Chow Down Atlanta

I ate Korean two days in a row. First at Book Chang Dong (BCD) where I actually came in during opening day in January 2005 and have been a regular ever since. Then today at Toh-dam (another favorite), which I consider to be the best place in metro Atlanta for tofu soup and ribs. And that’s coming from someone who has tried every Korean restaurant in town. Really.

Toh-dam is located inside Assi Plaza on Old Peachtree Rd in Suwanee (close to Discover Mills mall). Funny, Assi Plaza is an exact replica of Super H Mart but slightly smaller in scale (Super H was built first and Assi followed a little close to a year later). Anyway, the menu is similar to BCD, not that extensive but have enough of the staples — galbi, sundubu, pancake, bibimbap, cold noodles. Like I said, they have the best tofu soup and ribs. Hands down. The tofu soup is so flavorful and the ribs are so tasty.

Unfortunately, Toh-dam is on the pricey side when you consider the portions you’re getting. The tofu soup, although the same price as every where else, includes very little ingredients. You can actually count the number of beef strips or seafood in them. But you will so overlook that once you taste the full-bodied broth. And their broth is consistent in taste unlike other places where it changes not only from day-to-day but bowl-to-bowl on the same day and on the same table. The tasty ribs cooked to perfection are thin and they only give you three whole pieces cut into two for a total of 6 small pieces. If you get a separate order of galbi (beef ribs), you’ll only get about a pound compared to the two pounds you get at BCD.

The galbi-tang, my absolute Korean favorite (which is clear beef broth with beef ribs, mushrooms and ginseng) is totally divine although a whole $2 more than other places. Incidentally, BCD just added galbi-tang to their menu recently and they call it “Well-being soup”. What I’m saying is that Toh-dam skimps on their portions but they’re big on taste and for me, I’d rather pay for great taste than waste my money on a lot of food with mediocre taste. Toh-dam is an absolute favorite of mine followed closely by BCD.

Insider tip:
Tucked underneath the stairs on the left side of Assi plaza (similar to BCD’s location inside Super H Mart plaza)

The scoop:
1291 Old Peachtree Rd #101
Suwanee, GA 30024
678-417-1718

Technorati Tags: Toh Dam Tofu, Korean food, galbi, sundubu, tofu soup, Assi plaza, Suwanee, Old Peachtree Rd, Korean restaurant, galbi-tang, Book Chang Dong

The best, unforgettable peri-peri chicken I’ve ever had was during a vacation in the Middle East two years ago — I tasted it in different places in two different countries and they tasted very similar to each other. Piri piri (or peri peri) is a small spicy pepper grown in South Africa and its neighboring countries which is also known as the African bird’s eye chile. Peri-peri chicken (or shrimp) is grilled chicken (or shrimp) marinated in peri-peri sauce made with peri peri, lemon juice, garlic, paprika, olive oil, and salt. The taste is distinct and totally different from Jamaican jerk chicken.

Boneheads, a quasi fast-food place which is part of Raving Brands (think Mama Fu’s, Moes, doc green’s, Shaun’s) specializes in piri piri chicken. Their piri piri chicken comes in three sizes: whole, half, or breast, and in different flavors: lemon & herb, medium, hot, or very hot. I love spicy food and am known to squeeze raw bird’s eye chili peppers (both African and Asian varieties) into my food. So I tried the hot flavored half chicken which came with seasoned rice, a choice of side (Asian cole slaw), and a topping (I chose cucumber lime and yogurt).

Boneheads version vs. the Middle Eastern version I had
I was totally disappointed with Boneheads’ piri piri chicken. Although well cooked and juicy on the inside, the taste was

Read the rest of this entry »

From the outside, you’d think this place is just another strip mall food joint: the sign is ordinary and the outside looks like a fast food deli complete with menus posted on the glass walls. But since it was their opening week at the time, I was determined to give it a try. And boy, was I surprised. Inside was a lovely restaurant with shiny maroon concrete floors, muted golden walls, dark wooden tables and chairs, columns, and Grecian style decoration.

The menu is typical Greek — salads, pitas, roasted chicken… nothing fancy and not extensive either. But if you want a quick bite to eat and you’re already in the neighborhood, then this is the place to try. For starters, they give you a free plate of four different kinds of dips: cucumber-yogurt, chili, honey-mustard, and garlic-mayo; with pieces of grilled pocket pita on the side. I’m saying pocket pita here as opposed to the flat doughy pita

Read the rest of this entry »

What: Dinner and a Movie hosted by the Atlanta Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier and the Emory Goizueta Business School

Info: Featured Film — Whole Hog – a documentary of the Barbeque culture in the southwest, Winner: Best Mississippi Film, 4th Annual Oxford Film Festival (2007)

Featured Food: BBQ!!! From some of the best chefs in the city! Watch a mouthwateringly good film and then sample all the film has to offer.

What to bring: Your own libations – locally crafted brews, artisan drafts and Que-friendly wines

Cost: $30.00 to Les Dames members and students, $40.00 to non members

When: Monday, March 19, 2007, 7:00 – 9:30 P.M.

Where: Emory Goizueta Business School at 1300 Clifton Road – on the corner of Fishburn and Clifton Room 210

Reservations: Call Cathy Conway, 404-374-4420

Technorati Tags: Atlanta Food Events, Les Dames d’Escoffier, Emory University, dinner and movie

Excuse the brief hiatus… am in food heaven and will be eating my way throughout San Francisco.