THE (BURNT) END OF THE ROAD
Wood. Fire. Meat. Salt and Pepper. Smoke. Added together, these simple ingredients can make the most amazing meal in the world…Texas brisket. It sounds simple, but the art of smoking meat is not for the faint of heart. It’s a challenge that requires patience, time and experience. In the hands of an experienced pit master, these elements can produce the perfect brisket. In the hands of an untrained weekend warrior, they can be a recipe for disaster…or shoe leather. What makes brisket the meal Texans want to master? Maybe it’s the overwhelming size of a slab of brisket. Or the fire, the smoke, the time it requires to make it perfect. Perhaps it’s the silent majesty of a 4 am fire and another cold beer, or the pride of serving the perfect brisket to family and friends. In 2017, I began my quest to visit all of Texas Monthly’s Top 50 BBQ Joints. From the time I started until I finished in November 2020, I logged almost 15,500 miles and consumed close to 100 lbs of brisk
