Chow Down Atlanta

Tapas are chi-chi, tease food that are better consumed with a big group. Because sometimes, you just would rather have variety. Eclipse di Luna is a great spot for tapas in that it has an extensive menu of, well, just tapas. The atmosphere here is lively and loud, and the place is always packed so make sure you have reservations especially on the weekends.

Please excuse these awful pictures. It was unbelievably dark in there.

Although the food here definitely has some Spanish flair, I consider it more modern than what I grew up with. My grandmother is from Spain so all we ever ate growing up was traditional Spanish food. Paella has always been comfort food and making this elaborate dish took my mom (and grandma) hours to make. The version here is passable if you have never had the real thing. I found it less flavorful, the rice more mushy, and the overall dish a bit more wet than what is usual. It did contain the usual suspects of green peas, shrimp, squid, mussels, chicken, and chorizo. I like that they use Calasparra rice which is short grain rice because when it comes to paellas, the choice of rice is key. Nothing irks me more than to see Arborio rice in paella which absorbs more moisture.

The small plates we tried included:

Calamares Fritos: the tender squid pieces were lightly battered in spicy coating and fried golden. The side of slightly spicy salsa contained chunks of fresh tomatoes.

Peixinhos da Horta: though a bit on the oily side, these fresh greens were crisp and the sherry batter was so thin. A sprinkling of coarse sea salt is a nice touch.

Empanada de Langosta: the crust was flaky and buttery. It was filled with flavorful minced lobster and vegetables and was served atop a creamy lobster sauce that made for a wonderful dipping sauce.

Tortilla de Sobresada: a big omelet with Mallorcan sausage and Mahon cheese which is a sharp, lemony cheese. This is a great breakfast food.

Chuletas de Borrego: consisted of grilled lamb chops that were quite tasty but the sundried tomato and goat cheese cream sauce that topped it made the dish off-balance.

Esparrago: these grilled spears of crisp asparagus were doused with lemon and topped with shavings of Manchego cheese. They were very good and refreshing.

Pan Catalan: as much as I love bread, this just did not do it for me. The toasted ciabatta slices became soggy with the tomato-garlic-thyme purée they were topped with. Meh.

Costillas Españolas: this was my favorite dish growing up. It is made with fork-tender, braised pork ribs in balsamic vinegar then broiled (or grilled). The smoky flavor from the char mixes perfectly with the saltish braising liquid and the sweetish-tartish vinegar. Loved it.

Gambas al Ajillo: is another comfort food of mine. The head-on shrimp are sauteed in butter and garlic. Eat this with a crusty baguette (and make sure you sop up the butter-garlic sauce) and you will go to food heaven.

Overall a good place to try a variety of Spanish tapas. Prices are very reasonable.

Insider tip:
If you can’t book your desired time through Open Table, just give them a call and make your reservations by phone.
Located a few feet away from Cafe Intermezzo.

The scoop:
Eclipse di Luna
4505 Ashford Dunwoody Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30346
(678) 205-5862

Technorati Tags: tapas, Perimeter mall, Dunwoody

My best friend and I couldn’t decide where to meet for lunch today — it was either Food 101, Joey D’s or Seasons 52. I wanted to go to Alon’s afterwards so we decided to go to Seasons 52. We came in at 11:30am and the place was practically empty. Fifteen minutes later and there’s not a single table available. It got considerably louder, too.

For some reason, the decor and ambiance reminded me so much of PF Chang’s (which I absolutely hate). Lots of dark wood, contemporary lighting, cozy booths, a huge open kitchen, a very wide bar, and a cool patio. Even the clientèle is so PF Chang’s. But it does have that casual, fine dining appeal.

Seasons 52 offers a healthy take on fine dining. Using the freshest, local ingredients the entire year round (hence, the name), every single item on the menu is less than 475 calories. At that count, I was thinking of tiny, matchbox-sized entrees. They also pride on not using butter, oil, or cream. Hmmm, does that mean no taste, either?

We started out with an order of Rosemary and Parmesan Cheese Crispbread. I love the presentation of this simple appetizer. It consisted of strips of flatbread baked crispy and chewy. A great starter that won’t get you too full.

My friend Mark had the Turkey Portabello Burger. The soft bun was full-sized and had a third of a pound of ground turkey burger then topped with cheese and a slice of portabello mushroom. Clearly one of the best turkey burgers in Atlanta. It came with a side salad with crisp greens and a dousing of vinaigrette dressing. It was a good lunch option and quite hard to believe it’s all under 500 calories.

I wasn’t feeling too hungry so I went with the Oak-Grilled Chicken Citron with pearl pasta, a trio of green vegetables and thyme-shallot reduction. I was surprised with the size of this entree and could not believe (again) that it was only 475 calories! It had a whole chicken breast that was quite big. It was marinated in nothing but lemon juice then grilled over an open fire. It was juicy and tender. I was told that the pearl pasta is the most popular side in the restaurant and I can see why. It was quite inventive! You have these tiny balls of pasta infused with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and parsley. It was so good. My only complaint (about this dish) is that since they don’t use butter, oil, or cream, the only flavors they can really play with are just salty and sour. It was evident that those were the only two flavors they used on my entree. After a while, I got tired of it and really took an effort on my part to finish it all.

We decided not to get any dessert since I’m not a big fan of dessert and I am already so tired of Seasons 52’s offerings. I’ve tasted all their dessert on previous events (Chocolate!, Taste of Atlanta, and Toast of the Town). Plus, we were hitting Alon’s afterwards anyway so we decided to pass.

Overall, I like Seasons 52. I like their concept. It was amazing to see inventive dishes presented so imaginatively and all for under 500 calories. Not only that, they were regular-sized, too. Service is attentive and friendly, and the entire staff is so knowledgeable about their food. Definitely a good choice, not only for the health-conscious, but for any foodie as well.

Insider tip:
Main entrees average $15, apps start at $3.50, flatbreads at $9.75. Lunch crowd starts at 11:45am.
Located right across Dillard’s, next to Wildfire.

The scoop:
Seasons 52
By the Perimeter Mall
90 Perimeter Center West
Dunwoody, GA 30346
Phone: (770) 671-0052

On Peachtree at W Paces
3050 Peachtree Rd., NW
Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: (404) 846-1552

Monday-Friday:
Lunch: 11:00AM - 2:30PM
Dinner: 5:00PM - 10:00PM
Saturday:
Open 11:00AM - 11:00PM
Sunday:
Open 11:00AM - 10:00PM

Technorati Tags: Seasons 52, American Cuisine, healthy eating, Dunwoody, Perimeter Mall, Buckhead, under 500 calories