Chow Down Atlanta

So I’m not the only one who has tried DD‘s new breakfast sandwich.  It’s part of their DDSmart line of healthier breakfast fare which is the newest trend these days.  There’s this new DD on Pleasant Hill (close to 141) that just opened maybe 3 weeks ago.  They have this new contemporary decor that makes it look more like a cozy coffee shop than a regular DD.  They are the only location that makes humongous donuts.  I got a dozen chocolate-glazed and they wouldn’t fit the box!  I’m so used to getting donuts from other locations and they make these puny ones.  Theirs were huge and fluffy.  Anyway, back to the sandwich…

Okay, so the eggs and filling are pre-made but they get delivered daily so there’s a freshness factor there at least. They pop them into their ovens and they get toasted nicely. The result: a decent-tasting breakfast that you can eat on the go. Like when you’re driving (which I always do, I mean, the eating and driving part). I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of this “healthier breakfast trend” now.

The scoop:
Dunkin’ Donuts at
5980 State Bridge Rd
Duluth, GA 30097
678-957-8507

Technorati Tags: Dunkin Donuts, DDSmart, breakfast

Okay, so yesterday, Chef Peter from The Feed Store, Adam Murphy of Channel 46, and I got invited to judge an architectural firm’s annual breakfast contest.  To say it was such a fun event is an understatement — they were so hilariously crazy!  I mean, they go all out on these events.  One group, The Superheroes, were all dressed as, well, super heroes!  Not your average super heroes, but the unique kind!  Then there’s this group that simulated an airline flight.  There was a projection screen playing safety features, we were sitting on airline seats complete with hot towels, meal trays, the works!  They even had flight attendants and a pilot!  I had so much fun. It was so refreshing to see a company with such amazing morale among its employees.

Anyway, view the photos on my Facebook account. Or by using this link: 

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=6038&l=2e83e&id=1312783509.

Technorati Tags: Events, TVS, Peter Golaszewski, The Feed Store, Adam Murphy, Channel 46

I must admit Taka is not one of my go-to places for sushi. Don’t get me wrong, though, as I am a fan of Taka’s food. It’s just that, being an OTPer, it’s a trek for me to go there on a regular basis. I usually go to three other places that are closer to me and, thus, I can just get up and go anytime without having to fight traffic or make a big production of it. Those three places are (in no particular order, and which, I promise to write about soon): Sushi Yoko, Haru Ichiban, and Blue Fin (for ramen). The last two are favorite haunts of Taka himself, and, where I also bump into a star sushi chef always. What I love most about Takao Moriuchi is his passion for his art. He really makes a big deal of everything he creates at Taka. Hours of preparation go into each creation days before he even serves them. Yes, he takes it personally.

I usually go for the omakase whenever I do get to visit. But for other times when I can only handle a light dinner or lunch, sashimi is what I do. Every single fish that is served here is fresh. Fresh is the single, most important ingredient to sushi/sashimi. Still, ask what the chef recommends on a particular visit. This goes for any sushi place you go to.

Anyway, there’s this oxtail soup that Chef Taka makes that will totally blow you away (it’s my absolute favorite and you can only get it here). They also have an assortment of tofu dishes and pot stickers that are wonderful appetizers. One time, they had real wagyu beef that was pure heaven. And cooked fish roe which I love. And he always has something special everyday. Just ask.

Though you won’t find as many Japanese eating here, mainly, because of the location, Taka serves authentic Japanese cuisine. Everything here is good.

Insider tip:
Call ahead for omakase so Chef Taka can prepare a great experience for you.

The scoop:
Taka Sushi Cafe
385 Pharr Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 869-2802

Technorati Tags: Taka Sushi Cafe, sushi and passion, Pharr Rd., Buckhead, Japanese cuisine

I went to the bakery next door so I decided to try Maldives. Another place for cheap eats, Maldives targets mostly students in the area. They serve grilled dishes that start at $6.99 and come with rice, and whatever sides they have available that day (it was an eggroll, boiled corn, and soup when I visited).

Like the name implies, their grilled dishes are either marinated in teriyaki sauce or doused with it. As such, they taste like teriyaki instead of Korean. I got thrown for a loop because my grilled Korean shortribs, although cooked perfectly, do not really have that Korean taste to it; and, well, the extremely nice and friendly husband-and-wife owners are Koreans so I naturally just assumed they would have Korean barbeque. My dish was $8.99 and for that price, I would rather go to Super H. Of course, they have a better ambiance and a 100 score on the health report card, but taste-wise, I’d go for Super H anytime.

The Clear Vermicelli Noodles with Shrimp (Chap Jae) was actually quite good — flavorful and fresh, with huge pieces of shrimp. The Chicken BBQ plate is actually a winner. The chicken was good-sized, tender, and tasty and tastes better than the ribs.

Maldives offers lunch discounts to Emory students. They also do a lot of catering at Emory. This is a nice, clean place where you can get more-than-mediocre-tasting food at cheaper prices.

Insider tip:
Free softdrinks and free Wi-Fi.

The scoop:
Maldives BBQ & Teriyaki
2899 North Druid Hills Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 321-1605
Mon-Sat: 10:30AM-10PM
Sunday: 12:30PM-9PM

Technorati Tags: Maldives BBQ & Teriyaki, Korean barbeque, Korean cuisine, Emory, cheap eats

Fuddruckers and Five Guys are two burger joints I hit when I don’t want to go to a fancy place for a hamburger.  You know, a place where you can go to alone and in your rattiest short shorts and flipflops.

Here, I almost always get the Ribeye Sandwich (of course, burger is the other choice). It is grilled to your liking and is tender, juicy, and flavorful. Add to it your choice of fresh toppings from the bar and you have one great meal. I top mine with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and jalapeños. It comes with a side of fries or onion rings. The perfect accompaniment — the Chocolate Milkshake!

The scoop:

Fuddruckers
Several locations. Check website for addresses.

Technorati Tags: Fuddruckers, ribeye sandwich, milkshakes, burgers