Oink oink

When I used to visit my mother in a nursing home in Arkansas we would look for restaurants where Mr. Nag, a vegetarian, could find something he could eat. He found himself having to choose between pizza at the mall or stretching his culinary boundaries to include catfish. Over the years more chains moved in but early on we had few choices. Mr. Nag checked in at the local fire station to see if the brothers could offer some advice. They told us " if y'all want good food, go where the big hogs go". They suggested a buffet close to our hotel. It was a dingy place with card tables and folding chairs. The denizens all looked like Hindenburgs and had grim, purposeful expressions on their faces. We were in a dry county, it was date night and it appeared that these folks were filling that dark hole deep within themselves with greasy goodness. In another, moister, locale this could have been accomplished to greater effect with alcohol. I bet you're waiting for me to tell you that it was some of the best grub I ever ate. Well, it wasn't. We bellied up to a half mile long counter of deep fried batter the shape and size of tennis balls. There were no signs to tell us what ingredients were contained within. We had to wait until we got back to our table and split them open to figure out what we had before us. It was not tasty. It was gross. The intensity with which the patrons approached their plates (again and again and again) was scarey. And worst of all it was expensive. Since then I distrust all-you-can-eat joints. For those of you who are not yet jaded:

Are you hungry? Are you really, really hungry? If so, read on, for we have chosen ten of America's best places to bring your best appetite: all-you-can-eat restaurants where you pay one price, then pile a plate high and come back for seconds and, if possible, thirds. The late, great Mendenhall Hotel in Mississippi used to serve food this way, and to inspire diners, it offered a lovely, framed handmade sampler on the wall that said, 'Eat 'Til It Ouches.'

Via Information Junk