My favorite sausage and brisket came from La barbecue. If you look really hard you can see John Lewis (pitmaster) standing in the background - he's the tall, lanky one.
The beef rib from Louie Mueller was transcendent. The brisket was also great - topped only by La Barbecue. Wayne Mueller (pitmaster) is the dude hunched over slicing meat - he was muscled and intense.
This was the first year for the Red Dirt BBQ and Music festival here in Tyler. The basic premise of the festival was to bring some of the best BBQ joints from across Texas in one place for the people of Tyler to give a try, then to follow that up with some great local music.
Your choices were to get a VIP ticket - $90 (and enter an hour early to beat the crowds, with a special VIP area for the concert and a VIP tent), general admission for the BBQ and the music - $45 and then just the music/concert - $30. I went with a VIP ticket, mostly because I hate to fight crowds and my days in the Army make me "waiting in line" averse.
In addition to the BBQ, they served Shiner beers and Mike's hard lemonade ($4 bucks a drink ticket wasn't too high either) and had several local business with tents advertising their wares.
I got there a little early and was in the first group of VIPs to go running into the festival. I knew I wanted to try La Barbecue (great reputation - From Austin) and I was the third person in line. John Lewis unwrapped his brisket and cut a couple of quick samples and handed it to the first three dudes in line. That bite told me all I needed to know, I was in BBQ brisket heaven. The smokiness was sublime, the seasoning perfect, the tenderness just right. I also had their in-house made jalapeno sausage - and it had just the right amount of meat, fat and spice. I couldn't have made a better first choice. I didn't sit there and talk with John Lewis, but he seemed super nice and really interested in making people happy (if a bit stand-offish).
Next I went to Louie Muellers (Taylor, TX) and tried their brisket and beef rib (and maybe sausage), and again I was blown away with just how great central Texas BBQ really is. I have to admit that Wayne Mueller scared me a bit, he is a tall, muscular dude with a stern expression on his face. He was very friendly, but intimidating.
Other highlights included Black's brisket (Lockhart) and the ribs from Hutchins (McKinney). Overall, everyone was friendly and happy to be there. One thing I was worried about was not getting enough food. That was an idiotic thought. Within about thirty minutes I hit the "meat wall" and literally couldn't eat anything else - for about 24 hours. I didn't stay for the music, but I enjoy the music from all the band that played (Randy Rogers, Whiskey Myers (my fav), Green River Ordinance and The Bigsbys).
The verdict: 5 out of 5 edible Tyler roses. The festival sold out this year and I imagine they will again if they put it together next year. I had a great time, at way too much great BBQ and plan on staying for the music next year. Great unique festival for Tyler.
No comments:
Post a Comment