Daniel Vaughn

NPR is Doing a Barbecue Segment Today, and Brisket Help Us If Daniel Vaughn Isn't On it

If you can't get enough of blogger-turned-professional barbecue snob Daniel Vaughn, you might want to tune your radio dial (does anyone still do that?) to KERA 90.1 this afternoon at 1 p.m. The entire second hour of Krys Boyd's Think will be devoted to brisket, ribs, sausages and the endless debate ... More >>

Texas Monthly's Barbecue Editor Daniel Vaughn Hosting Book Signing at Four Corners Brewery on Saturday

This past Friday amidst the mansions of Preston Hollow, Steven Stodghill (you might have heard of the burger named after the prominent lawyer at The Porch) hosted one heck of a party to mark the release of Daniel Vaughn's new book, The Prophets of Smoked Meat. Justin and Diane Fortune brought smoked ... More >>

The BBQ Posse is not Impressed with Daniel Vaughn's New Book

Have you read Daniel Vaughn's book, The Prophets of Smoked Meat? You probably have not. The first book released on Anthony Bourdain's Ecco imprint won't be available until May 14. Flimsy, black-and-white, pre-release copies known as galleys of the book went out to various media outlets in March, an ... More >>

Farmers Markets Ceviche Bars and Colorful Barbecue: This Week In Dallas Dining

I think this might be the best spring I have ever encountered. There have been a few cold snaps here and there, but I find them invigorating. And these sunny days that are mixed in here and there are amazing. It's great weather for a vacation, which I intend to indulge in shortly after publishing t ... More >>

Odom's Ribs are Worth a Little Risk to Life and Limb, So Just Leave Your Gun at Home

Odom's BBQ is an interesting site. I really like it. You pull up outside, having driven past the vastly inferior Babb Bros. just a mile down the road (over the bridge of many names), and realize you have gone from the Babbs end of Singleton (nicely landscaped, trees with lights and shit) to just a m ... More >>

White Rock Local Market Hosts 3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off Saturday, April 27.

The White Rock Local Market has gotten off to a robust start this spring. Every year the size, selection and general merriment grows for the "Only Growers, Only Makers, Only Local," market. And that makes us happy. In a few weekends, Saturday, April 27 to be exact, the market will hold the 3rd Annua ... More >>

Are Bacon Jokes OK on April Fool's Day? We Think Not.

I have mixed feelings about April Fool's Day, primarily on account of my older brother, who sort of scarred me for life. I'll never be able to trust anyone on this first day of April. Even a previous story this morning about Snuffer's on Greenville closing for a rebuild had me skeptic. I emailed the ... More >>

South American Food, Accomplished Writers and Feathery Duck: This Week In Dallas Dining

It's Friday if you haven't noticed. Hopefully you have some weekend plans? If you're still looking be sure to check out Lauren's events guide, but don't run out the door just yet. Let's wrap this week up, first. This week I reviewed Joyce and Gigi's, the new South American restaurant in East Dalla ... More >>

BBQ Snob Daniel Vaughn is Now the Barbecue Editor at Texas Monthly

If you haven't heard, Daniel Vaughn, AKA The BBQ Snob, has recently been hired by Texas Monthly as their official barbecue editor. He joins William Breathes, the Denver Westword ganja writer, in the the ultra-elite ranks of the coolest jobs in journalism. See also: - Daniel Vaughn: The BBQ Snob I ... More >>

Farmers Markets Barbecue and Ramen: This Week in Dallas Dining

I'm certainly ready for the weekend. The weather is perfect for patio drinking, farmers market shopping, and I think there might be a parade around here somewhere, too. Don't get too excited yet, though. We've got a week to wrap up first. This week I wrote about Desta, the Greenville Avenue Ethiopi ... More >>

The Prophets of Smoked Meat is Just a Few Months Away

It hit my desk Monday -- the galley of Daniel Vaughn's upcoming book, The Prophets Of Smoked Meat. For more than 300 pages Vaughn lays out stories about his travels across the great state of Texas interspersed between so much meat porn I'm blushing while I type this. The book is divided into seven ... More >>

20 Feet, Dead Twinkies And The Greek: This Week In Dallas Dining

This weather is just odd. I find myself craving things like morel mushrooms, asparagus and spring peas as of late, even though I've not nearly gotten my fill of braised lamb and other hearty winter dishes. I wonder if the recent warm weather indicates anything about the coming summer. If it does I a ... More >>

Oink And Moo Barbecue Will Kill Us All, But Especially Me

The concept of a mobile barbecue food truck, which may appear next to me at any moment in any situation, is a health danger on a par with snakes, shoddily constructed buildings and being fired out of a cannon into the sun. Especially snakes. I really hate snakes. Previously, I would have had to driv ... More >>

30 Essential Texas Restaurants to Visit Before You Die

Breakfast Tacos, Mustaches and Steak: This Week in Dallas Dining

If you haven't noticed, after a few days of doom and gloom the sun was shining outside. It's a good day for some patio drinking, if you know what I'm saying. Don't get out there too soon though. We've got a week to wrap up, first, and this has been a really good one for City of Ate. This week I rev ... More >>

Jack Perkins' Slow Bone BBQ Causes Disturbance in the Barbecue Force

A recent article on Culture Map has caused a small ripple on the Internet. Teresa Gubbins' story on Slow Bone BBQ, the upcoming restaurant from Jack Perkins, was filled with the confident, and perhaps cocky, language the burger-meister has become known for. "You can master this process fairly quick ... More >>

Cracker Barrel, Rodeo Goats and Tofu Porn: This Week in Dallas Dining

It's over. All those special occasion dishes, all the festive cocktails, they're all gone. It's that time of year when were forced to come back to our desks and actually work, even if our desk tops have been pushed a little further away from our faces by a growing holiday midsection. You'd think we' ... More >>

Oink N' Moo Plans to Make Barbecue Mobile with January Truck Launch

A new food truck, Oink N' Moo BBQ, is launching in Dallas in January, and will be Dallas' first dedicated barbecue food truck. And about damn time! In return for this interview, owner David Hunt has promised to drive up to my work three afternoons out of every five. Tell us a bit about you and barb ... More >>

An Englishman Road-Trips to Cowtown for Barbecue-palooza. Eats Cow.

In the first of a thankfully brief series, I show you the delights that could be in store for you if you brave the horrors of Interstate 20 and I-30, and issue you a challenge. Go on a barbecue road trip out of Dallas with some good friends, and try to hit three places or more in one day without eit ... More >>

An Englishman Gets to Know Peggy Sue

Peggy Sue BBQ is the easiest barbecue restaurant to chant the name of. That is an undeniable fact. Go ahead and try it. I'll wait here. Catchy, isn't it? With an immediate marketing advantage like that, it's a wonder this place is so deserted of a chilly Monday evening. I also see from the frankly ... More >>

Happy Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day: City of Ate (and Friends) Pick the Best Spots

Ladies and Gentlemen, Texas Chicken Fried Steak Day is upon us. Today is the one day you can indulge without guilt, as it is clearly a national holiday that should be celebrated. Because America. See also: - 100 Favorite Dishes, No. 54: CFS At All Good Cafe - Peace, Love and Chicken-Fried Steak D ... More >>

Dallas BBQ Not Good Enough for The Daily Meal's "Ultimate BBQ Road Trip"

Last week, my boyfriend Tim at the Daily Meal (we've actually never met) sent me an email (went to spam box first) about an Ultimate BBQ Road Trip. His greeting started with "Exciting news ... " about their "explicitly mouthwatering lineup of Barbecue restaurants across the southern United States... ... More >>

Meat Fight Tickets Are Now On Sale

Meat Fight is a barbecue competition and fundraiser that I'm throwing at Sons of Hermann Hall in Deep Ellum on November 4. In addition to mind-blowing meats for eating, there will be beers from Deep Ellum Brewing Company. There will be Knob Creek tastings. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Na ... More >>

Weekend Plans, Expensive Pizzas and Jerk: This Week In Dallas Dining

Everyone's talking about the coming cold front, and the weekend is closing in. Sounds like a good time to get outside and explore. We've started offering a list of notable food events here, but before you make plans, we've got a week to wrap up. This week I reviewed Island Spot in Carrollton, notin ... More >>

Bourdain's Last Season Of No Reservations Starts With Daniel Vaughn In Austin

Anthony Bourdain's final season of No Reservations kicks off September, 3. The season opens in Austin with Dallas' very own Daniel Vaughn guiding the popular chef/author/traveler through the smoky motions at Franklin Barbecue. News of Vaughn's appearance on the show leaked after the Texas barbecue s ... More >>

Daniel Vaughn: The BBQ Snob

In this week's Dallas Observer we profile 30 of the metro area's most interesting characters, with new portraits of each from local photographer Mark Graham. See the entire Dallas Observer People Issue here. If you tend to the fires from which smoked brisket is rendered, be mindful: The BBQ Snob is ... More >>

BeerFeast Was a Truckload of Fun

Every time I go to a Flying Saucer beer festival, or BeerFeast or whatever they want to call them, I ask myself, "Why don't I go to these more often?" And then I remember -- distance. My fantasy is that the chain opens an outpost in Dallas proper within walking or at least biking distance from my ... More >>

Food Trucks And Beer Fests in 3, 2, 1: This Week In Dallas Grubbing

Ready for the weekend? You should be. With a massive food truck festival to the north, and a big ass beer festival to the west, there are lots of reasons to get out of the house this weekend. We should probably wrap up the week before we start drinking, though. This week I reviewed nothing, opting ... More >>

The Universal Food Shame Scale

Damn. Eating that freezer burrito made you feel like an awful human being. But, exactly how awful? Wish there was a way to know exactly how much shame you should feel when you eat a horrible, awful food? Wish. Effing. Granted. Above is our very helpful, very scientific Universal Food Shame Scale: ... More >>

Brisket Tacos, Crazy Sandwiches and Fernet: This Week In You Are Soooo Fat

Some winter, huh? I'm wearing short sleeves and it's still February. That means we're going to be eating peaches a little sooner, so long as a hard frost doesn't come in and burn those little blossoms. Before you get out there and enjoy the beautiful weekend weather (I'm ready for some patio drinki ... More >>

Pasta, Cheese, Bathtubs and Boobs: This Week in the Dallas Blogoshpere

Slow day here at the Observer. Slow week, even. It's almost depressing coming to terms with the fact that the holiday season is coming to an end, you're suddenly fat, your resolutions start next week and you have to at least pretend that you want to be a better person, and oh, you're not getting ano ... More >>

100 Holidays Ranked By Deliciousness

Known: Thanksgiving is one of the best food holidays ever. So, where do the other 99 holidays we could think of rank? We're so glad you asked. 1. Day After Thanksgiving: All the food, none of the family. Plus you get Leftovers Sandwiches. Choose to deny that this is the best food holiday of all foo ... More >>

Chopped Beef and Loose Meat: Barbecue For Pit-Sissies

FlickrThis sandwich may taste good, but it's more about the sauce than the meat​Yesterday I told you about the impending Texas debut of Maid-Rite, a corporate franchise type thing selling loose meat sandwiches, shakes and chili cheese fries. While a few commenters seemed to echo my lack of ent ... More >>

CBS DFW.com Announces Best Food Blogger, Kinda

​CBS DFW.com's most valuable food blogger award, with which we quibbled a while back, has been announced with little fanfare. A small announcement has been added to the voting page, which reads: Congratulations Dallas MVB'S CBS DFW'ss inaugural Most Valuable Blogger winners have been announce ... More >>

If Only We Could Have Fried Cake Balls at Sam's Club

​ This week in food news, diners and their dogs flocked to patios to enjoy the cooler weather, we got the results of this year's Big Tex Choice awards and actually found a guy who has a problem with cake balls. Read on. City of Ate Scott Reitz came across new friends and a new beer this week ... More >>

Bid on Lunch with Cheap Bastard. Or, Just Eat the Burnt-End Pizza.

​August 14, Pecan Lodge Catering and Lockhart Smokehouse will hold a fundraiser to benefit the family of Lt. Shannon Stone, the 39-year-old Brownwood firefighter who died July 7 after falling from the outfield stands at a Texas Rangers game in Arlington. There are $30 tickets are still availa ... More >>

Two Tacos from Maple Avenue That Are Good Enough to Marry

The dearth of information on most taquerías and Mexican restaurants in the Dallas area means that often this weekly series relies heavily on leaps of faith (and stomach). Call it food cartography, because, baby, there is no map. It's what barbecue expert Daniel Vaughn does at Full Custom Gospel BBQ ... More >>

Week in Blogs: Smoked Meat, Meat Soap and Wiener Men. Can You say Freudian?

Sara KerensLockhart Smokehouse​This week, Dallasites get cheesy and try to wash away their troubles with meat soap. No, really. Read on. City of Ate Cedars Social isn't all that great, concludes Jose Ralat Maldonado. The "comfort" food is ultimately disappointing and over salted, but hopefull ... More >>

Photo: This Is Serious Texas Food Porn

Sara Kerens[Sniff] And the hommmme of thheee [sniff] bravveee.​For Hanna Raskin's latest review, before she whisked off to allergy-free Seattle, she tackled the Flintstones-esque hunk of meat -- which you must eat without fork and knife -- at Lockhart Smokehouse. According to Hanna, Lockhart fell ... More >>

Taco Bloggers Descend on In & Out Tacos, Get Tongue-Boned

​If anyone doubts the importance and popularity of tacos in Dallas, then I ask them to look at the growing number of taco bloggers. I'm not referring to everyone with an opinion on Fuel City's picadillo and an Internet connection. I am referring to those individuals who have dedicated large am ... More >>

Super Bowl Met Super Barbecue at the House of Blues

Patrick MichelsFranklin Barbecue's brisket. See more 'Cue in Patrick's slideshow​Thousands of credentialed sports writers, photographers and television reporters thronged the House of Blues last night for the Super Bowl host committee's "Welcome to Texas" smoked meat bonanza, but I wish a few ... More >>

Dude Food First Look: Lockhart Smokehouse

Noah W. Bailey​A few dozen Oak Cliff residents and barbecue addicts braved the frozen streets and frigid temperatures to enjoy opening day this morning at Lockhart Smokehouse, the highly awaited new 'cue joint in the Bishop Arts District. As of 1 p.m., the place was out of meat, but luckily Dude F ... More >>

Hungry on DART's Green Line? Here's a Big Honkin' List That Might Help

​It took four years and $1.8 million to complete the longest light-rail construction project in U.S. history -- says DART -- but a little more than one month since DART's Green Line opened, it's been for all intents and purposes a success. While the full line was officially opened on December ... More >>

Road Trip Barbecue Makes Traveling I-35 Less Sucky.

Smoke Gets in Blogs' Eyes, and Sister Cookies Are Doin' It for Themselves

Where's there's smoke, there's...um...more smoke.​This week, Dallas food blogs are tittering about what's new and exciting. We have equal rights for cookies, a new gadget for barbecue, more angles on the possibility of food trucks and (predictably) a new list of places of restaurants willing t ... More >>

Heard Through the Grapevine: Who Deserves Credit for Great Dining Finds?

Who cares how you know? Just tell us where the good stuff is.​Is restaurant scouting an open source activity? That's essentially the question underlying local barbecue blogger Daniel Vaughn's frustration with Dallas Morning News critic Leslie Brenner's new list of the top barbecue joints, an ... More >>

Screw Ethics, Good Barbecue Is More Important

Kevin TodoraFor more, see the full slideshow.​Yesterday's Blues, Bandits & BBQ competition in Oak Cliff was a success on every score but flavor. Organizers estimate more than 1,000 people turned out to celebrate tunes and barbecue at the grassroots festival, which may have been the first in t ... More >>

Go Oak Cliff Shares Details on Sunday's "Ethical Meat" Barbecue Contest and Festival

​Teams have been practicing and judges (including two City of Ate contributors) are advised to begin fasting as Oak Cliff is about to get smoked out this weekend for the Blues, Bandits & Barbeque street party.The festival takes place outside and inside the Kessler Theater and surrounding neigh ... More >>

100 Favorite Dishes: Sliced Brisket
At Pecan Lodge

​As a countdown to the Dallas Observer's "Best of Dallas" 2010, City of Ate is serving up 100 of the favorite dishes we crave, savor and hope to scarf down again soon. These dishes are in no particular order. Some are little known, others celebrated. Some are pricey, others can be eaten on the ... More >>

Dude Food: Big Al's Smokehouse BBQ

Jesse Hughey​Big Al's Smokehouse BBQ3317 Inwood Rd. 214-350-2649Dude Factor: 6, or Tony Romo, on a scale of 1 (Brad Johnson) to 10 (Roger Staubach)Texas being one of the reddest of red states, medical marijuana isn't going to happen any time soon without intervention by the federal government. But ... More >>