Here's what I'll tell you. These are the best burnt ends that I have ever had. This is where I resist the cheap joke, "just the tip." Dammit!
AND it's really in a gas station.
So if you are looking for a white cloth experience, go to Jack Stack if you want to "impress your date or client." But if you want to be real, check out Joe's. I mean you can get some fuzzy dice or top off your gas tank on the way home.
Even my man Tony Bourdain called Joe's "1 of the 13 Places to Eat Before You Die." Check, oh wait I'm now quite there yet.
Now I did screw up and didn't order the famous "Z-Man" sandwich and got ribs instead. The ribs are ok. This was a monumental mistake. Always go with what got them there, right?
So maybe I go back on next years KC trip! We had a great crew and even picked up a random business traveler. Because nothing brings great people together more than BBQ, well maybe Journey's "Don't Stop Believin," but it's a close second.
I also got to cross a bucket list item off of the list. As a kid, my second favorite team was the KC Royals. I loved George Brett and Dan Quisenberry, but I was always enamored by their stadium. And this year we made the pilgrimage!
Warning: The following may not be suitable for children under the age of 13 or those who think Colonel Kurtz is a fair representation of Vietnam
The Westside of Atlanta is exploding with great cuisine. Guy Wong's Le Fatis the perfect addition to the hot restaurant scene in my hood. We were lacking some great and unique Asian Cuisine and Le Fat did not disappoint.
Vietnamese food is, by far, the most underrated of Asian foods. And you have probably had it, but didn't even know it. My lovely wife, who is not an adventurous eater, was in France and thought she was having the best Chinese meal of her life only to find out it was Vietnamese. Sometimes greatness is truly discovered accidentally.
Vietnamese do appetizers very well and Le Fat had them in spades.
The Salt and Pepper Calamari was delicious. It was lightly fried and their mix of spices was perfect.
Soft Shell Crab with Bacon on a Sweet Bun? Yes, Yes and Yes. Three of my favorite things that I never thought about putting together! It's like Maryland meets Redneck in Chinatown. I'm not sure if that made any sense, but stay with me.
The Goi Cuon Summer Roll's were good. It's tough to screw these up. And the peanut sauce was good as well.
The Cha Gio, Crispy Spring Roll's were probably the MVP's of the app's. I just had these a few weeks ago at the world famous Vietnamese Restaurant, The Slanted Door in San Francisco and these were every bite as good (play on words intentional). And the sauce is good enough to drink. Seriously.
The overall MVP of the night was the Bo Luc Lac, the "Shaking Beef." Outside of it being low hanging fruit for sophomoric jokes (guilty), it was absolutely delicious. I could eat this dish again and again. It's so good, it's going to make it hard for me to return and order anything else.
The Dry Rub 4 gives Le Fat the highest of marks. It was a wonderful meal with OUTSTANDING service and it is a place I will definitely return too. The only drawback was the acoustics. It was hard to carry on a conversation at times because of the noise. But don't let that stop you! And of course we enjoyed our Falcor Wine. Still waiting for my royalties for drinking their wine at every meal.
Pound for Pound, I would put Le Fat in the company of the aforementioned Slanted Door. I think they need a broiled whole fish dish, but I'm sure that will follow eventually. They had a fried one that was good, but the branzino is much better naked.
If you are ever in Napa, do a Falcor lunch as my wife and I did last month. The food and service is outstanding and the wine and company are even better.
Today's Footnote:
If Vietnamese Food is the underrated Asian Food. New Edition has to be the most underrated group in Pop Music/ R&B, right?
Apparently they built their own concert apparatuses
They were thought of as a Poor Mans Jackson 5 at the time. But they held there own and of course after their impending break up their tentacles reached long and far.
Timing wise they were just on the tail end of the "Soul Glow" hair era
Bobby Brown and Bell Biv Devoe became megastars and Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant more than held their own in their solo careers. Okay, maybe megastar is reaching just a tad, but Bobby did marry Whitney........
Name another R&B band that had 4 successful solo acts? Definitely not the Jackson 5 (sorry Jermaine).
The only one I can think of is in Rock and that is the Eagles. And that takes it to a whole other level.
This thought came to me because I was corresponding with a high school friend who was just diagnosed with Breast Cancer and it hit me harder than I thought it would. And every time I hear BBD I think of her. So hug your loved ones a little closer tonight. Life is all to short.
Warning: The following may be inappropriate for children under the age of 13 and White People
Is there anything whiter than the cupcake?
This morning I drove by West Egg and The Flying Biscuit and the lines were both at least an hour long. And THEY WERE ALL Caucasian, with maybe a sprinkling of Asian.
The obvious question is, what am I missing? I like the West Egg and Flying Biscuit, and I bet Murphy's, J Christophers and Babettes all had similar scenes. The food is good, but it's not like it's THAT incredible.
I wouldn't wait in line that long for Bacchanalia at half price! The only similar phenomenon is Holeman and Finch and their once great burger (it's lost both it's luster and quality). And come to think of it, there are only white people at Holeman and Finch too!?!?!
After passing both of those absurd lines, I went to the Krog Street Market and had some delicious Gu's Dumplings in front of me in less than 15 minutes! A much superior product for a marginally less wait.
I mean what in the name of Huey Lewis, Wes Anderson, Toyota Prius and Microbrews does this mean?
"Do you believe in love?"
Even the worst restaurant in the world, The Cheesecake Factory, get's an insane wait for brunch!
Also, why do White People pick strawberries? Just buy them at the frickin' store.
This isn't digging for the Lost Ark people!
I just don't get it. Maybe someone could explain all of this to me.
Warning: The following may be inappropriate for children under the age of 13 and those who think this is a Boston based seafood restaurant
Illegal Food was put on the map by getting 2014's Best Hamburger by a little known publication named Zagat. They were doing their craft in East Atlanta in a bar called Joystick before going out on their own.
They moved to the space directly behind Dark Horse in the Highlands which has historically been a tough location. Pulling in on a Thursday, I expected it to be packed, but I somehow got parking right behind the restaurant at 815p. This never would have happened when I lived down here in the late 90's to early 2000's.
I loved living down here, but my liver probably is pretty happy that I don't anymore. Though a prophet named Eddie Money once said "I want to go back and do it all over, but I can't go back I know."
Eddie was so much more than a pretty face with great hair.............right?
So we come to a world class burger joint and naturally we order.......Brussel Sprouts. I mean, why not? The valet actually sold me on these. As you can tell I am easily persuaded.
My friend Robbie and I ordered these while waiting for El Jeffe. And we both agreed these may be the best that I've ever had. Better than Valenza's. Jeff was lucky there was some left when he arrived!
Then came the burgers, we ordered 3. "The Hank" (which put them on the map) and is the greatest fictional sidekick of all time (see above), "The Nasty Nate" and then "The Fungus Among Us."
Unanimously (and somewhat shocking) was "The Fungus Among Us." This is Brasstown Dry Aged Grass Feed Beef with Wilde Mushrooms, Swiss Cheese, Rocket (?) and Red Onion. 2nd we liked "The Nasty Nate"with Heirloom Chili Rub, Raw Milk Bleu Cheese, Bourbon Bacon Jam (this was ridiculous) and red onion.
The Fungus would be a SERIOUS contender for best burger, which may or may not happen soon. The signature burger was good, but no our favorite. I think this is a good thing, because their offerings have obviously grown.
The Okonamiyaki Style fries were a nice accompaniment. Though, order an extra side of their Chili Sauce, which is delicious.
Overall, it was a really good dining experience. It wasn't very crowded on a nice Thursday night, which is a little concerning, The product delivers as advertised and they did a great job with the physical space. As the Holeman and Finch Burger has gone downhill and too mainstream, I truly hope these guys can fill that space. I think they have the momentum and product to do it.
So if you want a burger and some great QUALITY choices, this is your spot. I really wish they were open for a nice hangover lunch. I can't think of a better burger to get over a night of binge drinking.
Today's Sidenote: As I drove home, I passed "Murder Kroger." There is not a more unfortunate nickname in Atlanta, yet it's still spot on.
I can't believe I missed out on this tshirt
I love that they tried to change the nickname to "Beltline Kroger." Yea, that would be like trying to give Rerun and new nickname. Not happening and it never will. Of course the recurring murders on the premises do not help either. Murder Kroger even has it's on FB page!!!
Warning: The following may inappropriate to children under 13 and those who enjoy their ribs smoked
Smokebelly has a lot going for it. Perfect location, the proprietors of two very quality spots in The Big Ketch and Tin Lizzy's and the venue is aesthetically perfect. Tavern 99, the previous tenant had a great venue and Smokebelly improved on it.
So when I had an extremely mediocre meal I was left both hurt and confused (okay, maybe just more confused). This place should have the pedigree to do well right?
Our great server (and he really did a good job) recommended the Disco Q Fries as a great appetizer. When it came out, we were all disappointed. Maybe The Tominator and The Lopez at Fox Bros set the bar so high that a great BBQ app is now out of reach, but this couldn't even touch their ankles.
Ours didn't look this good
We then tried the Ribs (no smoky taste), Brisket (dry), Pulled Pork (ok) and the Sausage (this was really good).
Their array of sauces was extensive and they had something for everyone. I preferred the savory, but the Carolina Gold was good as well.
Could it have just been a bad day? Highly unlikely. The meats were just not cooked well. And if I were to guess, the ribs were partially cooked in water.
If you are in Buckhead, I would hit the Greater Good on Roswell Road. And if geography is not an issue, Fox Bros and Community Q are the other great choices. And if you want unique, give a Heirloom and their brisket with Korean BBQ sauce a try.
BBQ is a hard genre to be consistent with. I just don't think they have a handle on this yet. Hopefully they get there. Everything else is in place to make this successful. If I hear that they turn it around, I will be there.
This got me thinking. Who are the all time "They aren't what we think they are" All Stars?
Obviously, Milli Vanilli.
Jennifer Love Hewitt. Wasn't she going to be the biggest star at one time? Still scratching my head.
In Sports it has to be Bosworth, right?
Though this guy is knocking on Bosworth's door (yes, let the hate mail begin!)
Though the All Time "He is not who we thought he was" has to be The Juice, right? How do you go from America's Pitchman to America's enemy? Well, I guess you start by killing your wife and her boyfriend and getting away with it. Ladies and Gents, your greatest fraud of our generation.
Warning: The following may be inappropriate for children under the age of 13 and those who didn't try the meatloaf at John Harvards in the old Buckhead District
The Shake Shack anchors what is the new Buckhead. What is the new Buckhead you ask? It's like taking the old Buckhead and constructing the complete oppostie. As the old Buckhead was full of dive bars and great restaurants, the new Buckhead is full of stores I will never set foot in and couldn't even tell you what they are.
Brunello Cucinelli isn't a wine bar, Jimmy Choo's apparently is not a noodle house and Hermes is not a disease that goes away with antibiotics. But Shake Shack is a keeper.
I had the infamous Smoke Shack Burger. It's topped with Applewood baker and the most ingenious topping of all, TOPPED CHERRY PEPPER. Anyone who know Gino's or Pat's in Philly knows what this is. It is the secret weapon for the countries best cheese steaks. How has nobody put this on a burger before? Pure genius.
As you can see, the imperfect form is one of the unique aspects. It's cooked to order and takes 7-10 minutes to pop up. Oh and there can be a line and it has the reputation to be a long one.
Now as good as the burger is, it's not Holeman and Finch (though the bread comes from them), Boccado or Miller Unions. The quality of meat doesn't compare. But for $5-10, you can't expect that either. It's a great affordable burger that is in the class of Grindhouse Burgers or the Vortex. Only a slight margin better. The options are more numerous at both establishments, but I challenge you to find a better burger on their menu than the Smoke Shake.
The crinkle fries are delicious as well.
Cripy on the outside, moist on the inside
The cheese on the fries was okay. I will go sans cheese on the next go round.
Overall, I was very happy with my burger. The aesthetics of the restaurant were extremely impressive. In fact, the architecture of the New Buckhead is one of the best urban designs I have laid my eyes on in Atlanta. Anchored by what is going to be a five story Restoration Hardware, I would put the architecture up against any city district in the country. It's almost perfection. Now if they could only get a retailer I would actually shop at.
So for my next hangover, you will find me sitting in line at 11:30 eagerly anticipating the Smoke Shack.
Today's Footnote:
Seeing the new Buckhead unlocked my memory bank with reflections of the old Buckhead. It was known for its own unique culinary traditions. The burger at the Racoon Lodge was a staple of my post drinking cure. Their Thursday Turkey and Gravy special was one of a kind and often challenged my ability to stay awake at work that afternoon.
The watering holes were almost too numerous to name. CJ's Landing, M&A, Steamhouse, Rose n' Crown (were we saw some really crazy stuff), Tin Roof, Havana Club, Dixie Tavern, Tongue and Groove, the Living Room and Kevin Cassidy's favorite, Uranus. All the above provided much color to my mid twenties canvas.
The Steamhouse and John Havards had the best food in the district. And the Atlanta Beer Garden had the worst beer ever, as well as the most ironic name. Two sips from their microbrew gave you a hangover in 2 hours. You could find a better watering hole in Lebanon. In fact, two of their "homemade" beers made your head hurt and your ears ring like you were witnessing "The Running of the Tanks" in downtown Beirut.
So thank you Ray Lewis for January 30th, 2000, "The Day Buckhead Died." So instead of the half naked coed swinging in Mako's, we are staring at $500 high heeled shoes in the same space. I guess this is called progress.
Warning: The following may be inappropriate for children under the age of 13 and those who think the Parthenon is in Athens, GA
5&10 in my mind was kind of a mythic restaurant since I haven't been there and I do spend a decent amount of time in Athens. Here is what I knew: 5&10 is Hugh Acheson's signature restaurant. Somehow I have frequented and reviewed The National, Empire State South and Cinco y Diez. This leads to one obvious question. What is wrong with me? How did I skirt around this place for so long?
What is the equivalent of this omission? Frequenting San Antonio and pretending the Alamo doesn't exist? Visiting Peru without seeing Machu Picchu? At the end of the day, I realize I'm just embarrassing myself. There is no good answer.
I will say this Hugh Acheson has earned every accolade and deserves every morsel of success he and his restaurants have enjoyed. And this new-ish location is a perfect backdrop for his signature establishment.
For appetizers, we had the Pimento Cheese made with Bacon Marmalade which is delicious. We combo'd that with their signature Boiled Peanut Hummus which was outstanding.
Then my friend Parker suggested, no insisted, we have the Roasted Octopus made with sweet peppers, fairytale eggplant, pickled watermelon rind, mushroom broth and lamb’s quarter.
My favorite local appetizer
Outside of Thomas Keller's "Oysters and Pearls" at The French Laundry in Napa Valley, I don't recall having a better appetizer. I mean EVER. I cannot think of a higher praise, nor a better recommendation. If you aren't the type to try octopus? Then I really pity you. Like Mr T pity.
Then the waiter highly recommended the "Sock Eye Salmon" with pistachios, charred peppers, petite potatoes, grilled scallion, yogurt and oregano. Yet again, I was blown away with the dish. I have never had salmon prepared and as tasty as this dish. Again, I mean EVER.
Top 5 All Time Entree
To call the 5&10 meal a success would be a monumental understatement. I had two dishes that absolutely blew me away. I'll be in Athens a few times in the next year. Take a wild guess where I'll be dining.
I don't have enough superlatives to describe my experience. Just go.
Our own "A" Team
This dinner was to celebrate the endowment of two UGA/ Grady Scholarships that ABAC, the Atlanta Broadcast Advertising Club has executed during the last two years. It was also an extension of the countries largest Advertising Mentorship Program that we administer as well. It's been quite a journey with the folks at UGA the last few years and, outside of having my children, has been extremely fulfilling.
