All About Pocket Knives

You can get a lot of arguments about that topic! There's several good ones. My favorite barbecue in Ft. Worth is Angelo's. Heim's is also really good. Risckey's is probably the most famous - it's good too but not as good as some others IMHO.

Ken

Edit: Jerry, like you said there's a lot of good barbecue in Texas. There's good, and then there's really good to great. Rudy's is a chain - it's good and I've eaten there many times. But to get really good or great, find a place that's locally owned by someone who REALLY takes pride in it, and that's their passion. Those places are typically owned and operated by the pit master. There you'll find brisket, ribs, and so on that has been smoked, at the right temperature, for 12 hours or usually longer. The brisket will be almost black on the outside with a pinkish ring underneath. When in your mouth the flavor is indescribable, makes you stop a few seconds and go mmmmmmmm before you swallow it. The side dishes will also be very good. You may have to stand in line for a while to get in and when that day's meat is gone (sold out) they close the doors - come back tomorrow. There's two Rudy's locations within about twenty miles from my house. The problem is I'd have to pass by at least one better barbecue place to get to either of those Rudy's locations. JMO

I think that's true of BBQ cafes and restaurants everywhere. Little Mom & Pop, Hole-In-The-Wall places are always better than the big chains.

Best Tex-Mex I ever ate was in a little place attached to an Amoco service station in the middle of the desert between San Antonio and Neuva Laredo. Might have been because I was so hot and tired. No one in the place spoke English.

And there was Ninfa's in Houston. Unbelievably good and in an old stone Pure Oil Station in a gosh-awful inner-city neighborhood. Holes in the parking lot that would damage some cars. Cars on blocks lined the street. Houses up on stacks of blocks high enough to walk under and screen doors hanging by one hinge. Half-naked children and chickens everywhere. But, gee that woman served good food. Then, she got too well known and expanded all over Houston beyond her ability to maintain the original atmosphere and cook the same good food. Ninfa's was the first place I encountered that served margaritas by the pitcher with a saucer of coarse salt on the table.

Charlie

I am about to speak heresy...

Texas BBQ is excellent. I love it. BUT... Kansas City BBQ is better.

There - I said it. I understand the wrath & fury this will bring down upon me by every Texan, but I cannot lie - I think KC has the best BBQ in the world. For almost 2 years I was traveling to KC every other week. The ONLY thing that kept me sane was the KC BBQ - specifically, the BBQ from Jack Stax and Joe's. For the last 4 years I have been traveling to Dallas, and each time I have the BBQ, I wish I was in KC...

Well, Dallas doesn't have good BBQ and that is the only reason I can think of that you would make such an outlandish statement.

Ray

KC does have good barbecue. So does Memphis, St. Louis, and numerous other places. The styles are generally different depending on the location - dry rub, wet, and so on. Generally if they historically had plentiful access to beef (like a stockyards) they'll have developed a style of barbecue. Same goes for steak. BBQ is subjective - it depends on what you like. Even within Texas you'll find disagreement over East Texas barbecue (wet, i.e. smoked with the sauce on it) versus West Texas (dry, i.e. the sauce is served on the side, to be applied after cooking if desired).

My wife and I have had the honor to be judges for several years now at an IBCA (International Barbecue Cookers Association) event. Typically limited to 36 teams annually at this particular event. Doesn't make me any wiser than anyone else regarding what is best, but I have tasted a LOT of barbecue!

And Ray, I'll take issue with you regarding Dallas barbecue - you just need to know where to go. Pecan Lodge in Dallas and Hutchins in McKinney will hold their own with anything in Austin, Lockhart, Lexington or Wharton. Tender Smokehouse in Celina - one of those little hole-in-the-wall places - is a little-known gem. Next time you're in the area give one of them a try!

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote:KC does have good barbecue. So does Memphis, St. Louis, and numerous other places.

Ken, If you ever find yourself in Blanco, TX here is a place to try..
https://old300bbq.com/menu/

TwoFlowers....well....bless your heart.

Born and raised in Fort Worth. Although I have lived around Houston since 1994, all my family is still in Fort Worth, so we go back 5 or 6 times a year.

I second Angelo's for barbecue.

For Tex Mex, you go to Joe T's for the atmosphere. Food is so-so, IMO. My favorite place is El Rancho Grande on North Main, just down from the Stockyards. I have been eating there since the 1960s, and we go there every Mother's day, as it is Mom's favorite food. Was just there a couple of weeks ago.

And then there is Bonnell's, which Zagat ranks 5 stars, and as one of the top 2 or 3 restaurants in the DFW metroplex. Pretty pricey, but the food is outstanding.....and very Texan. I've eaten pretty much everything on the menu, and all have been outstanding.

http://bonnellstexas.com/about/the-chef/

I hate to break it to our good friends from Texas but you can smoke meats other than beef. Growing up in S. Indiana and across the river in S. Illinois, the only BBQ I knew was pork and once I got out into the world, I discovered that some folks also smoke beef, chicken and turkey. A lifetime later I still can't quite wrap my mind around beef as BBQ. I'm guessing y'all feel the same way about beef as I do pork. Pork is still my favorite.

Jerry, that's an interesting thought. We too almost always had BBQ pork as they do at most of the get-togethers. Sometimes there's chicken and some beef but mostly pork. I would reason that pork was more common and cheaper for us country people. Hogs were always in the woods, folks caught them and fed them for a while. I realize that home style BBQ and commercial BBQ restaurants are probably in two different categories.
Treefarmer

Well there was a local television commentator here in Atlanta by the name of Leroy Powell and his mantra was " If it ain't pig meat it ain't BBQ." I don't recall seeing any Texas style bbq here in Ga. When I was growing up either. Times have changed though with people migrating hither,thither and yon and now there is a place here in Marietta called David Poes BBQ that has some of the best beef brisket I have ever eaten and their macaroni and cheese is to die for. Anybody coming to the Blade Show ought to give it a try. Just of the square in Marietta.

gsmith7158 wrote:..........." there is a place here in Marietta called David Poes BBQ that has some of the best beef brisket I have ever eaten and their macaroni and cheese is to die for. Anybody coming to the Blade Show ought to give it a try. Just of the square in Marietta."

Sounds great Greg. You buying ?

On the BBQ topic.....we have a BBQ place within 1/4 mile of us and you know, you absolutely know I loooooooove the smell of burning
wood when they kickstart that grill around 10:00 and beef it up right at 16:30ish!! Oh yeah!!

And they make some purty good Q, but ain't no place else to compare it to, that I'm aware of.....

You betcha Philco, it's not far from the Quality Inn where everyone is staying .

True that in Texas the standard by which good BBQ is judged is usually the beef brisket. But pork ribs are a close second, followed by sausage (pork). Those are the big three staples of Texas BBQ. Everything else - pork butt, often served as "pulled pork", chicken, and turkey is usually available but not nearly as popular as those three. You can sometimes get beef ribs too but many places don't serve them.

Even that is regional however. In general pork is more popular in East Texas, which tends to be culturally more like the South.

Ken

If you ever find yourself in Decatur, Alabama and there's very few reasons why you should, stop in and try Big Bob Gibson's BBQ pork with white sauce.

Withhold judgement until you've tried it.

One small chain that has impressed me is Shane's Rib Shack. I think they are out of The Carolina's.

Charlie Noyes

........y'all have done flung a cravin' on me!!!.....I may have to fire up the smoker today!!!!........ .....................

If you do that, carrmillus, you will be free from the hazards that may prevail with cooking for the public.

carrmillus, I might just have to go to tupelo and drive around till I smell the smoke and see the T Bird.

RalphAlsip wrote:

Mumbleypeg wrote:KC does have good barbecue. So does Memphis, St. Louis, and numerous other places.

Ken, If you ever find yourself in Blanco, TX here is a place to try..
https://old300bbq.com/menu/

Aw, Jerry, now you tell me! I was in the area just last weekend. We spent Mother's Day weekend with our family in the Hill Country, fishing, canoeing, and relaxing at a beautiful place called Mo-Ranch, located on the Guadalupe River about 10 miles west of Hunt. We didn't go through Blanco but we stopped and ate on the way there at a German place in Fredericksburg, and in Kerrville on the way home. Could just as easily have gone to Blanco.

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote:

RalphAlsip wrote:

Mumbleypeg wrote:KC does have good barbecue. So does Memphis, St. Louis, and numerous other places.

Ken, If you ever find yourself in Blanco, TX here is a place to try..
https://old300bbq.com/menu/

Aw, Jerry, now you tell me! I was in the area just last weekend. We spent Mother's Day weekend with our family in the Hill Country, fishing, canoeing, and relaxing at a beautiful place called Mo-Ranch, located on the Guadalupe River about 10 miles west of Hunt. We didn't go through Blanco but we stopped and ate on the way there at a German place in Fredericksburg, and in Kerrville on the way home. Could just as easily have gone to Blanco.

Ken

There is no place in Texas I don't see beauty. (even Midland and west) But the Hill country is the crown. What a great area and all the little towns have their special appeal. The art in Kerrville, the German influence in Fredericksburg and the lovely rolling hills all around plus the abundant wild life and flowers. Perfect place and you have some great pictures. Thanks.

Beautiful pics Ken. Thanks for sharing.

Some of the best KY BBQ I have had was a little hole in the wall in Paducah, Kentucky. Starnes BBQ. Place was a blast from the past like a 50s or 60s diner. No frills as far as decor. The pork or whatever was on plain old white sandwich bread as I recall. No designer buns. I may be incorrect but I recall it was a cash only joint. That was like 8 or more years ago.
Nice small town. The airport terminal was about the size of my house.

Jerry

Mumbleypeg wrote:I was in the area just last weekend. We spent Mother's Day weekend with our family in the Hill Country, fishing, canoeing, and relaxing at a beautiful place called Mo-Ranch, located on the Guadalupe River about 10 miles west of Hunt.
Ken

The area around Hunt & Ingram on the Guadalupe is some of the prettiest in the Hill Country. It is especially pretty along the Guadalupe river in early November when the Cypress leaves change color. There is a state park near to Hunt named Lost Maples State park that is also worth a visit (on an uncrowded weekday lol) during the fall. I live about 50 miles downstream from Kerrville close to the Guadalupe. The Hill country towns of Kerrville, Fredericksburg, and Boerne are some of the best small towns you could hope to find in my opinion.

Ken, I'm surprised you didn't include a family photo from Stonehenge II in Ingram

zp4ja wrote:Some of the best KY BBQ I have had was a little hole in the wall in Paducah, Kentucky.Jerry

Jerry A., I grew up about 25 miles North of Paducah. It is a charming river town on the Ohio river just downstream from where the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers join the Ohio.

Ken, Doggleg,

I have to agree with you fella's. The Texas Hill Country is my favorite part of Texas. It"s just beautiful any where you look.

Success with the new Eastern Blue Bird box after the old one with a different opening was always taken over. I count three chics. Larks took to nesting in another. Mrs. Robin built a nest in the bird feeder again. Busy sitting on four blue eggs.

RalphAlsip wrote:

Mumbleypeg wrote:I was in the area just last weekend. We spent Mother's Day weekend with our family in the Hill Country, fishing, canoeing, and relaxing at a beautiful place called Mo-Ranch, located on the Guadalupe River about 10 miles west of Hunt.
Ken

The area around Hunt & Ingram on the Guadalupe is some of the prettiest in the Hill Country. It is especially pretty along the Guadalupe river in early November when the Cypress leaves change color. There is a state park near to Hunt named Lost Maples State park that is also worth a visit (on an uncrowded weekday lol) during the fall. I live about 50 miles downstream from Kerrville close to the Guadalupe. The Hill country towns of Kerrville, Fredericksburg, and Boerne are some of the best small towns you could hope to find in my opinion.

Ken, I'm surprised you didn't include a family photo from Stonehenge II in Ingram

zp4ja wrote:Some of the best KY BBQ I have had was a little hole in the wall in Paducah, Kentucky.Jerry

Jerry A., I grew up about 25 miles North of Paducah. It is a charming river town on the Ohio river just downstream from where the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers join the Ohio.

Thanks for the pictures, haven't made it to Lost Maples yet but on our list. You live in a great area.