by Steven Doyle photos by Bryan Coonrod
The owners of Pecan Lodge, Justin and Diane Fourton, have been blessed. In 2010 they decided to leave their corporate jobs to take on their first restaurant and took up digs in Shed #2 at the Dallas Farmers Market. The plan was to recreate the same solid BBQ that Justin grew up on in Abilene, and mix in some terrific sides and fried chicken straight from Diane’s family table. It was slow going at first even though Justin was blazing a trail and highhandedly resurrected the Dallas BBQ scene. The love and expertise in which Justin throws down his succulent brisket, meaty ribs, and heavily sought after burnt ends is legend unto itself.
It probably didn’t seem like an over night success for the Fourton’s. In the beginning the foot traffic was not the same as it is today at the downtown farmers market. That all came after a few key television appearances, specifically on the Food Network’s Guy Fieri circus, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. Although Fieri is abrasive, his audience is loyal and soon queued up around the building for a taste of what the Fourton’s knew to be the best BBQ around. And it is. Continue reading
