Chow Down Atlanta

I’m not big on sweets or desserts. I would rather eat bread. However, I do occasionally indulge in a bite or two of all things decadent especially since my younger brother in NYC has a habit of sending my sister such goodies on a regular basis — Magnolia and Cupcake Factory cupcakes, Junior’s cheesecakes, Bouchon macaroons — and I’m quite lucky as they always have a way of finding their way to me. It was my sister, the one with the sweet tooth and is in love with cupcakes, who tipped me on this place about two years ago. The cupcake craze was just starting in Atlanta then and I tagged along as she sampled goodies from everywhere.

Cupcakes at The Little Cake Bakery are all made in-house daily from scratch by a group of lovely, young ladies who only use quality ingredients such as Valrhona chocolate and pure Madagascar Bourbon vanilla. I love coming into the store and getting enveloped in the aroma of fresh-baked goodies. While cupcakes are showcased in enclosed glass shelves, they are not air tight so a bit of drying out naturally happens. All I do is to transfer them into air tight big plastic containers with lids, place a piece of bread inside, cover, and voila, they get re-hydrated and become moist after an hour or two.

Daily flavors here include the usual Vanilla/Vanilla, Vanilla/Chocolate, Chocolate/Vanilla, Chocolate/Chocolate, Red Velvet, Brownies, and Black Bottom Cake. They are so good it’s quite difficult not to get into a weekly habit. Both the cakes and icing are not too sweet but enough to satisfy a sweet tooth. My favorites are the red velvet, chocolate, vanilla, Nutella, Carrot Cake, and the Elvis. The Elvis is made with banana cake and buttercream icing then topped with a slice of banana. Heavenly.

Insider tip:
Additional flavors available daily depending on the day of the week. Check out the flavors here.
Cupcakes are $2.50 apiece while the minis are $11/dozen. Orders accepted.

The scoop:
The Little Cupcake
3792 Roswell Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30342
(404) 841-8856

Technorati Tags: Perimeter, Atlanta, cupcakes

This is another place I grew up eating at. There were only a handful of Thai restaurants then and this and Thai of Norcross were among the first successful ones. I remember back in the late 80s, a group of (MBA) students were waiting tables here and my mom told me (in hush-hush tones) that one of them had married the divorced owner. My mom spared me all the details, after all, I was only in my preteens. But the good looking student became manager of the place and after many years, opened another Thai place on VaHi. The owner passed away a decade ago and his brother (a co-owner) has been left to manage King & I while the wife tended to the one on VaHi. Incidentally, two of the MBA students opened a Thai place of their own but more on that later on.

King & I isn’t necessarily the most authentic Thai in the city. But the food (quality and taste) has been consistently superior that you can pinpoint their dishes with your eyes closed. Service is consistently excellent as well. A must (and I mean, a must) here is the Chicken Curry Fried Rice. The rice is dry, not soggy wet, and has just the right amount of curry flavoring. The chicken pieces are tender and succulent. It’s a one-dish meal that never disappoints.

The spring rolls are made with rice paper and renders a chewy texture when fried. They’re the only Thai place in town that does it this way. The result is uniquely good with a creamy peanut sauce that goes well with the vegetarian filling. The Wonton Soup is so comforting with a clear, flavorful chicken broth.

Not on the menu, I have loved their Mongolian Beef since I was young. Don’t scoff, it’s not really Mongolian Beef, but for lack of a name, the chef has decided to name this such for me. Even at an early age, I’m known to ask chefs to make a dish for me — back then, I wanted thin slices of beef sauteed with onions, bamboo shoots, and celery in a secret brown sauce. They used to serve it over crispy rice noodles when I was young but as I grew older, I’ve decided that without is much better. This is a very good dish which I invented and I highly recommend it.

The curries, specifically the Panang Curry lacks the sweetness of authentic Southern Thai panang, but is very good, nevertheless. It is creamy, with a good sweet-spicy balance. Get it spicier as it tends to be mild.

The Pad See Ew here is fantastic. The flat rice noodles are soft and tossed with broccoli, egg, and sprouts in a mild soy-based sauce that will guarantee to make you go ‘yum’.

I have eaten literally everything on the menu and you won’t be disappointed with any of them. King & I has been an Atlanta institution. As with most ethnic restaurants, go for the food.

Insider tip:
They make a mean Thai Iced Tea.

The scoop:
King & I
1510 Piedmont Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 892-7743

Technorati Tags: Thai, midtown, Atlanta, Thai food

For the first time ever, the moon and stars were aligned properly that I was able to attend a supper club this past weekend. I’ve been turning down opportunities for over a year now so I was so excited because this time, I could actually go. This one is for the prelude to Staplehouse.

Staplehouse is a new venture from Ryan Hindinger who is Chef de Cuisine at Muss & Turner’s which is set to open in the near future. With the meticulous assistance of his lovely wife Jen, sous chef Ben, and sommelier (and avid supporter) Ryan Turner (the T in M&T), Ryan showcases his kitchen prowess by offering intimate dinners at his home where folks can preview what to expect at Staplehouse when it finally opens.

I had a wonderful time at Ryan and Jen’s. The 6-course meal was absolutely fantastic. To read about the meal in detail, go to Foodie Buddha where he captures the evening in great detail.

I’m not much into NY-style pizza. To me, Neapolitan pizza is the perfect pizza. However, here at Vic’s, they do a pretty good NY-style pizza and owner Vic ensures everything is made in-house. In fact, it’s pretty common sight to see him tossing pizza dough up in the air.

Vic’s uses a thick sauce and though most people don’t mind tomato paste-like sauce, I much prefer the chunky, fresh version. The mozzarella cheese binds well with the thick sauce. The crust is chewy, thick-ish, and yeasty. If you’re into NY-style pizzas then you’re in for a treat.

Aside from pizza, Vic’s offers the usual baked hoagies, pastas, salads, soups, and wings. The baked subs are very good and a must try here. Thick Italian rolls are filled with your choice of meats and veggies then baked to a nice crisp. The Italian sub is my favorite. The Standard Calzone is one that you must also try here. Baked pizza dough is filled with Italian sausage, mushrooms, onion, green peppers, and pepperoni with ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses. The three kinds of cheeses lend an interesting flavor to the simple pie.

Eating at Vic’s is like going to a family’s house for a meal. Everyone is so warm and friendly. This is truly a great neighborhood pizza joint.

Insider tip:
Specials available for lunch daily.

The scoop:
Vic’s New York Style Pizza
3455 Peachtree Industrial Blvd NW
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 813-3356

Technorati Tags: pizza, Duluth, GA, PIB

I grew up eating at SakanaYa, a popular joint among Japanese. They had an amazing robata menu (kushiyaki/yakitori), authentic dishes not found anywhere else, fantastic noodles, fresh sushi, and overall great Japanese food. After undergoing a change in management and ownership, they eventually closed after many years. I was ecstatic to find out that it has been reincarnated to Blue Fin Sushi a couple of years ago. Located in the northern part of PIB, the new digs is bigger, nicer, more contemporary. Out of the four original sushi chefs, only one remains. The menu has also been considerably whittled down but with a few old favorites still surviving. Overall, prices have gone higher.

One of the draws here is the ramen (an extensive part of the menu). I’ve seen two top Japanese chefs eat ramen here regularly and swear by their goodness. I agreed. Until in recent months when the flavors are just off — not quite as bold as before and more thin in taste and consistency. Despite the shortcomings, the ramens here are still far better than most places. Although smaller in serving size than most places, each order comes with a side of California roll (lunch). My favorite is the Shio Ramen made with clear broth seasoned with salt then topped with tender pork slices. I also like the Spicy Miso Ramen which is great during colder months.

All sushi are fresh. You can’t go wrong with any of them. Last week, the sea urchin were just melt-in-your-mouth delicious that I ate 12 pieces. Amazing.

The soba here is fantastic — cold, chewy, with a good dipping sauce.  I could eat this everyday.  Save room for the gyozas.  They are crazy good with their thin skin and flavorful filling.  They’re steamed then fried.  The hamachi kama and grilled salmon are all great options as well.  The portions are smallish so you have to order a few different items to get your fill.  Still, it’s a great way to sample the menu.

This place is on my regular rotation.  Try it.

Insider tip:
Closed on Mondays.

The scoop:
Blue Fin Sushi
2863 Peachtree Industrial Blvd
Duluth, GA 30097
(770) 232-5004

Technorati Tags: Duluth, Japanese, noodles, sushi

I’m still in the land of sun, water, and sand but I thought I’d let you in on what’s happening around town…

• My favorite Phoenix Noodle closed on July 27.  The chef/owner decided not to renew their lease after 6 years and is now retired from the restaurant business.  He was able to send all 4 sons to college and is now time for him to relax.  You’ll remember him from his stint at Canton House where he was co-owner (and brother) of the current owner.  Food tasted better when he was there.  Incidentally, I was his very first customer and very last.  I was a little teary eyed when my family left the place and they locked their doors and turned off the Open sign when we got out for the last and final time.
• V1 BBQ opened a new spot inside the Super H Mart in Johns Creek exactly a month ago.  The menu is a condensed version of their original restaurant on BuHi and they mainly offer their barbecue meats and noodle soups.
• Super H Mart Doraville (where Shoya Izakaya sits nearby) isn’t slated to open until possibly November 2009.  The reason:  economy.
• HY Marketplace on North Berkeley Rd off Pleasant Hill in Gwinnett has not been granted a much needed loan as of this writing.  This was originally set to compete with Super H Mart but received a cease-and-desist from the latter due to a dispute in the store’s name.  After losing the legal battle, a super arcade opened in its place.  It was short lived as expected.  It plans to re-open as a competition to Super H once a loan has been secured.
• The owners of King and I (a Thai restaurant on Piedmont Ave.) is opening Zen Sushi on Peachtree St.
• A new Moroccan restaurant is slated to open soon on PIB in Duluth.

I’m off to the beach for a week. Not only do I need to find my blogging mojo, my 12-year old nephew is visiting from NYC and must, must go to a beach. He could care less about the water but sand is something he’s crazy about. New York City dwellers are funny like that.

But back to the mojo… summers are always a busy time for me. Lots of traveling and family visiting from everywhere happen this time of year. My 75-year old grandma, two uncles, and an aunt just left after a month-long visit and now the nephew is here. We’ve all been camping out at my parents’ house which is ground zero — for food, at least. I have over a dozen drafts waiting to be finished but it’s just really difficult to stay focused and write. So pardon another hiatus while I ride out the rest of the summer. I know I’m being very adventurous when I say this, but I hope to get a post or two up while I’m gone. In any case, I’ll be right back.

~Chloe

I’ve been going here for many years. It’s a solid place for Americanized Thai and Malaysian food. Don’t get me wrong, though, as the food here is quite delicious — but milder in taste than its Southeast Asian counterparts. Still, food is consistently tasty.

A must try here is the Roti Canai. The crepe is flaky and chewy. The curry chicken dipping sauce is thick and has just a hint of spiciness.

The spring rolls are crunchy fried and filled with noodles and veggies. The complimentary side of pickled vegetables are very appetizing. It has a hint of curry, as well as a mixture of sweet and sour tastes.

Everything here is good. Like I said, the dishes are made in a way such that no one particular flavor overpowers anything else. Mild, but tasty, if there ever is such a thing. I highly recommend the Pad Thai, Lad Na, Pad See U, and Mee Hon for noodles. You can’t go wrong with any of the curry dishes and the Beef Rendang, Ikan Bakar, and the Sambal Eggplant. Whichever dish you choose, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

Insider tip:
Lunch is the worst time to go as wait times average 20 minutes.
Portions are huge.

The scoop:
Satay House
281 S Main St
Alpharetta, GA 30004
(770) 663-8666
LUNCH :: Monday-Saturday 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
DINNER :: Sunday-Thursday 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm;
Friday & Saturday :: 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Technorati Tags: Thai, Alpharetta, Malaysian

You know, when you go enough to Asian places, you get wind of what’s hot, what’s not, who’s new, and who isn’t. On my weekly trip to Assi Plaza, I learned of a new ramen place just up the street. I’ve been back twice since it’s July 21 opening. Korean owned, this Japanese ramen house makes fresh noodles on site. You seriously need to watch how they make them especially the part where they cut them.

Just like any true ramen houses, Umaido offers only three kinds of ramen soups: regular, miso, and spicy. Soups are made in huge stainless vats and kept at boiling temperatures. Each bowl is topped with tender, flavorful slices of roasted pork, “hot-off-the-press” noodles, fresh bean sprouts, seaweed, black sesame oil, and a soft boiled egg. While the broth is a little under-salted to my liking on both visits, something a few shakes of salt easily cures, the overall effect is much like the ones they have everywhere in Japan. It is simply comforting. All three choices are excellent.

The Chasyu Rice Bowl is a great accompaniment to the soups and if you’re a big eater like me, you’ll find the soup-rice combo as quite satisfying. Served in a bowl no bigger than a regular rice bowl, the serving is small. Rice is topped with slices of the same pork used in the soups with a few dashes of mayo. I’m not into mayo at all so I just skip it.

On my first visit, the gyoza were over fried. They’ve since perfected this slight kink and they now come perfectly cooked. Incidentally, for a limited time, two soup orders come with a free order of gyoza. Eight pieces of steamed then fried pork gyozas are served with chili oil which you must mix with soy sauce to get the full effect. Pretty tasty.

I really like this place. I love the straight, uncurled ramen noodles they make. I like the contemporary space and über-cool bar tables. Best of all, I love the yelling when they greet you as you come in.

Insider tip:
Just like any good Korean places, cold barley tea is served instead of water which is available upon request.
Service is impeccable.

The scoop:
Umaido
2790 Lawrenceville Suwanee Rd
Suwanee, GA 30024
(678) 318-8568

Technorati Tags: ramen, Suwanee, Japanese ramen

Alpine Bakery has been a suburban institution for many, many years. It’s a dessert-and-pastries heaven with a pizzeria attached on its side. Mouth-watering cakes are showcased in numerous gleaming cases, as well as cheesecakes, pies, pastries, Italian treats, and a wide assortment of cookies . Everything is made in-house.

Cakes go for about $38 for small and $58 for large , while slices are about $7 each. You can pretty much get a slice of any case available on display. The Red Velvet cake here is moist, not cloyingly sweet, with a fresh cream cheese icing. The Million Dollar cake, a bestseller, comes with rich layers of chocolate mouse, flour-less cake, cheesecake, and more — enough to satisfy a sweet tooth if you ever had one. The Carrot cake is divine with lots of carrot bits in its moist layers plus a good crunch from its walnut-laced cream cheese icing.

The NY-style cheesecakes are rich and smooth, thanks to a concoction of heavy cream, eggs, and cheese. The Tiramisu, Turtle, Chocolate, and Strawberry are all fantastic choices. But my favorite is the plain version where you can really taste the cream and cheese.

If you must try just one pastry, go for the Cream Puffs made with heavenly Chantilly cream. They keep well in the fridge and make for good breakfast. The cannolis and fruit tarts, as well as the chocolate covered balls of cheesecake are all wonderful options, although, be warned that the cannolis are good eaten the same day.

But since I don’t really have a sweet tooth and am not a dessert person, I go here for the take-out pizzeria. They have the best Strombolis in the city. Bar none. And I go here every week just for that. Everything is made from scratch and the Meatball Parmigiana is just unbelievably good. Think long loaves of freshly baked dough filled with meatballs and cheese or sausage, peppers and onions, or pepperoni and cheese. Chewy cheese oozes out of every bite while the yeasty dough keeps them in. Really, it is “oh-my-god” fantastic.

The NY-style pizzas are equally fantastic. The crust is thin, the sauce is fresh with a great consistency. I can’t say it enough but they are just so good.

Beware, this carb-laden place is a threat to anyone’s diet.

Insider tip:
There are a few small benches outside for eating. Or do like I do and bring lawn chairs, sit back, people watch and eat the best strombolis and pizzas outside of NY.

The scoop:
Alpine Bakery And Pizzeria
295 Rucker Road
Suite 140
Alpharetta, Georgia 30004
Telephone: (770) 410 - 9883
Fax: (770) 410 - 9884

Technorati Tags: Alpharetta, bakery, pizza, cakes, pastries