Every time I'm in California I despair over the utter lack of southern barbecue. Y'all've got great Asian and Mexican food, but you're missing such a quintessential staple of the human culinary experience. There's nothing like a good fatty barbecue brisket.

The south has so much good food, and it's starting to garner increasing recognition. Michelin is announcing which Atlanta-area restaurants get stars in late October. I've dined a lot in LA and New York, and honestly the south has been overlooked.