Celebrating the 'Cue

Texas Monthly dishes mouthwatering details for annual barbecue festival

Texas Monthly BBQ Fest 2015 Killen's Barbecue

Killen's Barbecue returns to the Texas Monthly BBQ Festival.

Photo by Eric Sandler

Texas' hottest barbecue festival is back and juicier than ever. On Wednesday, Texas Monthly released the lineup for the 2016 TMBBQ Fest, which returns to Austin's Long Center on Sunday, October 30.

The seventh annual festival offers barbecue fans the opportunity to sample the state's most celebrated brisket, sausage, and ribs in one place.

There are 27 participants at this year's festival, 25 of which were honored on Texas Monthly's authoritative guide to the 50 best barbecue joints in Texas. As is tradition, one "newcomer" joins the fold; this year it's Evie Mae’s of Wolfforth (just outside Lubbock). The Beast, from Paris, France, is the first "global joint" to participate.

Pearland's celebrated Killen's Barbecue and Gatlin's BBQ in Garden Oaks will represent the Houston area. Acclaimed restaurants like Austin's Franklin Barbecue, Snow's BBQ, and Louie Mueller Barbecue are all returning, too.

A new addition this year is the TMBBQ Brisket Brunch on Saturday, October 29, at Juliet Ristorante. Chef Jacob Weaver is teaming up with visiting pitmaster Thomas Abramowicz from The Beast to craft a hearty brunch menu.

Tickets to the festival ($80-$165) and the brunch ($85) go on sale at 10 am Thursday, September 8. In addition to barbecue, festival-goers can enjoy live music from Santiago Jimenez Jr. and Warren Hood and sip on Shiner beer and Legacy whisky cocktails.

The full TMBBQ Fest lineup is as follows:

Austin's BBQ and Catering (Eagle Lake)
The Beast (Paris, France)
The Original Black's Barbecue (Lockhart)
Buzzie's Bar-B-Q (Kerrville)
Cousin's Bar-B-Q (Fort Worth)
Cranky Frank's (Fredericksburg)
Evie Mae's (Wolfforth)
Franklin Barbecue (Austin)
Freedmen's Bar (Austin)
Gatlin's BBQ (Houston)
The Granary 'Cue & Brew (San Antonio)
Hays Co. Bar-B-Q and Catering (San Marcos)
Hutchins BBQ (McKinney)
Killen's Barbecue (Pearland)
La Barbecue (Austin)
Lamberts Downtown Barbecue (Austin)
Lockhart Smokehouse (Dallas)
Louie Mueller Barbecue (Taylor)
Miller’s Smokehouse (Belton)
Opie's Barbecue (Spicewood)
Pecan Lodge (Dallas)
Pody's BBQ (Pecos)
Snow's BBQ (Lexington)
Stanley's Famous Pit Barbecue (Tyler)
Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew (Austin)
Two Bros. BBQ Market (San Antonio)
Tyler's Barbecue (Amarillo)

festivals barbecue

Majestic Indian fine dining restaurant now open in Sugar Land Town Square

Courtesy of Majestic Kitchen

Majestic Kitchen is now open in Sugar Land Town Square.

Sugar Land residents have a new option for Indian cuisine in a fine dining atmosphere. After a brief soft opening, Majestic Kitchen will celebrate its grand opening this Saturday, October 17.

Located in the former Mahesh’s Kitchen space at Sugar Land Town Square (16019 City Walk), Majestic Kitchen is the first hospitality project from Santosh Cividi, founder of real estate development firm Majestic Developers. When Mahesh’s Kitchen relocated to Stafford, Cividi and his wife Supraja saw an opportunity to bring a more elevated Indian restaurant to Sugar Land.

“Majestic Kitchen really began with family,” Cividi said in a statement. “My son loved the food [at Mahesh’s Kitchen], and that connection stayed with us. As we began thinking about what the restaurant could become, the vision grew. We wanted to create a place that celebrates the beauty of India, its food, its hospitality, and the experience of gathering together.”

They transformed the restaurant into a destination that’s intended to cater to family dinners, business meals, and celebrating special occasions. It will stay open until 2 am to lure those attending concerts at the nearby Smart Financial Centre.

Chef Djpak Aryal has created a menu that begins with classic Indian favorites such as potato samosas, tandoori-spiced chicken drum sticks, seekh kebab, butter chicken, and plenty of vegetable dishes such as daal makhani, saag paneer, and bindi (okra) masala.

One signature item is the Majestic Pasta. Made with a tomato sauce, aged cheese, rosemary, and Indian spices, it puts an Indian spin on a comforting pasta dish. The restaurant also sites its lamb dishes as potential customer favorites.

Beverage options includes soda, tea, coffee, and three lassi flavors — mango, guava, and salt. A full cocktail menu is also available.

Majestic Kitchen is open for lunch and dinner daily beginning at 11 am. It closes from 2-4 pm Monday through Friday.

Courtesy of Majestic Kitchen

Majestic Kitchen is now open in Sugar Land Town Square.

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