Want the quick rundown before you dig in?
BBQ Fandom is the weekly Texas BBQ newsletter from ExploringBBQ.com.
Quick rundown: What small courtesy earns a BBQ guest an invitation back? Our holiday gathering mini-series starts with a few requests from the person holding the tongs. Around Texas, Yearby’s prepares for its Allen return, Mad Jack’s adjusts its opening plans, and a Greenville pitmaster works through a fire’s aftermath. We’ve also got a Reese Bros. pit tour, a little barbecue history, ideas for the table, and events worth leaving the house hungry for.
Come Hungry. Read the Text First.
The holidays are coming, and somebody you know is about to spend all day cooking so you can arrive and ask, “Is it ready yet?”
Welcome to our holiday gathering mini-series. First up: a few requests from the person holding the tongs.
RSVP. “Maybe” is a difficult number of people to feed.
Read the invitation. “We’re eating at five” and “come over at five and watch me start the fire” are different events.
Ask before bringing a dish. Your surprise casserole shouldn’t need forty minutes in an oven that’s already employed.
Check before adding guests. We like your cousin. We just didn’t count your cousin.
Offer a hand. “Need me to carry those plates?” is a beautiful sentence.
And if the host says, “Just bring yourself,” believe them. Bring yourself, say thank you, and enjoy the food.
For more backyard guest guidance, visit our refreshed guide:
BBQ Rules and Etiquette 101: BBQ Rules Every Guest Should Know
Now it’s your turn
Sometimes the smallest gesture makes hosting a whole lot easier.
Hosts: what one small courtesy earns someone an automatic invitation back?
Have a take on this? Share Issue #32 on Facebook and ask your BBQ crowd what earns a guest an invitation back.
See you around the pit,
Mike
BBQ Fandom | ExploringBBQ.com
An anticipated return in North Texas, a revised opening date in the Hill Country, and a Greenville smokehouse working through a serious setback. Here’s what’s happening around the Texas BBQ community.
Yearby’s Gets Closer to Its Allen Return
Yearby’s Barbecue & Waterice is preparing to welcome diners to its new Allen home. Owners Sabrina and CJ Henley announced that a soft opening is coming soon, though the October 14 report gives no firm date. The Texas Monthly Top 50 joint brings together halal barbecue and Philadelphia-style water ice, a combination worth keeping on your radar.
Chron | October 14, 2026 | Free
Mad Jack’s Sets Its Sights on November 14
Mad Jack’s Hill Country Barbecue has moved its planned Johnson City opening from November 7 to November 14. The reason? Pitmaster James Jackson wants to attend Texas Monthly’s BBQ Fest in his hometown of Lockhart. The new restaurant expands on his Cloudcroft, New Mexico, operation, which will remain open. Keep the revised date in mind if you’re planning a Hill Country visit.
MySA | October 16, 2026 | Free
After a Fire, a Greenville Pitmaster Looks for a Way Forward
Greenville’s Fire for the Lord BBQ is temporarily closed after an overnight blaze damaged the restaurant. Owner Angel Espinoza reported no injuries and plans to continue serving through the business’s food truck, which survived. The cause remained under investigation, and no reopening date was announced in the report.
If you’re near Greenville, watch the restaurant’s updates for opportunities to support the food truck while the team works toward its next chapter.
Chron | October 16, 2026 | Free
Know someone who’s usually holding the tongs? Forward Issue #32 and ask what small courtesy earns a guest an invitation back. With holiday gatherings coming up, a little appreciation for the person feeding everybody is always worth sharing.
A San Antonio pit tour, a quick trip through barbecue history, and something good to listen to while the smoker runs.
Behind the Pits at Reese Bros.
Video | October 17, 2026 | Kevin’s BBQ Joints
Kevin Kelly visits Nick and Elliot Reese in San Antonio for a look at their barbecue operation, including the pits, equipment, and food lineup.
Where Did American BBQ Really Come From?
Video | October 19, 2026 | PBS Food
In under eight minutes, Delishtory explores the Indigenous, European, and West African influences behind American barbecue and how regional styles developed.
Chili Season and Competition BBQ Talk
Podcast | October 16, 2026 | HowToBBQRight
Malcom and Rachelle talk chili season, their experience at The Jack, competition judging, and backyard cooking questions. Start with chili at 9:00, judging at 34:20, or pulled-pork sandwich quantities at 58:25.
A Saturday around the fire in Hondo, a family outing in Houston, and two November festivals worth putting on the calendar. Here’s where to follow the smoke.
Texas Open Fire Meat Up
Live-fire tasting festival | This weekend
October 24, 2026 | 10 AM–4 PM | Hondo, Texas
A quick reminder: Texas Open Fire Meat Up returns to Quail Crossing Ranch this Saturday. General admission includes live-fire demonstrations and all-you-can-eat samples, with cocktails and beer available for purchase. Friday experiences and other ticket options have separate requirements.
Steve and I have our tickets and plan to be there. If you spot us, come say hello.
Spring Branch Spooktacular | Family BBQ Gathering
October 28, 2026 | 5–8 PM | Houston, Texas
Feges BBQ’s Spring Branch location is getting into the Halloween spirit with a haunted house area, inflatable slide, costume contest, and plenty of candy. Kids ages 12 and under receive one free kids meal each, making this a fun midweek outing for Houston families. Come in costume and bring an appetite for BBQ, burgers, wings, and more.
8217 Long Point Road, Houston
Smoke & Fire BBQ Fest | BBQ Tasting Festival
November 14, 2026 | San Antonio, Texas
Pullman Market brings together pitmasters and chefs for an evening of smoked meats, open-fire cooking, live music, and entertainment. The announced lineup includes KG BBQ, Curry Boys BBQ, Bar-A BBQ, Teddy’s BBQ, Schulze’s Pit Room, and more.
General admission includes unlimited food sampling, with entry at 5 PM. VIP tickets offer 4 PM entry, Pullman Market swag, and access to an exclusive patio. A good opportunity to sample several Texas kitchens without putting all those miles on the car.
221 Newell Avenue, San Antonio
Texas Monthly BBQ Fest | BBQ Festival
November 7–8, 2026 | Lockhart, Texas
Lockhart gets a full weekend of barbecue, music, and exploring as Texas Monthly BBQ Fest returns.
Saturday’s BBQ World’s Fair takes over downtown from noon to 6 PM with live cooking demonstrations, the returning Taco Trail, a vendor marketplace, and live music. Admission is free, with food and other purchases separate.
On Sunday, the Top 50 Picnic brings more than 35 joints from Texas Monthly’s Top 50 list, including all ten of its top-ranked restaurants, to Lockhart City Park. General admission runs from 1–4 PM, with noon entry for VIP ticketholders. Sunday requires a separate ticket, and a portion of ticket proceeds benefits Feeding Texas.
Pick a day or make a weekend of it. Either way, leave room.
Looking Ahead to November?
Browse our November Texas BBQ Events guide and build a few smoke stops into your plans for the month ahead.
We are talking food this week!
Something good for the table, once you’ve checked with the person hosting. This week, we’ve got a guide to choosing your sides, a familiar appetizer, and a creamy potluck favorite.
BBQ Sides: 11 Side Dishes That Actually Pair With Smoked Meat
A good BBQ spread needs more than five different versions of rich and creamy. Find sides that bring crunch, tang, freshness, or comfort to the plate, with pairing ideas for brisket, ribs, sausage, chicken, and turkey.
Southern-Style Deviled Eggs (BBQ-Approved Picnic Classic)
Cool, creamy, and tangy, with mustard, dill pickle relish, and a dusting of paprika. These familiar bites give a smoky spread some balance, and they won’t arrive demanding forty minutes in the host’s oven.
Slow Cooker Creamed Corn (BBQ Potluck Classic)
Sweet corn, butter, and cream cheese come together in a rich, scoopable side that fits beside smoked meats or on a holiday table. The slow cooker handles the cooking, leaving oven space for whatever else is competing for attention.
Book Choice of the Week
Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling
By Meathead Goldwyn with Rux Martin
For the cook who always asks “but why?”, this one belongs on the shelf. Meathead digs into the science behind heat, smoke, and better barbecue, pairing practical explanations with recipes you can put to work in the backyard.
A little reading now could give you something more useful to bring to the next cookout than unsolicited advice.
Some links may be affiliate links, which help support BBQ Fandom and ExploringBBQ at no extra cost to you.
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].
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.
Enjoyed this issue? Subscribe to BBQ Fandom for weekly Texas BBQ news, events, worthy stops, and culture.