BBQ
May 12, 2023
How to Smoke Shrooms . . . for Barbecue
Using beautiful fungi from Smallhold's mushroom farm in Buda, I tried to mimic meat in the smoker and on the grill to mixed results.
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BBQ
April 28, 2023
“Texas-Style” Pulled Pork Is Embarrassing
Fortunately, Texas pitmasters already know how to get more from a pork butt.
BBQ
March 30, 2023
Finally, Some Good Barbecue for Texas Rangers Fans
Hurtado Barbecue, an Arlington favorite, is now open at Globe Life Field, serving giant beef ribs and birria tacos just in time for opening day.
BBQ
March 10, 2023
Vegan Brisket and Pulled Pork Can Be (Somewhat) Redeemed by Putting Them in Sandwiches
To make these frozen grocery-store products more edible, I zhuzhed them up with sauce, slaw, and buttered buns, to mixed results.
BBQ
March 3, 2023
H-E-B’s True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping
What I once claimed was the best barbecue chain in Texas has recently yielded some disappointing results as locations expand.
BBQ
February 24, 2023
One Texas Ranch Has Beef with How the USDA Grades Wagyu
It's nowhere near as stringent as the Japanese system, leading some companies to come up with their own grading. R-C Ranch wants to see that change.
BBQ
February 10, 2023
Thirty Years Ago, the First Wagyu Cows Came to the U.S. Now, the Industry Is Bigger Than Anyone Predicted.
Trade wars with Japan, $250 vials of semen, and livestock-filled airplanes all contributed to the still-growing industry of Wagyu beef today.
BBQ
February 1, 2023
How ‘Poker Face’ Re-created an East Texas BBQ Joint for TV
The third episode of the Peacock series starring Natasha Lyonne heavily features Texas barbecue, and gets a surprising amount of detail right.
BBQ
January 27, 2023
Is the Fourth Slice the Barometer for a Well-Cooked Brisket?
Two pitmaster friends seem to think so. What started as a theory between them has spread into wider barbecue-nerd circles.
BBQ
January 10, 2023
This Boutique Ranch Focuses on Grass-Fed Wagyu, Tasty in Burgers or as Steaks
Peeler Farms in Floresville hones its niche in the rapidly expanding Wagyu market—and doesn’t compromise service in the process.
Style & Design
December 16, 2022
19 Barbecue-Themed Ornaments for Trimming Your Christmas Tree
Show off your obsession for smoked meat and its accoutrements during the holiday season with cute, curated decor.
BBQ
December 8, 2022
Where Have All the Savory Spareribs Gone?
Some of the most popular new barbecue joints only offer sweet-glazed ribs, which has left us nostalgic for the good ol’ days of salt-and-pepper pork.
Tacos
December 2, 2022
‘Taco Chronicles’ Highlights Texas’s Barbecue Tacos in Its Latest Season
The Netflix series honors the fusion food by featuring two joints in Dallas and San Antonio. We add two more that could’ve made the cut.
BBQ
November 23, 2022
10 Texas Rubs, Sauces, and Seasonings to Amp Up Your Barbecue
From a chimichurri to a halal rub, these smoked meat add-ons will seriously liven up everything from steak to sausage to eggs.
BBQ
November 10, 2022
Fire Destroyed This Welder’s Home, but That Didn’t Stop His Passion for Barbecue Pits
In the face of adversity, Michael Johnson Jr. continued to build Cen-Tex Smokers, a company that now has a year-long waiting list for its pits.
BBQ
November 2, 2022
Is the Foil-Boat Method the Best Way to Cook Brisket?
Butcher paper–wrapped briskets came into fashion about a decade ago, but more pitmasters and home cooks are opting for the full metal brisket jacket.
BBQ
October 27, 2022
How Barbecue Has Changed in the Last Decade
The Southern Foodways Symposium, held last weekend in Mississippi, made barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn reflect on the industry and his career.
BBQ
October 14, 2022
The Persistent Nationwide Turkey Shortage Is Changing Texas Barbecue Menus
Thanks to a bad outbreak of avian flu this year, turkey suppliers are raising prices and delivering fewer birds to restaurants before the holidays.
BBQ
October 3, 2022
Wagyu Skeptics May Finally Be Convinced by This Ranch’s Beef
At some restaurants, paying more for a Wagyu steak may lead to disappointment. Not so with the products from A Bar N Ranch in North Texas.
BBQ
September 30, 2022
Lockhart Has a New Barbecue Family Feud
As a new location of Terry Black’s Barbecue opened its doors in Lockhart this month, a battle raged on—in the form of quippy signs—with Black’s Barbecue.
BBQ
September 26, 2022
Is Elgin’s Southside Market the Oldest Barbecue Joint in Texas? The Saga Continues.
Six years ago, we set out to answer that question and got inconclusive results. And while we’ve found new info, the mystery endures.
Business
September 8, 2022
Wagyu Is King at Morris Stock Farm in the Texas Panhandle
Texas Monthly’s barbecue editor goes all in on Wagyu beef—and the Texans who produce it.
BBQ
August 24, 2022
Community Barbecues Keep Old Cooking Traditions Alive
Small towns, like Bellville in Austin County, raise funds for various efforts through preparing meat using direct heat and old-school brick pits.
BBQ
July 28, 2022
Three Generations Have Kept Underwood’s Cafeteria Serving Barbecue for 76 Years
The rich history of the Brownwood restaurant includes expansions, bankruptcy, a catchy jingle, and a towering cowboy statue that still stands.
BBQ
July 20, 2022
Head All the Way North on I-35 for Texas-Style Barbecue in Minnesota
It may seem surprising, but this Midwestern state is excelling at brisket, ribs, and more, all inspired by Texas’s most famous joints.
Libations
July 1, 2022
Martin House Brewing Is At It Again With a Barbecue Sauce–Flavored Beer
The Fort Worth–based company has come out with another unusual, savory beer, this time in collaboration with Weatherford’s T&D Barbecue.
BBQ
June 17, 2022
How One Pitmaster’s Lebanese Heritage Influences His Barbecue
Stephen Joseph of Riverport Bar-B-Cue in Jefferson serves Lebanese potato salad and spiced spareribs, and he hopes to incorporate more of his family’s recipes.
BBQ
June 15, 2022
This Famous East Texas Barbecue Joint Tells Its History Through Sandwiches
From the Ex-Wife to the Mother Clucker, the sandwiches at Stanley’s Famous Pit Barbecue in Tyler hint at some legendary tales.
BBQ
June 10, 2022
How One Pit-Repair Company Saved a Historic Smoker
M&M BBQ Company brought a neglected wood-fired rotisserie from 1984 back to life, in addition to making its own custom builds.
BBQ
May 24, 2022
Juicy, Crispy Smoked Chicken Is Having a Moment
Winner, winner, chicken dinner—and that’s exactly what you should order at barbecue joints across the state that smoke theirs to perfection.
Business
May 16, 2022
Scharbauer Cattle Company Creates a Model for Ranch-to-Retail Beef
The multigenerational ranch’s Midland Meat Company sells its famous Wagyu-Angus-Hereford crossbred beef directly to consumers.
BBQ
May 5, 2022
Put Down the Iced Tea: Coffee Is Resurging in the Barbecue Scene
Whether used in a sauce or served alongside a tray of meat, strong brews are finding their way back to Texas joints.
BBQ
May 2, 2022
Instagram-Famous Sandoitchi Pops Up at Goldee’s With Stellar Sandwiches
Hurry to the Fort Worth barbecue joint May 2 and 3 for Japanese sandwiches filled with egg salad, orange and cream, or smoked Wagyu tartare.
BBQ
April 13, 2022
This Seasoning Is the Worst-Kept Secret in Texas Barbecue
While most joints proclaim there's just salt and pepper in their rubs, there is a key ingredient that even Aaron Franklin himself fesses up to using.
BBQ
March 3, 2022
Fourth Time’s the Charm for Gabrick Barbecue Sauces Entrepreneur
After three painful experiences operating barbecue joints, Mark Gabrick finds his sweet spot with a line of H-E-B-approved sauces.
BBQ
February 18, 2022
Grecia Ramos Whips Up Delightful Desserts for 2M Smokehouse
The San Antonio pastry chef breaks the banana-pudding mold with ube cheesecake, homemade versions of Pop-Tarts, and fruit galettes.
BBQ
February 15, 2022
At BBQ Joints Across the State, Burgers Are the New Sausage
Pitmasters have long used trimmings for sausage, but burgers—smoked and griddled—are easier ways to make the most out of expensive brisket.
BBQ
February 3, 2022
Kansas City Needs a BBQ Renaissance
Texas has it beat when it comes to beef-based barbecue. But a few upstart pitmasters are hoping to change KC's reputation.
BBQ
January 14, 2022
Wood Is Hard to Find, and Pitmasters Are Scrambling
As barbecue joints proliferate across the state, wood for smoking meats and reliable, affordable suppliers are increasingly scarce.
BBQ
December 6, 2021
My Favorite Barbecue Bites of 2021
Porkstrami, smoked corn dogs, and multiple brisket breakfast biscuits made our barbecue editor's list of superlative dishes this year.
True Crime
November 17, 2021
The Notorious Mrs. Mossler
In “the trial of the century,” a Houston socialite was accused of plotting her husband's murder—and of having an affair with her nephew. But Candace Mossler was only getting started.
BBQ
October 1, 2021
Has Texas Brisket Peaked?
The state’s favorite smoked meat is so reliably excellent these days that it no longer feels like an achievement.
BBQ
September 24, 2021
Ten Places to Eat State Fair Food Without Setting Foot in the State Fair
Whether or not you plan to attend this year’s fair, head to one of these Dallas–Fort Worth restaurants or barbecue joints for over-the-top fried treats.
True Crime
September 9, 2021
Who Shot Walker Daugherty?
A shoot-out at a Big Bend ranch captured the nation’s attention: first as an alleged ambush by undocumented migrants, then as a fear-mongering hoax. The real story is much more mysterious.
By Wes Ferguson![Wes Ferguson's Profile Photo]()
BBQ
August 17, 2021
Vegetarian Barbecue Isn’t a Threat to Brisket
We’ve come a long way from smoked vegetables seeming strange at a barbecue joint—and that’s a good thing.
Being Texan
June 22, 2021
San Antonio, After All That
Almost five decades after spurning the city—and following several deep losses—a long-lost San Antonian revisits her hometown.
By Mimi Swartz![Mimi Swartz's Profile Photo]()
Libations
June 2, 2021
A Drunk Cook Is a Bad Look: 19 Low- and No-Alcohol Beers to Drink While Barbecuing
We implore you to stay sober enough to properly barbecue your brisket.
BBQ
May 19, 2021
North Carolina Pitmasters Are Spreading the Gospel of Texas Brisket, With Mixed Results
Our barbecue editor went looking for brisket in a state that’s downright hogmatic about its pork-centric barbecue traditions.
BBQ
September 2, 2020
Most Portable Grills Don’t Last or Aren’t Truly Portable. A Dallas Start-up Aims to Change That
The suitcase-size Nomad grill is pricey, but founders John Veatch and Cam Leggett are betting that consumers will pay more for quality.
BBQ
July 24, 2020
Is Texas Ready for a Joint Like Complete Beef Barbecue?
With the traditional supply chain in crisis, here’s a radical plan for a new way forward. (With one big catch).