Saint Arnold Brewery played host to the first ever Houston Vs. Austin Barbecue Throwdown last weekend. The theme of the annual Houston Barbecue Throwdown persisted to this event: Create a unique barbecue dish & create it better than the other guys. This event however, did play up a budding Houston vs. Austin rivalry in the world of smoked meats.
As has been the case with the other Houston Throwdown events, this Throwdown was a perfect celebration of Texas Barbecue. The masterminds behind the Houston Barbecue Festival deserve heaps of praise for always pulling off brilliant events. If those guys are in charge, it is seriously an event that you need to attend.
When Houston and Austin are Pit against each other in the realm of barbecue, we all win. But, individual winners were also named. No one won bigger than Austin's LeRoy & Lewis Barbecue who took home not only the People's Choice Award and a share of the Judge's Choice Award, but also earned my personal vote (!) for their Pork Bacon Ribs with Brisket Fried Rice. This seriously may have been one of the best bites I've had at any of these events.
Austin-area Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue took the other share of the Judge's Choice Award for their precisely crafted Bahn Mi Crostini layered with three different types of delicious meat. Both Austin-area joints are newer, lesser known commodities, especially to the Houston market, but both were definitely deserving of the praise they received at the event.
Houston's Pit Room, Austin-area Valentina's Tex-Mex BBQ, and Houston's Harlem Road Barbecue rounded out the judge's top five in a very competitive field. I also thought that My Yard Reaction and Beaver's were both impressive in their follow-up to their superb Houston Barbecue Throwdown debut in September.
Austin Area Line Up (In Alphabetical Order):
Brotherton’s Black Iron Barbecue [Judge's Choice (Tie)] - "Pigpen and Pasture" Banh Mi Crostini - Locally Made Baguette, Smoked Beef Cheek Pute, Korean BBQ Brisket, Korean BBQ Pulled Pork, Housemade Kimchi, Pickled Daikon and Carrots, English Cucumber, Thai Chili Pomegranate Gastrique, Mango Jalapeno Coulis
 |
| Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue |
Hays Co. Bar-B-Que - Habanero Mango Pineapple Pork Chop
 |
| Hays Co. Bar-B-Que |
LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue [My Choice, People's Choice, Judge's Choice (Tie)] - Peaceful Pork Bacon Ribs with Brisket Fried Rice, Housemade Kimchi, Fish Caramel
 |
| LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue |
Micklethwait Craft Meats - Smoked Duck Boudin with Fermented Cherry Pepper Hot Sauce, Pickled Summer Vegetables, Remoulade, Seasoned Duck Fat Saltine
 |
| Micklethwait Craft Meats |
Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ - "Chicano Churrasco" - Mesquite Smoked Flap Meat with Tex-Mex Tomatillo Churri on a Handmade Flour Tortilla with Pickled Red Onions
 |
| Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ |
Houston Area Line Up (In Alphabetical Order):
Beaver’s - Smoked Fried Chicken, Cracklin Cornbread, Smoked Honey & Sea Salt
 |
| Beaver's |
The Brisket House - Smoked Pulled Pork Banana Leaf Tamales with Morita Chili Pepper Salsa
 |
| The Brisket House |
El Burro & the Bull - Chile Colorado (Smoked Wild Game Chile Colorado Dressed with Crispy Organic Blue Corn Tortilla Strips, Fresh Cotija Crumbles and Pickled Red Onion
 |
| El Burro & the Bull |
Gatlin’s BBQ - Ginger Glazed Smoked Pork Belly with Coconut Rice
 |
| Gatlin's BBQ |
Harlem Road Texas BBQ - Beef Ribs
 |
| Harlem Road Texas Barbecue |
Killen’s BBQ - Pork Belly Three Ways:
Pork Belly Yesterday: Smoked Pork Belly Tossed in Sweet BBQ Sauce and Pickles
 |
| Killen's BBQ |
Pork Belly Today: Crispy Pork Belly Burnt Ends Tossed in Cherry Habanero Crispy Rice Caviar and Green Onion
 |
| Killen's BBQ |
Pork Belly Tomorrow - Pork Belly Spring Roll with Thai Basil, Killen's Slaw, BBQ Almonds and Hoisin BBQ Sauce
 |
| Killen's BBQ |
My Yard Reaction BBQ - Smoked Pulled Pork, Red Cabbage Marmalade, Smoked Sweet Potato Cornbread, Steen's Cane Syrup Butter
 |
| My Yard Reaction BBQ |
The Pit Room - Beef Rib Burnt End with Prawn Cracker, Cod Smoked Uni Butter, and Pickled Thai Chili
 |
| The Pit Room |
Tin Roof BBQ - Smoked Prime Sirloin Served on a Bed of Bacon Brussel Sprout Salad with Feta Crumble & Bacon Vinaigrette
 |
| Tin Roof BBQ |
 |
| LeRoy & Lewis Barbecue |
 |
| Valentina's Tex Mex Barbecue |
 |
| Harlem Texas Road Barbecue |
 |
| Killen's BBQ |
 |
| Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue |
 |
| The Brisket House |
 |
| Saint Arnold Brewery |
 |
| The winners are announced... |
 |
| LeRoy & Lewis and Brotherton's split the Judge's Choice Award |
