Beef.

You are currently browsing articles tagged Beef..

FAT BBQ

02/19/2010 in Festivals, Midtown, What we're Listening To, What we're Watching, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | No comments

Slick got some good news over the weekend and a celebratory dinner was in order.  If I’d received news worthy of celebrating, I would make a b-line for Bacchanalia faster than you can say “American Kobe Short Ribs.”  However, Slick’s favorite food is BBQ – so we decided that Fat Matt’s Rib Shack would be a perfect spot to grub-it-up in his honor.

perfect-o

First, we went to Tara Cinema to see Crazy Heart.  We both thought the movie was amazing, and we’ve been listening to the incredible soundtrack + Ryan Bingham downloads almost non-stop since we saw it.  It’s sort of like The Wrestler, but about country music and with The Dude.  Awesome.  We really liked the movie’s message, too.  Everyone, please see it soon!

"it's funny how fallin' feels like flyin'...for a little while"

Back to BBQ:  Fat Matt’s is my personal favorite place to get BBQ in Atlanta.  It’s a relatively small restaurant with lots of character.  In fact, Fat Matt’s was mentioned in the movie, Up in the Air, as the main character’s favorite place to get BBQ because it happens to be the director, Jason Reitman’s, favorite BBQ joint.  In return, the restaurant gave Jason a V.I.P. card entitling him to a lifetime of free ribs!  So freaking cool. 

Moving on…

Fat Matt's

We get to the restaurant and grab some beers while we wait for another couple to meet us.  And who do we see chowing down on Fat Matt’s famous ribs??  None other than Serpas executive chef, Scott Serpas! 

Scott Serpas, Serpas True Food

(Who vaguely resembles my favorite Modern Family character, Cameron…  Love him!)

CAMERON!!

Obviously, we were in excellent company.  Our friends arrived shortly thereafter and we ordered. 

Fat Menu

Three of us selected the tasty pulled pork sandwiches on white buns – and Slick got the ribs.

Fat Kitchen

My pulled pork was predictably delicious, but I’d never had anything else at Fat Matt’s to compare it to.  Slick let me try one of his ribs – and it was heavenly.  I’m adverse to fat on BBQ, I’d almost rather it be tasteless than bite into fat on meat – the texture weirds me out.  Thankfully, I had no reservations about Fat Matt’s ribs, which were both pretty lean and flavorful.

Fat Ribs

Fat (but not fatty) Ribs

We inhaled our BBQ and washed it down with some Sweetwater beer, all while enjoying the live blues band.  Don’t forget to tip them!

Fat Music

Fat Music

It was a perfect celebratory dinner for Slick!  (He was in hog heaven… Get it?  Get it??)  And today, Slick has another reason to celebrate…HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! 

Jeff + Slick

More BBQ is on tap for tonight + Oysterfest @ Steamhouse Lounge tomorrow! 
Get your Oysterfest tickets here: http://www.ticketalternative.com/Venues/500.aspx

Fat Party

xx, L

Fat Matt’s Rib Shack
1811 Piedmont Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA  30324
404.607.1622
www.fatmattsribshack.com

Fat Matt's Rib Shack on Urbanspoon

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Cocktail Experts.

02/09/2010 in Buckhead, Cocktails, Where we're Eating by Lauren | 4 comments

VIP: Lindsay and I were asked to be a part of a panel of cocktail experts (!!!) to evaluate the specialty cocktail menu for a new restaurant in Buckhead. I just knew the day would come when this particular skill set (which we have been diligently honing at various bars and restaurants for the last 10+ years!) would come in handy…lkcocktail

Varsity Team.

Varsity Team.

…and last night at Saskatoon was the night, my friends.

OK so the Q+DD on Saskatoon is this: It’s a wild game restaurant located in the Alexan on Pharr Road (in the space where ill-fated Spondivits and Harry Bisset’s once were…) Think hunter’s lodge: über masculine, warm and cozy. Soft jazz playing, fires roaring, lighting fixtures adorned with antlers, and deer heads on the wood paneled walls. The menu is chock full of wild boar, elk, ostrich and the like. I even tried my first fried alligator! (This thrilled Lindsay: “I’m so glad we can be a part of this!”)

And hey, we like antlers!

laurenantlerslindsay antlers

Anyway, our table consisted of the two of us, our +1s (Linds brought Steph Cheeseman and I had Doc Hollywood in tow) and our new best friend Alison Abby, a fabulous freelance writer whom we met last night.

They brought us several appetizers to sample, and I have to say – we all really enjoyed the food we tried. Of course, wild game was the main protein in each dish, and they were all very creative as well as delicious!

The real purpose of our visit last night was to provide feedback on their cocktail menu. We tasted everything from the Saskatoon Sling (a variation of the Singapore Sling) to the Espresso Martini (cinnamon-y and not too dessert-y! Our favorite by far.) For the most part, we all thought the specialty cocktails were a little sweet (and perhaps tropical?) for our taste BUT we were there to help them tweak, and I’m sure they will. (Also, in the interest of full disclosure, Lindsay and I are pretty straightforward in our cocktail preferences. Any more than 2 ingredients and we’re raising an eyebrow and I have never seen the Doc drink anything but scotch. Ever.) So if you’re a specialty cocktail type of person, you may totally disagree with our evaluation. IJS.

Additionally, the GM seems pretty passionate about having an impressive, yet affordable wine list and the wait staff was just lovely…and happy to pour me a vodka on the rocks after all was said and done. (With 3 nice, big, fat queen-sized olives. DK always told me you can judge a bar by the size of their olives...)

My verdict on Saskatoon is this: I think it’s a pretty interesting addition to Buckhead’s restaurant scene and if you enjoy that type of atmosphere, (or if you’re in the mood to envision yourself as a ski bunny taking a break from the slopes!) I would encourage you to try it for yourself.

Bonus: FYI, Saskatoon is a city located in central Saskatchewan, Canada and I find Saskatchewan really, REALLY fun to say.

Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan…Saskatchewan…

xx, L

PS. Thanks for the folks at Melissa Libby for the invite!

Saskatoon
(404) 891-1911
360 Pharr Road
Atlanta, GA 30305

Saskatoon on Urbanspoon

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Pro-Con-Pro #2…

01/22/2010 in Buckhead, Where we're Eating by Lauren | 7 comments

Ok, I’m bringing back Elle Woods. Wednesday, EZ and I went for our annual 01/20 “day-between-our-birthdays” dinner at Woodfire Grill and I think a Pro-Con-Pro is in order. (if you are unfamiliar, please refer to a previous Pro-Con-Pro by clicking here)ellewoods

I KNOW you know how excited I was for this dinner. I’m a Top Chef FREAK, I am overly excited by any kind of celebrity (especially Kevin Gillespie and his beard)… kevinsbeard…I ADORE hype, and I love food and fancy restaurants more than probably anything else in the word (except handbags and lip-gloss. Duh). I have to tell you, the food at Woodfire did NOT disappoint, but the chances of my return are slim. (I just deleted “to none” when I remembered the restaurants proximity to my condo. It’s CLOSE.) Here we go: woodfire_logoPRO: The restaurant itself is awesome. It’s in a really unexpected location (Cheshire Bridge. Not 7-8 months ago did Lindsay drive me to where I left my car on CB to find a full-fledge police hold-up happening ON. MY. CAR. Luckily, Taqueria is close and there’s not a whole lot a stiff margarita can’t cure.)

I digress.

The interior is very cozy and homey and chic all at the same time and I absolutely adored it. It’s earthy and warm and very simply decorated. The crowd was pretty (EZ and I saw a gorgeous woman in a fabulous romper. A ROMPER, y’all!), and these super slick .com guys from Cali bought us some incredible vino. Plus, it is very difficult to get a reservation, and you know how I dig that sort of thing. (That is, if I can score a reservation myself.)

CON: I am just going to say it: the wait staff was a liiiiiiiiiittle obnoxious and pretentious. Sorry. They were. I was sad about it because on Top Chef, Gillespie always seemed really down-to-earth. The perception is that he’s just this super nice guy from Georgia with a natural talent for cooking who just wants to make delicious food and help elevate the national (international?) opinion of American Southern cuisine.

I thought the experience (read: the wait staff) would be equally earnest, but it wasn’t. I’d have to launch into a whole new pro-con-pro to tell you about the hostess’s customer service skills, but to make a long story short, we ended up eating at the bar. (Which is fine, I love to eat at the bar. It worked out.) Anyway. The bartender who was serving us was so condescending. In a voice my sister used to use with her Kindergarten class, “this menu is different than anything you’ve seen before. It has the date on it. It was printed today.” (Thank you! Good to know. They don’t do that at McDonalds!) and when we asked about various items on the menu she felt the need to repeatedly tell us that “everything is executed perfectly.” My general opinion is that if you need to tell everyone how great you are, you probably aren’t. (And for some reason, this chafed me more than if you ask a server about an item and they don’t know anything about any of the menu items) Plus, no lie, she actually used the term ” je ne sais quoi.” With a straight face. Woodfire wait staff: if I have one piece of advice for you, it would be to focus on connecting rather than impressing.

Pro: The food. The food was inspired. Brilliant. We adored our food and weren’t at all disappointed. First of all, I can’t remember what it was, but we were served a really refreshing amuse-bouche, phenomenal house-made bread and delicious herbed butter. Then we shared the foie gras (pan seared with braised pistachios on foie buttered toast), the sunchoke risotto (fried sunchoke. Celery “salsa.” Toasted walnuts. TaDIEfah!) and the duck (Grilled. With warm farro salad. Insane.) Our foodie bar-neighbors-turned-dinner partners were equally impressed with their meal. It was just a perfect flavor combination, perfect portion size…everything on our plates was JUST PERFECT.

So I guess the Q+DD is that this is a situation where I can’t wait for the hype to die down. I hope that Woodfire survives this little bout of celebrity and endures as one of our city’s fabulous little restaurants. Please, someone just let me know when that happens, I like to dine with a bit less ego…

xx, L

Woodfire Grill
www.woodfiregrill.com
1782 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30324-4922
(404) 347-9055
Woodfire Grill on Urbanspoon

Tags: , , , ,

Back on the Bandwagon

12/30/2009 in Buckhead, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 1 comment

I am not a big fan of most of the Buckhead Life Group Restaurants.  Frankly, I think they are kind of boring.  I’ve eaten at all of them more than once, and aside from Kyma – which I think is absolutely divine, I rarely suggest them to colleagues for business dinners, friends for dates or think of them when Slick and I want to treat ourselves to a nice meal.  I tend to prefer boutique-y restaurants with less of a corporate feel to them.  But, I have to admit that Slick and I had an incredible dining experience last night at Pricci and I think it’s blogworthy.

Pricci

Pricci

Pricci, located on Pharr Road, is one of the two Buckhead Life Group Italian restaurants (Veni Vidi Vici in Midtown is the other).  The food is substantial and consistently good, the decor is classic and the service, well, it’s impeccable.  Our server last night was one of the best I’ve had in Atlanta.  He’s worked at Pricci for eight years, which speaks a lot to the restaurant as there is serious turnover in the service industry.  He was everything you want in a server – incredibly attentive, recommended a delicious bottle of Chianti and talked to us a little about various wines and winetasting, didn’t hesitate at all when answering our numerous questions about the menu, refilled our waters and wine without us realizing he was even there (there but not there) and he successfully talked us, stuffed as we were, into the most delicious dessert I’ve had in a long time. 

Dining Room @ Pricci

Dining Room @ Pricci

Although we didn’t get too creative with our menu selections last night, we shared some excellent Italian standbys:

Prosciutto:  24-Month Aged Parma Ham from the Hand Slicer with Cantaloupe

Calamari e Zucchini:  Crisped Maine Calamari, Italian Zucchini, Lemon Aioli + Salsarubra

Cesare:  “Pricci Caesar” Whole Romaine Leaves, Crushed Parmigiano Croutons + Anchoves

Ossobuco:  Braised Veal Shank, Carnaroli Risotto Milanese, Preserved Lemon Gremolata

Nocciole:  Hazelnut Praline Chocolate Bars w/ Seasonal Berries + Raspberry Sauce

We left the restaurant very full and impressed with our evening – mostly because the service was so incredible.  Bad service can forever change your perception about a restaurant, regardless of how enjoyable the meal itself is, and last night the opposite was true for me.  I’m back on the bandwagon and I’ve decided not to be such a BLG hater any longer.  That’s all.

Oh, also – Pricci has 1/2 price bottles of wine + jazz in their bar on Thursday evenings! 

xx, L

39l
Pricci
500 Pharr Road NE
Atlanta, GA  30305
404.237.2941
http://www.buckheadrestaurants.com/pricci.html

Pricci on Urbanspoon

Tags: , , , , ,

Eat Squad Log #2: Hanil Kwan

12/11/2009 in Buford Highway, Eat Squad, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 5 comments

In an attempt to challenge our palates, “the Eat Squad” (I was pushing for “Buford Brigade” – but got vetoed) went on a fun, little culinary excursion on Sunday evening.  We nominated Christine to be our tour guide for authentic Korean BBQ.  I really didn’t know what to expect as I’d never had Korean BBQ before, and admittedly, I approached the experience with some degree of caution-without-warrant. 

I love trying new foods, but I had heard that Korean BBQ was incredibly fatty, and I tend to prefer no fat at all on beef.  I am aware that fat adds flavor to beef, but I just can’t get past the texture…  As it turned out, no caution was necessary.  We had a truly delicious meal and an absolute blast at the restaurant!  

Here’s our evening in pictures:

Han Il Kwan Korean Restaurant

Hanil Kwan Korean Restaurant

Mr. B + Christine peruse the menu

Mr. B + Christine peruse the menu

Slick tries, unsuccessfully, to get us to order the beef tripe + intestine soup.

Slick tries, unsuccessfully, to get us to order the beef tripe + intestine soup.

Banchan: Small plates served at the beginning of the meal

Banchan: Small plates served at the beginning of the meal

Jim Mandu: Steamed Pork + Vegetable Dumplings (my favorite)

Jin Mandu: Steamed pork + vegetable dumplings (my favorite)

Haemul Pajan: Korean seafood pancake

Haemul Pajan: Korean seafood pancake (kind of like a fancy latke...)

Galbi: Marinated Beef Short Ribs aka Korean BBQ

Galbi: Marinated beef short ribs aka Korean BBQ

Slick's face when we informed him that the meal was over...

Slick's face when we informed him that the meal was over...

...we'll be back soon, Han Il Kwan! Thanks for a delicious meal!

...we'll be back soon, Han Il Kwan! Thanks for a delicious meal!

If you are in the mood for something different, definitely consider Korean BBQ – or at least venture out to Buford Highway to try a random ethnic restaurant.  I hope you have as much fun as we did!  (Our next Buford excursion is going to be either Ethiopian or Thai.  Bring on the recommendations!)

xx, L

Hanil Kwan Korean Restaurant
5458 Buford Highway
Doraville, GA  30340
770.457.3217

Hanil Kwan on Urbanspoon

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Craft. (Been There. Eaten That.)

11/25/2009 in Buckhead, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 1 comment

It took almost an entire year, but I finally made it to Craft Atlanta. 

I wanted to go for the opening last year.  No reservations…  Thought that maybe I’d have my birthday dinner there.  Restaurant was bought out for an event…  Was pretty sure that if I got girlfriends to go for drinks, we’d end up eating upstairs at the restaurant.  We stayed at Craft Bar – and it was not love...  It just never happened for me.  Everyone told me that I should be patient until it was my time.  I waited…

"I'll come for you one day, Craft..."

"I'll come for you one day, Craft..."

And THEN, a colleague gave me a very nice gift certificate for dinner at Craft.  My time had finally arrived!

Over the past year, I’ve heard a spectrum of praise and critique regarding Craft Atlanta.  Karen thought it was the best meal she’d ever eaten.  Mr. B thought it was overrated and the service left a lot to be desired.  I was just hoping for a Tom Colicchio drop by…   With some degree of skepticism, Slick and I arrived at the restaurant last Friday ready to form our own opinions.

Tommy!

Tommy!!

We were escorted upstairs, again - I’d only been downstairs at Craft Bar for drinks before, and we noted the art in the staircase and the warm modern feeling of the dining room.  They put us in one of the large half booths which provided for excellent people watching.  Our server was from Texas, which made me feel right at home, and we chatted about Longhorn football, the Hill Country and Dallas schools.  We ordered drinks and the server and I had a little pep talk with Slick about ordering our favorite vodka on the menu, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, which is delicious (smooth and smokey), made in Texas and is NOT – as the name insinuates – plastic bottle liquor.  Our Tito’s assisted drinks arrived, were shaken for us at the table and we were very pleased.

Tito's

The meal was good.  Very good, in fact.  We started with the yellowfin tuna (delicious) and a few belon oysters.  I am not a big oyster fan, but Slick liked them and I thought the presentation was well done.  For entrees, I had the monkfish + pancetta and on our server’s recommendation, Slick ordered the braised beef short rib.  Both were amazing.  Mine was very tasty, artful and nicely presented in a cast iron skillet.  Monkfish, “the poor man’s lobster,” was perfectly complimented by the pancetta wrap.  Slick and I loved his short rib and were pleased at how easily it melted off of the bone.  We also shared the potato gratin and the seasonal risotto, which were delicious but maybe too plentiful for the heaviness of our entrees because we cringed when the dessert menu arrived.  Instead, we opted for another cocktail and little cookies sent out to us from the chef.

Overall, the meal was thoughtful and delicious.  It was very expensive.  Maybe overpriced, but it was hard for us to pin it as such because we had such a nice experience there.  We could easily see, though, how the meal could go wrong.  However, we quickly developed rapport with our server, ordered well and enjoyed the atmosphere.  We were pleased.

Bacchanalia and Aria are still my preference for a special occasion or celebration, but I would recommend throwing Craft into the mix – especially if you are a first timer.  And if you go, make sure you ask for the Tito’s Handmade Vodka.  :)

P.S. Don’t forget about their Sunday Sandwich deal!

xx, L

craft_ATLANTA_bottom

Craft – Atlanta
3376 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA  30326
404.995.7580
www.craftrestaurant.com

Craft Atlanta on Urbanspoon

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Very Quick + Dirty Dirty #2

11/16/2009 in Buckhead, Highlands, Midtown, What we're Doing, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | No comments

I am a bit over-committed.  It’s my own fault, really.  I just want to be everywhere at once – and I am terrible at relaxing.  Carpe Diem, I say!  :)

= Lindsay

= Lindsay

This weekend, I had a number of friends in town and was determined to see everyone.  Many of them have previously lived in Atlanta and I wanted to give them reasons to consider moving back, so I had to take them to some of my new-ish favorite spots.  Here’s the VERY Q+DD #2 on where we played this weekend:


THURSDAY

Holeman + Finch: We went for drinks, small plates and the scene.  The bartender made killer gimlets for me and tasty apple jacks for my drinking companions.  (Apple jack = 2 oz. of apple brandy, 1/2 oz. of curacao, 2 dashes of angostura bitters, ice and pour into a chilled glass with an apple garnish.)  Not right for my taste buds, but others loved.  We decided at 9:30 p.m. (way too late) that we had to have one of their late-night burgs.  Sat in agony as the restaurant filled with the delicious aroma of grilled beef and grew hostile as we watched Buckhead bankers eat half of their burgers and then discard.  Next time we will order early…
Holeman & Finch Public House on Urbanspoon


FRIDAY

Pacci:  Went with friends for a nice end-of-the-week dinner and was pleasantly surprised with my meal.  I didn’t expect too much from this restaurant for some reason and ended up being pretty blown away.  We all shared the beef and tuna carpaccios and thought they were delicious and well-garnished.  I wasn’t a fan of my grilled caesar salad – and I would not recommend it.  However, my beef short rib gnocchi and Slick’s scallops were absolutely incredible.  The two best entrees I’ve had in months.  For dessert, we ate brownie smores that I whipped up on Thursday evening when I was channeling Betty Crocker.  (More on that later…)  Service at Pacci is good, but slow, particularly for drinks – so visit the restaurant when you aren’t in a rush.
Pacci Ristorante on Urbanspoon

After dinner, we wanted to head upstairs for drinks at AltoRex, but it was closed. Instead, we went to:

MidCity Cafe: Very scenester.  Slick didn’t know what to make of all the men wearing fitted blazers over printed t-shirts.  The bartenders pour with a heavy hand.  Seems like a great place to start off a night in Midtown!
Midcity Cafe on Urbanspoon

RiRa: Was a great place to end a night in Midtown with car bombs galore!  Enjoyed their fun band and finally saw the back-back room.  I’m a big fan.


SATURDAY

TOP FLR: What can I say?  I am a creature of habit.  I love TOP FLR and I love celebrating there.  My friends from out of town have read numerous blog postings on the Q+DD about my undying love for this restaurant – so we had to check it out.  I had the usual: the mussels and the tuna tartar.  Other folks enjoyed the hanger steak, the scallops and the ravioli.  Don’t forget to try a Pimm’s Cup or a Cynar Blood Orange off of their creative beverage menu!
Top Flr on Urbanspoon

TOP FLR

TOP FLR

St. Regis Bar: Later, we made our way over to the St. Reg Bar to see the end of the Georgia vs. Auburn game and get all mingle-y with Atlanta society.  Instead, we drank delicious (and expensive – believe we referred to it as liquid gold) cocktails and tried to guess-timate how old all the botox-ed up socialites were.  The St. Reg Bar definitely provides interesting people watching.  Did not spot Josh Duhamel, but I did lose my debit card…


SUNDAY

Shorty’s: Everyone who reads the Q+DD has heard more than enough about this place.  It was incredible – as always.  Really hit the spot after three consecutive nights out.  Love the rocket salad.  Then, headed to Piedmont Park to walk around and catch some rays with Miss Kim. 
Shorty's Pizza on Urbanspoon


Apres Diem + Midtown Arts Cinema: Had an early dinner on the Apres Diem patio and enjoyed their Las Moras Malbec before rushing into MAC just in time to catch the previews before Where the Wild Things Are.  Although I know it is just as bad as wearing a band’s t-shirt to the band’s concert, I arrived at Apres proudly sporting my Where the Wild Things Are shirt from Urban.

Apres Diem on Urbanspoon

T’was a fun-filled weekend!  No bizarre new places – nothing too out of the box.  Still perfect.

Hope everyone else got to enjoy the pretty weekend, too!  Off to Rosebud for lunch… :)

xx, L

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Eat Squad Log #1: Panahar

11/09/2009 in Buford Highway, Eat Squad, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 5 comments

Last night, Slick and I had a very memorable S.N.D. (Sunday night dinner) with some great friends.  Instead of the typical Buckhead/ Highlands/ Midtown - “What do you want” – “I don’t know what you do want” – “How about sushi” – “I had sushi yesterday” – dance, we opted for some bizarro Buford Highway fare.

So, we enlisted the help of our resident Buford Highway connoisseur, Mr. B:

Mr. B

Mr. B

Mr. B + his adorable wife chose very, very well.  We went to Panahar – which is the only Bangladeshi restaurant in Atlanta.  It. was. AWESOME.

Inside Panahar

Inside Panahar

The restaurant, itself, is a relatively small, unassuming, mirrored room housing roughly 16 tables.  When we arrived at 7:00 p.m. sharp, it was packed.  Panahar is BYOB w/o a corking fee (hello!) and the servers are attentive and knowledgeable about the menu.  While I consider myself to be a pretty comfortable restaurant-orderer in most cases, everyone at the table (including me) completely deferred to Mr. B and our server, Mirza, regarding what we should order.  We asked for advice and some kind of  ”group special” so that we could taste a number of items on the menu.  Mirza promptly took away our ordering privileges (which we were totally fine with) and simply told us what to get.  This was definitely the way to go. 

Three hours and four courses later – everyone left stuffed and satisfied.  The meal was surprisingly cheap and incredibly plentiful.  Our table was filled with food for the majority of the evening that I couldn’t even begin to spell or pronounce…which I loved. Using Panahar’s menu as a guide, I CAN tell you that we started with mango lassi to drink and halim soup and poori shrimp for appetizers.  Among other items, we had chicken teek-ka moshol-la (my fav.) and beef shaag poneer maang-sho (Mr. B’s fav.) for entrees.  Dessert was a delicious kulfi ice cream and a firni.  We left Panahar proud of ourselves for stepping away from the norm and eating outside of our comfort zone.

Dinner @ Panahar

Dinner @ Panahar

First time diners at Panahar get a 25% off coupon for their next visit (Tuesdays – Thursdays).  Entrees range between $9 – $15 and tax is already figured into the price.  Since the restaurant is small and meals take a while, I strongly suggest calling ahead to make a reservation. 

As I sit here polishing off the last of my lukewarm Lean Cuisine, I can’t help but think about what a cool experience I had last night and how excited I am to discover more of Buford Highway’s quiet culinary gems.    Here’s to the unusual!

xx, L

Panahar
3375 Buford Highway
Suite 1060
Atlanta, GA  30329
404.633.6655
www.panahar.com

Panahar on Urbanspoon

Tags: , , , , , , ,

ChompED + StompED

11/08/2009 in Cabbagetown, Festivals, What we're Doing, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 6 comments

Cabbagetown’s Annual Chomp + Stomp Chili Cook-Off + Festival was a blast yesterday!  Probably my favorite festival of the year, in fact.  It was so simple, too. 

All we needed was a Gorgeous Day +

+ Chili Spoons

+ Chili Spoons

+ Cups for Beer

+ Cups for Beer

Sweetwater

+ Sweetwater

Music

+ Some Tunes

+ Vendor Tents

+ Lots of Hungry Folks

IMG_5900

+ Friends in Vendor Tents

+ Interesting Chili

+ Interesting Chili

+ Incredible Chili

+ Incredible Chili

+ Scary Chili

+ Scary Chili

+ Papal Chili

+ Papal Chili?

+ Shirts to Ruin

+ Shirts to Ruin

+ Good Friends

+ Good Friends

+ Nearby Roof

+ Nearby Roof to Climb

= Chomp Stopm 2009

= Chomp + Stomp 2009

What a fun day!  (If you missed it, I strongly recommend going next year! )

P.S. Just love Cabbagetown! :)

xx, L

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

My Last Meal

11/06/2009 in Appetizers, Inman Park, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 2 comments

People often ask Slick if there is more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking.

slick
slick

After careful thought, he will tell them that, yes – there is more to life. It’s called fantasy football.

If I was asked, I would also agree that there is more to life. But, my response has to do with food. You never know what a day holds for you. Not to be Deborah Downer or anything, but I text while I’m driving. I go to the grocery store at night by myself. I jaywalk and I’ve been known to shake my fist at bad drivers.  I consider myself to be a highly responsible person, but frankly, we never know when our time is up. So, if I am going to go sometime, I’d like to leave with a fabulous last meal in my tummy.  That – coupled with questionable self-control and enjoying the social aspects of sharing a great meal with friends – is why I am so into food. The End.

If I got to choose my “last meal” in Atlanta, there is no question that it would be at my favorite restaurant in town – Wisteria. I just love this restaurant, and I didn’t have to think twice about spending my birthday there last year. (Which is quite an honor – if I do say so myself!) See, TADA:

Wisteria - LR Birthday

Wisteria - LR Birthday

 

Wisteria - LR Birthday

Wisteria - LR Birthday

Wisteria is consistently amazing and I frequently recommend it to friends, out-of-towners and business colleagues. My three favorite menu items are the North Atlantic Skate Wing, the Molasses-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin and the Pecan Encrusted Atlantic Salmon. Trust me. They are all to die for.

Inside Wisteria

Inside Wisteria

Aside from a prime location in Inman Park, stellar wait staff, killer entrees and chic decor, my favorite part about Wisteria is their appetizers. I feel confident in saying that their appetizer list is the best in town – by far. It’s rare for me to look at a menu and want everything on it. I have tried everything on Wisteria’s appetizer menu – and trying to decide between a few of their items for any given meal is one of the most stressful decisions I have to make.  

Behold its majesty:

Oysters – cold water, served by the half dozen

Black-Eyed Pea Hummus – with homemade sweet potato chips, olives, and tomatoes

Kobe Beef Carpaccio – with arugula tossed in a horseradish vinaigrette and aged parmesan

Charleston-Style Jumbo Lump Crab Cake – over roasted corn and sweet pepper succotash

Cornmeal Fried Calamari – with sweet and sour apricot sauce and wasabi crème fraiche

Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs – with pickled okra and spiced pecans

Ahi Tuna and Crispy Flatbread – avocados and fresh micro-greens in a citrus horseradish vinaigrette

Prince Edward Island Mussels – in a charred vine-ripened tomato, white wine and herbed garlic broth

Pigs in a Blanket – house cured pork belly, in pastry, with a spicy apple cider vinegar mustard

Tempura Fried Okra – with a horseradish cream sauce

Seared Sea Scallops -over braised pork belly and radicchio with a bourbon molasses reduction

People, life does not get much better than this!! (Unless you are into fantasy football or are really, really, ridiculously good looking…)

P.S. Don’t forget about these two great Wisteria specials:
1 – Burger Sundays for $10
2 – Mussel Mondays for $15.95- Endless bowl of mussels and a glass of house wine.

Make a reservation ASAP!  Life’s too short not to eat great!

xx, L

Wisteria
471 North Highland Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30307
404.525.3363
www.wisteria-atlanta.com

Wisteria on Urbanspoon

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chili for a Cause

11/05/2009 in Cabbagetown, Festivals, Where we're Eating by Lauren | 9 comments

It’s here! Cabbagetown’s annual Chomp and Stomp Chili Cook Off + Festival is this Saturday, November 7th. Created to celebrate both the heritage and local flavor the neighborhood as well as benefit Cabbagetown Park, Chomp and Stomp was voted by Creative Loafing as the “Best Annual Event” in 2008.cabbagetownThis legendary event is the perfect combination of a few of my favorite things: crisp fall weather, live music, chili, beer, and one of Atlanta’s most beloved funky little neighborhoods.

The chili cook off will be judged by some local celeb chefs – Kevin Rathbun (of Rathbun’s and Kevin Rathbun Steak), Shaun Doty (of Shaun’s Edgewood Social Club) and Kevin Gillespie (of Woodfire Grill who is incidentally also kicking some tail on this season’s Top Chef.)

Kevin Gillespie

Kevin Gillespie

There will be a separate contest for restaurant competitors (Fox Brothers won last year) and individual/group competitors. There is even a category for vegetarian chili! (Last year’s winner? Nathan Minor with “Nate’s Unholy Frijoles.” That is a winner for me based on the name alone.)

sweetwaterThere will also be SweetWater on tap, an art market, and live music which will pay homage to Cabbagetown’s history of “old time mountain music.” The “Park Stage” will feature traditional bluegrass and string band music and the “Conroy Amphitheatre” will be devoted to more general American music while “mixing in some blues, folk, alt-country and a little bit of rock n’ roll.”

BONUS: At 8am the 4th annual “Romp and Stomp” 5K race will take place. romp-posterBeginning at the Milltown Arts Tavern (located at 180 Carroll Street), all runners will get free admission to the festival and all proceeds go to support the Cabbagetown Park.

All of this for a mere $5 ticket (all-you-can-eat chili is $25) Can’t beat it.

The festival starts runs from 10AM-6PM and is located at Cabbagetown Park, Tye Street and Kirkwood Avenue. Go to the Chomp and Stomp website (which is VERY cool, by the way) for more information.chompandstomp

If for whatever reason you can’t make it this weekend, why don’t you try my very own Turkey Chili recipe?

Regardless of my usually sub-par culinary abilities, I make a pretty mean turkey chili, believe it or not.

Now it’s not winning any contests, but it is fairly healthy and I think it’s delicious. Oh, and easy. Can’t forget easy.

To make LK’s Not-So-Famous (but still delicious) Turkey Chili you’ll need the following:
1lb ground turkey (I go with 98% fat free)
1 can diced tomatoes (undrained)
1 can Rotel
1 can red kidney beans
1 can white corn (the little squatty can)
1 packet of chili seasoning. I usually use McCormick, but last night I used Kroger brand and it was a-ok.
1 yellow onion (diced)
1 red pepper (diced)
1 green pepper (diced)
1-2 jalapeños (seeded and diced) A word to the wise: its smart if you use some rubber gloves when handling jalapeños. Especially if you are wearing contacts that need to be removed later…
Minced garlic
1 beer (or 2 or 3.  Whatever.  I’m not here to judge.)

Ok here’s whatcha do:

1. Open your beer and drink it as you prepare to cook
2. Brown the turkey meat with some minced garlic and the veggies (please do not ask me how much minced garlic. I simply employ the “dump” method.)
3. Stir in the seasoning packet
4. Dump the rest of the ingredients in (including a few pours of your beer. Feel free to open a new one.)
5. Bring to a boil then let simmer for 10 minutes
6. You can serve immediately, but it’s better the next day
7. If I am feeling fancy I will garnish it with some cheddar cheese and sliced scallions

Voila!

Voila!

xx, L

Tags: , , , , ,

Killer. Burgers. (for real.)

10/14/2009 in Downtown, Where we're Eating by Lauren | 2 comments

Thank goodness I am back in Boot Camp (I love you, OBC!) because yesterday David and I went to Grindhouse Killer Burgers for lunch.

grindhouselogo_thumbOur buddy Nick has been talking about it nonstop for a month, so I’m glad I had the opportunity to pop by today.

Here’s the Q+DD on Grindhouse:

Owned and operated by Alex “Al” Brounstein, GKB is located INSIDE the Sweet Auburn Curb Market (at the corner of Jesse Hill Jr. and Edgewood)

sweetauburnOk, I have worked downtown for 3 years now and had no idea that the Sweet Auburn Curb Market even existed. Click here to see the website, but it’s just a little bustling marketplace right smack in the middle of downtown.

Apparently, Al, who is a real estate attorney and developer, was issued a community development stimulus grant to spruce up the joint! It’s really interesting inside. There’s all kinds of fresh fruit and vegetable stands, meat, cheese, and fish, vendors and all kinds of other specialty products. There’s also a number of little cafes sprinkled about. In addition to Grindhouse, Nick tells us there’s a dynamite pizza place located within as well.

Anyway.   Back to Grindhouse.

Here’s what happens: (It’s an order at the cash register then sit type of deal.)

FIRST: You figure out what kind of burg you’ll be having: Beef (certified angus), Turkey (house made patty), or Veggie (bean + quinoa)
Sidebar: slick would be psyched. Dude loves quinoa.

All the burgs come on a buttered and toasted potato bun but they’ll replace the bun with a lettuce leaf for the carb-aphobic.

THEN: you can build your own burg with a variety of different fresh toppings OR choose one of their burger “styles.” I wanted a turkey burg and Nick suggested I go with the “Apache Style” which has house roasted green chiles, grilled onions, and pepper jack cheese. The ever adventurous David opted for a beef cheeseburger with American.

Nick warned me that it would be pretty spicy and wasn’t for the faint of heart. I don’t know if it’s the Texas in me or what, but I didn’t find it to be super spicy at all. It was, however, quite delicious and had a nice little kick!

As far as “Frieds and Sides” go, David and I were both really enjoying our respective orders of crispy, perfectly seasoned crinkle cut fries when Nick brought us an order of the sweet potato kettle chips to try. Um, perfection. (Thanks, Nick!)

They also offer hand spun milkshakes and soft serve ice cream, but I don’t know who actually gets that far because I am personally never eating again.

my last meal

my last meal

Good thing Grady is right next door in case you need an impromptu triple bypass. (I kid, I kid!)grady

A word to the wise: they are only open 11-4 Mondays – Saturdays, so my advice would be to get there a little earlier or later than prime time because the line gets killer too.

Oh, and be sure and say hi to Nick and Al…

Al + Nick, in that order.

Al + Nick, in that order.

…tell ‘em the Q+DD sent ya!

xx, L

Grindhouse Killer Burgers
Www.grindhouseburgers.com
209 Edgewood Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
Grindhouse Killer Burgers on Urbanspoon

Tags: , , , , , ,

« Older entries