Where would you take a friend to dinner if he had never been to Atlanta before?: An Outraged Fan

Two days into blogging and I have already encountered an outraged fan.  I assume I can call her that...the fan part; she would probably use an even more colorful word than outraged.  At this point, I'll take all the fans I can get...outraged or otherwise.

Anyway, remember when I wasn't able to answer the question of "Where would you take a friend to dinner if he had never been to Atlanta before?"  First, I'd like to point out that this question was intended to be gender neutral, as any woman that wants to visit me is more than welcome.  Second, after the exchange I had with my friend, I'm even more ashamed that I could only name two places.  Hopefully I can restore some of my credibility over the life of this blog (assuming I ever had any?). 

Third, and most importantly, I would like to share the interaction I had with this fan when she saw that the only two places I could come up with as "Atlanta-y" were Fat Matt's and the Vortex.  I was originally thinking of summarizing, but I think my paraphrasing wouldn't do it justice.

Here is the conversation:

Fan:  damn

Fan:  if vortex and fat matt's are the only atlanta-y places you know

Fan:  you have a [obscenity deleted; rhymes with truck fun] of eating to do

Fan:  don't you?

World Renowned Blogger:  ha

World Renowned Blogger:  i have other places

World Renowned Blogger:  but yes

World Renowned Blogger:  i have 100 places to eat [See 100 Dishes to Eat in Atlanta Before You Die]

Fan:  mary macs, fox brothers, nuevo laredo, flying biscuit, iberian pig, murphy's, wahoo, surin, highland bakery, savage pizza, eats

Fan:  I mean

Fan:  you have a lot

World Renowned Blogger:  i've ben to all of those except eats

Fan:  the MAJESTIC

Fan:  eats is solid

World Renowned Blogger:  i've been to the majestic

Fan:  papi's

World Renowned Blogger:  been there

Fan:  yeah but you have to write about those

World Renowned Blogger:  i hope you will be an active commenter on my blog

World Renowned Blogger:  actually

Fan:  danias, at the bottom of my building

World Renowned Blogger:  you have just become a blog post

Fan:  makes reallly really good stone oven pizza

Fan:  and the Pho at Dua II downtown IS just as good (if not better) than Pho 24, so don't drive all the way out to Buford highway for no reason

Fan:  that is stupid

Fan:  BUT drive all the way out there to get a carne asada burrito from Tace Veloz because oh my goddddd

Fan:  Belly on highland is the best bagels in the city though

Fan:  hands down

Fan:  Morelli's is the best ice cream

End Chat.

So the takeaways from this conversation are this:
1.  She talks a lot more than I do on GChat.
2.  Hopefully some of my credibility has been restored since I have at least been to most of the places she views as the most Atlanta-y.
3.  I have been issued my first challenge; you may have noticed my Eureka moment during the chat when I realized that our conversation could be turned into a blog post.

I wouldn't be doing this blog, my readers or Atlanta justice if I didn't make sure that I visited (or revisited) each of these restaurants and provided my thoughts and experiences at each.  Hopefully after I have been able to post about each of them, you'll have a few more places in mind when you ask yourself, "Where should I take a friend to dinner if he or she has never been to Atlanta before?"

Until next post...stay hungry!

Michael

100 Dishes to Eat in Atlanta Before You Die: The Mission

The actual story behind this blog started in reverse.  When I came back from Seattle and Austin, I certainly was restless, but I wasn't sure what to do to solve that problem.  I considered moving to Denver and opening a food truck.  I considered becoming a sports agent.  I even considered working harder at my job.

However, one day I was surfing the internet when I stumbled upon a checklist.  But not just any checklist, a checklist that seemed to perfectly address my restlessness.  This checklist: Creative Loafing's 100 Dishes to Eat in Atlanta Before You Die.

In May 2011, Creative Loafing came out with "a list that will help you navigate [Atlanta] in all its gastronomic glory."  I have since followed up with Creative Loafing to explain my goals, the blog and to see if they have updated the list.  (Look at me being all reporter-like!).  They have yet to respond.

The list details the top 100 dishes to try in Atlanta, breaking them into twelve categories:

1. Appetizers
2. Breakfast
3. Salads
4. Soups
5. International Snacks
6. Sandwiches, burgers and buns
7. Pasta, pizza and noodles
8. Vegetable entrees
9. Seafood entrees
10. Meat entrees
11. Desserts and sweets
12. Cocktails

See! Twelve.

My goal, and the original impetus behind this blog, was to try each of the 100 dishes, and blog about my experiences at each of them.  I plan to follow some general guidelines, but I want this to be fun and enjoyable (or else it would be a job) so a lot of the meals will simply go with the flow.  In addition to writing about the quality of the actual dish, my hope is to also meet the chef and ask them about what I am trying, why they think it made the list, and what they would have put as the best thing at their restaurant.  That might be easier said than done.  Except at Popeye's and Waffle House; it will probably be pretty easy there.

I have tried a few of the items on the list, but I will be starting from scratch so to accomplish my task, I must try all 100.  It will also give me an opportunity to not only learn about new restaurants, but also return to some of the better restaurants in Atlanta.  Although the focus of each visit will be the dish in question, I will make sure to report on the whole experience and what else to try there.

Unfortunately, I already know that I will not be able to try a few of the items.  Bakeshop, Super Pan Latino Sandwich Shop and Dadd D'z BBQ Joynt have all shut down since May 2011.  Surprisingly, those are three of the places I have been (although I hadn't tried the recommendation at Bakeshop).  If I am somehow able to get through the bulk of this list, I might hunt down the owners of those places and see if they can prepare me a single serving of each.  Or else I might die before trying all 100 dishes...

Another item on the list, the Phatty cakes at Cakes & Ale will need to be satisfied at another venue.  Cynthia Wong, the former pastry chef at Cakes & Ale, took her delicious talents to Midtown, so I will need to check that box by walking two blocks down the road to Empire State South.

I had originally planned on trying to do this in 6 months until my friend pointed out that I would have to go out to eat four times a week, not counting restaurants not on the list.  So the new time frame: 1 year from trying the first thing on the list.  I certainly think it can be done and I'm really excited about the prospects.  I strongly believe that eating should be a communal activity (as I put it in my kickoff email, "eating is more fun in groups") so I encourage and hope that some of you will join me on some of these adventures.  Basically you can just text/email/comment/tweet me any night and say, "I want to try this.  Let's go."  And if you ever want to guest blog when we go to try any of these dishes, I would absolutely love that.

Looking forward to going on this mission with all of you.

Until next post...stay hungry!

Michael

Meet the Author (That's me!)

I guess I should probably tell you a little bit about myself before I really get started.  I assume that most people who read this in the first few weeks already know me, but my hope is this grows and I eventually become a world-renowned food critic.  And at that point, people will want to know, "Who is this handsome blogger/lawyer turned world-renowned food critic?"

I'm a 27-year old single lawyer who lives in Midtown and has been in Atlanta for almost five years.  I was a law student the first three years, and have been working for the past two, so I've been able to experience eating both as a prince and a pauper.  I've always enjoyed eating, but a fundamental switch happened while I was in Europe after I took the bar exam.  While there, I read both The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food, and the result was not only a better appreciation for eating local and organic, but also for eating good food, with good friends.  Plus, I've always been blessed to be able to eat whatever I want without having to run a marathon after each meal to keep from putting on any weight (I've already lost those ten pounds I gained in Austin).

I recently visited both Austin and Seattle, and when I came back, I pretty much turned crazy.  Like Howard Hughes peeing in bottles crazy.  More accurately, I've grown restless and am looking for a legitimate hobby beyond watching sports (Who's ready for football?!  Not a Kentucky fan, that's for sure...)

The solution to my restlessness: Write a food blog (my other option was have tons of casual sex, but this seemed easier).  Both Austin and Seattle appeared to have such wonderful food cultures, and I loved how involved Mike (remember him?) was in the Austin food scene.  Like seriously, he knows every food truck vendor in town.  There's even one that used to be a lawyer (Hmm...)  I want to find out where the spots are to eat (not necessarily "The Spots"), and I want to get to know people in the industry and where they would recommend to eat.

Most importantly, I want to break down Atlanta food culture for both the princes and the paupers.  One of the things I noticed in Austin was that you could eat good food for cheap.  There were only a handful of "Nice Restaurants" but you certainly didn't need to go to them to eat well.  In Atlanta, to be an accepted foodie, you often have to spend because a lot of the good food is not found at a food truck or a dive.  Which isn't to say I don't love dressing up and getting the ten course tasting menu, but sometimes I want a delicious $3 taco with more than 88% beef.

Similarly, I want to provide insight on the Atlanta food scene from someone who doesn't know much about the interplay of food.  I know what I like, and I know what I don't like.  I know when something tastes good (to me), and I know when something is objectively good.  But I don't know if saffron and allspice blend well together (without just trying it), or whether the taste of Brussels sprouts is enhanced more by cooking it in bacon fat or olive oil (I would guess bacon).  With that said, I do know how to cook, and I've never killed anyone or gone hungry with my cooking.  I love experimenting (in the kitchen!) but it's tough to be too creative when you work a lot and generally cook for one.

My goal is to report on what I've enjoyed, why I enjoyed it, and to the extent possible, provide background and context as to why the meal works (assuming chefs are willing to talk to me before I am world-renowned).  I also anticipate posting recipes, local food events, and new restaurants.  I might even venture to the beverage side of the aisle so you don't miss any of the wonderful beer fests that Atlanta has to offer.  Basically, anytime I eat, you are going to know about it.  I'm creative and adventurous, and I hope to bring that same mentality to this blog.

Until next post...stay hungry!

Michael

We Have a Logo!

I would like to thank another great friend of mine, Christopher Mesa, on making this logo for my site.  I have shared many a meal with him, and hope that we share many more (at kid-friendly places since he is a father now).

Here We Go...

Welcome to food404thought! 

The point of this blog in its most general sense is to provide a glimpse of the food culture in Atlanta.  I recently went to visit two great friends in Austin and was blown away by not only the food culture in Austin, but how the entire city seems to embrace it.  Good food was not synonymous with expensive food, and some of the best meals in the city come out of trailers and converted motor homes.  I would say that Atlanta also has a strong foodie identity but more often than not, you will have to go to a "nice restaurant" to get a taste.

Having both southern and soul roots, there is definitely some very good food in Atlanta (unless you're on a diet).  But despite living here for almost five years, I was unable to answer this very simple question: "Where would you take a friend to dinner if he had never been to Atlanta before?"  I was eventually able to come up with two places, but I was ashamed that it took me so long to think of any (The Vortex, Little Five edition of course, and Fat Matt's Rib Shack).  I certainly have favorite restaurants in Atlanta, but I wanted to answer in the context of restaurants which show off Atlanta's food culture.

My hope with this blog is to sample a lot of the food in this city and give readers (and myself) an answer to that question.  I anticipate that it will evolve as I figure out what the heck I am doing, but I already have my first mission (See 100 Dishes to Eat in Atlanta Before You Die).  I also want to bring my own sense of humor to this blog so you're both entertained and educated.  Think Good Eats, the Blog Version.  Or to paraphrase my favorite Kentucky blog (oh yeah, I'm a University of Kentucky fan in case you didn't know), I want to bring Atlanta food culture to you in the most ridiculous manner possible.

Finally, I would like to specifically credit Mike Galante for helping me (read: coming up) with the name for this blog.  He was certainly an inspiration for my getting more involved in the food scene in Atlanta, as he is an active member eater of Austin's incredible food culture.  If you're interested in how I gained ten pounds in four days, take a peek at Mike's blog:  A Mike's Life: The Austin Experience: Day 1

I am really excited about this blog (and eating lots of food), and I hope y'all enjoy reading it and staying updated on what to eat in Atlanta.  I hope that readers will stay involved through the comments section, and if anyone ever wants to meet up to taste something Atlanta has to offer, I would be more than happy to.  And if you're a cute girl, I might just pay too.

Until my next post...stay hungry!

Michael