Chow Down Atlanta

Remember Genki in Buckhead? Well, they gave up half of their space to this new Italian restaurant/wine bar. Decor is the usual Buckhead type bar/restaurant — yellow walls, dark woods, shiny floors, cozy booths, not to mention a humongous patio which is great for people watching or catching some rays. They have a pretty long wine list and the usual beers (including Fat Tire).

I was surprised by the pizzas which are actually pretty good — the crust is sweetish, thin, nicely charred. The pizza sauce is very good: fresh, not runny, not paste like. I had the Margherita (they use ricotta cheese but I prefer mozzarella), Pepperoni (I like that it wasn’t salty), and Cheese.

The Meatball Stomboli is also very good. I love its yeasty dough filled with lots of mozzarella cheese.

The Cheese Ravioli with its creamy sauce is also a good choice. The pasta is perfectly cooked, just the way I like it — right in the middle of al dente and mushy.

This is another good addition to the area.

Insider tip:
Valet parking and street parking.

The scoop:
Villa Vino
3188 Roswell Rd
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 228-3934

Technorati Tags: Italian, Buckhead, Fat Tire, bar

The Vietnamese stall inside Super H Mart in Johns Creek closed two months ago. A new European stall has opened in its place. My curiosity got piqued when I saw gulasch on the menu board. I mean, gulasch in a food court? I’m so there. But what really won me over was the picture of the bread dumplings next to the gulasch. When I was in Prague last year, I ate bread dumplings 3-4 times a day. The entire week! Bread, in an form, is my absolute weakness.

So I ordered a couple of things — the gulasch and the frikadellen. I should have known it wasn’t gonna be authentic after I found out that the Korean grandmother hostess was none other than the cook. She is the nicest, sweetest grandmother, though, and fed me like a starving granddaughther who hadn’t eaten in days. She also kept pushing food at me from the kitchen, just like a real grandma.

The gulasch, as expected, tasted more Korean than Czechoslovakian. It was really Korean stew, if anything else. It did taste bold and flavorful, and the meat pieces were very tender. Unfortunately, the bread dumplings are only for photography purposes as I learned they’ll never have it available. She gave me steamed rice instead (although I could have very well gotten fried rice).

The frikadellen (German meat patties) were as delicious as the German version — meaty with spinach, carrots, and a bit of cilantro (for that Korean touch). All meals come with a side of salad (and soup if requested; she gave me both).

This is a good place to eat homecooked European meals with a touch of Korean. Meals start at $5.95 and portions are huge. Other menu items include pasta bolognese, schnitzel, Asian noodles, fried rice, fish, chicken tenders. Where else can you order gulasch (or any European dish) with fried rice?

Insider tip:
Located inside Super H Mart in Johns Creek (141/Peachtree Parkway)

The scoop:
O My Food
10820 Abbotts Bridge Rd
Johns Creek 30097
(678) 474-0315

Technorati Tags: Super H Mart, Johns Creek, Italian, Chinese, German, Eastern European, Korean

I attended the baptism of a good friend’s baby a couple of Saturdays ago and the reception was held at Quanto Basta Ristorante. First of all, this place is far. It’s on Exit 14 off Ga-400. I usually draw my limits to traveling for food to Exit 11 which is Windward Parkway (a bustling area with lots of places to eat) but I’ll have to add this one to my far-away jaunts.

Usually closed until dinner on Saturdays, my friend got them to open for lunch for us that day and provide catering for 40 people. Food was served family style. First off — bread. They were baked in-house and were very good. Asking for seconds meant waiting a good 10-15 minutes as they are baked to order. I liked that they also served small side dishes of parmesan cheese and roasted garlic with the bread. Next came the Fried Calamari. They were very fresh, lightly battered and fried to perfection. A great starter although I really want to try the prosciutto-wrapped figs next time. The ceasar salad was also good and fresh. The Caprese was the usual beefsteak tomatoes topped with basil leaves and mozzarella cheese then drizzled with good balsamic vinegar. Overall great appetizers.

For our main entrees, we had the Lemon Caper Chicken, Chicken Marsala, Penne Pasta in Marinara Sauce, and a side of roasted potatoes. The chicken was nicely pounded flat yet still meaty then topped with a lemony caper sauce. It had a good balance of sweet and tart and the sauce was just the right thickness.

The Chicken Marsala was absolutely delicious. Each flat chicken piece was layered with a thin piece of eggplant parmigiana then topped with cheese. The mushroom-marsala sauce was just divine and the clear winner of the meal. I would order this again next time. The marsala wine was very apparent but not overpowering. The mushrooms added a nice earthy flavor.

Another winner, the penne pasta was among the best pasta I’ve had Simply put, it’s just perfect. I could have eaten a huge bowl of this. The sauce was the right consistency and clinged just enough to the pasta just as it should. I don’t like it when pasta swims in sauce. I could still feel the texture of the fresh tomatoes in the sauce and the taste is just spot on.

I’ve come back a second time since my first visit and everything is still on point. Service is great, bread takes a while (a plus since you don’t really want stale bread), and the food is consistently good. A must-try.

Insider tip:
Located in a new shopping plaza on the intersection of Buford Hwy/Ga-20 and Windermere Pkwy. Windermere Pkwy intersects 141/Peachtree Parkway and then turns into Jones Bridge Rd.

The scoop:
Quanto Basta Ristorante
2980 Buford Hwy
Cumming, GA 30041
(678) 455-3444
Tusday - Thursday: 4:30pm- 9:30pm
Friday & Saturday: 4:30pm - 10:30pm
Sunday & Monday: Closed

Technorati Tags: Quanto Basta, Italian cuisine, Cumming, Forsyth County

I’ve never really been on a diet. But I’ve been eating sensibly lately (thanks to two weeks of holiday bingeing). Tired of sensible eating, my sister and I ended up at Portofino Bistro in Buckhead the other night. It’s in a small house — casual yet chic. I love the unpolished wood floors.

The menu is extensive. Ravenous, we wanted to eat everything. We finally narrowed down our choices to the Butternut Squash soup, the Fritto Misto, and the Shortrib Bruschetta for starters. The squash soup was light and smooth. I liked that it wasn’t as sweet as most versions. The Fritto Misto was a big serving of lightly battered and fried seafood including calamari, shrimp, scallops, and octopus. All tasted fresh and tender and the accompanying puttanesca sauce was really good. The Shortrib Bruschetta was a surprising hit. Two big slices of ciabatta were covered with heaping amounts of fork-tender pulled shortribs that were simmered in a stew-like sauce. It was filling and very, very good.

For our mains, we had the Veal Scalopini and the Seafood Risotto. The veal scalopini was delicious. The angel hair pasta had sopped up the mushroom marsala sauce so each bite was really fantastic. The Seafood Risotto was so good I’d order it again next time. The Cajun-seasoned scallops and shrimp were grilled to perfection and were unbelievably fresh and sweet; while the mussels and clams (both in shells) were steamed in a white-wine sauce that were simply delicious. The bed of risotto they came with was creamy and gave the perfect richness to the seafood.

My sister must have dessert and ordered both the Tiramisu and the Molten Chocolate Cake. The tiramisu was quite good — not too sweet, not too soggy — and was creatively served in a glass. Really neat. The chocolate cake came topped with Caramel gelato which we both wanted to try and it didn’t disappoint.

Overall a wonderful dinner. Service was impeccable, atmosphere was great, food was good, and prices are very reasonable (our tab came to $120 before tip which included 2 glasses of red wine, a big bottle of sparkling water, 3 apps, 2 mains, and 2 desserts). A must-try if you haven’t been.

Insider tip:
The tight parking lot can be tricky to get out of. Try to back into your spot, if you can, so you can easily get out.

The scoop:
Portofino Bistro
3199 Paces Ferry Pl NW
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 231-1136

Technorati Tags: Portofino’s, Italian cuisine, American cuisine, Buckhead, Atlanta

Met up with the lovely Bliss a month ago for lunch at La Pietra. My first impression was that the space seemed odd — with this big expanse of dead, unused, warehouse-looking space prior to getting into the small main dining room. They’re supposed to expand but the idea has been shelved for now.

You know the best part of eating with a fellow foodie is that you get to eat many items from the menu and you get to taste each other’s food. We started off with an order of parma and ricotta on flat bread with pineapple mostarda. I loved the sweet, jam-like pineapple mostarda which gave a slight sweetness to the parma; while the ricotta was fresh and creamy. The bread could have used a little more time in the oven but despite of that, we still demolished the entire thing.

Next, we halved an order of marinated eggplant salad which they were nice enough to place on separate plates. It is such a turn-off when eggplants are served so mushy you feel like eating baby food. But these aren’t mushy at all. They had enough texture left in every bite. And the sun-dried tomatoes intensified the taste overall. Really good.

I love risotto and zero in on it whenever I see it on a menu. My seasonal risotto with beets and duck confit started out heavenly: creamy, tasty, perfectly-cooked risotto with the sweetness of the beets balancing the saltiness of the confit. But a few more bites into the dish and the saltiness of the confit became overpowering. So overpowering that I couldn’t finish my entree.

Jennifer’s hanger steak with a salad of pickled chanterelle mushrooms, radicchio, arugula and parmesan salad was fantastic. The steak was perfection and the salad really went well with the steak. I just didn’t like the slightly bitter undertone of the balsamic reduction sauce. Other than that, it was great and we both enjoyed our meal.

LPC definitely warrants a return visit. If you haven’t been already, Chef Logue’s inspiring dishes are worth the trip.

Insider tip:
Valet parking available.

The scoop:
La Pietra Cucina
1 Peachtree Pointe Bldg.
1545 Peachtree St NE.
Atlanta, GA 30309
Phone: (404) 888-8709

Technorati Tags: La Pietra Cucina, Italian cuisine, Midtown, Chef Bruce Logue

Last month, my sister an I went to Ecco for their Shop-and-Dine event where you can get a $25-dollar Prix Fixe dinner with 3 courses. Most importantly, we went because it was Spanish Tuesdays. With most restaurants barely making it these days, the place was unbelievably packed when we came in. In fact, there was a considerable wait. Fortunately for us, we were smart and made reservations days before.

We got a good kick at watching handsome Chef Micah doing his magic the entire evening. It was great to see how hands on he was: expediting, tasting, even bussing tables. What a refreshing site to see considering most chefs (especially the celebrity ones), tend to socialize more than get busy in the kitchen. Of course, it also helps that he’s really cute. Really!

My sister went for the 3-course dinner and started with the Roasted Mussels in a saffron-chili broth. (Sorry no picture– the lighting was so bad and the dark color of the mussels didn’t help at all.) The mussels were fresh and the broth was delicious. We needed a whole loaf of bread to sop up all the broth. It was that good. There were about 2 dozen mussels in there which was a lot for an appetizer but great if you’re sharing. I had the Grilled Asparagus and Tomato salad which was very good. The white asparagus were tender and grilled lightly while the tomatoes were crisp. The vinaigrette was very flavorful.

For her main, my sister got the Spolettoni with Mushroom Ragout. This dish was a total let-down. The pasta sheets, albeit house-made, were so undercooked. They were dry and hard. There was a good amount of mushrooms and the sauce was pretty tasty but the dish was lacking in oomph. Perhaps a few bits of short ribs would have made this dish a winner.

I came for one purpose alone: the Cocido. My Spanish-blooded grandmother used to cook this every Sunday while we were growing up. It’s a very laborious dish to make. My mom makes a close-enough version. I wanted to see if Chef Micah can measure up. And boy, he did. It was fantastic. The meat was well seasoned and fork-tender and all the required veggies (cabbage, chick peas, carrots) were present. The broth had the right balance of sweet and salty and tasted bold — like it’s been cooked for hours. The Au Jus sauce served on the side wasn’t necessary at all. The Cocido was already good by itself. Definitely makes up for the awfully and painfully slow service we got.

For dessert, my sister got the Apple Torte which came with her meal, while I got my favorite Blueberry Panna Cotta. The Apple Torte was another blech. It was freezer cold and hard. Whole Foods makes a better version, sad to say. The panna cotta here is heavenly and I never tire of it. It is creamy and has tastes of fresh blueberries in it. Even the non-dessert fan that I am can eat several servings of this.

It was hit-and-miss on this visit. The cocido was amazing and the apps were great but the ragout and apple torte were both forgettable. Our server was totally in the weeds the entire night and a nice lady serving tables near us had to step in many times. With our present economic status, Ecco must step-it up big time on the service department as patrons who now seldom eat out will surely go somewhere else where food and service can be both great at the same time.

The scoop:
Ecco
40 Seventh St NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: (404) 347-9555
Bar opens at 4pm daily; Dinner starts at 5:30pm until 11pm (M-Th), 12am (F-Sat), and 10pm (Sun)

Technorati Tags: Ecco, Midtown, wood-fired pizza, pasta, bar, Italian cuisine, European cuisine

I went to Buca when it first opened a couple of years ago just to satisfy my curiosity. I have never been back. Until two weeks ago. And only because I attended a get-together with close friends. There were 45 of us.

The organizer thought best to have a family-style dining which is an excellent idea given our number. To me, family-style is more intimate: everyone at the table gets to eat everything. It also simplifies discussions about food since you ate exactly the same thing as the next person.

After being ushered to a huge private room, our evening started with a Mixed Green Salad, Bruschetta, and Fried Calamari. Our organizer thought it best to pre-order a set menu for the group which was another excellent idea. Not only did it alert the kitchen in advance, our food was ready as soon as we finished our cocktails. I enjoyed the salad more than anything else. It had crisp greens and the vinaigrette dressing was really good. The bruschetta was a little too crunchy on the edges (think biscotti) but topped with an obscene amount of fresh, ripe roma tomatoes which I love. The calamari was also fresh but nothing to write home about.

The Spaghetti Meatballs was just that: ordinary-tasting meatballs on fresh yet mediocre marinara sauce. I like my sauce hearty and saucy. Not runny. Theirs can’t even coat the spaghetti properly. The Chicken Parmigiana was pretty good but still not fantastic. The breaded chicken breasts were topped with prosciutto, bruschetta, and provolone cheese. With all the strong-tasting toppings plus the fact that they were all swimming in marinara sauce, I couldn’t really taste the chicken at all.

We had Mashed Potatoes to go with the chicken but since we also had two pasta dishes, no one really wanted to touch it anymore. Mashed potatoes is mashed potatoes; theirs is chunky (which I like). The Fettuccine Supremo was the other pasta dish we had. It had slices of chicken breast, broccoli, and red peppers on fettuccine pasta with Alfedo sauce. I don’t know about you but I can differentiate fresh from dried pasta. I prefer fresh. Theirs is not.

Buca di Beppo, if anything else, is a fun place. I do have to commend our server. She was the most methodical, most efficient, funniest, friendliest (okay, she was way too friendly at times but it made for good laughs) server I have ever encountered. She gave each person/couple a number so that she can keep track of drink tabs. The per person cost for our meal was $39.95 (drinks, tax, and gratuity not included) — way to steep for the kind and taste of the food we got. For that price, there are other, much better places like this one. And although I was disappointed (again) with the food, the company made up for it, big time.

Insider tip:
There is a chef’s table in the kitchen that seats 4. I’ve never been one to enjoy eating (at a restaurant, no less) while watching tons of raw, salmonella-laden chicken butchered in front of me. Of course, I exaggerate but you get my point. Still, if that’s you’re thing, then make sure to call ahead and reserve it.

(P.S. I’m still away on a beach far away. Be back soon!)

The scoop:
Buca di Beppo
2335 Mansell Road
Alpharetta, GA 30022
770.643.9463
Monday – Thursday: 11–10
Friday: 11–11
Saturday: 11–11
Sunday: 11–9

Technorati Tags: Buca di Beppo, Alpharetta, Italian cuisine, family-style dining

There are so many good Italian places in Atlanta but my favorite is Ecco. I love it because of its food (both quality and taste), presentation, concept, consistency, ambiance, and service.

The scene

Casual yet elegant is what comes to mind upon entering the double doors. A lively, hip bar welcomes you while cozy booths and intimate, comfortable spaces beckon you on the other side. Its family-style dining makes you feel right at home.

The meal

On my visit, everything was spot on. Especially the food. We started out with a five-piece meat and cheese combo that included Finocchiona (a fenne-seasoned salami), Soppresata, Meyer Lemon Baked Ricotta, Bandaged Cheddar, and Fourme D’Ambert bleu cheese. We had a good combination overall, but I particularly enjoyed the UK cheddar: buttery and savory.

We then moved to the appetizers, choosing the fried goat cheese, the grilled squid, and the piquillo peppers. The fried goat cheese was superb — balls of goat cheese enveloped in a thin crust then doused with honey. The contrasting textures and tastes make it a very appetizing item. The grilled squid was very tender with the olives adding flavor to its mild taste. The mushroom-stuffed peppers were equally good as the woody taste of mushroom balances well with the spicy-sweetish peppers. We also had the grilled baby romaine salad sprinkled with pecorino and walnuts. I’m not much into wilted grilled salad greens but this one still had a lot of crunch. Paired with the grilled squid, this salad rocks.

Not wanting to order anything heavy after all the small plates, my sister settled on the Spanish tuna pizza while I opted for the ho-hum sounding tomato-basil-mozzarella pie. We were blown away by these wood-fired pizzas. The thin crisp, slightly chewy crusts were fantastic. The tuna pizza had chunks of tuna, white beans, and mustard greens, then topped with parmigiano cheese. It was one savory pizza. My ho-hum pizza was a total surprise. It was delicious: creamy, melted cheese with ripe tomatoes and fresh basil. It was great take on an otherwise boring pie.

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Sous Chef Scott Keifer, overseeing the kitchen that night, was a little disappointed that we didn’t try any of the pastas (all made in-house) so he sent out a sample of the chili-braised pork with garlic and pappardelle. This was actually my original choice but after all the small plates, I didn’t think I have the taste for anything heavy and saucy. I was totally floored by this dish. It had fork-tender pork with sheets of perfectly-cooked pappardelle in a sweetish, bold sauce with just a hint of heat. Absolutely heavenly. If there’s one dish you have to try, this is it.

To cap off another gastronomic evening, we ordered the panna cotta and the bread pudding. Both choices were excellent. I loved the smooth buttermilk-blueberry-cardamom panna cotta with fresh blueberries and chantilly cream. It was light with a sweetish blueberry taste that complements a savory meal. The bread pudding was simply incredible: uniquely prepared like French toast — I call it bread pudding with an attitude. You’ll love it.

The service

Andy was the perfect server you could possibly ever get. Every recommendation he gave was accurate. I love servers who share the same passion for food as you do. Not only that, he was very knowledgeable with both the food and wine. I give him the Best Server of the Year award for 2008.

The verdict

A great place to have a fantastic meal or to simply unwind. Ecco sets out to deliver authentic European-inspired cuisine and they do, in true form and fashion.

Insider tip:
Extensive wine list including exclusive wines only available at Ecco. We loved the Heger (Pinot Gris, Baden, Germany ‘04) and the Domaine Faillenc St. Maire (Syrah/Grenache, Corbieres, France ‘04). Guests’ wine selections are tracked via a small, wooden tablet (another neat concept).

The scoop:
Ecco
40 Seventh St NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: (404) 347-9555

Bar opens at 4pm daily; Dinner starts at 5:30pm until 11pm (M-Th), 12am (F-Sat), and 10pm (Sun)

Technorati Tags: Ecco, Midtown, wood-fired pizza, pasta, bar, Italian, European cuisine

Tuesday is my favorite pasta day. It’s because Tuesday is lasagna day at VZ. It’s the only day they ever make lasagna. But more on that later. VZ is this amazing pizzeria place on 141/Peachtree Parkway in the Johns Creek area. Believe me when I say this place rocks! Everything is made to order so although you’ll have to wait a few minutes for your pizza, pizza knots, and garlic bread, it is so worth the wait. The side salads are big and so fresh you’d think the greens came straight from the garden. The strombollis are huge enough for two people to eat and can be ordered with any combination of ingredients. The 10-inch heros are baked crispy on the outside. I mean it, everything on the menu is good.

First, the pizza dough is made in-house, fresh and really just amazing — it has the right amount of chewiness, crispiness, and doughiness. The homemade pizza sauce is bold and tasty. And the toppings, fresh and plenty! One bite and you’ll be hooked.

Then, of course, there’s the lasagna. Huge portions of home-made-from-scratch lasagna. It is THE best lasagna this side of Italy. Seriously, I’ve been to Italy countless times and although the version of pasta there cannot be duplicated, VZ sure makes a worthy contender. The layers of al dente pasta sheets, meat, and sauce then generously topped with their chuncky tomato sauce make this lasagna so addicting. Unfortunately, it is only available on Tuesdays. But now you know where to find me on Tuesdays!

If you’ve never been at Verra Zanno, you owe to yourself to go and be wowed. Start with some garlic bread which comes with a side of marinara sauce for dipping. Follow with a side of salad. The pizza is a must try for your first visit. After that, which I guarantee you’ll be back, try the pastas, then the rolls/strombollis, and the heros. Of course, you have got to be there on Tuesdays!

Insider tip:
Lunch specials daily. New specials available (click here). Whole pizzas cost a little more than what you’re used to but the taste and quality will definitely make up for the price.

The scoop:
Verra Zanno
(678) 473-0209

11600 Medlock Bridge Road (AKA 141) Suite 190
Duluth, GA 30097

Technorati Tags: Verra Zanno, pizzeria, pizza, pasta, Johns Creek, 141 Peachtree Parkway