Review: Area 15's Omega Mart

Las Vegas is known for more than adult entertainment such as casinos and gambling. There is an entertainment center called Area 15 about a mile off of the Vegas Strip that contains a number of entertainment venues. As one can imagine, this is a play on Area 51. And yes, things get weird inside the beige warehouse. I got to experience one of them.

Omega Mart is a very unique supermarket. The last stop for quality but the first in savings. And it’s a lot of elements that form a massive, live, immersive experience. What begins as a quirky satire of the supermarket slowly devolves into a story of conspiracy and familial backstabbing.

The creators of Omega Mart have put a lot of time and energy into a project that is difficult to describe in words alone. The use of nonlinear storytelling serves to keep you exploring for quite a while. I was there for about three hours before I had to leave because of hypoglycemia. I would recommend you bring a water bottle and some snacks if possible. This experience was amazing, but definitely takes some time.

Tickets run a high $50 for entry. For some this is fine, especially if you stick around for the entire day. For others, this is a bit high. I hadn’t planned anything else for the day so I paid nonetheless. Omega Mart may need to be the main reason you visit Vegas with this price tag. It’s worth mentioning that the price tags on every item aren’t fictional; you can buy anything at the store. This happens to be part of the experience and the gift shop rolled into one. I hate marketing, but for once I have to tip my rainbow top hat to their marketing tactics. All the same, this isn’t a place I could visit every weekend. This is a special occasion.

The employees in all the different locations are the best part of the experience. They offer help on the task at hand or can guide you where to go next. I had a full conversation with one employee about all of the Pride-related items in stock such as “Canned Pride” and “Gender Fluid” soda.

Though I am admittedly giving a largely positive review, not everything about Omega Mart is positive. In researching a bit more on Omega Mart and it’s social media, I discovered there have been some major disputes between employees and the management since opening day. It’s probably worthwhile to form a separate entry just for these misgivings, since what’s stated in this sub Reddit sounds like what I would say about a former position I held at Elvis Presley’s Graceland. Fair warning: as with any sub Reddit, this is a rabbit hole of complaints.

The Omega Mart experience is one that provided a lot of fun and even more to explore. I definitely want to go again, but also want to check out the rest of Area 15. Though I’ll certainly have to save up for the plane tickets and the entry fee for next time. The present issues and ongoing troubles are the flip side to how much fun I had at the place. Because of this, I give Omega Mart three stars.

Review: The Couch Prince

Recently I purchased a futon. This piece of furniture is emblazoned with a fairly vibrant purple that is reminiscent of the late and great Prince. As such, this futon is given the moniker of The Couch Prince.

The Couch Prince was obtained from the web site most widely known as Wayfair. The description of this futon was, indeed, way out there. The fairness of the price is up for debate, however, as the exact specifications were a smidge misleading. The description had the label of “Queen,” which seemed convenient at the time of purchase. But what defines queen-sized in the mattress world?

The only number that seems to matter to Wayfair is the fact that the futon length is 66”, which isn’t quite six feet. I am several inches short of being a giant, and do not approve of my feet to be left hanging off the side of my bed. 

When the futon is set to the resting position, it is a Twin at best. Additionally, this couch is meant for someone smaller than myself. And someone with tiny hips. Something to add to the positive column is that it has cup holders. Which my wide hops might smother if I lean over too far. 

Overall, I’m not sure I would recommend this futon. But the color demands your attention, much like the late Prince did with their wild antics and spectacular discography. I give Prince five stars, though the purple futon gets two stars; mostly because it reminds me of Prince.

Review: The Restaurant Industry

Recently I went to a Red Lobster, and I’ll never go back again. Not because of the food but because of the waiter complaining. The food was something else to talk about. He went out of his way to tell every table that, “we are short staffed since nobody wants to work.” And he would proceed to laugh as if this was a joke.

Even before Covid-19 hit the world and devastated many industries, I heard this phrase in one way or another. Which isn’t true. Other journalists and bloggers have stated that many who have quit did so because they don’t want to put up with shitty management anymore. And I agree.

Though I got out of this industry several years ago, many experiences have stuck with me. Certain reflexes, phrases and shorthands, and customer service has a permanent place with me. But most importantly: being empathetic to my fellow human beings. Which almost feels ironic since many patrons tend to show just how shitty they can be when going out to eat. And they rub it in your face when they barely tip (if at all).

The first restaurant I worked at after being chased off from Graceland (yes, Elvis’s mansion, the poorly taken-care-of private museum) was Central BBQ. Here I learned phrases like “heard” and “corner.” I also learned little bits of customer service as a food runner. Oh, you didn’t get your sauce? It’s right over here. Another time: Sorry folks, you need a receipt in order to claim a table. You can’t sit down before. I once said this next one on the spot without thinking about this prior: Be careful… Everyone stared up with concern… It’s dangerously delicious. Sometimes you walk a fine line for the sake of humor. I’ll skip my cashier experience there this time.

There were two other restaurants I worked at with insane managers that never took a day off and must have been on something to function. They didn’t care that much about new workers and treated me like I was disposable. Which feels great when you inevitably decide to quit.

But some of the friends I made along the way made much of these places worth working at. I met some great people that either knew what to talk about to keep the busy times interesting; or were quiet and always looking out for everyone so they don’t get in trouble for some stupid reason.

So in my teeny-tiny experience with working in the food industry, I learned who to trust. Which is almost always just yourself. And that seriously needs to change. This should have changed years ago, before the 2019 pandemic. When people leave in droves, I assure you Red Lobster Man that it’s not because we don’t want to work. You just aren’t looking out for us; financially, in a managerial way, or on a basic human level.

If you are a manager and believe you have never made a mistake, you will never retain employees for long. And I’ve had managers that believe this. Here’s a tip for the people in charge of restaurants, as well as patrons: do better. Much, much better. Treat wait staff like actual human beings. We’re tired of this shit. This industry is a 2.5 star experience on the best of days. During brunch or a busy lunch day, it’s a one star experience.

Review: Moving

if there’s one thing universally scowled at even more than deciding where to live, it’s moving one’s stuff there. Moving a large amount of furniture and Disney knick-knacks is never an easy task.

Do you move it? If so, how? Or is it best to let a professional take care of it? Are you a minimalist; hoarder; stuck with your deceased parents’ stuff; meaning to declutter? It’s all, quite frankly, overwhelming. And, also frankly, none of us feel like we should give a damn about moving stuff at all.

Author’s note: I like the Gone With the Wind joke “frankly I don’t give a damn” a bit too much. Not entirely sure why that is…

No joke, I moved into my new apartment in Oakland, California on April 1st. A sunny Friday where my biggest priority was to get every box out of my truck and into the new 600+ square feet studio apartment. Thankfully I quickly found an elevator that would allow me to bring my red little wagon up to the fifth floor and avoid stairs. But what about utilities? Where does everything go once brought in? Oh yeah, we don’t have shelves yet. Or the Prince Futon - another story for another day.

Now, where did I put… everything..?

I have never been able to afford a service, but maybe I will once I move out of this new apartment in a year’s time. The service is many hundreds of dollars, but those hunky dudes generally do a great job and get a big house of furniture cleared within hours. I’ve heard this takes a lot of pressure off of a homeowner’s shoulders. I have yet to experience this.

What’s great about trying to be a minimalist while on the road: everything stays packed up and you can forget about it. What’s not great: you now lack certain things like dishes, bowls, bookshelves, et al. But now you get to set everything up.

Oh, and don’t forget that the internet router must be confusing - also a review for another day.

I have yet to hear a story that I would consider truly positive. My own experience in a new city, in a new part of the United States isn’t technically a “nightmare” comparatively, but this still hasn’t appeared without its kinks. I give Moving one star. Or maybe one truck.

Review: Rom-Com

The phrase Romantic Comedy, or Rom-Com, used to bug me. Let’s explore that.

There’s no denying that Romances and Comedies are, at large, successful genres. So one would think that combining the two would be an even bigger success. Right? The answer to that gets a mixed result. What begins as a simple question turns into a mix of results, feelings, and opinions. A simple yes never seems to suffice. “Yes, because…” or “No, because…” generally follow.

Romantic Comedy… is a subgenera of comedy and slice-of-life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount out obstacles. —Wikipedia entry

I used to say the phrase, “I hate it because it sucks.” Which is one of the biggest cop-outs one can possibly state. There was a period of time where I wondered why nobody wanted to talk about movies with me. And it was because of that cop-out answer. There’s just no room for someone else’s opinion in a conversation you or I just closed.

The Rom-Com subgenera has always felt foreign to me. Possibly to do with the screwball scenarios and just how lightly we’re taking the emotions of these two people’s lives. Plus, they always felt forced to me. None of it made sense and it just felt fatalistic. Like these two fictional people had no autonomy of their own. (I just came up with the storyline of Stranger Than Fiction (2006).

My brain was just plain determined not to like this kind of movie. Until Love, Simon (2018). This movie is, at its core, a Rom-Com. I didn’t want to like it. But I did in the end. But why?

The most obvious aspect was the fact that Simon is gay and he’s going after another guy. But it was more nuanced than that. The comedy was more restrained and felt more natural. It didn’t feel forced in the initial viewing. And it felt like each character had personal autonomy. So I guess it has to be LGBT for me watch?

But another reason this phrase used to be obnoxious was the contraction. “Rom-Com.” For some reason my brain just doesn’t like it. It rubs me the wrong way. And if you say it too many times, it loses all meaning. Which is probably what happened when my parents introduced me to movies such as Titanic (1997) at a young age.

Romantic Comedies are beginning to grow on me, as much as I don’t like to admit it. Though the catch is: it needs to be LGBT. With a sigh, I have to give Romantic Comedies four stars.

Review: Blizzards & Ice Storms

Memphis is woefully unprepared for severe weather conditions. Mostly it’s local politics that deny that we even have this type of weather. But the electrical grid hasn’t been updated in a long time. Growing up, such events get names like hurricanes on the East Coast. The Ice Storm of ‘94 being one of them. Though Memphians don’t know how to handle these conditions, we at least have a sense of humor about them.

Growing up there was a phrase that is terribly outdated and insensitive today: “Memphis weather is schizophrenic.” This is to say that the weather can swing from spring day to a winter night to a summer-like morning.

In 2021 Memphis had a blizzard. At that time I had a Mazda2 that was tiny and unequipped to deal with large amounts of snow. In early February snow began to fall. Though we are used to a couple of inches, the snow continued to fall. And the temperature was steady over that weekend. The next couple of days proved the same. The snow didn’t even ice over! But it didn’t.

My work tried and failed to open that Monday. Two hours in we closed and I had to leave my car in the middle of a frozen parking lot to ask a coworker for a ride home. And I was promptly locked into my apartment. Time, sanity, and the use of water were lost for over a week. The only thing that brought me back to the concept of sanity was to marathon a bunch of movies.

Flash forward to 2022. I’m about to move out of Memphis. The last thing I wanted to do was plan a movie marathon like last year. But a couple of days beforehand there was heavy rain for most of the night before the temperature dipped into the low twenties. And everything iced over.

This time the power kept cutting off. Tree branches began to break off from the sheer weight of the ice, coming down onto power lines. Over 100,000 households were without power. This went on for several days as well. And yet, in spite of all these complications, I still had a movie marathon with friends. This time I cooked for everyone.

Being prepared for terrible weather is difficult. But during theses crises it is good to seek family and friends. To come up with names for the cursed weather, to joke and eat in a communal manner, or to watch silly movies with each other. We need each other to deal with these tragedies. To distract each other. To help each other through it all.

Both blizzards and ice storms receive one star each, but they don’t have to be after the fact. As long as we stick together and help each other.

Review: Coffee Shops / Cafè

Coffee shops are one of the biggest things that people love to complain about. They are places that cater to caffeine snobs and pastry patrons alike. But the number one thing I hear is about stuff.

Wether to go the eclectic route or go for minimalism seems like a real split down the middle. The main thing I love about eclectic coffee shops, though, is the social aspect. There’s a cafe in Memphis, Tn called Java Cabana (Java for short). I’ve met some of the best friends there. Why? Because people talk loudly there and interact with each other. Two of them was because they were talking and I noticed a Bo Burnham sweater and just HAD to say something. And now we can’t stop annoying each other. Because that’s what friends do.

Java isn’t really a place to study or write. It’s a former Elvis chapel-turned-cafe. It cultivates thinking out loud and conversations with others. Sometimes there are crazies there. It’s a constant of human lives interacting with each other. This is a place of power and energy that attracts others towards it; all walks of life converging and greeting each other. Neil Gaimen describes this perfectly in his 2001 novel American Gods. There is one other coffee shop similar to this called Otherlands. It’s fantastic and should be checked out if you haven’t.

Then you have what some call the opposite: the minimalist coffee shop. One can summarize them quite easily: white and black/brown, wood and often-times metal, several plants surrounding shelves on the wall, tables and chairs, and the baristas. I occasionally hear older folks complain about these, how there’s no character. They are also the same complainers that never go to coffee shops in general and have no idea why they complain about this.

Minimalist coffee shops most definitely have character! You just have to pay attention. Or maybe you’re too busy writing your Great American Novel, or finishing a paper, or perhaps people watching the androgynous baristas look great and work well with each other (City & State in Memphis is another cool one to check out). Places like these are wonderful because it feels cleaner and less cluttered so you and I can get our current project finished finally. Much of the time there isn’t much to eat, but really the main focus is on the caffeine. These are the best places to try something new! This is where the best baristas work (personal bias), and give the best recommendations.

I have a difficult time bringing to mind a singular story at either of these types of places. And how could I? Meeting up with new friends at a cafe after our Kettle Bells class; meeting the local homeless characters at Java and learning how to deal with them; becoming one of the several regulars that drinks one cup of Joe and laughing at stories for hours on a Saturday. No matter where you go, no matter what city, you just don’t know what you’re going to get along with that cup of coffee. There are experiences that are simply priceless.

To the curmudgeons that love to complain about the price of coffee these days, I permanently ignore you. And I’ll group all coffee shops into one category now, minimalist and eclectic. The price of coffee might be high to some, but the rating is even higher. I give all coffee shops five stars.

Review: Shawarma

In February of 2021 Memphis experienced a blizzard. Many cities are well equipped for such a weather phenomenon. Memphis is exceptionally bad at preparing for any and all weather events. The year that Memphis was swallowed whole by the great white blizzard, I was trapped inside my apartment for a week. And to make life extra spicy, I had no water.

Time progressed. I attempted to write, to journal, but all I seemed capable of doing was “be.” Apparently in the even of of a total lock-in, I immediately get cabin fever. Which isn’t the best plan, admittedly. Neither had I planned for this to happen, nor did I want this to happen. But as they say, “well, here we are.” And there I stayed for about four days (I think, things got fuzzy after a couple of days).

But I had an idea. To watch all four Avengers movies. And it brought me back from the event horizon of sanity. This felt like such a fun idea that I wanted to do this again the next February. Which did happen, but after an ice storm. Different story for a different time.

This time, I would make Shawarma. Why? Well, Tony Stark mentions it toward the end of the first Avengers movie. And learning how to make shawarma had me curious to the origins.

First of all, the meat is cooked vertically, which makes sure that fat isn’t cooked out of the meat. If the lamb or other meat is cooked horizontally, the fat will eventually fall off and add fuel to the fire. This doesn’t always allow for an even cook. While the meat looks funny while slowly rotating, the purpose is a lot more efficient than I once believed.

Secondly, shawarma has its roots in kebabs and gyros. The initial idea came about by what many believed was a man name Iskender Efendi around 1870. He created shawarma in the Turkish city of Bursa. He first called it the kebab, but the Middle Eastern dish evolved from there.

The ingredients and method of cooking was kept a secret until a few decades ago. Thank goodness, because I had fun cooking it. Although I didn’t have the proper bread at the time of learning this dish. I have since decided that I am an uncultured American who needs to be more strict with my culinary aspirations. This barely scratches the surface on this fascinating culinary history. More can be discussed on the history and method of cooking.

Shawarma has a rich history. Far richer in history than the pop culture referenced in the Avengers movie, and rich in flavor. Whether you are at a restaurant, food truck, or cooking at home, this is one of my favorite Middle Eastern dishes. This really should be more widely known and appreciated. Though I shamelessly admit my bias. I give shawarma four stars.

Review: Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is a marvelous, rusted, wondrous orange behemoth. On one hand it’s a visual phenomenon, the kind that requires millions of pictures a day. It is a structural diva that demands without saying a word. On the other hand, I’m sure it’s a nightmare for those just trying to get to work.

12 March 2022 Seeing the Golden Gate Bridge after nearly ten years. Photographer: Josephine Lynn

I do not know much of the history of this bridge. But I might look it up. Searching structural engineering history isn’t my usual thing to do, but it keeps things interesting. Besides, I have a book that ends in San Francisco, so mechanical history might prove useful in the future.

It’s astounding how many people can fit into such a tiny part of this state. Driving around, whether for apartment hunting or for tourism, you begin to see just how many rolling hills there are. They jut up like a mountain peak would, and makes it difficult to lay a foundation onto.

Today I needed a break from searching apartments. I looked up the best places to take photos. But really I just wanted a place to stop and not have to do anything for an hour or so and have a good view on top of it. Searching the Bay Area Discovery Museum gets you a decent parking spot and a pretty damn good view of the Bridge. Just like most of the sites will tell you, you have to get there early enough. If you wait until the afternoon, then forget about it. Apparently I’m an expert now. So there.

I sat there and texted loved ones and even made a joke with my former supervisor. He got a kick out of it. That’s what days like these are for: relaxing, goofing off, creating jokes. While not everyone may agree, I think the Golden Gate Bridge is a beautiful man-made addition to the background.

One of these days I’ll have to take a sunset photo of that Bridge. I give the Golden Gate Bridge four and a half out of five stars.

Review: West Coast Renting

Renting sucks. Though, let’s be honest, we could include home ownership with this. But for now, the focus is on non-ownership. Searching for the right price doesn’t lock that number in. Renter’s insurance, parking fees, utilities, and anything else managers love to add are commonplace.

So many things about renting an apartment has changed, especially the price. Living in Memphis, the expected prices wouldn’t exceed much more than a thousand a month. For some minds, that sounds expensive.

Then the pandemic happened. Over the next year or so, I noticed rental and buying prices spiking up hundreds of dollars if not by a thousand. Artificial inflation at its finest. Companies from outside of Tennessee began buying land or old buildings. They would renovate or build from the ground up. The lowest of these shiny new prices were around $1,600/mo. and those were the smallest living spaces. The larger spaces were easily in the $2k range and rose higher than Mt. Ranier in Washington.

On top of that these companies have adopted certain kinds of phrasing to keep out lower income holders. One manager I spoke with mentioned requiring 2.5x rent so, “the renter can live comfortably here.” It’s stated more and more now that we shouldn’t pay more than 30% of our income. If that were the case, I can’t afford to live anywhere.

And a lot of people have disagreed with my experience. They have flat out told me, “that simply isn’t true.” They are also middle aged cis white men that haven’t had to think about renting more than a car in over thirty or forty years. They get their own micro-rating of one out of five stars.

As I look for rental properties closer to $2k, I bear in mind that this is still considered pretty low for the west coast. Memphis rental and buying costs have skyrocketed to a degree that makes sure that I can never own land in Tennessee. That’s fine, they don’t want me there for other 🏳️‍🌈 reasons.

I have been here almost a week and have found a couple of perspective places to stay. I have driven to Fairfield, California and was asked why I even made the venture. I was taught that I should get the feel of the land; see if I would actually enjoy living there. I think since the Covid virus has affected life so much in the past two years it is tough to argue visiting a place in person right now. [Southern accent] Well, I’m not from ‘round here. I know what the place looks like; just gotta see what’s around it. That alright?

The search for an apartment is just as frustrating as it would be in Memphis. The biggest difference is the new hilly land I get to travel and get the lay of. If that isn’t exciting, I don’t know what is! Well, except for finishing my first novel. That’s a much different experience.

I give the concept of Renting in the West Coast three out of five stars.

Review: Job Interviews

I’m writing this the morning of a job interview. And I am nervous.

The last time I had a job interview was about 5 years ago. I truly believed this would be my last one. I almost want to laugh at myself, as I was still in my twenties at that point in time. But I also still have that determination to never have to bother with them again. But this is all about perspective. Let me explain that more thoroughly.

I want to be a published author in this lifetime. After all, this lifetime is the only chance I get to be published even once. But I have plans for multiple books. But how do I become published? I have chosen not to go the self-publishing route. That involves Amazon and E-Books. I will never work for or with Amazon as long as I can help it. But the “traditional” route involves hiring an agent, which increases the likelihood of becoming published and more successful. Which, depending on how you look at it, are two interviews right there. But with the agent, both of you are interviewing each other to see if this would be a good fit.

At my former job (Lens Rentals), I specialized in NDI-PTZ cameras, especially one particular brand: BirdDog. As my employment with Lens Rentals came to a close, I applied for a management position for BirdDog. This would leave me state-side but would have me working with them in a much broader sense than just a video technician. And I am putting up with an interview today because I believe I have an expertise that BirdDog may mutually benefit. So we’ll see how this trans-continental, multi-time zone, international interview will work out.

Am I nervous? Yes. But not in the same way that I was five years ago. Things have changed dramatically since then. Different things are on the line. Pressure and anxiety comes from new places. Do I feel like I do a good job at interviews? I have no idea. I never know. Each interview is different. And thankfully more transparent and less one-sided like they used to feel. Still, it feels an awful lot like cramming for exams.

Job interviews don’t feel like they should be forced on anyone with extreme (or even General) Anxiety. They feel like a punishment in-the-making. On the flip-side of that perspective, they come with unexpected opportunities that you or I may not have foreseen. Maybe you’re not a good fit for the job interviewed for, but in fact another position is waiting for your qualifications. And this dawned on the interviewee only in the last seconds of the meeting. Maybe…

Interviews are awful on the nerves, but have great possibilities. I give the Job Interview three out of five stars.

The end of the road trip

I promised myself that I would make these posts more consistent. And yet here I am, close to two months after the last post. My head is swarming with anxieties aplenty. Not least of which is because I picked up my life and moved the hell out of Memphis and Tennessee entirely.

I decided to move to California. I’ve heard many opinions and reasons to go or stay for several months. But I’ve moved nonetheless. Part of this anxiety is because I had hoped to get tested for Autism. That unfortunately feels less likely now. It’s expensive as hell for one. For another, it’s become more conservative because some directors believe it’s being over diagnosed. Which I think is horse shit. But there are also dozens of bills across the country that have me worried in other ways that makes this insanity swirl around my head. Some days I’m amazed I get any sleep.

Then there’s where to find housing. And I’ve made the decision to follow my dream as a full time writer. And I don’t have enough HRT medication to last me until I find a new clinic for refills. I’ve felt like I’m abandoning all of my friends. I haven’t posted anything for my podcast in literal months. And a job interview for something I applied for over two months ago…

But I have some solace. I am reading. Reading books in between searching and writing. One such book is by John Green that has me realize that I am not the only one with such terrible worries and anxieties. The Anthropocene Reviewed is a collection of short essays that delve into products and concepts alike. He reviews them at the end. But they are more than that. Each review gives us a bit more insight into the mind of John Green. I’ve just read the one on decathlons, which felt the most memoir yet.

Reading about his anxieties and distracting myself from my own seems to calm me down. I even want to start reviewing things as I get more accustomed to the Bay Area and everything it has to offer. I don’t have the same writing style as John Green, and my humor is vastly different from his as well. But this is something I could also do on a more regular basis.

And this feels like one more thing I can stress out about. But I am in a new place (world it feels like) and this is the best time and place to begin new habits and stick with them. A new sense of normalcy. Which is something I’ve craved for a very long time.

Though I’m not finished reading The Anthropocene Reviewed yet, I would still like this to be the first thing I review in California. With John Green’s witticisms, insights, and tempered opinions on every subject at hand, I give this anxiety-induced book 4.5 stars.

Atlanta BBQ

Daddy D’z is a hole in the wall barbecue joynt near the Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia.

Having worked in one of those BBQ spots myself in Memphis, I wanted to try and appreciate what Atlanta could provide while here for Thanksgiving.

Parking was quite simple. I doubt the lot has been paved over in a long time. There were faded lines and possibly a pot hole somewhere — though I likely imagined that. It’s a worn down plot of land near downtown Atlanta, so it’s quaint. 

But, as their About section proclaims on the website, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Maybe it looks ugly on the outside. So what? It’s just character.

The first room is lined with booths and a storage area covered up by some checkered curtains. That’s a polite Southern way of stating “Don’t go in here, please. You ain’t allowed back here.” I walked past a group of guys rambling on about nothing and having a good time and walked up to the small counter. There was enough space for the kiosk and a conversation. I decided to take the food on the run because my chauffeur (ahem, cousin) was driving me around to a bunch of different record stores. Another article for another story.

I kept it simple and got a pork sandwich plate on Texas toast with fried okra and Mac & cheese. I know, I know: carbo overload! And the day after Thanksgiving, too. As soon as I get back to Memphis I’ll grab some barbells and hoof it down the sidewalk for days. But in the mean time, let me tell you how good it felt.

I have family that loves to describe what Soul Food is and what it does for you. Let me tell you, this meal was soul food.

First of all, the pork was as good as any in Memphis. No, I’m not comparing it like we do Memphis vs. Nashville. I believe this meat is cooked slowly and carefully and with love. It had the perfect temperature and practically melted in my mouth. The sauce was just right; definitely not bland at all like some sauces can be, though doesn’t pack a punch like some Memphis BBQ restaurants do. And that’s fine, maybe their sauce is just their to compliment the pork. The Texas toast had crispy edges, which made it easier to hold onto the sandwich and easier to dip the edges into sauce.

The Mac wasn’t drowning in cheese like I’m used to in Memphis. The only seasoning I think they use is pepper. Quite different than what I’m used to. But this was a welcomed change. Those small half circle shells had just enough cheese to call it delicious.

Finally, we arrive to fried okra. That’s a bit of a staple in Memphis, but not when it comes to most BBQ restaurants. Sure, you might find it at one or two, but did not expect okra at this spot. I don’t have much to say beyond it needing salt. Otherwise, it was pretty good.

Daddy D’s appears to be an established part of Atlanta and I hope it sticks around for years to come. With a welcoming atmosphere and enough room for food and conversation, what’s not to like about the place? The only catch I’d point out is the wait time. Much like some BBQ joints in Memphis, you can’t rush perfection. If you gotta be somewhere in five minutes, try dinner.

You gotta try this joynt out!

http://www.daddydz.com/

You can sit at their table on 264 Memorial Drive SE, Atlanta GA 30312

If ya gotta call’em: 404.222.0206