Project Smoke is one man’s attempt to explore the world of barbecue by eating it every day for a week. Find all of the entries here, and please pray for his soul.
First off, this is not a write up of Rudy’s BBQ, as ubiquitous as that is around these parts. This is about Ruby’s the seminal “campus institution” that has been serving up barbecue to hipsters and grifters for a long time.
After five days of this project, I wasn’t sure if I’d make it six, but it turned out me and my little girl needed an afternoon snack. She loves barbecue chips, and I love Ruby’s, so it all worked out. I switched up my usual order today, getting just a single item: the “Spicy Chopped BBQ Beef” sandwich.
Ya see, I’m from a part of the world that loves chopped beef sandwiches; it’s in our blood. If you travel to the Panhandle of Texas, that’s what you’ll find the God-fearing people of that land eating hand over fist. (If you visit Amarillo and don’t stop at Doug’s Bar-B-Q, then you’re dead to me.)
Back to Ruby’s. Back in the days when the area near campus was the place to be for Slackers of all stripes (think Hole in the Wall and Captain Quackenbush’s), Ruby’s had a very cool clientele. Well, wouldn’t you know it, I had one of those Only-In-Austin moments when I ran into blast from the past at Ruby’s.
When I moved to Austin in 1998, the breakout band of the moment (along with Spoon) was Sixteen Deluxe. They were loud, and they were awesome. I even got to interview them for my school paper when they played in College Station once, and I would run into a couple of their members in town every once in a while.
Well, on this day, none other than bassist Jeff Copas was there. I re-introduced myself, and we had a nice chat. The band is back together and recording, even. People that love music just can’t stop making music.
If Ruby’s is good enough for Sixteen Deluxe, it’s good enough for the rest of us. It’s not going to make many lists of best barbecue joints in town, but I’ve never had a bad meal there. They even some cajun dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, and etoufée. In addition to all this, my kids love it.
And you never know who you’re going to run into…