Chow Down Atlanta

I’m sure you know this place. You’ve passed by it all the time. The one where you see aromatic smoke coming out of its roof. They have the best Mexican grilled chicken. And for $3.99, you can’t beat this lunch:

Lunch Special Number 5: small grilled chicken breast, pork tamal, salad, rice, beans. All for $3.99. Neat, huh! The chicken is so flavorful, moist, tender, delicious. The tamal is surprisingly moist and filled with tender pork — also delicious.

And for the adventurous… Tripe Taco (for less than 2 bucks). Which isn’t technically tripe (though the menu says so) but chitlings, really. (Incidentally, tripe is from the stomach while chitlings are intestines. Big difference.) In any case, these chitlings were awesome — crunchy, not smelly, and tasty. I loved it.

As with any cheap places, this one’s packed to the rafters during lunch time. Service is efficient but tend to get slow. Overall, a solid place for cheap but good eats.

Insider tip:
Parking is limited, avoid peak lunch times. Lunch specials start at $3.99 — the grilled chicken is highly recommended.

The scoop:
El Norteño Mexican Restaurant
4929 Buford Hwy
Atlanta, GA 30341
(678) 209-4601
Mon.-Thurs., 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 9 a.m.–midnight; Sun., 9 a.m.–10 p.m.

Technorati Tags: El Norteño Mexican Restaurant, Buford Highway, cheap eats, Atlanta, Mexican, Mexican grilled chicken

   The annual Chocolate! event to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was held last Thursday at Villa Christina. I was delighted to see many philanthropic Atlantans who came to support the CFF who has been in the forefront in finding a cure since 1955. Part of the festivities was a silent auction, a dinner buffet, and a chocolate buffet.

There were literally hundreds of items up for grabs including cheesy Coca-cola apparel, travel getaways, dinners, concerts, and many more. The dinner buffet was simple yet elegant. There were several carving stations strategically located on the grounds and upstairs. There was also a cheese spread. And a cash bar.

  But the highlight of the evening, of course, and without a doubt, was the chocolate buffet. It was like being in heaven — surrounded by chocolate everywhere you looked. I was completely blown away by Pano’s & Paul’s Double Chocolate Panna Cotta. I could not (would not) remove myself from their table. I declare it the winner of the evening.

   Celebrity sighting: Chef Richard Blais who came later in the evening (I had a very brief yet extremely meaningful interview with him which I’ll write about later on). Home was there playing with liquid nitrogen.

  Almost everything was good. Other notables include spreads from Rathbun’s, Villa Christina (who had the most elaborate display), City Grill (with a yet-to-be named concoction which I christened Hawaiian Paradise), Steel (with their sushi-looking dessert — very inventive), a chocolate tower from Bill Rhodes Bakery, and many, many more.

It was a fun evening overall. It was really refreshing to see Atlantans come together for a good cause. See you again next year!

For more information and/or to volunteer or make a donation, visit the CFF’s website: The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

More pictures on my FlickR account here.

Technorati Tags: Chocolate! 2008, Villa Christina, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, home Restaurant & Bar, Richard Blais, Rathbun’s, Steel, City Grill

Seems like most tomatoes are now safe to eat. The Food and Drug Administration just issued an update today…

Update on the Outbreak June 18, 2008: At this time, FDA recommends consuming raw red plum, raw red Roma, or raw red round tomatoes only if grown and harvested from the following areas that HAVE NOT BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE OUTBREAK:

Alabama
Alaska
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida (counties of: Jackson, Gadsden, Leon, Jefferson, Madison, Suwannee, Hamilton, Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee, Hardee, DeSoto, Sarasota, Highlands, Pasco, Sumter, Citrus, Hernando, Charlotte)*
Georgia
Hawaii
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
Nebraska
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma (New!)
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Baja California (Norte) **
Belgium
Canada
Dominican Republic
Guatemala
Israel
Netherlands
Puerto Rico

* Shipments of tomatoes harvested in these counties are acceptable with a certificate issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

** Product lots of tomatoes harvested in this State in Mexico are allowed export into the U.S. with a certificate issued by the Secretaria de Fomento Agropecuario del Gobierno del Estado de Baja California (Agency).

The recent outbreak of salmonellosis from tomatoes prompted markets and restaurants to pull tomatoes out of their shelves and menus. Me — I love tomatoes and I haven’t stopped eating them. I thank Moore Farms, my long-time local source, and all our local farmers for providing the public with the highest quality produce. Laurie Moore from Moore Farms says it best:

“Whenever there are media reports about the conventional food system suffering another recall or contamination scare we get lots of calls and emails. Some folks want to know where they can get our Good Clean Food, others want to be reassured that ours is indeed safe. This recent Salmonella Scare with conventional tomatoes brought a flurry of contacts from Members and potential new Members alike! Thankfully we can all rest assured that our local producers use safe clean methods to grow the food we delivery for your family. The suspected cause of this outbreak is the post-harvest handling. Large scale growers wash freshly picked produce in a chlorine solution to eliminate bacterial contaminants. The problem with this (other than soaking our food in chlorine) is that the wash becomes a soup of materials and depending on temperature factors this can result in a big bad batch of contaminated produce. Of course we recommend you wash our produce before consuming it, none of our produce is packaged as “ready to eat” and we certainly don’t use any chemical solutions to “clean” our harvests. Often you will find field-washed produce or even vegetables that still have the dirt they were grown in on them. We believe the least handling before it gets to you, the better. If you’re especially concerned about this tomato recall or want to be sure your produce is extra clean in general you can use a 10% vinegar solution to soak produce for 5 minutes and then rinse. The best way to ensure your food safety? Know who grows your food!”

I’m off to eat a tomato-mayo sandwich now.

Technorati Tags: tomatoes, salmonellosis tomato outbreak

For those of you who are chocoholics like me, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is holding its annual Chocolate fundraiser at Villa Christina this Thursday, June 19 from 6-10pm. There will be chocolate tastings from Atlanta’s leading pastry chefs as well as a full dinner buffet, chocolate beer and a chocolate espresso cart. Participating restaurants include Blue Pointe, City Grill, Dailey’s, Fifth Group restaurants, Home, Pano’s & Paul’s, Rathbun’s, and Steel just to name a few. More importantly, there will be a silent auction to benefit the foundation.

Chocolate and food. Entertainment. A silent auction. And all for a good cause. I will be there.

Tickets can be purchased here or at the door. See you there!

Chocolate! 2008
Thursday, June 19th, 6pm-10pm
Villa Christina

Technorati Tags: Chocolate! 2008, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Villa Christina

My mom is a creature of habit and one habit she hasn’t kicked is Murphy’s. We’ve been going to Murphy’s regularly since I was a teenager but despite of that, I, too, have not gotten tired of their food. Located in the hip neighborhood of Virginia Highland, Murphy’s has been consistently good with their food and service for 25 years. Current chef Gregg McCarthy churns out favorites such as the grilled smoked double-cut porkchops (available during brunch and at other times by request), or the rainbow trout which still keep attracting diners.

I’ve tried almost every item on the menu at Murphy’s and though I have my favorites (and not-so-favorites), I can honestly say you can’t go wrong with any items. My top recommendations include: Grilled Porkchops (very juicy, very flavorful), Crispy Beef Shank (seasonal; bold and heavenly), Shrimp and Grits (light but packed with flavor), and the North Georgia Trout (clean, refined taste). For brunch, try the Corned Beef Hash (the mustard gives it a kick) and Eggs Virginia Highland (an exciting veggie option).

More pictures on my Flickr account here.

The desserts are also all good but opt for the seasonal items. A week ago, they had this amazing Carrot cake that was so moist. It was insanely good!

Post Script: As I’m writing this, my mom calls and asks me to have lunch at Murphy’s today. She is addicted

Insider tip:

Avoid peak hours at all cost as waiting times can be as long as 2 hours. Your best bet is to come on a Sunday evening. Valet parking available.

The Scoop:
Murphy’s
997 Virginia Avenue NE, Atlanta GA 30306
404.872.0904
Very limited free parking. Valet only available during dinner. Pay parking nearby.
Hours: Monday - Thursday: 11:00am –10:00pm
Friday: 11:00am –midnight
Saturday: 8:00am –11:00pm Brunch served 8:00am�4:00pm
Sunday: 8:00am –10:00pm Brunch served 8:00am�4:00pm

Technorati Tags: Murphy’s, Concentrics Restaurant group, Va-Hi, brunch, Gregg McCarthy, porkchops, beef shank, Atlanta

A well deserved win.

I still think Dale should have been in the top 3.  With Blais.  Lisa who?

Technorati Tags: Top Chef

There are so many good Italian places in Atlanta but my favorite is Ecco. I love it because of its food (both quality and taste), presentation, concept, consistency, ambiance, and service.

The scene

Casual yet elegant is what comes to mind upon entering the double doors. A lively, hip bar welcomes you while cozy booths and intimate, comfortable spaces beckon you on the other side. Its family-style dining makes you feel right at home.

The meal

On my visit, everything was spot on. Especially the food. We started out with a five-piece meat and cheese combo that included Finocchiona (a fenne-seasoned salami), Soppresata, Meyer Lemon Baked Ricotta, Bandaged Cheddar, and Fourme D’Ambert bleu cheese. We had a good combination overall, but I particularly enjoyed the UK cheddar: buttery and savory.

We then moved to the appetizers, choosing the fried goat cheese, the grilled squid, and the piquillo peppers. The fried goat cheese was superb — balls of goat cheese enveloped in a thin crust then doused with honey. The contrasting textures and tastes make it a very appetizing item. The grilled squid was very tender with the olives adding flavor to its mild taste. The mushroom-stuffed peppers were equally good as the woody taste of mushroom balances well with the spicy-sweetish peppers. We also had the grilled baby romaine salad sprinkled with pecorino and walnuts. I’m not much into wilted grilled salad greens but this one still had a lot of crunch. Paired with the grilled squid, this salad rocks.

Not wanting to order anything heavy after all the small plates, my sister settled on the Spanish tuna pizza while I opted for the ho-hum sounding tomato-basil-mozzarella pie. We were blown away by these wood-fired pizzas. The thin crisp, slightly chewy crusts were fantastic. The tuna pizza had chunks of tuna, white beans, and mustard greens, then topped with parmigiano cheese. It was one savory pizza. My ho-hum pizza was a total surprise. It was delicious: creamy, melted cheese with ripe tomatoes and fresh basil. It was great take on an otherwise boring pie.

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Sous Chef Scott Keifer, overseeing the kitchen that night, was a little disappointed that we didn’t try any of the pastas (all made in-house) so he sent out a sample of the chili-braised pork with garlic and pappardelle. This was actually my original choice but after all the small plates, I didn’t think I have the taste for anything heavy and saucy. I was totally floored by this dish. It had fork-tender pork with sheets of perfectly-cooked pappardelle in a sweetish, bold sauce with just a hint of heat. Absolutely heavenly. If there’s one dish you have to try, this is it.

To cap off another gastronomic evening, we ordered the panna cotta and the bread pudding. Both choices were excellent. I loved the smooth buttermilk-blueberry-cardamom panna cotta with fresh blueberries and chantilly cream. It was light with a sweetish blueberry taste that complements a savory meal. The bread pudding was simply incredible: uniquely prepared like French toast — I call it bread pudding with an attitude. You’ll love it.

The service

Andy was the perfect server you could possibly ever get. Every recommendation he gave was accurate. I love servers who share the same passion for food as you do. Not only that, he was very knowledgeable with both the food and wine. I give him the Best Server of the Year award for 2008.

The verdict

A great place to have a fantastic meal or to simply unwind. Ecco sets out to deliver authentic European-inspired cuisine and they do, in true form and fashion.

Insider tip:
Extensive wine list including exclusive wines only available at Ecco. We loved the Heger (Pinot Gris, Baden, Germany ‘04) and the Domaine Faillenc St. Maire (Syrah/Grenache, Corbieres, France ‘04). Guests’ wine selections are tracked via a small, wooden tablet (another neat concept).

The scoop:
Ecco
40 Seventh St NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: (404) 347-9555

Bar opens at 4pm daily; Dinner starts at 5:30pm until 11pm (M-Th), 12am (F-Sat), and 10pm (Sun)

Technorati Tags: Ecco, Midtown, wood-fired pizza, pasta, bar, Italian, European cuisine

The last 3 times I went to 5SB, I had the burger. Each time, I was sorely disappointed. And to think they have used to have one of the top 10 best burgers in Atlanta. Each and every time, my medium burger gets delivered well-done. Each and every time. I’ve had it taken back a couple of times and the best they could do is medium-well. Still not acceptable. The last time I went was this past Saturday. Again, I ordered medium and it came back very well-done. Dry and bland. I give up. So I’m crossing off 5SB on my best burger list. /End rant.

  

P.S. The Wild Mushroom Pizza and Calamari were both fabulous.

Technorati Tags: 5 Seasons Brewing, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, brewery, beer

Had lunch with my best friend over at Gordon Biersch in Midtown today. It was my first time and I was really impressed with the decor and ambiance.

I loved the high ceilings and the upper mezzanine where they have a private banquet room, a billiard room, and a bar. Lots of warm wood contrasted with cold steel with light colored walls to balance it all. I really like it. Sadly, no amount of ambiance or decor can salvage the disappointment I had with my food.

I asked our server how the Meatloaf Sandwich was and he said it was, “really, really good”. It was also the lunch special so I went ahead with it. What came before me was two unappealing, very-dry looking squares of grilled meat on a bed of shredded lettuce and a slice of tomato in a big dried-out bun. All I can say is that the taste was as bad as it looked — bland, bland, bland — and no amount of ketchup can save this sandwich.

Okay, so I probably ordered wrong because my friend’s Chicken Caesar pizza was quite tasty. It had chunks of tender chicken, crisp lettuce, and gooey cheese; and the crust was chewy and doughy. It was also big for a lunch portion, although, my friend, being a guy, had no trouble finishing it. Overall, it was flavorful and I wouldn’t mind ordering it next time.

Verdict

I wouldn’t mind coming back to try a few other things from their extensive menu. The problem with micro breweries is that they usually would rather let their food take a back seat to their brews.

Insider tip:
Attentive service but the kitchen is very slow. Valet and self parking available. Located on Peachtree and 6th.

The scoop:
Gordon Biersch
848 Peachtree Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: 404-870-0805
Fax: 404-870-0806

Hours:
Sun-Thurs: 11:30 AM - 12:30 AM
Fri-Sat: 11:30 AM - 2:00 AM

Technorati Tags: Gordon Biersch, micro brewery, Midtown, Atlanta, Peachtree St., 6th Street, meatloaf sandwich, chicken caesar pizza