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October 27-28, 2023
Southern Foodways Symposium ⟶
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October 27-28, 2023
Southern Foodways Symposium ⟶

Oral Histories

The SFA oral history program documents life stories from the American South. Collecting these stories, we honor the people whose labor defines the region. If you would like to contribute to SFA’s oral history collections, please send your ideas for oral history along with your CV or Resume and a portfolio of prior oral history work to info@southernfoodways.org.

< Back to Oral History project: Texas BBQ

ORAL HISTORY

Art Blondin

Art Blondin moved to Austin in 1980 and discovered the wonders of Texas barbecue while he drove around central Texas looking for gigs for his country band.  He started out running his restaurant business from a rented bar kitchen, and then moved his operations to a tiny former railroad caboose on West 5th Street. He eventually outgrew the caboose and moved to his current location on South Lamar Street, where he opened Artz Rib House. People visit Artz Rib House both for ribs and the live music from various bands every night of the week.

Sadly, Art Blondin passed away on August 30, 2014. He was 60 years old.

Date of interview:
2007-09-05 00:00

Interviewer:
Lisa Powell

Photographer:
Lisa Powell

Download Transcript

“

"It takes so long to cook barbecue that you have to have something to do while it’s smoking, so you pick some music." - Art Blondin

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