Meet Tootsie Tomanetz, the Queen of Texas BBQ

If you are a fan of barbecue, you have probably heard of Snow's BBQ, the legendary joint in Lexington, Texas, that has been named the best barbecue place in Texas by Texas Monthly magazine. But do you know the story behind the pitmaster who makes the magic happen every Saturday morning? Her name is Norma Frances "Tootsie" Tomanetz, and she is often referred to as the "Queen of Texas BBQ."

Tootsie Tomanetz was born on April 21, 1935, in Lexington, Texas, where she grew up on a farm. She married Edward "White" Tomanetz in July 1956, and they had three children, Patricia, Dale, and Hershey. In 1966, at the age of 31, she joined White at City Meat Market in Giddings to help out. She started managing the pit there and ran the place for many years. She and her husband eventually bought the City Meat Market, which she managed six days a week. In 1996, when White suffered a stroke, she was forced to sell the Market and for several years thereafter focused on caring for her husband until he recovered enough to regain some independence. White died in 2015, and Hershey died of a brain tumor the next year.

She joined the maintenance department at the high school in 1998, and then went to work with Kerry Bexley and helped him to open Snow's BBQ on March 2, 2003. In 2023, at the age of 88, she is still head chef at Snow's, waking up at 1 am on Saturday mornings to get ready for the Saturday rush. She continues to use old BBQ techniques including cooking meat above a bed of hot coals and using a mop sauce.

Tootsie Tomanetz is not only a master of barbecue, but also a source of inspiration and admiration for many people. She is featured in the first episode of the seventh season of Chef's Table, titled Chef's Table: BBQ, which aired on September 2, 2020. In the episode, she shares her life story, her passion for barbecue, and her humble attitude. She says, "I don't consider myself a chef. I'm just a hard-working old lady that loves to barbecue."

Tootsie Tomanetz has been recognized as one of the most influential women in barbecue by various publications and organizations. She has also received numerous awards and honors, such as the Texas Medal of Arts Award in 2019, the James Beard Foundation's America's Classic Award in 2017, and the Texas Monthly BBQ Hall of Fame in 2014.

If you want to taste Tootsie Tomanetz's barbecue, you have to make a trip to Lexington, Texas, and join the long line of customers that starts forming before dawn every Saturday. Snow's BBQ is open only on Saturday, from 8 am until sold out, which usually happens before noon. You can order online or buy gift cards from their website, but nothing beats the experience of eating their brisket, pork ribs, pork steak, chicken, and sausage in person. You can also check out their photos and reviews on Tripadvisor to see what people are saying about their barbecue.

Tootsie Tomanetz is a living legend in the world of barbecue, and a role model for anyone who loves to cook and serve others. She is the Queen of Texas BBQ, and she deserves all the praise and respect that she gets. As she says, "I'm just doing what I love to do, and I'm glad that people enjoy it."