Bring Back Big Families

About two months ago, I wrote a post about not letting the fear of the unknown stop you from experiencing things with your kids that you never have before (you can read it here). As life would have it, I got my first real chance to test out my own theory and see how it went at the Texas Monthly BBQ Fest BBQ World’s Fair in Lockhart, TX.

Now, I had been to the event every year they’ve held it in Lockhart dating back to 2022. I went by myself that first year and still remember the pork ribs from Harlem Road Texas BBQ and the brisket quesabirria tacos from JQ’s Tex-Mex BBQ (my mind has this weird penchant for remembering food. Sort of like photographic memory, only better because I swear, rightly or wrongly, I can actually taste food years after the fact). The last two years, I was able to attend with my brother where the two of us shared a few hours of breeze shooting and BBQ feasting. This year, however, due to some work constraints and soccer matches, he wouldn’t be able to make it. And, since my kids had been asking me to go for the last two years at least, the stage was set for me to take my oldest four by myself to meander the streets of downtown Lockhart with them while basking in the smell of burning Texas post oak.

I was nervous, naturally, as I knew the streets would be crowded with people as they had been the three years prior. But from the first moment we stepped onto the shuttle bus, seeing their eyes light up, I knew I’d made the right choice.

Our BBQ World’s Fair journey began with a free tote bag and samples of sausage and candied bacon from Texas Tech University (free food, my oldest daughter’s favorite part). A fitting appetizer for things to come, we then made our way to the Texas Monthly tent for a map to plan our routes.

We plotted our course and were on our way. Seeing as how I was a bad Dad and didn’t let them get a snack 30 minutes before we arrived, we figured we’d dive into the BBQ. My oldest son had been talking about ribs every chance he got when he found we were going, so I suggested Harlem Road Texas BBQ, as I remember their ribs being some of the best in the business, even though it’s been three years since I had them last. He was not disappointed in his choice. The others munched on sausage (kid three’s choice for his favorite. He was stoked for the sausage freebie from TTU, so the full-sized sausage-on-a-stick made his day) and mac and cheese and fresh pork rinds (my youngest [well, the youngest with me] did his best to stop me from eating these with him. I can still hear his, “Daddy, could you please stop eating my pork rinds?” as I snuck one more from the bag) while I chewed on some pork belly bites and rice. I was not disappointed in my choice either. Nor was I disappointed when they got full and needed someone to handle the leftovers. I was the man for the job. So, pork belly, pork rib scraps, pork rinds (sensing a theme here), sausage, and mac and cheese were all mine for the taking. And so I did.

My goal each year is to complete the Texas Trinity of BBQ. (For those who don’t know, Texas Trinity is ribs, sausage, and, the crown jewel, the king of Texas BBQ, brisket.) So, after our first stop at Harlem Road, 2/3 of the Texas Trinity of BBQ was complete for me. Well worth it. But I still needed some brisket.

On we went to survey the various shops. Clothes, hats, cigars, metalware, shot glasses, handmade trinkets, patches, a little bit of everything dotted the streets as we eyed the sales.

We eventually made our way to the Coca-Cola booth for another kid favorite: free Coca-Cola. Needless to say, they were in hog heaven, pun totally intended.

Our next stop was a tortilla making demonstration, after gathering some stickers, of course.

The kids were as happy as could be watching as the dough was made from scratch and hand pressed and cooked on an open fire pit. They were fans of the free samples as well.

We picked up some more stickers (and matches) along the way from Nomad Grills as we watched some extremely delicious looking chicken being cooked on them.

The requisite first stop at the bathrooms was next before we made our way to more shops to browse.

But I still needed brisket, so we stopped by CM Smokehouse and got a ridiculously good smoked turkey sandwich with charcuterie nachos.

One of my personal favorite meats to smoke is turkey breast (I’d put mine up against any restaurant any day. #HumbleBrag). So this sandwich was definitely a highlight. The kicker on the charcuterie nachos was the brisket jam. Yes, in Texas, we add brisket to our jam. And for me, the brisket jam-covered charcuterie nachos completed my Texas Trinity. I could leave a happy man having completed my goal.

We had picked up a raffle ticket earlier in the day to win some post oak wood to take home, and so at 2:00pm, as the storm clouds began rolling in the distance, we headed for the raffle booth to see if we had won. Sadly, our only prize was a red raffle ticket. No free post oak for me.

And with that, we made our way to the bathrooms again, then back to the shuttle, stopping by the old timey Gaslight-Baker Theater, where they were screening episodes of Texas Country Reporter, to see what was what.

(Side note: two years ago, my brother and I bumped into Daniel Vaughn as we were leaving. Daniel Vaughn might just have the greatest job on the face of the earth. He’s the BBQ Editor for Texas Monthly. I mean, come on. BBQ Editor for Texas Monthly? It doesn’t get much dreamier than that dream job. But anyway, we met him just outside this theater last year. We talked to him for a few minutes and took a picture with him to remember the occurrence. I was hoping to have similar luck this year with a chance meeting with JB Sauceda, the host of Texas Monthly’s Texas Country Reporter, of whom I am a big fan. I was hoping he might be hanging out there since they were screening his episodes, but it wasn’t mean to be. Maybe next year.)

We then made our way to the shuttle and back to our car after our little detour. The only thing left to do was stop at Buc-ee’s on the way home for another restroom break and some road snacks to top off what turned out to be one of the coolest adventures I’d ever been on by myself with my kids.

That’s not to say there weren’t stressful moments and brief moments of question as I kept my eyes on them and the crowd. But those moments faded completely watching the smiles on their faces as the drank free Coca-Cola or watched up-close as tortillas were being made or as they chewed on sausage or ribs or pork rinds. Every tiny bit of stress was more than worth it.

And, assuming they stick to the norm and hold the World’s Fair on the first Saturday of November, in just 370 days, I’ll get to take them back.

But who’s counting.

As I laid in bed last night reflecting on the day and gathering my thoughts for this post, there was only really one thing that came to my mind. And it went something like this:

My heart is as full as my belly.

And that’s what it’s really all about.