FoodieBuddha.com

After 45-years at the intersection of Lindbergh and Cheshire Bridge, The Varsity Jr. is sailing off into the sunset.  One of six outposts of the institution, the original plan was to rebuild the family-owned location. I first heard about this via a ton of people on twitter and my heart sank as the information was confirmed by 11-Alive just a little bit ago, this thing seems set in stone.  They have all the gritty details, so I won’t bother to give you all the he-said, she-said.  What I will tell you is that this sucks!  The Varsity Jr has been at the same place since before I was born and while I’m a Fenway type of guy, the plan to rebuild it seems reasonable to me. This isn’t right! And while I’m not so bold as to think my word alone carries any weight, but maybe with some help it will.  Thus, I’ve started a petition to save the Varsity JR..  We don’t have much time, but let’s see what a little elbow grease can do!

VIVA LA FROSTED ORANGE!!!!

The unassuming building pictured above is one of Atlanta’s longest operating hot dog hubs.  Situated at 1377 Church St, Brandi’s World Famous Hot Dogs holds down fort in Marietta seemingly oblivious to this modern invention we all know as time.  It’s a throwback and a place where calorie counts and farm freshness are concepts as mysterious as Pandora’s box.

Open 31-years, I wouldn’t be surprised if the only thing that has changed is the owner (It used to be called Betty’s World Famous Hot Dogs).  Actually, Betty sold it to Brandi, so a hanging menu and other odds and ends are different.  The restaurant has also relocated a few times since ‘79 and there is an outpost in Cartersville.  The point is that this place operates with it’s head in the sand.  I don’t think anyone, myself included, would have it any other way.

When you see a popular restaurant located in a building like this, you might normally say: “you wouldn’t know it to look at it … but”.  However, in this case, I actually think the run down shotgun shaped station is exactly why you know.

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Well Atlanta, are you looking for another burger joint? [Insert Rhetorical Answer], because it turns out the heavens have opened and one Shaun Doty has stepped down with his excitement imploring Yeah! Burger.  Planted firmly on the Westside in the bursting at the seems White Provision Development, Yeah Burger is hoping to capitalize on that incongruous relationship that is our lust for a burger amidst the rage for ultra organic, ethically produced, plastic wrapped grub.

If Rodeo Drive’s culinary alternative existed in Atlanta, its being would probably hit smack dab at the intersection of 14th street and Howell Mill.  Amongst the shi shi of the Star Provisions empire, the buzzed about Miller Union, the gentrified tacos of TdS, and the morphed West Egg, this hood can keep table hoppers busy for some time.  Might as well get on it myself.

Open inside of 7-days, I recently took advantage of the nice arm candy, courtesy one Georgia Devine, and some typically steamy Atlanta weather to sit porch side and engage in America’s messiest past time: burger chomping (with a hot dog thrown in for good measure).

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Last Thursday, foodies, lawyers, socialites, and professional lame wads came out in full force for the Food Truck Extravaganza in the Souper Jenny parking lot.  Even with a who’s who of ATL, the most important guests were most definitely Muffin Sudbery & The Sexy Popsicle girls.  Armed with fistfuls of cash, a feverous need for grub, and a seemingly endless amount of stomach space, these four women took to the festival like Al Bundy takes to a Hondo marathon.

Thankfully, the ladies were nice enough to bring me a stash of pictures and a handful of samples to check out.  While recapping an event you can’t attend in the future may make you feel teased and taunted, fear not … all of this food is available with a little bit of patience and good detective work.

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The newly incorporated INC Street Food in Roswell has already garnered a good bit of attention.  That’s no surprise considering that the Canton St. Latin eatery is a project from the gang at nearby Salt Factory Pub, a fairly well known establishment in its own right.  Owners Hicham Azhari and Fikret Kovac have teamed again with chef Richard Wilt to open a restaurant that is really more of a tip of the hat to Latin cuisine than it is an accurate representation of its own name.

The concept of “street food” is this year’s burger.  It’s catching on like wildfire and as soon as some laws are changed, you can bet that true mobile eating will take root in this city, just as it has in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York.  For now, we’re relegated to permanently affixed establishments who do their best to replicate the “everyman food” from the region of their choice.

With any trending topic, it seems that there are those ready to embrace it in its truest form, and those who want to take that concept and play with it.  That might be the nicest way to frame what’s gone on at INC.  While there are some roots in what most people would call street food, a meal at INC doesn’t give you anything of the sort.  The reality is that the grub here isn’t any more street than a Big Mac.  That’s not an all out indictment of the restaurant; it is instead intended to help visitors frame their expectations a little more appropriately … especially when you consider that the restaurant’s full name is Autentico INC Street food.  This information certainly would have helped when B. Smooth and I showed up just a few weeks ago.

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On most any given Sunday, you’ll find me somewhere other than in front of my TV (usually in bed or at brunch).  However, a few weeks ago, I was told that CBS’ Sunday morning news program, aptly named Sunday Morning, aired their annual Food Issue.  Though I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve watched the vignette styled news program, I made it a point to set my DVR.  Here’s a recap of the episode, complete with its own tip of the hat to the ATL.

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Holeman & Finch is my favorite watering hole here in Atlanta, hands down and bar none.  Though I think the food has slipped just a smidge since Adam Biderman bolted for the Big Easy, the drinks are as killer as always and the food is still quite good.  After Biderman departed back in May, Jason Paolini was brought in to run the kitchen.  For all practical purposes, he has made the transition seamless for the patrons.  Yes, I did say the food has slipped a smidge, but I do mean that emphatically.

As expected, the menu has morphed ever so slightly since Paolini’s arrival, and the new additions have gone over quite well.  As Tony continues to put his footprint on the restaurant, the food is gradually returning to normal.

Of the additions, the house made hot dog is far and away the gold medalist.  Ladies and gents, I’ve had hot dogs upon hot dogs upon hot dogs in my lifetime – and this hot dog is breathtakingly awesome.  Mind you, it’s a bit gourmet, as is everything at H&F.  Of hot dogs of this ilk – it might be the best I EVER had.  Now, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that this ground round of beef town has hit my lips only once to date.  It’s possible that this was an aberration, but I seriously doubt it.  After all, I’m not the only one to dig this pup!

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Though this news is actually a few weeks old, I thought it was worth a mention.  Since September 4, there has been a gluten-free concession stand at Turner Field.  The stand, which sits behind section 106, offers up an impressively long list of items.  The run down of available options is as follows: all-beef franks, sirloin beef burgers, chicken sandwiches, chips, popcorn, brownies, cookies, soda, and water.  For those of you looking to down a few brews, there is gluten-free Redbridge beer.  ARAMARK, despite having one of the worst company names possible, is the sole provider of eat and drink goods at the home of the Braves.  So they deserve some credit for making this happen.

Word around the campfire is that there is an an attempt to have an unofficial gluten-free fan night.  On October 19th, the local gluten-free dinner club plans to head down to Turner Field as a celebration of their new found dining option.  Full details for the planned excursion can be found at the group’s Meetup.com page.  Though there is only one commit as of now, it seems that most everyone of the group’s meet-ups draw two-dozen or more folks.  I’m sure you can dig up more information by checking out Tiffany Janes on twitter and on her blog. [Janes is the group organizer.]

Paul Albrecht is no stranger to the Atlanta dining scene.  A founding member of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, he is the purveyor of the namesake Paul’s Restaurant and the newly minted Social Vinings.  Now he and son Patrick, who collectively run the Great Food Inc. restaurant group, are set to open The Burger Lounge in Vinings.

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You know… they tell me that reading is fundamental.  I should have listened to what they said!!!!  To clarify, today’s lunch destination was supposed to be JOËL.  Had I took the time to read (or for that matter … just remember), I would have known not to show up.  JOËL is closed on Mondays … so much for a burger!  So we darted up I-75 for the burger’s partner in crime: the hot dog.

Ask someone in Atlanta where to get a hot dog and more often than not, Barker’s Red Hots [sic] will show up as one of the responses [and here].  Though Barker’s offers an all beef varietal, their “original” dog is a Sahlen brand pork and beef dog.  It’s what they are most known for.  If you dig swine, take it for a spin … if not, stick the the moo cow.  In addition, if you are looking for old school European, you can always get a Polish or Italian sausage.

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