I can't think of a better way to start the New Year than to share some great photos of City Meat Market in Giddings shot by Posse member Guy Reynolds. Guy is a Dallas-based photojournalist and fellow photo editor at The Dallas Morning News.

Guy is a regular on our Texas BBQ tours, but was unable to join in on the recent Central Texas 5-Star Anniversary BBQ Tour, an eight-stop trip that ended at the City Meat Market. However, he was driving through Giddings a week later and asked about the City Meat Market. I told him it very well may be in the top three or four joints in the entire state.

Our biggest regret of the tour was not stopping in Giddings earlier in the day. We began day two of the tour at Snow's BBQ in Lexington, then drove south down Hwy. 77 toward Prause Meat Market in La Grange. We drove through the heart of Giddings directly past City Meat Market, which is at the corner of Hwys. 77 and 290, the main road from Houston to Austin.

It seemed like a good plan at the time, we would swing west from La Grange to Smithville, then loop back through Giddings on our way back to Dallas. However, by the time we got back there mid-afternoon, all they had left to sample was sausage and pork. It was some of the best meat we had on the tour though.

Guy's visit a week later was more successful. He hung out and photographed owner and pit boss Gerald Birkelbach at work, resulting in a wonderful set of images that really convey the texture and character of the place. He also got a full sampling of meats, which he placed among the best he's ever had.

Texas BBQ Posse member Bruce Tomaso, who was on the anniversary tour, sums up our visit to City Meat Market.

"I have a feeling that City Meat Market might be right up there with the best places we visited," Bruce writes. "I’d like to try it again when they’re not almost out of meat, and when it’s not my 8th BBQ meal in 26 hours."

Amen Bruce. The Posse will be back.........

City Meat Market, 101 W. Austin, Giddings, (979) 542-2740. Open Mon-Fri 7:30am-5:30pm, Sat 7:30am-4pm.

Photos ©Guy Reynolds