When a Burrito is More then a Burrito ......

 

 

          Saturday afternoons are good for exploring …. Taking time with family and going out into the city to see what you can see. This particular Saturday, my oldest opted out of our adventures in favor of Xbox binging ….so my sweet, sweet baby boy and my Mr. were my companions for my adventure to Bell Street Burritos. Driving up, the building isn’t overly large…situated on the corner, we turned into the steeply hilled parking lot. After parking and hiking our way back to the front …. we were able to see that we had the option of dining outside amongst the city life or tucked away inside.

There were plenty of open seats outside but we didn’t want to deal w. the noise and smells from traffic. I think if it wasn’t a busy Saturday afternoon, the option to eat outside would’ve been exercised. Upon entering, the first thing I noticed was the how clean everything was while still maintaining a rustic vintage feel. The walls are subway tiled with the name emblazoned like a plaque. There are booths situated along one wall and a long wooden bench with individual tables along the window lined front wall. Everything was fitting and attractive but pleasantly old…and not the least bit dusty.  That’s such a huge deal because a lot of places confuse vintage with dirty…and the two don’t have to be synonymous with each other. The booths were topped w. marble and the benched seats with wooden tables.

  The marble felt good and heavy, the accompanying décor was, as best I could tell, bronze with a heavy petena. Everything just seemed to fit....all the way down to the slightly faded American flag. Walking in, you're beckoned to the cashier counter in the back left area. They have a menu posted and menus on the counter for your convenience. Typical to my anxious style, I had already perused the menu prior to arriving and quickly settled on the pork & green chili burrito and I wanted it grilled. I opted to make mine a combo, meaning I added a drink & chips w. fresh made salsa. Elliott settled on a steak burrito and the boy ordered his usual cheese quesadilla off the children's menu (much to my protest). We were handed a number and told our food would be out shortly.

Let me tell you what shortly means to these people. I sat down with our chips & salsa while Elliott and Jr went to get drinks. Jr returned first and proceeded to wait with me while nibbling chips & talking about his next adventure on Xbox.

By the time Elliott finished gathering our drinks and made his way back to the table, giving a report about the condiment station, our food was on it's way out to our table. I seriously don't think it was 5 minutes. Our food was brought to the table by one of the kitchen workers (supremely polite... FYI) Everything was hot and smelled delicious. Honestly, I almost forgot to snap a pic before taking a bite ... I was THAT excited. My burrito, having asked for the grilled option, came out pleasantly charred. I'm not positive but I'm pretty sure they either make their own tortillas or get them local ... because the smell wafting up from the flour tortilla was fresh and very intoxicating.
The burrito itself was almost busting at the seams and quite heavy. This place really gives you your money's worth. As you can see from the top of the picture, my son was not concerned w. waiting for me to take a pic before starting. Obviously, he approved. I was able to catch Elliott before he dived in but the brief delay in consuming his lunch had him less then amused with my antics.

He gave a deep, guttural moan of approval as he sunk his teeth into his burrito. I was almost jealous because I spent a brief moment trying to remember when he last made that noise over my cooking. It was a fleeting thought because I was anxious to get into my own burrito.

     I'm a big fan of both pork and green chilies....so having them together had to be heaven, right?  YEEESSSSSSS ~~~ OMG YESSSSS !!!!!!
The rice was soft and mildly seasoned, the beans were creamy and flavorful .... the pork was tender and juicy with the right amount of spice... and the green chilies were just everything good in life. What have I been passing off as burritos up to this point of my life?? What have I been doing with myself ?? Are all those other "Taco Tuesday" attempts just futile preparatory actions for this very moment ?!  HOLY .... HELL people ....

IT WAS JUST THAT DAMN GOOD. !!!!

They've managed to provide a balanced blend of all the ingredients spread end to end without any of those deplorable pockets of ingredients that most places usually give you. The beans and rice were willing accomplices to the delicious pork instead of being fluffy fill ins for a meat-light serving of carbs. The chilies were so delicious and didn't overwhelm me with spice. Seriously, I don't think I've ever had a better burrito then what I was at the moment eating. We all finished our food in relative silence... save for a few appreciative groans and assertions that "OMG ... this is good" Even the picky 10yr old was happily consuming his quesadilla without a single complaint. The only thing he stopped long enough to ask me was if we could get popsicles when we were done. Oh, I didn't tell you ?? Yea, Bell Street Burritos sell "King of Pops" popsicles. 

 Once we were finished with our food, I sent the boy back to the counter to procure us all some refreshing finishers to our already delicious excursion. He picked out strawberry for himself and raspberry lime for both Elliott and myself. When he brought them back, I was happy to see that the ingredient list is both short and easy to understand. In a world of neon dyed sweets and artificial flavors... these are more reminiscent of frozen fruits then traditional treats. Jr was nice enough to let me see his strawberry pop before got too invested and the flavor was like biting into a frozen but freshly picked berry. He quickly retrieved his pop from my fingers and went back to happily consuming. Elliott and I both agreed that our raspberry lime were sweet but pleasantly tart ... cleansing our palette in a way, allowing a very clean & exhilarating finish to the meal. If the burrito was a culinary comfort nap then the popsicle was a hellaciously great oral alarm clock that woke me back up just enough to be able to drag myself out of the booth and leave. Everything was just amazing and everything went well together. We were satisfied but not overly stuffed to discomfort. We felt like we could go out and continue our afternoon adventures instead of just dissolving into a puddle of post-meal fatigue. Overall, this trip was a smashing success and I can't wait to go back....and my tummy, pocket book, and riding partners can't wait to go either.

 

 

Low lights and low sodium .... but good pizza !

           Date night … a night to dress up (maybe), hold hands, snuggle close, and spend some one on one time with your significant other remembering what life was like before you realized that your “My Little Pony” collection or your unreasonable love for Kung Fu movies didn’t send that other person running for the hills …..

Ahhhh the ever so important date night. It’s a great thing. This weekend, we opted to take our date night up a little past downtown to the lovely and well-reviewed Double-Zero Napoletana. It promised a modern presentation of traditional Southern Italian food in a modern, rustic setting. They were created and managed by the same group who launched the Iberian Pig and Cooks & Soldiers, who are both listed on the challenge sheet. Imagine that, one resteraunt group with three notable locations on the list. Sounds promising !

Nah … don’t get too excited …. At least not tonight …..

We made our way to the Roswell Road location and were surprised to see that they offered on-site valet parking. Since I had the chance to ride along instead of drive that night, we were in the van and none too comfortable with the idea of valet. We parked in the little strip mall next door and walked over. The asthetics were geared towards modern rustic with lots of wood and iron. The lighting was dim but viewable and the entrance was sparsely decoated. We were greeted at the register/hostess stand where we gave our name for the reservation (which you can make online with OpenTable). Let me preface this entry by telling you that we arrived at 9:30 on a Saturday night with reservations knowing they closed at 11:00pm. You’ll see why this matters later.

      I wanted to come earlier but SOMEONE (I won’t name my husband’s name) was tired and needed a nap. Cool. Regardless, we were handed off to the lovely Hailey and seated quickly in the nearly empty eatery. The restaurant seemed to be broken into 3 linear sections, partitioned off with floor to ceiling panels of fabric that provide a “wall” without actually making you feel walled in. The first was nearest the front and centered around what looked like a bar and a dessert display. I didn’t get to linger too long so I didn’t see how much seating was in that area. There were a few people sitting at the bar and a couple tables, chatting idly. The lighting up front was the brightest I saw and I imagine that’s because you need to see to mix cocktails.  We were seated in the middle section, where we sat unbothered by anyone else because we were the only ones. Directly behind another fabric “wall” was another section that contained a row of tables along a beautifully decorated back wall. There was what looked like a long, continuous bench along the wall lined with throw pillows in color-popped array. The wall was decorated in barrel-bottoms fixed to the framed out sections. The lighting seemed brighter than our own…and there was one group of woman having a lively conversation at one of the middle four-top tables on the floor. Our own section was dimly lit (but again, easy to read our menu), with two rows of four-top tables alone each perimeter. The middle section of the room was lined with extra-long “family-style” tables that had the appearance of being solid wood. The lighting was suspended from the ceiling with globe-style fixtures housing Edison bulbs.

The amber glow played nicely with the dark wood, giving the space a warm, intimate feel without being dark or depressing. The music playing throughout was neither too loud nor too soft. The sound was neutral and not leaning towards any one genera. I regarded it more as a sound screen then actual entertainment. Even after another couple joined our section towards the end of our meal, we were neither bothered nor even much noticed their presence. Every table was able to sink into their own cocoon of existence with the lighting and music shielding you from outside intrusion.

 

 

                The menu is pretty straight forward and not too lengthy. It’s broken down into your expected Italian catagories of Antipasti, L’Arrosto, Insalate, Pizze, Pasta, and Secondi. We were there to try to Pork Belly Risotto…so that was a no brainer. We added on the scallops and the short ribs to round off the antipasti order. For our main meal, Elliott chose the Maiale Pizze and I satisfied my belly with an order of the Bolognese. As a side note, our initial drink order exchange showed us just how unrefined we tend to be, our poor waitress:

Hailey: “Can I get you two something to drink? We have wine, beer, and also craft cocktails from the bar.”

Me: “Do you have anything nonalcoholic…?”

Hailey: “We have nonalcoholic beer…”

Me: “No like…tea…coke?”

Hailey: *slight confusion* “I mean…we have coke”

Me: *at this point realizing apparently nobody orders coke* “Okay…we’ll have coke”

The coke was kinda flat … it IS obvious that nobody orders coke and everyone else instead participates and orders their crafted cocktails and locals beers…or at least pretend to adult and goes along with the typical wine pairings. We don’t participate and adult very well.

       Anywhoo … the food came out relatively quickly and the presentation was nice. We ooooh’d and ahhh’d over each individual plate before digging in. I think Elliott was a little more enthusiastic about the food then I was because after my first bite, I was pretty much deflated. The pork belly risotto is supposed to be the highlight of this place….and I just can’t understand why. It needed salt. More then anything else, it needed salt. The texture was fine but just the taste, I wasn’t impressed. It’s supposed to be a jalapeno pesto risotto with a root beer balsamic glaze….that would make you think it’s a flavor bomb!!! It was not. The poached egg on top sat quivering in I’s barely done state …the whites still viscous in some places.

Pork belly risotto

     Let me tell you, it’s hard…. HARD ….to mess up pork belly (which is basically bacon) but I was just not in love. Elliott apparently ate all the good, crispy pieces and I only seemed to find the fatty ones with little flavor. I mean damn …. I was just not feeling it. The short ribs provided some relief, they were tender and succulent. Again, the whole thing could’ve used some finishing salt but whatever …personal preference. The Brussel sprouts on the plate were unpleasantly undercooked and had a “soapy” taste that I associate with them in their raw state. There was a carrot puree and goat cheese demi.  Not quite sure who’s bright idea that pairing was. The carrot puree reminded me of baby food and the goat cheese demi in the dim lighting reminded me of what happens when baby food makes a second appearance. It was not appetizing. I ate the short rib around it and ignored the rest. The best of the three were the pan seared scallops with sunchoke puree, various veggies, and golden raisins. Elliott was downright excited because he said the scallops tasted like they were fried in bacon grease. I had to remind him gently that no place wants to say they fry their stuff in bacon grease, instead ask if its pan seared in pork fat. Whatever the method, they were good. We both enjoyed them and ate every scrap.

Seared Scallops w. Corn

Soon after finishing our delicious scallops, the main dishes arrived. Let me speak a word on this pizza. If you’re sitting down in the middle section and you look to your left….at the end of the seating area, you’ll see two large pizza ovens taking up a good amount of space. I’m not sure if these are wood fired or coal fired or what but I do know they add to the ambiance and make a damn good pizza. He had ordered the pizza Maiale which combines Nueske’s bacon, fig-onion agrodolce, goat cheese, mushrooms, arugaula, garlic, and olive oil with a sprinkling of vanilla salt. ( I just looked back and told Elliott his pizza had vanilla salt on it …he made a face). The crust was beautifully charred and blistered on the bottom…causing it to be pleasantly crisp and hold up to the numerous toppings and oil. This is a white pizza so the traditional red sauce is replaced with garlic and olive oil as the “moisture”. All together, the interesting array of toppings made for one delicious slice. Elliott couldn’t stop eating and seemed quite annoyed at my insistence in trying a slim slice. We thought the pizze would be an individual serving but it turned out to be a full 10-12in pizza served w. kitchen shears for efficient “slicing”. Pretentious toppings aside (seriously, vanilla salt?) it was epic.  



 

           My pasta Bolognese came out as well ….and the traditional combination of pork sausage, pancetta, herbs, spices, and I assume milk (bc it was a blush sauce, not a full red) coated the advertised handmade pappardelle pasta. The dish was hearty and filling, it just needed salt. I know the parmigiana is supposed to “salt” the dish but it just seemed to be lacking that finishing flavor. It wasn’t bad, it wasn’t great. I kind of wish I had gone for the orecchiette with the sausage, peperonata, pancheta, and carmelized onions. But I didn’t and this is the life I choose.

       I did eat my food…well, about half. I had a full portion and that was pretty generous so I ended up taking about ½ home. Let me throw this in while I’m here …. If they offer you desert, get it ! Steer clear of the red velvet cake. Not that it’s bad …it’s just, if you order red velvet cake you have certain expectations and it can cause you a little anger to get some modern take on something when all you wanted was to relive your childhood at grandmas. (It’s like a frosting free slab with freeze dried berries…it’s served w. a crème fraiche gelato which stands in for the cream cheese frosting…except no, it doesn’t) That being said, try their chocolate chip blondie version. Good lord !!! The blondie with the accompanying gelato was just so damn good. Like, sooooooo damn good. The red velvet comes with a crème fraiche gelato (which is also good) but the blondie comes w. this caramel’y crunchy gelato that is just life changing. I finished it off … I licked my spoon … I wanted to beg for more but I have my pride.

         All in all … would I go  back? Maybe. I hope that the lack in impressiveness was centered around it being late (although that’s no excuse, a kitchen should be able to turn out A+ food at any hour) … I’m willing to come back and see if things could live up to more than just the deliciousness of the pizze offerings. I feel like if you come at 6 or 7….maybe try something different, I’ll have an experience with the food that is equal to the beauty of the surroundings.

 

      The price point isn’t that bad … it’s about $8-12 for small plates, $15-20 for the pizza, $17-35 for the entrees. You can get in and out for about $80 a couple if you’re indulgent….not including wine. It’s not a bad night out … I was just a little underwhelmed. Next time I’ll steer clear of the flashy names I don’t recognize and stick to the tried and true foods that are hard to complicate. I feel like if they dialed back some of what I consider pretentiousness (seriously people, vanilla salt?!) and focus on developing and elevating the flavors, it would be spot on. But that’s just me …. Remember, I ordered a Coca-Cola with my dinner.  

To Vietnam and back in an afternoon .......

Do you have fun when you go out to eat?

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Do you set your inhibitions aside and just enjoy your food with little regard for where you are?

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No? …You should probably try some Vietnamese food then.

          My other half and I were out and about while our youngest was woo’ing the masses during his school interview. We had a few hours to kill and our bellies were empty. We figured we’d consult the list and it led us north to Buford highway right to the doorstep of Nam Phuong Restaurant. The exterior is unassuming and clean. It looks almost like any strip-mall diner you’d pass by on the highway. The inside is wide, clean, and decidedly un-Asian. Most places in America come with stereotypical décor and I’m never quite sure if it’s authentic or marketing genius. This place….you know what you’re getting but it doesn’t slap you across the face with a bunch of stuff you’ve seen from your anime and cartoons.

           We were seated and ordered the obligatory thai teas (that stuff is delicious….) and perused the vast menu. I knew my destination would be the “shaken beef” but I wanted to look around and window shop just in case something else caught my eye. With the prices being as reasonable as they were, I figured I’d be able to try a few thing and fully enjoy my trip. I had no idea the culinary adventure that was about to ensure. I'm usually more prepared for these things ... I feel like Food Network had not properly prepared me thus far.

          We ended up starting off with a couple orders of pork rolls and shrimp rolls. I will be the first to admit, these were not my favorite because of the texture of the rolling material. I’m more used to the crunchy exteriors and this was a more “chewy” pliable exterior. That aside, they were delicious. They came out with an array of sauces to dip them in. The meat was seasoned but not over-seasoned because (I assume) they wanted the sauces to take the spotlight.

       In addition, I ordered a Vietnamese crepe …. Again, having zero idea about what this was going to come out as. I was greeted by what resembles a huge oversized omelet (but drier) and a plate of accompaniments. The plate was overflowing with leafy green lettuce, sprouts, basil, cucumber, carrot, sprouts, and the list goes on and on. I, at first, had zero idea how to tackle this massive plate of food but another patron was kind enough to show me how to tear off the omelet and wrap it in the lettuce (and dunk it in the sauce). She then let me know it was her favorite dish on the menu….and I could see why. All of the food was modestly seasoned, as to let the sauces shine through. We had a thin “fish sauce” that was delicious with the crepe….as well as a peanut sauce.   

           After the first set of plates, we moved on to the main course. Elliott decided on the Pho…and I ordered my shaken beef. Let me tell you …. If the only experience you have with Asian food is in a takeout bag….you need to expand your horizons! The beef was richly flavored and perfectly seasoned. It was savory, sweet, and salty, tender…..just everything good about food ….all in one bite. I mean, damn …. That’s all I can say ….. oh god it was good. Moving small puddles of rice towards the beef…determined to sop up ever delicious molecule of that sauce.  

 
Elliott said his pho was savory and warm. The seasoning was strong on fish sauce and umami ….He barely talked during the rest of the meal, save for a lot of yum-yum sounds as he devoured the mountain of noodles. About a quarter of the way through, he started dipping into his plate of sprouts and vegetation that accompanied the massive bowl….and enjoyed his Pho even more. He was determined to use the chopsticks …..and use them he did. All in all we spent about an hour in a delicious haze of savory, tummy-warming goodness. I had planned to sample some of their desserts, or at least a strawberry milkshake (the selection was very interesting with options like green tea instead of your typical chocolate and vanilla) but I simply couldn’t eat another bite. If I didn’t have such extensive home training, I promise you I would’ve lifted that plate and licked it clean. It really was just that good.

Seriously …. Put down the menu, forgo the Panda express orange chicken ….and get some of this in your mouth. ASAP.

 

When a burger isn't just a burger ....

**Mic Check** Hello …. Hello ….is this thing on ? Anyone there ? Yes … no … maybe so ? Okay ….

**Clears throat**

       Ann’s Snack Bar is THE BEST burger I’ve ever had. In my life. Period. I apologize in advance to my ex-husband and Five Guys, who up to this point, could share that claim. I’m sure neither one care but you should care. Why? Because Ms. Ann’s Snack Bar is like THE BEST burger anywhere. Period. Ever. Y’all can go home now. This story is done.

      Fuck…. seriously? You’re going to make me write out a whole review when I already told you they’re damn near perfect?! Fine. Whatever…. here….

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         So, Elliott & I were granted a short reprieve from adult prison one afternoon (I’m sorry, my boss says I have to stop referring to work at adult prison…so we were let out of work early). I figured we should take the rare opportunity to sneak away and spend some “us” time and simultaneously check out one of the spots on my list. I checked the clock and realized this may be my one and only time to try out Ann’s without committing to a half day in a parking lot waiting for the promised life-changing burger. Onward I-75, 285, & 20 ……. Within minutes we were parking outside the seemingly innocuous establishment known as Ann’s Snack Shack. I was told it was a humble establishment, I was told not to expect much …. So I wasn’t put off by the peeling paint or the screen windows. Whatever, I was home. This was my auntie’s house up in the country and we were stopping by for lunch. Nothing could deter me.

           We were met by a counter attendant in the parking lot…who kindly informed up that it’s cash only but we could use the ATM next door or the one just up the street. We quickly scooted to the gas station and came back with our 20’s in hand. When you enter the first door …. You step into a large, almost “patio room” style area. There are tables and a variety of chairs…. not unlike what you’d see at a family reunion because ain’t nobody got time to go out and buy a bunch of matching chairs. Nobody cares about the chairs…you’re there to see family. Well, we’re there to see a burger. You go up the steps and you enter a small establishment complete w. a cashier in the center and a counter to each side. Each counter is lined with four chairs, and on any given weekend…. There are butts in all those chairs. Today, we were lucky. There were only 3 butts.

          A tall, older gentleman stood behind the counter…. Smiled and asked us what we’d have. Elliott is a grade-A spoil sport. He orders the regular double-hamburger with bacon. Due to my need for research (and delicious food) …. I ordered the ghetto burger. The ghetto burger is a double cheeseburger w. all the trimmings, bacon, and chili. I should’ve asked for slaw but I’ll tell you why later. They DO have a ghetto burger without chili but that’s called a hood burger Another story for another time.  So … we’re sitting and observing. There is a man in front of us hand chopping coleslaw bit by bit. No prebagged cabbage here. The lady at the griddle is loading it with handfuls of beef for burgers on top of mountains of grilled onions, chili is simmering on the stove…. life is just good. The french fries go into one of two baskets… I’m pretty positive they use the double fry method to achieve the perfectly crispy fries that we were served. It’s heavenly. Downright heavenly. Let me stop a moment here because I want you to understand the gravity of the point I’m about to make. Sit up, turn off your headphones and listen ….

Every. Bun. Is. toasted. To. Order.

         Do you understand that? Every bun is toasted when it’s destination burger is done cooking. You don’t get a cold bun or a hard bun with a crust … no, you get a warm, soft, toasted bun that shows just how much someone loves you. Ya mama may not have toasted buns but this is auntie’s house and she knows you’ve been a good boy and she loves you …so everyone gets a freshly toasted bun.

        Okay …. So …. Elliott’s burger arrived …. And then the epitome of burger greatness, the ghetto burger … was placed in front of me. I couldn’t speak. It was beautiful. It was huge … magnificent …juicy…. This burger was life! I stopped to marvel and figure out just how I was going to tackle this culinary counter attack … this behemoth of beef …. I didn’t know what to do, could I handle it

 

  I cut it in half … took a deep breath …. raised it to my mouth and …. took a bit. I’ve had burgers all over … I’ve had award winning burgers, big business burgers …. I’ve had backyard barbecue burgers ….and nothing compares to the flavor of this burger. It’s double patties, cheese, bacon…covered in the homemade chili simmering on the stove….and fresh cut vegetables. I was in hamburger heaven. Elliott’s “basic” bacon burger was anything but basic in flavor. Ann’s doesn’t come w. special seasoning or magic dust… but that’s because it doesn’t need it. Plain and simple …. It doesn’t need it. You don’t eat a hamburger for special magic … you eat it because you want delicious, hot, juicy beef…and Ann’s delivers.  We sat in blissful silence…. Save the mmmm’s and “oh my god this is good…” …willing ourselves past the warnings of our tightening waistbands and bellies …until it was all gone.

As we ate, the tiny like shack begin to quickly fill up with people bustling for a chance at their own delicious burger. The patio slowly filled as the crowd poured from the main area. We finished up and waved to the staff as we exited … full, happy, and thoroughly enraptured with the wonder that is Ann’s Snack Shack. Trust me … you have to try this place at least once.

Best advice I’ve gleaned from talking to others …. Go during off peak hours, observe the rules, and bring cash (no cards). Enjoy !

A Comfy Biscuit is a Thing of Beauty .....

…. Welcome everyone!!! Just me still? Whatever ….

 

Today’s update is one I’m quite beside myself w. excitement to give. I woke up this morning and idled around in bed while sifting through my food list, trying to find a place to have lunch today. I thought about skipping it and going to Waffle House but hey, might as well get some work in on the weekends, right? I googled a few places, mulled a couple different food styles, and there … like a beacon of hope and deliciousness …was the name my soul had been searching for. Comfy Chicken typed right beside Home Grown on Memorial Drive …only about 20min from my house.

                It took me less then 15min to get pressed, dressed, and out the door. I was admittedly rushing because it was 12:45pm and they close at 2:00pm on Saturdays. Under the guidance of my GPS, I arrived promptly at 1:08pm …. To an overwhelmingly full parking lot across from a nifty community garden. I was lucky someone was leaving because it gave me a parking spot on the end up front …it was a sign! TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!!!! (Another story for another day) …. I wiggled out of my car and shuffled my way into the quaint little café that looked like it could be confused for that one neighbor’s house we all know that’s been there forever. I was not prepared.

This is about all I could see from my seat on the bench.....

The room was overwhelmingly crowded right off the bat. Didn’t these people know they closed in under an hour? Do they not care? A small handful of booths line the wall in the main dining room along with about 10 counter seats on the opposite sides. A little past the main room, a larger area to the left holds a few more tables and booths but all in all, it’s a pretty small place. I hate saying small, it’s intimate … cozy, quaint … homespun? Whatever …it’s kind of small. There were about 15 people waiting to be seated. A passed by the other patrons and approached the upbeat host taking names for upcoming seats. He told me it would be 10-15min but the counter was first come, first serve. I smiled and nodded as he wrote my name before saddling back over to wait my turn at the bench. I thought I saw a couple leaving so I jumped up to claim a bar seat but lost out to another couple who, to be fair, were there before me. I knew my turn was coming. I’m patient.  While I waited, I noticed a coffee setup to my right that a couple of customers helped themselves to. I’m not sure if that was for customer’s waiting to be seated or for all customers to self-serve who ordered coffee.

Bustling kitchen near the side door ... lovely,
lovely sounds of actual cooking !

 I rocked on my heels, absorbing the surroundings and environment as I waited for my turn at the counter. The décor is decidedly kitsch. It’s quirky and fun … upbeat and hipster all without being pretentious or overdone. The music playing through the building was an upbeat mix of 80’s pop with a bit of vintage from decades I can’t nail down thrown in. The staff hip swiveled to Mick Jagger mixes and “Take on Me” by Ah-Ha. The high notes sung enthusiastically by the male staff gathered around the cashier’s station between cashing out customers.  

A space opened and I sauntered my way up to the counter. The round seat swiveled solidly as I positioned myself comfortably close to the rest of the breakfast club. I can tell you that space is a premium but everyone respected everyone’s individual space when it came time to eat. You didn’t have to try cutting your food while tucking in your wings at this place!  

 The turnover is swift when someone stands up to leave …. efficiency is probably a big deal when you’re turning over the crowds that this place obviously does. One waiter gathered up the previous diner’s dishes and the other quickly wipes down the space to a spotless finish. I was handed a menu by a very nice waitress as she took my drink order with a smile. Admittedly, I didn’t peruse it much because I knew what I wanted. She returned quickly with my drink and I let her know that cozy chicken would be my entrée of choice. For good measure, I requested a salmon patty on the side.

She reassured me I made a good choice and was off to relay my order to the busy-bee kitchen I had observed off to the right coming in. I relaxed and observed my surroundings …. Taking in the full monty of properly quaffed greaser hairdos and groomed mustaches amidst the “Keep on Trucking” poster and “Black Crows” tour banner. The fridge is covered with bumper stickers from local joints (and not so local) and there is even a sign for a vintage consignment shop in the back room.

 

As I’m sitting there …. I hear a faint whisper to my right and I turn to see a display of tempting desserts that I was wholly unprepared for. Another patron was placing an order for coconut cake and I was just in awe. I mean, I had seen them peering through the cracks in the crowd when I came in but being this close … oh boy! The desserts are actually procured from a local bake shop ….and delivered fresh for our consumption. The selection was carrot cake, a beautifully tall and white coconut cake, a red velvet brownie, regular brownies, and even homemade pop tart like pastries. I caught my waitress in passing and begged her let me have a slice of coconut cake to go. I think she winked at me. She already knew what time it was. In the midst of her back and forth to tend to customers, she stopped long enough to slice me off a massive slab of this confectionary goodness and pack it away in a to-go container and set it nearby. 

It was only about 10min start to finish from the time of my order to this lovely plate of food being placed in front of me. Let me start off by saying, I need you to remove that judgement from your eyes right now …I won’t continue to until you do! This is not meant to be a pretty dish. This isn’t the cover of Food Snobs monthly and ain’t nobody got time for garnishes and linear plating of food. This was just some damn good food on a clean plate looking delicious.

The salmon patty is where I started, just to get it out of the way (for no other reason then I’m not here for the salmon patty) … I cracked it open and revealed that it’s full of salmon and seasonings without being full of breadcrumbs. The flavor was clean and perfectly seasoned. You can see the small dice of onions and other flavorings throughout. I would show up for this salmon patty with grits and maybe some eggs. Hell, I might feel like going home and making some salmon patties. I ate it with hot sauce and a smile. But again, we’re not here for salmon patties. 

Minimal filler, maximum flavor !

What IS comfy chicken? Comfy chicken is an open faced biscuit, made from scratch, with fried chicken and smothered in rich sausage gravy. I stared at it and took a deep breath before diving in. The biscuit yielded easily to my fork and the tender chicken was easily cut with my butter knife. I stabbed a small bite of each and ran it through the gravy for good measure. And let me tell you …. A comfy biscuit is comfort on a plate with every intent of taking up residence in your belly. 

This ... all of life is this !!!

 It’s a culinary hug from an auntie you ain’t seen in years …. It’s the proverbial quilt that your grandma wraps you in when you’re cold …. It’s everything comforting and warm and tasty. The gravy is full and rich without being salty or one dimensional … the chicken is crispy but soft and tender. It’s not a hard fry like you’d expect from KFC or Popeyes.

I think it’s been floured but not double-dipped. The biscuit is a work of art that reminds us all of why we live in the south. You can see the layers expertly created back in that kitchen you pass coming in the door. I imagined it would be even more delicious with the hot sauce on the counter but I couldn’t stop eating long enough to add any. I mean, damn, this was just good. I’ve eaten a lot of places that are world renowned or hyped up and I can never understand why …. this is one of the first places I’ve ate at that lived up to every ounce of hype I read prior to coming to. Even as I’m sitting there, I’m thinking about how this should be on Food Network …why has nobody called Guy Fieri and got them on D.D.D.?? (Coincidence, food network WILL be shooting there on Monday…look for it!) When I finished my plate … I resisted the urge to pick it up and lick it clean. It was a major temptation but I was able to overcome it.

My awesome waitress dropped off my check and then offered to run it down to the cashier for me because a bit of a line had formed due to the crowd checking out all at once. She said I would either wait standing or sitting so I might as well sit. Once I settled my (very reasonable) bill, I went through the additional dining room and ventured back to the consignment shop.

 I was in giddy awe as I looked through Care Bear glassware and vintage Samsonite luggage (FOR $24.00!!!) They had beautiful vintage picnic baskets and a bevy of other equally amazing finds. I resisted purchasing everything back there … even after an elderly gentleman sat down at the keyboard and began playing a lively tune as I window shopped. I felt no rush but eventually I knew I had to leave. They would be closing soon and I didn’t want to be THAT person. So I made my way back up front, smiled, and waved as I was instructed to “Have a nice day …. Come back again soon” …...I left feeling better then when I arrived, and sometimes … that alone is worth the drive.

A - Town and Love Potions .... You Gotta See This !

Good Afternoon ~

        It’s time for another post in the adventures of Atlanta eateries! I’m kidding, sort of. I imagined a booming, voice over in the background when I wrote that but since my blog doesn’t have audio … I fear that I just came off a little corny. Anywhoo, no matter …. On to the food!

          My brother’s birthday was coming and I figured this would be the perfect excuse to venture downtown and check another location off my list. Sublime donuts, located near the Georgia Tech campus, offers a wide variety of delicious pasties, including the A-Town Cream donut that is coming so highly recommended. What does that have to do with a birthday? Nothing really, except that they also have an epically awesome “BIRTHDAY BOX” that beats the pants off your traditional, boring birthday cakes. Who wouldn’t want donuts for their birthday? Well, I figured my brother would. He’d at least appreciate the effort and work that goes into battling downtown traffic in the early evening hours. I aim high here y’all! The location isn’t hard to find, albeit a little outside of my comfort zone. I would’ve snapped a picture but I left my phone in the car and I was in a bit of a rush. The location is a small, strip mall area…sandwiched between an Asian restaurant and I think….never mind, I didn’t pay attention, I have no idea what’s on the other side. Sublime donuts themselves is an adorably kitschy type location. It’s full of bright pops of colors and quirky decor. I felt as though this would be a super cool place to chill on a Saturday morning if I ever woke up early enough in college. The cooler off to the right is full of your typical options of milk and soda along with 2 cork-topped bottles labeled “Love Potion” and “Cool Potion”.

"Cool Potion" was minty, lemony, tea blend.
It was so delicious and refreshing

I picked up a couple of each, you know, for science and I stood in the line to pick up my order. I was there, not only for my Birthday Box, but also the recommended item known as the “A-Town Cream” donut. I guess you can’t have an “ATL” donuts so they just went with A-Town. Either way, it’s a fluffy, fried doughnut filled with (what I assume is) a vanilla pastry cream and covered in chocolate frosting. It’s apparently pretty iconic but I was, admittedly, not excited because I do not particularly like filled donuts. I have a thing about textures and the idea of some cold, squishy cream flowing into my mouth was not the highlight of this list. That being said … numerous reviews that I read online said that IF you were going to be converted, this would be the one to do it. So, I will do this for the sake of the list. 

"Love Potion" is strawberries steeped
a bed of roses, blended w. red tea.

     I took my completed purchase back out to my car. I had a couple A-Town Donuts, my Birthday Box, a couple "LOVE" potions and a couple "COOL" potions. I won't complain about the price because it hovered around $30 total for everything and it's really worth the premium to have freshly made, unique, and well flavored donuts as opposed to the every day 89cent special from wherever. First off, let me say that the "Birthday Box" is absolutely adorable. I remember they did give me the option of selecting the flavors but I was a newbie so I just asked for the assorted. If I had thought about it, I might've at least asked for one red velvet donut to be stuck in there along with a strawberry & cream but hindsight is 20/20.  I set my bag of "A-Town Creams" aside and headed on to the birthday party.

     Even if it's not the focus, let me just say that the birthday box went over really, really well with my brother and all involved. My sister in law had picked out a gorgeous birthday cake but he still had space in his plate to try one of the many wonderful donuts that were arranged in a the nifty "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" shape. Due to the specialty of this product, you do have to order at least 24hrs in advance but it's SOOOOO worth it.

That's the "A-Town Cream" as the "A" in Happy !

Once the party was done, we headed home with my other finds in hand. I wanted to go ahead and taste one that night so I could give an honest assessment while it was fresh and still in prime condition. That and I knew if I waited too long, I risked losing my opportunity to children bugging me for a flippin' donut at all hours. There are no guarantees in my home ! I sat down at my computer, holding the folded over bag of deliciousness in hand and thought long and hard about what this next move would entail. When I say I really don't like filled donuts, I really don't like filled donuts. Even the promise of exceptional flavor couldn't quell the anxiety of squish in my mouth. I took a deep breath, held the confection up and began by nibbling the bottom of my "A" leg. The donut was light and tasty. The frying process lends the outside crust slightly crispy and not at all soggy. I took a bigger bite, getting a bit of the chocolate frosting in with the crispy donut. The chocolate is well done and not the least bit plastic. Sometime I have chocolate iced donuts and they use a low quality of what I could only assume is chocolate coating....and it is more reminiscent of a snack cake wrapper then a tasty frosting. I happily nibbled all around the exterior, trying to pretend like I wasn't avoiding the inevitable. But...it was time. I took a sizable bite right in the center and sat completely still. Let me say ....

the donut .... delicious
the chocolate .... delicious
the cream .... tasty and not too sweet

       All together ..... come on .... I said I didn't like filled donuts. I don't know who these people are that are able to grant oral exception to the likes of cream filled confections but I'm not one of them. I forced myself to swallow but I wasn't happy about it. This isn't any fault of Sublime Donuts ....all the components were well put together and quite attractive. I just can't get over my textural short comings. To their credit, the others who tried them enjoyed their "A-Town" creams and not a single complaint was heard from them.  My youngest, the cream filled donut fanatic, actually came in and begged for another and was quite disappointed when I said that we were out. Overall, I consider this a successful journey and I look forward to going back and trying their other selections. They have a red velvet with my name on it !

     The drive may be long but I think the secret to that is to avoid the usual high traffic times and maybe make this a weekend excursion for us all to go and experience together. The other high light of this trip that has no relevance to food is being able to drive past all the new construction on the Mercedes Benz Stadium for the Falcons. (#RiseUp) ... I rarely go down that way so I haven't seen it. The overall scale of the structure is breath taking. I was able to sneak a few pictures while I sat in perfectly still traffic (See, I was mostly safe). I can't wait to see it completed as I pass by to obtain more donut-fantasy worthy fare.

 

Krog Street Market ~ An adventure in good beer and fine pig :D

Good Evening Readers (...you know, me...)
 
This week was very, very busy but in a pretty good way. I thought that my first foray into culinary adventures would be a simple trip to the Varsity but it ended up being so much better then that. I previously had an appointment set for Wednesday evening to meet with my wedding photographer (hush, I know we're already married...doesn't mean you can't plan a ceremony after the fact) ... and it dawned on me that our meeting spot, Krog Street Market, was the home to not just 1 location on my list, but three ! Imagine my surprise (and joy) when I realized that I would be able to knock out 3 delicious selections in just one evening  ! The best part was that all the tastings we were after would be small plate style so it wasn't like I was trying to cram a full dinner on top of a full dinner on top of a dessert. It would be quirky and fun to basically graze our way through this section of our list. So, let the fun begin !
 
1st & 2nd -  The Cockentrice
&
The Spotted Trotter

              Our first stop (and adjoining second tasting) came from The Cockentrice Restaurant located inside the Krog Street Market. Touted as a mixture of traditional methods and modern flair, steeped in southern heritage, the Cockentrice has emerged as the brainchild of Chef Kevin Ozuts' desire to celebrate meat cookery. When you walk through the entrance, first thing you'll notice is the glass window that lets you peer through to a huge rack of beef, aging lazily under the light. Walk a little further and the lights dim enough to inspire intimacy while still providing guidance...immediately you feel as if you're walking into something far more hip then you probably dressed for.

          I was thoroughly impressed by the rich woods, the modern vintage appearance of the tables, and the way that everything looked effortlessly harmonized. The décor was accented by cured meats hanging in lit windows high above the dining patrons below. The ceiling gives the appearance of dust (but in a way that harkens a homespun feeling...it's far from dirty), the various cooks visible behind shiny stainless cooking stations along the far wall, and impeccable place settings placed gingerly as you are seated by your eager-to-please waiter. (the place setting was changed after each course so as not to cross contaminate flavors in any way). Looking up, you notice that cured meats are hanging in a lit window display high above....you know this place means business. Charcuterie isn't just a buzz word that this place is using to sound trendy, they've put a lot of thought into presenting the are of Charcuterie (cold cooked meats) to the people of Atlanta. 


Photo by: Sarah Dodge





         We sat down, mulled over the menu. We knew what our mission was but we wanted to see what was offered anyway. Elliott settled on some fancy sounding beer and I tried the vanilla orange cream soda. Our waiter brought our drinks along with a carafe of still water (you have the option of still or sparkling for $2.00 per person) Some people may scoff at the idea of paying for something as mundane as water, but anything billable to the restaurant, I have no problem paying for at the table. Frankly, if you don't charge, the cost gets added in anyway. At least this way, I can feel as though I pay for what I use, not what the company needs to make up for later.  The waiter explained the entire menu to us, showing how the price points of each dish gave some indication of the size, allowing for a more "shared plate" approach as opposed to pre set dinner options. There was so much that sound delicious and it was hard to stay focused.

        We were there to taste the charcuterie board, and our waiter explained that we could either select our own board selections or leave it up to the chef's expertise and go with "The Chosen One". 













It was a composed selection of three meats and 2 cheeses, Genoa, Iberia Salchichon, Toscano, accompanied by Taleggio and French Crottin, served with a crostini drizzled with honey and olive oil. Decorating our board was an array of shmears and accoutrements. There were some drunken muscadine grapes, a smear of what tasted like a delicious apple sauce-style mixture, pickled onions and juicy plump golden raisings. There were also tiny pickled berries but I can't remember the name (forgive me).

     Wrapping the slivers of cheese inside the thinly sliced meat, adding in the various culinary trinkets and popping them in my mouth was such an eye-roll-worthy experience. The cheeses are rich and well paired with the perfectly seasoned meats. The cures are on point and the fats lend the right amount of juiciness once it starts to melt in your mouth. My husband and I silently (save a few yum-yum noises) sliced, smeared, and matched up the various options until it was all gone. That was a pretty sad realization that we were out of food. We opted to not "be" out of food for long. Since "The Spotted Trotter" was the beginning of the Cockentrice story (and since their crepinettes were on my list), the Mr and myself opted to sample the lamb crepinettes which came with delicious local field peas, candied celery, carrot gel and a crispy soft boiled egg. Let me start by saying this .... the food was cooked perfectly (Elliott was most excited about this fabled crispy egg) and the peas were DELICIOUS. That being said, I was not a fan of this lamb. No, I will correct that ... I'm not a fan of lamb. I was trying something new and it just didn't work out. Elliott seemed to enjoy his (though not nearly as much as the peas) but the overall lamb'y flavor was just not doing it for me. (Sorry I don't have pics of that dish)

      Overall, we enjoyed a wonderful selection at a place that pays attention to the details. At this price point, I can say that I wish I received a little more for my money but what I did get, was quite delicious. Overall, we spent about $87 total for 2 plates, 2 drinks, and my water. Would I go back to the restaurant ? I'm not quite sure. Not because it's not good ...just because it's not good enough for what I paid (although I would love to go back and try that hatchet steak...on someone else's dime lol). What I WILL do, though, is hit up The Spotted Trotter again at a later date and try the other variety of crepinettes so that I can get a better feel for what's offered. They have a peach & pork flavor that I'm totally on board for trying !

3rd stop  - Gu's Dumplings

     Immediately on exiting The Cockentrice, you are face to face with Gu's Dumplings. Since we only had the small plates between both of us at Cockentrice, I thought it would be a good idea to stop in at Gu's and sample these dumplings I had read about on my list. There was a line at the register but service was swift, and I was soon placing my order for six pork dumplings to go (they also have a vegetarian variety). The guy taking my order wrote down my name and told me my order would be out in about 8-10 minutes. You know what that means, right? Our order was made fresh ! No steam trays and cafeteria styles here !  I stepped back, rocked on my heels a bit and people watched ... waiting for my name to be called. After about 10min, I was summoned to the counter and presented with a bag and a smile from the girl across the counter. With my package in tow, my husband and I made our way to our car ...anxious to get home to both our children & our bed.

      After a leisurely drive home, I unpackaged our treasures and breathed in the deep aroma of soy, spices, and porky deliciousness. Seriously, these are some gorgeous dumplings. They're bathed in a very savory, heavily seasoned  sauce. They're large and full, no measly portions here, and at the bargain price of $6.00 for 6 dumplings ($12.00 for a dozen) it was easily one of the best deals of the night. (the BEST deal was the 3 beers for $15 that we shared earlier at Hop City during our meeting but I digress) These were some seriously stuffed dumplings.

The pork was juicy,  well seasoned, and perfectly cooked. The sesame perfectly complimented the soy and spices. It all added up to an experience that fully lived up to the hype. My only regret is that I don't live closer to the city, or else I'd be popping in on a regular basis to score these babies. Do yourself a favor, and try these dumplings !





 



All in all, we had a wonderful evening meeting new people, enjoying new food, and finding ourselves smack dab in the center of one of Atlanta's hottest culinary collections. I look forward to stopping in at Krog Street Market again and I especially look forward to trying Gu's dumplings again. If I have a client or a future customer to impress, I could see myself hitting up the Cockentrice, but just for now, maybe my palette just isn't refined enough to fully appreciate what they're going for. Until next time .... stay classy !