My girlfriend and I traveled to Atlanta together in 2006. She grew up in Georgia and couldn’t wait to go back home. For me, it was a new experience, and I really wanted it to be authentically southern. Top on her list was Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Back home, my girlfriend is mostly a vegetarian, but when we hit the streets of Atlanta, all bets were off. We arrived at Fat Matt’s just as it was getting dark, and already there was a line out the door. The menu was up on the wall, but the only serious questions one had to answer at the counter were “Chicken or ribs?” and whether you wanted corn bread on the side or collard greens. We ordered ribs and chicken, and a couple of extra sides, and sat down next to a variety of folks, from families to fraternity brothers. As our meal arrived, a local blues band started setting up in the corner and belted out a few numbers to make the experience even more soulful and tasty.