Chow Down Atlanta

Hi. Finally a post, yay!

Yeah-bow. Yes. Now you know a word in Zulu.

I came here for lunch a few weeks ago with some friends and got to try most of the entire menu. The place is super cute and feels very cozy for having drinks.

Lamb Sliders. Good sized. Juicy and very tasty. They were topped with tzaziki sauce

Fried Chicken. A misnomer. I was expecting real fried chicken which is why we got this in the first place. They were more like crispy chicken nuggets and quite pricey at $16. The chicken pieces are drizzled in peri-peri sauce which is a very mild chili sauce. The dish came with collards that were a little bitter than what Southerners are accustomed to normally; and corn puree that were a good departure from the ho-hum mashed potatoes.

Salad in a jar. Awesome presentation. They shake it then serve it table side. This one’s called Safari. It has lots of tropical fruits, some greens in a papaya vinaigrette that is refreshing. Warning, this is a wet salad. The juices from the fruits were very good but it just made the entire thing soupy after a while.

Beef Sandwich. The sandwich is filled with boerewors sausage which is a beef sausage popular in South African cuisine. Good filling but overall quite a dry sandwich despite the aioli. A thinner, not as dense bread would have done a better job.

Ostrich Sliders. Very juicy despite being lean and quite tasty. The peach chutney cut down some gaminess and the arugula was really just decoration.

Mac & Cheese. This panko-crusted version didn’t have a lot of cheesy flavor. The macaroni was perfectly cooked, however.

Truffle Fries. So good. The peri-peri salt gave a hint of peppery taste. Yummy!

Shrimp and Grits. Quite possibly the best thing on the menu. This tasted more like a Spanish dish to me with the plump, fresh shrimp swimming in a tomato-based sauce. They call this sauce chakalaka sauce. It’s slightly spicy and very hearty. Delicious. The accompanying pan-fried grits make this dish complete.

Let me just tell you that this place is really nice but be prepared to spend quite a bit to get full. Our lunch bill for two people (and only because our other friend had a separate bill) was a whopping $95 before tip. That included two diet cokes, by the way, and no other drinks besides water. Brought to you by the same folks from 10 Degrees South.

Yebo
Inside Phipps Plaza
3500 Peachtree Rd NE,
Suite 1096B
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 467-4988

Technorati Tags: South African, Atlanta

Seems like the only times I’ve ever really been here is when awesome friends take me for my birthday. To me, Tomo is a special occasion only place — it’s pricey and fancy. I could very well have my fill of stellar Japanese for a tenth of what I’d pay here somewhere else. The first time I was taken here, at the old location, our meal literally cost an arm and a leg. Don’t get me wrong, though, it’s actually worth every penny spent considering the dining experience you get for it. Not to mention the quality of the ingredients and the inventiveness of the dishes. Did I mention all the dishes come out so pretty? But like I said, it’s not a place I can just go to every week.

The other day, my very good friend TeeVee took me here for a belated birthday lunch. He’s been trying to get me to eat here since Tomo moved to its posh digs but I kept telling him that it was too pricey and for me to get full, I’d have to order for two or three people. Which is really the case everywhere I go anyway. But I was assured it was very affordable so off we went. Would you believe– he was right! Of course, I had to get two lunches to get full but a regular person would be content with one. It was also very surprising that dishes average $12!!! In Buckhead? At Tomo? YES.

They have this huge bowl of udon for $8.50. That’s a steal considering this is Buckhead, this is the Residences at the Ritz, and this is Tomo. The bowl is HUGE. Bigger than I’ve seen anywhere in Atlanta. It was hearty with tons of veggies, plenty of udon, two plump shrimp tempura, and a lot of hot, tasty broth.

While most everyone can be content with this big bowl of soup, I have to add another lunch order to get my fill. But, that’s just me. So I got the Chirashi bowl that was oozing with fresh sashimi: tuna, salmon, yellowtail, crab, and tamago. The sushi rice is perfection, slightly warm, sweetish and at the same time vinegary. Heaven in a bowl. Price tag? $15. With miso soup and side salad included. We’re talking about a good sized serving, too. This is the best deal on the menu because we’re talking about Tomo quality.

My friend TeeVee got two entrees, too! What can I say, this is how we roll. His soft shell crab salad was another big serving. Lots of greens and perfectly battered and golden-fried soft shell crab.

Bento boxes at $12 are a fantastic option if you want to have a sampling of tastes and textures. It comes with a roll, choice of meat, salad, noodles and either sushi or sashimi.

I’m not a big dessert person but let me tell you, the desserts here are top notch. Think of 5-star hotel desserts. We had these tiny chocolate squares (called Chocolate Cube) that were just decadent. They were literally tiny, about an inch square and less than an inch thick. They were soft and chewy and tasted like dark chocolate truffles laced with Hennessy cognac. The alcohol is strong with this one. You all know by now I don’t drink so this teeny bite of indulgence got me really light headed, really fast.

The Warm Bread Pudding will definitely knock your socks off. It’s bread pudding but with the consistency of a flan. OMG is all I can say. So sublime. So delectable.

Although dinner is another story — when they have spectacular (read: pricey) Japanese fare Tomo style, of course; plus substantial bites from assistant chef Nick Anderson that includes pork belly– this if a fantastic lunch place for where it is and what you get. One-of-a-kind lunch specials available daily.

I should have had you at… Tomo. GO. Right now.

Menu here.

Tomo Japanese Restaurant
3630 Peachtree Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30342
(404) 835-2708

Technorati Tags: Tomo, Japanese, Buckhead

First ones here!

Came in here the first day they opened for lunch (I think my good friend George and I were literally the very first lunch patrons). We were hoping to eat pasta that day but was told there wouldn’t be any for lunch. Bummer. In any case, we knew we’d find something good to eat. Besides, with names like Brian Lewis (Bocado), Chef Josh Hopkins (Abattoir), sous chef Adam Waller (Sotto Sotto), and very recently Bruce Logue (La Pietra), there’s bound to be greatness, right? RIGHT!

Photo courtesy of @GJAtlUSA

Pizza. There’s really not much to eat here for lunch. Pizzas, sandwiches, and salads are just about it. We went with the tomato, mozzarella, cappicola, basil, chili pizza. Verdict? This is my favorite pizza in Atlanta. No joke. No comparison. No ifs, ands, or buts. The sourdough crust is chewy and crispy that borders between thick and thin. Just the way I like it. It had that slight acidity that wasn’t obstrusive but you know it’s there in every bite. Of course, the toppings are top-notch. The cappicola is mild and not as salty as its counterparts in the city. The pizza sauce that tasted of fresh tomatoes wasn’t soupy at all and didn’t make the crust soggy even to the last slice. And yes, I did not have to use a knife and fork to eat it. The toppings held up fine. A beautiful, delicious pie, to say the least. Seriously my favorite pizza period.

Sandwich. I want substance when I eat so I’m sure you all know by now I can never be a vegetarian. Sandwiches are almost always on the the bottom of my list. Unless I eat it with another dish. And salads? I don’t even really bother at all. I don’t want to waste stomach space if I had other yummy things I can fill mine with. But there wasn’t anything else on the menu so we had to get a sandwich to go with our pizza. And guess what — I actually really, really liked the prosciutto sandwich. The bread did it for me. Grilled, homemade baguette that doubles as a pizza crust. It wasn’t that hard, jaw-breaking baguette with crispy exterior that you need to chew fifty times before you can swallow. The crispiness of the bread was just enough to give you texture and crunch. The prosciutto, fresh, creamy mozzarella, and roasted peppers were enough to give substance to the amazing bread. It was really yummy.

More bread. One of my weaknesses is bread. I just can’t say no to it. That bread in the sandwich? I made it my dessert. I asked for some bread, grilled and with butter slathered in them. It was heavenly.

Can’t wait to try the pastas and more of their pizzas. I’ve heard so many good things so far. By the way, it’s a little tricky to find the entrance door but just know it’s at the very end of the building.

STG Trattoria
102 West Paces Ferry
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 844-2879

Technorati Tags: Josh Hopkins, pizza, Italian, Buckhead

I’m going to take advantage of this new-found blogging mojo that suddenly landed on my lap although I know it’s going to fleetingly disappear again (keeping fingers crossed it’ll stay). I went to FdN for a second dinner a few weeks ago. This was shortly before all SHTF and we found famous Enrico Liberato going AWOL on us again. Luckily for us (and for our pizza), he was there during our visit, busy like an elf working inside a pizza factory.

After having a huge first dinner in Decatur moments before, the only thing we could muster (for dessert) is a Margherita pizza. I’m surprised not very many people have written about this place. The only “real” blogger reviews come from Foodie Buddha and Fried Chicken Lips. And Eat It Atlanta only has a photo set. I loved it. I put FdN on my list of top three favorite pizza places which includes Varasano’s and Antico.

This Margherita pizza was stellar. It was just perfect. It had the right amount of tartness in the dough, charr, thickness and chewiness. It had the right amount of sauce and cheese, and taste. It wasn’t soupy. It was so flavorful. Best of all, it was even priced ($14) and sized right. I saw nothing to hate in this pizza. And while I haven’t been back since Mr. Liberato has departed, I’m sure all the pizza are in the good hands of the pizzaiolos he has trained.

Now go!

This post is dedicated to my buddy Dr. K who has replaced me with Jimmy as the top blogger in his book — happy now?

Fuoco di Napoli
30 Pharr Road
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 781-0707

Technorati Tags: pizza, Buckhead, tidal

One of my favorite special occasions places is Restaurant Eugene. There’s just something about it’s cozy, elegant space, excellent service, and exemplary food that makes celebrating a special moment more memorable. This past Saturday was no exception. The Junior League of Atlanta honored 34 members of its 1916 Society with a special luncheon prepared by renowned chef Linton Hopkins.

The backdrop was picture perfect: single-stemmed pink tulips and orchids in simple glass vases, tables topped with white linen then flanked by dark leather chairs, and 34 of the most impressive, most empowering women in Atlanta. 34. All under one roof.

The celebration started out with glasses of crisp Prosecco and passed hors d’oeuvres. Contrasting textures seems to be the theme for these very tasty appetizers. The Pimiento Cheese Fritters were flavor bombs in the mouth — crispy on the outside and gooey, cheesy on the inside, with the red pepper jelly lending sweet heat. The Citrus-cured Trout Tartare was a very mild-tasting fish whose soft meat danced with the crunchy bene wafer.

While I was never a fan of creamy soups, I became a convert with the best one I have ever tasted: Purée of Cauliflower. This wasn’t the cloyingly thick soup that has always been a turn-off for me. Instead, it was light yet creamy, smooth, and delicious. But it didn’t stop there. Sunchokes chips, toasted pecans, and a tiny dollop of black truffle ghee elevated this already amazing soup to the stratosphere of flavors and textures. This soup is something you can definitely eat all year round.

A salad is a salad is a salad, right? Wrong. Not at Restaurant Eugene. A mundane lettuce salad is transformed by Chef Linton into a fine dining creation that included winter lettuces, shaved apples, radish, Idiazabal Spanish cheese, and roasted peanuts with a clod of creamy mustard vinaigrette.

For the main course, pretty slices of tender and juicy free-range Chicken Ballotine garnished with red turnips and greens were a delight in all the senses. The garlic puree and chicken au jus provided additional tastes to an already delicious entree. Light yet filling, with a balance of flavors reminiscent of Restaurant Eugene.

Orange and cardamom crème brûlée ended the meal. It was so good I could’ve eaten a few more bowls. And this, coming from a non-dessert person like me. I loved the consistency of the brûlée — it wasn’t firm, but it wasn’t super soft either. The very thin layer of caramelized crust was a good departure from the common thick, crunchy kind you see everywhere else. Remember, this was no ordinary crème brûlée. This was Restaurant Eugene crème brûlée.

Can I just say this meal was fantastic in all levels. Not only was the meal unbelievably good, I met the most amazing women who will be life-long friends.