On Aug 8, 5:07 pm, Steve Wertz > wrote:

> If you're nostalgic for Texas Barbecue and cooking (and it sound
> like you are), you might be interested in the "Texas Cowboy
> Cookbook", by Robb Walsh. Currently going for $11 at CostCo in
> Austin. It just came out recently. It's an equal mix of
> recipes, pictures, and narrative.

Thanks for the tip. After typing that out, I am thinking that as much
as anything I am missing the whole process and ritual. I will check
those out, and actually have a half priced books about 2 miles from
the house.

This year I am going to Czhilispiel in Flatonia in October to remember
what it was like 30 years ago. This year they are having a chili
cookoff AND a barbecue cookoff at the same time.

A huge difference from other get togethers is that you actually get to
taste and buy both chili and bbq there. the last two chili events and
the last bbq event I went to no one could taste any product. It was
like a private party that we were invited to watch, so that made it no
fun. None of the participants had that much to do with the crowd
which was certainly well within their rights. But most of these I had
been to before you were able to sample all the product you wanted for
the price of beer tickets.

At any rate, all proceeds go to the different high school clubs. They
promised roaming cowboy groups during the day, about 60 vendors (not a
junk fair), pie eating and judging, and all manner of stuff for the
kiddos. And as the lady in the Chamber of Commerce told me, "more
cold beer than anyone could drink". Shiner and the brewery are only
30 minutes from the shindig, so it sounds like fun to me.

Robert