SPRING, Texas — Michelin awarded its first stars in Texas Monday night. And for the first time in Michelin’s nearly 100-year history, BBQ restaurants earned some of those coveted stars.
Out of the four BBQ restaurants selected from restaurants across Texas, one of those is located in Spring.
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CorkScrew BBQ is a family restaurant where longlines regularly wrap around the building. While doors open at 11 a.m., customers sometimes line up as early as 8 a.m. to get food before it runs out.
“People have slept in the parking lot, so they're there. They want to make sure they get barbecue," Owner Will Buckman said.
Will and Nichole Buckman own and operate Corkscrew. The couple was invited to the inaugural Michelin Guide Texas ceremony, a sign they'd be honored somehow.
But they kept getting passed up for smaller awards like the BIB Gourmand or good value for good food recognition.
Will was worried, saying, “Man maybe they forgot about us.”
The Buckmans never thought they would receive the top prize, an actual star.
“You start talking about stars, you think about white tablecloths and fine dining," Will said.
Michelin's final four stars were all for BBQ resrayraynts.
"I'm not gonna lie. Yeah, I kind of blacked out for a second," Nichole said about the moment CorkScrew was called.
In addition to CorkScrew, Instellar BBQ, La Barbecue and LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue also garnered a star. They are all in Austin.
"It finally puts BBQ on the pedestal that it deserves to be on. It's not an easier cuisine to make than others," Will said.
Manning a pit and burning firewood is hard work. Smoking a brisket can take up to 18 hours. Now, BBQ is showing up as an ingredient in haute cuisine.