Posts By / Amy Mills

2
May

OnCue: Brisket Bonanza

Back in January we held our second-ever Whole Hog Extravaganza/Brisket Bonanza/BBQ MBA. This year we added the brisket component to the event.

WholeHog_Brisket_MikeMills

Photo by Ken Goodman

Mike prepped and cooked brisket the way we do it every day at the 17th Street.  In an effort to showcase different regional styles, Mike was joined by …

WholeHog_Brisket_WayneMueller

Photo by Ken Goodman

Wayne Mueller of Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor, Texas and …

WholeHog_Brisket_BarrySorkin

Photo by Ken Goodman

Barry Sorkin of Smoque in Chicago.

WholeHog_Brisket_Wood

Photo by Amy Mills

Wood provides a distinct flavor to meat and we brought in truckloads of the indigenous wood that each pitmaster uses at home. This trailer bed is filled with post oak for Wayne Mueller.

WholeHog_Brisket_Process2

The rubs, seasoning, wood, and temperature used by each person resulted in three very different and equally delicious brisket flavor profiles.

WholeHog_Brisket_Process3

Carving a brisket is an art form and the pitmasters gave a few tips and tricks for proper slicing. There’s a huge difference in texture and tenderness when brisket is not sliced properly. {I was surprised to get some brisket sliced with the grain just last month at a popular undisclosed Central Texas barbecue joint.}

WholeHog_Brisket_Process4

The lucky participants sampled pounds and pounds of delicious meat.

In addition to tending the meat, each pitmaster shared his personal story and business acumen as part of the BBQ MBA portion of the seminar.

Mark your calendar now – we’re already planning next year’s event which will be held January 19–21, 2014.

Click here to see more pictures, taken by the fabulous Ken Goodman, of this event.

26
Apr

The One-7: Elizabeth Karmel

Elizabeth Karmel shows off a tray of succulent spare ribs at Hill Country Barbeque Market.

Elizabeth Karmel shows off a tray of succulent spare ribs at Hill Country Barbeque Market. Photo by Ken Goodman

I met Elizabeth almost 10 years ago and she has become a treasured friend, bound by the love of barbecue and cowboy boots. She’s the culinary mastermind behind Hill Country Barbecue Market and Hill Country Chicken and the author of a trio of books about grilling and barbecue.

In addition to the famous PB&J Cupcake she invented for Hill Country, she also developed the often-imitated ergonomically designed silicone grill brush and mop, along with a variety of other clever and well-designed grilling accessories, all available at bbqproshop.com.

Here’s Elizabeth’s take on the One-7:

1. Travel destination: Paris

2. Cut of meat to cook: Bone-in pork butt

3. Favorite pie: my grandmother’s coconut meringue

4. Best gift received: the “love of food” from my parents and grandparents

5. I admire: Steve Jobs 

6. BBQ joint I’d like to visit: Skylight Inn

7. Words to live by: Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story! 

Elizabeth’s website is a treasure trove of recipes and information. Buy her books here.

The One-7 features our friends and partners and gives a little insight into their worlds.