During an interminable 4.5 hour layover in this Delta hub, since I didn't really have enough time to go into Atlanta, I decided to try to find some food that wasn't just as boring as the food on the airplane.

This is an American airport, so you can walk yourself to the point of exhaustion just getting oriented to your options. Each "node" in this airport holds yet another embarrassing American Food Court. So you're in good shape if you like to be insulted with $7 slices of cheese-bomb pizza, and Sbarro's keeeeeyrappy "Italian" food.

Then I spotted something called "Solomon's" or "Saul's" which, rather than serving Jewish deli food, actually served SOUTHERN FOOD! I jumped at the chance to have some hint that I was actually in Georgia. Since I'm not really a fried chicken man, I ordered the Vegetable Plate: a delicious mountain of Blackeyed Peas and Rice, Collard Greens, Broccoli and Corn Bread, all cooked in lots and lots of pork fat. They give you a wide range of super hot sauces to splash on it, and it only cost $4.

Glad I don't have to eat southern food every day, and I know it wasn't probably the best of its kind, but I really appreciated the opportunity to eat regional American food in an American public place. A rare occurrence these days.

sent by CP, 6 September 2002