
Smoked turkey legs have broken out of the State Fair and onto menus across the state.
Daniel Vaughn is the magazine’s Barbecue Editor.
In a former life, the Dallas-based Vaughn was an architect and a mere barbecue hobbyist, eating, reviewing, and writing about smoked meats for his popular blog, Full Custom Gospel BBQ. Then, in March 2013, hobby turned to profession, as he became the country’s one and only barbecue editor.
His first book, The Prophets of Smoked Meat: A Journey Through Texas Barbecue, was released in May 2013 by Ecco, Anthony Bourdain’s line of books.
Jan 16, 2021 — By Daniel Vaughn
Smoked turkey legs have broken out of the State Fair and onto menus across the state.
Jan 14, 2021 — By Daniel Vaughn
One secret is pitmaster Pedro Garcia, who started at Big Al's as a dishwasher over 40 years ago.
Jan 7, 2021 — By Daniel Vaughn
Plus, Houston’s most anticipated restaurant openings for 2021, Fidel Castro in a cowboy hat, and the end of #BrisketGate.
Jan 5, 2021 — By Daniel Vaughn
From brown gravy sauce to pecan pie with brisket, joints from Denison to Gainesville provide lots of solid (and surprising) options.
Dec 31, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Hint: “Trim all visible fat."
Dec 23, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Plus, mask shirkers in Abilene and Greg Abbott's shocking barbecue tab.
Dec 18, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Even in 2020, Texas managed to turn out superlative barbecue. Our barbecue editor picks his favorite bites of brisket, spare ribs, sausage, and more, from all across the state.
Dec 11, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
The Fort Worth joint is now serving Wagyu brisket on a biscuit from you'll never guess where.
Dec 10, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
A warning from the National Restaurant Association. Plus, Austin kicked off its annual 12 Days of Smoked Meat.
Dec 4, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Mechanic turned pitmaster Randy Estrada and his wife Tessa created a menu of uniquely flavored meats and sides at the Creedmoor truck.
Nov 28, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Jordan Jackson once ran the pits at one of the best joints in the state—Bodacious Bar-B-Q, in Longview—but he says the drinking and the pressure were too much. Now he’s working for Aaron Franklin as he starts to rebuild his life.
Nov 27, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
The Del Valle truck serves a well-executed barbecue menu, and its owners are hoping this is just the start.
Nov 25, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Plus, pork processing plant managers behaving badly and $2,000 brisket.
Nov 25, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Equipment, accessories, and treats for the home barbecue chef in your life.
Nov 19, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
The Austin trailer is serving up a small, focused menu after narrowly escaping a pandemic-induced closing in April.
Nov 16, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
The first bite of one of Trey Felton’s cold-smoked, dry-aged ribeyes made our barbecue editor laugh with joy.
Nov 12, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
A fire at the meat processing plant means no turkey for 200,000 customers. Plus, Feges in Houston now ships nationwide.
Oct 29, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Plus, our very own BBQ Fest culminates in a virtual backyard barbecue this Sunday.
Oct 28, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
The Houston barbecue joint keeps regulars on their toes with an ever-changing menu that calls on Hawaiian, Chinese, and Texan flavors.
Oct 23, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Kevin Mason has gone from selling his house-made links out of a patrol car to running an impressive joint in Houston.
Oct 15, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
The connections we make with some barbecue restaurants go way beyond brisket and chopped beef sandwiches.
Oct 15, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Hays Co. Bar-B-Que in San Marcos is for sale. Plus, Neely’s in Marshall closes after 93 years.
Oct 12, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
The Fulshear restaurant and meat market has spectacularly juicy smoked turkey, excellent sausage, and a peppery house-made mustard. Just don't go on a Tuesday.
Oct 1, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Plus: Texas A&M scientists used eye-tracking tech to help 1775 BBQ in College Station design a new menu.
Sep 25, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
In honor of the State Fair of Texas, here's how to enjoy these annual treats at home.
Sep 25, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Plus: Feges BBQ's recipe for smoked sweet potatoes in beef fat.
Sep 23, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
The owners of the Hearne restaurant had planned to stay closed permanently, but reconsidered after hearing from loyal customers.
Sep 18, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Plus: Look for a new hot dog cart from La Barbecue.
Sep 16, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
A simple recipe is all it takes when you use Texas pasture-raised lamb.
Sep 11, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
The nostalgic Dallas restaurant was where I first fell in love with Texas barbecue.
Sep 10, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
The founders of BioBQ are designing a real-meat version of the Texas barbecue favorite—no animal slaughter required.
Sep 3, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Plus: a 17-year-old barbecue prodigy.
Sep 2, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
The suitcase-size Nomad grill is pricey, but founders John Veatch and Cam Leggett are betting that consumers will pay more for quality.
Aug 31, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
With some advice from Roy Perez of historic Kreuz Market, I smoked a delicious dinner that couldn't have been easier.
Aug 26, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
At J Leonardi’s, he smokes meat the way his uncle taught him in the former freedmen’s town of St. John Colony.
Aug 21, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Brix Barbecue founder Trevor Sales grew up in the Midwest and fell in love with Texas barbecue after moving here in 2017.
Aug 20, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Plus: are we ready for lab-grown barbecue?
Aug 19, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
A growing number of independent specialty shops around the state offer tightly curated selections from local producers.
Aug 13, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
The butcher shop and barbecue joint, more than a century old, is finally shutting down (but not before giving us its mop sauce recipe).
Aug 6, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Plus: two new barbecue sauce lines launch.
Aug 1, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Tracing the history of the East Austin institution, which has survived two fires, a gentrification buyout offer, and Midland.
Jul 29, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Inspired by a childhood favorite, the wieners are a welcome addition to the menu of the Austin joint, especially when served with chili.
Jul 24, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
With the traditional supply chain in crisis, here’s a radical plan for a new way forward. (With one big catch).
Jul 23, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Plus: Cananda misunderstands Texas barbecue.
Jul 22, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Goldee's and Hurtado, which both opened just weeks before the pandemic closures in March, could be game-changers for the North Texas scene.
Jul 10, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Don't miss the brisket birria taco at this trailer, which sets up on Saturdays at a brewery in Grapevine.
Jul 6, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Although craft smoked meats are wonderful, there's nothing like eating ribs at a traditional Texas barbecue spot. And they are getting harder to find.
Jul 2, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Plus: Subway's Pitmaster Ramone gets a shout-out from his boss at Sadler's.
Jun 26, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
The legendary Taylor restaurant has adapted to the coronavirus era with an abbreviated menu, larger outdoor patio, and other changes.
Jun 19, 2020 — By Daniel Vaughn
Plus, we celebrate pioneering black pitmasters on Juneteenth.
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