State Fare: Texas Monthly BBQ Festival


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(click the above link to see the pics)


Austin was definitely the place to be Sunday, as 22 of the state’s top 50 barbecue joints rolled into town, ‘cue and smoke in tow.

Texas Monthly magazine held their Second Annual BBQ Festival at the outdoor terrace of Long Center in Austin.  Surrounded by 3,000 of my best friends, we all sampled barbecue from nearly half of the places TexMo named to their  Top 50 Barbecue Joints in Texas list in 2008, the most recent ranking). Jimmie Vaughan and Asleep at the Wheel played tunes. Award winners were determined by the public, who voted for their favorites in four categories. This year’s winners were Franklin Barbecue of Austin (best brisket), Louie Mueller Barbecue of Taylor (best beef ribs and best sausage), and Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q of Tyler (best pork ribs–and they really were good).

Tickets to the event sold out months ago, so take heed: next year, buy early.