Chow Down Atlanta

The road to Cardamom Hill started with a supper club: Spice Route. I’ve heard a lot of great things about this monthly event (see my good friend Jimmy’s pictures here) but sadly, I never went. Part of the reason is that I’m a full-fledged carnivore and vegetarian meals just don’t interest me at all. Enter Atlanta Food & Wine Festival where I finally got a chance to sample Chef Asha’s food. Two words: FRIED CHICKEN.

Yesterday was Cardamom Hill’s first day of business. I knew dinner was gonna be a crazy time to go, what with all the buzz they’re getting lately so we went for lunch instead. According to our server, there were only two types of meals available that day: vegetable korma and chicken curry. I chose the chicken curry. Of course. The thali (think of it as a bento box) consisted of the main dish, lentil soup, cucumber-fruit salad, and rice pilau. The chicken curry, simmered for five days, has a depth of flavor you won’t find in many Indian places. The salad had a mild lemony vinaigrette that was very refreshing. The pilau was to-die-for with slivers of green beans and golden raisins. The lentil soup was hearty and delicious. The price tag? $14.

Every meal is punctuated with their piping hot, homemade chai tea. It’s the best chai tea I’ve ever had. And comes with a pizelle that is specially made for them.

Remember the fried chicken I mentioned earlier? Come to find out they do have it but we were already pressed for time to get a third meal. So we had to content ourselves with a tiny taste. This CRACK CHICKEN is a must eat when you go here. Must. The meat is so tender and juicy. The skin is thin, crispy, and crunchy. There’s a slight, slight hint of curry among the spices used. Believe me, it’s insanely delicious.

I went opening day. Aside from the technical issues with their computer system, they looked like they’ve been around a while. Food is on the pricey side but very good nonetheless. Go try it.

Full Disclosure. They were having first day jitters — the card machine kept acting up. They offered to comp our meals. Twice. We graciously refused. Twice. Fortunately, their system finally went back up after trying numerous times. Our meals were paid in full, tip included. Cliff Bostock says he wasn’t as lucky.

Cardamom Hill
1700 Northside Drive
Suite A-5
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 549-7012

Technorati Tags: Indian, West Side, Atlanta, tidal

We had a bout of chilly days a couple of weeks back and I thought it was awesome. I love cold weather. But now that we are hitting 90-degree temps once again, my addiction to ramen is going to take a slight backseat to cold ramen. Slight. Not a whole lot.

So. I’ve been eating Taka’s Hiyashi Ramen since he debuted it in April. It’s so perfect for the scorching weather summer is about to bring us. This bowl of goodness comes with cold, chewy noodles, slices of tender pork, strips of egg, and a phenomenal sweet-salty-tangy broth. It’s not on the regular menu anymore so you must ask for it. And remember, it’s a cold noodle dish. It’s totally different from it’s big brother ramen, but just as good. Trust me. I know ramen.

Taka Sushi Cafe
375 Pharr Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 869-2802

Technorati Tags: Atlanta, Japanese, ramen

There’s no need to travel 4500 miles — that’s nine and a half hours by air — for a taste of Hawaiian cuisine. Waikikie Hawaiian BBQ, the restaurant, is just around the corridor. Of I-85, that is. The quirky spot offers a myriad of grilled delights, more notably Spam-related ones, in true Hawaiian fashion. Hawaiian fashion, you ask?

You see, Hawaii is a melting pot of cultures from the Pacific who immigrated to the islands as part of the labor force that propagated agricultural plantations to what they are today. Each ethnicity brought with them their unique style of cuisine as well as ingredients that became what Hawaiian cuisine is: the plate. Just like its famous cousins, the Japanese bento box and the American combo, Hawaiian plates consist of scoops of white steamed rice, meat, macaroni salad, and assorted sides which can include fried eggs, kimchi, veggies.

There are two kinds of plates. The regular comes with your choice of meat plus 2 scoops of steamed rice and a scoop macaroni salad or a side of salad; while the mini plate comes with a scoop of steamed rice and a scoop of macaroni salad. I’ve had all the meats and they’re all good, though I highly recommend the Hawaiian BBQ Pork and the BBQ Beef. Both have tender pieces of meat marinated in a teriyaki sauce reminiscent of Korean BBQ. In fact, the BBQ Beef tastes exactly like bulgogi. The slow-roasted, savory Kalua Pork and BBQ Short Ribs that aren’t cloyingly sweet are also good choices. Of course, my trusty back-up, the Spam Moco (consisting of Spam and eggs), are for those times when I crave breakfast at any time of day.

My ultimate favorite here is the Spam Musubi. Think Japanese sushi on steroids: a thick slice of fried Spam drizzled with teriyaki sauce, sandwiched by steamed white rice then wrapped in a nori (dried seaweed) sheet. It’s an awesome snack, which you can eat, on the go. There are three kinds to choose from including Teriyaki Chicken and Teriyaki Beef. They’re all good but believe me when I say the Spam rocks.

Other notables include the fried sweet plantains and the Spam Fried Rice. It’s the ultimate fried rice. The menu at Waikikie is extensive and I guarantee there is something for everyone. Even for the vegetarians. But perhaps the best value on the menu is the Family Combo. This $27 meal for four can be eaten by two people… or those with big appetites like me.

Waikikie Hawaiaan BBQ
2160 Briarcliff Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
Phone: 404-638-1115 / 404-638-1116
Fax: 404-638-1117
Closed on Mondays
Open Tuesday through Thursday: 11:00 am to 9:30 pm
Friday and Saturday: 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
Sunday: 11:00 am to 9:00 pm

Technorati Tags: Hawaiian food, Atlanta, spam musubi

I like Abattoir’s food overall, but I’m not a fan of the burger. Why? The bread is too dense and not buttery enough to offset the texture of the meat. The meat has that sausagey taste and off-putting smell. I’m sure a lot of people like it but I prefer others over it. I did like the accompaniments: fries that were not greasy and remained crispy til the end, crunchy pickles, a dried tomato slice that was full of flavor, and a piece of sweetish butter lettuce.

Abattoir
1170 Howell Mill Rd NW # 100
Atlanta, GA 30318-8636
(404) 892-3335

Technorati Tags: American, chophouse, Atlanta

After undergoing a multi-million renovation, The Georgian Terrace, an Atlanta institution, now sports a more grand, more modern appeal while still retaining its Southern feel.

Included in the face lift is the beautiful Livingston restaurant and bar headed by Chef Gary Mennie. The stylish space includes snakeskin-covered furniture, chrome and leather seats, and floor-to-ceiling windows, among other things. A revolving door was retained from the original design and now stands as a stationary place to showcase wine bottles. It seems out of place, really.

On a recent visit with a regular lunch buddy, we decided to get items from three sections of the menu. We started off with the Wellfleet Oysters Gratin. Served on a bed of rock salt, whole peppercorns and star anise, the oysters are plump, fresh, and briny. The spinach, cheese, and bacon added just a tiny hint of flavor and texture. Great execution on this simple dish.

Next, we went with the Pick-3-for-$15 martini lunch: peeky toe crab salad, white truffle chicken salad, and grilled hangar steak. While the presentation was superb (using stemless martini glasses), the flavor of each item was lacking. As my friend, I also noticed a considerable amount of lettuce in each serving. The peeky toe crab was under-salted which focused on the taste of the mayo instead of the crab. Sad. And such a waste. The white truffle chicken salad tasted about the same. I did like the texture of the chicken which was grilled before being tossed in dressing. The hangar steak was cooked perfectly but sadly, I couldn’t discern any stand out flavor. Meh.

For our mains, we went with the Georgia White Shrimp and a good ol’ burger. First off, five medium pieces of steamed shrimp doesn’t justify $14 in my book. Especially if it’s devoid of any flavor. Although fresh, the shrimp’s simplicity couldn’t be saved by the bland fava bean puree. The bits of ham hock did add a tiny hint of flavor but not enough to elevate the dish. I was totally disappointed with it.

The burger was mediocre at best. I wasn’t too keen on the crumbly, flavorless, dryish bun. Honestly, I’ve had better fast food burgers. Worse, I bit several pieces of hard rock salt in the patty. This just didn’t do it for me.

Overall, a disappointing meal — both in taste and in value. I was hoping Chef Mennie would be more inventive with the food. I’m pretty sure his menu is a work-in-progress.

Insider tip:
Complimentary valet parking — however, you must have your ticket validated.

The scoop:
Livingston Restaurant + Bar
659 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 898-8316

Technorati Tags: Georgian Terrace, hotel restaurants, bar, Midtown, Atlanta