Ben's Chili Bowl

So on Saturday my friends and I hit up Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington D.C. An institution in the D. C. area, Ben's has been serving up chili, chili dogs, and burgers with fries (with chili of course) and shakes (sans chili) to people of all creeds, colors, religions, and Bill Cosby for 50 years. It was no wonder that when we got to the place there was a line out of the restaurant and around the corner into their back alley. Although the line was long, it did not take long to be welcomed into the raucous cacophony that was at times part side show and part celebration of good greasy-ass food. Upon getting into Ben's dining room you are forcefully but politely shown the end of the line, where once settled in the stimuli hit you like Go-Go music in the middle of a hurricane. People are shouting, singing, chewing, laughing, giving orders, dancing and eating all at once. We were lucky enough to score a table thus foregoing the need to stand in line to order our dogs. The service at this joint should be a shining example to all restaurants in the country. Within five minutes of sitting down, we were asked by six servers if we were being helped, which we already were of course. And these servers don't play around Jack; they want your drink orders when you sit down and your food order by the time they bring your drinks. They have to be ruthlessly efficient to be able to turn the tables over to sit the people that are literally around the corner waiting for their chance to sample that famous chili. We ordered the half smokes (the Cos's favorite) which are a spicy mixture of beef and pork topped with mustard , onions, and chili (the holy trinity of encased meat emulsions). Also ordered were the chili fries, regular chili dogs and chili burgers. Oddly enough, no one in our party actually ordered the chili by itself, so I guess I'll have to wait till next time. Overall, there is a really good time to be had at Ben's Chili Bowl, its not the best chili hot dog I've ever had (I'm a dirty water dog girl myself), but it is a unique experience. Being surrounded by photos of the years gone by, tourists from all over the world, and the servers running around like mad while Chuck Brown, The Junkyard Band, or James Brown kick out the jams there is a feeling of family. Its sort of like going to your friends house where you don't know his mother, but she treats you like one of her own children... no special treatment (if Dr. Cornell West doesn't get it neither do you). Basically, I can't wait to go back before hitting up the galleries and dropping by the White house to hang out with Barry.

Cheers,
Johnny



All Photos ©2009 John Houser III

Shit Show Pics Part Duex!

So here are the rest of the pic (that I feel like posting) for the Shit Show at Jacks Bistro. I hope you have dug the photos. If anything it should give you impetuous to get your asses down to Jacks and have a great meal at a fantastically original and support you local restaurants. Thanks to Ted, Christy, and the peeps at Jacks for making my stupid ass feel like part of the Fam for one night!

If you have any questions or want any of these pics forwarded to you, just ask.
Rock!
Johnny

All Photos ©John Houser III 2008

Shit Show Pics! Part 1

So here are some of my favorite "Shit Show" photos that weren't published in the Metromix article (there just wasn't enough room). It'll give you a behind the scenes look at what went into the madness out in the front of the house. Remember, click on the pics to get a better view. I'll post the rest tomorrow. Enjoy!


All Photos ©John Houser III 2008

New year, New fear

So its been almost a month since my first post and man has some shit gone down! Besides the obvious festivities of Xmas and New Years there has been a couple of interesting developments in my humble life. One is that I have graduated from Culinary school (thank you, thank you). It was a long couple of years but I'm both elated and somber about the fact that I won't be taking classes there anymore. I know its cliche, but that's how it goes. I do look forward to starting a few new ventures (this blog being one) and reconnecting with a couple old projects.


I am currently in the middle of writing an article for Baltimore Metromix about daily specials in restaurants around the Federal Hill/ Locust Point area. It amazes me that there are still restaurants that open and have no fucking web presence whatsoever. I mean, its been the norm now for years! It also makes me laugh when I see that low end to middle rung restaurants think that they are above giving diners daily "specials" to entice people to go to their restaurants. In this economy you better damn sure as shit have a "burger night" or "two for Tuesday". People are tired of tuna tartare at $12 a pop and they want a good mac and cheese (get that dry shit out of my face) for around $6. Is that asking too much? We will see in the next couple of months I guess when restaurants start dropping like flies. The article I am doing will be done next week. I'll let you know when its posted and I'll provide a link.



My other endeavour this month is to stay completely sober for the whole month of January. To some this may sound really easy, but to others its a horrifying proposition. I did it last year with great success and this year is going well (5 days in mind you). Its just a way of clearing my head and preparing for things to come in the new year. Also, its unbelievable how much work I can get done on many projects I have going. For those of you who know me, you know I like to have a soda pop now and again, and why taking a month off is such a big deal for me. Oh well, see you at the bars on Feb. 1.



I know I haven't posted the "Shit Show" pics, but they are coming. I want to make sure I put up photos that haven't been printed on Metromix.

By the way, have you heard that Tony Bourdain is in Baltimore? Apparenly shooting an episode of No Reservations? Looks like I picked a bad week to stop drinking.



F your F

Johnny