AUSTIN, Texas — The owner of award-winning Austin restaurant, la Barbecue, has died.
LeAnn Mueller was born on Feb. 20, 1972, in Taylor into the Mueller family, which is well known for its barbecue. Her grandfather started Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor, which was later passed down to her father. The restaurant took home a prestigious James Beard Award in 2006.
This inspired Mueller to open her own award-winning restaurant, la Barbecue, with her wife, Ali Clem, in South Austin in 2012.
Before she ran la Barbecue, Mueller spent time in New York where she worked as a photographer. She worked with big-name celebrities, including Jay Z, Willie Nelson and Leon Bridges. Her work was also showcased in several publications, such as Rolling Stone and Texas Monthly.
Mueller later returned to Austin where she met her wife, Clem – a bartender in Downtown Austin at the time and now the co-owner of la Barbecue. Since opening, "barbecue enthusiasts line up around the block to dine at the east side brick-and-mortar" of la Barbecue.
In addition to owning la Barbecue, Mueller continued to work as a photographer and a chef. Outside of working the barbecue pit, she collected art, which she displayed at her homes in East Austin and Downtown Los Angeles.
Friends and family spoke about how Mueller "was incredibly generous, undeniably fiery and deeply funny." They said she would "give you the shirt off her back, and that shirt would likely be a bold print, short-sleeve button down."
Mueller died peacefully, surrounded by her close friends and family on Wednesday, according to her obituary.
Mueller is survived by her wife; their dogs, Mr. Pickles and Bobby Dingle; her nephew, Johnson; and friends and colleagues.
Funeral arrangements are pending. Mueller was 51 years old.