Lone Spur Grill and Bar

In Order to understand the smoking process employed by the Lone Spur Grill & Bar, it is necessary to know the difference between a basic barbecue and a pit barbeque. When most people want to barbecue, they fire up the grill, let the charcoal glow white and slap on a piece of meat. The processes quick and efficient, but does little to enhance the flavor or tenderize the meat. Although Texans utilize this method (substituting mesquite wood for briquettes) for grilling steaks, they barbecue brisket, ribs and chicken through an entirely different process. In Texas, this style is called "pit" barbecue.

The pit is an enclosed structure that cooks meats without the benefit of fiery coals directly underneath. It operates on the principle that the heat of the smoke cooks, not the fiery lick of the flame. To achieve this, a fire is built at one end of the pit with a flue or smokestack at the other. The meat is set on a grill situated between the two elements. By controlling the intensity of the fire and regulating the flue, the pitman cooks with indirect heat and smoke. You will find this method chides and cajoles" even the ornery piece of meat into realms grilled sirloin will never venture.

The Lone Spur Grill uses a combination of oak and hickory to flavor their beef brisket, pork and chicken The name of the game is to cook low and slow and try to maintain a temperature of around 175 degrees F. for long periods of time. Many of our meats are smoked for at least 12 hours!

A barbecue pit can be make out of just about any enclosed steel or brick structure. The intake of fresh air a one end of the pit (which keeps the fire going) should be in harmony with the smoke exhaust exiting from the fire at the other end. The trick to barbequing meat with the heat of the smoke is to regulate the intake vent to prevent the fire from either flaring up or exhausting itself. The meat is always placed away from the fire, unless grilled steaks are being prepared. Remember, we're barbecuing Texas style, not American!