Texas and Oklahoma BBQ Showdown Set for August; Aaron Franklin Hosts Pop-Up Series

Summer is just starting to heat up and local chefs are pulling out two Texas staples for cooking: grills and smokers.

The Omni Creek Resort & Spa is hosting a smackdown between some of the best barbecue cooks from Texas and Oklahoma. Entitled Masters of the Flavor: Barbecue Showdown, the event on Aug. 2 will pit (excuse the pun) four chefs from both the Lone Star State and whatever the nickname is for our neighbor to the north.

Team Texas will include Feges BBQ from Houston, Teddy’s Barbecue from Weslaco, Bar-A-BBQ from Montgomery and Zavala’s Barbecue from Grand Prairie. Team Texas will be going up against some of Oklahoma’s finest chefs from Phat Tabb’s, MAC’s Barbecue, The Butcher BBQ Stand and Luke’s BBQ.

The octet will be judged by two of the competing states’ finest: chef Evan of LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue and Kevin Lee from Oklahoma's Birdie’s by Chef Kevin Lee.

Tickets cost $225, which includes food from all eight competitors, two drink tickets and access to judging at the event that will feature live music from Tomar and the FCs. The event caps a weekend of programing at Barton Creek’s Smoke: A Celebration of Fire and Flavor, which also includes a VIP dinner on Aug. 1 and a kids’ zone both nights to occupy the little ones while parents grub. More information at smokeatbartoncreek.com.

Austin’s most famous pitmaster has his own slate of pop-ups planned. Aaron Franklin and his Uptown Sports Club are collaborating with chefs from 9 Austin restaurants — with flavors ranging from Korean to Laotian cuisine, and, of course, barbecue — for a series of dinners at Meanwhile Brewing in Southeast Austin.

Uptown and Meanwhile’s second annual Backyard BBQ Summer Series kicks off Friday evening with food from modern East Austin Korean restaurant Oseyo and Southeast Asian restaurant Lao’d Bar, along with Uptown Sports. The night will also feature Backyard Beer Vol. 1 - Green Tea & Orange Blossom Lager from Meanwhile to pair with the Asian cuisine. Meanwhile will brew a specialty beer for each night of the series.

The event starts at 6 p.m. with the first of three bands taking the stage at 6:30 p.m. The series runs each Friday through Aug. 15, with 100% of proceeds going directly to support Central Texas flood relief efforts through The Community Foundation of the Hill Country.

The roster of restaurants participating with Uptown each Friday includes Cuyo, Discada and La Volta Pizza Club on Aug. 1 for Asado BBQ; Distant Relatives and Mum Foods for New School BBQ Aug. 8; and Franklin Barbecue and Loro on Aug. 15.

Tickets for the Friday night events start around $60, with all-access passes for all four events (and a 20% discount on speciality merchandise) priced around $200.

Tickets and more details, including the list of restaurants and bands, available at meanwhilebeer.com/events.