2 Texas Food Snobs

03/12/2026

🦐 The Texas Food Snobs strike again — and this time, I brought Mom.

Y’all know how hard it is to enjoy Cajun food at a restaurant when you’ve got family who can throw down in the kitchen. So when Dodie’s Cajun Kitchen opened this week, I was skeptical. Like, genuinely doubtful.

I was wrong. And I love being wrong about food.

Mom and I decided to be bold and order the gumbo — something I’ve never actually enjoyed from a restaurant. Ever. Until today. Their chicken sausage gumbo? Best I’ve had from any kitchen that isn’t my family’s. That’s not a small statement.

Then came the shrimp andouille sausage mac and cheese and listen… the flavor on that dish. We were not prepared.

Dodie’s just opened this week and they are already coming out swinging. If you’re on the fence, get off it and go. 👏

Now the real test? Getting Michael through the door. He’s the harder critic. Stay tuned. 😏

03/11/2026

It’s been a minute since we’ve posted and we have missed all of yall. Life has been crazy with hunting season, holidays and birthdays. So we haven’t really been able to adventure off to any new places.

I’ve been asked to rank the places we have been to so far so here is our top 5.

1. Redbirds - Port Neches
2. Daynes - Aledo
3. Slaughters - Sulpher Springs
4. Smoak town - Fate
5. B4 BBQ - Mabank

Y’all go enjoy some great BBQ and let us know if you have tried any of these places or have one we should try.

10/05/2025

🔥 Food Snobs BBQ Adventure: Gas Monkey Edition 🔥

Yesterday we finally made our way to a spot that’s been popping up in our messages — Gas Monkey — and y’all know we had to see what the hype was about!

First off, props to them for the surprise extras they bring out. Nothing like a few unexpected treats to start things off right!

Now let’s get to the good stuff 👇

🍖 The Meats — We went classic with brisket and ribs. Tender? Absolutely. But flavor-wise… a little underwhelming. You know us — we’re called Food Snobs for a reason. When it comes to BBQ, we’re picky and proud!

🥬 The Sides — Total redemption here! The okra and cabbage were both packed with flavor. Hands-down the stars of the plate.

🍲 The Gumbo (sausage & shrimp) — Okay, confession time: I’m Cajun-spoiled. My father-in-law’s been cooking authentic Cajun food for me for 25 years, so my gumbo standards are sky-high. The seasoning here was nice, but the tomato flavor threw us off — not the gumbo style we’re used to.

✨ The Extras — Fluffy rolls and fried pickle chips for the win! Those pickles with that ranch? Dangerously addictive. 👌

You may ask, will we go back? 🤔
Maybe for the all-you-can-eat menu… but not for the BBQ.

Overall, a fun spot with a few tasty surprises — even if the BBQ didn’t completely steal the show. The hunt for Texas BBQ greatness continues! 🕵️‍♀️🍖

👇 Drop your favorite BBQ spot below — we’re always down for a new adventure!

09/28/2025

Yesterday was BBQ perfection! 🔥 The weather was beautiful, so we headed to SMOAK TOWN BBQ in Fate. We got there around 11:15 expecting a long line, but luckily only had a couple of people in front of us—BBQ craving satisfied fast! 🙌

We couldn’t resist and grabbed both specials: the Brisket Philly Cheesesteak and the Double Down Burger. Both were crazy good! I’ve been dying to try one of their burgers and let me tell you, it was 100% worth the wait. 🍔💯

We also shared the Smoak Town Sampler—the turkey was tender and flavorful, and the pulled pork had that perfect touch of sweetness. So good. 😋

This place never lets us down. Definitely one of our go-to spots when that BBQ craving hits! 🍖

09/05/2025

BBQ Adventure #9 – Celebrating Michael’s Birthday at Dayne's Craft Barbecue 🍖🎉

For our 9th stop on the Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ list, we made the 2-hour drive out to Aledo, just west of Fort Worth—and let me tell you, it was absolutely worth every mile.

We pulled up around 9 a.m., and since Dayne’s was already serving breakfast, I couldn’t resist dragging Michael inside early. We kicked things off with a barbacoa breakfast taco and a blueberry kolache—and wow, both were the perfect start to the day.

👉 Lunch lineup (aka the real reason we came):
• Texas Trinity Platter – Brisket so rich in flavor it carried all the way through the middle (seriously, I need their secret). Pork ribs that were perfectly seasoned and fall-off-the-bone tender. And of course, we had to try both spicy sausages—jalapeño havarti and Funky Town Fuego. People may underestimate us pale-skinned folks, but trust me, we handled the heat just fine.🔥
• Sides – Frito chili beans (AMAZING) and apple slaw that balanced everything out with just the right amount of crisp sweetness.
• Extras – The bologna melt was smoky, cheesy perfection. And the famous smashburger? Believe the hype—it did not disappoint. Pork Belly Lumpia… basically a fried roll of pure yumminess that I wish we had ordered more of.

And yes, we definitely left with leftovers—because the best part about BBQ is enjoying it all over again the next day. Until our next Fort Worth BBQ stop, we’ll be reliving this one bite at a time.

Thank you Michael Tieman for the suggestions! If you are in the Fort Worth area make sure you give Daynes a try.

09/04/2025

08/30/2025

Saturday tradition = BBQ + Us. ❤️

Today took us back to one of our favorite local gems, Slaughter's BBQ. Now, “local” in Texas can mean a 30-minute drive—but trust me, it’s worth every mile.

Lately we’ve been sticking with the Trinity Platter (brisket, ribs, and sausage) because not only is it incredible fresh off the tray, but the leftovers make weekday lunches feel like a treat.

People sometimes ask why we do this little BBQ adventure of ours, and here’s why:

1️⃣ We genuinely love food—and exploring new flavors together is our thing. Right now, BBQ just happens to be the love language we’re spoiling ourselves with.

2️⃣ Dating your spouse is important, and Saturday has become our day. No distractions, just us, great food, and good conversation.

3️⃣ The people. Every line is an opportunity to connect. I’m the extrovert, Michael’s the introvert, but BBQ has this way of bringing him out to chat with other food lovers. We’ve met some of the greatest folks while waiting for our turn.

It’s more than just BBQ—it’s a tradition, a connection, and a whole lot of joy.

08/23/2025

Went back to one of our favorites today, don’t sleep on this place. Also can’t wait until November when they bring their boudin balls back.

Michael’s birthday is in a couple of weeks so we are going to be taking a trip to Fort Worth to try out one of the top 50 places and spend the day together. If you know of any good antique/thrift stores in Forth Worth we would love the info.

08/23/2025

Can anyone guess where we are getting our BBQ fix at today?

08/09/2025

Today’s BBQ comes from Slaughter's BBQ one of our favorite spots. After 4 days of moving it was just what we needed to help us get through the rest of this crazy hot 🥵 day in Texas. We bought the trinity platter which comes with ribs, brisket and 3 sausages along with 3 sides. This was just enough to feed us lunch and have leftovers since it’s hard to cook when you are in between houses. 🏘️ If you are in hunt county and you have been longing for some great BBQ, take a trip to sulpher springs and enjoy. Slaughters is consistent with delivering great BBQ and never disappoints.

08/02/2025

🔥BBQ Adventure Stop #9 on the Texas Monthly Top 50: Cattleack BBQ! 🔥

We had to make a trip to Fort Worth yesterday, so naturally, we planned a little BBQ detour—because when you’re chasing the best BBQ in Texas, every trip is a chance to check off another stop! This time, we hit up Cattleack BBQ, and let me tell you…it did not disappoint.

One of my favorite parts of visiting all these BBQ joints is seeing how each one adds its own twist to the classics we love. Cattleack definitely brought something special to the table.

✨ The Meats:
We went with the Trinity Platter—brisket, pork rib, and our sausage pick: Texas Heat. It lived up to its name with a kick of spice and tons of flavor.
• The brisket was incredibly moist, smoky, and melt-in-your-mouth tender.
• The rib tasted like the best beef jerky you’ve ever had, but so juicy it left us wondering how they pulled that off.
• And the pork belly burnt ends? Easily the best bite on the plate—rich, smoky, and caramelized to perfection.
• We also sampled the smoked bologna, which surprised us with its bold flavor and nostalgic charm.

🥗 The Sides:
• Apple broccoli salad: Not something us country folks usually grab first, but it was light, crisp, and surprisingly refreshing.
• Street corn: Packed with flavor and topped with candied jalapeños—sweet heat perfection.

🍰 The Sweet:
• Crack Cake: Super tasty, but next time I’m asking for a middle slice (if you know me, you know that’s where the magic happens).

🔥 Pro Tip:
Next time, we’re sampling a little of everything on the meat board to soak up the full experience. Don’t sleep on the pork belly burnt ends—seriously.

07/26/2025

🔥 BBQ Adventure Alert: Sulphur Springs Edition 🔥
Today’s journey took us back to one of our favorite BBQ spots close to home and always worth the trip. If you’ve ever spent your week daydreaming about smoky brisket and fall-off-the-bone ribs, this place never disappoints. David Slaughter and his crew are true pitmasters who know exactly how to hit that BBQ sweet spot.

🍽️ First-Time Try: The Trinity Platter
We had a special guest today—our oldest joined the adventure—so we went big and tried the Trinity Platter for the first time. Here's the breakdown:
• Moist Brisket: Ask for moist, and they deliver. Tender, juicy, and packed with flavor.
• Pork Ribs: Fall-off-the-bone goodness with a rich, smoky taste 🍖
• Sausage Duo: Beef and serrano cheddar—bold, juicy, and bursting with flavor.

🥗 Sides That Slap
We stuck with our go-to favorites and added a new one to the mix:
• Mac & Cheese: Creamy, cheesy comfort in every bite.
• Spicy Brussels Sprouts: A fiery twist on a classic.
• Elote: Had a kick today—and we loved it! 🌽
• Loaded Baked Potato Salad: New to us, and wow—this one’s a keeper. Flavor-packed and super satisfying.

If you haven’t made the trip yet, you’re missing out. This spot continues to earn its place on our top BBQ list. Until next time, keep chasing that smoke! 🔥🍴