UP In Smoke

Published 6/13/2011

UP In Smoke

The Retired Cooks Diary

By Suzette Pennington Munson

Doug and I love to eat Barbeque and a short trip to Cook County to the Smoke House at Lindsay was a recent road trip. I find that if I am within a 10 mile radius of Lindsay I have to make a regular stop for mouthwatering ribs, sausage and since Doug loves smoked ham it is always included.

I recently traveled to Ardmore, Oklahoma to a seminar on cattle at the Noble Foundation and on the return trip of course I made a stop in Lindsay.

Lindsay, Texas brings back memories of college at NCTC in Gainesville where I attended college for 2 years. We would skip class to go to eat at Lindsay. Several of my friends from college grew up in Lindsay and I think of them as I go down memory lane. But I again regress from the subject.

Barbeque in Texas has a long tradition. Cattle Drives and Cowboys are what a lot of non-Texans think of, we Texans think of how many things we can cook on a smoker and how long we have to wait! That is the trick to the best Barbeque, “Waiting”, the longer it cooks the better!

As one of my cookbooks says, Low and Slow!

The Smoke House has this down to a “T”, their longevity gives you an idea of how good it is. People don’t stay in business long if it” ain’t good” !!!

I see other BBQ places that are good and think how they must have visited the Smoke Houses in Texas that have been around for most of the last half of the 20^th century. Those beginning today have to meet a standard that is very high.

One that is a winner is The Hard Eight Barbeque, they have restaurants in Stephenville, Brady, and Coppell. I have been to the Stephenville site and the Coppell site. As you know country folk have different taste than those in the large cities. Hard Eight has adjusted and is meeting the taste buds of “the Metroplex” with the “West Texas flair”. It is defiantly a challenge that Phillip Nivens and his partners have met. Kudo’s to the Hard Eight for great consistency and a “well done” product.

As we have just about visited every restaurant in our area I am asking for “Hints” and “Requests”.

If you have a favorite and it has not been reviewed here please let me know. I am looking for new opportunities to taste!!

We will be reviewing the CowBoy Kitchen in a few weeks. They are just getting started out on Hwy 59 in Bowie, they serve a different style of Barbeque so let me know what you think.

Also there is a new Mexican Bakery in Bowie on Smyth Street. They are offering Mexican bakery items and will soon have a sandwich menu.

I like to give new places a little time to work the growing pains out before I review them. If anyone has any ideas please email me at suzettemunson77@gmail.com.

I hope everyone is lighting up the smoker and getting ready for summer……don’t let the summer go “up in smoke” without tasting it!!!!