Georgia Magazine - January 2012 - (Page 28)

Georgia’s ‘big’ eats From the everyday to the extreme BY JENNIFER J. HEWETT Though not one of their challenge pies, Jimmy Ward shows off just how big one of Kennesawbased Big Pie in the Sky’s “XL,” 30-inch cheese pizzas are. I n a world where super-sized seems the norm, people looking for bigger servings and more for their money can ﬁnd it in Georgia. Dotting the state’s landscape are restaurants offering patrons the opportunity to pull up a chair for platefuls of catﬁsh or all-you-can-eat veggies, while others make dining a challenge, in exchange for the victor’s name on a plaque, a T-shirt or simply local bragging rights. This month, travel with us as we head to several Georgia spots where you can get your ﬁll. Challenge: Big Pie in the Sky Home of the Carnivore Challenge, Kennesaw When you crave a big pizza, how big are you talking about? One that can barely get through the door of a restaurant? With slices the size of a baby? Then Big Pie in the Sky, a Kennesaw-based pizzeria serving up New York-style pies just may be the place for you. Hundreds of their “XL 30-inch ” pizzas regularly ﬂy out the door each day to hungry students at nearby Kennesaw State University. But one pizza on their menu—The Carnivore—is itself a feat, and normally serves eight to 10 people. Nearly 3 feet wide, and weighing in at 11 pounds, this big daddy is topped with a pound each of pepperoni, ground beef, Italian sausage, ham and bacon. And it’s the main attraction of the Carnivore Challenge, where teams of two have one hour to consume the entire pizza. The en- JENNIFER J. HEWETT JENNIFER J. HEWETT Big eats: Atlanta Mary Mac’s Tea Room On chilly nights, the line to dine at Mary Mac’s Tea Room is long, and the willy-nilly arrangement of bright rooms buzz with guests ﬁnishing their substantial meals. This haven for the modern meat-and-two serves up substantial portions of comfort food, and is especially known for its fried chicken. But if you ever decide to venture away from this admittedly divine version of a Southern classic, served without any “upscale” or inappropriate embellishments, try the chicken and dumplings. The South’s answer to France’s poulet bonne femme, exclusive content, beginning on page 32A of the digital this dish is a serious benchmark for the edition. genre. Southern style to the core, the dumplings are the ﬂat dough sort (not those dropped into hot broth), and the chicken as tender and ﬂavorful as one could ever imagine. Roast turkey, pork loin or roast chicken with dressing also come forth in portions that will easily supply another meal, and you get two sides in addition to the dressing. Try the peanut pie for dessert. And be sure to go home with a pan of the magniﬁcent cinnamon rolls for the next day’s breakfast. Mary Mac’s Tea Room, 224 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta; (404) 876-1800; marmacs.com —Jane F Garvey . try fee is $50, but if you succeed, you’ll take home $250 (and no doubt a belly ache). During the ﬁrst season of The Travel Channel’s “Man v. Food” television show, host Adam Richman visited Big Pie in the Sky to take on the Carnivore Challenge, but failed to ﬁnish this unruly pie. He’s not alone, though. More than 1,500 teams have signed on for the challenge, but only six have succeeded. Big Pie in the Sky, 2090 Baker Road NW, Suite A103, Kennesaw; (770) 420For more 8883; www.bigpie ‘big’eateries around inthesky.com the state, see our Web 28 More online at www.georgiamagazine.org GEORGIA MAGAZINE http://www.bigpieinthesky.com http://www.bigpieinthesky.com http://www.marymacs.com http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - January 2012

Georgia Magazine - January 2012
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Georgia News
Picture This?
Calendar of Events
Currents
Special Energy Report
What It Takes to Be a Roller Girl
A Nation Reunited
My Georgia
Georgia Gardens
Georgia Cooks
More “big” eateries and recipes
Snapshot
Bonus Snapshot submissions
Gardens plant of the month; Liberty notes
More roller derby photos
Festivals in Fitzgerald and Washington
January energy-effi ciency tips

Georgia Magazine - January 2012