I learned more about brisket from a drunk guy at my bar than from any YouTube video

The guy sits down around 11pm on a Tuesday, orders a PBR and a shot of well whiskey, and I can tell he's already a few deep. But he notices my tattoo of a smoker on my forearm and starts talking about how he used to run a BBQ joint in Lockhart back in the 80s. He told me the trick to his brisket was never trimming the fat cap too thin and always wrapping in pink butcher paper at 165, not foil. I'd been fighting with foil for years and getting that weird steamed bark. He said the paper lets it breathe but keeps it from drying out, and man, the very next brisket I tried that on came out better than any I'd made before. I never got his name but I think about his advice every time I fire up the WSM. Do you guys ever take cooking advice from random folks or do you stick to the pros?

3 comments

3 Comments

james_singh713d ago

Yeah! My buddy learned how to cure bacon from a guy in a laundromat.

amy15413d ago

I get that, but learning from a random guy in a laundromat feels risky. Curing bacon is super specific with salt ratios and temps, one mistake and you're dealing with spoiled meat. Would rather stick to a trusted book or online guide for something like that.

perez.patricia13d ago

Really feel you on that, @amy154. It's wild how people pick up random skills in the weirdest places, but I'd be too paranoid about the math and safety too. Did your buddy at least say if the bacon turned out okay?