Eating Out:ATL

Trips to the Dirty South automatically trigger the BBQ aficionado in me. But, before diving into some of the great BBQ spots and common joints that the ATL has to offer, I want to start our trip to the home of the Braves (and OutKast) with a stroll to the Dwarf House.

Those in the know would say, "Hey blasphemer, you talk all this food stuff and you dare reference fast food?" For those who've been left out of the loop, Dwarf House is Chick-Fil-A but for some obscure reason there's a small door and a large mural for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. If you're unsure if what I am saying is true, the pic at right shows me, all 6'2", trying to leave the Dwarf through their door. Ok, ok, truth be told there's also a regular sized door but this one is much more funner.
 

But why hype up a Chick-Fil-A with a small door Dominic J? Funny you should ask. The reason is simple, this is the only place you can get a Hot Brown. While I'm sure if you search Urban Dictionary you'll find some not so pleasant meanings. Either way, the Hot Brown is a delightful combination of all things good - chick-fil-a chicken, gravy, bacon, cheese, and toast. Wanna see? I bet you do! Not I bet you want to taste it too! Truth be told, the menu is far more expansive than just the Hot Brown and some other featured items that you cannot find at your local Chick-Fil-A.

Next up in the ATL we have Manuel's Tavern, a neighborhood staple since 1956. Manuel's is a bar that also serves up some tasty treats. The folks I was with were raving about the must have, Dogzilla. Some warned that it was, "too big" and I "probably couldn't eat it by myself." Naturally my interest was piqued at these comments that I absorbed as veiled threats to my manhood. Granted that's not the best picture but Dogzilla features a heaping of slaw, fries, and of course hot dogs. Too big? No, no. Not for this guy. Hungry or not I can do two of those. If hungry, 4 is no problem.

More to come about Varsity, Vortex, and some other ATL favorites but I know I have not seen either of these ATL hidden gems on ANY food travel show...

Eating Out: NYC

Today was supposed to be a day that would live in infamy, or something like that. The plan was easy, find out what all the hype around the Mac N Cheese Burger was all about and rip through a couple in the process. For those not in the know, there's been sufficient hype surrounding the Burger Shoppe's (spelling shop this way set off my Spidey senses as a place I should not trust) Mac N Cheese Burger - having received rave reviews from a number of local publications and NYC Centric sites. It's time to call in the King to figure out just what's going on here and if this hype is well deserved.

Located at 30 Water St., in the heart of NYC, the Burger Shoppe's unassuming storefront and quaint interior (throwback to the olde luncheonette days) have the makings of potential...unfortunately, that's all it had. The Mac N Cheese burger was delivered after roughly 15 minutes (which scares me when it comes to a burger, especially when there's more employees than patrons in an eatery. I guess that's strike 2?)
Down in an 0-2 hole, the burgers were delivered and they were a healthy swing and miss. Big hack, no contact. This hockey puck was served charred beyond recognition, had no mac for the mac n cheese portion, and was rather small. Disappointingly small. Kids meal small. I'm a man. A fairly large man with a larger than life appetite. Give me a baby burger, charge me $12 bucks, burn it to death, leave off the mac, and you've succeeded in rubbing me the wrong way. But Dominic J, there's gotta be a redeeming factor? Well, the cheese sauce was good and it was home made so that's a plus. The bun was also a good size to accommodate this Fisher Price My First Burger. Did I mention they have the audacity to serve a frozen burger patty?

What to do next? Hungry, I turn to J-Mau and I tell him that I can redeem this debacle. We strut to my car and ride to Union Square, the heart of NYC. Forbidden Planet? Not tonight Kimosabe. We're hunting burgers and there's one place that's sure to deliver. STAND! I can't help but be reminded of the classic Sly & the Family Stone song each time I mention this place. I also can't help but want to smack most of the pretentious slobs that are in here. But I'm not here for them, I'm here for their meat. To those not in the know, Stand not only serves one of the TOP burgers in NYC, but DO NOT miss their Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake. That, is ice cream heaven and it is a must - especially for those who are lactose intolerant. Stand saved the night and served me a perfectly cooked Buffalo Bleu Cheese Burger - Buffalo meat, bleu cheese, sauteed onions, perfect bun, delicious sauce to top the burger with, and the absolute best way to wash that disgusting taste of burnt meat out of my mouth. Like my hero Montell Jordan sang, "This is how we do it."

Movie Minute

It was a slow week of movies for this guy but I got a little somethin' somethin' for the "horror" fans out there.

The Stepfather  - Predictable is not a fair word to use since they give you the bad guy and the premise based on the cover of the DVD. The movie is rather long (1:40) for a horror movie that feels a lot like Disturbia sans Shia LaBOOOOOOF - which I think is a plus in its own right. Without ruining too much, I'd have done this film totally differently and re-worked into more of a slasher than a 3rd rate thriller. If I want thrilling, I'll watch the Pelican Brief, thank you very much.

Cabin Fever 2 - No Eli Roth? No problemo. The sequel picks up where the original left off with my main man, Rider Strong! I'm not sure what took so long to make the sequel to this campy and dare I say cult classic? It actually looks, feels, and plays out like a Troma film thus making it a must see! On a related note the original Cabin Fever is now available on BLU - and you can buy it by clicking the links contained in this blog post, HOT DOG!

Confessions of a Superhero - If you've ever been to Hollywood and had a walk in front of Mann's Chinese Theater, you've undoubtedly seen folks dressed up like superheros and other famous movie characters. These "people" pose with tourists and passers-by for pictures and will ultimately receive tips for their "work." Regardless of all the transactional details, the film focuses on four wannabe actors as they aspire to be noticed on the strip. Further, this fantastic documentary examines further into their lives and explores their psychological makeup. This is one of the better docs I've seen in a while. Very raw, very real.

Closing Argument

Stepfather: C-

Cabin Fever 2: B+

Confessions of a Superhero: A