Brisket, Sausages, and Vegan Protesters at Texas Monthly BBQ Fest

The Texas Monthly BBQ Fest took place for the eighth time on Sunday, with the festival’s largest crowd clamoring for smoked meats at 30 of the best barbecue joints from around the state. The magazine’s highly competitive barbecue rankings came out in May, and the festival was a chance for the new barbecue elite to show their stuff. Relive the madness with Eater’s barbecue hangover observations:

• As expected, lines were long for the new top-ranked Snow’s BBQ from Lexington and Franklin Barbecue. Newcomer Truth BBQ from Brenham, Texas built up lines as well as word spread about the succulent brisket.
• List newcomer Tejas Chocolate Craftory of Tomball showed off dessert chops, with carrot souffle and chocolate panna cotta in addition to pastrami burnt ends, brisket, and Danish ribs.
• Sides were a rarity this year, though the green chili cheese grits from Evie Mae’s Pit Barbecue in Wolfforth were a worthy exception. Sporks, on the other hand, were thankfully more common than last year.
• Many attendees had planned a strategy this year, carrying trays to get samples faster and taking home leftovers in baggies. On the less controversial side, others brought in blankets and board games.
• A small group of vegan protesters organized outside the festival, near the Franklin line (perhaps why it was less long this year). Timing with the Settlement Club charity garage sale also made parking at the Long Center a nightmare.

Robert J. Lerma/EATX

Robert J. Lerma/EATX

Robert J. Lerma/EATX

Robert J. Lerma/EATX

Robert J. Lerma/EATX

Robert J. Lerma/EATX

Robert J. Lerma/EATX