Grew up in Houston (live in Austin now), and used to spend time in Marshall when my Aunt lived there. Still get to H-Town several times a year.
If you go to Total Wine or Spec’s and know what you’re looking for, they are OK (though there is so much out there they have no access to). If you are relying on their personnel, it’s mostly a miss, because most of them don’t know more than what others tell them. Go to the Houston Wine Merchant, tell them your budget and what you like, and let them steer you in the direction.
For those of you in Dallas that want the same type of help, go to Pogo’s.
Agree that Costner is sort of one note — but it’s a really good note. Will pretty much watch anything he did, other than “Wyatt Earp” because you can’t top Kurt Russell, and “Tombstone” is so much better.
I’d encourage you to check out some of his smaller movies — Fandango, as noted above, “The War,” “A Perfect World,” and an older one, “American Flyers.” These are really goood, understated roles
Interstellar makes their own. It's not Polish style (though they have a "Kielbasa"), though it's not the ring-type either. I guess I'm referring more to the casing and texture (i.e. the "Eckrich" style mentioned above). The texture of, say, Interstellar is nothing like that.
I don't have an issue with Stiles Switch. They are not at the top of anything, but everything there (and I have stopped by multiple times) is "good." The beef ribs (which I think are only on Saturdays for now) are really good. So nothing "great" but well worth stopping in for if you are in the area.
I have never tried the turkey.
As far as Texas-centric, I have quite a few that are good. The Homesick Texas books you mention are actually pretty good. I have Dean Fearing's "Food Bible," Stephen Pyles' "New Texas Cuisine" and "New Tastes from Texas," the Reata cookbook, Jon Bonnell's "Texas Favorites,: Grady Spears' "A Cowboy in the Kitchen," and Jack Allen's "Celebrating the Taste of Texas." They are all good, some better than others. As far as ease of use, the Homesick Texas are probably the easiest to follow. Dean Fearing's book also has a lot of good recipes, and generally not to hard to re-create.
HEB has a very limited supply of brisket at the stores I go to (Four Points and Lakeway). They have been completely out the last few times I have gone.
Yes. They are some great stuff, and it is always consistent. Brisket and ribs -- excellent. Sausage -- get the jalapeno popper sausage (they always have it) and if they have it, the Frito Pie sausage or the Texano sausage (they make their sausage). Sides: get the smoked scalloped potatoes. Beans, which are ranch/chili style, are free. I'm not a slaw fan, but I'm told the jalapeno slaw is very good.
If you go on a weekend they usually have pork belly burnt ends, and sometimes pastrami beef ribs.
Even as a pellet guy, that is too much to bother with. I’’ll stick with taking out at Interstellar. I did do beef ribs on Sunday and, yeah, it works great
Was in Costco a couple of days ago, and looked at the briskets. All choice grade, and all huge. Smallest I saw was 17.5 lbs, and the rest were 18-19+. I’m not really up for a one-day smoke.