E295 - Daniel Vaughn, Contributor at Texas Monthly - Afterhours Encore

I state that the central point of our conversation is that authentic Texas barbecue is defined by cooking with wood and by regional adaptation of techniques and equipment. I explain how different Texas regions favor distinct approaches, from Hill Country fire discs to large offset smokers made from oil tanks. We discuss the rise of backyard smokers and regulated oiler smokers and how those designs have spread beyond Texas. I note that barbecue television shows spur interest but do not teach traditional technique, and that competition methods can differ from restaurant practice. I emphasize that proper barbecue requires respect...