By KEN HOFFMAN
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle

What's it like for Houston accountant Daniel Lue, now that he's survived Survivor?

"Some things have changed, that's for sure. I do get treated like a celebrity, which is great. I fly around to celebrity events and meet all sorts of people. I've rubbed shoulders with Dustin Hoffman and discussed my wardrobe with Melissa Rivers," he said.

"One time I was at Disneyland and someone recognized me and let me cut in line. On the plane ride home, the flight attendant gave me four packs of peanuts.

"And I'm putting out a calendar for 2004. I'm taking the photos next week. That never would have happened, if not for Survivor."

Lue was a contestant on Survivor: Amazon, which aired between February and May. While he was voted off the show in Week 3, the muscular bean-counter made quite an impression on female viewers. Hence, the calendar, which will feature provocative shots of him flexing various muscles.

Lue admits that, sadly, some things will never change.

"A few weeks ago, I was at Pappadeaux and there was a 45-minute wait for a table. I told the hostess, 'Did you watch Survivor? I'm Dan from Survivor.' She looked at me and told me to wait by the bar. Sure enough, 45 minutes later, I had my table."

Lue is hoping for one more big change. He would like to quit accounting and become a movie actor.

"I think I have talent. I'd like to portray Asian-Americans as we truly are, just regular people. I see too many movies showing us as either martial-arts experts or computer geeks. A lot of us are good-looking buff dudes -- like me," he joked.

The new Drexler's World Famous Barbecue and Grill is set to open at 2300 Pierce, right around the corner from the old Drexler's Barbecue.

This restaurant is bigger -- and improved. In addition to brisket, links and ribs, Drexler's now will serve grilled steaks, seafood and, gasp, fresh vegetables.

Vegetables are those green and yellow healthy things on the side of your plate.

There will be live entertainment on weekends, private dining areas, even a basketball shootaround court.

The new Drexler's is so big, it will take two days -- Friday and Saturday -- for the grand opening. Festivities will include music, prizes, basketball for the kids, and a one-on-one foul shooting contest for charity between Clyde Drexler and me.

Drexler is one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history. I type for a living.

I can beat him, really. The contest is at 3 p.m. Saturday.

The Fairchilds Farmer Inn, home of the world's most trucker-pleasing, doggy-bag-requiring chicken-fried steak, is closing Aug. 1.

"The cotton gin next door owns the property we sit on, and they say it's too much of a legal liability," said legendary chicken-fried cook Denise Peters.

The Farmer Inn is located in Fairchilds -- "just a little ol' bitty hole in the road," according to Peters. Take U.S. 59 South, turn south on Texas 36 headed toward Needville, then make a left on FM 361.

You know a town is small when it's a suburb of Needville.

I was turned on to Fairchilds Farmer Inn about a year ago when I attended a water board convention on South Padre Island. The mayor of a town even smaller than Fairchilds, if you can believe that, said, "You ain't never ate chicken-fried steak until you ate one at the Farmer Inn."

Man, was he ever right. Fairchilds Farmer Inn uses big hunks of real-life round steak -- none of that chopped 'n' formed and chewed 'n' glued stuff you get at lesser grease emporiums.

For $7.95, you get two slabs of beef that have been battered senseless and deep-fried, a mountain of crinkle-cut fries, salad and Texas toast.

I didn't grow up on a farm, so I asked Peters, "Really, next door to a cotton gin? Exactly what do they do at a cotton gin, anyway?"

"They gin cotton," she said.

Thanks.

Listen to Ken Hoffman on The Pat Gray Show, 8 a.m. Wednesdays on KPRC Radio (950 AM).