Fast Fame:Birmingham Alabama Barbeque Restaurant Gets a Taste of the Ruben Effect"

Birmingham, AL barbeque spot , The Original Golden Rule Bar-B-Q is getting calls from all over the country after they were featured in a national news story about American Idol contestant Ruben Studdard's hometown .

(PRWEB) May 21, 2003 -B-Q® is hearing from people all over the country after the Irondale, AL restaurant was featured in an Entertainment Tonight story about hometown hero and singing sensation Ruben Studdard, one of the final two contestants on the Fox networks hit show American Idol."

When a TV crew stopped by the Irondale restaurant unannounced , employees praised Ruben, and their enthusiastic words of encouragement ended up on national TV. You tell Ruben to come to the Golden Rule-he can eat as many slabs of ribs and as many pies as he wants," employee Peggy Martin told Entertainment Tonight. Martin says she has never even met Ruben, but shes a big fan, as are most of the folks in Rubens hometown.

The story piqued the interest of viewers across the U.S. Since the spot ran last week, Golden Rule restaurants around the state have been fielding calls from New York, Florida, Chicago and points beyond from people interested in their traditional pit barbecue.

One man even wanted us to send him banana pudding, but we make it fresh every morning and were afraid it wouldnt make the trip very well," says Golden Rule owner Charles Matsos.

Over the weekend, Golden Rule employees wrote good luck letters to Ruben and the store sent bottles of its barbecue sauce out to Ruben in California for a little taste of the 205" to help in his preparation for Tuesdays big finale.

Go Ruben!

media contact:
Melanie McCraney for Golden Rule Bar B Q
205/870-8652
John Bagby: 205/253-4362
mccraneypr@charter.net

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