90723 Mon Aug 11 13:59:28 -0700 2003 20 5 Texas 0 498556 Hello everyone. I just found this message board and thought some of you may be able to help me out. I'm part of a collection of Austin filmmakers making a documentary about Texas BBQ, the joints, the people and the culture. So far we have filmed at New Zion in Huntsville, Smitty's and Kreuz in Lockhart, and the Mosquito festival in Clute. Cooper's and Louie Mueller's are also on our list. What we are trying to find are barbecue joints that tell stories or have some unique appeal other than great food. Of course if the BBQ isn't good then it has to be a really good story. Specifically we are searching for places in West Texas, the Dallas area, and any joints that may have a mexican flare. Any help would be appreciated. If you're interested in tracking our progress you can visit the website at www.bbqfilm.com. Also feel free to come to our shoots and tell us why you love barbecue and why it is so integral to the lives of Texans. Thanks, Dave Rehm Link: http://www.bbqfilm.com Mon Aug 11 13:59:28 -0700 2003 0 Dave Rehm 1 498557 City Market in Luling and Black's in Lockhart are two places you need to visit. Mon Aug 11 15:45:43 -0700 2003 498556 0 KP 2 498573 I concur. No look at Texas barbecue is complete without a visit to these two establishments. Tue Aug 12 11:11:32 -0700 2003 498557 0 Jim 3 498842 Taylor Cafe in Taylor (duh). My favorite and character and history to burn! Love Louie Mueller's but for color it's simply blown away by Vencil Mares' place. Go before he's no longer with us. I think that he's in his mid-80s by now and I;ve seen him there as early as 8:00 am and as late as 1:00 am. Mon Sep 01 14:23:53 -0700 2003 498573 0 josh 1 498558 See the attached link re: Robb Walsh's book, "Legends of Texas Barbecue." His book is a must-read for your film. Also, he may be a good source to consult with. Link: http://www.robbwalsh.com/01cookbooks/1legends.shtml Mon Aug 11 17:49:20 -0700 2003 498556 0 Bob 1 498559 There used to be a place in Irving called Hank's I believe, way down Grauwyler or thereabouts (maybe Union Bower?) that had a real community feel. They had a few chairs for people to sit in and whittle at bits of wood, and there were wooden chains and balls-in-a-box and other such whittling tricks on display. Can't speak to the food as it's been a long time. If you're interested I can probably find out more. Mon Aug 11 17:51:10 -0700 2003 498556 0 john clark 1 498564 If you are looking for characters than Thelma of Thelma's bbq in Houston is a must. What about Sam's in Austin? That place is famous with texas musicians. It probably has something to do with the late hours they have. And the guy that serves que outside of the continental club in Austin on weekdays and Houston on the weekends. Mon Aug 11 22:54:13 -0700 2003 498556 0 John Scar 1 498567 Glad to hear you're doing this. Will this be for PBS or FoodTV or what? Most PBS shows on food, like the recent 'Sandwiches You Will Like,' and most food websites, are very east-coast centric. Seems like that 'Best of' series on FoodTV spends about 50% of it's time in either South Florida or Minnesota. Must be where the two hosts are from. I'd like to see some one other than Thelma and Jim Goode get some attention in Houston bbq circles. Neither one of them turns out the best cue in this city, as far as I'm concerned. Williams Smokehouse would make a good subject - picturesque setting despite the somewhat questionable neighborhood, photos of celebs who've eaten there on the walls, etc. You could do a whole program on just the 10 places Walsh mentioned in his most recent article in the Press back in May. Link: http://www.houstonpress.com/issues/2003-05-01/sidebar.html/1/index.html Tue Aug 12 02:52:16 -0700 2003 498556 0 hermitt4d 1 498570 You should check out the story about a Denton, TX barbecue institution: Steve's Bar-B-Q Pit at 403 E. Hickory St. This longtime Denton dining favorite was completely devastated by a fire, and the community is putting it back in business (the owner did not have any insurance nor could he afford to reopen on his own). Thanks to the generosity of a community, Steve's is scheduled to resume business this fall. I'll attach the link for the original story, and then attach a link for the followup story on a separate thread. Best of luck! Link: http://www.wfaa.com/localnews/news8/stories/wfaa030421_am_dentonbbq.121e5ace7.html Tue Aug 12 10:16:19 -0700 2003 498556 0 MaryH 2 498571 Here's the followup story... Link: http://www.dallasnews.com/localnews/city/denton/stories/062003dndensteves.6cd19.html Tue Aug 12 10:21:37 -0700 2003 498570 0 MaryH 1 498575 HOLY SMOKES! BBQ 8611 Hillcrest Dallas, Texas 75225 214-691-RIBS Tue Aug 12 12:36:04 -0700 2003 498556 0 Molly 1 498576 Did you know that in addition to Texas and Mexico, there is another state down here? It's called "The Border." Cities within "The Border" belong more to it than to either Texas or Mexico. They are a hybrid with their own culture, their own customs, their own set of rules, and even their own language, "Spanglish." They are impossible to separate. Many of the residents live in one country, but work in the other. Everyone has relatives "on the other side." Most Mexicans also have US addresses, post office boxes, etc. Laredo and Nuevo Laredo, for example, may look distinct on the map, but in reality they are one city. I'd suggest that if you're serious about getting the whole story of "Texas barbeque," you take a little jaunt several hundred yards away from where Texas officially ceases into where Mexico officially begins. Go to Nuevo Laredo and have cabrito at Restaurante Principal, or Neuvo Leon, or El Rincon del Viejo, where the goat hangs proudly in the windows, roasting away over an open fire. Or La Fogata in Nuevo Progresso. You can't understand present-day barbacoa in Texas, nor its legion of fans, without understanding where it came from. Tue Aug 12 12:38:45 -0700 2003 498556 0 ChrissieH 2 498636 Thanks for your post. Robb Walsh really doesn't say much about barbacoa in his book. I'm planning on heading south early next year but hadn't decided on RGV or Laredo; think I'll head to Laredo and keep your recommendations in mind. Thu Aug 14 07:32:41 -0700 2003 498576 0 hermitt4d 3 498637 If you do go to Laredo, El Rincon del Viejo is one of the most famous restaurants in northern Mexico. And Laredo is a large, dynamic city and you'll find quite a number of good places to eat. Cabrito is the specialty dish of the north, so several of the restaurants offer it. Further south (just across from Weslaco, Texas), is Nuevo Progresso. There are three good restaurants there - La Fogata, Arturo's and Garcia's. Arturo's and Garcia's are "typical" of the "nice" restaurants you'll find in Mexico. La Fogata is a grilled meat place, also typical. El Rincon in Nuevo Laredo, however, is a "cabrito" restaurant. It's a very lovely setting, with a patio and pools, and the goat roasting in the front window. And it's famous. But whichever you chose, you'll do some good eating. Thu Aug 14 09:29:57 -0700 2003 498636 0 ChrissieH 4 498645 Thanks again for all the info. I like South Texas, RGV more than Laredo. It's one of the places I have in mind to consider for retirement, if and when! I'll be making several trips over the next few years checking it out. Actually, tho, I'm probably going to wind up somewhere within 20-30 miles of Lockhart or Luling!!! Thu Aug 14 14:35:59 -0700 2003 498637 0 hermitt4d 5 498648 Well, I said this elsewhere, but I'll repeat it. If you're in the valley, drive across to Mexico at Nuevo Progreso, which is about at Weslaco. Just drive your car across the border. About two or three blocks into Progreso, look on your left-hand side. Look for "Arturo's Restaurant." They have a big parking lot adjacent to the restaurant on the side away from the border. Pull into there. The parking lot has a guard that will watch your car. Go into the restaurant and use the nice clean restrooms. You can also have a good breakfast there, and some delicious snacks. Their seafood coctele Campechana is wonderful! Also get a glass of the terrific Sangria. You can leave your car in their parking lot while you shop. I usually get there fairly early in the day, and try to eat at least one meal in Arturo's to pay them back for having that nice parking lot. In addition, I tip the attendant. Another good restaurant is Garcia's, across the street from Arturo's, and upstairs over La Canada store. On the same side of the street as Garcia's, but several blocks farther away from the border is La Fogata. I like both Arturo's and La Fogata better than Garcia's, but it's good, too. At La Fogata, be sure to get some charro beans and the queso fundido - with chorizo and mushrooms. Progreso is a nice place to visit. It's small, clean, and the prices are good. There's a Best Western motel in Weslaco where you can stay. All in all, it's a great weekend! Thu Aug 14 17:19:18 -0700 2003 498645 0 ChrissieH 1 498579 And here's another interesting angle - at least to me. BBQ in Texas seems to be directly traceable to four distinct heritages: German meat markets, cowboys on the trail, African-Americans, Mexicans. I find it fascinating the "sides" that each of these cultures prefers. German meat markets have historically offered the exact same "sides" that one would normally expect when ordering meat at any butchershop: none. Cowboy BBQs usually serve the kind of pinto beans that cooky likely served up out on the trail. Dessert is often peach cobbler. Mexican-inspired BBQ places generally offer charro beans, pico de gallo or jalapenos or other hot salsa, and tortillas. For dessert? How about flan. The African-American 'cue joints are where you can always count on potato salad and coleslaw, and the beans may well be sweet BBQ-baked beans. And for dessert? They have my favorite: Sweet Potato Pie. Tue Aug 12 14:03:46 -0700 2003 498556 0 ChrissieH 2 498635 Interesting observations. Black bbq places are also likely to offer mashed potato salad (especially in East Texas) and greens. Thu Aug 14 07:30:18 -0700 2003 498579 0 hermitt4d 1 498610 Since Louis Mueller's is on your list, you should try Gransdon John Mueller's place in Austin which is a great spot. When he opened (and, I expect before he opened) there was (is) lots of frition between he and his dad. Might make an interesting story and 'cue comparison. Also, it's not new news, but you ought to look into the Kreuz/Smitty's fued and the Cooper's/Opie's fight. Wed Aug 13 12:44:09 -0700 2003 498556 0 Greg Spence 1 498678 In the greater Houston area, "The Swinging Door" on FM 359 in Ft. Bend County is a definite BBQ must. One of our ex-govenors was a frequent visitor while in office. Instead of the typical mesquite they use pecan wood. Flavor is a bit different from usual Texas BBQ fare. Mon Aug 18 13:21:34 -0700 2003 498556 0 TR Smith 1 498894 I don't live in Texas now but I lived in the DFW area for 14 years. Texas BBQ is incomparable. Nothing in Phoenix comes close. I recomend Crown's in Grand Prairie. It's small, dilapidated, and only opens when they feel like it. Neighborhood is seedy. Very good greens, ok potato salad, excellent meat. Authentic BBQ experience. Best BBQ I've had is at Railhead, either at Fort Worth or Euless location. Ribs are especially wonderful. Wed Sep 03 19:12:09 -0700 2003 498556 0 Jamie in Phoenix