Want the quick rundown before you dig in?
BBQ Fandom is the weekly Texas BBQ newsletter from ExploringBBQ.com.
Quick rundown: What makes a BBQ joint worth a special trip? Goldee’s new Michelin star gives us a reason to explore the food, people, and experiences that make Texas BBQ destinations stand out. Around the Fire, we remember Smoke ’N Ash co-owner Patrick Hicks, check out Matthew McConaughey’s BBQ choice, and look at Rodeo City Provisions’ Dallas expansion plans. Pitmaster Picks brings crispy lemon pepper wings and a conversation about brisket prices, while our 2025 Open Fire Meat Up memories have us ready to return to Hondo.
What makes a BBQ joint worth a special trip?
Goldee’s first Michelin star gives Texas BBQ fans another reason to look toward Fort Worth. It joins InterStellar BBQ, LeRoy and Lewis, and CorkScrew among the four barbecue restaurants with one star in Michelin’s 2026 Texas selection.
Recognition can put a joint on your radar. But what makes you clear the calendar, fill the tank, and go?
Sometimes it is a particular dish. Sometimes it is a cook’s approach or a place you want to share with someone.
I have been to LeRoy and Lewis, and its new-school approach stands out to me. It puts a twist on traditional barbecue while keeping things rooted in that tradition, then expands the possibilities through different cuts and techniques. That gives me something specific to appreciate beyond an award.
This week’s ExploringBBQ article looks at the four Texas BBQ restaurants that each hold one Michelin star, explains the recognition, and offers a few practical ways to plan a visit. Your next worthwhile trip might lead to one of them, or to an unstarred favorite you would happily drive out of your way for.
Michelin-Starred Texas BBQ: What Makes a Joint Worth the Trip?
Now it’s your turn
Think of a joint you have traveled for, or one you keep meaning to visit. What makes that place worth the effort?
What makes a BBQ joint worth a special trip for you?
Name the joint and its town, then tell us about the dish, person, or experience that makes you willing to go. Your answer does not need a Michelin star.
Have a take on this? Share Issue #31 on Facebook and see which BBQ joints your crowd would make the trip for.
Until next week, keep chasing the smoke,
Mike
BBQ Fandom | ExploringBBQ.com
This week, we remember a member of Arlington’s BBQ community, revisit a Hill Country bite worth seeking out, and look ahead to a new Dallas destination.
Remembering Patrick Hicks of Smoke ’N Ash
Patrick Hicks, co-owner of Arlington’s Smoke ’N Ash Barbecue, has died at 60. The restaurant’s family and team say they will keep the business running as they grieve. FOX 4’s coverage includes a staff member’s remembrance of Hicks as a teacher and father figure, offering a personal look at the legacy he leaves behind.
FOX 4 | October 12, 2026 | Free
McConaughey’s Memorable Order at Opie’s
Matthew McConaughey included Opie’s Barbecue in his ideal “last meal” during a Mythical Kitchen appearance. His choice: sausage dipped in jalapeño creamed corn from the Spicewood joint. It is a reminder that the bite worth remembering, or planning a trip around, does not always start with brisket.
MySA | October 7, 2026 | Free
Rodeo City Provisions Heads Toward Uptown Dallas
Mesquite’s Rodeo City Provisions plans to expand into Uptown Dallas before the end of the year. Chef and pitmaster Leo Morales brings Colombian and Mexican influences to his Texas BBQ, including Latin-inspired seasonings and sides. The planned location will take over the former NADC Burger space on McKinney Avenue. An opening date has not yet been announced.
CultureMap Dallas | October 13, 2026 | Free
If this week’s question brought a favorite BBQ joint to mind, forward Issue #31 to the friend you would take along. Ask which place they would go out of their way for and what makes it worth the trip. You might find the destination for your next BBQ day.
This week’s picks bring something to cook for the next game and something to chew on before your next BBQ order.
Meat Church’s Zesty Lemon Pepper Wings
Recipe with video | October 14, 2026 | Meat Church
Meat Church takes the double-fry approach to crispy chicken wings, finishing them with lemon pepper seasoning and fresh lemon zest. The recipe covers brining, drying, and frying, giving backyard cooks another option for their football spread.
Why it fits this week: Between BBQ road trips and festival plans, there’s always room for something worth making at home. These wings could earn a spot in your game-day rotation.
Grab’em in the Brisket: When Did BBQ Get So Expensive?
Podcast | October 9, 2026 | iHeart, Grab’em in the Brisket
In Episode 336, “Brisket Is Broken,” James, Jan, and Jon tackle rising brisket prices, build their own $50 BBQ trays, and debate whether a Texas BBQ joint needs brisket on its menu. They also bring the discussion home, asking whether backyard brisket has become more complicated and expensive than it needs to be.
Why it fits this week: A joint can be worth a special trip and still make you think carefully about your order. This conversation adds the value question to our discussion of what makes a BBQ destination stand out.
October still has plenty of smoke ahead, from Hill Country cooking classes and competition to BBQ with live blues. Texas Open Fire Meat Up is our featured event of the month, and Steve and I will be joining the crowd in Hondo on October 24.
Hooper’s MeatFest
BBQ competition and festival | This weekend
October 16 to 18, 2026 | Kingsland, Texas
Hooper’s brings a three-day BBQ gathering to the Hill Country with competition, live music, food vendors, and family activities. Miguel Vidal hosts, with special guests including ArnieTex. The announced classes cover brisket trimming, smoking brisket, tortillas, and salsa, making this an option for readers who want to bring a few new skills home along with their weekend memories.
26th Annual Texas BBQ & Blues Festival
BBQ and music festival | This Saturday
October 17, 2026 | Irving, Texas
BBQ vendors and live blues share the spotlight on the Plaza at Toyota Music Factory, with market vendors and festival activities rounding out the evening. It’s a chance to make a North Texas BBQ outing last beyond lunch. The organizer advertises limited free general admission with an RSVP, plus paid VIP options. Food purchases are separate.
Harris County Fair & Rodeo BBQ Cook-Off
IBCA State Championship | This weekend
October 16 to 17, 2026 | Tomball, Texas
The second annual cook-off brings championship competition to the Harris County Fair & Rodeo Fairgrounds on Telge Road. The grand champion earns an invitation to the American Royal and a draw for the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational. For competition fans, it’s a Houston-area event to follow closely. Check with the organizer about public admission and tasting access before heading out.
Texas Open Fire Meat Up
Featured Event of the Month | Live-fire tasting festival
October 24, 2026 | Hondo, Texas
Quail Crossing Ranch becomes a gathering place for cooks, pitmasters, and BBQ fans sharing food and traditions over open fire. Saturday’s all-you-can-eat experience offers a chance to explore different styles of cooking, meet the people tending the fires, and discover something you might want to try at home. Optional classes and Friday experiences are ticketed separately.
Steve and I will be there again this year. If you see us, come say hi and get a BBQ Passport sticker!
Looking farther ahead?
Browse our October Texas BBQ Events guide and build a few smoke stops into your next outing.
Why We’re Going Back to the Texas Open Fire Meat Up
Pigs on asado crosses, meats hanging over glowing coals, and cooks tending fires across the grounds made our first Texas Open Fire Meat Up memorable before we tasted a bite. On ExploringBBQ, we share the cooking methods that caught our attention, the Dubai Taco and gator sopes that stayed with us, and why Steve and I are returning to Hondo on October 24.
If you see us there, come say hi and get a BBQ Passport sticker!
For the next BBQ run
A favorite joint, a festival weekend, or a new town can give you a reason to make the drive. Bring your appetite, enjoy the people along the way, and wear your love of Texas BBQ. Gear up for the next BBQ run.
Know about a BBQ event, new opening, road-trip stop, or story worth following? Send a note to [email protected].
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