Chow Down Atlanta

The much awaited return (to cooking) of David Sweeney has finally come. Today was his first day taking helm during lunch hours at Cakes&Ale Bakery. The menu is small, typical of a bakery lunch, but each dish is well-thought of, in true David Sweeney fashion, that is. Chef David is brilliant with veggies and even the non-believer non-veggie eater that I am has become a big fan.

The roasted corn soup was delicious. It was creamy yet not milky. It went down smooth and warmed your entire body. I love the texture of the coarsely puréed soup that has nutty flavors from the pumpkin seeds.

The slivers of Appenzeller cheese on a grilled baguette was delightful. The butter and pepper jelly lending a tiny bit of heat and sweet to balance the flavor of the cheese.

I really liked the smoked trout on brioche. It was similar to a seafood salad except a thousand times better. There were a lot of flaked trout meat that were bound together by the tiniest amount of mayo, just enough to hold them together. The horseradish cream , watercress and cucumbers gave this sandwich a creamy, herby taste and the necessary crunch. The dense and buttery brioche was a perfect partner. Smallish (the size of a slightly bigger slider) at $5 but the quality and taste were all worth the price tag.

But the scene-stealer (as I was told) was the big salad plate. It was ordered for the table, I had two bites, and no, I didn’t take a picture. I have to admit that I really liked it. It had lettuce, fresh corn salad, potato salad, cucumber salad, tomato-basil salad, and avocado slices. It was so refreshing, believe it or not.

Overall, an amazing spot for lunch. Expect to spend a minimum of $10, a lot more if you’re a big eater like me. My total bill for soup, two sandwiches, and a soda was $18 before tip. A little pricey for lunch but really, really worth it. So what are you waiting for? Go!

Bakery at Cakes & Ale
151 Sycamore St
Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 377-7960

Technorati Tags: Decatur, tidal, David Sweeney, lunch, bakery, bread

I’ve been craving for naan bread. So last week, I got in my car and drove up and down BuHi and Duluth in search of an Indian Restaurant that did not serve lunch buffet. I went to four. I called two. No such luck. Until my lovely friend tipped me to Tandoor.

This place is literally a hole-in-a-wall. It’s in a strip mall. It’s cafeteria style. There’s no waiter service. You go up the counter and place your order. You eat off styrofoam plates and plastic utensils. You serve yourself water from a huge plastic jug. There’s even no air conditioner. But what it lacks in ambiance and decor, it makes it up big time in food. This is the best Indian/Pakistani food in the city. I was totally impressed by the taste, quality, and value of food.

The Palak Paneer is the best version I’ve had here — much like the ones I’ve tasted in Asia. It is made with fresh spinach and paneer. It is creamy and the perfect shade of spinach-green — a welcome sight from the ubiquitous fake bright green color seen at most places. The curry is subtle but flavorful. The consistency is perfect. It is certainly delicious.

The tandoori chicken is so (finger lickin’) good — the meat is fresh, juicy, and tender then grilled perfectly. The boneless chunks of chicken in the Chicken Boti is evidently marinated for hours and the divine tamarind chutney it is served with, is a magnificent paring that provides some heat and additional contrast in flavor. The skewered leg-and-thigh in the Chicken Tikkah is also as good as the Boti. If chicken in bone is your thing, then this is for you.

The curries are all delicious. I particularly loved their Chicken Butter (Chicken Makhani). It was light yet still retained a great curry taste. The Nehari (a popular breakfast stew that is cooked for hours) is my favorite. Made of beef shank, the super tender morsels of meat are so flavorful. The stew is rich, but not so that you feel weighed down after a meal. I had my heart set out for the Goat Korma, unfortunately, they were already out.

Of course, the naan is absolutely dreamy: doughy, pillowy, buttery, charred. It took a good deal of self-control to stop after eating two (though, I could have very well eaten more). The garlic naan is equally good and doesn’t have an overpowering garlic taste as one would expect.

I am dreaming of the food (and naan) as I write this and I am already plotting my return later for lunch. Yes, it’s that good.

Insider tip:
Prices are very inexpensive (bbq items start at $4.99, curries and stews at $6.99). Three items on the menu will feed two hungry people very well.
Their Mango Lassi is the best.
Combo Platters are available daily (choice of curry, rice, and naan) and are priced from $7.99.

The scoop:
Tandoor Restaurant
279 Powers Ferry Road SE
Suite F
Marietta, GA 30067
(678) 560-2038

Technorati Tags: Indian, Pakistani, nehari, Marietta

I was really very surprised when I walked in the door. The decor screams “Midtown-Buckhead-ish” (to quote friend B). Yet the location spells nondescript strip mall in the middle of suburbia. Now occupying the spot vacated by Banaras (another good Indian restaurant which closed before I could get my post up), and just like its sister Udipi Cafe Decatur, this Duluth location offers a pure vegetarian South Indian cuisine.  Now I’m not really a big fan of vegetarian cuisine, but I found a favorite here.

The lunch menu consists of different thalis which they call Luncheon. Think of thali as a sampler platter. It’s a great way to taste most of the items on their menu. My favorite here is the Leisure Luncheon, a South Indian thali which comes with Kootu, Poriyal, Poori (fried puff bread), Rice, Rasam, Dhal, Raita, Papad, Payasam, and Pickles. All these for $7.95.

For the same price, I also get the North Indian thali which is equally delicious. It comes with a creamy Palak Paneer, Vegetable Korma, Channa Masala, Dhal, Rice, Chapatti, Rasam, Raita, Papad, and Pickles.

The carrot halwa (that came with the thalis on my last visit and is available on the menu as a dessert) was the best I’ve had. This popular dessert has the consistency of very, very thick applesauce and is made with grated carrots which is simmered in honey and butter. Here, they  include pineapple and golden raisins. Seriously, I’m already addicted.

The Paper Masala Dosa is an intimidating-looking crispy crepe made with a batter of rice and black lentils then filled with curry mashed potatoes and onions. The version here is huge — almost two feet long. The crepe is perfectly fried and the filling is a flavorful creamy curry. It is served with sambar and chutney. This makes for a good appetizer.

I love naan bread but they don’t have it available for lunch. No matter, I always get a free extra piece of chapatti every time. My meals here have always been filling and satisfying. Everything tastes delicious and they use fresh, quality ingredients.  To top it off, service is the best.

Insider tip:
Gourmet Britain provides a good description of Indian food here.
They have a nice patio for dining al fresco.

The scoop:
Udipi Cafe
3300 Peachtree Industrial Blvd
Duluth, GA 30096
(678) 584-5840

Technorati Tags: Udipi Cafe, Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Duluth, Indian food, Indian restaurant, thali