Once a year, Texas Monthly Magazine invites barbecue lovers to sample meats from some of the state’s best pitmasters, at its annual BBQ Fest. Fifty of the top BBQ joints in the state will show off their wares on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 in Austin.
Texas Monthly evaluates barbecue restaurants in its annual rankings. Daniel Vaughan is the magazine’s barbecue editor. He says this year’s festival includes stalwarts like Austin’s Franklin Barbecue, and up-and-coming spots like the Blood Brothers from outside Houston. The Blood Brothers and other newcomers are disrupting traditional barbecue with unique flavors.
“In cities there’s a demand for something a little bit different when it comes to barbecue and so it makes some of the things they come up with a little bit more exciting,” Vaughan says.
Vaughan recommends that festival attendees try meats from places they have never heard of, whose stands tend to have shorter lines. Whether you are looking for that traditional smoke or something new, Vaughan says to come hungry, to sample the best barbecue in Texas.
Written by Libby Cohen.
