Here Comes the Brisket...Oh I Mean Bride!

Happy New Year everyone!

What better way to celebrate the new year than with a big bridal show in Plano, Texas.  

Trinity BBQ spent last weekend preparing for and then providing tastings for hundreds of brides from literally all over the world (one bride from Nigeria).  We handed out a mini-meal but it sure wasn't no Happy Meal! We had brisket, chicken, tater salad and cole slaw.  

We had such a great time.  We met so many wonderful people. There are a lot of happy couples out there getting ready for their big day.  So many big plans.  So many questions.  So many happy people getting some great food from Trinity BBQ.  Check out the line we had at our booth!

 

Shannon and I had such a great time and the booth looked great.  Many thanks to Faitt Media for the excellent booth, graphics and media design.  We could not of done it without her.  Take a look at the booth and the excellent and classy design that two awesome ladies came up with.

Oh and I guess you would like to see what we cooked, huh?  Well let me know what you think.....

Well, thanks for stopping by.  I hope you like what you see. Stop by our website and follow us @trinitybbq67 and Facebook.  Let me know what you think about our stuff! Oh and one more thing.......  KEEP ON SMOKIN'!!!!! 

Great BBQ in DFW? Yes Please!

Father's day was last weekend and it was a great day.  The day was filled with messages from the kids, a great movie, wonderful time with my wife and some great BBQ.  

If you read my blog, you know I am a huge fan of Central Texas BBQ.  Just love the way it is smoked and the simple flavors combined with excellent make it good enough to eat without sauce.  I think that is the best way to judge great BBQ.  Do I need sauce to make it good, if so then it may be good but not great. (note to sauce lovers out there.  Nothing against sauce just like it better if I don't have to use it.  I do love a good sauce though).

So let's talk about great BBQ in DFW.  Dallas/Fort Worth has some good BBQ but I think there is definitely a gap between D/FW and Central Texas.  Well I made a little adventure for Father's Day.  Shannon and I headed down to Pecan Lodge in the Farmer's Market in Dallas.  We walked in to see quite a line.  A 2 hour wait in line later revealed the wait to be worth it.  Pecan Lodge is a little unique in that they have things besides BBQ like fried chicken.  So to use Shannon's words (she got the chicken.  She is a huge fan of fried chicken and maybe I will get her to write a blog about Gus' in Memphis someday), the chicken was ok which is code for,"I should of gotten BBQ".  Now on to the good stuff.  The BBQ.  I will start with the brisket. It has a generous amount of rub on it to form a very nice bark.  This brisket is by far the best I have had in DFW.  The rub was almost a little too thick but it had great flavor.  I will say that Franklin's is better in my opinion but it was very good.  Now let's go to the ribs.  The ribs were spare ribs and they were phenomenal.  I really liked the ribs because they didn't have sauce on them and the flavor was outstanding with a lot of meat on the bone.  The rib sauce that is served on the side (nice!) was really good.  Vinegar based sauce with just a right mix of sweet and heat.  Really enjoyed that!  Last meat was the pulled pork.  Again, the meat was great.  They make their pork meat a little more salty and that taste is just so good with the pork.  The pulled pork was super tender and juicy.  I won't say much about the sides because honestly they were nothing spectacular.  Just your ordinary BBQ sides.

Summing it up, the food was very good and by far the best BBQ in DFW in my opinion.  However, the experience left a little to be desired.  I'm not talking about the wait.  That is expected with good BBQ but the overall experience felt a little cold.  I love watching the slicer slice my order up and serve it up. At Pecan Lodge, the order is placed and then sent to a back kitchen and produced through a door. You can't tell them  lean or moist or anything like that so you lose the experience somewhat.  Would I recommend Pecan Lodge?  You better believe it!  Great food and great BBQ in Dallas.  Finally!

Thanks and let me hear what you think.  Keep on Smokin!!!

Birthday Bash!!!

Time to write up a little something different.  I know I usually write about BBQ places I visit but this evening time to write up a little bit different.  

I was invited to cook for a big birthday party last weekend.  It was a big b-day and they wanted something special to eat, so they called me.  I was quite honored to be asked to do this.  The evening started at midnight.  A good time to start a BBQ.  I got over and fired up the smoker and spent some good time talking to some folks from Iowa about how they did their BBQ.  I've found that when I fire up the VooDoo Child, people love to talk about hey they BBQ or grill and it is definitely fun and a good time to swap war stories.  I always learn something whether it is a seasoned vet or a rookie just starting.  Something my family taught me.  Look at every opportunity as an opportunity to learn.  You never stop learning.

So, eventually, everyone went to bed and it was just me and VooDoo doing our thing.

Now, we did have a couple of visits from some local coyotes and that was fun.  They got about six feet away and just wanted to say hello.

The product turned out pretty good and more importantly, everyone enjoyed the food.

So thanks for having us out!  We really enjoyed the evening and morning and so glad you enjoyed the food.  So Detlef, happy birthday and we at Trinity BBQ hope you have plenty more!!!

Tell us about your best birthday meal.  We would love to hear.  

Keep on Smokin!!!!

So I Guess It Is Time

Hello faithful readers (feeling my Stephen King today).  I have been writing this blog for a while now and by now you all know how much I love Austin Texas.  I have made so many trips there and been to one BBQ place many times but never have reviewed it.  I thought it didn't need it but it is finally time.  So let's go.

Franklin's BBQ.  If you haven't heard of this place, you must either not be a BBQ fan or living under a rock.  This place is epic.  There are two great things about this place.  The food and the wait.  The food is beyond good.  I usually say things like well this was god but the sides were just ok.  Not here.  It is really all great.  Brisket is what I strive to match with my own twist.  The pulled pork was the best I have ever had.  Sorry Carolina.  The sausage is amazing.  And the sides?  Amazing.  Try the Tipsy Texan.  It is huge and awesome.  A friend was with me and she said that the Tipsy was not only the best bbq sandwich she had ever had but the best sandwich she had ever had.  So needless to say, the BBQ can not be beaten.  

Now the line....the line is long.  Very long. If you get there much later than 10:30 in the morning, you probably won't eat.  They serve the BBQ until it is gone.  Was in line at 9am and got close to the front (thank you Ellen).  But even though the wait is long, they open at 11, the wait is worth it and fun.  I have met people from all over the world.  Everyone comes to Franklin's to experience the greatness. So come on, how fun is that?  Meet great people, eat great food, and most likely you will get to meet the man himself, Aaron Franklin.  So get out to Franklin's and enjoy the best BBQ and atmosphere you will ever have.

Thanks for listening and keep on smokin'!

Finally!!!

Finally means two things in this little blog.  First, it means I finally got to eat some BBQ again.  I had a friendly little reminder from a person in a lab coat that maybe I should slow down on eating (not making) BBQ. So I did for a while so I FINALLY had some BBQ last week.  FINALLY Frisco Texas has some good BBQ. 

Shannon and I went to 3 Stacks Smoke and Tap House in Frisco last Friday.  I have to say that it was very good.  The ribs were awesome.  Dry rub but nice and sweet with a bit of a kick.  The beef sausage was ok but the jalapeño cheddar was incredible.  The beef sausage was just a bit dry but that can be expected.  The brisket was cooked perfectly with a nice smoke ring but I thought it could use more flavor.  It did need sauce so if you are a sauce fan, rock on. And speaking of sauces. They have two. Regular and spicy. Both are good but spicy could be spicier.  The pulled pork was good but needed sauce too but that is ok for pulled pork. The creamed corn was awesome as was the cucumber salad.  The potato salad, something a BBQ place should pride itself on, tasted like it came from a grocery store. 

Overall, this place is a great addition to a very weak BBQ presence North of Dallas.  3 Stacks, thanks for stepping up to the plate.  Shannon and I will definitely be back!!

Time to Testify!!!

Last weekend was a big weekend for a little girl in my life.  Well, she is 24 so not so little but always little to Dad.  It was her bday and she was moving to a new apartment (which is an awesome apartment and when she gets done decorating, it will look amazing.  She is really good at that stuff that Dad just doesn't care that much about.  :)  ).  A birthday and moving weekend so what better way to celebrate some big days than with BBQ, right?  I decided to take her and Shannon to a world famous BBQ place, Mt. Zion Baptist Church BBQ in Huntsville Texas.  Nicknamed Church BBQ. I have eaten there several times and it has won several awards as best BBQ in the state and the country.  We tried all they had to offer.  They got a new smoker recently and we were the first ones there so maybe that explains the so so fare.  The food is usually top notch but today it left a little to be desired.  The ambience is always cool because you are in the followship hall of a church.  The food was in no means bad but just not, "Wow!! This is great.  GIve me more."  The sauce was great and you get plenty of it when they smother the meat in it.  So if you want some Texas BBQ history, give Church BBQ a try.  Here are a couple of pics for ya....

Let me know some other famous Texas BBQ places to try and always.....

KEEP ON SMOKIN!!!!!!!

Houston BBQ

Today I was and still am in Houston.  If you have been reading this blog for long at all, you know when I travel I look for BBQ places.  Today I decided to try Pappa's BBQ, yes the same people behind Pappadeaux's and Pappasito's.  I tried them a long time ago and I have to say I wasn't too impressed.  I wanted to give them another chance and I am glad I did.  I tried the lunch special.  A half-chicken, sausage, salad and beans (Only 8 bucks too!!).  I also added a bit of brisket as I always try that anywhere I go.  Everything was very good.  One of the best sausages I have had in a long time.  The chicken was simple but moist and flavorful.  Brisket was ok.  A little bland but very tender.  So you are probably thinking "Dude!  How much do you eat?!"  Well, I just tried it and had leftovers for dinner tonight.  I am trying to eat better and writing a blog about BBQ makes that tough but I am doing my best! 

So there ya go.  If you are in Houston or in Dallas, give Pappa's BBQ a try.  it is definitely worth it.  Check out this link so you can see where your closest one is and check out the menu.  Here is a picture for ya too!!

So I hope you give them a try and always....  KEEP ON SMOKIN'!!!!

I'm Back!!!

So I have been out of pocket for a while and now I am back.  Look for regular blogs from me. If I haven't traveled to  a new BBQ spot, look for opinions on BBQ tools or rubs or sauces or I just may ramble on about Texas.  You never know.  So let me know some things you want to talk about.  Let's see what kind of stuff we can't get going on this internet thing.

I did have a BBQ over the holidays.  Had a little soiree for my daughter who recently graduated from Sam Houston State.  It was definitely a good time and I have finally perfected my sausage recipe.  I think my menu is complete now.  Take a gander at what we did!

So anyway, I hope you enjoy the pics and I hope everyone had a great holiday!!

Talk to you again soon and Keep on Smokin!!!

Game Day!!!

Hook Em!!!  Texas! Fight!  The eyes of Texas!

No BBQ review here today.  Just a brief word about today.  Today is the Red River Rivalry or Shootout or whatever is politically correct this year.  Big day in my household.  I will be hunkered down watching the game, tending the smoker while my brisket and ribs are going.  Waiting for the perfect meal to hopefully end a perfect day with a Texas win!!  BBQ and football just go together.  Today is just a great day. 

Today also makes me think of something else.  Today is not only Texas-ou but it is my dad's birthday.  My dad, my grammy and myself really had fun with today.  On the rare occasion when Texas would lose my grandmother would be the first to call my dad and tell him that ou won because they had better Texas boys than the Horns had.  Yes, I will admit here and in public.  I am 100% Texan but I do have okie blood as my dad was an okie.  I know, I know.  So Dad, I know you will be up there rooting for your sooners and I will be rooting for my Horns and I will miss you and Grammy and I just hope she doesn't elbow you and say, "You're Texans were better than our Texans."

I love you and miss you both and I will keep on smokin today thinking of you two.

Houston BBQ!!!

I was in H-town last week.  I went by a classic Texas BBQ place for dinner.  I tried several meats they had there.  The turkey was pretty good.  Had a good spicy rub on it.  The brisket was good, not great but good.  The sausage was very good.  It was very cool seeing sausage advertised as Czech sausage.  You don't see that a lot and it is totally a shout out to the Czech heritage in Texas.  If you don't know much about that, you should Google Czech and Texas.  You will be surprised.  So, next time you are in Houston, stop by Goode Co.. on Kirby.  Great sausage and served in the classic Texas style.  You won't be disappointed in their style and flavor of a classic Texas past time.  Tell them Trinity BBQ sent you!

Keep on Smokin!!

Happy Birthday!!
I tell ya, there is nothing like a birthday party that incorporates BBQ into it.  We did a job this weekend for a birthday party and man was it great!  The BBQ was the first one that had all of my smoked meats in it.  I smoked up about 110 lbs of meat.  Many animals gave their life for everyone's happiness.  Let's all have a moment of silence to thank them.....


Ok.  Enough of that!  We also have a new side item.  Shannon helped me develop an awesome green bean recipe.  Let me just say this, bacon is an amazing ingredient!  I also debuted two new sauces that were well received.  Nothing like waking someone up with a little sauce.  So another gig is in the books.  It went great and thanks to the Beauchamp family for your business.  It was a great time and we look forward to many more!

Here are some pics for your enjoyment and keep on smokin!!!!