Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

I did an interview with Alton about the time the second Feasting on Asphalt was out (he was touring for his book). Great interview - he actually called me early, because, as he said, he was tired of sitting and waiting for the agreed-upon time and decided to go ahead and see if I was available early.

He's honest to a fault in interviews, and the riffs and insights he had for Feasting were really interesting and funny.

Later, when he came to town for the book signing, I loaded up the family and headed up (even the kids love him). My daughter is his girl's age. She had a Hannah Montana shirt on and, as a properly-involved father would, Alton was well-familiar with her. My daughter couldn't believe she was discussing Hannah Montana with Alton Brown!

Chinese restaurant in Lake City, Fla. - the Fu King.

I looked at the two states that I have called home, and both were so off it comes close to offensive.

I grew up in New Orleans and it was dinner. And all carbonated beverages were Cokes.

I'm in Mississippi now, and I hear supper much more frequently, but not exclusively. And it's still Coke.

Dang, and I just got back from Omaha watching my alma mater in the College World Series! Wish I had known about this then.

Leatha's in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Consistently highly-rated (was once given a five-star rating by a food critic. On a four-star scale).