Smokin’ Road Trip

Not ones to sit on their laurels as home to some of the nation’s best ribs, Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQ have headed to Texas to further hone the craft of smoking meat.
Owner Aaron Siegel put together a three-day trip of some of Texas’ signature ‘que-a-tariums last week for key members of his team. Accompanying Siegel were the restaurant group’s executive chef Taylor Garrigan, music and entertainment director Tony McKie, manager Sean Daniher, and chefs Madison Ruckel and James Lasher.
Calling it a 72-hour quest to hit as many joints in and around Austin “as six dudes in a minivan can muster,” the quest was to hit spots in Taylor, Elgin, Driftwood, Luling, and Lockhart, Texas.
On the menu was Franklin BBQ, Louis Mueller BBQ, City Market BBQ, The Salt Lick, and John Mueller’s Meat Market, among others. The hope was to hit as many as 15 spots in three days.
On Friday, breathing heavy halfway home in the Atlanta airport, Siegel said they made it to only 10 spots. The final one, Micklethwait Craft Meats, a sausage specialist located in a trailer, was hit on the way to the airport that morning
Home Team has made a name for its barbecue, mixing different regional styles and sauces. In Texas, there were more of a focus on brisket and sausages, a 10-gallon tip of the hat to many of that state’s German heritage, according to Siegel.
Home Team has raked in national and regional praise this year, getting multiple “best of” nods for its ribs and grub from disparate sources like Esquire magazine (most life-changing ribs), Southern Living magazine (best rib sticking joint), and foodie blog The Daily Meal (fourth best ribs in America).
 
Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQ is located at 1205 Ashley River Road. For more information, call 225-7427 or visit www.hometeambbq.com.