Tastes of Texas

Which has the best Texas barbecue - Bubba's in Shanghai or the iconic Tim's at Beijing Silk Market? True-blue Texan Mike Peters tells you which is the real deal, with a little help from Bridget O'Donnell who travels to Shanghai to suss out the competition.

The smoky aura of a mesquite wood grill means barbecue in Texas, a US state that brags its 'cue is the very best. While cookouts are a popular summer pastime worldwide, Texas in July and August can be hotter'n hell (or even Beijing). That means autumn days are ideal for getting out the grill for a cookout in the Lone Star State, and it's a fine time to chow down on smoky brisket and jalapeno cornbread in China, too.

Because Chinese anti-pollution laws require restaurants to filter kitchen smoke through water and vent it through the roof, diners won't smell their dinner cooking from two blocks away like they might in Texas barbecue capitals such as Luling or Lockhart. Tim's Texas Bar-B-Q in Beijing and Bubba's in Shanghai are longtime favorites of expats, and fans of each sometimes argue about which is more authentic.