Linkdown: 10/4/23 – The Texas BBQ Bubble About to Burst? Edition

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Monk: Is the Texas barbecue bubble about to burst? Daniel Vaughn reports slowdowns at a few barbecue joints in Texas due in part to the sheer number of joints that have opened in recent years, the intense heat wave that rocked Texas over the summer, and the skyrocketing price of brisket.

As a result, joints are struggling to make the economics work and are trying to lure casual customers in with lower cost items or specials.

From an outsider’s perspective it does seem as if the growth was unsustainable but despite that, Vaughn lists his reasons why he thinks the barbecue bubble isn’t quite yet about to burst. A fascinating read.

Native News

GGCC Smokehouse, an all-wood smoked barbecue food truck, is in the final four of the CharlotteFive Reader’s Choice Poll

The Lexington Barbecue Festival is featured in CLTure’s fall festival guide

Don’t forget you can take the train to the Barbecue Festival

I wonder if you will see any of these shirts at the festival…

A short video on Cook Out on Insider Food

Smoked chicken and dumplings at Pik N Pig

ICYMI, The Smoke Sheet recently profiled Morris Barbeque in Hookerton

Non-Native News

Congrats to Chef J BBQ for being named #1 barbecue in Kansas City; that’s high praise!

Zavala’s Barbecue is voted best brisket in Dallas

The town of Spring is home to Corkscrew BBQ

Also ICYMI, John Tanner dropped his best barbecue places in DC list

Now that’s a great barbecue sign

Linkdown: 9/20/23 – The Two-Meat Plate Edition

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Monk: Robert Moss dropped his annual top barbecue joint list for Southern Living, and of the 50, eight were North Carolina barbecue joints while another nine were from South Carolina. The North Carolina joints were:

  • Prime Barbecue, Knightdale
  • Barbecue Center, Lexington
  • Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge
  • Sam Jones BBQ, Winterville
  • Stamey’s Barbecue, Greensboro
  • Grady’s Barbecue, Dudley
  • Lexington Barbecue, Lexington
  • Skylight Inn, Ayden

Even with some decent representation from the Carolinas, there were a few I felt could’ve made the list based on what Robert Moss had written previously; Jon G’s Barbecue and Lawrence Barbecue in particular.

A Texas barbecue joint made the #1 spot on the list, and while I won’t spoil just who it was just know it is a very familiar joint to most. You just know that Texas Monthly Barbecue Editor Daniel Vaughn would have to gloat:

Have you read the list yet? Who else should have made it, be it from North Carolina or elsewhere?

Native News

Mike D’s BBQ Smokehouse & Retail in Durham is one of Eater Carolinas’ hottest restaurants in September

Meet Sweet Lew next Monday through Unpretentious Palate

Robert Moss stopped by Prime Barbecue recently for some lechon whole hog

Do you know the difference between western and eastern NC barbecue?

Non-Native News

J.C. Reid on the two-meat plate

John Tanner has some thoughts on the recent Southern Living Top 50 List

Congrats to Lewis Barbecue Greenville on 1 year open

The origin story of Fox Brothers Barbecue, who recently celebrated 22 years

Linkdown: 9/6/23 – The RIP David Millette Edition

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Monk: In a truly terrible news, the general manager of the Raleigh location of Midwood Smokehouse passed away after being assaulted a few weeks back. Police said David “Davey” Millette, Jr. died Friday, Sept. 1. According to police, Millette was assaulted at 2 a.m. on Aug. 26 in the 500 block of Glenwood Avenue.

Sadly, Millete was just 27 years old and leaves behind his parents, sister, nephews, girlfriend, and an unborn child.

If you’d like to donate, a GoFundMe link has been set up here.

Native News

Our State on The Redneck BBQ Lab in Johnston County

Shepard Barbecue recently raised $7,000 for Hawaii

For the 39th Annual Lexington Barbecue Festival on Oct. 28, NC By Train will make 10 stops, unloading passengers one block from the festival.

Non-Native News

Brisket burger x ramen bun

A San Antonio barbecue list

An update to the pitmaster lineup at the BBQ World’s Fair as part of the Texas Monthly BBQ Fest

The Tennessean’s list of best barbecue in Nashville

The Buc-ee’s pitmaster is a 50 year old Texas named Randy Pauly, and he lives for new store openings

I can only imagine the heat in a barbecue room in the Texas summer

Linkdown: 8/29/23 – The Taylor Swift x Barbecue Festival Edition

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Monk: Did you know that Taylor Swift played at the Lexington Barbecue Festival in 2006?

Here’s a brief Tik Tok about it:

There’s some very grainy pre-iPhone concert footage available on YouTube.

Here’s some audio of Swift’s song “Tim McGraw”:

Anywho – this year’s edition of the Lexington Barbecue festival will be in downtown Lexington on Saturday, October 28th. Chances that the next Taylor Swift will be playing there this year…?

Native News

Slash from Guns N’ Roses visited Midwood Smokehouse while the band was in Charlotte for a concert

As a PSA, Jon G’s is closed this Saturday

Non-Native News

Maybe Texas barbecue isn’t all that expensive, comparatively-speaking

City Limits Barbeque in West Columbia, SC has a great to-go option for football tailgates this Fall

Thoughts or preferences?

John Markus of “BBQ Pitmasters” fame gets a positive Zagat review for Markus Hilltop BBQ in Hudson Valley

The TM BBQ Fest will be November 4-5 in Lockhart; ticket information at the link below:

Houston-specific coverage on the festival

Good advice this: