Meatheads Since 1948

It seems like these guys get together monthly to partake in some kind of beastly ritual of meat eating. They call themselves the “Meatheads” and they like them some BBQ. I’ve never had the opportunity to tag along, but found myself with an empty Saturday and the urge to drive, so I hopped in the Riviera with Silva and headed north.

The plan was to eat at the World Famous Louie Mueller BBQ joint in Taylor, TX, but by the time we arrived there was an insanely long chow line. It was so long, in fact, that a splinter group had formed with an eye on another restaurant that promised shorter wait times. Silva and I had both enjoyed Louie Mueller before, so we decided to grow the splinter and head just down the road to the Taylor Cafe.

Vencil Mares bought the Taylor Cafe in 1948 for $4,200. He used every bit of his savings from his $32 a-month soldier salary to pull it off. The only bit he had left, he spent on two juke boxes and two pool tables. He needed a pair of each, because both the “colored” side and the “white” side of the restaurant deserved the same amenities. To this day, the restaurant remains psuedo-segregated – not by policy, but just because old habits die hard for patrons that have been buying Vencil’s BBQ for over 50 years.

Vencil is 90 years old now and while his staff of scratchy-voiced waitresses take your order in between puffs of their cigarettes, he still acts as a bus boy and general manager. He’s also the head cook. He gets to the shop every morning at around 6am and doesn’t get home until 10pm on most nights. It’s time well spent too – The BBQ, more specifically – the brisket, is to die for. We each had a plate along with a beer just prior to paying the $7.50 tab.

Bellies full, we decided to take the short drive to Gary Howard’s and see what he was up to. Like the last visited legend, he was hard at work securing his legacy.

All in all, it was just one of those perfect car days and a reminder to get out and enjoy life when you can. It’s a beautiful world out there fellas…