April 7, 2015

Today Carson and I went to film at Mary Mac's Tea Room on Ponce de Leon Avenue. Mary Mac's was started by Mary Mackenzie in 1945 right after World War II. We learned that it was very common at this time for women widowed by the war to open restaurants to earn a living. The "Tea Room" was often added to elevate the social status of the venue. We interviewed two employees both who have worked at Mary Mac's for over 20 years. They both agreed that the customers are what makes their job so special. They have a reputation for establishing strong customer relationships and know most of their regulars by name. We spent a lot of time filming the inside and outside of the restaurant because the interior is so large and the exterior sits right on a busy road so getting good sound was tricky. For the meal it was recommended by the manager that I have the fried chicken with sweet potato soufflé, mac & cheese and the banana pudding for dessert. The fried chicken was crispy and juicy. The sweet potato was incredibly sweet and complimented the chicken. The macaroni and cheese was made fresh right before I ate it and was hot and cheesy. The banana pudding was unbelievable and an excellent way to conclude the meal. Overall we had a great experience and Mary Mac's Tea Room and got some great footage that we're excited to put together.