The Wanderings Of Ort.

Ort, anyone who loves good food, good music, and good books is in no danger of needing his head examined! No matter what he names his vehicle! My CR-V has the unimaginitive name of Jo-Jo, but it fits her. I can hardly wait for more reviews, especially once you get to the Atlanta eateries you mentioned. I travel Scott Blvd. as far as Clairmont to get to work, but for a good restaurant, I'll leave early one day to check things out.

Alice in glad it's warmer Atlanta!

quote:

Originally posted by Ort. Carlton.
Dearfolk,I'm heading for the Blind Pig eatery/drinkery directly to have a pint of good ale and something adequate to eat.

Dearfolk,
So I did just that. Between 10:20 P. M. and 11:45 P. M., I drank a Sweetwater India Pale Ale, then a Sweetwater 420 Pale Ale, then opted for another Sweetwater I. P. A. at last call (which is 11:45 on Sunday nights). Most folks hereabouts seem to prefer the 420 (it's developed a reputation as sort of a "hippie" beer), but give me their I. P. A. anytime. The bottled versions that I enjoyed were top-notch (the draught would have been even better!), and I'm someone who thinks that a great many so-called I. P. A.'s would never begin to survive the trip around Cape Horn (as was the original intent in brewing an ale with such a quantity of hops!).
"Hey, Ort. -- ya gonna eat?" I was asked. "Yeah," I answered, and I ordered up my "usual" there in lieu of trying something new... time was of the essence. What my "usual" is there is a bowl of their homemade pasta salad topped with blackened chicken and jalapeno Monterey jack cheese. Now, folks... when I tell you that this is some kind of good, I understate. The kitchen at The Blind Pig is way better than it needs to be: I would trust anything they served me. Their Brunswick stew is one of the thickest, spiciest versions that I've ever had... on a par with that served at Bobby & June's Country Kitchen at 14th. & Mecaslin Streets (375-14th. St., N/W) in Atlanta. (I have to say that I prefer that at The Euclid Avenue Yacht Club in Little Five Points in Atlanta by a hair.)
The Blind Pig is at 485 Baldwin Street in Athens, just across the Central Of Georgia tracks (rumble, rumble) from The University Of Georgia. Gee, now that I think of it, I could've walked from here (the U. Ga. Library), but instead I parked downtown.
Well, that's one review done and about 406 more to go. I'll write at least one more before I trundle off to prepare a box of books for sale tomorrow.
Hopefully Not Pulling An All-Nighter, Ort. Carlton in Lovely Athens 30601.

Dearfolk,
Today I lunched at Allen's Bar & Grill at 810 Hawthorne Avenue here in Athens. This place is, as I told you back a ways, the semi-reincarnation of a former Athens institution, Allen's Hamburgers, which was located on Prince Avenue from its beginning in 1954 until the closure of the business (largely due to the death of owner Danny Self, who was a fine fellow -- I went to high school with him).
The new Allen's is a little more upscale, a lot cleaner, a bunch less funky, and more of a "sports bar" than was its predecessor. I've heard rumblings from a few old-time Athens people that the new place isn't to their liking. Well, that's too bad, 'cause it's perfectly to mine! I was born and raised here and went plenty of times to the old place; I have to admit that while I do miss some of the -- ahem, charm -- of the old place, I like the new one better.
The old Allen's had a limited menu: hamburgers, hamburger steaks, hot dogs, chili, and Fannie's German potato salad were nigh on to the whole kit and kaboodle.
It's been my intention to work my way through the old menu items first before I traipse off into the additions and the specials, so that's what'll be here. I steered clear of the Soup Du Jour when I found out it's canned (it's perfectly good, but it isn't HOMEMADE, and THAT'S what I'm after!).
Today I ordered up The Mad Dog. It comes with chopped onions and one side (I chose green beans). Instead of opting for a bun (which I could have one of any old where), I asked the cook to split my dog ("Fine with me. It'll cook faster," he chuckled.) and serve it on our local Luna Bakery's sourdough bread. I added a squirt of Gulden's Brown Mustard and a small squirt of French's and dug in. It was just fine. I also chose a bowl of Danny's Homemade Chili, which I liked very much. It's milder than I had expected, so I added some Cholula (sp.?) Hot Sauce to it, which picked it up a whet.
Last visit (December 31st.), I tried a new menu item: Chicken Cheesesteak. I had mine on Luna Bakery's Marbled Rye Bread, and it was (as I noted) quite serviceable.
A few days earlier (December 29th.), I had eaten a Philly Cheesesteak at Allen's. Again I opted for the Luna Bakery marbled rye and white American cheese. It was perfectly satisfactory; in fact, I think I like it better this way than the traditional one.
There's one more report to post, so I'll stop digging back at this point for now.
Ramblingly (Even If Locally), Ort. Carlton, The Not-Very-Far-Travelling Trencherman Of Athens, Georgia.

Dearfolk,
While housesitting for my friend Jim From Kansas City (while he was snowblind in St. Joseph, turns out), I managed to take in a wanted-to-try eatery closer by far to his digs than to my own.
Jot 'Em Down Country Store & BBQ - 150 East Whitehall Road. The 'cue here is pretty good: lean and obviously cooked on wood; some of the best in this area. I opted for sides of cabbage casserole (only available Weds.-Sat.), which turned out to be EXQUISITE; and Brunswick stew, which was a truly decent, relatively mild-flavored version.
There are seven sauces, all but one vinegar-based: Cherokee Indian (mild) [just fine], Bill's (medium) [lacks zest], North Carolina [too thin for my liking], Taylor's (hot) [my second favorite], Mustard [nice, but runny], and Elrod's [by far my favorite: a righteously spicy vinegar sauce that has a nice complexity to it]... they could bottle this and sell it, it's that good. Alas, I did not have occasion to try their XXX Green Hell.
On my next visit, I plan to order the ribs. They also have sausage sandwiches early in the week, made from a local purveyor's product.
Repeatedly I've been told that this is the best BBQ place in Athens, and that's putting it up against some stiff conmpetition. Another place I need to venture to is Carithers' BBQ out Danielsville Road in the Norwood community... it, too, is a bona-fide wood-burner.
Upon a return visit to Jot 'Em Down, I will post more. Suffice to say that it generated more than a mere prickle of interest.
As If On 'Cue, Ort. Carlton in Amazing Athens, Georgia 30601.