TWO-STEP

San Antonio's Reese Bros. Barbecue fires up new collab with Floore's

Reese Bros will soon serve barbecue tacos and sandwiches at Floore's Cpuntry Store.

Reese Bros Barbecue/ Facebook

Good thing there’s always two-stepping to work off all that brisket. Starting April 17, San Antonio’s acclaimed Reese Bros. Barbecue will be serving inside Helotes institution John T. Floore's Country Store.

"Barbecue and live music have always gone hand in hand," owners Nick and Elliott Reese said in a release. "Floore's Country Store is one of the most iconic venues in Texas, and being part of the history is incredibly exciting for us."

Floore’s has long offered food service, but this is the first time it has partnered with a Michelin-recognized barbecue joint. The fare will be a little simpler than Reese Bros’ East Side flagship, featuring easy-to-eat favorites like smoked cheeseburgers, barbecue sandwiches, brisket tacos, and sausage.

John T. Floore's Country Store has hosted some of music's biggest legends.John T. Floore's Country Store/ Facebook

The partnership brings together two of the San Antonio area’s most famous names. Floore’s was established in the ‘40s, becoming hallowed ground for Willie Nelson and hosting icons like Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Patsy Cline and Joan Jett.

Since opening in January 2022, Reese Bros. has made its own noise. Besides the recommended listing in the newest Michelin Texas guide, Texas Monthly, Southern Living, and Bon Appetit have all gushed about its post oak-smoked meats and Tex-Mex tinged sides.

"Elliott and Nick Reese have earned quite a reputation in the world of barbecue," Floore's Managing Partner Mark McKinney said via the release. "We could not be more excited to be partnering with them and featuring their extraordinary menu together with our South Texas musical roots."

Honky-tonkers can get a first taste of the collab on April 17. The 8:30 pm show features Sammy Arriaga and Matt Castillo, two performers who inject South Texas and Latin flavor into their traditional country sound.

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HOT STUFF

Annual Fajita Lounge Showdown sizzles into San Antonio's Southtown

Photo by TXTroublemaker

Things get heated during the Fajita Lounge Showdown.

One of San Antonio’s most sizzling traditions is firing up the grills for another round of competition. The annual Fajita Lounge Showdown will return to Southtown’s Gimme Gimme (803 S. St. Mary's) on Sunday, April 12.

The taco throwdown, now in its fourth year, is an extension of Fajita Lounge, the Tastemaker Award-nominated pop-up founded by Gimme Gimme and Amor Eterno owner Aaron Peña and chefs Jacob Gonzales and Matthew Garcia. The project was started by accident, when Peña improvised at a Squeezebox boil by throwing some meat on the grill.

The Fajita Lounge soon became its own thing, with the crew cooking at various San Antonio locales. The Showdown started in 2022 with only five chefs. This year, the lineup includes a crew of brave firefighters and some of the most celebrated restaurants and bars in the city, including:

Leche de Tigre (2025 Defending Champion)
The Magpie
Naco Mexican
Little Death
Aguazul
El Weinecero
Porc Slap
Burritos Dorada
San Antonio Fire Department Station No. 7 and No. 28

Fajita Lounge ArnieTex The Fajita Lounge's Matthew Garcia, Aaron Peña, and Jacob Gonzales pose with ArnieTex (second from left).Photo by TXTroublemaker

All competitors will work with Arnie "ArnieTex" Segovia’s Arnie Asadas Seasonings, a nod to the cookbook author and YouTube personality who is also serving as one of this year's judges. A charro beans station featuring the same seasonings will be available to guests.

The judging panel also includes Texas Monthly Taco Editor José Ralat, content creator Mike Dubya of @as_seen_in_sa, and yours truly, CultureMap San Antonio Editor Brandon Watson. The winning chef takes home $500 and some serious local bragging rights.

"Only in San Antonio could a little carne asada hang turn into a full-on showdown like this," shared Peña last year. "The Fajita Lounge Showdown is our way of celebrating the city's taco culture, the chefs who make it special, and the community that shows up to support. There's nothing like sharing tacos, a cerveza, and music together — this is what our city does best."

The Fajita Lounge Showdown runs from 5 pm-midnight and features tunes from deejays Texas Papi and SunnyBoy. The $10 cover includes taco samples on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Guests must be 21 or older to attend.

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