See you at the barbecue festival, gator
“It tastes like a chicken and a shrimp had a baby,” Grant Pinkerton said, “or, as I say, ‘swamp chicken.’ ”
He’s talking about his smoked alligator.
It’s the result of the pitmaster’s R&D ahead of the fourth annual Houston Barbecue Festival, which will be 1-5 p.m. Sunday at NRG Park.
For the event, Pinkerton’s BBQ will be smoking a whole alligator.
He said his test run on the reptile “turned out excellent. I injected it with a creole injection. I then rubbed it with my homemade remoulade sauce and smoked it over post oak.
“It was juicy and tender,” Pinkerton said, adding that he served it on po’boys.
Alligator will be just one of the delicacies coming off the smokers at the Houston Barbecue Festival, which will welcome a record 26 barbecue joints.
Among the participants are four on Chronicle food critic Alison Cook’s Top 100 list — including Killen’s Barbecue, Corkscrew BBQ, Roegels Barbecue Co. and Brook’s Place.
New additions to the lineup include Jackson Street BBQ from Greg Gatlin and celebrated restaurateurs Bryan Caswell and Billy Floyd; and Tejas Chocolate Craftory, a little Tomball joint that has found a following with its handmade chocolates and smoked turkey.
Tickets to the festival are $60 and include unlimited sample portions of barbecue from participating restaurants.
Find tickets at houbbq. com. Note that ticket sales are limited, and no tickets will be sold at the gate. Sweet endings JodyCakes, the custom bake shop that specializes in vegan, gluten-free and organic cakes, has been tapped as cake source for two more restaurants.
Adair Kitchen, 5161 San Felipe, will serve pastry chef Jody Stevens’ gluten-free cakes. Southern Goods, 632 W. 19th, will join Randy Rucker’s Bramble, 2231 S. Voss, in serving Stevens’ regular cakes, which include Chocolate Orange Ganache and Red Velvet.
Find more information at jodycakes.com.
Openings
• New Jersey-based 1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza opened its first Houston-area store last week directly across from the Johnson Space Center.
As the name implies, this fast-casual spot specializes in made-toorder Neapolitan pizzas, which can be personalized with any of more than 50 toppings for one flat price. The pizzas cook in a 1,000-degree, revolving brick oven.
Franchise owners Chris and Alice Chandler will open a second Houstonarea 1000 Degrees in Deer Park this summer. 18032 Saturn Lane, 281-532-6877.
• Anonymous Cafe is now serving coffee and Greek-inspired pastries and savory bites in Sugar Land. 9920 U.S. 90, Sugar Land, 832-886-4037.
• LT’s Sports Bar and Grill has opened in Cypress. The familyowned sports bar offers an extensive menu (try the pork-rind-topped mac & cheese), full bar and a smoke-free dining room. 11808 Barker Cypress, Cypress; 346-218-7070.