– Have we gone too far? Bacon-wrapped ribs:

 

– With a new smoker, Killen’s Barbecue in Pearland plans to add dinner service soon. 

– Culturemap Houston names The Pit Room and Killen’s STQ as two of the best new restaurants in Houston for 2016. 

– Houston Food Finder picks their favorite barbecue joints in the city in 2016. 

– J C Reid looks back at the barbecue boom in Houston over the past year. 

– But maybe Houston should look back to its East TX BBQ roots:

 

– The BBQ Hub takes a look back at the year in barbecue, including a note about the year of pastrami.

– SFA’s Gravy looks at the influence of Lannie’s Bar-B-Q Spot on Selma, Alabama, where it has been open since 1942.

– The butchers of Fort Worth:

 

– Rodney Scott of Scott’s BBQ in Hemingway, South Carolina makes an appearance on Top Chef to teach his whole hog methods. 

– The BBQ Hub has more details on how the Top Chef contestants did with their whole hogs. 

– Rodney Scott’s second location will open in Charleston, South Carolina soon. 

– Here’s how Rodney Scott cooks whole hog:

 

– Business Insider takes a tour through Mighty Quinn’s Barbeque in New York City. 

– Some of the finest country hams in Kentucky are sold from the back of a pickup truck. 

– A review from London: “Main-course brisket is thick-cut, with a crusty, regal bark (the outside of barbecued meat). Smoke and cow dance cheek to cheek, more waltz than line dance.” 

– If you missed the Salt Lick Yule Log:

 

– L C Richardson of LC’s BBQ in Kansas City was beaten during an attempted robbery outside of his home on Christmas Eve. He has recovered. 

– Smokey’s Barbecue in Corpus Christi was damaged by a fire just before Christmas. 

– A Rudy’s BBQ location in Round Rock caught fire, but it was quickly extinguished. 

– Barbecue covers, five years apart:

 

– Jess Pryles posted a new recipe for brisket burnt ends.

– A Texas-born transplant to Florida asks if his new state’s barbecue is better than Texas. The writer, from El Paso, doesn’t make much of a case.

– The Gambit explores the barbecue in New Orleans, and argues that the city is developing its own style.

– Red Bridges BBQ in Shelby, NC:

 

– Listed amongst Zagat’s most anticipated Austin restaurant openings of 2017 is LeRoy & Lewis. A food truck will open in the spring with a brick-and-mortar coming in 2018. Evan LeRoy, formerly of Freedmen’s, will be the pitmaster.

– Franklin Barbecue has a new page for pre-orders, and they’ve got many open slots for barbecue to-go.

– Miller’s Smokehouse in Belton has a brand new building and has just reopened for business. They also now sell ribs every day.

– Valentina’s in Austin is getting a new location:

 

– La Barbecue in Austin will be closed through January 10th for vacation. 

– The Granary in San Antonio will be closed through January 9th for vacation. 

– KENS in San Antonio is impressed with the new Texas Meat Co. in Boerne. 

– Exciting new barbecue in San Antonio:

 

– Central Track tries the vegan brisket at Dallas’s V-Eats, and is happy it comes on a bun.

– Central Track also ranks their five favorite briskets in DFW, with at least one surprise nod.

– The three little pigs didn’t want to follow in their father’s footsteps: