2018 - Lexington, Texas

It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  Then why not make it barbecue?  Sounds like a good time for a road trip. . .  Here is the video from my adventure to Snow's BBQ in Lexington, Texas:

My wife and I got up before the sun on a Saturday morning and made the trek to Lexington, Texas.  That’s where you will find Snow’s BBQ at 516 Main Street.  

In 2017, Texas Monthly named Snow’s the best barbecue joint in the state, so we needed to check it out.  After a beautiful ride in the country, we got there just after 7:00 AM and made it an even dozen people waiting in line.  More people trickled in during the next hour and there may have been over a hundred there by the time the doors officially opened at 8:00 AM.  Owner Kerry Bexley worked the crowd, raffling off chances to move up in line, get discounts, or free bottles of sauce.  It’s always fun getting to talk to people in line (one gentleman ahead of us was from Australia), but here the main attraction is Miss Tootsie.

Tootsie Tomanetz, 83 years young, is the undisputed Queen of Texas barbecue.  She has been smoking meats in and around central Texas since 1966.  She’s been with Snow’s since it first opened in 2003.  Her Saturdays usually start around 2:00 AM when she gets to Snow’s for the once a week cook.  As people begin to line up early, she still tends the fires while fans seek her autograph and picture.

When we got inside, we were hit with the sweet, enveloping aroma of barbecue. The three ladies behind the counter were old pros, super friendly and efficient.  I ordered a half pound of moist brisket and a couple of pork ribs.  My wife ordered some lean brisket and a slice of smoked turkey.  Having made the trip from Austin, we ordered some extra brisket, a half chicken, and a pork steak to take home.  We got some pickles and onions, scoops of the free pinto beans, and some iced tea from a side table, then found a table outside where we could eat.

All the barbecue we ate had a light, subtle smokiness to it.  The moist brisket was outstanding.  The meat was super tender, the outer bark full of rich flavor.  The ribs had a sweet taste, with a nice little crunch.  The lean brisket was a wee bit dry, but went down great when paired with the tangy barbecue sauce.  The turkey was moist and flavorful, a little peppery on the outside.  The real treat was when we got home and tried the pork steak.  Great oogly-moogly.  Oh was it good.  That was probably what put Snow’s into first place on that Top 50 list.

After we ate, I got a chance to talk with Clay, one of the pitmasters.  He was checking on racks of ribs, swabbing them down with a mop sauce and getting ready to take them into the house for serving.  

As my wife and I gathered our things and headed for the car, I saw Miss Tootsie washing down a cooler.  I walked over and thanked her for the great barbecue.  She smiled back at me, thanked me for making the drive out to Lexington, and kept right on working.  On second thought, it is the love and dedication Miss Tootsie and Clay and the rest of the staff have that made Snow’s BBQ number one on the list.

I rate this barbecue two Hook ‘Ems!