Austin’s Got Another Hot New BBQ Joint. This One’s Taking Inspiration From Louisiana

Posted on 6/21/25 at 2:47 pm

Posted by Will Cover

Davidson, NC

Member since Mar 2007

40111 posts

Posted on 6/21/25 at 2:47 pm

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Holden Fulco pulls in his bayou roots for the menu at his truck, Parish Barbecue. The result is a full-on flavor explosion.

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A tray from Parish Barbecue, in Austin.

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When Fulco was attending Louisiana Tech, in northern Louisiana, his parents hoped he would stick with his prelaw path. He switched majors several times, even dabbling in sportswriting, but eventually got a business degree. Instead of seeking internships after college, he went to Houston to work at Pinkerton’s Barbecue. “Sometimes life moves you in a different direction,” he said. Next, Fulco relocated to Austin and worked for Franklin Barbecue for six months. “The thing I took most from that experience is how much I didn’t know,” he said. “I was green.”

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In 2020, three weeks before the COVID-19 shutdowns, Fulco began a stint at InterStellar BBQ, where he gained valuable experience toward his goal of opening his own joint. “This is what I’m supposed to do,” Fulco said of his current venture, and InterStellar’s owner, John Bates, supported him in his entrepreneurial efforts. Fulco remained part of the InterStellar staff even as he tested out his concept with pop-ups.

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A smoked duck sandwich and a smoked ham sandwich.

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The sides that were available were stunners. Fulco boils red potatoes in crawfish seasoning for an extra kick of spice, and he uses Creole mustard in the potato salad dressing. “Growing up in my family, there was always olives in our potato salad,” he said, so he includes them here too for an acidic tang. On the richer side, go for the cornbread dressing studded with crawfish tails and green onion. The mac and cheese topped with crushed Zapp’s chips (Voodoo flavor) stays creamy because Fulco uses evaporated milk and sodium citrate for the cheese sauce. The roux, he said, continues to thicken the sauce as it sits in the warmer.

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“I’m going to do what I know and what I’m passionate about,” Fulco said when I asked what to expect from Parish Barbecue in the future. The smoked meats are already impressive, and the Louisiana flavor makes this joint an even more intriguing addition to East Austin’s many barbecue options.

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