2022 wrap up

It is easy to get lost in the day to day grind, but looking back on 2022 as whole makes me realize what an amazing year it has been. We have once again been fortunate enough to travel to some amazing places, some new, and some more familiar. We have seen gorgeous scenery, and have ate some amazing food along the way. We have camped, Airbnb-ed, adults only resorts, and luxury hotels. We took a trip to Texas hill country just the two of us, met family high in the San Juan mountains of Colorado, and went with some dear friends to Rocky Mountain National Park.

2022s best places we stayed in no particular order…

The Imogene Hotel, Ouray Colorado. The Imogene is located on downtown Main Street, within walking distance of bars, restaurants, and shopping. We stayed in the mountain queen room and it was spectacular. https://theimogene.com
Stonebrook resort, Estes Park Colorado. Stonebrook resort is adults only located on Fall River just outside of downtown Estes Park. We stayed in cabin 15, a two bedroom cabin with kitchen, fireplace, and private hot tub. https://www.stonebrookresort.com
Agave nest cottage, Fredericksburg Texas. We found the Agave Nest cabin on Airbnb. It was one block off of Main Street, it was quaint, had a kitchenette, one bedroom with a bonus sitting area.
Loews Hotel, Kansas City Missouri. We visit Kansas City several times a year and have stayed at many different hotels, but none compare to the Loews. It is a luxury hotel located in the crossroads district, just blocks away from the T-mobile Center. We were lucky enough to stay there during our favorite time of year, Christmas and it was spectacular. https://www.loewshotels.com/kansas-city-hotel

2022s best meals (in no particular order)…

Franklin Barbecue, Austin Texas. Franklins is probably the most well Barbecue restaurant in the world, people come from all over the globe to try Franklins brisket. https://franklinbbq.com
Secret Stash Pizza, Crested Butte Colorado. Secret Stash is located on Elk Avenue in the heart of Crested Butte. It is one of the more popular restaurants in town so the wait can be long, but it is worth it. http://www.secretstash.com
Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ, Austin Texas. We were at Valentina’s for breakfast and it was amazing. If I had to choose a last meal the breakfast taco I had that morning at Valentina’s would be on the menu. https://www.valentinastexmexbbq.com
Coffee on the Rocks, Estes Park Colorado. Coffee on the Rocks is a top notch spot to grab a cup of coffee, but what makes special is the ambiance. Get your coffee, head to the pond, feed the ducks, watch the elk, and enjoy the mountain surrounding. https://coffeeontherocks.co/?fbclid=IwAR3xzK_Zm4yrbFVmJOFOXt1XJnR0QY7c4rcaZ9cquFRHGsxE1AC-qWFH6Lg
Hitchin’ Post Steakhouse, Fredericksburg Texas. After a day of wine tasting the steak fingers at the Hitchin’ post really hit the spot for dinner. https://www.hitchinpoststeakhousefbg.com

There are many things to look forward to in 2023 and some planning has already begun. A trip to three national parks has been booked. A few shorter trips to Kansas City are on the calendar. A fall winter trip is currently being discussed, but of all I want to enjoy the day to day. I want be more consistent with posting blogs, cook more, make more videos, focus on a healthier lifestyle, be more present everyday and not get lost in the daily grind of work. I hope everyone makes 2023 a year to remember.

travelingbbqer

January 8, 2023 0

Franklin Barbecue, Austin Texas

Franklin Barbecue is one of the most talked about and celebrated barbecue restaurants in the country. Honestly if you are reading this you more than likely already know who Aaron Franklin is. He has long been the face of Texas barbecue, celebrated in Texas Monthly’s top 50 multiple times, and James Beard award winner. His book Franklin Barbecue a meat smoking manifesto spent 12 weeks on the New York Times best seller list, an absolute most read for anyone with a smoker.

Knowing the only chance I would have to try Franklins on this trip would be the day we were traveling home we opted to order ahead. Franklins opens preorders 42 days in advance. They require a minimum of 5 pounds for preorders, I got 3 pounds of brisket, a pound of sausage, and a pound turkey. Sauces and bread were provided. I really wanted ribs but I ordered a little to late in the day and they sold out of ribs for preorders. Also, I have no idea why but I didn’t order any sides. I cannot believe I did that, total fail on my part.

When preordering you choose a pickup time and upon arrival they slice and package your order, just like they would inside. Wanting to get out of downtown Austin, we drove about 20 minutes north before setting up lunch on the tailgate of the Jeep. Let’s talk about the turkey and sausage first. The turkey was still moist when we started eating. Franklins cooks whole turkey breast with the skin removed. It had good flavor, smokey, buttery, with a salt and pepper rub. The sausage was similar to the others we had in the Austin area. Both sauces that were provided paired well the turkey and sausage. I would give La Barbecues sausage the edge over Franklins but they are both very good. Now on to the brisket…

Franklins is world renowned for their brisket, and rightfully so. The pictures look good, but I promise it looks better in real life. That bark is a work of art. My mouth waters just thinking about it. The fat is perfectly rendered down and just melts when you touch it. The beef is the star of show, complimented by the salt and pepper based rub. We got a mixture of fatty and lean in our 3 pound order. I have eaten and cooked my fair share of barbecue and I can honestly say Franklins brisket is the best I have ever had. The barky, smokey, juicy, meaty flavor is absolute perfection. Perfectly tender on both the flat and the point meat. There is no need for sauce, it somehow takes away from the brisket.

The next time we are in Austin we will be going to Franklins and waiting in line to get the full Franklins experience. This place is special. The best meal my wife and I have ever had was Franklins barbecue that we ate on the tailgate in the parking lot of an outlet mall in north Austin. Get to Austin, wait in the line, and eat the best brisket around. There could not have been a better way to end our Texas adventure.

travelingbbqer

August 28, 2022 0

Kreuz Market, Lockhart TX

When planning our central Texas road trip we knew a stop in Lockhart needed to be on the agenda, and Kreuz Market was our destination. Kreuz is a staple of the central Texas barbecue scene. The name Kreuz Market first appeared in 1900 and has been operating in Lockhart in a couple of different buildings ever since.

The setup inside Kreuz is unlike anything this Kansas boy has witnessed.

We arrived in Lockhart right at 11 on a Monday. There were a few other patrons already there, but no line that early in the day. Walking in the smell surrounds you, and taking in a deep breath you know you are in the right place for BBQ. I had been in Texas for a few days and hadn’t had a beef rib yet, it was time for that to change.

We ordered at the counter and dug in. We got half a chicken, sausage, brisket, and a beef rib, along with a couple of sides. I dove into the beef rib first, and it was my favorite item on the tray. It was very tender, and moist with a good smokey flavor. It had that traditional central Texas bark. The half chicken had good crispy skin, moist on the inside. The overall flavor of the chicken was a bit salty for my taste, but overall it was good. The sausage was typical for what we had in Texas, good smokey flavor but I wanted something different in the texture. The brisket was a little disappointing if I am honest. It was overcooked slightly which made it dry and crumbly. It had more of a pot roast flavor than I like in brisket. Kreuz was my least favorite brisket of the trip. If I had not ordered the beef rib I would have been disappointed in their beef offerings that day.

For sides we got beans, Mac and cheese, and green beans. The Mac and cheese and green beans were both good. Nothing outstanding about either one, but solid options if you stop there for meal. The beans were by far and away the best side we had there. They had a Mexican flavor, with a hint of smoke, and were delicious. I would definitely recommend getting an order of them.

Overall Kreuz Market was a good meal, but my least favorite overall of the places we sampled while in Texas. They where competing with some of the best so being last on this particular list isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Would I eat there again? Probably, but if I was back in Lockhart I would want try some of the other places before making my way back to Kreuz. Check out their website here: https://www.kreuzmarket.com

Traveling BBQer

August 15, 2022 0

La Barbecue, Austin Texas

Our second stop on our central Texas road trip was La Barbecue. What started as a food truck in 2012 has found a home at 2401 E Cesar Chavez where they have created something special. We arrived on a Sunday morning about 10:45 and joined the line that had wrapped around the corner of the building already.

The smell of the smokers filled the air and everyone in line was eager to eat. It took about an hour from our place in line to the time we got our food. The atmosphere is fun, the Mrs. was digging the music selections, and the decor was unique.

We ordered at the counter, they cut the meat as you order (and pass out a bite of brisket or two while they prepare your order) and we went outside to eat. The weather was gorgeous that day. We ordered sausage, ribs, and brisket. With beans, onions, pickles, and bread to fill out the platter.

Lets start with the sausage. It is a German style sausage like most are in central Texas. It was smokey, flavorful, moist and very good. The ribs were absolutely dynamite. We got the end of the slab which tends to be not as good, but they were still fantastic. The seasoning was perfectly complimented by the glaze. It was a little sweet, a little tangy, with a little heat.

La Barbecue was my first real central Texas brisket experience. Just look at that bark! The bark on a brisket in Texas is sacred. Dark color, moist, and a little sticky to the touch. That bark lets you know the pitmaster put in the time and effort to cook it to perfection. The kind of bark I have only ever seen accomplished by a well ran offset pit. The flavor was outstanding, the fat was well rendered, and was very moist. There were a few sauces on the table to try, but the brisket didn’t need anything, it was great. The beans were different than what I am use to getting at BBQ restaurants, and they were delicious. I would say more of a Mexican style baked bean. We loved them.

It was easy to see why La Barbecue is considered one of the best in Austin by locals and barbecue tourist like myself. Waiting in line smelling the smoke and meat cooking while you anxiously wait your turn to order somehow adds to the experience. The food is incredible, the service was great and people were very friendly. I can see why people say Texas barbecue is the best. I like a lot of spots in my little hometown of Wichita KS, but La Barbecue is on another level. We have nothing that compares to it here. I cannot recommend enough adding La Barbecue to the top of your list of places to eat in Austin if you ever find yourself in central Texas.

June 1, 2022 0