Lunch of the Weak: Joey’s Cafe, 12325 N May Ave # 112
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These two are intertwined. Joey’s Cafe is one of my favorite places to eat on the planet. But when I showed up on Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 for a late lunch, they had closed! The sign clearly indicated they were open until 3. And there on the other side of the glass door was the day’s special: Chicken Cordon Bleu. Seriously? You’re going to close early AND taunt me with a delicious entree that I could’ve had!?! Not cool.

However, it wasn’t totally a weak lunch because just across the street was the Brown Suga Cafe. After Sherrel Jones’ column on soul food in February, I got a lot of feedback on top soul food spots and Brown Suga was among them.

So I stopped by and got the Brown Suga chicken with red beans and rice, green beans, cornbread and peach cobbler. The roasted chicken was moist and seasoned with a combination of salt, pepper and brown sugar. The answer is yes, it was that good. Red beans and rice were no Pearl’s, but just like mom used to make. The green beans were cooked with potatoes and no shortage of pig fat and or butter, I suspect. Again, Yes. The cornbread was super sweet, which I usually frown upon but mixed with the savory green beans it was truly toe-curling good. The cobbler didn’t have ice cream, which concerned me until I realized that I’d eaten every bite. Needless to say, dinner didn’t happen.

Look for a lunch You Ought to Know soon. Sorry no pics, again I was too hungry.