More info here.
March 14-15, 2020: Meatstock Music and Barbecue Festival (Melbourne edition) — Melbourne, Australia
Meatstock returns for its fourth year with a typically stacked line-up of barbecue enthusiasts and bands. The sell-out, two-day event brings big-name American pitmasters Down Under; sees 50 teams from across Melbourne go head-to-head over the coals to be crowned the city’s best barbequers; and features live music, food trucks and pop-up bars. This year, American pitmasters Moe Cason, Wayne Mueller from Louie Mueller Barbecue, and Ronnie Evans and Philip Moseley from Blue Oak BBQ will be putting on demonstrations. More info here.
March 20-21, 2020: The American Royal Backyard BBQ & Steak Cookoff — Kansas City, Missouri
The American Royal Backyard BBQ and Steak Cook-Off allows participants to get a taste of what barbecue competitions are all about at a lower entry level and a portion of the cost. Join us March 20-21, 2020 at the American Royal Complex for this new BBQ event! More info here.
March 27-28, 2020: Hogs for the Cause — New Orleans, Louisiana
Hogs for the Cause returns as the largest, tastiest BBQ festival in New Orleans. The city welcomes numerous local and regional BBQ masters and the best backyard chefs to compete in seven categories: Whole Hog, Ribs, Pork Butt/Shoulder, Porkpourri, Sauce, Fan Favorite, and Fundraising Champion. The barbecue festival is a two-day event full of music, local beer, and fundraising. More info here.
March 27-28, 2020: Suncoast BBQ & Bluegrass Bash — Venice, Florida
Since 2010, the Suncoast BBQ & Bluegrass Bash has established itself as a destination for the best barbecue competition and bluegrass entertainment in Southwest Florida. It is the signature fund-raiser for the Suncoast Foundation for Handicapped Children (SFHC). More than 20,000 people are expected to attend the event, which will feature a large Florida BBQ Association competition, lots of live music, parties, cornhole tournament, family fun, and more. More info here.
April 1-4, 2020: National Barbecue & Grilling Association Annual Conference — Louisville, Kentucky
The National Barbecue & Grilling Association (NBBQA) Annual Conference will be held at The Galt House Hotel. The conference gathers members and people from across the industry to network, learn, and participate in a variety of topics and activities around the Business of BBQ. Whether you are a product owner, run a restaurant, involved in media, or any other sector of BBQ, there are boundless opportunities to network, learn, and grow at the event. More info here.
April 5, 2020: 8th Annual Houston BBQ Festival — Houston, Texas
The 8th Annual Houston BBQ Festival will take place on Sunday, April 5th from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Humble Civic Center Arena Complex. The festival will feature Houston’s best barbecue joints all in one place, including Blood Bros BBQ, Brett's BBQ Shop, Buck's Barbeque, CorkScrew BBQ, Daddy Duncan's BBQ, Eaker Barbecue, and Feges BBQ. Read our to learn about the experience. More info here.
April 18, 2020: Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit 2020 — Brooklyn, New York
Mark your calendars for the Jeff Michner BBQ Benefit 2020 at Pig Beach NYC in Brooklyn. Following the successful 2019 version of the event, this will feature many of the top pitmasters from around the country serving up incredible food, including Tuffy Stone, Chris Lilly, Amy Mills, Sam Jones, Carey Bringle, Billy Durney, and more. Read about the 2019 Jeff Michner BBQ benefit here. More info on the 2020 edition here.
April 22, 2020: Brisket King NYC 2020 — Brooklyn, New York
If you love brisket, you won’t want to miss Brisket King NYC 2020 in April. More than 15 chefs and pitmasters will be there serving up their take on brisket and pastrami. Early bird ticket sales are available now so get them before prices go up! Buy tickets here.
April 24-26, 2020: 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 of Texas is the epitome of high spirits, with a packed schedule of hands-on grilling demos, tastings with top pitmasters, chefs, and sommeliers. Plus, there will be interactive demos and panels. More info here.
See the full Smoke Sheet events calendar online here.
This week’s Recipe of the Week is Snake River Farms Wagyu Picanha by BBQ with Rik Rik.
Wagyu Picanha by BBQ with Rik Rik
For this week’s Recipe of the Week, we chose this video from our friend Tarik Sykes from the BBQ with Rik Rik YouTube Channel for Wagyu Picanha. Tarik cooks Snake River Farms Wagyu Picanha over charcoal and pecan using Shiitake rub from Fire & Smoke. He finishes it with a caveman-style sear directly on the charcoal. The final result is a smokey, juicy cut that is increasingly getting more attention from barbecue and grilling enthusiasts. View the recipe here.
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