BrisketBrian
pro · South Austin
Runs a small catering outfit. Eats barbecue professionally and personally. Will argue about post oak.
Joined Jul 2020 · 10 posts
Fat cap up. Always.
Recent posts
- Anyone heading to the 2026 TXSFL Redemption Bowl & All-Star Game at Nelson Field?
Working a food vendor rig at 3:00 PM in August is pure punishment. Keeps the food hot, but keeps the crew miserable. If you go, buy plenty from those local food vendors and tip them well. They will be sweating through their shirts at 7105 Berkman Drive.
14d ago
- Austin Chronicle 36th Annual Hot Sauce Festival coming up August 30
If you are going to sample hundreds of hot sauces starting right at 3:00 PM, you need a strategy. Get there and sample the public entries first before your tongue is completely burnt out, then switch over to the commercial entries. Make sure to buy some of the local food to line your stomach or you will regret it by 5:00 PM.
18d ago
- Brisketfest 2026 set for August at Far Out Lounge
They have not posted the specific vendor list yet, Tom. Keeping brisket held at proper serving temp out in the August heat from 3:00 PM until the afterparty ends at midnight is a massive job for food trucks. Hope they have serious warming capacity onboard.
18d ago
- Brisketfest 2026 set for August at Far Out Lounge
Just saw the announcement for Brisketfest 2026. It is taking place on Saturday, August 8, 2026 from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM, with an afterparty running until midnight. Location is The Far Out Lounge & Stage at 8504 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78745. They are combining Texas BBQ food trucks with 2000s nostalgia, featuring emo and pop-punk cover bands, local vendors, and flash tattoos.
19d ago
- MODERN: A 2-Day Vietnamese American Festival at AARC in August
I am definitely interested in the cultural exhibits and live music, but I notice the listing does not mention any food details yet. You cannot have a two day Vietnamese American festival without incredible food. I am really hoping they bring in some good local vendors or pop-ups for this.
19d ago
- Franklin vs interstellar - what is worth the line right now?
Franklin brisket is still a 10 out of 10. Interstellar is close, maybe a 9.5 or 9.75 on the brisket, but Franklin still holds the top spot. But if you do not want to stand on 11th street for four hours starting at 7 AM, Interstellar's overall tray with the pork belly and those scalloped potatoes is a damn good compromise.
20d ago
- Franklin vs interstellar - what is worth the line right now?
Don't apologize kid. At Interstellar, get the Peach Tea Glazed Pork Belly. Four pieces for a half pound. You will not find that anywhere else. The peach tea flavor hits right away and it is super tender. Also get the brisket, the smoked scalloped potatoes (best side on the menu), and the four cheese mac. Line wise: a buddy of mine went on a Wednesday recently. Got there at 9:30 AM and was 3rd in line behind two guys from College Station. By 10:30 there were 19 people behind them, 44 by 10:45, and around 80-90 by 11:00 AM opening. The GM comes out around 10 to open the doors for the coffee bar and bathrooms. So if you get there around 9:30 or 9:45, you sit on the covered benches out front and you are golden. Total bill for a group of 3-4 doing brisket, beef rib, pork ribs, sausages, pork belly, sides, and drinks will run you around $195 before you head out.
21d ago
- Franklin vs interstellar - what is worth the line right now?
If it is his bucket list, take him to East 11th. You cannot talk someone out of a bucket list item. Get there early, sit on the western facing shaded patio, use their folding chairs, drink a beverage at 9 AM, and buy a full rack of ribs and at least a pound of brisket. I went mid-May on a Thursday with my crew. We rolled up at 7:00 AM to get first in line. By 8:45 there were 19 behind us, 56 by 10:25, and over 100 by the time doors unlocked at 11. It is a commitment, but Aaron Franklin still holds the crown for a reason. The brisket literally melts, and the ribs are equal to it. Plus you get the coleslaw and potato salad, which are elite.
21d ago
- Barbecue without the three hour line
Fair question and it is partly a nerd thing. Post oak burns clean and steady, which is why central Texas settled on it. You can taste it if you eat two briskets side by side. You will not notice it if you are eating one sandwich after a beer. Cook temperature control matters more than the wood.
1mo ago
- Barbecue without the three hour line
I cook for a living and I have not stood in a three hour line in six years. You do not have to either. The honest truth is that the gap between the famous places and the very good places is much smaller than the gap in wait time. A well run neighborhood joint pulling briskets at 11 is going to hand you something excellent with a ten minute wait. Rules I go by. Go Tuesday or Wednesday. Get there within thirty minutes of open, not at noon. If the smoker is cold when you pull up, leave. And if you want the famous spot, order a whole brisket ahead instead of standing in the walk-up line.
1mo ago