The BBQ Report

On a recent trip to Lockhart, Texas (population 11,000) I had the pleasure of enjoying some brisket and sausage at Smitty’s Market. Smitty’s Market is one of the top 5 barbecue resturants in Texas, and deservedly so.

It’s a quaint old place, and as soon as you walk in the door you are drive back by the heat coming off their huge smoking pit, whose burning fires have been creating great barbecue for 50 plus years. I have no idea how much wood they use in a day, but just look at the stock piles of post oak logs behind the store.

This part of Texas is full of post oaks, and Lockhart is pretty much 30 miles from anywhere in any direction, so they’ve got plenty of trees around. In fact, they say it this seemingly endless supply of trees (and the cattle no doubt) that have made this area such a barbecue haven. Lockhart is home to several barbecue joints, in fact 3 out 5 of the top rated in Texas call it home.

Despite Smitty’s humble furnishings and down-home attitude (no utensils, just butcher paper) they bring in folks from all around the state for non stop business, so I’m sure they are doing allright financially. No doubt there’s plenty of woodchoppers that make a fine living as well.