A Texas Craft BBQ Ultimate Flavor Adventure in the BAYOU. ( Unforgettable! )

Howdy BBQ Lovers!

The GONZO’S TEAM & FAMILY!

” If you love delicious flavor-loaded craft BBQ, succulent pork belly, fresh chef driven sides and savory sweet treats you’re going to LOVE this discovery. It’s TRULY where BBQ and FLAVOR take center stage. Please enjoy and share with others so everyone can enjoy this unforgettable craft BBQ experience. ” – Trey 

If you follow us, then you’re aware that we’ve been on the hunt for most unique and delicious BBQ joints America has to offer. We’ve visited 28 states and been on this mission for years and we’ve discovered some of the most incredible BBQ destinations. It’s difficult to stay on track because there are so many small family-owned BBQ joints popping up every day in cities big and small across America. But that being said, through our research, hard work and determination we think we’ve discovered some of the BEST joints to enjoy delicious BBQ in some of the most UNSUSPECTING places.

There are many things I love about Louisiana the culture, history, music, art, wildlife, people and the incredibly delicious food and drinks.  What I was NOT expecting to discovery was a small Craft BBQ joint creating and slang’n some of the BEST BBQ in the USA. I was literally BLOWN away by the creative deliciousness of the smoked meats, unbelievable pork belly options, house sausages, fresh sides, pitmaster driven dishes, steaks, and house fresh desserts. Every single thing we tried was just DRIPP’IN with DELICIOUSNESS and so unforgettable I had naughty BBQ dreams for days after we left. YES! It’s truly that memorable and IMPRESSIVE!

It all started in Waggaman, Louisiana where JASON GONZALEZ was born.  His rise to pitmaster greatness and his passion for BBQ took an unusual path. He started as a drafter in the Maritime industry and slowly worked his way into the oil and gas industry and became a structural designer. He worked at Shell in New Orleans from 2010 to 2016 as a lead structural designer.  It was at this time he started smoking meats with a Masterbuilt electric smoker box. One might say that JASON got bit HARD with the BBQ bug at this time. In 2016 oil prices had an extreme decline and Shell laid off the entire design team. He took his severance check from Shell and purchased a YODER PELLET SMOKER in 2016.  In August 2016 he created GONZO’S SMOKEHOUSE and started with POP UP’s. He did pop ups and festivals honing his craft for almost four years. THE REST THEY SAY IS HISTORY!

As we made our way driving through Luling I started to get excited because I knew there was NO WAY for a BBQ joint to survive in a community this small if it wasn’t unbelievable and offering BBQ perfection. When we pulled up and I saw the vehicles stack and packed in the parking lot and strung out all along the road way and people lined up like it was a JELLY ROLL or GEORGE STRAIT concert I had my answer. It was going to be POPP’IN!

Smoked Meat Art!

When we were walking up, I could smell the BBQ aromas lofting in the air and my BBQ senses cranked up to the “FULL TILT BOOGIE” status.  I threw that door open and saw Jason’s big smile he was ready to SLANG that Q because he knew I was going to love it. I watched Jason and his family members bustling and hustling because the doors were fixing to open. They had folks stacked up and ready for smoked BBQ deliciousness. It was GO TIME at GONZO’S.

Pork-Belly Cartel ( WOW )

I stood and watched the PITAMASTER and ARTIST Jason cut the smoked meats, pork and sausages then layer my trays like an artist creates a painting. The BBQ meats and pork were glistening under the lights and my mouth started watering. I grabbed those trays and headed to our table it was CHOW DOWN TIME.  The prime brisket and beef cheek were so tender and juicy I couldn’t stop eating it. The Wagyu Tri-Trip is what dreams are made of! The smoked turkey breast was so juicy it was DRIPP’IN down my chin. The Pastrami Beef Rib was Stupid delicious!  The Brisket Boudin was dangerously delicious! But the PORK, OMG the pork! They don’t call GONZO’S the Pork Belly Cartel headquarters for no reason. Every single pork dish you try will be savory, flavorful and DRIPP’IN like ICE with DELICIOUSNESS. He’s won awards with his PORK and I know why because each bite is truly unforgettable.  The Char Siu Pork Jowl Burnt Ends and the Hot Honey Jowl Cracklings are dreamy and EVERYONE NEEDS TO TRY THEM at least once in their life. The Cherry Cola Brisket Burnt Ends are so good they should be illegal in all fifty states.  Yes, they’re that delicious!

Fresh sides let’s talk about his sides HOLY FARM FRESH. The Mac-N-Cheese, Smoked Broccoli and Kale Salad, Beef Cheeks Dirty Rice and Gouda Grits were so delicious I still haven’t stopped thinking about them to this day. Oh, and the fresh desserts are savory a little sweet and loaded with deliciousness. After about 10 minutes I literally had no words because everything was so F#$% delicious.

I’m telling you NOW and I’m telling you LOUDLY if you LOVE Texas BBQ or any type of BBQ a visit to GONZO’S is A MUST from anywhere. I truly mean anywhere. He’s just outside New Orleans and easy to find. “Just be aware that everything you try is going to taste like ” MORE “ because ” MORE “ is all you will want.” I WILL NOT be responsible for your naughty BBQ dreams because you’re going to have them after you leave. It’s just a side effect from visiting one of the world’s BEST BBQ Joints.

BBQ is not just food or a passion for the GONZO’S family; it’s a way of life.

Take it from me TREY and make plans to visit and CHOW DOWN! It’s a TREY’S CHOW DOWN USA FAVORITE BBQ DESTINATION and A MUST VISIT for any BBQ and FOOD LOVER!

Trey ( CHOW DOWN ) Chapman

The World’s BEST Bagels are in North Texas!

Howdy Bagel Lovers!

Tasty Fresh Bagels

We have discovered that the WORLD’S BEST bagels are right here in North Texas! They were voted the WORLD’S BEST at the NEW YORK BAGEL FESTIVAL 2023, and after we heard that we headed over to chow down!

Today we’re at Starship Bagel for some seriously fresh and delicious bagels. If you follow me, you know we’ve been on a bagel quest across the USA. In the last four years we’ve enjoyed bagels from California to Florida, and everywhere in between. We’ve made it to 29 states thus far, and have enjoyed hundreds of bagels. When we heard about STARSHIP BAGEL, we had to make the trip to chow down.

DFW Staycation Relaxation Station!

Hobby Travel Fans

Omni Lobby relaxation

Trey’s Chow Down Travel has discovered another DFW Staycation hotspot right in the middle of the DFW area. It has everything you need to enjoy and indulge in the perfect relaxation staycation and not have to travel far from home. It offers beautiful rooms and suites with a gorgeous lobby to enjoy some cocktails and socialize. The outdoor areas are something like you would find in Las Vegas from an incredible pool area with private cabanas to delicious chef driven eats all centered around Lake Carolyn and an unforgettable outdoor play area.

Welcome to Omni Las Colinas Hotel where they merge city energy with tranquility. The waterfront location overlooking Lake Carolyn invites guests to a peaceful oasis amid the bustling business district. Guest accommodations at the hotel in Irving, TX are bold and spacious—a place to relax and unwind after a day of play, leisure, or business. All the hotel rooms offer charming views of Lake Carolyn and Las Colinas. You can dine in one of three indoor or alfresco restaurants committed to the finest chef driven local fare. You can relax and enjoy a gondola ride along the Mandalay Canal. Take a swim or go stand-up paddle-boarding, then enjoy a relaxing massage at the spa located within our hotel in Las Colinas.

Bacon Dishes that Make Me Bacon Crazy!

Happy BACON! Because everything is better with BACON! 

Everyone dreams about bacon and millions enjoy bacon every day.

Trey’s Chow Down LIVE on Fox 4 Good Day.

When Trey’s Chow Down saw that 275 million Americans enjoyed BACON in 2023 I decided to highlight bacon. From the first sentence I wrote about bacon my mouth started salivating and all I could think about was how delicious bacon truly is.

Have you ever eaten a bad piece of bacon? I think not! No matter how it’s cooked, (soft, crispy, medium, or rock hard) bacon is always perfectly delightful.

Ever since 1500 B.C. folks have been eating and enjoying bacon. That’s a long time ago, but it just goes to show you how much everyone loves bacon.

Bacon’s history dates back thousands of years to 1500 B.C. The Chinese were curing pork bellies with salt. Basically, they were creating an early form of what we know today as bacon.

I’m shocked about how long ago bacon was being eaten and was created. I wonder how the first bacon fry went down. Here piggy piggy! Come here piggy piggy! Come over here let’s see if we can fry some of your body parts up? Seems legit to me lol!

Texas BBQ – World Famous KREUZ MARKET

A Texas BBQ Legend KREUZ MARKET

Old Kreuz Market (Lockhart, Texas)

Welcome BBQ lovers! Thanks for stopping by to learn more about the WORLD FAMOUS Kreuz Market in Lockhart, Texas. We made the trip to this historic market to chow down and learn about their amazing lengthly history in TEXAS.

Their METHOD of preparing BBQ smoked meats is simple and they’ve followed it for over a century.

Top Quality Meat: Our entire operation begins and ends with prized Texas cuts — done and done.

Simply Seasoned: Nothin’ fancy — we dry rub our meats with the only two things that matter, salt and pepper.

Smoked To Perfection: We smoke ‘em over post oak wood in our signature pits — then we stop there.

They make it sound simple! In reality I’ve learned over my five decades in the food business you have to be perfect, have passion, experience and be consistent every single day with your cook. The KRUEZ FAMILY does just that! They BRING THE SMOKE to create TEXAS BBQ deliciousness every day and that’s what made them a LOCKHART LEGACY and WORLD FAMOUS.

Epic – Cowtown Burger Showdown 2024 River Ranch StockYards

It’s Burger Time in Texas!

Trey and Ali Talking Burgers (Fun Times)

It was an epic burger battle on a stormy and rainy day for our third year of the COWTOWN BURGER SHOWDOWN at River Ranch Stockyards. We had over 1,100 burger lovers show up to see who had the best burgers in North Texas! You could smell the smash burgers, classic and craft burgers cooking as the meaty deliciousness lofted in the air.  There were burger slang’ers from Tarrant County, Parker County, Dallas County and more. In total we had twenty-five chefs, pitmasters, restaurants, and food trucks that showed up and showed out to create tasty burgers trying to win some of the 10,000.00 in cash and prizes. The creativity was flowing as they created some beautiful and amazing burgers that where truly unforgettable.

Folks attended the event to taste burgers and have some fun before they VOTED for the best TRADITIONAL BURGER, NON-TRADITIONAL BURGER, and THE FAN FAVORITE PEOPLE’S CHOICE. We had live music rocking in the hizzy, cocktails were flowing, and cold beer was pouring. The unlimited French Fry and Tater Tot Bar stayed packed with hungry burger lovers. It was our BIGGEST showdown yet, and we CANNOT wait for 2025! We will be adding additional burger slang’ers and prize money for even higher stakes.

10 Best Mac-N-Cheese Destinations in Fort Worth & Dallas 2024!

Howdy Mac-N-Cheese Lovers!

Drake’s Buffalo Mac-N-Cheese.

I always enjoy a little history with my food because I think it’s important to discuss the history of food. The first modern recipe for macaroni and cheese was included in Elizabeth Raffald’s 1769 book, The Experienced English Housekeeper. Raffald’s recipe is for a Béchamel sauce with cheddar cheese—a Mornay sauce in French cooking—which is mixed with macaroni, sprinkled with Parmesan, and baked until bubbly and golden brown. WOW! If that doesn’t sound delicious and straight from 1769.

I don’t know how someone COULDN’T be in LOVE with a bowl of fresh, savory, cheesy Mac-N-Cheese. Ever since I was a child I enjoyed Mac-N-Cheese. It’s always had that fresh culinary jingle that I love. There are so many creative variations of this classic dish that you can enjoy from chef’s menus these days. They offer it with multiple fresh cheeses, crab, lobster, bacon, smoked brisket, garlic, onions, chives, and even fresh truffles. No matter how you enjoy Mac-N-Cheese, there is a dish for you to chow down on in the North Texas area.

I enjoy the savory, buttery, seriously cheesy Mac-N-Cheese so all of my winners on this year’s list will be loaded with cheesy deliciousness. I just can’t see Mac-N-Cheese being served any other way! I spent all year hunting for the best Mac-N-Cheese that North Texas has to offer, and we found some great ones. Are you ready for your tour of baked, savory, cheesy deliciousness.

 

Chef and Pitmaster Mac-N-Cheese creations:  

1.Drake’s Hollywood   

Dallas, Texas

Chef Driven (Cover Photo)

Le Deluxe Mac and Cheese. Lobster, crab, and Ossetra Caviar

Baked Snow Crab & Black Truffle Mac N Cheese (Cover)

Baked Buffalo Mac-N-Cheese

Panther City Mind BLOWN Mac!

Drake’s is a dark, cozy, old-fashion Hollywood style eatery that is loaded with charm and coziness. Old painted Hollywood actors line the walls of the dining room and bar area. Drake’s offers plenty of chef-driven deliciousness like pizzas, steaks, and crazy desserts, but I want to discuss the mega cheesy options and I’ve tired them all. “Le Deluxe Mac and Cheese. Lobster, Crab, and Ossetra Caviar.” You better have a BIB and be ready for cheesy goodness to drip down your chin with each bite because this MAC is DRIP’N with deliciousness. They’ve also offered tow others I’ve enjoyed.  “Snow Crab & Black Truffle Mac ‘N’ Cheese” and the “Buffalo Mac-N-Cheese”. You just can’t go wrong with this savory, gooey, cheesy, flavorful, and delicious Mac-N-Cheese. It’s always served HF&D Hot, Fresh and Delicious! Better make reservations before you head out!

2. Panther City BBQ 

Fort Worth, Texas

Pitmaster Driven

Spicy Smoked Mac-N-Cheese (K-BOOM)

Knife Dallas Johnny’s Mac.

Panther City BBQ specializes in award winning BBQ and smoke meaty deliciousness. They offer big variety of fresh prepared meats and Texas BBQ that will set your taste buds at attention and make a bull dog break his chain. They keep racking up the awards for meaty perfection and upping the ante in the BBQ game. Their fresh prepared Spicy Mac-N-Cheese is no different. it’s simply PERFECT in every way being slightly smokey, savory and very cheesy because they use six different cheeses. Yes, six different cheeses! That’s what you call Mac-N-Cheese perfection. Their Mac-N-Cheese will smack your taste buds so hard you might cry for ya mama. Just sayin!

3 Knife Dallas    

Dallas & Plano, Texas

Chef John Tesar

Johnny’s Mac-N-Cheese & Bacon Bread Crumbs

Chef John Tesar has done a masterful job at creating a steakhouse that exceeds all expectations of what a steak dinner experience should be. He offers a Texas-sized variety of dry aged meats and cuts where a true steak connoisseur will feel like a kid in a candy store. I want to discuss Johnny’s Mac and Cheese & Bacon Bread Crumbs appetizer that melts in your mouth with each bite. It’s served with fresh mac, a slightly crispy baked top that is loaded with savory, bacon, cheesy, bread crumb deliciousness. You better saddle up boyz and girls because you’re going to the FLAVOR RODEO with this Mac-N-Cheese. Check out Knife in Dallas or Plano for some cheesy perfection. Better make reservations before you head out!

4. Bankhead Brewing   

Fort Worth, Texas

Chef Driven Eats

Lobster Mac-N-Cheese

Bankhead Brewing Lobster Mac.

Located in Fort Worth in the West 7th Street area, Bankhead Brewing is a craft brewpub offering fresh, chef-driven eats and tasty craft beers. They opened during the pandemic and have been a driving force in the vibrant west 7th street area slinging deliciousness and fun. Their craft beers have won awards including 2018 Silver Medal Winners at the Great American Beer Festival for their Southern German-style Hefeweizen (Hoofer’s Hef). When we heard about the fresh Lobster Mac-N-Cheese I couldn’t resist the culinary tug to try this dish. Prepared with various cheeses, fresh lobster, and pasta, each bite is a karate chop of savory cheesy deliciousness. A must try in 2024. Don’t forget an award-winning craft beer!

5.Brick & Bones    

Deep Ellum, Texas

Habanero Mac N Cheese

Brick & Bones is a cozy little food and drink joint located in Deep Ellum arts district of Dallas. I discovered Brick and Bones a few years ago and fell in love with the fresh-prepared menu items. They offer some of the BEST Mac-N-Cheese in North Texas. The Habanero Mac-N-Cheese is served baked, savory, and cheesy. Topped with fresh chopped bacon, each bite offers a little heat but is loaded with flavor. If you love Mac-N-Cheese, you need to check out Brick and Bones. You can also order it TOGO! Your choice, should you make the trip.

6. The Londoner Pub 

Colleyville & Addsion, Texas

Chef Driven

Fresh Mac-N-Cheese

Located in Colleyville and Addison, the Londoner is slinging some fresh-prepared, authentic English deliciousness. I fell in LOVE with the simple Mac-N-Cheese because it was served extra cheesy. Prepared with long holey pasta, loads of cheese, chopped bacon, fresh parsley and served in a Texas-size bowl. Each bite is extra cheesy and crates a flavor explosion in your mouth because the cheese gets trapped inside the long holey pasta. If you love Mac-N-Cheese head over to the Londoner and don’t forget to crab an order of the fresh Fish-N-Chips!

7. Smoke City Proz 

Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas

Pitmaster Driven

Smoke City Proz – Smoked Turkey Leg Mac-N-Cheese

Cajun Style Mac-N-Cheese, Brisket Style Mac-N-Cheese, Turkey Leg Mac-N-Cheese

Combining Kanas City BBQ with Texas BBQ Smoke City Proz is slang’n some an award-winning Mac-N-Cheese options. They also offer a variety of fresh pit master-prepared deliciousness daily. The Mac-N-Cheese options are so savory, cheesy and delicious you will want to try each of them. the good thing is you can order however much your heart desires. That’s what we did ordered all three of them.  Each Mac-N-Cheese combination we tried with was served HF&D Hot Fresh and Delicious. Each bite is savory, cheesy deliciousness in your mouth. Don’t forget some smoked fresh Texas Craft Brisket with your fresh Mac-N-Cheese because brisket makes everything better.

8. Doc B’s Restaurant & Bar  

Fort Worth & Dallas, Texas

Chef Driven

Cast Iron Skillet Mac-N-Cheese

I don’t know the story behind Doc B’s, but I do know they’re slinging creative deliciousness all day. They have open spaces for dining rooms and wonderful outdoor patio areas. The fresh prepared cast iron skillet mac-n-cheese is served with a baked, slightly crispy outside shell with a soft savory cheesy inside. It’s always served GBD Golden Brown and delicious. Don’t forget a Big TEXAS Angry Meatball.

9. Cane Rosso  

DFW Locations

Chef Driven Pizza Concept

Fresh Skillet Mac-N-Cheese

Cane Rosso Mac. (Photo Cane Rosso)

Cane Rosso offers wide open spaces slinging fresh-prepared craft Neapolitan style pizzas. They only use fresh ingredients to create deliciousness and the fresh-prepared Mac-N-Cheese is no exception. It’s cheesy goodness is unforgettable. Prepared and baked in a skillet with fresh fontina cream, provolone, mozzarella, parsley, crispy garlic breadcrumbs, and you can add bacon marmalade & white truffle oil to create savory cheesy perfection. If you haven’t this dish you should probably head over and chow down. Don’t forget one of these Neapolitan style pizzas.

10. Palmer’s Hot Chicken  

Dallas, Texas

Chef Driven Concept

Mac-N-Cheese

Palmer’s offers award-winning hot chicken, sides, and craft cocktails. They have a big wide-open dining room and a great patio if you love the fresh Texas outdoor air. Their Mac-N-Cheese is considered a side item, but it’s loaded with savory, cheesy deliciousness with each bite. You can always add some chunks of famous Palmer’s Fried Hot Chicken to create Mac-N-Cheese perfection.

If you love fresh Mac-N-Cheese, I strongly suggest you try some of these delicious spots in North Texas. Please follow us on our social media platforms for daily delicious ideas and creative chefs. We are passionate about locating and reporting on deliciousness!

 

 

Trey (Chow Down) Chapman

Please follow us on our social media platforms for daily deliciousness. I’ve been covering food, chefs and deliciousness for decades.

Pizza and Garlic Bread Perfection from Chef Ryan Westover – Birmingham, AL

Howdy Chow Hounds!

Pizza Grace Pepperoni

I’m asking yu to share this article with your family and friends who LOVE unforgettable garlic bread and pizzas. We discovered the most incredible GARLIC BREAD I’ve ever enjoyed. Chef Ryans Garlic bread is so flavorful and delicious that we feel it deserves its own feature and highlight. the PIZZAS are very delicious too but that GARLIC BREAD is DANGEROUS. Dangerously Delicious!

Trey’s Chow Down discovered some of the most incredibly delicious GARLIC BREAD 🍞 that I’ve ever enjoyed. The process to prepare his amazing bread is detailed, painstaking, and tedious. When you combine the painstaking process and Chef Ryans’ culinary talent and passion for perfection, you get some of the most unforgettable garlic bread you’re ever going to enjoy.

The first bite you take is warm, buttery, and loaded with hints of garlic. It’s one of those bites that’s so delicious that you can’t believe you’re sitting in a pizza joint. But then again, what I discovered is that anything you order from Chef Ryan and his fabulous PIZZA GRACE is going to be unforgettable. I know this because I haven’t quit thinking about his bread and pizza since I walked out a few months ago. I’ve been researching and watching Chef Ryans dishes and his approach to culinary perfection since late 2023 before I made my first visit.

Mississippi has it ALL and we LOVE IT!

Mississippi here we come!

That should be the NEW tag line because they have it all in Mississippi and we love it. Soon as you cross the state line you’re met with those beautiful Mississippi views that are unforgettable. Yes, it’s where BLUES started and people who know music know that what we know as blues music started right outside of Cleveland at Dockery Farms. Back in the day, Mr. Dockery was one of the few plantation owners that allowed music to be played on the weekends and so blues music began to be refined and sprung up around the gin. Who doesn’t love the BLUES and if you LOVE the BLUES then you have to love history because HISTORY defines the BLUES. In fact without history we have no BLUES at all. Cleveland Mississippi is where it all began! 

Ridiculously Delicious Texas Barbecue and Burgers!

Dayne and Ashley Weaver

Howdy Texas BBQ Lovers!

When you talk about Texas BBQ and all it offers then you have to mention Dayne’s Craft BBQ. They’ve won so many awards and accolades that it’s impossible to list them all. I’ve been following them since they began and I’ve watched them as they’ve climb their way to the TOP of the Texas BBQ peak. The success they’ve enjoyed has come from blood, sweat, tears, hard work and dedication to their craft. All the smoked meats, pork, sausages, sides, sweets, and burgers are simply RIDICULOUSLY DELICIOUS. They’ve even prepared AND SMOKED WHOLE HOGS where ever bite was PORK-O-LICIOUS.

Let’s talk burgers! They won the Cowtown Burger Showdown in Fort Worth at RIVER RANCH two years in a row. Dayne’s OG SMASH BURGER has got a flavor profile so delicious that everyone wants it. It’s cheesy smash burger deliciousness that’s truly unforgettable. It’s become a TEXAS BURGER LEGEND running through Texas like a run away freight train.

Their story is great one: Dayne Weaver started his journey in Texas barbecue as a backyard smoker enthusiast. His father-in-law left a small kettle grill in his backyard in 2017, which he converted into a mini-smoker. He threw a brisket on and was immediately hooked. He began smoking meat every weekend; however, barbecuing is an expensive hobby. Dayne’s wife, Ashley, told him that if he was going to continue to cook regularly, he needed to find someone to buy it. That’s how “Dayne’s Underground Barbecue” was born.

Texas BBQ Perfection that’s unforgettable! (Interstellar)

Texas BBQ Perfection (Award Winning )
Interstellar BBQNorthwest Austin, Texas

🌟 DROP US A COMMENT about BBQ deliciousness. TAG or RESHARE with family and friends about the world 🌎 famous award winning Interstellar BBQ joint. Everyone needs to enjoy some of the BEST BBQ, SIDES, DESSERTS, and some of the BEST PORK BELLY in the USA. 🇺🇸

More information at https://www.theinterstellarbbq.com/

🏆 John’s “PEACH TEA GLAZED PORK BELLY” is some of my favorite PORK BELLY I’ve tasted and enjoyed in the USA. 🇺🇸 Coast to coast we’ve visited 26 states and John’s “PEACH TEA GLAZED PORK BELLY” is absolute perfection. The texture is perfect, and the flavors are balanced to create PORK BELLY DELICIOUSNESS that’s truly unforgettable.