BBQ illiteracy
 

Alright, you guys that told me that Shaffer Farms “Texas” BBQ was great…. You owe me gas money! I’ve been duped with “Texas” brisket outside of Texas too many times to fall for it again. However, I thought that when airline guys talked bbq, I’d believe it. You get the same Austin overnights that I get with the same opportunities to eat at Terry Black’s so I thought we were speaking the same language. Took a drive up there today to eat good bbq and look around Amish country. The good bbq part didn’t work out. Exactly what I would expect from a bbq place in the southeast. Sweet tea, sweet folks, bad brisket, below average ribs, and great pulled pork. You guys got me! I didn’t think I was get-able anymore but you did it! 😂

So one out of three. Not good, especially for self proclaimed Texans. Must have been an off day. Never said it was Cooper’s from Llano…please tell me you found a furniture maker to get you an 8-seat two inch thick solid oak dining room table for $500. I have the contact.

And wait a sec “up there?” Where you coming from?

Removes Shaffer Farms from my google places I want to go list...Nah, I'll still check it out if I'm down that way. Thanks for the advice to error on the side of pork though.

Haven't been to the Austin branch but have definitely enjoyed both the Dallas and Ft Worth Terry Black's. When the Nashville location opens less than a mile from my place I'm in real trouble.

Coming up from Huntsville. On a good note, I got some really great bottled root beer from one of the shops. That was worth the drive. Didn’t know it was that good or I would have bought more.

I wanted to see the Amish stuff but it’s set up to drive up to their individual homes. I didn’t want to do that. I’m kinda weird that way. If we go to a farmers market, I don’t even like browsing their stuff and trying samples unless I’m going to buy something. I couldn’t imagine pulling down their driveway and causing them to come running out of their homes to just see what they’ve got and then drive away.

We did stop at a beautiful store near Knoxville, about a month ago, that sold Amish made furniture and it was absolute amazing stuff. Very, very impressive.

Ethridge was cool to just watch the Amish zoom by in their buggies. They seemed to be busy folks. They were on the move going to and fro.

If I had a Terry Black’s, a mile away, I’d never move again! I want to make the AUS move just to eat well! Is there an opening date?

I’d given up on BBQ until I had Terry Black’s.

i was barely able to move after I ate a beef rib, 3 slices of brisket, and an ice tea. I waddled out of the place.

Something I never thought I’d read online…especially in an airline forum! 🤣

That’s been home for 30+ years. I went to school there and we race at the dragstrip there! I remember when it was just a little two lane road….

Shaffer’s was awesome in the past (to those of us who hadn’t tasted “real” brisket…I think old man Shaffer passed away a while back,…so maybe the quality has gone way down.

Truth be told, I’ve just gotten to where I like smoking my own bbq.

Longtime lurker here. After about ten years of reading, I finally figured it was time to chime in. I just love BBQ. Tennessee BBQ seems to lean heavily toward chicken and pork, and honestly that is not a bad thing when it is done right. There is a place in Dickson, TN called Back Alley BBQ that has the best smoked chicken I have ever had. Absolutely incredible. That said, when we talk BBQ, we are usually not talking about chicken. I have never personally eaten at Schaffer, but looking at photos, the differences in fat rendering make me think it may have just been an off day. It happens and even good joints miss sometimes. Terry Black’s is rock solid. Their beef ribs are outstanding, though it is admittedly hard to mess up beef ribs when you know what you are doing. My favorite brisket I have had anywhere is still Meat U Anywhere in Grapevine. Perfect post oak flavor, just the right amount of salt, and cooked exactly how brisket should be. Joe’s KC BBQ is also excellent with amazing burnt ends and very solid brisket, but for me it still does not quite reach the level of Meat U Anywhere. St. Louis is spare ribs and that is pretty much it. At home, I cook on a Weber Smokey Mountain. Learning to properly grill and smoke meat has been an important skill for me, and I honestly love being the cook in the family.

Did you get the root beer from the old candy store/cafe/greyhound station? They make a good burger. Going to try their breakfast one day.

Got a couple of briskets from my father in law in Mississippi. He crosses angus with Texas Longhorns, so it was a gamble. Smoked it for 15 hours, turned out very nice.

The Amish here do business that way…just show up. They will mail you a letter when it’s ready to pick up.

KC or Memphis BBQ is the best!!

-said someone who has never had legit top shelf TX smoked brisket (Franklin's in Austin is my GOAT until proven otherwise)