When one thinks of the South, Soul food, Barbecue, the struggle for Civil Rights and music, specifically the Blues, immediately come to mind. I cannot think of the South without thinking about the African American experience, I believe that the two are intertwined forever. In short, with so much history and infamy, it is hard to imagine a Birmingham that can described as "hip" or "trending"; but don't let the past cast a permanent shadow over the present: Birmingham is changing. Food and Wine Magazine moved here from New York City, joining the rest of Time Inc's slate of publications from Essence to Cooking Light. Birmingham's hip and new Pizitz food hall is home to Ethiopian, Japanese, Vietnamese, Indian, Middle Eastern food stalls. And as of this month, Highlands Bar and Grill was named the most Outstanding Restaurant in America by the James Beard Foundation. Now that sounds like a city worth making a foodcation for. And as far as the Cheap Eats? Well, I'm glad you asked . . .
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I may not be Childish Gambino but I am childish, and like Donald Glover . . . I am sooo down for the ATL!! Sprawling with a diverse community and great restaurants at every turn, Atlanta reminded me lot of Los Angeles, my old stomping grounds. And an added bonus: I have yet to visit a city in American where I saw such a diverse set of African Americans on a socio-economic scale. To put it bluntly, as my African American über driver did: Atlanta is a place where black people are doing well. They say Washington DC is Chocolate City? I say it's Atlanta, and it is not just a city, but a thriving metropolis. But before I get too PBS on you . . . let's get into to the Cheap Eats of the ATL!
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Vegas baby! Vegas!!
There are a handful of cities whose bright flickering lights excites and entices the out of towner to do just about anything. Sure, you could throw New York in there and Los Angeles is a town built on dreams and dreamers. But Vegas, well that is a town that can chew you up and spit you out in a single weekend and still make you wanna come back. There are many stories of this of course, from the old days when the Mob ran Vegas to the latest installment of the Hangover series. But your boy came here on a budget and this time, I came to Vegas to win! You could dine big time in Vegas for sure but did you know how big time you can dine on dimes? Well, contrary to the old adage: what happened on Cheap Eats Las Vegas aint gonna stay in Vegas!! So let's take a look back to the Cheap Eats in Sin City!!
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Even though my allegiance to college football is out west with my alma mater, The University of Southern California, I caught a little of the "Go Dawgs spirit" when Cheap Eats went to Athens Georgia last December. And though they may have come up short in a double OT game against the Alabama Crimson Tide, they did not come up short on Cheap Eats. And I ain't talking just budget either . . . because if there is ONE THING I look for when I'm down south, is a go to soul food joint and let's just say I got that playing on "Automatic". And as far as the rest of my Cheap Eats went down in Athens? Well let's just take a big bite back in time shall we?
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Greenville SC may not be on your foodie radar YET but trust me, if you spend time in Asheville or Atlanta, you will no doubt hear about this South Eastern up and comer. If the cranes and bulldozers don't clue you in, I will flat out say it: construction means progress. I can't say what Greenville was like before I got there because it was my first time here when we shot Cheap Eats but I do know that folks are excited about restaurants opening up and bringing in new peeps. But you aren't here for a real estate report - you want them Cheap Eats! Well it is my solemn duty to share these eats. And share I shall.
(more…)
When one thinks of the South, Soul food, Barbecue, the struggle for Civil Rights and music, specifically the Blues, immediately come to mind. I cannot think of the South without thinking about the African American experience, I believe that the two are intertwined forever. In short, with so much history and infamy, it is hard to imagine a Birmingham that can described as "hip" or "trending"; but don't let the past cast a permanent shadow over the present: Birmingham is changing. Food and Wine Magazine moved here from New York City, joining the rest of Time Inc's slate of publications from Essence to Cooking Light. Birmingham's hip and new Pizitz food hall is home to Ethiopian, Japanese, Vietnamese, Indian, Middle Eastern food stalls. And as of this month, Highlands Bar and Grill was named the most Outstanding Restaurant in America by the James Beard Foundation. Now that sounds like a city worth making a foodcation for. And as far as the Cheap Eats? Well, I'm glad you asked . . .
(more…)
I may not be Childish Gambino but I am childish, and like Donald Glover . . . I am sooo down for the ATL!! Sprawling with a diverse community and great restaurants at every turn, Atlanta reminded me lot of Los Angeles, my old stomping grounds. And an added bonus: I have yet to visit a city in American where I saw such a diverse set of African Americans on a socio-economic scale. To put it bluntly, as my African American über driver did: Atlanta is a place where black people are doing well. They say Washington DC is Chocolate City? I say it's Atlanta, and it is not just a city, but a thriving metropolis. But before I get too PBS on you . . . let's get into to the Cheap Eats of the ATL!
(more…)
Vegas baby! Vegas!!
There are a handful of cities whose bright flickering lights excites and entices the out of towner to do just about anything. Sure, you could throw New York in there and Los Angeles is a town built on dreams and dreamers. But Vegas, well that is a town that can chew you up and spit you out in a single weekend and still make you wanna come back. There are many stories of this of course, from the old days when the Mob ran Vegas to the latest installment of the Hangover series. But your boy came here on a budget and this time, I came to Vegas to win! You could dine big time in Vegas for sure but did you know how big time you can dine on dimes? Well, contrary to the old adage: what happened on Cheap Eats Las Vegas aint gonna stay in Vegas!! So let's take a look back to the Cheap Eats in Sin City!!
(more…)
Even though my allegiance to college football is out west with my alma mater, The University of Southern California, I caught a little of the "Go Dawgs spirit" when Cheap Eats went to Athens Georgia last December. And though they may have come up short in a double OT game against the Alabama Crimson Tide, they did not come up short on Cheap Eats. And I ain't talking just budget either . . . because if there is ONE THING I look for when I'm down south, is a go to soul food joint and let's just say I got that playing on "Automatic". And as far as the rest of my Cheap Eats went down in Athens? Well let's just take a big bite back in time shall we?
(more…)
Greenville SC may not be on your foodie radar YET but trust me, if you spend time in Asheville or Atlanta, you will no doubt hear about this South Eastern up and comer. If the cranes and bulldozers don't clue you in, I will flat out say it: construction means progress. I can't say what Greenville was like before I got there because it was my first time here when we shot Cheap Eats but I do know that folks are excited about restaurants opening up and bringing in new peeps. But you aren't here for a real estate report - you want them Cheap Eats! Well it is my solemn duty to share these eats. And share I shall.
(more…)
