The Hog Pen

LEAKEY: The Hog Pen
373 US Highway 83
Leakey, TX 78873
830-232-4868
Open Thur-M 10-midnight
www.thehogpenstore.com

The sun was setting was setting as we go tinto Leakey (pronounced Lakey), and we realized there was no hope in getting to Bandera before nightfall. Bar-B-Q was on the sign so I went inside to investigate further. I was fifth in line so I saw the order taker scoping out presauced chopped brisket from a crock-pot whenever a brisket order came up. No thanks. They were out of ribs, but the smoked boudain was still available.


Photo by Nicholas McWhirter

Smoked boudain is on of those things you might find in the piney woods of East Texas, but out here it was rare. Most folks just use the smoker to warm these spiced up pork and rice filled links, but these were black with smoke. I was hopeful until I bit into what tasted like the lit end of a cigar. I think a puff of smoke emerged as the casing snapped. I removed the charred and creosote covered casing to try just the filling. It too was more smoky than I could take. I was literally coughing from the smoke and the spice wasn't tame either. Driving another hour east, I finally found another BBQ joint where I could get this taste out of my mouth.

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