u crzy? whats real bbq. blacks looks like a flippin cafeteria, lol. sure they make it nice and touristy, so i can understand your misconception. dont go and ban me from this forum now. jaja
Black’s is on the list because it is freakin’ BBQ history, I don’t care if they are serving shoe leather today I am going to eat there. When you visit the holy land you walk in the steps of Jesus and when you put together a BBQ buck list you eat at joints that are legendary. That said I am changing the second stop on my bucket list to include all the Lockhart legends: Black’s, Smitty’s, and Kruez. VFish's Bucket List: 1. Arthur Bryant's 2. Black's, Smitty's, and Kruez. 3. ???
What he said. (Snow's at 3) Misconception? I'm a native Austinite who has had Salt Lick many times and if you speak to anyone knowledgeable about BBQ what they think about Salt Lick and they will tell you it's way over-rated. Hopefully you aren't judging Black's by it's appearance.
Next stop on my bucket list Big Bob Gibson’s BBQ in Decatur, Alabama. Why Bob Gibson’s is on the list: The man had unforeseen genius to match BBQ with mayonnaise (I know, it sounds bad but don’t knock until you’ve tried it. It is truly BBQ magic). What am I going to order: The combo platter @ a bottle of white sauce to take home. And for Bab’s here is the Big Bob Gibson White BBQ Sauce recipe: Ingredients •1/2 cup mayonnaise •1/4 cup water •2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar •1/2 teaspoon lemon juice •1/2 teaspoon prepared horseradish •1/2 teaspoon salt •1/2 teaspoon black pepper •1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper •1 tablespoon sugar Directions Combine all ingredients in bowl and mix well. BTW, Chris Lilly's (Big Bob's Pitmaster) BBQ book is a must have for the bookshelf: Added bonus: I've done this BBQ recipe and it was awesome!
I went to blacks and it didnt impress. I will have to try it again, but i guess what did it for me was the bbq sauce. did not taste good at all. sure visit it for its history, doesnt mean its gonna be the best. sure but you stated it isnt real bbq. just because they try to play to the tourists and fresas, and make things all fancy does that make their bbq fake? whats the difference in their process and say, Black's process that makes that so?
just want to say that i'm enjoying this thread as i'm always in the mood for bbq. my bucket list definitely includes bbq vacations to texas (likely lockhart) and memphis. i don't have a tremendous amount of interest in carolina-style bbq, but i've never tried it, so i wouldn't turn it down if i had the opportunity.
I didn't say it isn't real bbq, I said it isn't real serious bbq which meant that it's not top shelf/the best. The one time I had Black's brisket I didn't flip for it, but who cares about the bbq sauce
It isn't my favorite, but to be fair, I've never really had the real thing - just facsimiles in New York and I only recently had pulled pork that I liked. For me it's all about the brisket.
oh yeah, the used to not even have bbq sauce, dont know if its an elitist thing that bbq doesnt need sauce. lol. anyway, ill give Blacks another try, still havent been to smittys or kreutz, which i guess is the same thing now. that should be it for lockhart. ill have to try out that other place you mentioned, need to map it out tho. what about stubbs, in downtown austin? that any good. or county line also in west austin? Rudy's is my favorite brisket tho on another note, i need a good guide on how to cook brisket, temps, lenght, foil or no? hook a brutha up.
Texans don’t put sauce on their BBQ. If you watch the video I posted Edgar Black explains how "Norma Black’s BBQ Sauce" came to be. Yankee tourists were driving him crazy asking for sauce so he told his wife to get in the kitchen and concoct a sauce for them. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QznrQ7JQMpo&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube - Black's BBQ[/ame] Anyway the names in the black family... Edgar, Myrtle, Norma, those are classic BBQ names. I'd eat BBQ from a guy named Edgar any day of the week.
I went to Stubb's several years ago and I must say, I'm not a big fan. Maybe my expectations were too high given the reputation for BBQ in the area, but I was unimpressed. Kind of reminded me of Famous Dave's or some other mass produced BBQ. It wasn't horrible food, it just isn't anywhere near bucket list material. I was there on business, so I didn't get a chance to go anywhere else unfortunately. Stubb's does get some amazing shows, however. I took a look at their upcoming events calendar while I was eating and there were some very good bands coming in the weeks that followed.
Everything you ever wanted to know about cooking a Texas style brisket. I followed Meathead’s step-by-step guide a few weeks ago and the brisket was amazing! (See pics on page 4). Also be sure to check out his grill setup tips and techniques: http://www.amazingribs.com/tips_and_technique/2-zone_indirect_cooking.html
I am extremely intrigued by the white sauce. Is that for beef? My initial reaction is that it would be for chicken, pork or turkey, but hey, I'm up for something new. I'm definitely going to try this, but beef?
Typically pork or chicken. I use it on pulled chicken sandwiches made from beer can chickens. Yum, yum!
Chris is right on Stubbs - it has live music and bbq is passable so it can be a decent place to go to, but we native austinites don't spend much time on or near 6th street. County Line was known for ribs at one point? I'm not sure it's particularly special but I haven't been since high school when I thought it was okay. Truth be told, bbq worship can get a little overboard at times - there's great bbq, but even the best places can serve average stuff due to various reasons and even the average places can be damn good. At the end of the day, it isn't really haute cuisine is it. Then again, there's lots of not so great stuff out there and your appreciation for a place can depend on your priorities, brisket, sauce, sides, etc. I've actually never been to Iron Works and I keep meaning to try it when I'm home for a visit, so give it a try and let us know what you think!
ha, i just asked a coworker about Iron Works, he said it was expensive and not that good. paid a bit over 15 bucks. Ill try it myself one of these days to get first hand experience.
In many ways, I do agree with this. In one sense, BBQ can be like pizza. It's like there is this giant bell curve that is pretty narrow. A ton of BBQ (and pizza) fit within that middle where there is not a lot of distinction. Good pizza. Good BBQ. There are places on the left of the bell curve, however, that absolutely suck. Then, there are the rare places that fall to the right of the curve. And if you love BBQ in all its forms, THAT is the purpose of a bucket list. That is why with all the really, really good BBQ in KC, I agree with v that Arthur Bryant's belongs on the bucket list. Other really, really good ones in KC do not (although you would be crazy to go to KC and NOT eat at Gates or Oklahoma Joe's as long as you are there on a BBQ tour.) Off the top of my head, I can give you a dozen or more really good BBQs that I would recommend if you are in the area. Brother in Laws on Divisidero in San Francisco. Battle's in Ames, Iowa. Judge's in Indianapolis etc. But, there are very few (but they do exist) that are worth planning a trip around.
i agree with just about everything here, and obviously it's up to your own taste buds to determine what your favorite is, but being from kansas city and having discussed bbq ad nauseum with my friends/family/locals, it's very rare to find one that thinks bryant's is the best of the local scene. it's usually in the top 10, for sure, but almost never is it #1 on anyone's list. you're spot on, though, about needing to hit up at least those three on a bbq tour, if only for the history and the lore. they need to be the original locations, though... not one of the satellites around the city (there's a bryant's literally a block away from livestrong park). if you want to go for a little bit higher class type of bbq restaurant, fiorella's jack stack is very, very good. it's in my top 5.
Have you tried the whole mackerel that Whole Food (on 5th) sells? I was told that the best bbq served in Austin now comes from a trailer on the access road on I-35 near UT. It's open only a couple of hours a day at lunch time. There is always a line. Have you tried it? I haven't yet.
I actually don't live in Austin anymore - but is the mackerel cooked? Worth checking out? Trailer sounds intriguing - if you find out more details share with the class because I'd definitely check that out.
Who doesn't like Q? Who's the chump that gave our thread a one star rating? LOL! That really hurt dude.
Re: Who doesn't like Q? prolly got pissed i came in here all trolling like. i gave it a five star just now to help it out. those bbq links look awesome.