Breakfast is for Champions

Warning:  the following may not be suitable for children under the age of 13 or people that never knew Bruce Jenner was more than Kim Kardashians father

Breakfast may be the Gene Hackman of meals.  Gene Hackman played so many great parts from “Popeye Doyle” in The French Connection to “Captain Frank Ramsey” in Crimson Tide yet he doesn’t get mentioned along with the all time greats.  It’s a tremendous oversight, the man played LEX LUTHOR (not the wrestler) for god’s sake!

Breakfast is the same as Mr Hackman.  When idiots like myself do these food blogs breakfast is the odd man out.

Atlanta Top 4 Breakfast Rankings:

1.       The Ritz Carlton Buckhead.  The Buffet is the Edward Norton of buffets, it has EVERYTHING.  Great Omelet Station, all the breads, fruit and fixin’s you need (trying to be southern there, sorry).  But  I was there this week and one of my dear companions ordered a side of bacon and they basically backed the pig up to the table.  THAT is special

2.       J Christophers on Sunday because they have the Shrimp and Grits, not quite Hominy Grill in Charleston, but very good.  The Blueberry Crunchcakes are also to die for as well.

3.       West Egg- LOVE the Salmon Benedict, the Pimento Cheese and Bacon Omelet and the Banana Bread French Toast is delicious too.

4.       Goldbergs- Lox and Bagels, w/ Olive Cream Cheese.  The ONLY place I have found south of the Mason Dixon line with Olive Cream Cheese.  If you know of another, PLEASE let me know.

BUT there is one breakfast sandwich that is the greatest thing to get you going since this movie scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZRzeUrVy1o&feature=related

The Taylor Ham Egg and Cheese Sandwich at the Jack’s New Yorker Deli (in both Smyrna and Buckhead).  It really is “Magic in a Kaiser Roll.”  If you don’t know, now you know.

It’s truly the most underrated breakfast dish in Atlanta.  Or the “Gaslight Anthem” of breakfast sandwiches, unbelievable, but not yet truly discovered.  So grab one this weekend and then check out the Gaslight Anthem, you can thank me later.



Enat Ethiopia Cafe

Warning:  The following material may be inappropriate for children under 13 and people that haven't smoked a Hookah Pipe

So you walk into a bar that’s so dark you can’t see 5 feet in front of you and the only clientele are Ethiopian Cab Drivers smoking Hookah like the worlds ending tomorrow.  What would you do?

Naturally we go into the back and enjoy an unbelievable meal even though appearances tell me we just walked into an Episode of Miami Vice circa 1986.  Only without Calderon (if you are under 35, my apologies).  If you've never seen Miami Vice, I don't know who you are.

We started out with “Kik Alicha” that I can only describe as stuffing without the breading that makes you want to immediately loosen your belt.

Then came the main dish.  I’m not a big cabbage guy, but this was the best, melt in your damn mouth cabbage I had ever had in my life.  The chicken dish was called “Doro Wott,” which was similar to Tandori Chicken but with eggs (you have to see it to believe it).

The beef dishes “Kitfo,” gournd steak with herb butter sauce and something called mitmita was delicious and packed a punch.  The “Lega Tibs” was delicious as well.

If you haven’t had Ethiopian cuisine, I HIGHLY recommend Enat.  www.enatethiopiacafe.com

And the company was great.  We celebrated our friends Leslie’s and Beth’s Birthdays.  Both just turned 30- ish.  Along with our friend Jeff, we are becoming the Dry Rub Quartet.  Though our frequenting of Cheshire Bridge establishments, that could be slightly inappropriate.  But who cares!



Bonus Coverage:  Today I had lunch at Nan, the best Thai in Atlanta.  The app tree is incredible and the Sea Bass or whole Red Snapper are must haves.  But today, we had the Green Tea Crème Brule.  The taste explosion and presentation were outstanding. 

Thanks for enjoying The Rub and sorry for the hiatus.  I have some good ones in the pipeline!