Tootsie Tomanetz facts for kids

Tootsie Tomanetz is a famous American barbecue cook. She was born on April 21, 1935. She is known as a "pitmaster" at Snow's BBQ, a very popular barbecue restaurant in Texas. A pitmaster is someone who is an expert at cooking meat slowly over wood fires, often in a special pit.

Early Life and Farm Living

Tootsie Tomanetz grew up on a farm near Lexington, Texas. She was the oldest of three children. Her family grew most of their own food. They also canned food to save it for later. Tootsie remembers that they even made their own clothes. This shows how resourceful her family was.

Becoming a Barbecue Legend

Tootsie Tomanetz is the main pitmaster at Snow's BBQ in Lexington, Texas. In 2008, a magazine called Texas Monthly said Snow's BBQ had the best barbecue in Texas. Tootsie's way of cooking barbecue comes from the Texas Hill Country. This area is famous for its unique barbecue style.

How Tootsie Started Cooking

Tootsie began cooking barbecue in 1966. She started at a place called City Meat Market in Giddings, Texas. They needed help, so she stepped in. She learned many cooking secrets from another cook named Orange Holloway.

Later, she became the pitmaster at a second City Meat Market. This one was in Lexington. Tootsie and her husband eventually bought this market. They sold it in 1996 after her husband became ill.

Working at Snow's BBQ

After selling the market, Tootsie got a job. She worked in the maintenance department for the local school district. In 2003, she started working at Snow's BBQ on Saturdays. She has continued to work there as a pitmaster ever since. People travel from all over to taste her barbecue.

Featured on TV

In 2020, Tootsie Tomanetz was featured on a TV show. It was called Chef's Table: BBQ. This show highlights amazing chefs and their cooking styles. Being on the show helped more people learn about her incredible barbecue skills.

Awards and Recognition

Tootsie Tomanetz has received many honors for her cooking.

• In 2018, she was added to the Barbecue Hall of Fame. This is a special place for people who have made a big impact on barbecue.
• Also in 2018, she was a semifinalist for a James Beard Award. This award is like the "Oscars" for chefs. She was nominated for Best Chef: Southwest.

Tootsie's Family Life

Tootsie Tomanetz married Edward Tomanetz in July 1956. She was 21 years old at the time. Edward worked as a butcher at the City Meat Market in Giddings, Texas. They had three children together. Tootsie's husband passed away in 2015.

Tootsie lives in Giddings, Texas. She still works in the school district's maintenance department. She is also a member of the Lutheran church.