2018 - Round Rock vs McNeil

There were lots of fireworks when Round Rock hosted their cross town rival McNeil.  Also a look at the barbecue served at Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue in Pflugerville.  Here's my video from this adventure:

I went to Dragon Stadium in Round Rock to see the Dragons in action against their cross town rivals, the McNeil Mavericks.  It was really humid and overcast, with a threat of scattered thunderstorms in the forecast.

But before we talk about the game, let me show you the barbecue I got to eat.

The Barbecue

I had the pleasure of eating at Brotherton’s BlackIron Barbecue in Pflugerville last season (episode TP 214) and was looking for a chance to go back.  A football game in nearby Round Rock was all the excuse I needed.  Brotherton’s is located at 15608 Spring Hill Lane, suite 105.  It’s in a nondescript little shopping center off W. Pecan Street, just behind a gas station.  Be sure to pay attention while driving or you might miss it.  And you don’t want to miss it. . .

I ordered my usual moist brisket and pork ribs.  I grabbed some homemade pickles, onions, and pickled onions from a side table and got myself a big glass of iced tea.  The barbecue was just as I remembered it: outstanding.  Thick slices of moist, tender brisket with a great outer bark and a deep smoky flavor.  Tender, meaty ribs that had a gentle sweetness to them.  Oh it was good.  I sampled some of their sauce, but it really wasn’t needed.

When I was there last year, I had a chance to meet and talk with John Brotherton.  Unfortunately, he was not at the restaurant this time around.  He told me back then about the specialty sandwiches they serve (smoked brisket pastrami, kimchi, etc.) and I started to get all hungry again.  Maybe next time, I can ignore the fact that Brotherton’s is a great barbecue joint and just sample some of their specialties.  Or maybe I get something to take home. . .

Super barbecue, super people.  Brotherton’s Black Iron in Pflugerville.  I rate this barbecue two Hook ‘Ems!

The Game

This game was full of fireworks.  On the third play from scrimmage, Mavericks quarterback Zane Kampfer threw long to Jordan Kerley who out ran the defense for a 72 yard touchdown.  The extra point gave McNeil an early 7-0 lead.

Round Rock answered with a long, 69 yard drive.  Marquis Brown scored on a three yard carry.  McNeil was forced to go three and out and Round Rock began another long drive.  Quarterback Ryan O’Keefe scored from six yards out to make it 14-7.

The Dragons again forced McNeil to punt.  Jordan Smart fumbled the kick and the Mavericks recovered.  As the game moved into the second quarter, Kampfer rolled to his right and found a receiver in the end zone.  The extra point tied the game at 14 all.

Round Rock began another long drive from their 37 yard line.  Facing third and eight, O’Keefe picked up a first down on a nifty run.  After a long run by Brown, O’Keefe scored from four yards out to push the score to 21-14.

The Dragons started their next drive on their 34.  O’Keefe finished the drive with a nine yard scoring run that extended the Round Rock lead to 28-14.

McNeil answered with a 72 yard drive of their own.  Jason Buechler slipped behind the defense and Kampfer hit him in stride for a 34 yard touchdown. 

The Dragons fumbled the kickoff and McNeil recovered.  Kampfer looped a pass to Kerley who took the ball to the house for a 49 yard touchdown.  The Mavericks had cut the lead to 28-26.

On second and nine, O’Keefe took off on a quarterback draw.  He wound his way through the Mavericks defense for a 49 yard score.  Round Rock went to halftime ahead 35-26.

The third quarter saw more of the same.  O’Keefe streaked down the left sideline for a 63 yard touchdown run.

Here came McNeil.  Kampfer threw a strike to Malik Gordon for a six yard touchdown.  The Mavericks ran a trick play to score the two point conversion.  That brought the Mavericks within 7 at 41-34.

Round Rock scored twice more in the third quarter on a two yard run by Smart and a fourteen yard run by Brown.  Missed extra points left the score 53-34.  With about five minutes left in the third quarter, a cold front moved through – temperatures falling and the breeze picking up.

As the game moved into the fourth quarter, Kampfer threw long down the right sideline to Gordon for a 39 yard touchdown.  The extra point made it 53-41 with 11:34 left to play.

And then the sirens went off. . .  Lightning had been detected in the immediate area, so the teams left the field and fans were ordered to evacuate the stadium.  Within a few minutes, rain started pouring down.  I sat in my minivan for about an hour and a half, hoping the game would resume.  But there was still a bit of rain falling and lots of lightning, so I headed home.  I saw that the fourth quarter was played on Saturday afternoon where Round Rock scored two more touchdowns to give them the win 67-41.

2018 - Vandegrift vs Cedar Ridge

 A look at the barbecue served at Stiles Switch BBQ and a recap of the district game between Vandegrift and Cedar Ridge.  Here's my video from this adventure:

I went to Vandegrift High School to see the Vipers in action against their district rival, the Cedar Ridge Raiders.  It was pouring down rain before game time, but no matter.  Still a great time for football and barbecue. . .

The Barbecue

I have eaten at Stiles Switch BBQ a few times before and was never very much impressed.  But it’s been a couple of years and they were named to the Texas Monthly Top 50 list in 2017.  And they added Braun Hughes, formerly with Franklin’s Barbecue, to their pit master crew a few months ago, so I figured what they hey, let’s try ‘em again.  And I’m glad that I did. . .

Stiles Switch BBQ is located at 6610 N. Lamar Boulevard, part of the Violet Crown shopping center.  This shopping center has a great little history of its own: built in 1951, Violet Crown was the fist shopping center built in Austin and it served as the production hub for the movie “Dazed and Confused”.  There’s lots of nostalgic pictures and memorabilia all around the restaurant. Pretty neat.

I ordered my usual moist brisket and pork ribs.  My wife was with me and she ordered a three meat plate with brisket, pulled pork, and turkey.  We got tea from a side table, then found a cozy spot to eat.  My brisket was phenomenal: great outer bark, super moist and tender, with a deep smoky taste.  Almost buttery and a little hint of sweetness to it.  The pork ribs were good, but a little small.  They had a peppery rub and were a little chewey, but tasted real good.  My wife enjoyed their lean brisket.  I am not much on pulled pork, but I got a bite of my wife’s and it had a nice little kick to it.  I stole a bit of her turkey and it too was tasty.

A word about their sauces. . .  Our meals came with a side of sauce that was pretty much just red water.  There were two types of sauce on the table.  One was a mustard based sauce that was basically just mustard.  The other was an mango habanero sauce that was pretty much all vinegar.  Thankfully none of the meats needed any sauce to be enjoyed.

As I said before, Stiles Switch has a lot of history and charm.  You can’t help but feel good when you walk inside and look around.  Now they have upped their game to where the barbecue is on par with the history and charm.  You feel real good when you walk out because you just ate some excellent barbecue.

I rate this barbecue two Hook ‘Ems!

The Game

The key word for this game is “opportunities” – opportunities lost and opportunities taken advantage of. . .

The rain stopped as the game began.  Cedar Ridge took the opening kickoff and marched downfield.  Quarterback Jalen Brown threw 41 yards to a wide open Jaylen Ellis for a touchdown.  The extra point gave the Raiders a 7-0 lead.

On their first possession, Vendegrift quarterback Dru Dawson fumbled.  The Raiders recovered, but were unable to take advantage to pad their lead.  The first half ended with Cedar Ridge holding a 7-0 lead.

In the third quarter, Chris Vaughn picked up huge yardage on a screen pass.  His long run on the next play gave the Raiders first and goal from the Vipers’ five yard line.  But a fumble by Jacoryn Isaac ended the threat.  Later in the third quarter, the Raiders picked up a first down on the Vipers’ 13 yard line.  Brown’s pass on fourth down was short of the yardage needed and the Raiders turned the ball over on downs.

Dru Dawson’s pass was intercepted by Devin Taylor.  As the third quarter ended, Brown avoided the rush and threw downfield to Ellis.  Brown scored on a quarterback keeper to push the Raiders’ lead to 14-0 with 11:56 left to play.

Dawson made big plays with his legs and his arm to pick up first downs and move the Vipers downfield.  Isaiah Smallwood took a direct snap from center to score from two yards out.  The extra point made it 14-7 with 7:43 to play.

The Raiders could not move the ball and were forced to punt.  The Vipers took possession on their 40 yard line and moved downfield.  On fourth and eight, Dawson threw to Smallwood to set up first and goal from the eight.  Smallwood ran it in from there and the extra point tied the game at 14 with only 1:15 remaining in regulation.

The Raiders took a knee to kill the clock and set up overtime.  They got the ball for the first possession, but could not move.  Jalen Brown was sacked on third and fourth downs.  Cedar Ridge failed to score.

Now it was Vandegrift’s turn.  Runs by Smallwood moved the ball closer to the goal.  Tim Barney’s 33 yard field goal was good and the Vipers claimed the 17-14 overtime win. 

2018 - Taylor vs Lockhart

A look at the game played between the Taylor Ducks and the Lockhart Lions.  Plus a review of the barbecue served at Davis Grocery & Bar-B-Q in Taylor.  Here is my video from this adventure:

The 2018 football season is underway.  The Friday Night Lights are shining brightly all over Texas.  What a great time for football and barbecue. . .

I traveled to Taylor, Texas to see the Taylor Ducks in action against the Lockhart Lions.  The Ducks dropped their opening game to Robinson 41-21.  The Lions won their first game in a rout, a 54-7 win over Austin Travis.  I had been in Taylor for the last game of the 2017 season as they turned the lights off in their old stadium for the last time after 100 years of use.  This was the Ducks' second game in their new stadium.  

The Barbecue

Davis Grocery & Bar-B-Q is located in a plain white building at 400 S. Robinson Street in Taylor.  I would have driven right past it if not for the Google Maps.  There are a bunch of picnic tables out front and I poked my head around out back to check out the smokers.  Then I headed inside.

Two ladies sat alone eating when I first walked in.  One of the ladies, Ms. Marty Denman, got up from her meal and took my order.  She cut several thick slices of brisket for me.  The pork ribs were so tender some of the bones were pulling away as she cut a couple off the rack for me.  I did not complain even a little bit when she trimmed the ribs and gave me an extra couple of nibbles.  She handed me a squeeze bottle of their “Come back” sauce – so good you want to come back for more – and I found a table.  As a bonus, she gave me a big chunk of their homemade sausage to sample.

All of the barbecue had been slow cooked over mesquite wood and had a deep, smoky flavor.  The brisket had a nice smoke ring and tasted great even though it was a bit dry.  Had it been served warmer, it no doubt would have been juicier.  The pork ribs were big and meaty.  Not much chewing required.  The homemade sausage was outstanding.  It had a good snap when I bit into it and a spicy kick that was not overpowering.  Very nice.  The “Come back” sauce was rich and savory.  All the meats went down real good with a dab or two of sauce on them. 

As I ate, I had a chance to speak with Ms. Marty and watch her in action with other customers.  She is full of good humor and super friendly.  She spoke highly of the owners and pitmaster crew.  When she mentioned they serve pork steaks, I realized I need to get back here with my wife.  Her pride in the barbecue served at Davis shone through brightly.

Davis Grocery & Bar-B-Q is a true hidden gem in Taylor.  There may be larger, more famous joints in Taylor, but the barbecue served at Davis stands up with the best of them.

I rate this barbecue two Hook ‘Ems!

The Game

Taylor opened the scoring with a 54 yard touchdown pass from Cole Harms to Santiago Estrada.

Lockhart answered in the second quarter when Daequan Ellison scooted 58 yards to tie the game at 7-7.  Ellison went 52 yards to score again in the second quarter.  The point after snap was wide, but the holder caught it and scored two to make it 15-7.

In the third quarter, Ellison ripped off another long run, scoring from 43 yards out to make it 22-7.  Taylor answered with a long drive that ended in a 38 yard field goal by Ryan Hanson to cut the lead to 22-10.  After the kickoff, Jesus Aldana carried the ball 69 yards to set up another Ellison touchdown.  That pushed Lockhart’s lead to 29-10 late in the third quarter.

As the fourth quarter began, it started to rain.  Many of the Taylor faithful headed for the exits.  I dug my windbreaker out of my bag, put it on, and the rain immediately stopped.  The gentleman sitting next to me was a local farmer.  He said his fields had such large cracks in them, you could hear someone speaking Japanese.  I took my windbreaker back off and it started to rain again.  And Taylor turned the ball game around.

The Ducks ended a 56 yard drive with a two yard touchdown run.  The extra point cut Lockhart’s lead to 29-17.  After an exchange of punts, Cole Harms completed a long pass to the Lions’ two yard line.  Harms scored on a two yard keeper, but the extra point was blocked.  The Ducks were down 29-23 with only 2:29 left to play.

Needing the ball back, Taylor ran a successful onside kick.  

Harms led the Ducks downfield into the Lions’ red zone.  His jump pass to Jailen Tealer with only 14 seconds left to play tied the game at 29.  Ryan Hanson’s extra point kick was good and Taylor won the game 30-29.

2018 - A look back at the 2017 state championships

As teams report to training camp and begin their preseason workouts, every player and every coach has dreams of going to State.  A chance to play on the biggest stage for the biggest prize of them all – a Texas State Championship.  In this video, I take a look back at the 2017 state championship games played at AT&T Stadium and review the barbecue served at Lockhart Smokehouse in Dallas.

In 2017, all the state championship games were played at AT&T Stadium, Jerry’s World, the home of the Dallas Cowboys.  Twelve games were played over four days.  Teams were there from all across Texas: little towns that only have a single stop light and a Walmart store to the big city schools with enrollments in the thousands.  Some teams were there in hopes of repeating as state champs, others were making their first trip.  Football heaven. . .

Going to State is also a great time for barbecue. . .

The Barbecue

I drove up to Dallas a day early so I could eat some barbecue before I went on a four day football binge.  Lockhart Smokehouse made the Texas Monthly Top 50 List and looks like a good to place to try.  They are located at 400 W. Davis in the Bishop Arts District near where I grew up in Oak Cliff.  This old neighborhood is seeing a renaissance as new shops, restaurants, and condos move in.  Parking can be difficult, but I found a spot around the corner and walked over. 

I entered from a side door and walked thru the indoor dining area to the counter where I could place my standard order of a half pound of moist brisket and a couple of pork ribs.  A nice young man named Jesus prepared my order.  I got myself some pickles and onions from a side table and found me a spot to eat at one of their tables. 

My brisket had a nice, smoky flavor, without much of a smoke ring or an outer bark.  The meat above the fat was very tender and juicy.  However the meat below the fat was chewy and not as tender.  Almost as if the two sections had been cooked separately and fused together.  The pork ribs were big and meaty, with a sweet smoky flavor.  They too were a bit chewy, the meat needing to be bitten off the bone.  They served a typical tomato based red sauce that had a nice spicy tang to it. 

After I ate, I had a chance to talk briefly with Jesus and one of the ladies tending bar.  The owners are from Lockhart and someone is related to the good people who own Kreuz Market, a Lockhart landmark of barbecue. Thus the name Lockhart Smokehouse for a barbeque joint in Dallas. Now it makes sense. . .

I have to say I have had barbeque from other joints around Texas that did not make the Top 50 list that I thought was better than what I was served at Lockhart Smokehouse.  Friendly people and atmosphere only go so far. . .

I rate this barbecue a shaky Hook ‘Em!

Sights and Sounds

Congratulations to all the teams that made it to State in 2017.  What a great ride it was.  Which teams will have their dreams come true and make it to Jerry’s World in 2018?  We’ll see as the season plays out.  It should be a good one. . .

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!

2018 - Ovilla, Texas

Another day that ends in "Y".  Another great day for barbecue.  Here's my video from my adventure in Ovilla, Texas at Franks Holy Smoke Bar B Que.

My sister told me about a barbecue joint in Ovilla, Texas.  After visiting my 92 year old Dad in the DFW area, I figured I would check this place out on my way back to Austin.  Ovilla is a tiny speck of a town south of Dallas.  It might have a traffic light, but I didn’t see one as I drove through town.  However, they do have Franks Holy Smoke Bar B Que.  This is not to be confused with the Holy Smoke BBQ joint in the small Swedish town of Nyhamnsläge.

The Texas version of Holy Smoke is located at 705 West Main Street in what used to be a small general store. Abraham Franks started off selling barbecue next to a car wash in Ovilla.  He moved uphill to the current location after two other barbecue joints came and went.  I arrived there around lunch time.  Daughter Rhonda prepared my order of moist brisket and pork ribs and gave me a big helping of pickles and onions.  I got some iced tea and settled in to eat.

The brisket was a little fatty, but had a really good smoky flavor.  Tender, with a nice outer bark.  A lot of barbecue joints serve St. Louis style ribs where the outer flap of meat has been removed. Not here.  The outer flap was chewy and had a rich smoky flavor.  The meat on the bone was very tender and juicy.  Good ribs.  There was a squeeze bottle of sauce on the table.  A typical tomato based sauce with a nice savory taste, it went well with the meat.

A. D. Franks

After I ate, I had a chance to meet and talk with Mr. Franks, a big man with an easy smile.  He was kind enough to take me out back and showed off his big smoker.  He grew up in Lockhart and started barbecuing when he was a kid.  Like we do in central Texas, he uses post oak for smoking his meats.  He and his family are super people who love what they are doing.  Their pride shows through in the barbecue they serve.

When you drive through Ovilla, be sure not to blink or you might miss it.  Better yet, roll down the car windows and let the sweet smell of barbecue guide you in.  Frank’s Holy Smoke Bar B Que – good barbecue, great people.

I rate this barbecue one Hook ‘Em!

2018 - Ft. Worth

It's getting hot in Texas.  Think I need to cool down with some great barbecue.  Here's my video from a recent trip to Ft. Worth.

It was that time again when I needed to travel to the Dallas – Ft. Worth area to visit my 92 year old Dad.  I decided I would drive through Ft. Worth this time around.  It is actually ten miles closer to Austin than Dallas is.  Ft. Worth is also the home of Heim Barbecue, one of the Top 50 best joints as ranked by Texas Monthly in 2017.

I had the pleasure of eating at Heim in October 2016 (Texas Passions episode 7).  This was just a couple of months after they moved into their location at 1109 Magnolia Avenue, just south of downtown.  This area is seeing a renaissance as new restaurants and boutique shops open.  On that first trip, I got to meet and talk with Travis Heim.  I told him how much I enjoyed his barbecue and mentioned how good it might be once they figure out what they are doing.

The restaurant was packed with people when I got there, but there was no line.  Cody took my standard order of a half pound of moist brisket and a couple of pork ribs.  When my order was ready, I went to get pickles and onions, but they were out of onions.  I waved at the folks at the counter and Lauren quickly refilled the bin with sliced onions.  I got some iced tea and wedged my way in between some other patrons. 

The brisket was unbelievably good.  Buttery, great outer bark, smoky flavor, tender and juicy.  Absolutely delicious.  The pork ribs were equally impressive.  They had a rich, sweet flavor, the tender meat easily biting from the bone.  I got a squeeze of their sauce just to say I did, but was so taken by the meat that I can’t really say anything about the sauce.

After I ate, I had a chance to talk with Eric.  I told him the barbecue was even better than I remembered.  He said Heim will be opening a second location in October 2018 that will be three times the size of their current restaurant and will include a music venue.  I asked about quality control and he responded that the same team who made the current smokers are at work making them for the second joint. 

Emma and Travis Heim

The good folks at Heim Barbecue have certainly figured things out.  Their barbecue is outstanding and they easily rank among the elite of the Texas barbecue joints.

I rate this barbecue two Hook ‘Ems!