My First Brisket

Some Of My Own Bar-B-Que Experience


So along with trying Bar-B-Que around Texas, I’ve been practicing BBQing some of my own meats. The last 3 weeks I have smoked a couple of briskets, a couple of pork tender loins and a couple racks of 3 ½ down ribs.

The briskets I cooked up pretty much for a small family reunion. We had between 20-30 members coming, so I picked up two 6 pound briskets (trimmed). So a couple nights before I put a fairly decent amount of seasoning on them both, and let them sit in the fridge to “marinate”
The day of the BBQ I got up at 7am, got cleaned up and headed over to my uncles (where we were throwing the get together). I had brought my smoker over there earlier in the week. So I get there, and we set up the smoker and start the chimney. Using mesquite lump coal, which Ive never used before, we were in for a show. Once it started to catch, sparks were flying several feet high, a lot like those cone firework things you get for the 4th of July… were a little worried there for a bit that it might light a tree on fire. Once it settled down, we added it to the smoker, got the temp to level out then relaxed for most of the day. Listened to Eric Clapton’s new CD, worked on a doggy door for my cousin and played a couple games of washers (kicking my uncles butt of course) until the family started to show up. The doggy door is actually a funny story… my cousins new dog has been breaking into his house during the day and climbing all over his tables and furniture, even though he has blocked the door with a chair and heavy books and what not. But that’s a story best told by him. So while hanging out with the family and watching the Cowboys v Vikings game I would check the heat and smoke levels and adjust properly, only opened the actual smoker twice to look at the briskets and calculate time (since my aunt wanted them done around 5pm).

So I pull them off the pit, they look wonderful and smelled AWESOME! BUT as any chef knows, you never just cut them or any meat right away. You gotta let them rest, so the juices flooow back and settle. Man that was hard to do, the entire house was just fulled of the smokey goodness aroma. Though the horrific playing of the Cowboys did help distract us for a bit, as rage and anger filled our eyes.

Once it has rested enough, its time to slice and dice. But, yes another BUT, I forget that my uncle doest keep exactly sharp knives. lol. Thank god the briskets were nice and tender, but the crust wasn’t exactly the easiest part to get through… but we managed. The smoke ring on the brisket was perfect, the crust was nice and flavorful, the smokiness flavor in the brisket was just right. The only problem was that on the second brisket, I slightly overcooked park of the lean section.
But besides that, they were pretty damn good, and for my first time smoking a brisket out side of work and by myself, I was very happy with the results. And seeing as how most of the 2 briskets disappeared, the family seemed to enjoy it too.

I plan on doing a couple more soon for some friends and family, I’m gonna change up the rub some and add more apple wood to the first stage of smoking… now that I can get it in bulk and not just stupid chips. (and Im sure that story will be much more entertaining, I just was bored so I decided to type this lame excuse for a blog post up).

Old School Detail Bar-B-Que

The Eyes of Texas are Upon You
Part 2

Old Fashion Bar-B-Que
900 West Waco Drive
Waco, TX 76701




So today I slept in and watched a documentary on Texas Bar-B-Que, after all that and getting cleaned up, I went by Academy to pick up some wood (mesquite and apple) and new boots for work. After finishing my errands, I was hungry and wanted some lunch. But I wanted something new to try… I could try a couple of Mexican joints, and one odd seafood, but I was in the mood for BBQ and I remember seeing one on Waco Drive on the ride back from a Shakira concert a month back. So I headed that way and finally came upon it, only to find out they weren’t open at the time being… or at least that’s what I gathered from the old guy standing outside. So I turned around and decided to go home to eat a sandwich… when low and behold I spotted another BBQ joint… so I pulled a quick Uie and turned into the parking lot.

When I got out of my car and could smell the awesomeness of BBQ smoke… made me very happy. When you walk up to it, you’ll notice it pretty much is a hole in the wall… but that’s the great part about it. It has a area where they smoke the meat, you can tell by the blacked top of the wall and the small chimney pipe, they have a ordering area and a small place to sit and eat out side… if you wish. There were two guys there before me, one of whom said he could smell their smoke across the street while getting gas and just had to stop by for some chow. Now that’s just plain awesome.

So why they are placing their orders, Im glancing over the menu. I already knew what I wanted, so I didn’t read too much on it. But they do carry the classics- brisket, ribs, sausage, links and chopped beef. Can get individual plates, or 2/3 meat combos, sandwiches and family packs. They have 3 sides- yellow potato salad, beans and chips and then every plate comes with 2 sides and bread.

So its finally my turn to order, I choose the 2 meat combo with brisket and ribs. The guy working the window is real nice and easy going, wouldn’t mind talking to him more next time I go. Get their back story on the BBQ and what not.

So I get my food and head on home. I noticed the meat is just covered in sauce and the YPS looks amazing. The first thing I try is the potato salad, cause it looks really good. And it was, its probably my favorite YPS so far- its creamy with some chucks, sweet, not too much mustard, can taste some may, and they didn’t over do it with the pimentos or onions… as there were almost none. It was really good. Next I tried the brisket.. which isn’t sliced like most places. Its kinds just hacked up and threw in there, like they used to do in the older times. It was juicy and tender, had a very nice subtle flavor…. could tell it was fresh off the pit. The ribs were short pork ribs, I got about 3 of them.. and they were cooked to perfection. The meat just peeled off the bones with extreme ease and had a nice smoky flavor. If they used a rub on either meats, it’s a very subtle one that was easily masked by the sauce. Next time, Ill have to ask for sauce on the side so I can try it dry (and ill update y’all when I do that). The sauce was a vinegar based BBQ sauce, and was very sweet. Im usually not a fan of the vinegar based, but I really enjoyed this one and kept using my bread and brisket to mop it up with The plate also came with beans, but I’m allergic to them and too be honest not a fan of beans in the first place (so even without allergies I would eat them… haha). But I had my dad try them, he said they were decent, and had a bit of a pepper bite to them. He compared them to bushes baked beans with more bite. This entire meal only cost me 8.50, and I didn’t even finish it all… they piled on the meat.

Over all I really enjoyed it and will deff be going back to try more of their meats and for more of their delicious potato salad. So stop on by one day for lunch, they open at 11am and tell’em DavieG sent you by…. haha.

Hearty Food and a Hearty Pint

Barnett's Pub
420 Franklin Avenue
Waco, TX, 76701
254-714-1356
http://www.barnettspub.com
And can be found on Facebook



So after a day of running around looking for wood to BBQ with and then sanding & painting my smoker, I decided to finally hit up Barnett’s Pub for some grub and a pint.

I had been to Barnett’s once before for a friends birthday. It’s a nice little place on Franklin, with a little outdoor seating area and a dart board in the back. Currently all they serve is beer right now (as of 11/04/10), but I hear they will soon be serving Top Shelf liquors.

For food they have a small and simple menu, appetizers, some heartier items and dessert.
While there I try a new beer, a Hearty Oat Stout, recommended by my friends Casey and then place an order for their Home made Shepherd’s Pie and their Guinness 4 cheese sauce on the side. The beer was fine, fairly mellow, with a slight bitter aftertaste. Not bad, and I’m not usually a stout fan.

After hangin’ out a bit with Casey and sippin’ on my beer, my food is ready to dine down on. The Shepherd’s pie comes out in a while large gratin dish, and both are piping hot. The pie consists of ground beef, carrots, onions, peas and topped with mashed potatoes and green onions. The potatoes are fresh and creamy but with a flaky top from being in the oven. They had a nice mellow flavor and topped the dish nicely. The meat is flavorful, well seasoned, tender and juicy, while the veggies have a nice flavor and good texture, not all dry and bland. Wasn’t a big fan of the peas, but I just hate peas. lol The cheese sauce I had ordered on the side incase I wasn’t a fan, but I ended up really liking it. The guy who makes it also tends bar there. Told me a little bit about it while I was eating, he makes it fresh every day. Using 4 different cheese and Guinness beer. It had a nice consistency, you could actually taste the beer and the cheese flavors mixed well. I finished it all, minus most of the peas ;) and was stuffed. Great dish for this slightly cool and wet weather…. warms your body, heart and even soul.

But I still had enough room for their Bread pudding… oh yeah. I actually usually don’t go for dessert, but Id heard a lot of good things about this one, so I had to give it a try and besides who can pass up home made Bread pudding! Its comes out in a little dish, it’s a pretty nice helping. Smelled awesome, you could smell the cinnamon and freshness of the ingredients, and it looked just as awesome. The pudding had a great flavor, just the right amount of seasoning and “sauce” and nicely sweet. It was warm and delicate and creamy in texture with just the right amount of raisins. Was the best bread pudding Id ever had and will definitely be getting it again.

Next time I go back I’m going to try a new beer and their Club sandwich, which Casey told me is pretty good. Over all I had a great dining experience and good company.

So if you are in the down town area and are looking for a place for some hearty food and a pint, check out Barnett’s Pub.