We took sister and brother-in-law to the most amazing barbecue place this weekend — The Salt Lick in nearby Round Rock. From the moment we got out of the car and walked up the concrete path, we were taken in, literally, by the tantalizing smell of the smoky barbecue. Like sister said, if you weren’t hungry when you got out of the car, you were the moment you inhaled the smell.

I hate to admit it, but it was the first time I had brisket since we moved to Texas six months earlier. I was a little skeptical because for some reason I thought brisket would be a tough meat. Boy was I wrong! It was absolutely fanastic, moist and tender. And the mustard-based barbecue sauce was equally scrumptious, as was the coleslaw, potato salad and baked beans. Sister, a fabulous cook in her own right, was equally pleased with brisket meal. She also was intruiged with the joint’s pickles, which tasted almost exactly like the refrigerator dills she makes back in Wisconsin. It was the first time she had ever tasted that particular kind of dill pickle at a restaurant. They made an already great meal even better.

We will definitely go back on our own and take other family members when they come to visit. It was an excellent Texas barbecue adventure.