Even Secretary of State John Kerry knows that a visit to Texas isn’t complete without barbecue. For his Austin smoked meats of choice, he went with Iron Works BBQ, which he visited today for lunch. Secret Service stopped by the restaurant an hour before he arrived, general manager Aaron Morris told Eater. He preordered beef ribs with green beans and coleslaw and dined with his team. They stayed for over an hour. As he left, he spoke to customers and posed for photos.
@ironworksbbq even the S.O.S. Has to take time out for good bbq pic.twitter.com/xgF0I4NJC4
— Sarah Williams (@spwilliams1123) April 27, 2016
Lunch @ironworksbbq with @JohnKerry great food, very secure pic.twitter.com/0DTu9Be0Gh
— Steve Gilbert (@SteveGilbert4) April 27, 2016
Kerry is in town today because he's participating in the Vietnam War Summit at the LBJ Presidential Library later tonight, with documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. He also toured UT's Pickle Research Campus earlier today.
Other political figures have worked their way through Austin’s barbecue spots. First Lady Michelle Obama ordered Micklethwait Craft Meats to go for her plane ride back to the East Coast after her SXSW keynote last month. Her husband Barack Obama, who also happens to be president, dined at Franklin Barbecue and Stubb's Bar-B-Que.