Chow Down Atlanta

I went to Super H Mart on Pleasant Hill Rd in Gwinnett to get a huge bottle of Kimchi. I used to get my Kimchi at Han Gang Korean Grocery on Steve Reynolds Blvd in the early 90s. It was the first big stand-alone Korean grocery store in Atlanta where they sold meat and seafood aside from the usual fresh veggies, canned and dry goods, and also had a food court inside although very small. Since that has closed, I’ve been going to three other places.

At Super H today, they had three different kinds of fresh firm tofu: Plain, Carrot, and Spinach. The carrot tofu had only the slightest hint of carrot taste in it. Not overpowering. Just a tad carrotish if there’s even a word. The spinach tofu is equally awesome, with just a slight infusion of spinach so as not to kill the true taste of the tofu. These faintly flavored tofu aren’t really the type you’d use in cooking. Instead, you eat them as they are, cut up into cubes and drenched lightly with Korean sauce made with soy sauce, peppers, scallions, sugar, sesame oil, and sesame seeds. They’re great in salads, as appetizers, or as an accompaniment to grilled meat and seafood. By the way, these gems are less than $2 per block.

Technorati Tags: Super H Mart, flavored tofu, tofu, spinach tofu, carrot tofu, plain tofu, Pleasant Hill Road, Gwinnett, Korean grocery, food finds Atlanta, Atlanta, kimchi

Atlanta’s top gourmet marketplace Star Provisions is the answer if you’re in need of a specialty food item that’s hard to find. Like the famed Kobe beef offered at $48 a pound. Or foie gras. Or the freshest cheese.

I go to SP at least twice a week for two things (among others): fresh bread and cheese. The have the best baguettes bar none. In fact, most of their breads are amazing including the Chocolate Cherry bread made with Valrhona chocolate. It’s crusty yet soft and chewy on the inside with bits of cherries and the most indulgent taste of chocolate. Honestly, I could eat a whole loaf in one sitting.

SP has also one of the most extensive artisanal cheese selection in town and carries cheeses from all over the world as well as Georgia’s own Sweet Grass Dairy. And when they say they have fresh cheese, they do have fresh cheese. The other day, my sister and I came in looking for goat’s milk cheese. The resident cheese monger pointed us to the Le Cornilly chevre which he said just got flown-in from France about 5 minutes ago. Yeah right. But no, really, the box is still sitting right there not even fully unpacked yet.

It’s a one-stop-shop in all. There’s also a wine shop (albeit a small selection), seafood, and a gourmet to-go section where you can get freshly-made soups, salads, pizzas, delectable entrees, sandwiches, and more. You can also find quirky tableware, kitchenware, and cookware. And it’s the only place in the state that carries those funky Orla Kiely bags.

Insider tip:

Fresh-baked croissants are available only on Saturdays. The Orla Kiely bags are way cheaper here than the company’s prices or any catalogs around.

The scoop:

Star Provisions
http://www.starprovisions.com/
1198 Howell Mill Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 365-0410
Mondays-Saturdays 10AM to 10PM

Technorati Tags: Atlanta, Star Provisions, specialty food store, gourmet food store, seafood store, meat store, Kobe beef, foie gras, artisanal cheese, baguettes, chocolate cherry bread, bakery, wine shop, cheese shop, Orla Kiely