Review: Legends of Texas BBQ

I spend a bunch of time on the internet.  Heck, I'm a blogger and "IT professional" so it's almost an occupational hazard.  But a lot of the time online is spent reading about and researching BBQ and Beer.  As a result, I'm not much on cook books.  Most of the info in just about any cookbook can be found at any one of a number of BBQ forums, websites etc.

Nonetheless, I received "Legends of Texas BBQ" as a gift and once I began reading it I found that I couldn't put it down.  This wasn't really as much about the recipes although there are plenty.  Instead, I found myself drawn to the narrative of the history of Texas BBQ.  The stories about the German immigrants and tradition of slow smoking meats and sausages in the Texas hill country were fascinating.  I enjoyed the tales of meat counters serving up fresh BBQ on butcher's paper to ranchers, roughnecks and laborers.  And I especially enjoyed the photography.  The book is full of black and white photos of legendary pit masters, BBQ stands, and people eating BBQ at a variety of places.

While I haven't tried many of the recipes in the book, I would highly recommend this for anyone who has an interest in the history of this past time and specifically Texas BBQ.  In fact, I'd love to use this book as a roadmap for an attempt to eat my way across Texas.

Cheers,
Braddog

The Best Texas BBQ

I'm a Midwesterner, born and raised. But I have a preference for Southern things, including my taste in BBQ.

Now I've been to Texas on business a number of times, but I've never been there as a tourist. So I can't comment first hand on "Texas BBQ" but by all accounts beef is king and the best BBQ joints are hole in the wall joints scattered about the hill country.

I ran across this article the confirms where you're likely to find the best BBQ in Texas and I thought it was worth sharing. I hope you enjoy it.

By Meat Alone
The best Texas BBQ in the world.
by Calvin Trillin

Cheers,
Braddog

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