If you go
› What: “Alton Brown Live: Eat Your Science”› Where: Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St.› When: 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19› Admission: $39, $49, $75 or $125 VIP› For more information: 423-757-5580
What's a road trip without great food?
That's why Food Network star Alton Brown launched his #ABRoadEats - to discover the go-to restaurants and off-the-beaten-path places his fans recommend in their hometowns.
Brown will be in Chattanooga on Sunday, Nov. 19, for "Alton Brown Live: Eat Your Science," the follow-up tour to his "Edible Inevitable" tour.
He has asked fans in each of the 28 cities where the tour stops to send him suggestions where he should eat. When he hits town, he'll post selfies of himself on his social media at the spots he's chosen.
Fans in Chattanooga can submit recommendations for coffee and breakfast to late-night munchies on his website, on Facebook and on Twitter using #ABRoadEatsCHA.
"Alton Brown Live: Eat Your Science" is an all-new show that includes a variety of entertainment from multimedia presentations to songs, talk-show antics and bigger-and-better food demonstrations.
Brown has a knack for mixing together science, music and food into two hours of interactive entertainment. He promises "plenty of new therapy-inducing opportunities during audience participation segments. I don't want to give too much away, but this time we're going to play a little game while we're at it. Plus, you'll see things I've never been allowed to do on TV."
He's also contemplating more sophisticated protective gear for folks in the first few rows just in case things get messy again.
"Everyone loves telling out-of-towners where to eat. Typically we choose one coffee joint, one breakfast (or doughnut) stop and a lunch stop," says Brown. "Then after the show, we'll hit a late-night place." Dinners are usually reserved for cities where the tour has a day off.
Brown tabulates votes each day and makes his picks from the submissions.
"I do not eat a single bite of food that doesn't come from the hashtag," he says.
So far, more than 50 recommendations have been sent, along with one invitation from Lodge Manufacturing for him to tour its foundry.
Restaurants that have received more than one nomination are Hot Chocolatier, Bitter Alibi, Main Street Meats, River Street Deli, Easy Bistro, Beast + Barrel, Aretha Frankensteins, Champy's and 2 Sons Kitchen. And if he really wants to eat like a local, Bea's fried chicken was suggested.
Anyone with an appetite for more Alton Brown can find #ABRoadEats city-specific hashtags, and additional show information at www.altonbrownlive.com.