Southern Living 2007 Annual Recipes Book

I thought this book was a treasure. There are so many primary source interviews with central Texas barbecue restaurant owners. Beyond that, you also get to hear from cattle ranchers, timber experts, and others involved with barbecue in the state.

I think even non-Texans would enjoy these stories, and by then end you'll be impressed with the seriousness around barbecue. Plus, you'll be equipped to plan a road trip eating your way through central Texas.

My only tiny complaint are the essays interspersed between the interviews. Since they are written by graduate students, the voice and quality are pretty inconsistent from story to story, so you might find yourself skipping one from time to time.