Hill Country Barbecue Market & Hill Country Chicken Open In Downtown Brooklyn

Award-winning Hill Country Hospitality Group Expands to Brooklyn With Adjacent Restaurants in Historic Former Courthouse Building

NEW YORK CITY, January 15, 2014 - Marc Glosserman, founder/CEO of Hill Country Hospitality, whose roots in Texas Hill Country date back four generations, is pleased to announce the opening of Hill Country Barbecue Market and Hill Country Chicken in Downtown Brooklyn. Located in the historic former Courthouse at 345 Adams Street, the building is divided into two separate restaurants: Hill Country Chicken and Hill Country Barbecue Market, a bi-level space featuring Hill Country Live on the Club level.

Hill Country Barbecue Market Brooklyn and Hill Country Chicken Brooklyn are sister restaurants to the flagship Manhattan locations at 30 West 26th Street (Barbecue Market) and 1123 Broadway (Chicken), respectively; as well as Hill Country Barbecue Market at 410 Seventh Street, NW, in Washington, D.C.

"We are thrilled to open Hill Country Barbecue Market, Hill Country Chicken and Hill Country Live in Downtown Brooklyn, and proud to be part of this dynamic borough's business and residential communities," says Marc Glosserman, founder/CEO of Hill Country Hospitality. "It has been exciting to watch the emerging dining scene in many Brooklyn neighborhoods over the past several years, and we look forward to contributing to the growth of downtown." Glosserman adds, "We are also delighted to expand Brooklyn's thriving roots music scene with the introduction of Hill Country Live, a new state-of-the-art performance venue presenting live music five nights a week."

Hill Country Barbecue Market Brooklyn
Honoring the barbecue and live music capital of Texas, and inspired by the grand old meat-markets-turned-barbecue-joints of Central Texas, Hill Country Barbecue Market takes its cue from legendary Lockhart, Texas barbecue establishment Kreuz Market and its distinctive, dry-rub style. Under the direction of executive chef Elizabeth Karmel, the menu features Hill Country's Brisket (available moist or lean), Kreuz Market Sausage (Regular and Jalapeño Cheese), Boneless Prime Rib, Beer Can Game Hen and other meats, which are smoked low and slow over Texas post oak - a Central Texas hard wood that imparts a "rich, slightly sweet smoke flavor," as Glosserman puts it - shipped directly from the Lone Star State. Hill Country's barbecue is served counter-style on butcher paper, weighed on a scale by the pound, with traditional trimmings of white bread, crackers, onions, and pickles.

Brooklyn-specific menu specials include a Whole-Hog Sunday Supper, a smoked local whole hog served family-style with choice of two sides, cornbread and dessert; Monday night's Texas Trinity, a sampler of brisket, pork rib and house-made HC Hot Link sausage with choice of two sides, cornbread and dessert; The Butcher's Pick, a daily lunch special featuring a choice of meats (1/4 chicken, 2 pork ribs or 1/3-pound lean brisket) with a choice of side and cornbread; and the Mason Blackout, a nod to the beloved Brooklyn Blackout Cake, layering chocolate pudding, chocolate cake, and dark chocolate ganache glaze in a Mason jar.

Hill Country Barbecue Market proudly serves Shiner Beer on tap, along with red and white wine on tap and an extensive menu of bourbon, whiskey, tequila and hand-crafted cocktails. Specialty cocktails unique to the Brooklyn location include The Brownstone (77 Rye Whiskey, homemade cranberry orange bitters, nutmeg and clove) and State Street (Glorious Gin, oil-cured olives and fresh rosemary). Bottled and canned craft and local New York State beers round out the menu.

The Meal Ticket, which each guest receives upon entering the restaurant, is central to the Hill Country Barbecue Market experience and serves as the menu. Guests line up in the Market to order meats, sides, sweets, and drinks. Servers mark all orders on the Meal Ticket, and guests pay the server or cashier upon finishing. Hill Country Barbecue Market Brooklyn seats 250, with 120 seats in the Market and 130 in the Club Level, home to Hill Country Live.

Designed by Garrett Singer Architecture + Design, which also designed the Manhattan and Washington, D.C. locations, Hill Country Barbecue Market draws inspiration from the barbecue markets of Central Texas, housed in a dramatic historic Downtown Brooklyn building, with 25-foot high ceilings. Using repurposed materials, Singer transformed the 250-seat former Courthouse into a bi-level homage to Texas Hill Country's butcher shops, smoking rooms and meat-markets-turned-barbecue-joints. To create an authentic feel, Singer exposed original brick walls and large steel cased windows during remodeling, as well as included a replica cast iron stairwell and reclaimed cast iron railings. The walls are clad in maple and treated to look like those of an original smokehouse, with a smoky charred amber gradient going up the walls. The upstairs bar features a chevron pattern of reclaimed wood as well as distressed vintage wallpaper capturing the Southern charm central to the Hill Country experience. The restaurant also has a gallery of framed images from iconic Texas photographer Wyatt McSpadden lining the walls, showcasing the Texas barbecue culture, local personalities, and classic Americana that capture the true Southern soul of Hill Country Barbecue Market.

Hill Country Live
Featuring roots, Americana, and alt-country concerts inspired by the Austin music scene, Hill Country Live offers live music five nights a week presented in a state-of-the-art performance venue. Curated by music business veteran Jessie Scott, Hill Country Live has established itself as the home for Americana music in NYC and D.C., hosting performances by legends such as Billy Joe Shaver, Rosanne Cash, Norah Jones, Dale Watson, Asleep at the Wheel, Shooter Jennings, and live music events in partnership with The Americana Music Association, SXSW, WFUV, NASH-FM, WHN and New Orleans' Export NOLA. Hill Country Live often features Brooklyn-based bands, and will offer shows Tuesday - Thursday, 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday nights from 9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Wednesday night Live Band Karaoke will start in February. For more information, please visitwww.HillCountryLive.com.

Hill Country Chicken Brooklyn
Like its barbecue cousin, Hill Country Chicken honors the culinary traditions of Central Texas and is inspired by founder Marc Glosserman's childhood memories and passion for the home cooking of his mother and grandmothers. This nostalgia is reflected in the 39-seat restaurant's stylized décor, gracious hospitality, friendly counter-style service and executive chef Elizabeth Karmel's cuisine.

Hill Country Chicken is a fresh version of the classic American fried chicken joint, specializing in fried chicken, fresh-cut fries and homemade pies. Hill Country Chicken uses premium, all-natural birds in two styles: Southern-fried Classic seasoned with Hill Country's signature chicken shake, or Mama Els', skinless with a cracker crust. Hill Country Chicken can be ordered by the piece or in salads or sandwiches like the Clubwich (boneless Mama Els' breast, applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and Hill Country house sauce) or the Chickwich (boneless Mama Els' breast, sour pickle, and toasted bun).

Made-from-scratch sides include Roasted Corn Salad, Pimento Mac & Cheese, Buttermilk Biscuits, Fire'n'Ice Pickles, Cheesy Fried Mashed Potatoes and Creamy Coleslaw. Guests can Texas-Size an order by adding Fresh-Cut Fries or Creamy Coleslaw, a Buttermilk Biscuit and a fountain drink to any two pieces of chicken or a sandwich. The beverage menu features Boylan's draft sodas, fresh-brewed iced tea, custom Hill Country Chicken coffee from Brooklyn's Stone Street roasters, premium draft beer, and splits of red and white wine.

Garrett Singer Architecture + Design styled Hill Country Chicken Brooklyn after stylish kitchens from the 1940's and 1950's. The walls are lined with vintage-style patterned wallpaper and sheet wood paneling. The space features custom-painted retro blue cabinets, Atomic Sputnik pedants and brown and blue plaid floors made from terrazzo tiles. The cabinets and light fixtures were painted at an auto body shop to match the retro blue terrazzo tiles and wallpaper identically. The furniture design is also inspired by retro kitchen dinettes, with domestic inspiration from the era, including Danish drop-down pendants.

Hill Country Pie Kitchen pies are a cornerstone of the Hill Country Chicken menu. Pie Cups, Hill Country's signature 3-inch pies, slices and whole, 9- and 11-inch pies are made-from-scratch daily using the highest quality ingredients. Hill Country Pie Kitchen offerings include classic and seasonal varieties, such as Apple Streusel, Double Cherry, Banana Cream, Salted Margarita, a chocolate lover's Texas Billionaire, Lemon Meringue and Cowboy, described by Karmel as "candy bar in a cup." Pie Shakes, another Hill Country signature, blend Texas Vanilla Blue Bell Ice Cream with the pie cup of the day.

Hill Country Barbecue Market Brooklyn, located at 345 Adams St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 (entrance on Willoughby Plaza), is open daily at 11:30 a.m., closing Sunday and Monday at 11:00 p.m., Tuesday - Thursday at 12:00 a.m., and Friday and Saturday at 1:00 a.m. For more information about Hill Country Barbecue Market, please call 718-885-4608 or visit www.hillcountrybk.com.

Hill Country Chicken Brooklyn is located adjacent at 345 Adams St., with the entrance on Adams, and is open 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. daily. For more information about Hill Country Chicken, please call 718-885-4609 or visit www.hillcountrychicken.com.