Monk: Eater’s Smoke Point heads to Houston to visit Leo Botello IV at Truth BBQ, who is one of a few Texas pit bosses differentiating themselves with whole hog barbecue.
Description: Truth BBQ is one the busiest barbecue restaurants in all of Texas. The restaurant is known for its popular brisket, but now pitmaster Leonard Botello IV is expanding his menu to bring Carolina whole hog barbecue to Houston.
The latest barbecue list from Only In Your State includes Jon G’s Barbecue
Some video behind the scenes at the underrated Rick’s Smokehouse outside Lexington
The 37th Annual Pigskin Pig-Out will take place April 8-9 and “will again feature a weekend of barbecue with the famous pig cookin’ contest, tailgating with friends and family, 1st Annual Pigskin Car Show, live music and carnival fun for all ages”
Lawrence Barbecue and Boxyard RTP remain on the Eater Carolinas Heat Map for the Triangle
Barvecue has raised $600 million thus far
ICYMI last year, the origin of hushpuppies
RIP Ray Ramirez of Los Angeles’ Ray’s BBQ
Cobos Que bringing the heat: brisket boudin mac-and-cheese quesadillla
Burgers are the new sausage in Texas
Barbecue historian Robert Moss’ latest book is on the lost southern chefs
Diva Q has barbecue sauce hitting the shelves soon
Huge donation from Hogs for the Cause to Our Lady of the Lake
I covered this on the Facebook page briefly a few weeks back, but Smiley’s Lexington BBQ has officially announced its closing due to the NCDOT widening of Winston Road in Lexington. This widening was first announced in 2018 with a start date in summer 2020 but had likely been delayed due to the pandemic.
While owner Steve Yountz is not ready to retire just yet, per him “right now there is no definite plans on relocating as far as availably and affordability.” Patrons will have until February 26 to dine at the current location of Smiley’s before it closes its doors for good.
Nearby barbecue restaurant Speedy’s is also expected to close as a result of the road widening, however they are more optimistic about reopening in a new location and plan to rebuild and relocate, depending on the compensation they receive from DOT.
While the optimist in me hopes that both restaurants are able to relocate and continue business in due time, I worry that by next month we will be down two more classic NC barbecue joints.
A helpful post from Grady’s
Applications for the Preserve the Pit fellowship are due March 1st
Tim Carman of The Washington Post comes out with his annual barbecue list, with the wrinkle of releasing it in the winter time when some joints are closed
Carman also mourns the loss of pitmaster Corries Hardy
Rodney Scott and Eric Church getting into the honkey tonk game, and bringing whole hog to Broadway at Chief’s
Loro’s second location opens in Houston later this month
J.C. Reid on the evolution of the “Texas Trinity”
Roegels Barbecue opened their Katy location last week
Eater NY critic Robert Sietsema finds Myron Mixon’s Hoboken restaurant to be mixed in quality
Barbecue fests are back, baby! Earlier this week, both the BBQ Fest on the Neuse in Kinston, NC and the Houston Barbecue Festival announced separately that they were both back in spring 2022.
This is after other festivals announce plans to come back strong in 2022, notably Memphis in May, Hogs for the Cause, Jiggy with the Piggy, and Aaron Franklin’s Hot Luck Festival.
Plus the successful debuts of the Pinehurst Barbecue Festival and Holy Smokes in 2021. And finally, it looks like The Barbecue Festival should be back in 2022 as well.
Fingers crossed that we get on the other side of the omicron variant and things can finally go back to relative normalcy.
Lawrence Barbecue renames their most popular sandwich in honor of American Aquarium, with proceeds in the month of February going to the Jimmy V Foundation (a favorite charity of hardcore NC State fan and lead singer BJ Barham)
Jiggy with the Piggy seeks vendors and sponsors
Introducing, the concept of a “Texatarian”
More on the wood issues facing Texas pitmasters
Former Texas A&M Defensive Lineman Jay Arnold is starting a new substack newsletter
Heim Barbecue has scheduled another BBQ class at their River location
RIP Danny Edwards of Lil’ Jake’s in Kansas City