Fun Facts

He has three sandwich tattoos.

A rooster standing on a bun — a chicken sandwich, literally. Case picked the artist on purpose: Ken Cox, then of Oak Street Tattoo in New Orleans (he has since moved abroad), who painted the murals at Turkey and the Wolf and Molly's Rise and Shine — and has tattooed Mason Hereford, Turkey and the Wolf's owner. It is the number 1 Google search result for "chicken sandwich tattoo" — and Google's AI Overview for the query illustrates the topic with it.

三明治 — the Chinese word for sandwich, on his forearm. He met his wife in China, so this tattoo means a lot to him.

"panino con arrosto di manzo" — Italian for "roast beef sandwich," on his forearm, photographed next to the real thing. He studied Italian during Covid. He got this tattoo in New Orleans and celebrated with an Italian roast beef sandwich from R&O in Metairie.

Three tattoos, three languages. That about sums up the whole project.

He judged barbecue before he scored sandwiches.

Three-time judge at the Taylor International Barbecue Cookoff.

He ran the clubs — and earned nicknames.

A BBQ Club with about ten friends meeting monthly, then a Burger Club with his best friend Hamid, then a Sandwich Club (the switch was partly to eat somewhat healthier). All three ran for years, all three are separate from StackSandos. In the Full Tray BBQ Collective, everyone had a nickname. His played on his last name — Critchlow: Low N' Slow. His copy of Franklin Barbecue is inscribed "To FTBBQC! Low N Slow." In the Burger Club he was Smash, and in the Sandwich Club he was Stack — and that's where StackSandos comes from. He's stuck with sandwiches longest because they combine all of those food passions, from barbecue to burgers and beyond.

He still rates every sandwich on paper.

Stars, 1 to 3 — for every sandwich he has, even repeats. 1 star means he wouldn't eat it again, 2 stars means he would eat it again, and 3 stars is for special experiences that exceed expectations. This is where the star-based rating system comes from on the app. You can rate sandwiches just like Case has for years.

He is a late adopter by principle.

When a new BBQ joint opened, the old Austin motto was "we'll try it in five years if it's still around." He still thinks that way — it's where the five-year guide comes from. He focuses on the classic Austin restaurants, while influencers focus on the brand new — he enjoys the history, stories, and people of the restaurants standing the test of time.

Every spring, he tailgates for chicken sandwiches.

The family used to go to the Salt Lick on Easter Sunday. When the Salt Lick was closed for COVID, Case worked with what was available to him and held the world's first Chicken Sandwich Tailgate — at the old Flyrite location in East Austin, with his son and family. Once the Salt Lick opened again, the Easter tradition resumed there, and the Chicken Sandwich Tailgate moved to the first weekend of spring, where it has stayed every year since — at different chicken sandwich locations around Austin and Texas.

He has eaten some interesting ingredients.

Most of them in China: jellyfish, duck tongue, chicken heart, beef tendon, octopus, pig ear, fish maw, beef cheek, sea urchin, pig face, gluten, squid, squid ink, chicken feet, soft shell crab, duck head, duck brain, fish head, fish eye, pigeon, duck blood, head cheese, abalone, soft shelled turtle, frog, eel, goose, duck liver, duck intestines, duck gizzard, screws, pig brains, beef offal, bird's nest soup, bullfrog, puffer fish, marsh eel, shark fin, pig trotters, and durian.

His favorite non-sandwich dishes in Austin.

These are personal favorites, not Stack Scores: char siu pork belly at Loro; mala spicy soup with beef at Ten Seconds Yunnan Noodle; fried shrimp at Whip My Soul; salted caramel cheesecake at Pieous; chicken and sausage gumbo at Evangeline Cafe; the Strait Plate at Maudie's; Belgian chocolate malt with hot fudge at Amy's Ice Creams; and the Cowboy Roll at DK Sushi.

His favorite local businesses that aren't restaurants.

He gets his hair cut at Skinny's Barbershop on Westgate — 6800 Westgate Blvd, Suite 133B, Austin, TX 78745. Shout-out to his barber, Tiny. He also likes Great Wave Tattoo on Burnet — 4634 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78756 — where he got his Chinese tattoo. His favorite concert venue is Stubb's, for the concerts. He's seen Slowdive, Jimmy Eat World, Ratatat, the Submarines, Interpol, and Silversun Pickups there, among others. He also likes Barton Springs Mill in Dripping Springs — 16604 Fitzhugh Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620 — the Texas stone mill grinding organic heritage and landrace grains into fresh flour.