Central Texas BBQ Tour II day two: Three joints down & heading to the finish line at City Meat Market in Giddings

The line was long, almost heading out the door when we got to Zimmerhanzel’s Bar-B-Que in Smithville around noon. The posse headed around back of the orange metal building to see three huge smokers dwarfed by one of the biggest live oak trees we'd ever seen.

Back inside we joined the line and asked the locals what was best on the menu. SInce we had already eaten twice that morning, we were looking to order very strategically. Chicken and ribs seemed to be the favorites, but ribs sold out right before we made it to the counter. The chicken was worth the wait though, smokey with good spice, but more on the dining experience in a more detailed post.

Stay tuned for our last updates from day two on the barbecue trail. Our final stop, for a total of eight joints in two days, is City Meat Market in Giddings.

(Photos by Chris Wilkins)

Central Texas BBQ Tour II day two: A walk back into BBQ history at Prause Market in La Grange

Stop number two took us back in history to Prause Meat Market, a fourth generation meat market and BBQ joint.

Gary Prause runs the business with other family members. He took the time to show us family photos and explain the history of the meat market, which started in another location on the old town square in La Grange in 1904.

Stay tuned for more updates from day two on the barbecue trail, our next stop is Zimmerhanzel’s Bar-B-Que in Smithville.

(Photos by Chris Wilkins)

Central Texas BBQ Tour II day two: Breakfast at Snow's

We left Taylor around 7:20am and headed east to the little town of Lexington, starting day two of our Central Texas 5-Star BBQ Tour II. The sun had just risen when we pulled in and parked next to the grain elevator across the street from Snow's BBQ, one of the best BBQ joints in the universe.

The line wasn't too long yet and 10 minutes later we were having the breakfast of champions - a Snow's sliced brisket sandwich. Having just had Franklins BBQ's brisket the day before on our first stop, a vigorous debate broke out. These are the two best briskets in the world, but which is better?

Stay tuned for more updates from day two on the barbecue trail, our next stop is Prause Meat Market in La Grange.

(Photos by Chris Wilkins)

Central Texas BBQ Tour II day one: Nightcap at the Taylor Cafe

We capped off an amazing day on the BBQ trail with a visit to the historic Taylor Cafe. As usual, there was owner Vencil Mares sitting at the bar, the same place he's been 7 days a week, from 6am to 10pm, since he bought the joint in 1948.

We made a third stop of the day earlier at Southside Market in Elgin, mainly to sample the sausage. Then onward up Hwy. 95 to downtown Taylor, to the little BBQ joint located under the Hwy. 95 bridge beside the railroad tracks.

Members of the posse immediately gravitated toward Vencil, who is undoubtably one of the true giants of Texas BBQ. We said hello, made some small talk and ordered some cold beverages and settled in to sample some brisket, sausage and chicken.

After dinner, Vencil came over to our side of the bar and started talking barbecue technique with Marshall Cooper, David Woo and me. It was a lesson I would have paid big time to sit in on. He pointed out a flaw in our brisket cooking technique, wrapping the brisket with foil during the resting period. Vencil uses butcher paper and proceeded to tell us why it's better. We can't wait to try it as soon as we get back to Dallas.

Stay tuned for more updates from day two on the barbecue trail, our next stop is Snow's BBQ in Lexington at 7:45am tomorrow morning. Brisket for breakfast at one of the greatest BBQ joints in the world!

(Photos by Chris Wilkins (top) & David Woo)

Central Texas BBQ Tour II day one: Two down, six to go

The Texas BBQ Posse loaded up and headed south to Austin this morning for our Central Texas 5-Star BBQ Tour II. This is the first anniversary of our inaugural tour to central Texas last November.

We were 13 strong when we pulled into Franklin BBQ at 1pm. As usual, they were sold out by shortly after noon, but we called earlier in the week and owner and pitmaster Aaron Franklin held back one brisket, some sausage and a rack of ribs for us to sample. The photo above shows the amazing spread of meat we devoured.

On to Lambert's BBQ in downtown Austin for round two. We toasted our anniversary at the bar and enjoyed a sample plate of meats and some of the best mac and cheese you'll ever have.

Stay tuned for more updates from the barbecue trail, our next stop is Southside Market in Elgin, then to Taylor for an overnight stay and dinner at the Taylor Cafe.

It's our anniversary this weekend: Heading back to central Texas for the world's best BBQ

One year ago this week the Texas BBQ Posse made their first trip to central Texas, where we discovered the way, the truth and the life of barbecue. Nothing has been the same for any of us since then.

We've been on BBQ journeys north, east, south and west of DFW in the year since then. We've tasted the good and the bad and the ugly, but the bar for great barbecue is set in central Texas, perhaps the greatest cue in the world.

Here's our plan of attack:

CENTRAL TEXAS 5-STAR BBQ TOUR II Nov. 5-6, 2010

FRIDAY NOV. 5th
10am Leave Dallas
1pm Arrive for lunch at Franklin Barbecue, Austin, the little trailer that could, Full Custom BBQ blog’s first ever 6-star joint.
Mid afternoon Lamberts Downtown Barbecue, Austin, fancy but good.
8pm Dinner at Taylor Cafe, Taylor, a Mecca for Texas barbeque history buffs.
Overnight in Taylor

SATURDAY NOV. 6th
8am Arrive for breakfast at Snow’s BBQ, Lexington, the BBQ Posse returns for round two, breakfast at Snow’s
Mid morning Prause Meat Market, La Grange, "Through a non-descript metal door is the entrance into the pit of this joint with over 100 years of history.”
Late lunch Zimmerhanzel’s Bar-B-Que, Smithville, "The tender moist ribs were huge and meaty."
Late afternoon City Meat Market, Giddings, "The ribs were the best and smokiest offering with a heavy salt and pepper rub over a deep red crust."
6pm Head back to Dallas

Click here to see a google map of our upcoming tour designed by BBQ Posse member Bruce Tomaso.

Stay tuned, we'll keep you posted with live blogs, videos and photos along the anniversary BBQ trail.......