Chow Down Atlanta

I enjoy dining at The Clubhouse for their cozy atmosphere and decor — a true private country club feel. I particularly like the dark wood floors, maroon velvet drapes, white linen-topped tables, and leather chairs/booths. The light fixtures covered in sheer red fabric and gold tassels also add a wonderful touch. But it stops there.

There’s really not much to be said about the food except that while it’s decent, it’s nothing spectacular except for the humongous portions you get. I’d stick with the basics such as the Flaming Hot Spinach Dip served literally flaming. And the salads, sandwiches and burgers. The entrees won’t knock your socks off and for the price you’d pay, there are a lot better alternatives in the area.

Insider tip:
Their ValuedMember Program allows you to accumulate points every visit.

The scoop:
The Clubhouse Restaurant
http://www.theclubhouse.com/Atlanta/index.cfm
Located at the Lenox Square Mall
3393 Peachtree Rd. NE,
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 442-8891
Monday-Thursday 11:30AM - 10:30PM (Bar til 12AM)
Friday-Saturday 11:30AM - 11:30PM (Bar til 1AM)
Sunday 10:30AM - 9:30PM (Bar til 10:30PM)

Technorati Tags: The Clubhouse Restaurant, American cuisine, Lenox, Atlanta

Atlanta’s top gourmet marketplace Star Provisions is the answer if you’re in need of a specialty food item that’s hard to find. Like the famed Kobe beef offered at $48 a pound. Or foie gras. Or the freshest cheese.

I go to SP at least twice a week for two things (among others): fresh bread and cheese. The have the best baguettes bar none. In fact, most of their breads are amazing including the Chocolate Cherry bread made with Valrhona chocolate. It’s crusty yet soft and chewy on the inside with bits of cherries and the most indulgent taste of chocolate. Honestly, I could eat a whole loaf in one sitting.

SP has also one of the most extensive artisanal cheese selection in town and carries cheeses from all over the world as well as Georgia’s own Sweet Grass Dairy. And when they say they have fresh cheese, they do have fresh cheese. The other day, my sister and I came in looking for goat’s milk cheese. The resident cheese monger pointed us to the Le Cornilly chevre which he said just got flown-in from France about 5 minutes ago. Yeah right. But no, really, the box is still sitting right there not even fully unpacked yet.

It’s a one-stop-shop in all. There’s also a wine shop (albeit a small selection), seafood, and a gourmet to-go section where you can get freshly-made soups, salads, pizzas, delectable entrees, sandwiches, and more. You can also find quirky tableware, kitchenware, and cookware. And it’s the only place in the state that carries those funky Orla Kiely bags.

Insider tip:

Fresh-baked croissants are available only on Saturdays. The Orla Kiely bags are way cheaper here than the company’s prices or any catalogs around.

The scoop:

Star Provisions
http://www.starprovisions.com/
1198 Howell Mill Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 365-0410
Mondays-Saturdays 10AM to 10PM

Technorati Tags: Atlanta, Star Provisions, specialty food store, gourmet food store, seafood store, meat store, Kobe beef, foie gras, artisanal cheese, baguettes, chocolate cherry bread, bakery, wine shop, cheese shop, Orla Kiely

Good Measure Meals is the brainchild of highly acclaimed chef Tom Murphy from the famed Murphy’s in Midtown targeted to make people eat healthier and ultimately lose weight. Although the healthy and losing weight part was an added bonus, I was more excited to learn that we can now enjoy his amazing gourmet meals at home — daily, and delivered, too!

Complete, balanced meal plans are offered for 5 or 7 days and include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. You can select from four daily calorie levels: 1200, 1400, 1700, and 2100. According to their website, “it is the only home delivered meal plan that combines healthy, balanced nutrition with a “gourmet” menu making eating healthy, affordable and convenient”.

Ranging from a mere $18.99 to $22.99 per day, meals can either be delivered for $25 a week or picked-up for free from several locations in the metro area. Save even more by ordering a full month to get $50 off on the seven-day plans and $35 on five-day plans. I ordered the 5-day plan for a week just to try it out and I must say, I’m really impressed. Incidentally, I got $20 off on my first order.

Although you cannot customize any of the meals nor can you substitute or delete any of the ingredients, rest assured you are going to love each meal and turn you into eating stuff you never ate or didn’t like to eat before.

Weekly meals are rotated every four weeks with a new week that will be added into the rotation sometime in March.

Insider Tip:

• Order the next lower calorie plan so you have room to add snacks that you like.
• You can switch meals within a particular day, say, eat dinner for breakfast; but I won’t recommend switching days (eating Tuesday’s lunch on Friday) since there’s the issue of freshness and I believe the meals are planned in a way that the most perishable ones are eaten first.
• Orders are automatically renewed. You must cancel your next order by 4pm Thursday.
• Remember to pick-up your meals before the pick-up place’s closing time. Due to Georgia Health Codes, all unpicked-up meals are thrown away after closing time.

The scoop:
Good Measure Meals
http://www.goodmeasuremeals.com/
404-815-7695

Technorati Tags: Good Measure Meals, Tom Murphy, Atlanta, Murphy’s, diet, meal plans, meal delivery, diet plans

If you ever find yourself north of I-85 around Chateau Elan and needed a sugar fix, then head on over to Mayfield Dairy. Although you won’t find any cows grazing (except for a giant cow statue in the middle of the front field), what you will find is a down-to-earth ice-cream parlor where a scoop of ice-cream costs a whopping $1.50. That’s a steal for the creamiest ice-cream around. Ice-cream bars are only $0.50 each.
Mayfield Dairy is a Tennessee company that opened their Braselton, Georgia ice-cream plant in 1997. They have been in business since the 1920s. The Braselton plant has a visitor center and tours are given every half hour. The huge visitor center houses the ice-cream parlor, a gift shop, and a small theater where each tour begins. Tours are given regularly and are free of charge.

Insider tip:
The parlor only offers ice-cream by the scoop, ice-cream bars, and milk products. There are a few tables in the back of the visitor center by the theater where you can sit down and eat. Only cash or checks accepted.

The scoop:
Mayfield Dairy Farms
1160 Broadway Ave.
Braselton, Georgia 30517
1-888-298-0396
Monday through Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Closed Sunday.
Tours begin every 30 minutes on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (with exception of no tour at 12 p.m). Tours on Saturdays are every hour on the hour. No tours on Wednesdays. Last tour begins 1 hour before closing.

Technorati Tags: Mayfield Dairy, ice-cream, Gwinnett

I was about to complain that there’s nothing going on in Atlanta this month. Food-wise, that is, until my sister pointed me to next week’s event in North Fulton. For a mere $25 per person, a number of great restaurants in North Fulton are offering special prix-fixe dinners consisting of three courses. That’s unbeatable considering the entrees at these restaurants go upwards of $25. Do ask for the official Restaurant Week menu when seated. Available during dinners the week of Sunday, February 25 to Saturday, March 3.

North Fulton Restaurant Week

Aqua Blue - 1564 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell (770)-643-8886
Dolce Vita Ristorante Italiano - 11705 Medlock Bridge Rd, Duluth (770)-814-7477
Rainwater - 11655 Haynes Bridge Rd, Alpharetta (770)-777-0033
Sia’s Restaurant - 10305 Medlock Bridge Rd, Duluth (770)-497-9727
Sugo Restaurant & Tapas - 10305 Medlock Bridge Rd Suite A-1, Duluth (770)-817-8000
Trattoria Monaco - 5530 Windwark Pkwy, Alpharetta (770)-664-0056
Vinny’s on Windward - 5355 Windward Pkwy, Alpharetta (770)-772-4644

Technorati Tags: Atlanta food events, prix-fixe dinner, North Fulton, American cuisine, Restaurant Week

If there’s such a thing about fast food being comfort food then Chick-fil-A is it. It’s been an Atlanta institution for the past six decades and the only one who can actually claim inventing the chicken sandwich. A very yummy chicken sandwich. It’s made with real chicken breast fillet perfectly seasoned with the right blend of spices, ever so lightly breaded, then fried golden brown. There’s nothing quite like it. And you must, must, try their chicken nuggets — tender morsels of nuggets that are made with, well, real chicken. Not formed chicken. They’re great dipped in Polynesian sauce (their version of sweet and sour sauce) and accompanied by waffle-cut fries and the addicting freshly squeezed lemonade.

Insider Tip:

The Scoop:
Find a location near you

Technorati Tags: Chick-fil-A, fast food, chicken sandwich, chicken nuggets, Atlanta

Welcome to Chow Down Atlanta — your one-stop-shop for anything food-related in Atlanta. Let me take you around to taste all the different flavors this city has to offer. We’ll go just about everywhere: five-star places, fast food joints, mom-and-pop diners, hole-in-the-wall places. We’ll visit hotels, malls, grocery stores, schools, and just about anywhere we’re bound to find food. So get your stomachs ready and let the tour begin.

Technorati Tags: Atlanta, food