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Midlife Smoke

Join our journey through Texas' top BBQ joints and backyard cooking adventures.

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🔥 A Midlife Crisis Turned BBQ Obsession

At 45, instead of buying a sports car, I bought a smoker—and I’ve been hooked ever since. What started as a midlife experiment quickly became a full-blown obsession with fire, flavor, and the art of BBQ.

With encouragement from my son, I began documenting my cooks, sharing tips, and capturing the stories behind the smoke. Now, Midlife Smoke is more than just BBQ—it’s about the journey, the pitmasters I meet along the way, and the quest to visit all 50 of Texas Monthly’s Top 50 BBQ joints before my 50th birthday.

This isn’t BBQ with hype—it’s BBQ with heart.

A barbecue grill loaded with a variety of meats and vegetables, including pieces of grilled chicken, ribs, and sliced red onions. The background features a blurred, lush green garden setting, creating a pleasant outdoor atmosphere.
A barbecue grill loaded with a variety of meats and vegetables, including pieces of grilled chicken, ribs, and sliced red onions. The background features a blurred, lush green garden setting, creating a pleasant outdoor atmosphere.
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One brisket and one road trip at a time.

50 Joints Before 50

BBQ Journey

Explore authentic flavors and pitmaster stories from Texas.

Sizzling pieces of marinated meat are cooking on a barbecue grill. The meat is well-seasoned with a rich, red marinade, and it's placed on a wire mesh grill. The background is slightly blurred, emphasizing the focus on the meat with hints of smoke rising
Sizzling pieces of marinated meat are cooking on a barbecue grill. The meat is well-seasoned with a rich, red marinade, and it's placed on a wire mesh grill. The background is slightly blurred, emphasizing the focus on the meat with hints of smoke rising
A building exterior displays large, bold red text with the phrase 'Smoked Foods, Full of Flavor'. Adjacent to the wall, a black barbecue smoker stands on the concrete ground. The setting appears modern, with glass doors and windows integrated into the facade.
A building exterior displays large, bold red text with the phrase 'Smoked Foods, Full of Flavor'. Adjacent to the wall, a black barbecue smoker stands on the concrete ground. The setting appears modern, with glass doors and windows integrated into the facade.
Pieces of grilled meat are sizzling on a wire-mesh grill over an open flame. A piece of meat, marinated and browned, is held by chopsticks in the foreground, with a blurred vegetable background suggesting a barbecue setting.
Pieces of grilled meat are sizzling on a wire-mesh grill over an open flame. A piece of meat, marinated and browned, is held by chopsticks in the foreground, with a blurred vegetable background suggesting a barbecue setting.
Pieces of seasoned chicken are sizzling on a barbecue grill with visible flames and smoke rising between the grill grates. The scene suggests outdoor cooking, surrounded by a natural green backdrop, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Pieces of seasoned chicken are sizzling on a barbecue grill with visible flames and smoke rising between the grill grates. The scene suggests outdoor cooking, surrounded by a natural green backdrop, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Juicy pieces of marinated meat are skewered and being grilled over an open flame. The meat appears to be evenly cooked with a crispy, golden-brown exterior, emanating a mouth-watering aroma accompanied by small wisps of smoke rising up.
Juicy pieces of marinated meat are skewered and being grilled over an open flame. The meat appears to be evenly cooked with a crispy, golden-brown exterior, emanating a mouth-watering aroma accompanied by small wisps of smoke rising up.
Several skewers are lined up side by side, each loaded with chunks of marinated meat being grilled over an open flame. The meat appears juicy and well-seasoned, with a charred appearance on the edges, indicating it is cooking over a high heat. Smoke wafts up from the grill, suggesting the barbecue is in full swing, while greenery and grass are visible in the background.
Several skewers are lined up side by side, each loaded with chunks of marinated meat being grilled over an open flame. The meat appears juicy and well-seasoned, with a charred appearance on the edges, indicating it is cooking over a high heat. Smoke wafts up from the grill, suggesting the barbecue is in full swing, while greenery and grass are visible in the background.

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