BAY CITY, TEXAS, USA -- It's hard to spend much time in Texas without indulging your craving for real Texas style barbecue. When in the coastal Texas county of Matagorda, the place to go is A&A Barbecue in Bay City.

Owners Allen and Arlene Korenek run a simple, no frills down home style restaurant with a menu chock full of Southern style comfort foods.

Take a walk out back and you'll see some Texas size smokers that produce all the meats needed for the restaurant's hungry customers and to feed crowds at the special events Allen and Arlene cater. (Note the restaurant also sells meats by the pound, so you can pick up a great barbecue feast to take back to your vacation rental home).

While the beef brisket is Allen's favorite (this is cattle country, after all), A&A makes also makes mighty fine ribs (beef and pork), sliced pork, ham, sausage and chicken. Seafood lovers can chow down on catfish and Matagorda County's famous fresh shrimp.

All the usual barbecue sides are served. So often side dishes are relegated to supporting positions on the plate, and I suppose that's what they were intended for, but Arlene's black eyed pea salad is so good it could take a starring role. This healthy side dish is packed with lots of veggies, seasonings and flavor. Don't miss it when dining at A&A Barbecue.

Practicalities

A&A Barbecue is located at 3408 7th St. in Bay City, Texas. For more information call 979-244-586.

For general information about planning a visit to Matagorda County, Texas, click on www.visitmatagorda.com or contact the Matagorda County Economic Development Corporation at 979-245-8913.

Cheri Sicard, in addition to being the editor of FabulousTravel.com and its sister site, Fabulous Foods.com is the author of The Great American Handbook: What You Can Do For Your Country Today and Every Day and The Low Carb Restaurant Guide, and the co-author of US Citizenship for Dummies. To learn more about Cheri, click here.