What I found out after a first day of barbecue. Dont bother with lean brisket and Ive already hadenough sausage. Today, Im taking a drive south of Austin to Lockhart. It is the self proclaimed "barbecue capital of Texas". There are 4 main establishments to help promote this proclamation: Kreuz, Smitty's, Black's and Chisholm Trail. What kind of bbq roadtrip would this be if Ididnt at least try 2 of the 4. Kreuz started as a meat market run by a german family. Such is the origin of many joints alike. They sold smoked and bbq'ed meats to get rid of old stock. After a while, family strife caused them to move to a new location. The original location then became Smittys. This, too, is another thread that runs in the business. Terry Black's in Austin was started by relatives of the original owners of Black's in Lockhart. Barred from using the same name, the relatives named their place after their father.
Kreuz was the closest but not by much. This place is huuuge with a huge parking lot. Just off to the north are cords and cords of oak they wll usefor their smokers. Its still early as I order a quarter pound of fatty brisket. I also wanted some smoked prime rib but that would be another 30 minutes. I carried my meat and knife, wrapped around 2 layers of btcher paper, to a table in the air conditioned portion of the dining room. Coincidetally the same room where you order your sides and drinks. Oddly enough the brisket had dried out by the time I ripped off a piece. Dissappointed, the whole thing lost all it mpisture and juices. This really knocks them down in the rankings. I didnt bother with the prime rib
A quick drive down the street gets me to Smittys. Too quick as the brisket had not had time to digest. Luckily the most photographed building in the city was nearby. I took a stroll around the Caldwell County Courthouse. It was the building that I took the most pics of. Shops and eateries surround the square with cafes, restaurants, candy/toy store, arcade, bank, etc.
The front entrance lets 9ou into the amin dinig area counter for sides drinks and dessert. Enter from the back on Colorado and you will pass the wood pile and the smokers. Here you order your smoked meats. Quarter pound of fatty brsket and quarter pound of smoked prime rib. Sound familiar? Forget the brisket, the prime rib was great. The smokey flavor and thin cut make for a nice piece of smoked meat. Never dried out and a dash of sauce would only benefit the taste. The brisket was good and currently ranls second after Stiles from the previous night. Good flavor and texture but nowhere as juicey.
I could be on the verge of a carnivorous breakdown. Im so full of barebecue, I dont have the heart or stomach to try Blacks. But, I can always have the beef short rib at a number of other places in Austin. I had no appetite at dnner either. Maybe Im backed up and a good constitutional tomorrow morning wull clear it
