Oh Hello there!

So many things have changed. But the one thing that remains certain and steadfast is my love for food. SO I am back folks. Get ready.

Parish

My newest pal, aspiring Lindyhopper T. Dooley, and I enjoyed a pre-Dad's garage meal at Parish. Thanks to the Concentric's website we got 50% off our bill:) It's a very cute space, but they try a little hard. The tv dinner concept is cute, and all the different plates and Southern appeal just don't quite feel honest and sincere. The gingham clad staff is cooler than that, and would undoubtedly never be caught  in their cutesy tops. The live music was great, but seemed to be uncomfortably stuck into the front seating area. We also were sat right next to a robust 12 top, so this made for an awkward few moments - when there were plenty of other tables around at 6:30....(pre show remember). 

The food:

heirloom tomatoes & watermelon

heirloom tomatoes, grilled watermelon, mint, capers, pickled watermelon rind,

farmer’s cheese, coffee-balsamic reduction

The tomatoes were really good and fresh and the farmer's cheese was the best part. But I would come back for it, or anything else we had unfortunately...

joe’s bacon and beets

orange, goat cheese, toasted pecans, spicy greens, burnt honey vinaigrette

I am a rebel. Eating oysters all over July, which has no R!

Finally:

organic mushroom cheesecake

pecan crust, arugula salad, smoked creme fraiche

Sadly, nothing was great. Nothing was bad, but nothing was great.

The best thing was probably our drinks - Pimm's cups.

I have heard brunch is their best, so I would try it again. But just not wowed.

Empire State South

On our monthly dinner out MBD and I finally made a point to try Hugh Acheson's restaurant, Empire State South. Hugh has been on Top Chef Masters, and as such, has celebrity status. Even without that I would still have been excited to check out this restaurant.

It has a distinctly beachy feel to me, I loved the ambiance of the restaurant and outdoor seating with Bocce. The wine list is above-par and the service was great. And, we got to meet Hugh:)

First drink: The Delores: Blume Marillen Apricot Eau de Vie, Elderflower, Black Pepper, Lemon Juice, Soda

We started with the oysters. Very fresh, and the presentation ws adorable. House made hotsauce, celery mignonette and cocktail sauce in tiny corked bottles with delish benne crackers.



Next we shared the crispy pork belly with creamed kimchi rice grits, pickled daikon and crushed peanuts. It was in a little skillet and I could have eaten two servings easily.

At this point I couldn't stop with just one more thing, so I decided to forgo the entree special and on our server's recommendation had the summer bean salad with pickled shrimp, ESS whipped lardo, grapefruit confit and amaranth. Not an overdone combo...very very good. Couldn't get a good picture in the lighting. I need a flash on my next phone.

Then the soft poached farm egg with crisp rice, corn, maitake mushrooms, housemade bologna, and bourbon mustard. The dish came out with a ceramic lid which he lifted and the aroma was delish. I love the details of the service and plating here. It's little stuff, not too gimmicky, and memorable.

Cynthia Wong, formerly of Cakes and Ale, is their newly acquired pastry chef, so of course we had to try dessert. I can't remember the specifics, and MB has the pics, but it was ouzo soaked blueberries with buttermilk ice cream on these cookies. YUM. I also tried the "rasentin" - an Italian specialty, wherein your "rinse" the foam and dregs from your coffee cup with grappa to release the aroma and clean your palate. MB thought it smelled like a hobo wine - it was overwhelming, but good. Flamboyant end to a great meal.



West Coast Drool

I was lucky enough to go on my second annual girl's trip to California with my best mom, and we ate and drank ourselves silly. Here is an overview of the mouthwatering excitement.

We arrived around lunchtime, checked into our wonderful hotel and asked the concierge for lunch suggestions. This adorable French bistro/bookstore was walking distance and at the opening to Chinatown. Perfect.

Salade Frisée
Frisée Salad, Warm Poached Egg, Bacon, Petits Croutons, Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette
Tarte Provencale

Crispy Flatbread of Tomatoes, Basil,
Pesto, Olives &Parmesan

Croque Monsieur

To be honest I wanted to come back for dinner. But with more restaurants in one city than you could eat at in a lifetime....I resisted. Books, French food, good coffee. Heaven.

That night we met up with my mom's oldest best friend and two of her sisters at our hotel bar on the top floor, Harry Denton's Starlight Room. After dinner this becomes a club/lounge, and on Sundays has a famous drag brunch. Great drinks, atmosphere and view! We headed downstairs to the attached restaurant.

Scala's Bistro. Two "Top Chef" contestants currently hang their hat here, and the location was perfect:)

Asparagus Salad with Spanish white Anchovies.

Duck Confit - didn't get a picture - ate it too quickly:)

Salty Caramel Ice Gelato with Gingersnaps

DAY TWO

We wandered and wandered. Snacked a little all over. Boudin Sourdough Factory smelled like absolute ecstasy.

Sourdough animals.

We found a cute little wine bar on the water on our way to find the seals and had a olive oil, cheese and wine tasting.

Dinner that night was at 

Le Colonial. French-Vietnamese.

Please check out the pictures of this place. It is otherworldly, and the upstairs feels like a wartime dance hall.

We started with Cha GioChay: Crispy vegetarian "Buddha" rolls with taro, tofu, shiitake mushrooms and jicama with sweet Ponzu. Wrapped each one in lettuce and dipped in the best Ponzu. So delicious, missed the picture again.

Bo Luc Lac: toy box tomatoes and crispy Russet potatoes, Wok-seared filet mignon cubes with sweet garlic-soy sauce over watercress

XaLachBuoi: Baby field greens, ruby red grapefruit, fennel, toasted cashews tossed with citrus vinaigrette

DAY THREE:

We said goodbye to SF and drove through Muir Woods and Sausalito in the rain, taking our time to arrive at our next destination: Sonoma.

We hit Buena Vista Winery, and then into downtown Sonoma to Roche.

Finally, lunch, at The Girl and the Fig.

Cheese and cured meats, olives, fruit with delicious housemade condiments. Delicious cocktail. So it was...delicious.

duck confit (again) flageolet beans, bacon lardons, tomato confit, frisee, dijon mustard jus

They are famous for this and I couldn't resist.

Friday night we never quite made it to dinner after an afternoon of wine tasting. We were so exhausted a nap became....well, Saturday.

NAPA:

I couldn't get a good reservation for dinner at any of the places we really wanted to try on Saturday night, so we hit Bottega for lunch. FAN-FING-TASTIC. We sat outside by a roaring fire and I wanted to order everything.

Green-Egg and Ham Olive oil-poached Delta asparagus, crispy soft-boiled egg prosciutto bits & Cambazola crema

Polenta Under Glass, caramelized wild mushrooms, balsamic game sauce

Potato dough Raviolo filled with spinach & ricotta, black truffles, farm fresh egg yolk, sage browned butter

At this point all I wanted was another stomach. Instead we went back to our hotel and enjoyed the hot tubs and relaxation room, read by the fire, and got a massage. Our big plans for dinner were again defeated by our exhaustion from a day well spent, and we settled for room service. I had come down with a cold and I was so tired, but at least there's plenty to look forward to on our next trip.

OH! Brunch Saturday and Sunday were at The Sunflower Caffe.

They serve a "big ass" mimosa and some fine sandwiches and waffles.

Snacks and drinks at El Dorado Kitchen - truffle fries are to die for.

All in all an amazing trip. We came home with a case of wine, a few memberships, the knowledge of how to remove a Jeep Wrangler soft top, and I think my mom wants to check me into food rehab for duck and egg addiction. But I can't wait until next year!

Krog Bar and Wisteria (Inman Park Restaurant week)

Inman Park restaurant week has concluded, and I only made it to one offering. I have been meaning to try Wisteria, having walked past the cozy spot many times, and finally had the opportunity. I first met MB for a drink at Krog Bar, which for a cool Friday afternoon was buzzing and it was great seeing everyone so excited for Spring and out on the town. In trying to visit more new places, we resisted having dinner at Rathbun's or Rathbun's steak, but a stop at Krog Bar is always good.

Their wine descriptions are spot on, and the half hock of pig is always enticing;)

Next we headed to our 9:30 reservation at Wisteria, knowing it would be packed the last Friday of restaurant week. It was - parking was crazy and it was a mob scene at the bar. And yet - everyone we encounters was rather laid back - just shy of subdued and there to eat at 10 at night, so a crowd that didn't get on my nerves as many a packed house can. We ended up nabbing two seats at the bar earlier than our dinner table was available and ate our meal there. The amount of options for the pre fixe was impressive and we were able to sample a good bit.

My choices:

Arugula and Grilled Apple - 7with honey-roasted pecan dressing and fried onions

This was a good salad. Not too much more to say than that - but it was the perfect first course.

Grilled Center Cut Beef Tenderloin - 8 ounce - 29
sharp cheddar, braised greens macaroni and cheese with a shallot, horseradish jus

The sauce on this steak was delicious and the steak was cooked perfectly. I finished it....which I rarely do. But the mac and cheese was really dry and heavy. I have not been eating carbs the way I used to, so I didn't just tear in to it as I would have months ago - I wanted to savor pasta and cheese and it wasn't worth it for me.

Trio of mini desserts. Not being one to order dessert, I was excited to have the option to try all three.

MB's choices:

Crab Bisque - 7with Calvados goat cheese crème fraîche
This was gone too fast to grab a photo - I will be ordering it next time.

North Atlantic Skate Wing - 20
pan-seared with lemon brown butter over stone ground grits and roasted asparagus spears

She really enjoyed this dish. I have to say I like my southern cuisine pretty subtle, and they delivered there. I will definitely return, and luckily it is today's scoutmob. The food and ambiance are both cozy and romantic, close tables and a good deal of groups makes it ideal for catching a glimpse of what looks good and the bar service was friendly and knowledgeable.



L5P: The Porter, Synchronicity and betrothal

I love Little 5 Points and Candler Park. My great grandparents lived off Moreland for over 30 years, raised 10 children with one bathroom, and then my great uncle lived there until he passed away about 5 years ago. The original Flying Biscuit, Fellini's, Zesto's, and all the people watching of Little 5 is something I fondly remember from my (not too much) younger days, and now I appreciate the neighborhood for totally different reasons. I will never forget walking to Junkman's daughter with my mom at 16 years old and being offered a "dime bag" and my mom reminding them that "back in the day" it actually cost a dime....

My dear friend Veronika, who I have known since before puberty, is an amazing actress and was performing in Exit, Pursued by a Bear this past weekend at 7 Stages. Knowing that the traffic and parking were going to be outrageous I went down early and enjoyed dinner and drinks at The Porter Beer Bar. I am eating more organic and vegan these days, and was excited to eat here for my cheat day, but still not go too crazy.

I had this salad:

                                                          Prosciutto Fava Bean Salad

                                        compressed melon, parmesan, frisee, bacon vinaigrette served over proscuitto

Plus we had goat cheese fritters in local honey and beer and beer and beer. The front has a tiny communal patio, there's a loooong bar but then you keep on going into a light, airy room with a communal feel, old suitcases, beer, beer and more beer. The beer menu is a novella and the food is great. They use a lot of local ingredients and organic veggies, but aren't the least bit stuffy about it and the beignets, which I skipped this time, are to die for. Great option if you're in the 'hood.

The show was awesome. It's a 4 person cast and they were great. I laughed though most of it but it was really meaningful to me at the same time. After I was able to celebrate V's monumental 30th birthday and engagement, so it rounded out the weekend very nicely. Plus I discovered I can make it from my house to L5P on backroads in 35 minutes!

Nancy G's Cafe

My dear friend Jenn and I have been trying to find places to meet for dinner where we can let our dogs tag along. Typically we end up at my house on the patio, but resourceful Jenn located a great little neighborhood restaurant with a very dog-friendly patio. We have only been twice - once with dogs on the patio and once without on a rainy Tuesday at the bar. Both times the food was good, Tuesdays the bottles of wine are half price, and the service was friendly. I love to support any local non-chain restaurant that cares about ingredients, customers and has good special offers - this one definately does.

The  menu is eclectic southern - both times we have split the burger but the Greek salad was great (and huge) and the fried green tomatos were not bad. We plan to visit again and try more of the menu and the brunch looks great. My friend Jan is hosting a charity fundraiser there tonight, and they have live music and a small private event space. Moreover, the dining room has such a cozy, comfortable vibe it's like being in someone's home - and with 5 years under their belt it looks like it may be home for many neighborhood regulars for years to come.

NYC: wd~50

I was lucky enough to spend several days in Manhattan and Williamsburg a few weekends ago. I spent my first night there at WD50 - owned by renowned chef Wylie Dufresne. Widely known as one of the best restaurants around, but it's unassuming and cozy in appearance. Our reservation was at 10:30 on a Thursday - it was all they had over a week in advance. We had a drink at the bar - J Rose and a "Kum all Ye" kumquat infused cocktail.

Our server was amazing - very funny, knowledgeable and even gave us several ideas of other places to visit to eat. We lingered and ordered appetizers, entrees and he allowed us a dessert of the tasting menu - which I regret not having in the first place....

SO the food.

Aerated foie, pickled beet, mashad plum, brioche

The lightest best texture for the flavor of fois gras EVER. Beets were amazing, plum was amazing - best bite ever as far as I am concerned. I could have eaten 3 times the amount. It was so rich and velvety and delicious.

Cold fried chicken, buttermilk-ricotta, Tabasco, caviar  

Such a refined take on traditional Southern fare. Not my favorite dish of the night, but inspired nonetheless.

Duck breast, apple, cheddar, kimchee-cous cous  

Melt in your mouth delicious comfort food - I love how every dish has something familiar but is so unique at the same time. The ideas from WD are like a kick in the pants to any aspiring chef - or diner - to go outside the box but always respect flavors that we know mesh.

Pork loin, smoked paprika spaetzle, peach, marcona almond  

I am so glad I ordered this. It was cooked perfectly and had just the right amount of each component for each bite. Good amount of fat in the pork but the flavor was perfect.

I apologize for the camera pics - they're from my iPhone as my regular camera was dead.

The food was impeccable, as was the service. I only wish I lived closer and had unending supplies of cash to visit time and time again.

More to come!

Craftbar

My mom took me out to a surprise (very) early birthday dinner after a great day to Craftbar at the Mansion hotel and residences. I was so excited to try something new - I tend to resort to places where I know I will like my meal on special occasions. The atmosphere was perfect for one of the first cold nights in Atlanta. The warmth of the fire from the open grill makes an otherwise stiff bar and restaurant have a much more homey feel. We stopped at the bar for a drink and even with a crowd waiting for drinks the bartender was very attentive.

One downside - we were sat in a corner by the doors to the closed patio next to a couple with a young child (around 2) wearing the shoes that have built in squeakers....this is cute at home or Ryan's steakhouse, not so much at a nice meal at 8:30 at night! Once they left there a few odd hiccups with the service around us (building table for a large party looked like Jenga and sounded like nails on a chalkboard) but our server herself was great.

First course:

Deviled eggs with crispy prosciutto and Crispy Porkbelly. Yuuuuuummmmmmyyyy.

My mom is not an adventurous eater and ever since I tasted my first eel she has wondered if I was abducted by aliens. But she tried the pork belly and was very pleased with the southern staple of deviled eggs. I am not a huge d.e. fan being that I abhor mayonnaise, but they were so finely whipped and smooth I ate 3!

Second Course:

Beef short rib ravioli with charred onions and peppers.

So hearty and good, perfect portion.

That's about it. I had no complaints, but I wasn't head over heels.....

Mom's burger. I ate half. So juicy and the bun was to die for. Tillamook Cheddar, tomato jam, applewood bacon. And fries. Oh the fries. I love salt so much. when it's correctly applied. And homemade fries. My dear mother also likes to order her burger medium well or well done. They didn't listen thank God and it was pink and juicy and delicious. She claimed it was the best burger she'd ever had, but this was after 2 cocktails and a bottle of Torbreck Juveniles.

Then, dessert:

I do not love dessert. I would typically rather have a second helping of appetizers, never chocolate and I don't much care for ice cream unless it's a la mode. But I love apple/crumb/pastry stuff. SO this dessert made my night. Apple Almond tart with cream cheese ice cream and salty caramel sauce. Really. I was overheard saying "I think I just saw Jesus." It was such a perfect pairing and really really delicious. Kudos to their pastry chef!



All in all a great evening, used our scoutmob coupon which happened to expire that night and got out for way less than expected. Definitely will return!

Bounty Dinner

On a Monday night no less! The night began with a reception and I met up with my mom at the bar for a glass of wine. We watched the 5 chefs preparing our bountiful feast and the farmers were seated among us. Each farm and chef was given the mic to speak about who they are and what they do, so it was entertaining, educational AND delicious. I can't say enough about the warm atmosphere at M&T. If we could eat there nightly I think we would!

So here's how the 5 courses went down:

Apple radish salad

The cheddar made it for me - very salty and perfectly off-set the tanginess of the vinaigrette. I am not typically a radish lover but everything came together so well. I could have gone for smaller walnut pieces so I cold have engaged some into every bite, but that was the only complaint. We enjoyed watching the slice off of the apples during the reception:

I am not a big salad person, but this inspired me to make more - the key seems to be these amazing, but simple, homemade vinaigrettes though so we will see if I can master one.

This was served with the Frogtown Cellars Vineauz Blanc. Frogtown is the most awarded vineyard on the East Coast and they were a fun addition to the evening's festivities.

The Shrimp BLT salad.

This was actually our favorite course. The Gum Creek Farm bacon was cubed and perfectly crispy on the outside and chewy and salty delicious on the inside. The whole of Muss&Turner's smelled like it at one point which was divine. The arugula was perfectly fresh (Taylor Family Farms in Rabun county) and the tomatoes were perfect. I could have eaten this for an entree and left happy. The 3 shrimp were great for one of five courses, but so good I could have easily eaten 3 more.....

This was served with a 5 Seasons Brewery Hefeweizen, which had warm ginger flavors. I loved it, mom thought it tasted like Christmas and beer and wasn't such a fan.

Pork & Beans with corn cob smoked Bacon.

(corn muffin, bacon, friend cob/husky thing)

The Beans.

This was a fun dish. The beans were served in a hot iron pot and we spooned them onto the bacon, corn muffin and corn husk. They were the heaviest thing on the menu, but great if it was a little cooler out! I liked that you could make a big soup of it all or, as many people did, spoon the beans onto the bacon like a cracker. I mean what's better than a bacon cracker??

This was served with the Frogtown Sangiovese, which they make from a 90/10 Sangiovese/Cab blend. Went very well with the beans - super rich.

4th Course: Slow smoked brisket with braised greens and fried sweet potatoes.

First of all the brisket was from Riverview Farms, where the ground beef of the burger hails. They have some amazing pork too and are responsible for the Swifty's dream sandwich. Rock Star farms, which doubles as a recording studio, supplied the swiss chard, mizuna, and greens. This was, as I wrote on my menu, F-ing delish. I was worried about this course after the beans being so thick, but it tasted like a house smells when you're making pot roast and was so perfectly seasoned and light. The brisket was spoon tender and the potatoes were crispy. I don't know how they managed to perfectly time and execute over 75 plates at once and everything turn out so beautifully, but they succeeded beyond my expectations!

The Frogtown Cellars Touche was a big winner at several California competitions, but a little syrupy for my taste, especially with the more delicate dish. A brisket more heavy on sauce may have fared better with the wain, but I was too happy with the course to be concerned.

Butternut squash ice cream "sandwiches" (w/flour less chocolate cakes)

I seriously could have eaten a gallon of this ice cream. I want to attempt something like it. It was soooo creamy and fall-tasting and magically good. I am not a chocolate lover, so I was more into the ice cream than the housing for it.... but it was a perfect finish to the meal.

The farmers and chefs.

I know they did a summer harvest dinner, so here's hoping they continue the feasts throughout the seasons!

A preview of my next post...Farm Bounty dinner at M&T

I am so looking forward to this meal! 5 Chefs : 5 Farms : 5 Course Dinner
Tickets are still left if you want to join us - it will be wirth it!!!! I am so excited to be a customer of Muss and Turner's and soon Local Three. They make everyone feel like family and I am excited for the local wine and beer too.

FALL FARM BOUNTY DINNER MENU

Apple radish salad with walnuts, arugula, Fiscalini cheddar and herb vinaigrette
(Apples & radish= Riverview Farms) (arugula= Taylor Family Farms)
Frogtown Cellars Vineaux Blanc

Shrimp BLT salad
(shrimp= Tybee Island, Georgia) (bacon= Gum Creek Farm) (Lettuce= Taylor Family Farm) (tomatoes= Rockin S Farms)
Five Seasons (Prado) Hefeweizen

Pork & Beans with corn cob smoked bacon
(bacon= Gum creek farms)
Frogtown Cellars Sangiovese

Slow Smoked Brisket with braised greens and fried sweet potatoes
(brisket= Riverview Farms) (greens, swiss chard, mizuna, mustard greens= Rock Star Farms) (sweet pots= Rockin S Farms)
Frogtown Cellars Touche

Butternut Squash ice cream sandwiches
(butternuts= Riverview Farms)
Frogtown Cellars Cachet Vidal Dessert Wine

Featuring the Chefs in our kitchen and the Farmers who supply us with great Georgia-grown product alongside Georgia’s Frogtown Cellars and Five Seasons Brewing.
The farmers will be here together to share their story and connect with those of you who love what they do.

Each course will be paired with a great Georgia wine and/or beer. 
Reception- 6:30pm
Dinner-7:00pm
Dress: Always Casual
Ticket Cost: $63.00 (includes sales tax and gratuity)
Plus Service Fee: $1.99

Tickets available here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/133988

Buckhead Bottle Bar and St. Regis bar and patio

Patio dining. I love it this time of year. The Buckhead Bottle Bar has street side (though not aromatic, fun for people watching) dining just across the street from Capital Grill. The restaurant apparently becomes a nightclub with DJ Mike B later in the evening. I met some girlfriends for snacks and drinks, and we were pleasantly surprised. It was fun, easy and cheap. They also have a roof-top patio with a Miami vibe and decent views.

5-7 pm daily they have $1 mini pizzas and sliders. You can choose from the shrimp, sausage or beef slider. The cocktail list is plentiful and well-priced. Basically the perfect place for a girl's night for happy hour! We scarfed down the $1 sliders and pizza, but still wanted to indulge.....

Calamari, fries(homemade) and Goat-Cheese Gnocci. Carbo-loading? Yes.

Afterwards we headed to the cozy (and cougarlicious) bar at the St. Regis Hotel. Eric and I spent our 3rd wedding anniversary at the hotel and fell in love with the place. They passed the milkshake test and the entire evening was flawless. I like the (Five Star) service attitude where they let you get away with just about anything. We settled into a leather couch, ordered champagne and then hightailed it to the private fireside patio outside Paces 88 and continued our chat. No one minded and a group of older cigar-smoking (married) gentlemen even sent the cocktail waitress over with a free round! I ran into a friend at the bar (felt rather swanky) and enjoyed the French bubbly by-the-glass like only a five star hotel can offer.

All in all a very different night than what I used to experience in Buckhead. What a difference a decade and a recession can make. I like the new phase of my life and the city's and look forward to more nights out with the girls!



Pure Taqueria...but you don't have to take my word for it!

We went to a birthday dinner recently at Pure Taqueria in Inman Park. This cute little space used to be a location of the Grape franchise. I hadn't heard great things, and I don't love Mexican food, nor do I drink Tequila. That being said it was pretty bad. We were a big group and the wait staff was kind enough to break out our tabs and the service, while not outstanding, didn't lack. The food just wasn't worth the drive, the $$ or the calories.

We started with the queso fundido with chorizo and jalepenos. It was too hot to touch at delivery, and a hard rubbery glob shortly after.The chips and salsa were plentiful, but again, nothing special.

Fish tacos, looked pretty, tasted so-so.

I had the taquitos, which you can barely see under there....they were basically what you'd find at QuikTrip....though I should have ordered something less fried I love chipotle pork. But the teaspoon in each was hard to find.....

The best part was the dessert delivery with the Mexican Wrestler Masks. And the sangria was very good. I don't recommend the menu for much more though with so many amazing mexican restaurants around town.

If you're looking for atmosphere AND authentic food try Bonegarden Cantina for fresh and delicious - and even better Sangria;)