Timothy Chapman
The taste of victory lingers on each bite of Rio Grande Valley’s own Fred Robles’ dish after he won the brisket contest in the San Antonio stock show and rodeo earlier this month.
Rio Valley Meat Butcher Shop has competed in this cook-off before when it took the grand champion trophy in 2022.
306 teams competed in the San Antonio Cook-Off and according to Fred Robles this is the second largest Cook-Off in the country right behind the American Royal World Series of Barbecue in Kansas where Robles also took first place in the brisket competition last fall.
Owner Fred Robles said the camaraderie and friendships he builds every time he goes to the San Antonio Cook-Off is what drives him the most to compete in the event.
To him, winning is always the cherry on top.
“It’s just awesome you get up and you know, people start high fiving you and yelling and congratulating you and all kinds of stuff all the way to the stage,” he said. “So, it’s really awesome. I had my wife there with me and I enjoyed the weekend with her. So, it was extra fun and we had a good time and brought home the first-place brisket.”
He said he used the same recipe that won him the American Royal competition last fall.
Robles said when he hits his marks and gets it just right, then he can make some darn-good barbecue.
“I followed up that first-place brisket at the American royal with this another huge one,” he said. “A lot of guys were like ‘man if they didn’t get it right in Kansas City now you backed it up with this one.”
Co-owner of Rio Valley Meat Butcher Shop Yadi Robles said she has received so many comments and congratulations from people after her husband’s accomplishments, which has led to an increase of local customers.
“Just to have that kind of comments from our neighbors, it’s great, you know,” she said. “It’s an honor for them to congratulate you because of where you’re from. And you want to go represent your area well.”
The next cook-off competition Rio Valley Meat Butcher Shop will compete will take place Saturday at the Smokin’ on the Rio State Championship BBQ Cook-Off in Mercedes.
This is Timothy Chapman for Vaquero Radio.
