Dallas, TX

Big Al’s Smokehouse Has Been a Family Affair for 50 Years

Published

2 years ago

June 18, 2024

Big Al’s Smokehouse Has Been a Family Affair for 50 Years

Off Inwood Road, and just to the east of Love Field, lies a Dallas barbecue institution that has been quietly smoking meat for half a century. Big Al’s Smokehouse was opened by Al Plaskoff in 1974. These days, his daughter Lauren Weiner runs the place, along with pitmaster Pedro Garcia, who has been there since 1979 when he was 18 years old, and general manager Jonathan McZeal, who has stuck around for the last 16 years.

“For this year, we’re trying to celebrate Big Al and that we’re open 50 years later,” Weiner tells Eater Dallas. We’re not an investor group, we’re a woman-owned business.” Weiner says there “wasn’t a plan” for the business. She recalls always working on things for Big Al’s, even from afar, when she left Dallas, by building its website or handling its marketing. “Then, when he got sick, I was here all the time, and it evolved from there. Without selling or closing, this was always going to be a family business.”

Being the second-generation owner hasn’t always been easy. “A lot of these people worked for, respected, and knew my dad. He’s Big Al and I’m very small Laurie,” she says with a laugh, referring to her petite stature. “They knew me so well that they knew I was going to do everything I could to make it work.”

In honor of the milestone, Big Al’s has partnered with another local company celebrating its golden jubilee, J&R Manufacturing. The restaurant exclusively uses its Oyler smoker, a commercial-sized smoker that uses hardwood and offset to smoke its meats. Big Al’s has used hickory wood to smoke for five decades.

“My dad wasn’t a quick to change guy,” Weiner says, noting that when the restaurant was newer, her dad and the staff would joke about doing inventory by counting how many buns they sold. The restaurant’s biggest change under Big Al was adding sweet tea in the ‘90s, which Weiner says “was really hard for him.” Eventually the menu grew to be more family-style dishes and catering. “We didn’t switch to [using] the rubs and bark until the early 2010s. We were purists [who] smoked dark meat and trimmed it on the block.”

Under Weiner, the biggest change to the menu is fresh-cut, twice-fried french fries. “I don’t like frozen fries,” she says in complete seriousness. “So we hand cut all our fries.”

Weiner notes the restaurant is doing several events to give back to the community, mentioning Second Chance, a program from the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association that helps reintroduce incarcerated people trained in food service back into the work force. “Honestly, hiring and maintaining my staff is the biggest challenge I have,” Weiner says. “If somebody goes into the system and comes out with some training and a passion for food service, they’re somebody I’d like to meet. We’re very open to people who have made mistakes in the past and now want to do something different with their lives.”

Big Al’s will host deals and celebrations all year, leading up to something “big” that Weiner is planning for September — and that will include adding a Sunday brunch. It has added a Big Al’s margarita and spiked sweet tea to the menu and a happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. daily.

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Dallas, TX

Maxx Crosby-Ravens Trade Dead, Opening Perfect Cowboys Opportunity

Published

6 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Maxx Crosby-Ravens Trade Dead, Opening Perfect Cowboys Opportunity

Dallas Cowboys Nation’s hopes of landing superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby were dashed last weekend when it was announced that he was being traded to the Baltimore Ravens. However, less than 24 hours before the new year, the trade has fallen apart.

On Tuesday night, the Las Vegas Raiders announced that the Ravens have backed out of the trade.

“The Baltimore Ravens have backed out of our trade agreement for Maxx Crosby,” the statement read. “We will have no further comment at this time.”

The news sends a major ripple for the league, with the Crosby sweepstakes once again open. Before his trade to the Ravens, the Cowboys were considered one of the teams closely monitoring the situation and a team that made a legitimate offer for Crosby.

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby leaves the field following a game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium. | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

At this time, there is no word on why the trade between Las Vegas and Baltimore fell through. When the trade was first reported, the Raiders were set to receive a 2026 and 2027 first-round pick from the Ravens.

Now, his future is in limbo. Before he was traded to the Ravens, it was believed that the Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and Los Angeles Rams were the top candidates to land him. In fact, the Cowboys were “considered runner-ups” in the sweepstakes.

Dallas’ Original Trade Offer

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby reacts during the second half at SoFi Stadium. | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Cowboys initially offered the No. 12 overall pick in the 2026 draft, a 2027 second-round pick, and an unnamed veteran player.

“Dallas kept a hard line throughout. The franchise wasn’t willing to part with two first-round picks, hoping its 12th pick in April’s draft, plus a future second-rounder, would be enough to entice Las Vegas. Dallas was also willing to package a veteran player to sweeten the deal, but Vegas wasn’t interested in that. The Raiders prioritized picks,” Fowler wrote.

Last season, Crosby recorded 73 total tackles, 28 tackles for a loss, 20 quarterback hits, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception.

We’ll have to see if Dallas ends up being his new home, now that the team has a second chance to make something special happen, but there will be some serious competition. The 2026 NFL calendar year officially begins on Wednesday, March 11, at 4:00 p.m. ET.

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Dallas, TX

Dallas weather: Severe storms bring hail and tornado threats | See timing

Published

18 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Dallas weather: Severe storms bring hail and tornado threats | See timing

DALLAS – Severe thunderstorms are forecast to return to North Texas late Tuesday, bringing threats of damaging hail, high winds and localized flooding. While the primary concerns are wind and hail, a few tornadoes cannot be ruled out.

Tuesday Forecast

Dallas weather: Mar. 10 morning forecast

We have another chance of severe storms starting Tuesday afternoon. Meteorologist Ali Turiano has your forecast and everything you need to know ahead of the storms.

Scattered showers and storms are expected to develop as a dryline to the west moves into the region. Storm conditions are expected to intensify as the day progresses.

The greatest concerns remain damaging winds and large hail. The leading edge of the storm front will likely be the most intense, with the potential for straight-line winds and brief spin-up tornadoes.

LIVE Radar: Dallas-Fort Worth

Dallas Storms: Timing and Impact

The highest potential for severe weather in the Metroplex is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., though lingering activity could continue until 2 a.m. Wednesday. Residents are advised to seek shelter immediately if a warning is issued for their area.

7-Day Forecast

A final round of storms is expected Wednesday, primarily between noon and 7 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. These storms carry a threat of half-dollar-sized hail and damaging winds.

Behind this system, North Texas will dry out and briefly cool off. Sunny skies return Thursday with a high in the mid-60s. Temperatures will then warm into the upper 70s on Friday before a sunny weekend with highs in the low 80s.

The Source: Information in this article comes from the National Weather Service and FOX 4 forecasters.

WeatherDallasFort WorthSevere Weather

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