Fat Matt's Rib Shack

Saturday afternoon, J and I set off to Fat Matt's rib shack for lunch. I can still remember the first time I went to Fat Matt's. It was my sophomore year in college. I had never had American barbeque before. My friend had explained that this was Georgian barbeque, tomato-based. I'm probably partial to it simply because it's the first I've ever had, but the falling-off-the-bone tenderness, the richness of the ribs; it's just a really great flavor. Ever since that first time, and every time after, I always order the same thing: lemonade, a half slab of ribs, rum baked beans, and cole slaw.

It all starts with the lemonade. It's just lemonade from a machine, right? But something about it is just so perfect. A perfect mix of sweet and sour.

And here come the ribs and sides. This is a full slab that you see here. J and I got a full slab to share. J likes to dip his ribs in the provided sauce, but I actually like to dip them into my beans. You also get white bread, of course. I'm not sure what purpose the white bread is supposed to serve. J usually eats all the bread. I'm content enough with the rest of the grub. And the cole slaw is just perfect. Creamy and tasty; none of those weird "modern" things trying to jazz up (and ruin) good cole slaw. I've tried to make coleslaw before and I just can't do it. When we have fish n chips, J always stops off at a bbq joint near the house to pick up cole slaw.

Yum. We really don't go that often -- high fat content and all that -- but just looking at the photos makes me remember how good it was and want to go again!