View Full Version : BBQ shift in progress???
16Adams
06-28-2017, 06:32 AM
Just an observation. I search Craigslist several times per week. I don't do the notifications or that. I'm hardcore downsizing not looking to add. Amarillo Lubbock have WSM's for literally a steal- Lubbock specifically. Lots of home made stick burners and trailer smokers. I see people speaking of high end offsets that they are contemplating. Most areas have used beat up to brand new- low end to second mortgage prices. But the thing is-they're for sale. I play quite a bit of golf and ride my bike almost daily. Cookers on patios and driveways with rotted wood nearby are rotting under covers-unused.
I wonder if people are going back to grilled. I love to smoke- but prefer the taste of grilled.
I've never counted but Amarillo has an abundance of BBQ restaurants. From mom and pops to chains. That and fried chicken.
Kind of makes you wonder if anyone eats at home anymore.
We used to eat out several times per month way back when.
Steak and Ale- escargot ��
4ever3
06-28-2017, 06:39 AM
Could be, nothing is forever...
KevinJ
06-28-2017, 07:18 AM
We eat out once a week (usually Friday night) and sometimes do brunch on Sundays, we don't do fast food.
ChrisBarb
06-28-2017, 07:46 AM
Just an observation. I search Craigslist several times per week. I don't do the notifications or that. I'm hardcore downsizing not looking to add. Amarillo Lubbock have WSM's for literally a steal- Lubbock specifically. Lots of home made stick burners and trailer smokers. I see people speaking of high end offsets that they are contemplating. Most areas have used beat up to brand new- low end to second mortgage prices. But the thing is-they're for sale. I play quite a bit of golf and ride my bike almost daily. Cookers on patios and driveways with rotted wood nearby are rotting under covers-unused.
I wonder if people are going back to grilled. I love to smoke- but prefer the taste of grilled.
I've never counted but Amarillo has an abundance of BBQ restaurants. From mom and pops to chains. That and fried chicken.
Kind of makes you wonder if anyone eats at home anymore.
We used to eat out several times per month way back when.
Steak and Ale- escargot ��When I started out, I bought a cheap Chinese POS from a big box store, because I wasn't sure if I would like actual smoking and all the work that come with it or just the idea of smoking. Turns out I like the actual process and have upgraded to a WSM with a stick burner in my future. I think some folks like to eat BBQ or see BBQ Pitwars on TV and decide that's what they want to do. But after a few cooks, reality sets in and either they aren't getting the results they want easy enough or there is too much work (cleanup, etc.) and they eventually stop using their pits.
W.I.T.W.A.G?
06-28-2017, 07:58 AM
..Like any popular activity it will die off or slow down. That being said I feel like we've been saying "it will die off eventually" for like 10 years now.
Maybe TX is a bit over saturated? I'm in WI and BBQ is stronger than ever IMHO
ChrisBarb
06-28-2017, 08:03 AM
^^I don't see BBQ dying off.... Hopefully becomes a little less trendy, though. If I never read another article about upscale BBQ or which wine to pair with pulled pork, it will still be too soon.
pjtexas1
06-28-2017, 08:24 AM
this time of year i mostly grill as it is too hot to be out there with the stick burner sweating thru my underwear. every few years i try to thin out the herd a little but i always end up adding more back. the only time we eat out is when we go and visit our kids as they live out of town and at 20 and 26 they don't really cook much. i barely look at CL as it is mostly crappy over priced trailers in my area. i think i enjoy trying new cookers more than anything.
Beer/Meat/Victory
06-28-2017, 08:40 AM
^^I don't see BBQ dying off.... Hopefully becomes a little less trendy, though. If I never read another article about upscale BBQ or which wine to pair with pulled pork, it will still be too soon.
Agree 100%. It's booming up here with a few new BBQ joints opening up in trendy areas with prices for Brisket topping $30/lb. Ridiculous.
Mt.man511
06-28-2017, 08:47 AM
It does seem like a lot of big smokers are for sale i for one sold my large IVS and bought a smaller smoker i think a lot of people are downsizing because they find out they don't need such a large smoker, the die hards are still here. Grilling i think will be here for ever it's just in our blood and is fast and easy where smoking takes more effort and time, everything changes even the smoking wood has changed from Hickory and Oak now you see Cherry and Pecan as favorite wood to use.
I will agree with you that the fad of smoking has died off some what but smoking meat will live on because those of us that don't mind the effort and enjoy the end product will never give it up.
Brothers and Sisters keep the fire going and the smoke rolling.
Clay-b-que
06-28-2017, 09:03 AM
I think it all has to do with where you live. Not a lot of Q places to eat here but we have several comps throughout the year (probably more destination than Q). Just got back from Central Texas and BBQ there seems alive and well just as it has for the past 40 years!
Edit: those people you are seeing selling stuff could be like me and love projects. I am in the middle of a stick burner build just for fun. If I like it, I will probably step up to a more professional model at a later time and sell what I make.
Kikaida
06-28-2017, 09:07 AM
It's probably your location, where I live in CA, you can't find good BBQ period. And what you do find is over priced garbage. To satisfy my craving for quality, I gotta do it my self. I pick out the best cuts, trim properly and am not trying to squeeze every dollar out of the meat equating to a vastly superior product for way less money. Over here, the BBQ joints have no problem serving you a pile of fat or over cooked mush or brisket that will have you go through a whole roll of floss. People always ask me what the secret to good BBQ is, I tell them 'time'...which seems to be a commodity so many people just don't have enough of any more.
azken
06-28-2017, 09:21 AM
I gave away 2 smokers and 2 gas grills..kept the WGA and Blackstone 17"..meets my needs perfectly.
m-fine
06-28-2017, 11:56 AM
There are only two large offset smokers on our CL right now, one UDS, and a few gas or charcoal junky ones. No WSMs.
It seems around here the popularity is picking up but mostly with smaller devices. Kamados, WSMs and pellet grills. Large offset stick burners will always be a niche.
cjs27410
06-28-2017, 01:03 PM
I have been scanning all the outlets for a used 36" patio offset. They are very scarce. Lots of 60" cookers are available.
It does seem like a lot of big smokers are for sale i for one sold my large IVS and bought a smaller smoker i think a lot of people are downsizing because they find out they don't need such a large smoker, the die hards are still here. Grilling i think will be here for ever it's just in our blood and is fast and easy where smoking takes more effort and time, everything changes even the smoking wood has changed from Hickory and Oak now you see Cherry and Pecan as favorite wood to use.
I will agree with you that the fad of smoking has died off some what but smoking meat will live on because those of us that don't mind the effort and enjoy the end product will never give it up.
Brothers and Sisters keep the fire going and the smoke rolling.
That's not effort - it's pleasure! But you do have to be able to set aside some time for it.
upStomp
06-28-2017, 01:37 PM
There aren't many BBQ joints in my region - with maybe 2 or 3 in my entire state that are even worth checking out - but that's always been the case here. I don't remember the last time I paid for prepared Q. Just like with steaks, I tend not to dine out on foods I can make better at home - often for 1/3rd the price.
With that said, all the usual big box chains still healthily stock WSM's and various cheap(er) offsets year-round, so I know 'low-and-slow' is still pretty popular up here.
Marwendholt
06-28-2017, 02:22 PM
I've noticed it with all the local backyard bbq contests, 2 have went away completely and most of the others don't even have half the competitors that they used too.
dgaddis1
06-28-2017, 02:23 PM
There's plenty of BBQ joints in the southeast. I've yet to try one that I like better than what I can make at home though.
Grilling will never go out of style or fashion. True low and slow BBQ won't either, but most folks don't have the time for it.
I don't know anyone who uses an offset smoker, but I know lotsa folks with kettles and komados.
m-fine
06-28-2017, 02:50 PM
I've noticed it with all the local backyard bbq contests, 2 have went away completely and most of the others don't even have half the competitors that they used too.
I think competition Que is (was?) a huge fad and is not a good barometer for interest in cooking and eating que. I have never seen a pizza making contest, soup making contest, burger or steak grilling contest etc. but tons of people around here cook those things all the time.
smoke ninja
06-28-2017, 03:03 PM
I rarely see smokers here, be it for sale or on patios.
We do have a strong showing of good bbq resturants, i guess we like Q just not into the process.
My guess is folks see it, have then try it thinking its easy. Once they realize how hard it is tgey give up and sell their gear.........
...........we have that same thing happen here with indoor garden equipment. Once they realize its actually work they give up the dream
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