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BBQ Fandom is the weekly Texas BBQ newsletter from ExploringBBQ.com.
Quick rundown: This week's issue looks beyond the pit and into the customer experience at the cutting block, where every recommendation and every tray helps define a Texas BBQ visit. You'll also find the latest barbecue news from around the state, two featured videos, upcoming events worth adding to your calendar, a companion guide to ordering like a Texan on ExploringBBQ, and this week's featured BBQ book recommendation.
At the Cutting Block
One of my favorite places in a Texas BBQ restaurant is not the smoker or the dining room. It is the cutting block.
Steve and I were standing in line at Leroy and Lewis Barbecue when I realized I had stopped watching the brisket and started watching the cutter. Every movement was measured. The meat was studied before the first slice, portions were adjusted almost instinctively, and within moments another guest had exactly the tray they hoped for.
That quiet confidence made years of experience visible for only a few seconds.
The more Texas BBQ restaurants we visit, the more we notice that every one has its own rhythm. At 2M Smokehouse, speaking directly with the cutter made the order feel collaborative. At Burnt Bean Co., Ernest Servantes welcomed guests while slicing their chosen meats to order. At Reese Bros BBQ, much of that craftsmanship happens behind the scenes before a photo-worthy tray appears at the counter.
None of these approaches is automatically better. Each one reveals something about the restaurant’s personality, traditions, and approach to hospitality.
The smoker may create the barbecue, but the cutting block is where all that work becomes personal. The next time you are waiting to order, take a moment to watch how the restaurant brings the tray together. You may notice much more than the meat.
READ THE FULL FROM THE PIT ARTICLE
At the Cutting Block: Where Texas BBQ Meets the Customer
When you order at a Texas BBQ joint, do you prefer talking directly with the cutter, or do you enjoy having the finished tray appear when your name is called?
Have a take on this? Share it on Facebook and see what your BBQ crowd thinks.
Until next week, keep chasing the smoke,
Mike
BBQ Fandom | ExploringBBQ.com
Texas BBQ never stands still. This week brings a mix of national recognition, local growth, and a reminder that some of the state's best barbecue traditions have been earning road trips for generations.
Austin Named America’s Best BBQ City
Travel + Leisure named Austin the best barbecue city in America, highlighting its mix of legendary smokehouses, nationally recognized restaurants, and innovative pitmasters. Lockhart also earned a top spot, giving Texas BBQ fans another reason to debate which city truly deserves the crown.
MySA | July 29, 2026 | Free
Mighty Oak BBQ Relocating in New Braunfels
Mighty Oak BBQ is preparing to relocate within New Braunfels as the restaurant begins its next chapter. The move reflects the continued growth of the area’s barbecue scene and gives local fans another development to follow.
Community Impact | July 31, 2026 | Free
A Historic Texas Smokehouse Is Still Worth the Drive
Not every worthwhile barbecue story is breaking news. This feature looks at Kreuz Market, a historic Texas smokehouse serving barbecue since 1900, and highlights the traditions that have kept it a Lockhart destination for generations.
Fast Food Club | August 1, 2026 | Free
If this issue made you look at the cutting block a little differently, forward it to the BBQ friend who notices the details behind a great tray. Every shared issue helps us grow this community around the people, places, and stories that make Texas BBQ worth exploring.
Whether you're looking for a behind-the-scenes look at Texas BBQ or planning your next barbecue pilgrimage, these two recent videos are well worth adding to your watch list.
The Most Influential Person in BBQ
Video | July 30, 2026 | YouTube, Tuffy Stone
Six-time world barbecue champion Tuffy Stone spends a day with Texas Monthly BBQ Editor Daniel Vaughn, visiting four Texas BBQ destinations while discussing how one of the state's most influential barbecue rankings is built. The episode explores restaurant evaluations, honest feedback, consistency, and the responsibility that comes with shaping Texas BBQ culture.
Does Franklin BBQ Still Live Up to the Hype?
Video | August 4, 2026 | YouTube, Wilsons BBQ
Wilsons BBQ visits Franklin Barbecue in Austin alongside Evan LeRoy and Chuds BBQ for a closer look at one of Texas' most influential barbecue destinations. Beyond the food, the conversation explores why Franklin helped shape modern craft barbecue, the role consistency plays in great barbecue, and why the line remains part of the overall experience for many visitors.
Competition weekends stretch from West Texas to Schulenburg, South Texas, and the Gulf Coast, giving BBQ fans several ways to plan a late-summer road trip. Some stops are public festivals, while others are primarily cook-team events, so check the access notes before you drive.
Summer Under The Stars in Poteet [Competition] [This weekend]
August 7 to 8, 2026 | Poteet, TX
Summer Under the Stars brings a South Texas BBQ competition to Poteet this weekend, August 7 and 8. The cook-off format makes it a good target for teams, BBQ fans, and anyone looking for a nearby summer event.
Pair the event with a stop at a nearby BBQ joint, then log the visit in your BBQ Passport. Check the official event page before heading out for the latest schedule and visitor details.
Texas Chrome Hero’s Foundation Cookoff [Competition] [Gulf Coast Route]
August 14 to 15, 2026 | El Campo, TX
Texas Chrome Hero’s Foundation brings a mid-August BBQ competition to the Wharton County Fairgrounds in El Campo. The event gives Gulf Coast readers another chance to see cook teams compete and build a BBQ-centered weekend around the area.
The available information focuses primarily on the competition, so check the official event page for the latest public schedule and visitor details before making the drive. Pair the event with an El Campo-area BBQ stop for a fuller road trip.
Bell County Area Go Texan BBQ Cookoff [Competition]
August 29, 2026 | Belton, TX
One of Central Texas' annual Go Texan cookoffs returns with competitive barbecue, community involvement, and plenty of smoke. If you're traveling through the area, it's an excellent opportunity to experience Texas competition barbecue while exploring nearby restaurants.
Want the full August calendar?
Denny's Memorial Cookoff [Competition]
August 21 to 22, 2026 | Needville, TX
Our Featured Monthly Event is a championship-level cookoff that attracts talented teams from across Texas for a weekend of great barbecue, community fellowship, and friendly competition. If you're looking for one August BBQ road trip, this is our recommendation.
Order Like a Texan at Your Next BBQ Stop
One of the best Texas BBQ experiences starts before your tray reaches the table.
Our Texas BBQ Ordering Tips guide walks you through ordering by the pound, choosing meats and sides, understanding the cutting block, and avoiding common first-time mistakes. If this week's newsletter made you think differently about the customer experience, this guide will help you order with confidence on your next visit.
Find Your Next BBQ Stop
Discover 1,974 open Texas BBQ joints across the Lone Star State. Search by city, region, or road trip and start planning your next barbecue adventure.
New School Barbecue
Hardcover | May 12, 2026 | Evan LeRoy & Paula Forbes
Texas barbecue continues to evolve while staying rooted in tradition. New School Barbecue explores the techniques, creativity, and modern mindset behind today's pitmasters, offering recipes, stories, and practical insights from one of the state's most respected barbecue voices. After reading this week's issue on the cutting block, this book offers a deeper look at the people and philosophy shaping the next generation of Texas BBQ.
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For the next BBQ run
Supporting BBQ culture does not always mean ordering the biggest tray on the menu. Sometimes it is showing up, bringing a friend, logging the stop, and wearing something that says you are part of the smoke trail.
Know about a BBQ event, new opening, road-trip stop, or story worth following? Send a note to [email protected].
We read every message and may feature reader tips in a future issue. BBQ Fandom follows the people, places, and moments that make barbecue worth following.
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