LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) – Dad's Favorites is a lunch spot in an uncommon location, tucked away within the arcade of Backyard Springs Buying Middle together with a seamstress, laundromat and shoe restore store. However the secret has come to gentle. Traces kind each weekday earlier than the doorways open and most of the each day specials promote out shortly.
“We don't promote,” mentioned proprietor James “Dad” Caudill. “We're open 4 hours a day, 20 hours per week.”
Caudill depends on foodies like John Cooper to carry enterprise to his Southern-style deli.
“The whole lot relies on phrase of mouth. You carry a good friend, you inform a good friend. Subsequent time you present up, who's right here? All your mates,” Caudill mentioned.
Cooper is healthier referred to as “Porky”, a nickname he has had since childhood. He wears it proudly and doesn't thoughts displaying that he has it tattooed on his abdomen. He's an enormous man with an enormous urge for food.
In 2020, Porky had a sense that lots of his favourite eating places had been at risk of closing as a result of pandemic restrictions. He then started running a blog about them on a Fb web page referred to as Unofficial: Porky's Picks. He has 6,000 followers and is rising daily. Fb not too long ago referred to as him a “creator on the rise.”
“I don't take into account myself a meals critic,” Cooper mentioned. “I simply take into account myself supporting native companies. However after I actually get pleasure from it, you already know it. You possibly can see it in my movies.”
The movies he posts typically present him stuffing sandwiches in his mouth and rubbing his abdomen whereas music performs. His facial expressions humorously reveal when he actually likes one thing.
He's had a number of good issues to say about Dad's favorites. After consuming a roast beef sandwich, she mentioned, “I might eat about 5 of those!”
Cooper works at The Toy Manufacturing unit, a household enterprise that customizes automobiles. Virtually daily he goes someplace to organize lunch for the crew and there aren't many issues he doesn't strive.
“I don't eat seafood or mushrooms in any respect,” he mentioned. “And cottage cheese has an odd texture to me, so I can't alter that.”
So what’s your favourite meals?
“I might positively say tacos are my favourite.”
Ramirez Taqueria staff know Cooper effectively. He’s a frequent customer and at all times offers the restaurant nice opinions. It's one other secluded spot that pulls crowds because of optimistic phrase of mouth. “I by no means knew what an actual taco was till I had one right here,” he mentioned.
Maybe many individuals worth Porky's opinions as a result of he’s a working-class man, not a snobbish critic or somebody who counts energy. He mentioned that his criticism offers him one thing optimistic to give attention to and helps him neglect some unhealthy selections he made in his youth. He has additionally launched him to meals he would by no means have tried. For instance, he’s now an enormous fan of Indian meals.
When Cooper loves one thing, it leaves an enduring impression, just like the tattoo of the now-defunct Parkette Drive-In behind his ear. He mentioned he wish to go to all of the eating places in Fayette County.
Cooper is a big of a person weighing 330 kilos. However he mentioned he misplaced 90 kilos within the final 12 months. He's not making an actual effort to shed weight, however he mentioned he's given up late-night snacking and focuses on having a few good meals a day as a substitute of consuming all day. And he loves salad.
“Sure,” he mentioned. “I’ve a salad with nearly each meal.”
In case you ever don't know the place to go for lunch, take a look at Porky's Picks. You'll in all probability uncover an area enterprise that matches your tastes.
He mentioned that as quickly as he leaves a restaurant, he’s desirous to submit about what he ate. “It's that feeling you get from making individuals completely happy.”
Cooper additionally incessantly shares his opinions with the morning hosts of Z-Rock 103 radio and WVLK's “Meals Information and Chews.”