Conversations with Thomas Elliott

Today we’d like to introduce you to Thomas Elliott.

Hi Thomas, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Thomas Elliott here, aka DirtySouthFoodie.

I didn’t start as a food content creator. I started as a kid peeling spring roll wrappers for 25 cents a pack in my family’s business back in Jesup, Georgia. We were the only Thai family in town, and food wasn’t just something we ate, it was our life.

Before opening Nang’s Thai Restaurant in 2002, my family spent over a decade traveling the Southeast art and crafts festival circuit. When they finally put down roots, every year continued with rolling thousands of egg rolls, cooking mountains of fried rice, and serving locals and travelers alike. It was a fun, rewarding family affair. The restaurant was sold in 2023 when my 73-year-old mom decided it was finally time to retire. These days, my mom, my sister, and I help run FabuCats of Wayne County, a local cat rescue. Support is always appreciated!

After moving to Atlanta to attend Georgia State University… Go Panthers!… I worked across a variety of industries, from restaurants and property management to community engagement. Along the way, I found myself immersed in one of the most underrated food cities in America. Now Atlanta is absolutely booming with flavors from all over the world. Seriously, go get y’all some.

Whenever friends and family came to visit, I somehow became the unofficial tour guide. I’d show them skyline views, neighborhood staples, hidden gems, and occasionally a little Atlanta nightlife. More often though, I was taking them all over the city, especially down Buford Highway, to experience the incredible mix of cultures and cuisines that make Atlanta so special.

Back then, my regular rotation included Highland Bakery, Magic City for wings, Lee’s Bakery, Canton House, Northern China Eatery, Bab’s Midtown (Hey Randy!), Fox Bros. BBQ, Nick’s Food To Go, Home Grown (Kevin!), the original Victory Sandwich Bar in Inman Park, Little’s Food Store in Cabbagetown (Cheers, Brad!), Planet Bombay in Little Five Points, Hong Kong Harbor, Apache Cafe, Pho 24 after the clurb, and the Original Pancake House. These weren’t just restaurants, they were part of the Atlanta experience. Some are still around, while others live on only in memories. If you’ve been in Atlanta long enough, you probably have a few stories from those spots too.

What started as showing friends and family around the city eventually turned into documenting Atlanta’s food scene and sharing the places that make the city unique. My perspective comes from both sides of the table, from peeling spring roll wrappers, prepping ingredients, and working in a small-town family restaurant to exploring this eclectic Southern city one meal at a time.

At the end of the day, I’m just a foodie from a little town called Jesup, Georgia, who loves good food, good people, and helping others discover places they might have otherwise missed. Atlanta gave me a bigger stage, but the lessons started long before Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. They started in a family kitchen, peeling and rolling spring rolls one wrapper at a time.

You can catch me on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube as @DirtySouthFoodie, eating my way across Atlanta and beyond.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Work is complete separate by day working with self driving cars by night foodie loose in Metro Atlanta

How do you define success?
Cheese drawer in the fridge filled to the brim with delightful treats.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dirtysouthfoodie?igsh=MXdqOWpkOWF1dng1MA==
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@dirtysouthfoodie?si=wiBWYw6vJRqv2STo