Central Texas BBQ Tour

RaleighGuy

Wow! Just wow! What a great post. That pic of John at La Barbecue is so cool! Not what I would picture a pit master in Texas to look like.

cazzy

RaleighGuy said:

Wow! Just wow! What a great post. That pic of John at La Barbecue is so cool! Not what I would picture a pit master in Texas to look like.

@Mickey pretty much has talked me into printing that one and the Franklin Barbecue sign pic, and giving them to the respective parties.  I most definitely will give the Franklin one to Benji.  I'm thinking a metallic print will be awesome for the colors.

Eggcelsior

What did you do to the Franklin sign pic in post?

henapple

Downloaded it off the Internet. ..

cazzy

Eggcelsior said:

What did you do to the Franklin sign pic in post?

That's an HDR photo so I bracketed 3 different exposures and merged them in post.  I have a tutorial on HDR, but I still haven't gotten through it cause the dude talks so damn much.  This was my first attempt, so while I like it, there is still room for improvement.  Total time was about 20 min so not bad from a time investment.

I'm sure @Hapster knows a lot more about HDR than I do, so maybe he'll chime in.

cazzy

Terrebandit said:

You headed to Lockhart too?

Sorry for the late response.  While we wanted to, we didn't make it.  It was probably a good thing, cause there is a lot of history I want to capture there and I wouldn't want to rush the visit.

cazzy

Mickey said:

Caz will you even talk to us low folk in Salado?

I will talk to everyone except @henapple   Hmm, well I acutally might talk to him.  After he puts all your eggs together, I'm going to have him hand wash my Explorer.   :P

Griffin

Wow @cazzy !! What a birthday you had. Great photos and love the stories that went along with them. That is so awesome that they bought your food at Frnaklin's (or it was on the house). Too cool. Happy be-lated birthday from me.

cazzy

Griffin said:

Wow @cazzy !! What a birthday you had. Great photos and love the stories that went along with them. That is so awesome that they bought your food at Frnaklin's (or it was on the house). Too cool. Happy be-lated birthday from me.

Yeah, it was pretty fantastic! I imagine it was the combination of the two things and they don't regularly hook people up on their birthday. Benji is top notch!

Thanks Griff!

GQuiz

Are you shooting with a DSLR? You ought to reach out to Daniel Vaughn, barbecue editor at Texas Monthly. He put out a book of BBQ pictures from joints all across Texas. Yours would be perfect for it. He's jokingly called the BBQ Snob. You could be his sidekick, the BBQ Savant.

cazzy

GQuiz said:

Are you shooting with a DSLR? You ought to reach out to Daniel Vaughn, barbecue editor at Texas Monthly. He put out a book of BBQ pictures from joints all across Texas. Yours would be perfect for it. He's jokingly called the BBQ Snob. You could be his sidekick, the BBQ Savant.

They're all with my camera phone. :-\"

caliking

In which case, cazzy could show him a thing or two.

caliking

I've got to say though that your tale about Franklins makes me want to go, since it sounds like the folks there are solid. I usually am morally opposed to waiting 3hrs for food, but maybe I'll make an exception!

cazzy

Really though @GQuiz I really appreciate all your compliments.  Being honest, these pics are good for us, but they're far from being pro level.  I've only been shooting for 13 months and still have a stupid amount to learn.  

cazzy

caliking said:

I've got to say though that your tale about Franklins makes me want to go, since it sounds like the folks there are solid. I usually am morally opposed to waiting 3hrs for food, but maybe I'll make an exception!

They are great people.  Every employee there goes out of the way to make your experience even better.  It's almost like they can't believe people line up everyday and are so appreciative that you're willing to wait.  

Without a doubt, you have to do it at least once.  While you're there though, don't overlook stopping at La Barbecue.  Worth a stop for sure!

GQuiz

@mickey I think you should invite Daniel Vaughn to your Eggfest. Seriously. Check out his stuff at tmbbq.com.

WeberWho

Great writeup! Thanks

cazzy

In all honesty, I think this is pretty cool!  I know John isn't a celebrity, but he's totally in big name in the Texas BBQ Scene!  

Austin Egghead

Happy belated B'day cazzy. Loved your post and pictures. Thanks for sharing your birthday weekend with us, it was one for the books. See ya in Salado.

andres1987

I'm really surprised you didn't like JMMC better, as that is my favorite overall. I have not eaten at La Barbeque and never plan to since they were defaming John Mueller. Love Franklin brisket, but I can't do those waits unless someone else stands in line and I just show up.

cazzy

andres1987 said:

I'm really surprised you didn't like JMMC better, as that is my favorite overall. I have not eaten at La Barbeque and never plan to since they were defaming John Mueller. Love Franklin brisket, but I can't do those waits unless someone else stands in line and I just show up.

I liked it but it wasn't better than LABBQ or Franklin.  If I only had JMMC, I would probably love it as much as you do.  I would be hard pressed calling something my favorite overall if I didn't experience all ATX has to offer. 

In regards to the defaming comment.  There is a lot of history in that family and multiple sources have said John has burned several of the Muellers for a lot of money...even his dad.  I have a brother who got me for a lot of money, so I totally get it.  I think you need to put yourself in the owners shoes (LeAnn) and understand that she had every right to do what was best for her business.  La Barbecue's popularity shows that she 100% made the right decision.  She gave him an opportunity and he screwed it up...again.  Don't worry about the drama, cause you'll miss out on all the great BBQ all the family is putting out.  Wayne at Louie Miller hates his brother, do you not go there too?  You can also look at it this way, John Lewis makes the BBQ at La Barbecue and he has nothing to do with that drama.

If you still can't stomach going to La Barbecue, I highly suggest doing Franklin once.  You're missing out on some incredible BBQ.  Totally worth the wait!

henapple

Bbq drama?

Austin Egghead

henapple said:

Bbq drama?

Oh, henapple you don't know the half of it.  Major dramas du jour in Austin Q society....  loyalities are very fierce.

Foghorn

Austin Egghead said:

henapple said:

Bbq drama?

Oh, henapple you don't know the half of it.  Major dramas du jour in Austin Q society....  loyalities are very fierce.

That extends to Lockhart as well.  But where this stuff is concerned there probably is no such thing as bad publicity - as long as the bad pub isn't related to bad food.

cazzy

Foghorn said:

Austin Egghead said:

henapple said:

Bbq drama?

Oh, henapple you don't know the half of it.  Major dramas du jour in Austin Q society....  loyalities are very fierce.

That extends to Lockhart as well.  But where this stuff is concerned there probably is no such thing as bad publicity - as long as the bad pub isn't related to bad food.


Exactly! Bad publicity will not keep me away from quality BBQ!

GQuiz

If you want the backstory... http://www.tmbbq.com/of-meat-and-men/

Hi54putty

great read and great pics

henapple

Damn good article. ..thanks for posting

QDude

Great article!

GoVols

Great article , very nice read!