I had the great pleasure of seeing my friend Mark Lambert and his team Sweet Swine ‘O Mine win #1 pork shoulder at the 2022 Memphis In May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. Here are a bunch of pictures of their final judging and the sweet aftermath.
Texas Brisket on a Pellet Grill
This is the one you’re looking for. Real Texas brisket, made on a pellet grill. I gave up messing around with fire after ten years of smoking meat. I got tired of the overnight panic worried that my fire had gone out or had gone on a hot tear. I went pellet and never looked…
Franklin Barbecue – For the Brisket (Only), It’s Worth the Wait
This is not an “I hate Aaron Franklin” post. I like the guy. I have both of his books, first edition, day of publication. I’ve watched his whole series on PBS. I’ve watched his Masterclass. He’s a cool, smart dude. This is also not an “I hate the wait at Franklin” post. Truly it is…
WooPigFoodie’s Competition Barbecue Sauce
As many of you know, I am a judge at the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest held every May in Memphis, Tennessee. Boy that’s a mouthful. But it’s also a mouthful of great barbecue! And though I generally believe that if you are doing competition barbecue right you don’t need sauce, if…
Austin’s Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ is the King of the World When it Comes to Brisket Tacos
Pulling up on that crunchy gravel lot, there will already be a line in front of Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ in Austin, Texas. And you’ll probably say to yourself, do I really want to stand in line at yet another Austin food truck, especially this early in the morning on a Saturday? Don’t fool yourself….
Loro Austin is a Gorgeous Spot to Grab a Cocktail and a Tasty Bite
Loro Austin is gorgeous. Created by James Beard Award winners, Chef Tyson Cole of Uchi and Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue, Loro Austin’s beautiful architecture floods the open space with sunlight. And it has great seating throughout. Barstools up front at the bar, tables, benches and booths on the wall. This place was well thought out.
Taqueria Azteca Makes the Best Tacos in Central Arkansas
Taqueria Azteca is my favorite place for tacos in Central Arkansas. (They have two spots, one in Maumelle and one in Benton.) They’re as authentico as I imagine they get, and certainly bring me back to those terrific taco places I’ve eaten at in Mexico.
Get the Fried Chicken and a Slice of Pie at Jestine’s Kitchen in Charleston, S.C.
There’s a special place in my heart for a Meat-n-Three, and Jestine’s Kitchen in Charleston, South Carolina is doing it right. It was hot as Blazes the day I came by, and the sweet greeting I received at the door was just as sweet as this frosty, cool sweet tea that came right quick. It…
Austin’s Uncle Nicky’s Italian Specialties is My Choice for Bombolini
Austin has a beautiful little Italian bakery called Uncle Nicky’s Italian Specialties. I fell in love with this place pretty quickly. It’s run by three guys who know their way around Italian pastries, putting together beautiful homemade pastries, all for a very fair price.
Austin’s The Switch BBQ Switches Up the Standards With Some Interesting New Twists
The Switch BBQ has certainly switched up your traditional barbecue standards with some interesting twists. Take this spin on chicken fried steak, which has a dark, spicy and peppery pan gravy:
Sweet Things Abound at Austin’s Sour Duck Market
I have a few guys that I get together with a couple times a year to do a food journey. We pick a city and three handfuls of restaurants and try to hit all of them in three days. This fall we picked Austin, and started things off gently with a nice visit to Sour…
B Street Rib Off is Full of “A Street” Competitors
I love the smell of barbecue in the morning. Especially at a weekend competition that brings together great cooks, some live music, and plenty of cold beer. ‘Merica. Arkansas is full of such good times, and one of my favorites is the B Street Rib Off held in the Argenta district, in North Little Rock.