LUNCH....TEXAS STYLE

At Louie Mueller's in Taylor, Texas 4 March 2009

For more years than I can remember (almost), I have taken lunch at Louie Mueller's. I was first escorted there by my friends Larry Schaaf and Mike Murphy and Russell Lee. I guess that first time would have been sometime in the early 1970's. Every Friday about 11 a.m., we would gather at Russ' house for the mandatory bourbon or scotch, and then drive the half hour to Taylor (NE of Austin). What you see on the tray above looks exactly like so many of the lunches I've enjoy there. The only thing that has changed in all these years is the death of Bobby Mueller last year. He was without doubt the driving force that has made this legendary barbeque place. Their brisket has ranked as tops throughout the state in survey after survey. A couple of years, they have slipped to #2 only to gain the top spot the next year. It's not that the others aren't good, it just that Mueller's is just a little better. While there yesterday, current co-owner, Wayne Mueller complete with BB-Q stained apron, was taking time from behind the counter to shake hands and greet people. I told him I was a regular customer back in the 70's before moving away, but always made it a priority to stop by for at least one lunch if I were in the area. In the top picture, there is a large section of the wall where people post their business cards, and the browing of the cards is caused by the smoke from the cooking ovens. One of the ovens has b een in use for 60-years. Yesterday we were in the area, and lunch was brisket, hot link, beans, and a "wide-mouth" jar of Shiner Bock. And if I were within driving distance today or the next day, I would lunch there again. One of the thing I truly miss about Texas.