The Real Chowbaby

Last night we had dinner with one of my favorite people, Erin, who I worked for at the Teach For America Institute in Atlanta last summer. Erin is passionately dedicated to educational opportunity for all children, especially her own first graders. I would call her leadership style "inspirational" - that is to say, I would work harder than I thought possible, and do it happily...basically following her lead. We dined at...

Chowbaby, which is a buffet-style stir-fry restaurant. Slightly pricey at around $12 a person, it is also all-you-can eat, so it is definitely possible to get your money's worth. Basically, you fill up a bowl with rice or noodles, any combination of vegetable you desire, sauces and spices, and what they call "protein" - which looks like chicken, beef, pork, or fish....although M and I, of course, stuck to the tofu. You drop off your raw ingredients at the griddle and stick a little wooden paddle in your bowl with your name and table on it, and they bring it to you a few minutes later.

They call it "American stir-fry", which is accurate - the sauces are certainly not on par with Fate, but they are decent enough. If you don't know how to combine the sauces and seasonings, their "menu" has some suggestions. And if you mess up, and make something nasty, you can always start over with a new bowl. Definitely a fun dining experience.