The Franklin Effect

We had no idea that our trip to Texas ended the minute we finished eating at Franklin BBQ.  We didn't realize that the energy had been sucked out of us.  All motivation was gone - smoked out of us like the connective tissue in a 22 hour smoked brisket.

It is hard to explain what happened to us after eating the best BBQ in the world - and perhaps the best meal I have ever partaken.  Janna and I were shot.  All our chips were in and we had even used up the house money.  Franklin BBQ was so good, that nothing seemed worth eating.  We had no desire to eat anything after that, much less some other variant of BBQ, which would surely be kindergarten compared to Harvard.

Kreuz and Smitty's were of no interest.  In fact, we couldn't eat at any more restaurants.  We instead walked to Whole Foods on Friday after stopping by Book People (bookstore).  We got salads and sandwiches. We went back to the hotel and sat by the pool.  It was cool, sunny and windy.  We tried our best to come out of our food coma from the day before, but nothing seemed worth it.  We were basically depressed.  It is like the feeling I have dreamt of when I envision the Vikings winning the Superbowl - that feeling of realization that there is no better feeling.  The day after winning the Superbowl you are not winning the Superbowl anymore - that was yesterday.  But not only that.  The journey is over.  Now what?  You can't win your first Superbowl a second time.  I have heard hunters say that the hunt is better than the kill.  Well, when you have hunted for good food for 20 years and then you, perhaps, stumble upon the best food in the world, is the hunt over?

No.  It's not.  I know that.  Deep down inside I know that there is better food out there.  But that doesn't mean I shall soon forget Franklin.  His BBQ imprint on my soul was branded with a hot iron.  We just need a couple of days to let that brand scar over.

The Franklin Effect changed our plans.  No more attempts at good food.  In fact, no more Texas.  We needed to get out of Texas ASAP.  And it wasn't just me and Janna.  The kids had been in there pajamas as much as possible since Franklin.  It seemed that our Texas journey had come to a ceremonial end - either that or the smoke put some kind of spell on us.

I called Delta and changed our flight.  We cut our trip short.  Lockhart would have to wait.  We hopped on the earliest flight out of Austin - Saturday at 6:30am.  We were on the ground in Minneapolis by 9:15am.

Spring Break was over.  We saw San Antonio, the Hill Country, and Austin.  We ate delicious meals, spent good time with family, and saw some of what Texas has to offer.

And we ate at the best BBQ in Austin - perhaps the best BBQ in Texas.  Maybe in the USA.  Perhaps in the world.