Chow Down Atlanta

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