Feb 26/2018 Weather hit 79 today in Llano! tonight low of 54. Every Texas tourist magazine you pick up talks about Old Time Open Pit BBQ.
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| uuggghhh we had to turn around |
We head west on some county back road enjoying the undulating terrain of limestone canyons bristling with prickly pear
cactus and shaggy with cedar trees, until we hit a creek overflowing onto the road where we stopped and walked into the mud and water - we had a vote - unanimous to turn around. If we dump the bike out here, there is no one for miles to help us so it is not worth the risk.
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| taking the back roads |
We head back to a highway, then north to Llano. A little town 3,350.
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| don't expect much from the outside |
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| pitman serving up whatever you crave |
Cooper's Old Time BBQ burns scads of mesquite branches to embers, then shovels the coals
into the pits, where they smolder directly beneath the meats. The
method, drawing on the cattle drives of bygone years, is called “cowboy
style.” You walk past several rectangular pits, admire the small mountain of
mesquite wood, and line up at an old steel closed pit, salivating as the
aroma of smoking meats wafts through the still Texas air. When
it is your turn, consider all the choices......the 2 " Big Chop (pork), brisket, beef or pork ribs, sausage, turkey, chicken and
cabrito (goat) on the pit’s grate. Tell the pitman exactly what you
want, and he will slice it to order. We ordered the brisket and pork rib.
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| picnic tables dining area |
Then you walk inside and pay by the pound for your meat and have at it on the benches! Nothing pretentious here just the best BBQ we have ever had. The brisket had a smoky spicy crusted rub on it and melted in your mouth. Oh yes we are meat eaters!!!
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| let's dig in |
