Chow Down Atlanta

centerpiece of assorted cheeses, crudites, parma ham, etc courtesy of Wolfgang Puck catering

It was an awesome event! If you didn’t go then you missed out a lot. My sister and I arrived a little after 5pm and there were already a good number of people. Come 8pm, the place was packed! We left around 9pm and there were still people coming in.

I was totally impressed at how this event was so well organized: you show your ticket and you get ushered in to pick up your wine glass as well as a notebook and pen so that you can take down notes if you so desire. The notebook has great information in it which included the floorplan, vendors, their table number, vendor information, etc. Once inside, there are rows of tables to sample wine and food. I like that there are several garbage cans strategically but inconspicuously scattered all over as well as numerous servers who are roaming around to dispose of your trash. There are water stations offering bottles of still and sparkling water; and a coffee station just outside the main hall where there are several tables and chairs so you can sit for a bit, kick off your shoes and enjoy a cup of Pete’s coffee. Once you’ve had your fill, there is a table where you can pre-pay your parking before you leave. Really, this is one very organized event. And I like that you don’t have to purchase food tickets to sample food.

The evening was filled with foodies and wine enthusiasts chatting about, what else, food and wine. It was so nice that you can ask the vendors themselves about the wine and get their recommendations on what food goes with which wine. The top restaurants at hand had the most delectable food and desserts. Can you imagine — all these under one roof!

the ceiling lights changed colors all throughout the nightSo if you did miss this amazing event, here’s my Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Not Miss This Event Ever:

1. Over 100 wines and spirits vendors offering wines and spirits from all over the world
2. Food, Food, Food!! — from the top restaurants in Atlanta including the beautiful cheese centerpiece provided by Wolfgang Puck Catering
3. Wine experts to answer any questions you may have about wine
4. Georgia Aquarium — you get a private viewing of the Belugas, Whale Sharks and more from the very posh Ballroom
5. Very organized event — from checking in to paying your parking
6. The opportunity to learn more about different wines, spirits, and food
7. A fun evening to meet other foodies and wine enthusiasts
8. Lively music from an amazing band
9. Pete’s Coffee and Saratoga Water (still and sparkling)
10. Meeting the chefs and someliers

I’m not really a big drinker but this event was an opportunity for people, especially for me, to sample wines that some or I would not normally have access to or would not even think of trying. And the food — there were so many good food from so many great restaurants! What a fun evening for food and wine.

Now about the food, overall, there were some misses for me but a lot more hits. Notable ones include Seasons 52′s dessert offerings. I give them points for presentation alone, but more for the great taste of each of their mouth-watering dessert.

I was most impressed with Justin’s (P. Diddy’s venture) for their fork-tender, tasty braised short ribs. It had a perfect balance of sweetness, saltiness, and sourness that tasted like it’s been slow cooked for hours. And their Red Velvet cake rocks! It was moist and had a subtle-tasting cream cheese frosting. I must have eaten dozens of it!!!

 

Chateu Elan’s Cucumber-Melon Soup with Crab was also a big winner. It was so refreshing and tasty: cubes of crunchy cucumbers and melons in sugar syrup that was slightly sweetish with lumps of crab that provided a little saltiness. It was really good.

 

I really had fun. This is something you should never miss. See you there next year!

See more pictures in my FlickR account: click here.

 

Technorati Tags: Toast of the Town, Georgia Aquarium Ballroom

I’ve liked 5SB‘s burgers ever since I tasted it a couple of years back. Burgers to me is such a comfort food. When I was growing up, burgers were not part of our 3-square-meals diet — mom made home-cooked, elaborate meals — rather, they were considered snacks: a mid-afternoon fare to tide us over until dinner time. Our burger snacks were always of the restaurant variety so I was used to eating thick, juicy, fresh burgers. Now that I’m an adult, I eat all kinds of burgers. Even the fast-food variety. Sometimes.

For a good burger, I usually pop in to 5SB. I like that they use organic or grass-fed meat, though, honestly, it doesn’t matter to me. It sounds so healthy, in any case. I like 5SB’s perfectly-grilled burger. It’s thick and juicy and tasty. I like the golden crispy fries. It’s a perfect accompaniment to a perfect burger. With a soft bun, crisp lettuce, ripe tomato, and a slice of pickles, it makes for an amazing meal. Or snack.

Another favorite is the Fried French Chicken. It’s not your typical Southern crispy fried chicken. Theirs is baked then lightly fried just enough to make the skin brown. Served on a bed of thinly, grated steamed squash and some smashed potatoes, then drizzled with milky gravy, it is a fantastic meal. The chicken is well seasoned, tender, and juicy. The squash gives a sweetish complement to the saltiness of the gravy while the smashed potatoes just goes with the entire entree.

For beer enthusiasts, 5SB is the place for you; with a vast selection of world-class home brews, there’s surely one (or two) that will keep you coming back. 5SB is a good gathering place to have great food and great beer.

Insider tip:
Their caffeine-free rootbeer is delicious!
Third location near Howell Mill opening soon.

The scoop:
5 Seasons Brewing

The Prado:
5600 Roswell Rd., Sandy Springs
404-255-9511

Alpharetta:
3655 Old Milton Parkway
Alpharetta, GA 30005
770.521.5551

Technorati Tags: 5 Seasons Brewing, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, The Prado, organic burger, french fried chicken, beer soup, beer on tap, home brew

Sorry for the absence.  I took my 7-year old nephew and 9-year old niece to Orlando.  They’re visiting from Boston and they’ve never been to Florida.  Five parks in five days straight.  From opening to park closing time.  Think how many park meals and snacks I’ve consumed.  It’s not even funny.  Allow me to cleanse my system for a day.  Or two.  I shall be back soon.

This is my life saver restaurant. Because if everything’s close, WF is open. Well, Buford Highway-slash-ChinaTown is open, too, but if you happen to be on a road trip and it’s midnight on Thanksgiving Day (and I can’t imagine myself on the road during this time, but anything can happen), you’d be rejoicing that it is. Open, I mean.

When I was still a poor college kid in undergrad, my friends and I would eat cheap so that we can spend our allowance on other frivolous things. I’m still a poor college kid lady (grad this time) and I still think WF’s return-on-investment can’t be beat. Waffle House epitomizes cheap eats. I mean, where else can you find made-to-order breakfast for less then 3 bucks? And you’ll be surprised because the food isn’t that bad.

So I came in one day just for kicks. I haven’t been in a long while. I wanted a snack but didn’t want to eat junk. I look at the menu and see waffles. Hmmm, as in Waffle House? So I get one and a one-egg breakfast. I have never been a waffle person. It’s probably the crunch that I dislike. Give me soft (and yeasty) anytime. But I wanted to try it. I mean, they’re not called what they are if they didn’t make it good, right? Besides, they’re around two dollars. With chocolate chips. Nothing to lose (but my $2).

I watched Mr. Cook as he poured the batter in the waffle maker. The makers look like scary implements. So different from the ones I see at Williams-Sonoma. Less than 5 minutes later, I was presented with this:

I slathered some butter, poured some syrup and took a bite. I was stunned! This was the most soft and chewy waffle I have ever had. It had just enough small chocolate chips inside so as not to render it too sweet and a few additions on top for good measure. Really, this is one good great waffle. I take back every bad thing I’ve said about waffles. This was fantastic. It was almost pancake-like with just a tiny, teeny hint of crunch. It was so good I finished it in two minutes flat! And I’m a very slow eater.

Next up, my one-egg breakfast. It was nothing special — just an egg, some toast, and the customary hashbrowns. For $2.40, this is the best bang for your buck. I’ve been to places where one egg costs $3 and I still reel when I think about it.

Did you know the first WF opened in Avondale Estates? They now have over 1500 locations. And they’re open 24 hours all year long. So if you get hungry and nothing is open, you know where to go.

Insider tip:
Most places now accept Visa and Mastercard.

The scoop:
Waffle House
1500 locations

Technorati Tags: Waffle House, open 24 hours, waffles, breakfast