BBQ
July 23, 2020
BBQ News Roundup: Meat-Cutting Robots and 3D-Printed Steak
Plus: Cananda misunderstands Texas barbecue.
Aaron Franklin
BBQ
May 28, 2020
Aaron Franklin Will Be the Next Texan to Join the Barbecue Hall of Fame
The honor comes as his business struggles to break even during the pandemic.
Dining Guide
March 18, 2020
Dining Guide: Highlights From Our April 2020 Issue
Texas Monthly adds and updates approximately sixty restaurant listings to our Dining Guide each month. There’s limited space in the print issue, but the entire searchable guide to the best of Texas cuisine is at your fingertips online! Below are a few highlights from the new restaurants reviewed in our April 2020…
BBQ
March 18, 2020
Aaron Franklin on How to Clean Your Smoker
Take care of your pit, and it will take care of you.
BBQ
March 3, 2020
Franklin Barbecue Pits Begins Building Its Backyard Smokers
Aaron Franklin’s new Austin welding shop says it will get the first batch to customers by Memorial Day.
BBQ
October 25, 2019
Your Filthy Barbecue Pit Is Not “Seasoned”
Pitmasters should stop using the term to justify cooking in dirty smokers.
BBQ
September 5, 2019
BBQ News Roundup: RIP “Smokey” John Reaves, a Top 50 Joint For Sale, and Great Chain Barbecue
Plus: Your chance to buy an Aaron Franklin backyard smoker.
BBQ
July 15, 2019
There’s Something Better Than Brisket at Franklin Barbecue
The Saturday-only special of beef short ribs outdoes everything else on the menu. Just be prepared to pay big bucks.
Books
June 11, 2019
The Best New Barbecue Books of 2019 So Far
This year's crop of smoked-meat cookbooks includes everything from an 18th-century recipe to the latest techniques for unusual dishes.
BBQ
May 16, 2019
Aaron Franklin Teaches a MasterClass in Barbecue
The Austin pitmaster spills seemingly all the secrets to making his phenomenal brisket in a new video series.
BBQ
May 15, 2019
BBQ News Roundup: Pulled Pork’s Rise in Texas, Dickey’s Does Dubai, and Franklin’s Breakfast Tacos
Plus, Texas Tech is to competitive meat judging what Alabama is to college football.
Podcasts
May 13, 2019
Aaron Franklin: “There’s Always People in a Three-Hour Line Hoping You Fail”
On this week’s National Podcast of Texas, the celebrated Austin pitmaster discusses the first ten years of Franklin BBQ, the psychology of expectations, and next week’s Hot Luck Fest.
BBQ
April 18, 2019
BBQ News Roundup: Busting Brisket Myths, Obama Loves Texas Barbecue, and New Fort Worth Joints
Plus: the best steak that Aaron Franklin ever ate.
Food & Drink
April 9, 2019
Jordan Mackay on “Franklin Steak,” Favorite Wine Pairings, and Working With Aaron Again
The meat whisperer and the book whisperer have teamed up again, and this time, it’s all about steak.
Food & Drink
April 9, 2019
Well Done! Aaron Franklin Takes on Steak in His New Book
Along with Jordan Mackay, the acclaimed pitmaster writes the definitive guide to steaks, which is out now.
BBQ
October 9, 2018
Take a First Look at Aaron Franklin’s Steak Cookbook
In April, the pitmaster and Jordan Mackay will follow up their barbecue best-seller with recipes and tips for grilling their favorite cuts.
Food & Drink
May 21, 2018
Aaron Franklin’s Guide to This Year’s Hot Luck
For year two of Austin's food and music festival, which starts Thursday, the pitmaster walks us through the fun.
BBQ
April 4, 2018
Much-Anticipated Loro Is Open: This Bite Sums It Up
The bavette exemplifies Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole's ambitious collaboration.
Food & Drink
March 22, 2018
Exclusive Look at Loro, Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole’s New Eatery
The long-awaited collaboration between two of the state’s biggest names in food opens April 4. Here’s a sneak peek.
BBQ
February 21, 2018
Hot Luck Festival Reveals Lineup
Co-founder Aaron Franklin says he's excited about the four-day food and music extravaganza, happening this May in Austin.
BBQ
November 7, 2017
Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole Join Forces at Loro
Aaron Franklin, Tyson Cole, and Jack Yoss come together to form a culinary dream team.
Food & Drink
October 18, 2017
Chatting With Aaron Franklin After the Fire
Franklin Barbecue—arguably the most famous barbecue joint in the world—was hit by a major fire that destroyed its pit room and damaged other parts of the building. We chatted with co-owner Aaron Franklin about life after the fire.
BBQ Joint Reviews
June 1, 2017
Franklin Barbecue (Top 50)
Four years ago, Franklin Barbecue was our hands-down pick for best barbecue in the state (i.e., the world). A couple of years later, Aaron Franklin published a best-selling cookbook and won a James Beard award for best chef in the region, a first for a pitmaster. He’s the most famous…
Style & Design
May 22, 2017
The TM General Store Is Open!
This just in: Texas Monthly’s curated BBQ Collection of made-in-Texas artisan goods.
BBQ
May 9, 2017
Hot Luck Preview
Aaron Franklin’s Hot Luck festival will debut in Austin in a couple weeks. Despite Franklin’s involvement, this isn’t strictly a barbecue festival, but smoked meat fans needn’t worry. There are still plenty of talented pitmasters coming to Austin for the highly anticipated food festival. The Hi Lo and Al…
BBQ
August 18, 2016
Franklin Barbecue in Sweden
Although he runs Franklin Barbecue out of Austin, Aaron Franklin is known worldwide for his barbecue. Franklin’s smoked meats are respected by his peers and revered by critics, and he has a James Beard Award to prove it. He has shared his knowledge through his show, BBQ With Franklin, and his…
BBQ
May 2, 2016
Brisket at the Beards
Last year, Aaron Franklin made history by being the first pitmaster to win in the Best Chef category at the James Beard Awards. He’s back at the awards ceremony in Chicago this year with the dish that got him the 2015 prize. Franklin packed up twenty…
Eat My Words
October 6, 2015
Feast Forward
How much does Feast Portland tell us about the food festival Aaron Franklin will be starting in Austin next year?…
Business
October 5, 2015
Franklin Barbecue Has Killed The Professional Line-Waiter Mini-Economy
How is thirteen-year-old Desmond going to save for a car now?…
BBQ
July 6, 2015
Franklin for President
With all the candidates thus far who have entered the 2016 run for president, the logos and mottos abound. Our new crop of Texas Monthly interns figured that none of the candidates matched the qualifications of one Aaron Franklin, proprietor of Austin’s Franklin Barbecue, so they made some alterations to the…
BBQ
May 5, 2015
A James Beard for Barbecue
Aaron Franklin did it. Last night the owner and pitmaster at Austin’s Franklin Barbecue became the first ever pitmaster recognized in any “best chef” category of the annual James Beard Foundation Awards. (See this earlier post for more on the significance of the win) For the…
BBQ
April 1, 2015
Franklin Barbecue: A Meat-Smoking Manifesto
Aaron Franklin is giving us the keys to his barbecue kingdom. Some of his meat smoking secrets have already been leaked via his YouTube series BBQ With Franklin, and more is to come with a new PBS series of the same name, but his upcoming book…
BBQ
March 31, 2015
Scrubbing Out Austin’s BBQ Growth?
If you live on the outskirts of Austin, your suburb might be the new target for barbecue joints looking to open in Travis County. That is if prospective restaurateurs see a new resolution from the Austin City Council as too onerous. It requires that barbecue smokers (and other wood-fired cooking devices)…
BBQ
February 24, 2015
A Barbecue Man in a Quiche Town
Barbecue’s reputation in the culinary world has turned a corner. Last week the nominations for the New York based James Beard Foundation’s annual awards were announced, and a pitmaster was among the names that were otherwise a roll call of haute cuisine. Under the heading “Best Chef: Southwest”…
BBQ
February 5, 2014
Aaron Franklin, Author
Pitmaster, pit builder, television star, dad – these all define Aaron Franklin of Austin’s Franklin Barbecue. By next year you’ll also be able to call him an author. Not only was his new television series with KLRU announced two weeks ago, but now comes…
BBQ
January 24, 2014
Franklin Barbecue T.V.
Aaron Franklin of Austin’s Franklin Barbecue is getting a TV show. If you’ve enjoyed the BBQ with Franklin series on Youtube, then you’ll be happy to know that there’s a lot more coming. KLRU produced the popular web series, and this year they’ll shoot ten episodes with Franklin…
BBQ
July 17, 2013
Interview: John Lewis of La Barbecue
Owner/Pitmaster: La Barbecue; Opened 2012 Age: 35 Smoker: Indirect Heat Wood-Fired Pit Wood: Post Oak I talked to John Lewis over the phone while he was making preparations at La Barbecue to open up the following day. John Lewis became the pitmaster at La Barbecue on November,…
BBQ
July 5, 2013
How to Slice a Brisket
When I’m watching a brisket being sliced, a few things make me shudder, like the aggressive purr of an electric knife, the whine of a deli slicer, and, the worst offense, watching the fat cap being discarded (but we’ll save that for another column). I’ll concede that there are several ways…
BBQ
June 28, 2013
BBQ Anatomy 101: The Slaughter
For three days this week I was a student at Beef 101, an intensive course taught by the Texas A&M University meat science staff, led by Dr. Davey Griffin, Dr. Jeff Savell, and Ray Riley. The class covers everything about cattle, from the time…
Food & Drink
June 14, 2013
In Defense of Gassers
Can you get the same quality barbecue from a gas-fired rotisserie?…
BBQ
June 14, 2013
In Defense of Gassers
For one night last week, Franklin Barbecue was transported from Austin to New York. Texas Monthly brought Aaron Franklin and his kitchen manager, Braun Hughes, to cook a little barbecue in the pit of Hill Country Barbecue Market in Manhattan. Tickets for the event sold out in less than a…
Eat My Words
May 31, 2013
“The Kings of BBQ: Barbecue Kuwait” to Air on KLRU
On Thursday, June 6, KLRU will air a television special entitled The Kings of BBQ: Barbecue Kuwait. The documentary details the experience of five BBQ pitmasters (Myron Mixon, Johnny Trigg, Jaime Geer, Nicole Davenport, and George Stone) and their trip to a military base in Kuwait to create a…
BBQ
May 29, 2013
Interview: Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue
Aaron Franklin Owner/Pitmaster: Franklin Barbecue in Austin; opened in 2009 Age: 35 Smoker: Five steel offset smokers made from 1000 gallon propane tanks that are 5/16” thick. Wood: Post oak. Some seasoned, some green. Last week, I sat down with Aaron Franklin over a tray of ribs and brisket at…
BBQ Joint Reviews
May 21, 2013
Franklin Barbecue
The best barbecue joint in Texas is only four years old. This is an unusual development, but one that will surprise no one familiar with Franklin Barbecue, which, since opening in 2009, in a trailer off Interstate 35, has built a cult following for its meats. Has any other restaurant…
Music
March 14, 2013
13 Rules For Having Fun At SXSW
It's already two days into SXSW Music. It's crowded. The schedule app is overwhelming. But the festival is what you make of it. 13 personal rules from Texas Monthly Senior Editor Jason Cohen, whose first SXSW was in 1991…
BBQ Joint Reviews
February 5, 2013
John Mueller Meat Co.
You may remember last October when John Mueller was shut out of his well-regarded JMueller BBQ trailer on South First Street in Austin. He wasn’t happy about it, to say the least, but stayed quiet, plotting his return. That…
Food & Drink
January 21, 2013
Watch the Premiere Episode of Aaron Franklin’s BBQ Show
Brisket, anyone? KLRU debuts its new web series, "BBQ with Franklin."…
Food & Drink
January 21, 2013
Franklin BBQ Is Smoking Meatless Brisket
The wildly popular Austin joint announces vegan “Meatless Monday” dinner special.