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Making the list: Fatboy’s BBQ and The Burger Grind measure up

According to the reserved palettes of Texas Highways, the official travel magazine of Texas, readers, Delta County’s very own Fatboy’s BBQ and The Burger Grind, with locations in Sulphur Springs and Tyler, made the recently released Top 40 Comfort Food Destinations.

Fatboy’s BBQ was given the accolade of the Comfort Food: Barbecue article being ranked five on the list.

They opened the article with this statement: “First and foremost, it has to be true Texas-style ’cue and not any of that nonsense from beyond the Lone Star State lines. Smoked low and slow in a pit over a wood fire (whether that’s hickory, mesquite, pecan, or oak is fodder for another whole round of lively dialogue), Texas barbecue is a breed of cuisine unto itself. Its history and various styles trace to German settlers in Central Texas, ranchers and vaqueros in South Texas, and to African-American pitmasters in East Texas.”

Fatboy’s BBQ recently moved from Ladonia to their original Cooper location on Dallas Avenue to now the currently expanding State Highway 24 spot. The building was renovated as well as increasing the inside dining area. The smoke from the pit can be seen for miles by traffic on what will be a four lane highway from Commerce to Paris. The new location also allows for truck and bike parking.

Owner/Pitmaster Shannon Bankston serves up brisket, ribs, ham, turkey breast, hot links, sausage and pulled pork smoked over oak and hickory. But don’t forget to try the baked potatoes, macaroni and cheese or BBQ tacos or specials like the Boudain.

Shannon Bankston, along with Heather Hoff, keeps the home fires burning of this down-to-earth establishment for the past six years.

“We are very excited, and honored to be ranked #5 out of the 1000's of BBQ joints across the state of Texas,” said the Fatboy’s duo. “It's very flattering to share the stage with some very legendary and respected names in Texas BBQ.”

They were among the renown Texas BBQ establishments like Black’s Barbecue in Lockhart, at the top and The Salt Lick Bar-B-Que in Driftwood.

Helping them earn their recognition was Texas Highways reader Mitch Clark of Paris, Texas and Gail Levey of Ladonia, Texas, who also wrote, “I’d go on my hands and knees for a plate of Fatboy’s brisket.”

On Saturday, November 7 starting at 1 p.m. Fatboy’s BBQ will officially host their Grand Opening with a ribbon cutting sponsored by the Delta County Chamber of Commerce. There will be live music by Michael O'Neal from noon – 2 p.m. along with door prizes and lunch specials. To place an order, call 903-300-3287.

They will be open Tuesday - Friday 11 a.m. to 8 .pm. and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fatboy’s BBQ can cater events too.

Review them on their Facebook page today https://www.facebook.com/Fatboys-BBQ-416746280230/

To read the original story go to:  http://www.texashighways.com/food-drink/item/7984-comfort-food-barbecue-texas-top-40-bbq

Receiving acknowledgement for their talents in the burger aspect of Texas dining was The Burger Grind, with its two locations – Main Street in Sulphur Springs and Henry Moore Road in Tyler. The Burger Grind was selected as fourth on the list for Comfort Foods: Burgers by Texas Highways magazine.

June Naylor of Texas Highways writes: “The If you’re a recent arrival in Texas, you may not have heard that our state gave birth to the hamburger, but now you know: Allegedly created in the late 1880s at an East Texas café owned by a man named Fletcher Davis, the hamburger was introduced to a larger audience at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair—and the rest, as they say, is history.”

The Burger Grind debuted in June of 2014 in downtown Celebration City aka Sulphur Springs and in December in Tyler that same year. Owners Dennis and Carly Moreau are putting their restaurant opening pros to the test again as they will be opening a third location on the corner of Loop 323 and Highway 64, also in Tyler near the college on Nov. 2, 2015.

Naylor wrote: “The Burger Grind earned glowing reviews upon opening in 2014 for making a fine burger by blending its own ground chuck with ground brisket. Customer lines stream out the door during lunch and dinner hours, as word-of-mouth buzz for the Bacon Cheddar, Mushroom Melt, Bleu Bomber, A-1, and other specialty burgers keeps spreading. Bonus points go for the Kaiser wheat, toasted onion, sesame twist, and gluten-free bun options.”

“To be selected was very cool,” said Dennis Moreau. “To be selected No. 4 in the State of Texas among some of the restaurants that have been serving burgers for over 40 years with multiple locations is overwhelming.” He said he has been working 15 hour days for over a year and a half and to be honored with this announcement was very gratifying especially given his location isn’t necessarily in a busy location or a prime spot.

“I’ve always said I don’t want to sell the most burgers. I just want to sell the best ones,” said Moreau, with no time to relax. “But this honor will just make me try even harder now.”

Their Sulphur Springs location was also recently selected one of the “Best of” for downtown eateries as the unique indoor and outdoor dining attracts a crowd to the now renovated Celebration District.

“We were also recently selected third best burger on a local level here in Tyler,” he added, ready to put his team of staff to work for their upcoming grand opening.

Enjoy a unique atmosphere where customers can watch their order being prepared right before their eyes. They are not only burgers. Dine in with a plate dinner of chicken fried steak, chicken fried chicken, chicken strips, grilled chicken, or hamburger steak and relax with acoustic entertainment or a comfortable seat on the outdoor covered porch. Better yet – hire The Burger Grind to cater an event by calling 903.951.1989.

The Burger Grind is located right under the neon BG sign. Keep track of all the latest specials and new menu items on https://www.facebook.com/BurgerGrind?fref=ts.

To read the original story go to: http://texashighways.com/component/k2/item/7985-comfort-food-best-burgers-texas-top-40

Texas Highways, the travel magazine of Texas, is produced by The Texas Department of Transportation.