Amy On Food - An Atlanta, Georgia Food Blog

Miss Crumpy's - Awesome Atlanta Wings with a Memphis Connection

2012-02-15T16:04:00.000-05:00

Honey Gold (left) and Mild wings at Miss Crumpy's.

Back in December owner Freda Crump invited me to come try her wings. I was so busy I didn't have time to come by until a couple of weeks ago. As soon as we arrived Calvin (a native of Memphis) discovered that Miss Crumpy's is related to Memphis' Crumpy's chain - in fact Miss Crumpy is Crumpy's daughter! What a coincidence - turned out Freda even knew an old friend of Calvin's from back in Memphis - small world!

We really enjoyed chatting with the namesake owner as well as her best friend and assistant Ron Jones. Both are warm, talkative and welcoming. Miss Crumpy's is located in the Westview neighborhood in southwest Atlanta. Although this is not a neighborhood I frequently find myself in, it is quite convenient to I-20 if you are traveling west out of Atlanta or returning from the Alabama state line. Inside a few tables are available for patron use but takeout seems to be the norm.

Ron Jones and Freda Crump cook up some great wings!

After chatting for a bit we decided to try a sampler of the fried appetizer snack goodness that is offered as well as 3 types of wings. The fried items are hand battered to order, resulting in a rich, thick and tasty crunch. I really appreciate that they hand batter rather than use frozen pre-battered vegetables. All of the snacks we tried were delicious, especially when dipped in ranch or honey mustard sauces!

The wings did not disappoint either. First of all, it must be made clear that Miss Crumpy's serves the WHOLE WING - not the pieces of wing that you normally get. Thus, when it says 5 wings, it is the equivalent of 10 pieces. That's a lot of wing! Of all the options we really liked the Mild seasoned wing. The honey gold and the hot were also good but the seasonings and crispy yet moist mild really knocked our socks off.

Fried green tomatoes, mushrooms and onion rings.

The HOT wings! We didn't attempt the X-Hot or Suicide varieties - no thank you!

Think about giving Miss Crumpy's a try and tell her that you found her on Amy on Food. The restaurant just opened in September 2011 so they are trying to generate lots of fans! You can check out their facebook page here. Miss Crumpy's does catering orders and recently had many Super Bowl orders as well.

Kettlebells, the Paleo Diet and Caramba Cafe

2012-02-13T15:03:00.001-05:00

Poblano Verde from Caramba.

For some time I've meant to post on a category very much related to food: exercise and diet. In particular, I want to highlight kettlebell strength training and the Paleo diet. Kettlebells are a great overall exercise - I can personally attest to that! I discovered kettlebells here in Atlanta at Delaine Ross' Gym Condition where Delaine and several other instructors use kettlebell training to provide a great workout including cardio and strength training all in one 45 minute workout. With more than 30 classes per week at various times of morning and evening - plus some special lunch time classes too - there should be no excuse not to try out kettlebells. I actually used a kettlebell routine to prepare for my wedding last April. I attended 3-4 times per week and I noticed a recognizable difference within just a few weeks. Check out Gym Condition's website to learn more. And - don't worry if you are not in great shape or can't lift heavy weights. The bells vary in weight from just a few pounds all the way up to giant weights you can marvel at other people lifting! As you work out using the kettlebells you will be able to increase the amount of weight used.

A typical kettlebell class in progress.

If you can add the diet element in as well, you will see serious results fast! Recently I dined with Delaine to learn more about the Paleo diet, which is considered by some to be the most helpful in slimming down and staying that way. The diet includes vegetables, meats, eggs and small amounts of fruits and nuts. Paleo excludes dairy products (although some schools of Paleo thought allow dairy), sugars and grains and beans. Processed sugars and grains are particularly off-limits. Interestingly, bacon fat and coconut oil are preferred over vegetable or olive oils for cooking. This is because many vegetable based fats break down and interact with your body in a different way. So if you are following a Paleo diet it is better to use that bacon grease to cook your vegetables instead of the olive oil you thought was so good for you! Olive oil is allowed in salads, however. Click here for lots of recipes and Paleo resources and here for Paleo 101 and additional resources. Additional reported benefits of the Paleo diet include better respiratory health (less congestion) and healthier skin.

There are several area restaurants offering Paleo-friendly fare as well. Delaine and I met at Caramba in its new location in the Pencil Factory lofts. Although it was difficult to skip the chips and salsa the above poblano verde was excellent with rich flavor and a tangy sauce. Delaine ordered the special chicken soup which was also delicious. In lieu of chips and salsa we had veggie dippers and salsa - nice to have a substitute so you can snack on something! Urban Pl8 also has Paleo items on its menu. Where else have you tried Paleo-friendly food in Atlanta?

Sopa de Pollo "a la Mia".

Veggie dippers with salsa and hot sauce.

The Common Market, Southend - Charlotte

2012-02-08T08:05:00.000-05:00

Deli Counter

Last time I was in Charlotte I ventured into the Common Market's South End location for a quick lunch. What a great place! There are all sorts of goodies including beer/wine, prepared salads, soups, breakfast and lunch sandwiches and desserts and lots of specialty items including fresh pasta you could take home to cook for dinner. They also do Sunday brunch with a special menu. There are several tables for eating in and they do a large takeout business as well. Every week they have a wine tasting and a beer tasting and live music nights are not uncommon :)

After much deliberation I tried the Soup-O-Rama which includes grilled cheese made with your choice of cheeses and optional tomato and a large soup. The soup selections change frequently but were very impressive. I tried the red pepper gruyere (I think that was the name!) but they had so many tasty sounding options including Brunswick stew and chili. They always have at least one vegan or vegetarian soup. I also sprang for one of the giant chocolate sea salt cookies that are next to the register. Everything was delicious, especially that soup. I definitely look forward to trying more from Common Market soon. The original location is on Commonwealth Avenue in Plaza-Midwood.

Red Pepper Taqueria

2012-02-02T12:06:00.002-05:00

Delicious chicken mole!

I was recently invited to check out the newly opened Red Pepper Taqueria located in the old Artuzzi's location at the corner of Briarcliff and LaVista. Red Pepper opened just after New Year's and it is evident that a lot of thoughtful work was done to prepare the space prior to opening. The interior has changed significantly for the better - it's very festive with an open feeling, although it is quite loud when full (a common problem). A full bar has been added and get this - there are beer taps at the tables in the bar area. That's right, you can pour your own! We didn't try it but it looks like a lot of fun for groups or parties.

We did try quite a few of the dishes on the menu including the above signature chicken mole dish. Mole sauce can come in many forms but it usually includes several types of chili peppers, ground nuts, dried fruits and sometimes even unsweetened chocolate. In some cases mole can have as many as 25 - 30 ingredients! The chicken mole here is a stellar version that I recommend for those who have never tried mole sauce - it is a bit spicy, just the way I like it!

Chips and salsa - I like the green tomatillo best. The chips were warm and had good flavor.

Made to order guacamole - you can get it mild, medium or hot - yum!

My 2nd favorite dish after the mole - the tuna crudo in citrus marinade - this is so good I would have it all on its own for lunch! Can't wait to do that sometime.

Prickly pear juice (left) and LaVista martini (right) - both tasty - the juice by itself was too sweet but I added soda water and then it was perfect - a nice cooling drink to go with the spicy foods we tried. Calvin liked the martini too!

Tacos: carne asada, organic tofu and grilled trout - neat that they have so many fish and veggie options. You can have either corn or flour tortillas.

Flan - my favorite dessert of the bunch: creamy, sweet and delicious. It's also gluten free.

Churros with chocolate sauce - love the presentation here! I'd love to see the addition of a darker chocolate dipping sauce. The churros themselves were really tasty - sweet and fried to perfection.

El Pastel AKA Drunken Cake.

Red Pepper Taqueria is a welcome addition to the Druid Hills/Toco Hills area. Try it and let me know what you think! Judging from the crowd we saw on our visit this place is going to do very well!

Disclosure: The meal described in this review was complimentary.

Vietnam Grille - Charlotte

2012-01-31T10:17:00.001-05:00

House Special Vermicelli.

Last time we were in Charlotte I dined with my parents at Vietnam Grille. We usually go to Saigon Palace, which is only a few blocks away, but this time we wanted to try something new. Vietnam Grille is fairly small and homey and is obviously family owned. It would be difficult to accommodate a very large group here but it is a nice and cozy place for a couple or family.

The menu is ranges from soups, noodles and rice dishes to traditional Vietnamese dishes and beverages. We tried the pictured house special vermicelli, which was very good - lots of picked carrots and radishes and tasty meat - as well as the seafood noodle soup (not pictured). The soup didn't stand out as much as the vermicelli, but the fresh spring rolls were very good - one of my favorite foods! I don't think Vietnam Grille has the yellow pancake (banh xeo) we like so much on the menu. For that (and for large groups) I will keep going to Saigon Palace - or back to Vietnam - I hope to finally put some food photos from my SE Asia trip up soon! If you are in Charlotte Vietnam Grille is a solid choice for reasonably priced tasty food. I look forward to trying additional menu items on future visits.

Shrimp and pork rolls.

Capital Grille - New Winter Plates Menu

2012-01-27T09:58:00.000-05:00

Wagyu cheeseburger with fried egg and crisp onions with side of roasted root vegetables.

I was invited to come try Capital Grille's new addition to the lunch plates menu: Wagyu cheeseburger, roasted root vegetables and roasted pepper soup. The plates menu allows customers to choose a soup/salad, main dish and side for $16 at lunchtime. Other selections include the lobster roll (below) and mini-tenderloin sandwiches as well as clam chowder and truffle fries.

The new burger is delicious - the fried egg and onions adding extra flavor to the already rich Wagyu beef. The term "Wagyu" means Japanese cow and refers to several breeds of cattle (including Kobe) whose meat is genetically predisposed to better than average marbling, leading to tastier, more tender, juicier meat. This is definitely my top pick from the plates menu. The roasted root vegetables are also tasty, basted in olive oil with rosemary peeking through. The roasted pepper soup is another winner - skip the salad and try this soup instead - it has a nice bold flavor.

As always the service at the Capital Grille was delightful and the upscale atmosphere including the stellar views of Atlanta can't be beat for a special occasion or business meeting.

Roasted Pepper Soup and mixed greens.

Lobster roll with French green beans. Good amount of lobster meat but not served warm like in New England!

Trio of ice creams with cookies. I always love ice cream, especially when it's homemade. The cookies were chewy and tasty - a treat to end the meal.

Disclosure: The meal described in this review was complimentary.

Yogurtland

2012-01-24T11:34:00.002-05:00

Yogurt and toppings - quite a nice variety!

I was recently provided with a gift card in order to sample Yogurtland, a self-serve frozen yogurt shop (apparently the first such company that offered self-service) with 170 locations in the US, Guam and Mexico. The majority of locations are in the western half of the US. In Atlanta there are 2 locations, one on West Paces Ferry Rd. near I-75 and another in Norcross. A third location in Peachtree City is coming soon. At the West Paces Ferry location on a recent rainy Saturday, high school kids dominated the constant crowd in the bright, friendly shop. A sprinkling of young families played into the mix as well.

Although I believe the Atlanta yogurt market is over-saturated I was pleasantly surprised with Yogurtland's flavors, toppings, atmosphere and price. I tried many of the available flavors (more than a dozen!) including limited edition Yo Frappe and Mango Mixer tart flavors. Both were tasty. I personally prefer the tart flavors, and found the plain tart flavor to be delicious, especially when coupled with fruit and chocolate toppings! Toppings include the usual fruits, nuts and candies as well as mochi and tiny pieces of cheesecake as well as cookie dough bites - definitely appealing for the under fifteen set. Other flavors I enjoyed include Pecans & Pralines, Superfruit tart, Guava-Pineapple tart and Red Velvet Cupcake Batter. In my experience it is hard to find a good chocolate frozen yogurt and Yogurtland's version was pretty good - another welcome surprise. On the company's website you can view all flavors. I would love to try the Matcha Green Tea (which was not available when I visited).

I was also impressed by the pricing. At 33 cents per ounce the cost is reasonable and seems quite a bit lower than some of the other local yogurt establishments. Each of the above creations cost about $3.50. If Yogurtland was closer to me it would definitely be my top pick. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Disclosure: The yogurt described in this review was complimentary.

Burger Tap: The New Neighbor in Morningside - Grand Opening January 20

2012-01-19T11:00:00.003-05:00

Truffle Burger with fried zucchini and the Classic Burger with sweet potato fries.

I sampled Morningside's new Burger Tap soon after its soft opening. You order at the counter, where several beer taps are also available. The look is industrial, with metal tables and clean lines, which may be a bit too "trendy" for maximizing business in this location. I hope they decide to install padding on the benches and add some individual tables to the large space in front.

I enjoyed the food, especially the truffle burger with gruyere, fried onions, garlic mayo and a truffle glaze and the fried zucchini. The burgers are served in a unique shape (rectangular) which seems to cause some people to feel that they are too small. I think the size is fine so long as you are up for one of the side dishes. If not, you may want to order 2 burgers. The sweet potato fries are made using Korean white sweet potatoes - a different taste and feel from the usual but good.

I'd like to see a wider variety of non-alcoholic beverages as well as more desserts - they have ice cream which can be made into a float. It would also be nice to have a more kid-friendly space. I learned that since my visit they have added a price-sensitive kids meal which is a great idea.

The restaurant holds its grand opening this weekend with the following specials:

Friday, January 20th from 6 - 11 p.m. Burger Tap will offer $.25 (twenty-five cent) pints of Bud Light, Newcastle or PBR when you purchase a burger. 50% off all other beer selections.

Saturday, January 21st from 12 noon - 7 p.m. Burger Tap will treat children 12 and under to a complimentary Kid's Meal, which includes a hamburger or cheeseburger, side of fries and a juice box.

Check out Burger Tap for yourself and let me know what you think!

The beer taps.

Dining area - there is outdoor seating also.

Southwestern Burger with fried jalepeno.

View of the kitchen and condiment station.

Disclosure: The meal described in this review was complimentary.

Uncle Julio's New Guacamoles

2012-01-13T10:16:00.000-05:00

Pineapple Bacon Guacamole.

I was recently invited to come in and try three new flavors of guacamole at Uncle Julio's. The pineapple bacon guacamole pictured above was my favorite of the innovative new varieties. It has an intense flavor with the smoky bacon playing nicely with the fruit. The other two: roasted corn and lump crab guacamole and spicy three pepper with diced jalepeno, habenero and red bell peppers were fun to try as well. The spicy three pepper is actually really spicy - I was impressed they did not hold back! But that pineapple bacon - definitely the one I recommend most! As a bonus we were offered sopapillas - hot, sweet and tasty.

Crabmeat Guacamole.

Spicy Three Pepper Guacamole.

Sopapillas.

Disclosure: The meal reviewed in this post was complimentary.

2012 Atlanta Chef's Expo - tickets available now!

2012-01-12T08:10:00.000-05:00

Atlantans can now purchase tickets for the inaugural Atlanta Chef’s Expo, the city’s ultimate taste test event set to take place Sunday, February 19, 2012, at the Foundry at Puritan Mill. This inaugural culinary event will include menu tastings from local chefs, cooking demonstrations and more, benefitting Susan G. Komen for the Cure of Greater Atlanta.

“We are exited to put our distinctive stamp on Atlanta’s already outstanding roster of foodie events,” Atlanta Chef’s Expo founders Alisha Nesbitt and Cheryl Hasting said. “It is our goal to create an affordable, family-friendly environment for event goers to enjoy some of the city’s finest culinary talents and to showcase additional chefs that aren’t always in the spotlight, including acclaimed caterers and pastry chefs.”

The highly-anticipated epicurean expo will highlight Atlanta’s greatest in restaurant dining and catering opportunities including tastings from restaurants such as Thrive and Marlow’s Tavern; sought-after caterers including reMARKable Meals and Wolfgang Puck Catering; and sweet treats from local pastry chefs including Dr. Sweet’s Cake Emporium. To help Atlanta foodies navigate through the plethora of tastings, the expo will be broken into categories including “Restaurant Row,” “Catering Alley,” The Sugar Shack” and “The Chef’s Table.” Popular blogger Broderick Smylie, known as Savory Exposure, will judge each category and select a “Most Creative” while guests can choose their “Fan Favorite.” Additional judges for the event include Holly Firfer from Star 94 and Atlanta on-air personality Tom Sullivan.

Between tastings guests can enjoy cooking demonstrations from beloved local chefs throughout the day. Featured guest chefs include chef Ginny McCormack, an expert in Southern hospitality; one of the most sought after private chefs in the country, chef Dwayne L. Hairston; one-time “Chopped” winner and co-owner of The Hungry Peach, chef Suzanne Vizethan; and pastry chef Juanita Threlkeld who designs weddings cakes.

Guests can also enjoy cocktails from presenting sponsor ABSOLUT Vodka, along with musical entertainment from Joel Rabe of Lethal Rhythms. Tickets are now on sale. General admission tickets are $25 and VIP tickets are available for $50. The expo is also seeking sponsors for the event in support of Susan G. Komen. Packages range from $500 Silver Sponsors to $2,000 Platinum Sponsors.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.atlantachefsexpo.com.

Enjoy with ABSOLUT RESPONSIBILITY®. ©2011 Imported by Absolut Spirits Co., New York, NY. Valid ID required 21+ to be served alcohol at the Atlanta Chef’s Expo.

HD1 - The Trendy New Hot Dog Joint

2012-01-11T11:03:00.000-05:00

From top: the Eastbound & Down (with pulled pork), the Classic dog and the Jerk Chicken.

I recently succumbed to the hype and tried HD1, Richard Blais' "haute doggery" of recent fame. Not being a huge hot dog fan, I enjoyed it more than I expected, especially the Merguez (lamb sausage with currants, minted cucumber relish and yogurt) and the Jerk Chicken (chicken sausage with mango pork ragout, curry ketchup and ginger crunch). The fries were also tasty as was the peanut butter soft serve ice cream (not pictured).

The space here is trendy, as one would expect from a Blais establishment, although it is not as hypertrendy as Flip. The service was a bit slow. There are communal tables, a bar and high-stool tables (where we sat), none of which make for a very comfy situation. The better to get 'em in and get 'em out, most likely. Overall I suggest giving it a try - definitely a unique concept in Atlanta.

Waffled fries with "maple-oy", the Merguez (lamb dog) and the beet salad.

Thaicoon - Marietta

2012-01-05T10:01:00.000-05:00

The Sherlock Holmes Roll - not sure why it is called this but I love this spicy tuna roll topped with more fish and a tiny piece of lemon. Tangy, spicy and delicious!

Recently we dined at Thaicoon in Marietta just before viewing a performance of "The Sound of Music" on Marietta's historic square. This restaurant has a sister located near where I live at the Sage Hill shopping center on Briarcliff Road. For no particular reason, I have not actually had a meal there although I've ordered take out several times. This was a great opportunity to sample the offerings, which are similar at both restaurants. My favorite dishes here include the above fancy sushi roll and the basil duck. The tom yum kung soup was also good. The Panang curry with scallops was too bland for me - one of those instances when the spice stars don't mean a thing - definitely a disappointment after our recent trip to Thailand! Thaicoon was crowded - it was Saturday night - so make a reservation if you're going at a popular time. If you have never tried Thai food this is a great place to start. There is a full Japanese menu available as well including several other creative sushi rolls like the Caribbean Roll, which includes snow crab and shrimp tempura.

Basil Duck - tasty.

Panang Curry with Scallops - not enough spice for me!

Tom Yum Gung - good flavor but not heavily spiced.

Miso Izakaya Revisited + foodie book recommendation

2012-01-01T07:39:00.000-05:00

Kimchi Rice - a deliciously flavored perfect comfort food. Love it!

I recently dined with fellow foodies at Miso Izakaya, a place I've blogged about before. Read about my first visit in 2009 and my awesome tasting visit in 2010. Miso has consistently improved since its opening and I found my latest visit exceptional as well. The above kimchi rice is not complicated but the flavors meld together perfectly with just enough spice - definitely a must try this winter. The fried Camembert is also a winner (although I don't want to think about the calorie content!) - do what I did and share with a friend. The sushi is also drastically improved since opening. The white tuna was particularly delicious.

The meal turned into a celebration for my friend and fellow food blogger, Malika Harricharan, who wrote the below book, available for purchase at Amazon.com. I am impressed that she compiled such a valuable resource for Atlanta food lovers. I also appreciate her mention of my blog in the introduction! Thank you Malika :)

Buy this book!!

Fried Camembert. Need I say more?!

The sushi was also excellent. Spicy tuna handroll, white tuna and salmon sashimi.

Sushi Itto

2011-12-31T07:33:00.000-05:00

Smokey Mountain Roll.

We recently tried the newly opened Sushi Itto in the shopping center at the corner of LaVista an Briarcliff. The restaurant features light wood and a long sushi bar. We sat at a table and tried the gyoza and several of the rolls. The spicy tuna was good and although at times I prefer to stick with simple sushi combinations, the special rolls we tried pleased the palate. I didn't have any nigri sushi yet but that is usually my test: the taste of the plain raw salmon, white tuna and yellowtail. I'm glad this place has joined the neighborhood since there are not many moderately priced good sushi places around in town Atlanta.

Gyoza. Good but not quite like the ones I had in Japan!

Spicy Tuna Roll and Tiger Roll.

Park's Edge

2011-12-30T07:42:00.000-05:00

Fabulous appetizer special: fish tacos - these could definitely be made into an entree as this portion was huge!

I was recently invited to sample the newly revamped menu at Park's Edge in Inman Park, which was updated following the taping of Chef Gordon Ramsay's "Kitchen Nightmares" show, set to air on Fox Network February 2012. My favorites among Chef Jorge Pacheco's dishes: the fish tacos (a daily special but should be added to the regular menu) were huge and delicious, although a bit messy, the lobster mac and cheese and the white chocolate bread pudding. Park's Edge has a reputation as one of Atlanta's best brunch spots. I look forward to trying brunch another time soon.

Park's Edge also has a neat cocktail menu including the midnight martini - served with blue cheese stuffed olives and a blood orange mojito (my favorite!). We also tried the strawberry basil caipirinha, which was also quite tasty.

Scallops served atop sweet corn puree with crispy maple bacon.

Bone-in Pork Chop with sweet potato puree, spinach and apricot pistachio relish. A tasty combination - love meat served with sweet sides.

Shrimp & grits. A bit bland for me but big, tasty shrimp nonetheless.

Lobster mac and cheese - as tasty as it sounds with herbed breadcrumbs.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Bread Pudding - one of my favorite parts of this meal.

I'm not usually a white chocolate fan but this bread pudding with raspberry compote ended the meal on a high note! Park's Edge is a bit hard to find so be sure to check the map here before you go.

Disclosure: The meal described in this review was complimentary

Tanteo Flavored Tequilas

2011-12-29T07:37:00.000-05:00

Tanteo flavored Tequilas: Cocoa, Jalepeno and Tropical.

I recently had the opportunity to sample the above three flavors of ultra-premium 80 proof tequila from Tanteo. Their tequilas are different from many others because the flavor is infused, not added. They also use 100% Blue Weber Agave to create the tequila. Thus, the jalepeno tequila is truly unique with a BIG jalepeno taste (and smell). As soon as we opened the bottle we could tell Tanteo is really going for a true jalepeno taste. Tanteo products are available for purchase at several stores in Atlanta and arefeatured at several area restaurants including Pure Taqueria, Agave, No Mas! Cantina, Nava and Inc. Street Food. Click here to find all available locations of bottles and cocktails near you.

Big bottle of Jalepeno.

Homemade Jalepeno Margarita - recipe is available on Tanteo's website.

Disclosure: The products reviewed in this post were complimentary

Blue Moon Pizza - Buckhead

2011-12-28T07:34:00.000-05:00

Delicious Portabella Mushrooms topped with "Grandma's sauce", goat cheese and basil. A great first taste.

I was recently invited to check out Blue Moon Pizza, a local chain with four Atlanta area locations. Owners Kelvin and Mandy Slater have built a fun concept including a delicious variety of "specialty moons" (pizzas) as well as salads, "flatwiches" (sandwiches with bread made from pizza crust dough and appetizers. In addition to the Buckhead location (pictured below), there are locations in Marietta, Smyrna and now Sandy Springs as well. Click here for specific location information.

We had the opportunity to taste the mushroom appetizer (above) as well as several pizzas and one of the salads. Everything was good, with enough spice already added to make red pepper flakes a non-issue (at other pizza places we are always shaking those little glass bottles to try and get more flavor on the food!) I particularly enjoyed the portabella mushrooms, the Santa Fe style pizza and the Cobb salad. I look forward to trying more options on a future visit. We also had a fun time talking with Kelvin and Mandy, who are obviously dedicated to their concept of making Blue Moon "an everyday place that still feels special" for their customers. There is a loyalty program as well as a newsletter.

Casual, pleasing dining area adorned with special blue moon decor. The restaurant also features the amazing Coke machine with dozens of possible flavor combinations. I had fun trying out cherry Dr. Pepper - a rare treat!

Top half: BBQ chicken pizza; below: Jerk chicken pizza - just the right amount of spice!

Top half: Grandma's Pizza; below: my personal favorite, the Santa Fe featuring black beans, avocado and jalepenos - spicy and so delicious.

Calvin enjoyed a blue "moontini" - all locations feature a full bar with $5 martinis every Thursday.

Cobb salad - this is no ordinary salad! All salads at Blue Moon are served on pizza crusts - a neat touch.

Blue Moon also features a special gluten-free pizza crust, which can be used for all of the pies and for garlic bread. There is a list of gluten-free menu items and even a gluten-free chocolate brownie. Additionally, the restaurant offers lunch specials like a slice of cheese pizza, a side salad and a soda for $6.99.

Delivery is available within 3 miles of any location. Blue Moon also features Take-n-Bake: you pick up a pizza that is ready to be cooked in your oven at home. The pizza comes with a special baking tray to help you achieve that perfect crispness!

If you haven't already become a fan, give Blue Moon a try!

Disclosure: The meal described in this review was complimentary

Muir Glen Tomato Dinner at Aria - Take 2

2011-12-16T14:33:00.000-05:00

Fried Green Tomatoes with Deviled Egg Salad, Ruby Red Tomato & Dill Pickle Dressing.

I was excited to be invited to the second Muir Glen Tomato Dinner at Aria - I attended the first one earlier this year and you can see my post here. In celebration of its fine tomatoes, Muir Glen invites chefs around the country to create recipes using their organic canned tomatoes. Some chefs create a whole menu for guests to try at a special dinner. Before we sat down we enjoyed Tomato Clam Chowder; Tomato, white bean, red chard & fennel sausage soup; spicy Angus beef grillades and Southern Fried Chicken with Creamy Ruby Red Tomato Gravy (both served on buttermilk biscuits); grilled cheese, bacon & tomato keasters and Oak Grilled Ciabatta Bruschetta with Red & Yellow tomatoes and basil.

My favorites included the tomato, white bean, chard & sausage soup and the grilled cheese - both used the flavorful tomatoes perfectly.

Chef Gary Klaskala of Aria explaining the special tomato menu.

After the appetizers mentioned above, we sat down for a four course menu. We were also provided with samples of the tomatoes and reserve tomatoes - this year the reserve is called Harvest Sunset (trademark) and is a blend of red and yellow tomatoes. You can order a reserve basket here, which includes the recipe for the beef dish pictured below.

I am looking forward to making some chilli very soon using my tomatoes. I especially love the fire roasted tomatoes that Muir Glen produces. These tomatoes take canned to another level. To see recipe ideas, click here.

Pan Roasted Jumbo Prawn with Herbed Lobster Ruby Red Tomato Broth

Spicy Braised Angus Beef with Fire Roasted Tomatoes, Tomatillos, Gold Potatoes and Cilantro. This was my favorite dish (well, after the dessert!)

UpsideDown Tomato Cake with black Pepper Tomato Ice Cream. Simply delicious - it sounds odd but a very good combination!

Twitter - follow me!

2011-12-13T13:10:00.003-05:00

After hesitating for way too long I've finally taken the twitter plunge! Please follow me @AmyonFood - tweeting & eating :D! Can I get 100 followers by the end of the week?!

The Original Italian Pie - Charlotte

2011-12-07T06:33:00.000-05:00

During our last visit to Charlotte we tried The Original Italian Pie for pizza and salads. This is a franchise with a dozen outposts in Louisiana and one in Texas. This is the only location in North Carolina.

We split the Italian salad and the Caesar salad along with a large Roasted Eggplant pizza from the "Gourmet Pizza" section. The salads were pretty average, although fresh and the pizza was better than expected. This particular pizza is made with "zesty garlic sauce" and includes fresh mushroom, fresh tomato, sauteed onions and feta as well as mozzarella and the roasted eggplant. My dad previously ordered takeout here and was pleased, but for pizza it's best to eat it right out of the oven, of course. I look forward to trying the calzones and the oven-baked sandwiches here.

Holly's Cupcake Shop

2011-12-05T14:39:00.003-05:00

Clockwise from top left, Hummingbird, Lemon Drop, Buckeye Brownie, Cookie Monster, Pumpkin (seasonal) and Black Bottom.

Just before Thanksgiving I was lucky enough to be provided with delicious cupcakes from Holly's Cupcake Shop. Holly and her husband, Jonathan, own shops in Conyers (founded in 2009) and in Midtown Atlanta where ITP folks like me can pick up their delicious cupcakes without leaving our home turf. The midtown location is at Colony Square (1197 Peachtree St.)

Holly brought me a sampling of cupcakes in her decked out truck (pictured below), which is used to transport the finished cakes from the Conyers shop/bakery to the Midtown shop. My personal favorites include the seasonal Pumpkin - so moist and delicious - and the Back Bottom - love the cream cheese filling and vanilla cream cheese frosting. My cousin's son (age 4) loved the Cookie Monster (white cake with Oreo folded in and topped with cookies and cream frosting). All of the cupcakes were tasty and moist on the first day and they lasted pretty well for a few days (Holly recommends wrapping the bakery box in plastic wrap or transferring to an airtight container to retain moisture).

Unlike some cupcake shops, Holly bakes many types of cake for her cupcakes rather than only using chocolate and vanilla cake with a variety of frosting. For example, the Hummingbird cake contains banana, pineapple and pecans and the Banana Pudding cupcake has banana cake and banana pudding filling. Many of the cupcakes are filled, which gives them a unique taste and even more moisture - a real plus.

Holly's sells six flavors every day (Conyers is open Tuesday - Saturday and Colony Square is open Monday - Friday) and offers 5-6 daily flavor options. Check the website for details. Mini-cupcakes are also available (if ordered in advance).

Clockwise from top left, Red Velvet, Vanilla Chocolate, Chocolate Chocolate, Chocolate Vanilla, Vanilla Vanilla and Gingerbread (seasonal).

Holly's fabulous cupcake truck - used to transport sweet treats from the flagship store in Conyers to the midtown store at Colony Square.

I look forward to trying more varieties of Holly's Cupcakes soon!

Pinky's Westside Grill - Charlotte

2011-12-01T11:45:00.007-05:00

Right after our big honeymoon trip (more on that soon) and after a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner the day before, Calvin, my dad and I decided to check out Pinky's Westside Grill in Charlotte on West Morehead Avenue. This neighborhood is undergoing a pretty significant awakening and I'm excited to try some of the other newbies in the neighborhood also.

Pinky's serves a good burger and offers several eclectic twists, both on their burgers and other menu items that make it stand out as a causal dining joint. In addition to the tasty beef burgers, Pinky's serves hot dogs, falafel, veggie/turkey burgers and various baskets, salads and sandwiches as well. I look forward to returning to try the corn dog shrimp, the falafel and the "kinda fried turkey" sandwich.

We all tried the basic burger (the Pterodactyl), which is only available one temperature (per NC law a burger cannot be prepared rare anyway). At $3.75 (without a side but including generous toppings) it is a good value. We each tried a different topping style. Topping styles include Everything (mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion & dill pickle), Westside (mustard, chili, slaw and onion) and Ding-Dong Style (crunchy peanut butter, honey-cilantro slaw and hot sriracha sauce). I tried the Ding-Dong Style and loved it! Of course, having come from Thailand it was rather ironic that the waiter described it as their "Thai style" burger. We also shared some crab puppies as an appetizer - sweet crabmeat folded into large hush puppies and side orders of southern slaw, onion rings (more like straws) and fried squash. The sides didn't really stand out - the onion rings and squash were sliced too thin for my taste but maybe others like them this way. I preferred the cilantro-honey slaw on the burger to the southern style slaw. The only other negative is that the place is rather loud, although not as bad as some. I look forward to dining here again on the patio when the weather warms up in the spring!

Gu's Bistro Dim Sum - Unfortunately Disappointing

2011-11-25T10:22:00.001-05:00

Smoked chili tofu - the first (and best) dish of the meal.

Sweet rice porridge with dried fruit.

As part of Calvin's birthday weekend I planned a special dim sum brunch at Gu's Bistro. We were served about 12-14 items for $15 each - definitely a good deal. Unfortunately the selection was not what I was hoping for and was rather disappointing compared with Gu's regular menu. The items were very starch/noodle heavy and while we enjoyed many of the items, it was too much of the same thing and included no seafood and very few vegetables. Several of the items were very interesting, however, including textures not commonly eaten in the US. It wouldalso be helpful to have a printed menu of the selections since the servers were not too good at explaining each dish. Next time we'll definitely go back to the regular menu, which is wonderful and unique for Atlanta.

Dumplings in broth. Tasty.

Very interesting cold noodle.

Beef noodles with greens.

Vintage Pizzeria - Chamblee

2011-11-21T10:03:00.000-05:00

Calamari with jalepeno peppers and okra - favorite dish. The tomato sauce was really good, too.

We recently dined at the Chamblee location of Vintage Pizzeria while my dad was in town (there is a location in Alpharetta as well). Family friends we met at a recent gathering really raved about this place so we thought it was high time to try it out. We got a little lost getting there although once we found it I realized that every time I come to this part of Peachtree Rd. I get lost! This is definitely a neighborhood gathering place and watering hole, although I warn you to stay away from the house margarita - it is seriously 3/4 ice. In fairness, they did take it off our bill - however, it was removed only after the server said management would "discount" it. When it was not discounted on the original check we reminded her of this and it was removed.

Notwithstanding the margarita, we enjoyed our meal overall. However, the pizza did not stand out to me as much as I expected for a restaurant with such a high urbanspoon rating. While still not thick-crust, the pizza here is much more filling than some of our favorite pie places (Urban Pie, Antico) so there is more bang for your buck. The salads were also large, and the Caesar was tasty. This place is rather far from us so not a place we would likely return unless we were already in the area. If you live nearby, definitely give it a try. There is a cute ice cream stand across the street, too if you aren't totally stuffed after eating here.

Small house (left) and large Caesar salad.

The Vintage - half without olives.

Carmen's Own - a veggie pie with tomatoes and basil - we added garlic too. This was definitely my favorite of the two as I tend not to like a lot of meat on pizza.

Cakes & Ale - New Location + Bakery

2011-11-18T09:46:00.005-05:00

Fabulous fried okra.

After reading several wonderful reviews of the recently relocated Cakes & Ale in Decatur, I decided to try it out with my dad during his visit to Atlanta. We had a lovely dinner with gracious service, delicious food and a wonderful setting. The new space includes a large bar/table area, another large dining room and the attached, quaint cafe/bakery where breads, pastries and coffees as well as lunch are available. Many of the plates are small, sharing plates, which works just fine for me since you get to try more this way. I can't wait to return here to try more - the menu changes daily so there is always more to try!

Vermont burrata cheese with roasted broccoli, arugula and cherry tomatoes in a light dressing. The cheese paired perfectly with the house-made bread.

The delicious bread selection kept coming. You can buy whole loaves in the bakery as well. They also made me a lime/ginger "mocktail", which was delicious.

Squid stuffed with farro, frisee & feta, beet & frisee salad - one of my favorite items.

Gnocchi with rabbit ragu and mustard greens.

Roasted squash with rosemary - delicious and not too strong of a rosemary flavor.

Top: Pecan Tart with Cinnamon Ice Cream; bottom: brioche donuts with squash ice cream & pumpkin seed brittle - really unique. Both were sublime.

Buckhead Diner's New Menu Items

2011-11-15T13:39:00.000-05:00

Today's "Ceviche" Day Boat - Calamari and scallops with mango, papaya, melon, shallots and sweet potato and plantain chips - my favorite dish!

I was recently invited to a tasting at Buckhead Diner, organized by Atlanta Food Bloggers Society. Chef Charles Schwab is at the helm of this established Buckhead meeting spot where the warm Maytag Blue Cheese potato chips and veal and wild mushroom meatloaf are adored standards. In addition to the classics, there are quite a few new items on the menu and our sampling was comprised of these new additions. Everything we tried was quite tasty. My favorites include the ceviche (above), the Cobb salad (below) and the turkey Breast Jardiniere (not pictured) - a light entree of wood grilled turkey topped with fresh asparagus, tiny tomatoes, radishes, fingerling potatoes, arugula and a very tasty lemon vinaigrette. I look forward to trying Buckhead Diner again and for all you long-time fans - you must try the new menu!

Spicy "Pow Pow" Rock Shrimp.

Pimento Cheese fritters with spicy pimento jelly. Loved the jelly with these tasty fritters.

White truffle deviled eggs - this delicious delight started off our tasting.

Flatbread vegetarian pizza.

Cobb Salad - so pretty and delicious.

Horseradish Crusted Maine Cod + summer bean and corn succotash. The vegetables really shined here.

White Chocolate Banana Cream Pie - a classic favorite.

Ledet Ethiopian

2011-11-12T13:32:00.000-05:00

Lamb tibs (center) with vegetarian platter surrounding. We also had the doro wat (chicken with boiled egg).

I recently met up with friends to celebrate a birthday at Ledet Ethiopian. This quality Ethiopian spot is located at what I call "Ethiopian Corner" (corner of Briarcliff and Clairmont) in DeKalb County. The service, although a bit slow to start, was quicker than most Ethiopian places (other than Desta, which is my favorite modern Ethiopian restaurant) and the food was good. We found both the sambusas (below) and the salad dressing (not pictured) to be quite spicy even for our versatile palates. The main dishes, however, were very pleasing and it didn't hurt that was had a Scoutmob to take $20 off the bill. The doro wat, which is chicken in a rich sauce with a whole hardboiled egg included, was the best dish we tried. The vegetarian sampler was also very good.

The sambusas had a lot of flavor - too much flavor for most of my dining companions as there were huge chunks of very spicy jalepeno peppers inside. I'm not usually one to ask a restaurant to turn down the spice but in this case, they should do just that, or at least have two varieties: regular and extra spicy!

Hillbilly Willy's Bar-B-Q - Chattanooga

2011-11-09T13:39:00.001-05:00

Combo Plate with ribs and pulled pork.

On the way to MTSU for our nephew's football game, we stopped at Hillbilly Willy's Bar-B-Q and had a wonderful lunch. This family owned establishment is a great pit stop. The ribs and pulled pork were both particularly tasty. We also tried the chocolate coca-cola cake (not pictured) and it is also delicious.

The giant combo plate was enough for 2 to share, with delicious huge onion rings and homemade cole slaw in addition to the succulent, falling of the bone Q.

Specials on the board.

Owner George Foster cooks up all the meat right behind the restaurant.

Yum!

Located in a strip shopping mall just off I-24 - a great place to stop while on the road in Tennessee.

Roxx Tavern

2011-11-04T13:29:00.000-05:00

Bacon cheeseburger with homemade chips.

Although we don't live far away, we'd never tried Roxx Tavern before our neighbor suggested that we go there for dinner one night. We really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and the huge menu as well as the good service. We even went back again recently because they sent Calvin a $15 gift certificate for his birthday. The fish & chips were really tasty and the burgers are also excellent. We sat on the patio (enclosed for the cooler season now) both times we dined at Roxx and truly enjoyed the experience.

Fish & Chips.

Harvest salad with grilled chicken.

Fried twinkies.

Carrot cake - special of the day.

Rooftop Fun at Six Feet Under Westside

2011-10-31T11:26:00.001-05:00

Fried Okra platter.

Not long ago I was invited to a fabulous networking event on the rooftop deck of Six Feet Under - Westside. I had not been to this location previously and truly enjoyed the experience. The food and atmosphere was delightful as was the good company. The spicy rat toes were especially tasty as was the horseradish-dill sauce served with the addictive homemade potato chips. The view of midtown Atlanta is spectacular (sorry - no photo!).

Spicy Rat Toes - that's baked jalepeno peppers stuffed with shrimp and wrapped in bacon, served with Ranch dressing.

Housemade potato chips with delicious horseradish-dill sauce.

Sushi House Hayakawa

2011-10-26T08:19:00.000-05:00

Today's specials with complementary bean sprouts. The green tea hit the spot as well.

I finally made it to Sushi House Hayakawa, an Atlanta area destination sushi spot worth the drive and the cost. Owner/head chef Atsushi (Art) Hayakawa is from Sapporo, Japan and has worked in the sushi business for many years, including in several other quality local establishments. He finally opened his own sushi restaurant in 2008 and it has retained a following ever since. Not only does Sushi House Hayakawa have great sushi, it also has a large menu of Japanese home style dishes as well as daily specials printed on special cards. I enjoyed everything that I tried and look forward to returning again.

Mother's onion miso soup. This was truly outstanding - so different from regular miso with bold onion flavor.

Avocado tofu salad - very tasty, mild and unique and fried oysters - also delicious.

Sashimi platter.

Outside the small restaurant.

Salmon Torch Roll - absolutely delicious! Salmon is my favorite type of sushi and this did not disappoint.

Takoyaki topped with bonito flakes - Wow - finally found another place that serves these tasty Osaka treats. I still haven't found any that equal the quality of the street food in Japan but it's still fun to be able to experience these unique flavors and interesting presentation.

Mochi ice cream dessert - green tea and sesame flavors. These were really delicious and brought back fond memories of Japan.

Chef Hayakawa (left).

Ikura - part of the sushi and sashimi platter - gleefully salty as they should be and served over perfect rice.

Adrian Grenier's Paparazzi at Vanquish

2011-10-24T07:45:00.001-05:00

Vanquish lounge in midtown.

I was recently invited to view Adrian Grenier's new movie Teenage Paparazzo at Vanquish Lounge in Midtown. Not only did we get to watch a good movie but we had the opportunity to sip tasty cocktails in this ultra-hip new space, which is attached to Reign Nightclub.

My photos did not come out too well - guess I need to get a camera that's better at catching the stars!

Georgia Aquarium's Aqua Vino Fundraiser

2011-10-22T09:29:00.000-05:00

We couldn't resist taking a photo with Deepo!

Last week Calvin and I had the opportunity to attend Georgia Aquarium's 6th Annual Aqua Vino fundraiser. In addition to live and silent auctions, visits from fishes and the ability to see all of the aquarium's exhibits (love the belugas), we also got to sample tasty bites from 30 area restaurants and wines from around the world. The fundraiser benefits the animals directly at the Correll Center for Aquatic Animal Health. Check it out!

My favorite taste of the night: tuna avocado spoons from BLT Steak.

Tasty block of cheese pairs well with wine from Veni Vidi Vici.

Awesome cake from Highland Bakery.

One aquarium resident.

Tastykake Brand Hits Atlanta market

2011-10-21T09:20:00.001-05:00

Variety of Tastykakes.

I was offered a sample of Tastykakes recently because they are now in the Atlanta market - the expansion also includes other parts of Georgia, Alabama and Florida. The cakes originate in Philadelphia (circa 1914) and are baked more often than some other packaged snacks, resulting in tastier goods and expiration dates that come sooner. The cakes' unique names include Krimpets, Kandy Kakes and Kreamies. I enjoyed the cakes over the pies and had fun giving out Tastykakes to others. Welcome to the South, Tastykake!

Taste of Atlanta 2011 This Weekend

2011-10-20T09:31:00.000-05:00

Delicious pork belly/fried banana bites at JCT Kitchen, one of the 80 restaurants participating in Taste of Atlanta this weekend.

I was invited on a fun progressive tasting highlighting some of the fabulous restaurants featured at this year's Taste of Atlanta event, to be held in Tech Square this weekend, October 22 and 23 with a special Friday night party on October 21. Taste of Atlanta features food, cocktails, wine, beer, cooking demos, competitions and more, with dozens of Atlanta area restaurants featured. Click here to purchase tickets. Looks like a great weekend for the 10th Anniversary of this fun food festival. Below are some highlights from the sneak peak.

Bar upstairs at JCT.

Special fall drinks at JCT Kitchen.

Dining room at Tuk Tuk Thai Loft.

Mieng Kum at Tuk Tuk. We loved these!

Beef with sticky rice. Oh how I adore you sticky rice!

Shrimp and chicken toasts.

The Capital Grille - lunch post

2011-10-19T13:01:00.005-05:00

Mini-tenderloin served with roasted butternut squash & cranberry chutney. Usually two tenderloins are included but we split this plate with the fried lobster tails (unfortunately NOT on the special $15 plate lunch!) and the chef split the plates for us.

I was recently invited to try The Capital Grille's new lunch menu, which includes special 3 part lunch plates. The lunch plates are $15 and include soup or salad, choice of entree (current choices include mini-tenderloin sandwiches, lobster roll and "knife and fork" BLT) and a side dish - see Atlanta lunch menu here. This is a more economical option for those who want to experience the great service, atmosphere, view (it's on the 8th floor) and food of The Capital Grille in Atlanta. I found all of the options I tried from $15 menu to be tasty. I also love the bread service here. In addition to the $15 plate with the porcini bisque, mini-tenderloins and roasted squash we also tried the special oysters of the day (wonderful!) and the fried lobster tails - also a daily special. The Capital Grille is a great place for a business or special occasion meal and now for lunch there is a more cost-conscious option as well.

Porcini mushroom bisque- one of the options on the $15 lunch plate menu. Creamy and tasty.

Special of the day: fresh raw oysters, shucked perfectly with lots of sauces to choose from.

Homemade grapefruit soda - really fresh and not too sweet. I preferred this to the lemonade.

This cheesecake is awesome: light, delicious and made even better by the strawberry puree and berries served on the side. I love the sugar top and the tasty crust is made from vanilla wafers. I usually don't even like cheesecake and this was so good I had to take a piece back for my co-workers.

Birthday Party with Delicious Indian Food

2011-10-16T07:42:00.000-05:00

Delicious Indian and Indo-Chinese food from Chopaati in Decatur. As you can see they cater!

Our friends' baby turned one in August and we were invited to share in the festivities. In addition to hanging out with more one year olds than I've ever seen at the same time in one room, we enjoyed a delicious Indian/Indo-Chinese lunch with food catered from Chopaati. I definitely look forward to going to this place and recommend it if you are looking for Indian food catering.

We also enjoyed watching the birthday girl tear into this special cake made just for her. So cute and fun to be included in this family's special day.

Souper Jenny Lobster Roll Truck

2011-10-15T07:40:00.001-05:00

This is way out of date but I wanted to still post my impressions and photos from the Souper Jenny lobster roll truck, which served lobster rolls every Monday and Friday in August out of the Souper Jenny truck in front of the SJ store. SJ closes every August so their wonderful soups, salads and sandwiches are not available. This year Jenny decided to do something different and sell lobster rolls, lemonade and cookies out of her truck even though the regular restaurant was closed for the month.

Overall I was a bit underwhelmed by the lobster roll, although I enjoyed eating it. I think the problem was that I have had a Maine lobster roll and this is just a totally different animal. In Maine the lobster roll is served on a warm, grilled and buttered bun, sometimes with buttered lobster meat or sometimes more of a lobster salad like this. Souper Jenny served the lobster salad on an herbed roll, which to me did not really go well with the lobster salad (you could also get the lobster salad in a to-go container and do without the bread).

I am glad I tried Souper Jenny's lobster roll but I am even happier that Jenny is now open for the fall with her traditional, ever-changing menu.

George's

2011-10-14T10:07:00.000-05:00

George's famous onion rings.

We recently dined with our neighbors and played trivia at George's, a long time Virginia Highland neighborhood hangout. The restaurant's tables are covered with small plaques identifying the famous people who have dined at each particular table - neat idea and fun to know you are sitting where someone famous once sat!

Trivia happens on Tuesday nights here and there were several die-hard and very smart teams participating, although we thought that one of them violated the "no smart phone" ban. Although we did not come close to winning the trivia competition, we had a great time and enjoyed the atmosphere and good burgers. In my opinion this is one of the better burgers in Atlanta; without getting into the burger war debate I will say that George's burgers are cooked properly, delicious and not outrageously priced. The onion rings were a bit hit, too. The only miss was the shrimp po'boy, which I probably should not have ordered after hearing about the great burgers! Now I know.

The above smaller size burger is also available.

Shrimp po'boy. Don't fall for it. Get a burger!

Mushroom swiss burger.

Bacon cheeseburger with tots.

Chocolate cake at Jimmy Carter's seat.

Smallcakes

2011-10-13T07:32:00.000-05:00

Cupcakes galore at Smallcakes.

I was provided with the above sample of cupcakes from Smallcakes: A Cupcakery, which has a new outpost in Buckhead. The first Smallcakes is located in Overland Park, Kansas and now freestanding franchises as well as franchise co-brands with Freshberry Yogurt are located in Kansas, Oklahoma, California, Florida and North Carolina in addition to Georgia. Smallcakes bakes around 20 flavors of cupcakes, some of which are available every day, others just on some days. I like that they have a rotating menu and some creative flavors like pumpkin and cherry limeade. At $3 each, however, they are not cheap.

Smallcakes' claim to fame is that it's co-founder, Jeff Martin, was on Food Network's "Cupcake Wars" and as a result, the cupcakes became a hit with the ladies on "The View". The cupcakes were also served at the 2011 MTV Music Awards. With these anecdotes in mind I was really excited to get home and try the beautiful looking cupcakes. I even invited my cousins over to share the wealth. Unfortunately the taste really disappointed all of us. The cake was tasteless and the icing - piled on with a vengeance - was way too sweet and also not that tasty. As you can tell, I was really disappointed by these cupcakes - and surprised that they could make it to franchise status. I'm not sure why they are so popular - from my perspective it can only be because they have managed to get hype from various stars. Unfortunately hype does not always equal taste. The yelp page for the Overland Park store shows that several others agree with my opinion.

Readers - have you tried Smallcakes? What do you think? What is your favorite cupcake place in Atlanta?

The available selection changes daily, with some of the more popular cupcakes available every day.

Chef G's Burger Bar at Park 75

2011-10-12T07:45:00.001-05:00

House Grind with Sweet Potato Fries.

I was recently invited to sample Chef G's (Gerstenecker's) Burger Bar in the kitchen of the Park 75 restaurant, located inside Atlanta's Four Season's Hotel in midtown. The Burger Bar is open each Wednesday and includes 2 seatings with 8 people each. Reservations are accepted. The neatest part of the experience for me was getting inside the kitchen of such a high class restaurant and watching the many chefs prepare not just our burgers and accompaniments, but also the rest of the food served out in the dining room.

Luckily, I was able to share both the Buford Highway Duck Burger and the House Grind Burger, which gave me a good sampling of the burger menu that week. My favorite was the House Grind, topped with Pimena cheese, fried green tomato and chow-chow. I also tried all of the side dishes - the sweet potato fries and the poutine definitely won out for me. I also loved the housemade pickles, served in a jar at the high-top steel table. This is a unique Atlanta experience and I recommend it for a fun lunch. The milkshakes (available in vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and red velvet) added a nice nostalgic touch and I loved going up to the roof to see the herbs and the honeybees after the meal.

The experience starts here.

They even have ice made from tea so as not to dilute your ice tea with water - neat idea.

Buford Highway Duck Burger with Onion Rings - my selection.

The burger options change frequently, with four options available any given week.

One strawberry and five red velvet milkshakes.

House grind with loaded tots.

On the roof Chef G grows herbs used to enhance the restaurant's dishes.

He also raises honeybees and makes candies from the delicious honey.

Chicken and the Egg Revisited

2011-10-11T13:35:00.002-05:00

House made Pimento Cheese and Buttermilk Fried Oysters with Creole Tartar Sauce - a wonderful start to the meal. We were even able to pack up the leftover cheese to take home!

We recently went for a second visit to Chicken and the Egg in Marietta after being invited back to try the entire menu. Our dinner at the Friends & Family night was superb so we expected nothing less. I am pleased to say that this newcomer delivered once again. We were seated in a comfortable booth in the center of the far wall - a great place for people watching and seeing the workings of the entire restaurant. It was a Friday night and it was busy - I suggest reservations for sure on weekends. Again, service was stellar and we were lucky enough to get to talk with Chef Marc Taft and his lovely wife, Elizabeth, who are the co-owners as well as manager Tom Foust. It is evident that all three really care about the dining experience of each visitor and that means a lot. If you haven't been yet - go soon. I hear there is a new fall menu now. I can't wait to try the new fall menu as well as brunch one of these weekends!

Specialty drinks by mixologist Brandon King include creative cocktails and tasty non-alcoholic "mocktails" which are just my speed! Left, the Strawberry Pie non-alcoholic and right, Calvin's Grilled Peach Manhattan, which includes infused bacon!

The restaurant has moved from the mini-corn muffins to the above spoon rolls, which are equally wonderful if not better with the molasses butter.

Special of the day: Hanger steak with black garlic puree and potatoes. I adore black garlic and have used it in cooking at home after my mother included it as one of my Hanukkah presents. I found it really neat that Chef included this ingredient in such a traditional dish. The meat was also very tender and the potatoes were great for soaking up the sauce.

Seared Sea Scallops with Pimento Cheese grits, charred onion, baby arugula and chili oil. I really enjoyed this dish, especially more of that wonderful Pimento Cheese. The one issue was that the arugula was overly salted. With the other great flavors in this dish, the greens could really go without any salt at all.

Praline Bread Pudding with caramel ice cream and Rhubarb Streusel Tart with brown sugar-sour cream ice cream. I think we got the last rhubarb of the summer season! The bread pudding really hit the spot - delicious!

Pig Pickin'

2011-10-11T07:04:00.000-05:00

The pig pit.

Friends of ours actually roasted a whole pig in their backyard in late August. The process took more than a day and the result was juicy, delicious pulled pork. We enjoyed a fun afternoon with great food and friends. More photos below.

Aquavino at Georgia Aquarium - Thursday October 13

2011-10-10T12:54:00.003-05:00

Georgia Aquarium will be holding its 6th Annual Aqua Vino this Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011. Enjoy and sample more than 200 fine wines from around the globe, gourmet fare from Atlanta's premier restaurants, a live, silent and wine auction and live music. All proceeds from Aqua Vino support the Aquarium's Veterinary Services through the Correll Center for Aquatic Animal Health. Click here for more information or to purchase tickets.

For a limited time discount tickets ($150) are available here.

Check back after the event for full coverage by Amy on Food.

Vinings Jubilee Tower Stage + The Grape

2011-10-10T07:49:00.000-05:00

A comedy show at Vinings Jubilee's Tower Stage.

In honor of Vinings Jubilee's 25th Anniversary, a new stage has been erected to host entertainment events. The Tower Stage will host community and family events. I was invited to watch an improv show by Relapse Comedy Theater while sampling drinks and nibbles from The Grape.

Vinings Jubilee opened in 1986 and contains fine boutiques, restaurants and specialty shops. Read more about all that Vinings Jubilee has to offer on their website.

Tasty salmon tartar crackers at The Grape.

Super Pan Latino Sandwich Shop

2011-10-09T07:27:00.001-05:00

Outdoor sign signals this is the place!

Medio Dia: a unique Cuban sandwich including roasted pork skin on a pineapple roll.

Because of its very limited hours, it took me a very long time to finally try Chef Hector Santiago's Super Pan Latino Sandwich Shop. The lunch-only restaurant is open Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, serving from a tiny entryway on the side of the building where the same chef's acclaimed restaurant, Pura Vida is located. You go upstairs to order and pay, then sit at tables back downstairs where staff brings your food. I tried a lamb pastellito to begin - the pastellito selections changes frequently, the medio dia sandwich and the hibiscus-basil agua fresca to drink. My friend tried the pork belly buns and I was lucky enough to try a bite of those as well. Overall I was a bit disappointed. After hearing so much hype I expected something really extraordinary. I liked everything I tried but nothing really called to me. The high prices coupled with the lack of any "wow" factor make it doubtful I will return, but I am glad that I tried it.

Pork Belly Buns - full of soft, fatty goodness.

Menu on the wall.

Thundercake

2011-10-08T08:29:00.001-05:00

Thundercake - the book and the finished product.

One of my stepdaughter's summer reading books was "Thunder Cake" by Patricia Polacco. The book describes with wonderful illustrations a grandmother baking a special cake during a loud thunderstorm in order to keep her granddaughter from being frightened. The recipe in the back of the book (also found here) was easy to follow and a fun project for us to complete together after reading the book. The secret ingredient (tomatoes) really gives the cake moisture and balance - overall a great chocolate cake recipe. We topped it off with a homemade chocolate butter frosting - yum!

Rise-n-Dine

2011-10-07T08:31:00.001-05:00

Vegetarian roll-up sandwich with side salad. The roti bread used for the roll-up was delicious and flaky.

I recently met a friend for lunch at Rise-n-Dine at Emory Village. On weekends when I drive past this place it is always packed with a crowed waiting to get in. Even for this weekday lunch we waited about 10 minutes. Now I know why so many people are waiting. The food is simply good, with some innovative twists to keep it interesting. Breakfast is served all day and there is a short lunch menu as well. Everything we tried really hit the spot, especially the light, warm roti used to roll up a vegetarian sandwich and the delicious apple butter made in house and served with the restaurant's toast and biscuits. I look forward to visiting again soon to try the tasty looking pancakes and French toast as well as some of the other sandwiches.

Smoked salmon scramble with toast and homemade jam and apple butter. The apple butter is worth buying in bulk!

Upcoming Chili Cook-Off in Castleberry Hill

2011-10-06T14:42:00.004-05:00

THE 10th Annual Castleberry Hill CHILI COOK-OFF is Saturday, October 22, 2011

Proceeds Benefit the Castleberry Hill Fire Department and the Castleberry Hill Neighborhood Association

Atlanta, Georgia (October 5, 2011) – The 10th Annual Castleberry Hill Chili Cook-Off is taking place on Saturday, October 22 at the Elliott Street Deli and Pub. Not only will there be terrific chili to sample; there will also be a hot dog eating contest and live music. The winner walks away with a badass trophy and of course chili bragging rights. This year’s judges will include firemen from the neighborhood’s Fire Department as well as Atlanta Restaurant Blog’s Malika Harricharan, author of the new book, Food Lovers’ Atlanta. As in previous years, proceeds will benefit the Castleberry Hill Fire Department the Castleberry Hill Neighborhood Beautification projects. Entry is free. Tastes are $5 each. For more information, visit http://castleberryhill.org/ch_calendar/chili-cookoff/

When: Saturday, October 22, 2011
2 p.m. to 5:00 p.m

Where: Elliott Street Deli and Pub
51 Elliott St Atlanta, GA 30313 www.elliottstreet.com

Cost: Free Entrance. Tastes and beer samples are $5 each.

Benefiting: Proceeds Benefit the Castleberry Hill Fire Department and the Castleberry Hill Neighborhood Association

Website: http://castleberryhill.org/ch_calendar/chili-cookoff/

Parking: Plenty of Free Parking in the lots at and around Elliott Street Deli and Pub.

Schedule

2 p.m. Event Begins

3 p.m. Judging Begins

4 p.m. Hot Dog Eating Contest

4:30 p.m. 2011 Chili Awards

Sponsors: Elliott Street Deli and Pub, Boar’s Head Tweet it: 10^th Annual Castleberry Hill Chili Cook off, 10/22, beer, live music and more: http://castleberryhill.org/ch_calendar/chili-cookoff More Info: http://bit.ly/p00Ubm

Canton House

2011-10-06T07:38:00.000-05:00

Salt & Pepper Squid.

When we found our usual dim sum place closed for renovations, we took out of town guests to Canton House instead and were delightfully surprised at the variety and quality of the weekend dim sum. We tasted lots of dumplings and buns as well as excellent duck (not pictured). The salt & pepper squid, my stepdaughter's absolute favorite, was a huge hit even with our niece who had never tried squid before. On another note, my local cousin told me she returned here for dinner and was not very impressed. She advises sticking to the dim sum, which we will most definitely continue to do.

Chinese broccoli and clams.

Various dim sum desserts - the egg custard tarts are always a favorite of mine but here they also have custard filled buns - a favorite with the kids!

Signage on Buford Highway.

Salmon Under Fur Coat

2011-10-05T07:20:00.001-05:00

Over the summer a friend of ours from Russia brought the above dish as a contribution to our BBQ. Traditionally, it's "Selyodka Pod Shuboy" or "herring under fur coat". However, in this case our friend thought the American palate would be better pleased by "smoked salmon under fur coat". It was delicious, with carrots, potatoes, beets and mayo making this a superb summer salad. Try this recipe to make it yourself.

Making Sushi at Home

2011-10-04T07:44:00.001-05:00

Salmon/avocado and tuna/cucumber rolls + inari tofu pockets stuffed with rice.

I recently made some pretty decent sushi. The best place to buy ingredients as well as fresh fish appropriate for sushi making is at the Buford Highway Farmer's Market where you can get a large portion of sushi-ready raw fish at a low price. However, this time fish from the sushi bar at Whole Foods had to do. Delicious and not as hard to make as I thought!

Chef Amy.

Close up of the sushi - also made some spicy sauce with mayo and Sriracha - yum!

Alfredo's - An Atlanta Classic

2011-10-03T07:43:00.001-05:00

Calamari.

Somehow I lived in Atlanta for more than four years before I dined at Alfredo's Italian Restaurant. I drive past it all the time and heard that it exemplified "old-school Italian" cooking so I'm not sure why I waited so long! One reason might be that the parking lot is always full and a reservation is a must on the weekend. Luckily when we had a friend visiting from out of town we reserved a table and had a lovely meal. It really is old-style Italian (and old-style Atlanta, having operated for more than 35 years), with wonderful, attentive service by men who appear to have been in the business for years and a head waiter/maitre'd who reminds me of some of the characters in stereotypical mafia films.

The signature sign on Cheshire Bridge Road.

Mussels appetizer.

For the amount of food you receive, the value is outstanding. Although I did not photograph the buttery garlic bread or the pickled vegetables that are brought out to every table, they were both delicious, the veggies very nostalgic and the bread great for sopping up all the delicious sauces presented throughout the meal - I think we ate four baskets! The above-pictured mussels are listed in the "Zuppe" section and do contain a delicious white wine/garlic broth that can be eaten as soup after consuming the delicious mollusks.

For entrees the three of us split two: the linguine pescattore and the veal three ways. Both were outstanding. More yummy sauce to eat with garlic bread!

Padrino (Godfather): veal three ways with spinach.

Bad Dog Taqueria - Emory Village + Morelli's

2011-10-02T07:31:00.004-05:00

Love the unique chips & salsa: Chips – Mix of Yucca, Plantain, Boniato and Corn Chips
Served with three salsas – Salsa Fresca, Plantain Pineapple Serrano, Fire Roasted Tomato.

After hearing a glowing review of Bad Dog Taqueria from my cousins Joanne and Craig, I met friends for lunch here one day. Somehow we all ended up with salads, which were tasty enough and served with creative dressings like pineapple plantain, tomato cumin, creamy cilantro and avocado tahini. The tacos, although I have not had a chance to try them, look very interesting, with brisket, Korean pork belly, portobello pushroom and filet mignon on the list of taco fillings. Hopefully I will have the chance to experience the tacos soon.

Although the construction around Emory done on the side near Bad Dog, parking is still an issue. I advise coming at an off time to avoid waiting for a spot - or walk if you can!

"Tastes like Chicken" salad.

"Go Fish" Salad.

"Chickpeas in a Pod" salad.

The menu.

Bad Dog also serves Morelli's ice cream, which is reason enough to visit. I've recently enjoyed visiting Morelli's second location on Caroline Street, sampling flavors like salted caramel, rosemary (which I replicated recently at home) and maple bacon brittle. They also offer some pretty outrageously wicked sundaes as well as homemade waffle cones.

Chef inspired sundae options.

Options at Morelli's new Caroline Street location. The Moreland Ave. location is still going strong as well.

Nancy's Pizza - Buckhead

2011-10-01T07:19:00.000-05:00

Stuffed pizza.

After hearing about Nancy's Pizza for quite some time, I finally had the chance to try it one summer afternoon at the Buckhead location in Atlanta. In addition to the signature, deep dish stuffed pizzas, Nancy's, which has two Atlanta area locations and two dozen or so Illinois locations, also has a full menu of appetizers, sandwiches and salads as well as thin crust pizzas and even super-thin crust pizzas. The deep dish pizza we tried was quite delicious with lots of seasoned, tasty tomato sauce and loads of gooey cheese. Definitely the closest you'll find to Chicago deep dish in the deep south.

Pig N Chik - Emory

2011-09-30T07:44:00.001-05:00

Pulled pork platter with cole slaw and hush puppies.

A new outpost of Pig N Chik opened recently not far from my house at the corner of Briarcliff and Clifton. One evening I decided to try it out. Although I am glad to have a BBQ place in the neighborhood, the food did not impress me. The pulled pork was decent but not memorable and the grilled wings were very plain. The banana pudding - made with a moon pie - was unique but also not as good as homemade. For Atlanta BBQ I still prefer Fox Brother's and have also recently enjoyed Sweet Auburn BBQ's food truck.

Grilled wings.

Banana pudding with a moon pie.

Poquito - Latin American Cuisine in San Francisco's Dogpatch Neighborhood

2011-09-29T11:35:00.001-05:00

Churrasco - most delicious steak EVER! Grilled beef with a fried egg on a bed of rice, sweet plantains and spinach salad.

While in the Bay area recently, I truly enjoyed my visit to Poquito, a Latin American Tapas Bar in San Francisco's Dogpatch neighborhood. Poquito was a highlight, not only because of the unique Latin American flavors but also because of the excellent service and variety of dishes offered. The above steak was excellent, something I would order again in a heartbeat and I am not usually a steak person. The sweet plantains and Spinach salad with cheese and dried fruit only added additional bursts of flavor to the mouthwatering steak, paired perfectly with a fried egg and delicious rice. Yes even the rice was better than usual.

L to R: Habas Fritas (fava beans, fried and salted); Chulpi (Ecuadorean corn kernels); Tostado (crunchy corn kernels, the Andean version of popcorn). Order one of these for an authentic South American start to the meal - great paired with drinks also.

Street sign.

Full bar.

Dining room.

Arepa con relleno - plain arepa topped with pork fritada, green onions, sweet plantain, cheese and white beans. Cheesy and delicious.

Shrimp tacos on jicama wrappers with pickled slaw and guanabana balsamic reduction. I LOVE the use of jicama instead of a tortilla - makes it healthier and adds a wonderful crunch to the delicious shrimp taco.

Homemade Hibiscus Cooler - yum. Other non-alcoholic drinks offered: Guanabana, Blackberry, Guayaba, Naranjilla or Lucuma smoothies as well as Hibiscus soda and Guava and Mango Nectar. Poquito has a full bar as well.

Shrimp Ceviche, Ecuadorean style. I love ceviche and this did not disappoint. The Eduadorean style was full of tomatoes and adding popcorn and tostado enriched the crunch factor.

Empanadas: 3 varieties are offered. These cheese and bean ones were delicious.

Empanadas de Aire con guayaba - sugar crusted empanadas with guava & cheese filling. Although stuffed I had to try these and again, a new delicious flavor. These would be great for breakfast with a cup of coffee!

Yours truly with co-owner Jason Yoo. Richard Vila is the second owner. If you live in SF or if you are visiting, this is a really neat place to try. I look forward to visiting again someday.

Gourmet Brunch with Friends at their Home

2011-09-23T08:33:00.000-05:00

Quiche, chocolate bacon waffles and fruit.

While in California we were treated to a lovely delicious brunch at the home of friends. The food was excellent and the hostess showed me how she grates bacon and chocolate into the waffles to give them a unique, rich flavor. We are available anytime for another meal - well anytime we are in the Bay Area again!

Smoked salmon blini with capers.

Korean BBQ in San Mateo

2011-09-16T13:31:00.001-05:00

Chicken on the grill.

While in California we were also treated to a wonderful Korean BBQ meal by our friend Jose's parents. Delicious!

Yum - marinating steak.

Cooking the delicious steak.

Palo Alto Farmer's Market and Half Moon Bay

2011-09-16T07:00:00.005-05:00


Blowing in the wind at Half Moon Bay. While in California we also checked out Half Moon Bay and visited the Palo Alto Farmer's Market. The market is full of fresh foods, delicious prepared items and my favorite: free samples.

Making naan at the Palo Alto Farmer's Market.

Pear & Chocolate Crepe with Whipped Cream.

Rotisserie chickens at the market.

Beautiful Wedding Cake

2011-09-15T16:55:00.000-05:00

Beautiful wedding cake for our friends Jose and Suzanne. The ceremony and the reception were held in Los Gatos, California back in May.

Akaoni - Japanese Cuisine in Carmel by the Sea, CA

2011-09-15T12:25:00.000-05:00

Fabulous sushi - love the spicy tuna roll.

When we were in the Bay Area earlier this year we dined at a fabulous little Japanese restaurant called Akaoni in Carmel-By-the-Sea. If the town name is not cute enough for you, the quaint shops, the fountains and the beautiful landscaping will make you wish you could stay longer. The sukiyaki brought back memories from my time in Japan, as did the "sosu" served with the fried squid. The sushi was also excellent, especially the spicy tuna roll.

Fresh squid dipped in panko and fried. Served with the famous "sosu".

Sukiyaki - a homestyle classic. Takes me back to my school days in Japan.

Chef at work.

The unassuming entry.

Rooster 14 Cookies: The story behind the magic

2011-09-08T09:53:00.000-05:00

Rooster 14 Chocolate Chip Cookies - straight out of the oven.

If you live ITP, particularly in Inman Park, Morningside, Virginia Highlands, Grant Park or Druid Hills, you may have seen the giant Rooster 14 cookies that have a unique, raised ice cream scoop center. I first tried one at Savi Urban Market, where the cookie is sold more frequently than in any other retail location. The cookies are also available at all three Doc Chey's locations, Pizza Maddio's and several other locations which you can view here. Mail order is also available. I recently had the opportunity to watch Rooster 14 founder and head chef, Nancy Portaleo, at work actually making the cookies. The best part: I got a warm, straight out of the oven Rooster 14 cookie. I know you are jealous. I am drooling right now just thinking about it! I also learned some interesting facts about the cookie, its history and its future.

Nancy Portaleo, formerly a make-up and hair artist, began her catering company when her daughter was born. She caters mostly film and photography shoots and for dessert, she often includes her special chocolate chip cookie. After countless consumers inquired about this tasty cookie, she decided to create Rooster 14 so that more people could experience this spectacular cookie. The name comes from memories of her childhood home on Long Island: there was a rooster image on the side of her family's house and her street number was 14.

The cookie itself is saltier than most, with a shortbread base that I love. There is a trade secret involved - I literally had to leave the room during the dough-making process so I have no idea what it is! Portaleo uses La Vencedora vanilla, which she believes really adds to the taste - it is imported from Mexico and can be purchased online. Something about the cookie's ice cream scoop center just begs you to eat more. I did not inquire about the calorie count and I don't want to know! It is big enough to be shared and makes a wonderful gift. In stores the cookies are hand selected out of a glass jar - very nostalgic - and put in a paper bag. Portaleo plans to stay away from individually plastic-wrapped cookies in her effort to honor the past and be environmentally friendly. The cookies can also be delivered or shipped in cute boxes.

Owner/chef Nancy Portaleo forms the Rooster 14 dough balls. You have to get this right or the cookie will not come out properly! I even tried my hand at it and finally produced an acceptable scoop!

More dough. Yum!

The adorable boxes used for shipped orders. A Rooster 14 dozen is 14 cookies - now that's a dozen I'd like to receive!

The future of Rooster 14: Portaleo plans to debut a cookies and milk mobile food truck in the near future which will sell the original cookie as well as smaller versions called "chickie 14's" and even tinier "chickie fourteenies". She also plans to introduce several new cookie flavors and ice cream sandwiches. A quick preview of some of the projected cookie flavors: lemon shortbread, spiced pecan chocolate chip, peanut butter dipped in chocolate, chocolate dipped toasted almond with a caramel sea-salt drizzle. For the ice cream sandwiches, she plans: oatmeal buttermilk pancake cookie with bacon ice cream; graham cracker sandwich cookie with marshmallow ice cream dunked in chocolate and more! I will definitely post an update when the truck is up and running! I can't wait to try more.

P.F. Chang's Triple Happiness Happy Hour

2011-08-31T11:08:00.003-05:00

Tuna Tataki Crisp - my favorite street fare offering.

P.F. Chang's China Bistro is offering a special Happy Hour they call Triple Happiness. The triple refers to "drinks, dim sum and street fare". I was invited to come sample several of the drinks and food selections just a few weeks ago. Beverage Director Mary Melton and Market Chef Nico Roldan were on hand to explain the food/drink pairings and answer questions.

I was impressed with the variety and quality of the drinks. Many of the ingredients are made in-house such as fresh squeezed juices and unique sphere-shaped ice cubes. The Coconut Lemon Sour really hit the spot for me. I also really enjoyed the tuna tataki crisp, the Shanghai street dumplings and the spicy wontons.

Although the fare is quite tame for the adventurous eater, the selections may cause the uninitiated to branch out from chain restaurants like P.F. Chang's to try smaller, off the beaten track Chinese restaurants that offer more unique and authentic dim sum: think Buford Highway. P.F. Chang's Triple Happiness is a fun idea and I hope the promotion continues. Being at P.F. Chang's also brought back fond memories of eating at the Charlotte outpost as a youngster - thanks P.F. Chang's!

Pork & Rice Siu Mai.

From left, clockwise: Dragon martini with Dragon fruit vodka, pomegranate juice and yuzu puree; Dark & Spicy with fresh juiced ginger and Cruzan rums; Blue Moon Belgian White beer; Coconut Lemon Sour (my fave) with coconut water, Pearl Coconut Vodka, fresh lemon and pure cane sugar; Yuzu Ginger Mojito with ginger, yuku and sake.

Flaming Red Wontons. These were also very tasty.

Asian street tacos - beef, pork and shrimp.

Edamame.

Special gin & tonic with Fever Tree tonic water and ice sphere.

Shanghai street dumplings filled with chicken, ginger, green onion and soy. I really liked this sauce.

Monterey Aquarium

2011-08-18T19:23:00.000-05:00

Loved our visit to Monterey Bay Aquarium. We packed in a LOT of sightseeing during our few days in the Bay Area. Below are a few more photos from our time in Monterey.

Love these flowers!

Walnut Avenue Cafe - Santa Cruz, CA

2011-08-18T09:04:00.000-05:00

Awesome mocha - especially after the 5 hour flight delay!

Our first day in the Bay Area we stopped by Santa Cruz to look around and have some breakfast. Walnut Avenue Cafe was just what we needed after a flight delay the night before and not a lot of sleep. Strangely enough, we saw our seatmate from the airplane on the street just before we entered the restaurant! Small world sometimes.

Can't remember the exact composition of this egg dish but it was tasty!

Special shrimp scramble with potatoes and a delicious muffin.

The outdoor scene. So cute.

We walked over to the beach after breakfast and noticed that the famous carousel is 100! Cake after breakfast = yum.

The beach in Santa Cruz with boardwalk and rides to boot!

Meehan's Downtown Summer Series Peach Dinner

2011-08-17T08:31:00.001-05:00

Medjool Dates wrapped with Benton's ham, Sweetgrass chevre with Georgia peach & champagne gastrique, served with Reprieve French-style Ale. A great start to a delicious and fun meal.

I was invited to Meehan's Public House's downtown Atlanta location for their Summer Series - Part II dinner. This dinner featured dishes containing peaches paired with beers from Jailhouse Brewing Company. Dinner guests (about 20 of us total) were seated in the restaurant's private room at a long communal table. Chef Jordan Wakefield was on hand to explain each dish and Stephen from Jailhouse provided commentary on each beer pairing. I really enjoyed this event. The food was fabulous and it was fun getting to know some of Meehan's regulars. Meehans Downtown is holding its Summer Series - Part III dinner - this time featuring pecans and beers from Sweetwater Brewing Company, on August 30 at 7 PM. Click here to see the full menu.

Meehans has two other locations in Sandy Springs and in Vinings. The Sandy Springs location will hold Pink Floyd: A Musical Dinner - a five course dinner with beer pairings - on September 22. Click here for more information and to see the menu.

Bourbon poached peach salad with grilled Georgia wild shrimp, Belgium endive, Sweetgrass Dairy goat cheese, spiced Georgia pecans & white peach & ginger vinaigrette, served with Mugshot IPA.

Some of the beers we tried: Reprieve French-Style Ale, Mugshot IPA, Slammer Wheat. We also tried Breakout Stout (not pictured).

Sonoma County foie gras, pan seared with smoked Georgia peaches, toasted brioche & warm peach compote, paired with Slammer Wheat beer. So delicious - it was a real treat to have foie gras.

Peach smoked Niman Ranch pork belly with Ansen Mills & blue cheese grits, grilled Georgia peaches with local collards & peach & jalepeno chutney, with Reprieve French-Style Ale. This was hands down my favorite dish of the evening. The blue cheese grits paired perfectly with the collards and the succulent pork belly.

"Slap Yo Mama!" Peach Cobbler with homemade peach sorbet, vanilla ice cream & caramelized peaches, served with Breakout stout.

Take home souvenir! These can be refilled at area stores such as Ale Yeah in Decatur.

100th Birthday and Another Lovely Birthday Cake

2011-08-14T08:56:00.001-05:00

100 Years and counting... my stepdad's mom Annette. Many of us call her "Aunt Anne".

She requested a cookout...

My mom had this neat cake made commemorating Aunt Anne's many years in Philadelphia (1928 - 2005) as well as her 100 years. Aunt Anne kept insisting, "I am not 100!"

Dips made by my fabulous sister-in-law Nicole. Yum.

My DH, the grill master on the giant Foreman. It was a wonderful celebration of a long life. We look forward to 101 next summer!

Another birthday, another cake - this one for our friend Dana in Atlanta.

Smashburger: Buckhead

2011-08-13T07:10:00.000-05:00

An outpost of Smashburger, a national burger chain, opened in Buckhead in July. Another John's Creek location just opened this week and another location is planned for Alpharetta. I was invited to try Smashburger for lunch during a busy workday several weeks ago. Luckily, the Buckhead location is around the corner from my office so getting there was quick and easy. Smashburger took over what used to be Fatburger. In addition to signature burgers and a build your own option, grilled chicken, veggie burgers, hot dogs and entree salads are available. Sweet potato fries and haystack onions add to the "side" mix. There are no combos, so if you want fries with that you need to say so. The burger is available in three sizes, which is nice. View the Buckhead menu here. I enjoyed the Atlanta burger and Smashfries - the herb mixture on the fries is tasty and I liked the spicy flavors on this signature burger.

The Atlanta Burger: Peach BBQ sauce, Wicked Pimina cheese (I assume this is a trademarked version of Pimento, however I didn't really taste cheese in the mix), grilled jalepenos and Vidalia coleslaw. On the side: Smashfries tossed in olive oil, rosemary and garlic.

The Classic Burger with Fried Pickles.

The chocolate milkshake with Nutter Butter added - probably my favorite part of the meal! They use Haagen Dazs ice cream, which is my favorite commercial cream. Other mix-ins include Oreo and Butterfinger. Ice cream floats and malts are also available.

Peaches from Georgia Peach Council and a Cookbook

2011-08-12T07:59:00.000-05:00

This summer I was fortunate to be provided with a box of peaches from Pearson Farm through the Georgia Peach Council along with Peach County, GA native Gena Knox's excellent cookbook, Southern My Way: Simple Recipes, Fresh Flavors. The peach crop this year is wonderful and I truly enjoyed eating and cooking with these peaches. I made peach ice cream (my own recipe) as well as a Georgia Caprese salad and a Cornmeal Peach Cake from Knox's book. The cornmeal peach cake was particularly spectacular. I actually made two!

Georgia Caprese Salad with Lime Vinaigrette (Gena Knox's recipe)

My box!

Cornmeal Peach Cake, cooling.

The sliced warm cake with homemade peach ice cream. Gooey and delicious!

If you haven't bought any fresh peaches this year, buy them now - they are still ripe and can be purchased at any of the farmer's markets around town.

Cook's Warehouse Midtown Breakfast with Chef Nancy Waldeck

2011-08-11T08:44:00.002-05:00

Luscious shrimp and grits, baked cinnamon and maple french toast and strawberries with lime glaze. A healthy take on delicious classics.

Back in June I was invited to a breakfast at the Cook's Warehouse Midtown location in Ansley Mall. I had not yet been to this location, which moved from Amsterdam Walk. The space is large, with a wonderful kitchen for cooking classes and great kitchen products as always. Chef Nancy Waldeck entertained us by cooking several of her wonderful recipes - the shrimp and grits was a favorite - and showed us how to keep the calorie count down in addition to making the dishes taste great. Tricks for this include using low fat cream cheese in the grits and using chicken stock instead of cream when sauteing the shrimp. Nancy has a wonderful website and blog as well as a book called Taste and Savor. Cook's Warehouse is a must-visit for anyone who loves to cook and also a great place to learn, since they have many classes ranging from basic to advanced and theme cooking.

Chef Nancy Waldeck gave us some great tips, like how to cut a bell pepper properly for slicing and cooked the above tasty breakfast for us before our eyes.

Pie Shop

2011-08-05T10:12:00.006-05:00

Coconut Cream Pie = heavenly.

I was invited to try the fabulous Pie Shop back in July. This recent addition to Buckhead puts out pies, tarts, custards, tassies and more, including both sweet and savory items. In addition to what is pictured here, I've also tried their Savory Custard with Okra and Mushrooms, Vegetable Pot Pie, Cherry Pie, Chocolate Pie and Lavender Honey Pie. A unique feature: the shop stays open until 1 AM on weekends to accommodate dessert-seekers and bar hoppers in the neighborhood. Their communal tables allow for lunch, dessert or a snack (or dinner on the weekends!) to be eaten in; or you can take a whole pie to go. The selection changes weekly - click here for the current menu - and you can join the shop's email list to have the weekly selection emailed to you on Monday. The combinations range from classic to inventive - definitely a place worth seeking out.

Entrance to Pie Shop. You drive around back to reach the entrance. Look carefully for the Pie Shop sign on Roswell Road as it is easy to miss.

Pie on display.

Strawberry-topped Cheesecake bites with gingersnap crust, Caramel-Banana Tassies with Pecan-Shortbread Crust, and Peanut Butter Cream Tassies with Chocolate-dipped Cookie Crust.

Three Grape Pie - unique and tasty.

Strawberry & Candied Lemon Peel Pie - my second favorite after Coconut Cream.

Wall of pie poetry - a really neat idea!

North Georgia Fried Apple Pie.

Butterscotch Meringue Pie.

Owner Mims Bledsoe with the pie boxes used for takeout. Tell her Amy on Food sent you!

Chicken and the Egg - A New Destination in Marietta

2011-08-01T09:43:00.007-05:00

Over the weekend my family was invited to a pre-opening "friends & family" night at Chicken and the Egg, a new farm to table restaurant in Marietta. While I don't visit Marietta often, Calvin and I both agreed we will return here for the excellent food, atmosphere and service - our server Richard really took great care of us. For all those Cobb County-ites, the existence of Chicken and the Egg should cut down on the tendency for many to drive all the way ITP for modern Southern cuisine. This week the restaurant opens with dinner service only; lunch will be added August 8 and a family style weekend brunch will also be in the mix at a future date. I look forward to returning again soon!

Creative cocktails include the "Dirty South" martini, featuring house pickled okra instead of olives and "South of the Border", a refreshing watermelon cooler with a kick.

The amuse bouche included one of my favorite foods: a scallop served over homemade ravioli. I am assured that there is some variation of this on the full dinner menu!

Delicious mini sweet corn muffins, available with sorghum butter and maple butter - yum! These will definitely be a big hit for brunch.

Fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese fondue, country ham and tomato jam. One of our favorite parts of the meal. I loved the tomato jam and Calvin had been talking about fried green tomatoes for weeks - finally satisfied his craving.

Roasted heirloom tomato and vidalia onion soup. This soup was creamy but not too heavy. I really enjoyed the deep tomato flavor, but did not really taste much onion.

Short ribs with smoked gouda au gratin potatoes, baby carrots (including heirloom varieties in purple and white). Our waiter was impressed that my 8 year old stepdaughter ordered this - and she loved it, especially those potatoes, which were really quite something.

Clams + Linguini - littlenecks with crispy pork belly, tomatoes, onions in a spicy broth with griddled bread. This was my favorite entree. So much flavor and just the right spice.

The fried chicken was also fantastic - you can tell the chicken is brined before being breaded and fried. The mac & cheese was another table favorite - I'm sensing a pattern with us and cheese! It contains 5 cheeses and was absolutely delicious. The braised turnip greens added a green, flavorful component to the southern feast.

I didn't taste the vegetarian lasagna but it looked awesome and a woman at the table next to us was nice enough to let me photograph her plate!

Functional decor - makes it easy for the waitstaff to replenish silverware and adds a nice touch to the dining room.

Bar area - I was impressed at the overall size of the restaurant. There is also a private room available for small to medium sized groups.

Fried apple pie with boiled peanut and sorghum ice cream. After my recent foray into ice creams, this was definitely interesting and tasty.

Outstanding banana pudding. Definitely my top pick for dessert - from what I tried so far anyway! I look forward to returning soon!

The Capital Grille's Generous Pour Event

2011-07-29T10:30:00.007-05:00

The featured wines.

I was recently treated to a preview of The Generous Pour wine event at The Capital Grille in Buckhead. The event is going on right now at all CG locations and lasts through September 4. Here's the deal: for $25 you can try as many of the nine features wines as you'd like with your dinner. This is an exceptional value for wine drinkers as the wines represent a wide price range and hail from several countries including Spain, Italy, France and Australia. The Capital Grille's master sommelier George Miliotes travelled the globe to pick out the perfect nine wines for this showcase and at the event we enjoyed a live webcast with him, including a question and answer segment. Click here to see all the featured wines as well as a short video clip featuring Mr. Miliotes. My favorite wines include the Marquis de la Tour, Cremant de Loire Brut, a sparkling wine that paired wonderfully with the appetizers we tried. I am also a huge fan of the RL Buller, The Portly Gentleman port, which I enjoyed more than any other dessert wine I've ever tried.

The food was wonderful as well. I especially enjoyed the calamari, the steak (of course) and the ice cream with strawberries. This is a wonderful way to enjoy a variety of high quality wines without buying nine entire bottles. You can have as much as you'd like of these fabulous wines for $25.

Proscuitto wrapped housemade mozzarella with vine ripe tomatoes.

Pan fried calamari with hot peppers.

Cedar-planked salmon - lovely presentation and tasty as well.

Lobster mac & cheese - heavenly and rich.

Sauteed spinach with garlic - great to have something green on the table.

Ice cream with strawberries and port reduction - so delicious with the port served as part of The Generous Pour.

Flourless chocolate cake.

Buddy, sommelier and waiter extraordinaire.

I love this port!

Guy T. Gunter & Associates Highlights Amy on Food

2011-07-26T12:51:00.004-05:00

Guy T. Gunter & Associates recently featured Amy on Food on their blog! Guy T. Gunter & Associates are purveyors of fine appliances and have been around since 1952. To see their website click here. Thanks for the post!

Las Palmeras Cuban Cuisine - Midtown

2011-07-26T07:55:00.001-05:00

Fajitas.

Las Palmeras is a quirky, hole in the wall Cuban restaurant tucked into Atlanta's midtown neighborhood. Although the service can be a bit slow when they are busy, the food is well worth it and the family-run place has been around for a long time. The Cuban sandwich is one of the best in the city and I also love the fruity milkshakes. The location is a bit hard to find so you should definitely print out and map and/or believe your GPS when it tells you to go down a residential street - the restaurant and attached store is the only business on the block.

We recently took my dad here and service was exceptionally slow; however, we still enjoyed our food and the view from the cozy patio. The wait was mostly on the front end, however. Once we placed our order the food came pretty quickly - it was just that initial wait for someone to take our drink order etc. that can really set the meal off on the wrong foot. It would help a lot if they could bring out some bread first off, maybe with some dip or sauce. Then the wait wouldn't seem quite as long! It appears that they often have only one waitress/server/greeter and this is way too much for one person on a busy night. Still, it's worth a try if you know in advance it might be a little slow as the food really is good.

Cuban sandwich.

Maduros (sweet plantains) with roasted chicken and black beans/rice mix.

The SpongeBob Cake

2011-07-25T07:00:00.002-05:00

The finished product - homemade for sure but there's no doubt who this is!

My favorite 8 year old requested a SpongeBob cake this year so I thought it time to try some amateur cake decorating. I used red hots as part of the shirt and cookie icing on top of homemade lemon frosting for the design. It's not the most beautiful design but it was really tasty and most importantly, the birthday girl loved it. Always fun to try something new!

A work in progress. I had to print out a photo of Bob so I could draw him on the cake! It was yellow cake with lemon frosting. I used a new recipe for the cake and it turned out moist and tasty.

Gu's Bistro

2011-07-24T07:55:00.006-05:00

Tea smoked duck with scallions and ginger.

While my dad was visiting we took a group out to Gu's Bistro, a fairly new Szechuan Chinese spot just OTP in a strip mall on Buford Highway. This is now one of my new favorites, mostly because of the unique, delicious dishes served and the huge menu. Gu's also offers dim sum set lunch meals available by reservation on some weekends. Once a large enough group makes a reservation, other smaller parties can too and the dim sum is served course by course individually, instead of on carts. I really want to do this soon! The smoked duck and cumin lamb were outstanding as was the eggplant, which had just the right level of spice without the grease that sometimes accompanies this dish. I will definitely be back. This is definitely a fun new destination in the Atlanta area.

Menu - they have a traditional Szechuan menu as well as the American favorites for your non-adventurous friends.

Eggplant with garlic sauce.

Cumin lamb - very spicy and delicious - not for those who can't handle a little heat!

Salt and pepper jumbo shrimp - just wondering, why no squid?!

Chengdu dumplings - Zhong style - delicious and flavorful.

Nava's Brunch

2011-07-23T07:24:00.001-05:00

Salsa Trio - mango habenero, chipotle tomatillo and avocado tomatillo. My favorite: the chipotle tomatillo - smoky with just the right spice level.

I was very excited to try Nava's new brunch menu after being invited to a special brunch event on a Friday morning back in May. I had never been to Nava before, although its Southwestern concept has always intrigued me. After trying some of the brunch items I hope to go back soon for dinner or another brunch. Everything was delicious. I especially liked the shrimp & grits taco, the Johnny cakes and the brunch-inspired cocktails. Nava is a neat place to take someone for a unique and special meal and is one of the few Southwestern restaurants in our city.

Nava Taco Trio: chipotle BBQ brisket, shrimp & grits and fish. The shrimp & grits taco was much better than I expected - I think it was the smoked tomato grits.

Johnny Cakes with smoked bacon layers and real maple syrup. So buttery and delicious.

"Bacon" & Eggs - crisp pork belly, masa goditas, chorizo, chipotle aioli, pan fried farm eggs and citrus arugula salad.

Other brunch menu items include Sonoma Jack Cheese 3 Egg Omelet with Tequila sour cream & chorizo hash browns and Salmon & Eggs with short smoked salmon, soft poached farm egg, spinach & goat cheese hash and chipotle lime hollandaise. I'd definitely like to try that salmon next time I go to Nava for brunch.

Blue jalepeno corn bread with GA peach Bellini. Other brunch cocktails include Peach Payaso, Blood Orange Mimosa and Spiced Flower.

Tantra Restaurant & Lounge

2011-07-22T07:49:00.000-05:00

Signature dish - seared ostrich with mushrooms and onions. This is one tasty steak, and healthier for you than beef too.

I was invited to try Tantra back in May. Located on Peachtree Road, next door to Imperial Fez, Tantra is a real treat. Calvin and I enjoyed a spectacular meal with great ambiance and service. The hummus with lamb and the scallops were my favorite dishes and the desserts were awesome too. They also offer an ostrich filet, which is very tender and delicious - something different is always fun too. This is a great special occasion place and with the lovely bar, also a nice place for drinks and appetizers or dessert!

Tasty, although a bit salty, flat bread provided at the beginning of the meal with a tasty herb butter - we liked the butter so much we had to ask for more!

Lamb tartar with shallot butter on matzah - very tasty and unique, but not as much lamb flavor as the hummus with lamb, below.

Hummus tahini with sauteed lamb - one of my favorite dishes of the evening. Absolutely delicious!

Mussels with red bell pepper coconut broth - also outstanding.

Basil Caramelized Scallops - another winner. I love this dish. Basil, scallops, whipped potatoes and greens. Yum.

Tantra has several inventive cocktails including the Tantric, left, which includes fresh thyme and Elderflower liquor.

Lemon scented Italian doughnuts + warm white chocolate cake with vanilla-lavender ice cream and berries. Both of these are wonderful and unique. I was already full when I got to the dessert course but I had to taste these anyway - so glad I did!

Espresso and Sambuca drink - great way to end the evening.

The dining room is dark, romantic and sensual - as it should be at a place called Tantra!

Nicely decorated bar area.

Mexican Night with Homemade Salsa and Homemade Nachos

2011-07-21T09:43:00.002-05:00

Homemade restaurant style salsa from The Pioneer Woman.

Served with corn tortillas, sauteed chicken and onions with avocado and sour cream. Oven baked nachos round out this delicious meal. For the oven baked nachos, spread large chips on a cookie sheet, spoon a small amount of salsa on each chip, followed by a bit of shredded cheese. Top with a jalepeno slice if desired. Then bake at 425 for 5-8 minutes until melted.

Local Three Kitchen & Bar

2011-07-17T07:30:00.000-05:00

Lamb sandwich.

Local Three is one of my new favorites in Atlanta. Cal and I had a delicious celebratory dinner there a couple of months ago. Since then I've heard great things about their brunch from others and I am excited to go back again for lunch, brunch or dinner as the menu has changed dramatically since our visit. I'd also love to sit on the patio when it cools down again, a really nice atmosphere out there. Inside is great too, with cute photos of pigs and Elivs memorabilia throughout. Our server was on point, as were the busboys who tended to our water needs nonstop.

Highlights of dinner included the lamb sandwich, the razor clams and the dessert. If you haven't been here, go soon.

Popcorn tossed with truffle oil.

Razor clams - evening special.

Menu - the current on is quite different. View it here.

Pork with brussels sprouts and onions.

Lobster pasta.

Key lime pie taste and Boston Creme Pie.

Sign out front. You could easily miss this place if you aren't familiar with the area since it's in an office park.

Meehans Hosts Special Dinners

2011-07-15T15:03:00.010-05:00

Make your reservations now!

On July 21 the Sandy Spring location of Meehan's Public House hosts "40 Shades of Green" a five course dinner with beer and wine pairings honoring Johnny Cash, beginning a series of music-inspired dinners. Click here to learn more and see the menu.

On July 26 Meehan's Downtown hosts its second summer dinner, "All About Peaches" featuring a peach-filled four course dinner menu paired with microbrews from Jailhouse Brewery. Click here to learn more and see the menu.

Meehan's has a third location in Vinings.

Amy on Food named Favorite Blog in Best Self Atlanta

2011-07-13T10:40:00.003-05:00

A big Thank You to Best Self Atlanta for featuring Amy on Food as a favorite blog on p. 15 of their July 2011 issue. Best Self Atlanta is a health and wellness magazine that is available for free at many metro area locations including Whole Foods. Check it out!

Ice Cream Contest Excitement - Amy on Food Wins!

2011-06-24T12:37:00.004-05:00

On Saturday June 18, 2011 I entered Slow Food Atlanta's 5th Annual Ice Cream Social fundraiser. Here's the scoop (yes, pun intended): contestants bring 2-3 gallons of homemade ice cream packed in a cooler with dry ice and an ice cream scoop. Slow Food Atlanta supplies the rest. The rules stated that you must use at least one locally sourced ingredient.

After testing out a few recipes, I decided on my flavor: Lemon-Basil Chocolate Chunk. The lemon-basil is one herb, not a combo of regular basil and lemon. I was fortunate to have neighbors donate the lemon-basil and our friends Dana and Jonah supplied me with local, fresh eggs. The fresh eggs really made the ice cream shine and the lemon-basil gave it a fresh, different taste. The chocolate chunks (dark) added to the mix and gave it that satisfying crunch. It seemed that folks liked my flavor mainly because it was unique, but not too over the top. One man came back for thirds!

I had a blast making all the ice cream and my family really enjoyed the event. About 25 contestants participated. Most of the contestants were restaurants and professional ice cream makers. Miller Union, The National, Canoe, Empire State South, Sean Doty, Ron Eyester and Julia LeRoy, among others, participated. Some of the other flavors: sweet corn ice cream with blueberry compote from Miller Union (won "fan favorite"), toffee crunch from The National (won "classic flavor"), horchata sorbet, watermelon sorbet, Thai iced tea, blueberry pie, blueberry cheesecake, coconut curry, strawberry rhubarb, chocolate mint and more.

With such stiff competition I was not expecting to win. When Judith Winfrey announced that "the winner of most innovative flavor is an amateur", the crowd went wild and I could hardly even hear my name! It was very exciting. I will forever remember this day and look forward to making more ice cream.

I made about 3 gallons of ice cream for this event. I love making ice cream but I am glad to take a break for a couple of weeks!

Lots of interested tasters.

Serving and serving... I think about 220 samples of lemon-basil chocolate chunk were distributed.

My prize - a really nice pink ice cream scoop.

Pig of the Month Club

2011-06-23T07:49:00.000-05:00

Baby Back Ribs and Pulled Pork.

The folks at Pig of the Month were nice enough to send me the above samples. They came packed in dry ice and kept fine for a few days in my refrigerator. I wanted to make a proper meal to go with this delicious meat so I opted to make a simple homemade sweet cornbread along with my grandma's slaw and okra, corn and tomatoes. The results were extremely satisfying and the Pig of the Month items held their own. I particularly liked the pulled pork, but the ribs, (I sampled Key West style) were also really delicious. This would make a neat gift (wedding present?!) for those who would like to give a gift that lasts all year.

Pulled Pork from "Pig of the Month" with homemade cornbread, cole slaw and okra, corn & tomatoes.

Cellar 56

2011-06-22T12:36:00.000-05:00

Strawberry Salad paired with Les Jamelles Sauvignon Blanc and Spinach Salad paired with Stuhlmuller Chardonnay.

I was recently invited to a wonderful tasting event at Cellar 56 on East Andrews Drive in Buckhead. I really enjoyed this event and it is clear that this place tries very hard to deliver good customer service. The strawberry salad was a bit bland but the spinach salad, with bacon, boiled egg and dried cranberries more than made up for it. I also enjoyed the seared tuna - I love sushi so anything close usually appeals to me. We tasted a blackened salmon dish (not pictured) which was fine but the tuna was better in my opinion.

Seared Ahi Tuna paired with Burgans Albarino.

I was pleasantly surprised by the BBQ pork egg rolls. At first I thought there would be too much going on with this dish, or that it would be too greasy, but it was great, wonderfully accented by vinegar slaw and BBQ sauce. The spicy mac & cheese was my favorite dish of the evening. Cheesy, creamy with just the right level of spice. I definitely recommend adding it to your order.

All of the wine pairings were really nice as well. I especially liked the Gruet Brut Blanc de Noirs served with the decadent desserts. Krispy Kreme bread pudding: need I say more?

Cellar 56 is a fun, well-executed restaurant where you don't have to spend a fortune. Tapas range from $5 to $7.50 for plates and $10 - $16 for larger share dishes. They have a very diverse wine list. Definitely a place for a fun evening for couples, friends or groups.

BBQ Pork Egg Roll paired with Montoya Cabernet Sauvignon with Spicy Mac & Cheese paired with La Postaa Malbec-Cocina Blend

Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding and Flourless Chocolate Cake paired with Gruet Brut Blanc de Noirs.