Expert Austin pitmasters open new Lousiana-flavored BBQ truck

Parish Barbecue plate and tray with ribs, sausage, pickled okra

That pickled okra tells you everything you need to know. Photo courtesy of Parish Barbecue

A new food truck combining Southern cuisines and experience from some of Austin's best barbecue joints is almost ready to make its debut. Parish Barbecue will open Friday, March 28, with former InterStellar BBQ manager Holden Fulco as the owner and pitmaster.

The truck will be parked at Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches (3220 Manor Rd.), significantly expanding the food options. As the name suggests, guests can snack on kolaches, but that's it for the brewery itself. There's also an existing on-site food truck called Bummer Burrito.

Fulco is paying homage to his "Louisiana roots" with a menu that crosses over from hickory-smoked meats to sides like pork cracklins and Acadiana potato salad. A press release says Parish Barbecue is "committed to providing an honest, homemade, sustainable and local approach to barbecue."

Some fresh produce, meats, and beverages will be from local suppliers, it says, but sausages will be made in-house. Meats will be smoked on a 1,000-gallon offset pit by Bison Smokers, a company that custom builds each product in Forney, Texas, a Dallas suburb.

Menu items include USDA Prime Black Angus brisket, pork ribs, house-cured ham, pulled duck, remoulade vinegar slaw, crawfish cornbread dressing, and more. Some options will be available for people who don't eat meat, including a vegetable muffuletta and seasonal specials. Desserts like pecan pie brownies are also on the table.

If that unique menu isn't enough to draw locals in, then surely some barbecue prestige will. In addition to his time at InterStellar — a 2025 CultureMap Tastemakers nominee for Restaurant of the Year and one of four barbecue restaurants awarded the first-ever Michelin stars for the cuisine — Fulco spent some time at Franklin Barbecue, perhaps Austin's most consistently lauded source of smoked meats. He also helped open Pinkerton's Barbecue in San Antonio. That all makes seven years alongside other great barbecuers.

Fulco's "right hand" in this operation is pitmaster Jake Haygood, who also worked with InterStellar and the famous Terry Black's BBQ (which received a recommendation from Michelin in its inaugural year in Texas). Haygood will manage the pit, inventory, and product procurement.

“Parish Barbecue blends the bold flavors of Louisiana with the rich traditions of Central Texas barbecue to create a one-of-a-kind experience,” said Fulco in the release. “We focus on quality and authenticity in every dish, from our slow-cooked meats to our homemade sausages, using only the best local ingredients and traditional methods. Every meal reflects the time and care we put into our craft, and it's that attention to detail that sets Parish apart.”

Parish Barbecue will only be open on long weekends: Fridays and Saturdays from 11 am to 9 pm, and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm, or until sold out. Guests can enjoy their meals at onsite or take them to-go, and catering will also be available for events.

From picnic to dish

Farm-to-table cafe replacing Picnik in South Austin is open now

Dish Society is known for its refreshing menu. Photo courtesy of Dish Society

When Picnik left its space on South First Street, some locals were disappointed to lose the holistic menu. However, the Houston-based Dish Society swooped in to fill the gap; it's now open at 1600 South First St., Ste. 110.

This is the second Austin location for Dish Society, which also has local ties through its founder, Aaron Lyons, who was born in Austin and went to the University of Texas at Austin. It also fits right in with the local farm-to-table ethos while remaining casual —a balance treasured by many in Austin dining.

The first location arrived in the Mueller neighborhood in 2023. A press release calls it an "overwhelming success."

“Our reception in Austin has been phenomenal, and we’re thrilled to introduce Dish Society to the vibrant South First community,” said Lyons in the release. "South Austin is buzzing with energy and growth. The area is full of amazing restaurants, shops, and plenty of walkable and bike-friendly streets—perfect for the kind of people who love what we do. As always, our goal is to be that go-to neighborhood spot where you can drop in multiple times a week."

Dish Society culinary director Brandi Key, COO Trent Patterson, founder Aaron Lyons From left to right: culinary director Brandi Key, COO Trent Patterson, founder Aaron LyonsPhoto courtesy of Dish Society

The new Dish Society is located within the Willa mixed-use development, which also includes the shoe boutique Blue Suede right across the patio. Another perk is complimentary parking.

The space has been redesigned by Chioco Design, whose work Austinites might recognize from Paperboy on South Lamar Boulevard, Bambino on Springdale Road, and the famous Torchy's Tacos on South Congress Avenue.

The new interior isn't majorly different, with more earthy, neutral colors and a similar seating arrangement. The restaurant still has seating on the covered patio: 60 seats outdoors in addition to 80 indoors. The bar offers full service and TVs for watching sports, plus, there's a walk-up window for takeaway and coffee.

According to the release, Dish Society gets more than three-quarters of its ingredients from suppliers in Texas. While ingredients do the heavy lifting in the restaurant's healthy image, the menu gets to have some fun with comfort foods and "American classics." That's all thanks to the work of culinary director Brandi Key.

Existing fans of Dish Society can enjoy favorites like brisket-loaded sweet potato, a shaved Brussels sprout salad, and fried chicken and biscuits. There are also plenty of new additions: ranch-style eggs, a granola yogurt bowl, and kale-mushroom bucatini.

Grain bowls, salads, sandwiches, and signature sides fill out the menu, plus an option to make your own plate with a protein and two sides. The beverage program also offers cocktails, mocktails, Texas craft beers and wines, coffee, fresh-pressed juices, and more local beverages.

Dish Society South 1st Street interior The new interior of Dish Society.Photo courtesy of Dish Society

Finally, Dish Society is conscious about worker wellness with perks like cross-training opportunities, educational incentives, PTO for hourly staff, paid volunteer hours, and more.

Dish Society maintains the same hours for both locations. They're open from 7 am to 9 pm Sundays through Thursdays, and 7 am to 10 pm Fridays and Saturdays. Social hour is weekdays from 7-9 am and 2-6 pm, and weekends from 4-7 pm. The restaurant will also offer online orders and catering.

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