Hello from probably the most BBQ-free capital of the world, Silicon Valley, CA

[GirlpoweredBBQ]

Yes, indeed, ecowper! You're not quite alone, my new friend. Where are you located? I'm in San Jose, and a total BBQ FREAK. I spend a lot of my weekends (yes, even this last one, during the hail storm) with my dueling remote thermometers, trying to make a Texas-worthy brisket. Let's see if we can bring SV into the fold! (I don't even know where to GET good BBQ around here! Armadillo Willy's is probably the pinnacle of my experience...pathetic.) Welcome to the Pit!

[audiowurks]

Thanks! I'm in San Mateo and Cupertino. Yes, I think Armadillo Willys is is the only entry around here for "BBQ". I think Smoke Eaters closed (never went there). I go to Austin TX from time to time for work, and I've experienced what real BBQ is. It is that I'm trying to bring back home!

[GirlpoweredBBQ]

I never went to Smoke Eaters. However, the other day, I was in Williow Glen (in SJ). and there was some restaurant that has an outdoor patio that had a MASSIVE pit with a guy outside cooking...I think it was ribs. Smelled amazing. Very surprising. Maybe we need to start a pop-up BBQ restaurant!

[Spathiinc]

Trail Dust down in Morgan Hill is pretty good. It's a short trip from SJ, there are even some really nice back-roads there if you don't want to take 101.

[David C]

Welcome to the site & the forums!

It's true that there isn't much of a restaurant BBQ culture here, but at least in our neck of the woods (Portola Valley) many of us are pretty-dedicated, and compare notes on various smokers, butchers, techniques, etc. Of course, our town is a little more spread out than some of the others, and has a rural heritage, which might help. This has been growing rapidly. 15 years, or maybe even 10 years, ago, most of my friends thought barbecue meant grilling. Now most of them have a pellet smoker, or green egg for they use for smoking.

[DWCowles]

Welcome audiowurks

[Wando52]

Welcome to the Pit, pull up a chair and relax, you're among friends!

[LarryO47]

Welcome from upstate New York, audiowurks

[swong13]

Hey Audiowurks and GirlPoweredBBQ! I am also in Silicon Valley (Saratoga). The other good BBQ place in this area is the Smoking Pig. They have a couple of locations in San Jose and one in Fremont. I have had the best burnt ends that I have ever had there (San Jose). They also have a "Potato Grenade". They take a jalapeno pepper and stuff it with cheese and sausage and then they wrap that in bacon. Then they put that into a baked potato and add macaroni and cheese and then they wrap that whole thing with more bacon. A Potato Grenade, some burnt ends, and a draft beer and I have my favorite lunch.

[GirlpoweredBBQ]

That's so cool! I'm gonna have to go right away! That sounds awesome. The only burnt ends I've ever had are the ones I made, and I'm sure they weren't so great. I am going to follow you, too...we should do an SV meetup. We could all bring something different to share! Exciting! Thanks for the tip.

[Danjohnston949]

audiowurks, Welome to "The Pit"! You are Now Enrolled in the BBQ Univ.! Attendance and Participation are Mandatory! Enjoy "The Pit"!
Eat Well and Prosper! From a Backyard Cremator in Fargo ND, Dan

[Steve Vojtek]

Welcome to the pit audiowurks
We have a similar joke at work : What? It doesn't work? Well you must have let all the smoke out of it. Once you let all the smoke out I'll never work again. LOL.
My boss took that joke even further . True story.
He was talking to a fridgie interstate who was repairing one of our fridge units and the guy said to him that the contactor is smoking and the electric stand-by compressor is not coming on.To which my boss replied " take a brown paper bag and collect all the smoke and put it back into the contactor and it will work again..." The guy asked " how do I do that?" My boss actually had him going there for a while it was so funny...Welcome to the Pit mate...

[Steve R.]

Welcome from Kentucky, audiowurks , and congratulations to your friends and neighbors who now get to enjoy some great BBQ.

[gcdmd]

Welcome to the The Pit.

If you have wheels when in Austin, try to get out of town to Luling (City Market), Lockhart (Kreuz Market, Smitty's, Black's), or Driftwood (Salt Lick). Driftwood is a ways out, but Salt Lick does have a branch in Round Rock and, at least at one time, a stand in Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Lockhart is close to the airport.

If you can get out to Driftwood, I highly recommend it for a combination of surroundings, ambience of the original Salt Lick, and the food. It's best in spring (wildflowers and weather) and fall (weather), as long as it's not pouring down rain.

[audiowurks]

Thank you so much for the tips! Salt Lick is on my bucket list. Gotta get out there!

[Lowjiber]

Welcome to The Pit from Las Vegas.

I used to live (if one calls that "living") in Los Gatos. Light up a smoker in that snotty town and the neighbors call the cops.

Nice introduction. Enjoy your time here among like-minded friends. I do.

[audiowurks]

I hear ya. I incorporate a fan when cooking to disperse the smoke to a neutral area with the intent to lessen the probability of getting complaints / cops / fire trucks.

[KevinG]

awesome!

[Spathiinc]

Late to the party here, but welcome from another Bay Area person. I'm in San Jose, thankful that I've never had neighbors that complain about cooks!

[GirlpoweredBBQ]

Thanks, Spathiinc! I have heard mixed reviews. Recently tried The Smoking Pig and it was fantastic! Burnt ends were to die for!

[swong13]

GBBQ: Glad you liked The Smoking Pig. Still the best burnt ends that I have ever had. I aspire to turn out something close someday.

[No Limit]

San Jose, CA represent! Glad to see others from the area on here. GirlpoweredBBQ I agree, Smoking Pig is probably my favorite in town.