Salt Lick Bar-B-Que Mourns Loss of Co-Founder

The Salt Lick Bar-B-Que is a celebrated restaurant founded in Driftwood which is so popular, one doesn’t have to be from the state of Texas to have heard about it. This week, however, this respected piece of barbecue folklore suffered a great loss, as they mourned the passing of its pioneering female co-founder. Texas Monthly sadly reported that Hisako Tsuchiyama Roberts, founder of The Salt Lick with her husband Thurman, passed away on Thursday, January 18, at the age of 104. This Hawaiian native brought with her to Texas some impeccable cooking roots that have made their mark in the industry.

Although her husband passed away more than 30 years ago, she continued to work for the restaurant until the late ‘80s, when their son took over the operation. More than just a popular eatery, Southern Living had previously written on the entity, saying “People don’t just drive to The Salt Lick; they go there on pilgrimages for dinner with friends, for family reunions, and for weddings, held creekside and catered with ‘cue.” At a time when few could turn to the internet to celebrate such places, word-of-mouth sent many a Texan as well as state visitors to the infamous Driftwood den of BBQ glory for the chance to savor some of their mouthwatering meals.

Photo: Instagram/saltlickbbq

Opened in 1967, the Salt Lick was constructed on the ranch where Thurman Roberts was born, and its strong sense of family is what’s believed to have made it the great barbecue spot that it was – that and Hisako’s special touch. The pair met while Roberts was stationed in Hawaii with the U.S. Navy during World War II. After they married, they relocated to Driftwood. Austin360 had noted that Hisako held a masters degree in psychology from the University of California and “…brought her flavors of her own culture to the smoked meat specialists.” She appeared on a number of television features that highlighted the Salt Lick, the most notable of which is believed to be a 1986 episode of Great Chefs of the West with Salt Lick chef Tim Adler. Following retirement, Hisako continued to frequent the restaurant and regulars have identified seeing her at Table 14, eating peaches with vanilla ice cream.