Chow Down Atlanta

Murphy’s has been a family favorite since I was a teenager. Located in the hip neighborhood of Virginia Highland, Murphy’s has been consistently good with their food and service for over 25 years. Despite having eaten here countless of times, we never tire of the food. I’ve tried almost every item on the menu and though I have my favorites (and not-so-favorites), I can honestly say you can’t go wrong with any items. My top recommendations include: Grilled Pork Chop (thick, smoked, very juicy, very flavorful but only available in the summer), Braised Beef Brisket (fall-of-the-bone tender and delicious), Shrimp and Grits (light but packed with flavor), Flash-fried Calamari (fresh and perfectly battered), and the North Georgia Trout (clean, refined taste). For brunch, try the Corned Beef Hash (the mustard gives it a kick), the Cheesy Grits (also available as a side to entrées), and the Eggs Virginia Highland (a great veggie option).

The desserts are also all good but opt for the seasonal items. Once in a while, they have this amazing Carrot cake that is so moist and insanely good. The tiny portion of Vanilla Panna Cotta has the perfect sweetness and consistency. It is part of their Trio of desserts but can be ordered a la carte for $1.50. Murphy’s also has a bakery offering freshly baked cookies, cakes, and assorted breads.

Fall is a particularly exciting time here when the famed Crispy Pork Shank makes a special repeat appearance. A massive piece of meat, it looks intimidating, to say the least. The product of many hours of cooking — flavored and tenderized by boiling, dried, then fried — the result is a super crispy outside and extremely tender inside. Believe me, you will make a favorite out of it. Vegetables available in season are included; at this time, lightly sautéed napa cabbage are available as a side. If there is one thing on the menu that you must try this Fall, this one is it. Case in point: on a recent family dinner in early December, our table of 8 ordered 8 pork shanks. Yes, it’s that good.

Scoutmob offers a 50% discount to Murphy’s. But hurry, this offer expires in a few days.

Murphy’s
997 Virginia Avenue NE,
Atlanta GA 30306
404.872.0904

Technorati Tags: Murphy’s, Concentrics Restaurant, Virginia Highland, Altanta

The line up to the Bat Pan Cave can get really long. Like, 10 minutes long. But these are what you’ll get…

The Medio Dia. $11. Tender, moist, delicious roast pork with a tease of soft pork crackling. Hammy ham. Swissy cheese. Spicy mustard. Thin, soft pineapple sub. All wrapped in a piece of banana leaf then pressed. Good? Holy sandwich, Super Pan — Yes! There’s a substantial amount of tasty meat in there. It’s so juicy, you need a bib to eat it. It’s huge, too. And it smells so good especially the green scent emanating from the heated leaf. Except… I would have loved for the bread to be just a little bit thicker. Because I love bread. And the pineapple roll they use is fantastic. Definitely a must-eat here at the Pan Cave.

Pork Belly Buns. Whoa, $10. Two smallish Asian buns that were more yeasty and cakey than airy.  It felt like they were baked instead of steamed (to withstand the heavy filling, I’m guessing). Coconutish flavor. Super thick, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth, I’ve-died-and-gone-to-pork-heaven roasted pork belly. The layers your teeth will sink into as you bite is climactic: crispy skin, fat, meat, fat meat. Glazed lightly with a sweetish-tart tamarind sauce. Spiced with sambal. Truly outstanding. I want more.

Tofu Buns. $6. Similar to the pork belly buns except less taste. Buns and tofu don”t mix. Skip it.

BBQ Rib Bolillo. Whoa, yikes, $12. A good amount of adobo-flavored pulled beef rib meat on a toasted bolillo roll. Do not, I repeat, do not forget to douse your sandwich with the orange bbq sauce. You’ll thank me for it. Delicious. And, holy messy, Super Pan!

Beef Mole Empanada. $2.  Great appetizer.  The meat filling is exceptional.

Pork Empanada. $2. Holy Pork. Enough said. The phyllo pastry is so flaky.

Expect to pay $12-15 for a filling sandwich lunch. Is the price tag worth it? Holy goodness, it is. Are there less expensive sandwich places around? Of course. Now you have one more choice. Me? I’m definitely going back to the Pan Cave.

Super Pan
1057 Blue Ridge Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 477-0379

Technorati Tags: sandwiches, Virginia-Highland, Latin

There is one thing in this world that my sister and I cannot live without: bread. It’s a childhood addiction that our parents have come to accept because they no longer question us when we literally fill our suitcases with bread from trips abroad: Japanese white bread loaf and rolls, Korean cream bread, Middle Eastern flatbreads, Eastern European bread dumplings, French bread and pastries… You get the drift. Two weeks ago, my sister sent me this picture while standing outside a store:

We were literally jumping up and down when we found out that Belly General Store is now carrying our most coveted bread of all: Poilâne bread. If you don’t already know yet, you must read what this bread is all about then you’d understand our craziness over it.

It’s a steal at only $20. And they get weekly shipments. Imagine, we no longer have to lug around 50 pounds of bread in a suitcase every time we go to Paris. We can now enjoy this chewy, yummy bread any time we fancy. Thank you Belly, we love you.

The scoop:
Belly General Store
772 N Highland Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
(404) 872-1003

Technorati Tags: Poilane, bread, French, Virginia-Highland

I love bakeries and specialty food markets. I place Star Provisions on top of my list followed by H&F Bread Company, and Alon’s Bakery. While I do believe that Star Provisions has the best baguettes in the city bar none, the ones at Alon’s are pretty good contenders. On a recent visit, I got these amazing Chocolate Chunk Pecan bites for $7.99 a pound. These are like chocolate chip cookies but on steroids. They are simply heavenly. I also got some chocolate croissants (again, Star Provisions’ croissants are better), a loaf of sourdough bread, and a slice of some chocolate cake that I forgot what it’s called (delicious, nonetheless). I also got some house-made chocolates but I couldn’t resist and finished all half a pound on my drive home.

I grabbed a quick lunch of Chicken Pesto sandwich that was really delicious. I’m not a fan of pesto but theirs is so mild and tasty. It was the first time I’ve had this sandwich and I was really impressed with it.

Alon’s is a good place to get artisan breads baked on the premises, assorted hand-made chocolates by the pound, cookies, pastries, cakes, salads, sandwiches, cheeses, and other specialty food items.

Insider tip:
There’s a coffee bar inside.

The scoop:
Alon’s Bakery and Market
North Highland: 1394 N. Highland Ave, Atlanta, GA 30306 – 404.872.6000
Park Place: 4505 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA 30346 – 678.397.1781

Technorati Tags: Alon’s Bakery And Market, Dunwoody, Highland Avenue, Perimeter, specialty market, gourmet market, bakery, lunch, sandwiches

My mom is a creature of habit and one habit she hasn’t kicked is Murphy‘s. We’ve been going to Murphy’s regularly since I was a teenager but despite of that, I, too, have not gotten tired of their food. Located in the hip neighborhood of Virginia Highland, Murphy’s has been consistently good with their food and service for 25 years. Current chef Gregg McCarthy churns out favorites such as the grilled smoked double-cut porkchops (available during brunch and at other times by request), or the rainbow trout which still keep attracting diners.

I’ve tried almost every item on the menu at Murphy’s and though I have my favorites (and not-so-favorites), I can honestly say you can’t go wrong with any items. My top recommendations include: Grilled Porkchops (very juicy, very flavorful), Crispy Beef Shank (seasonal; bold and heavenly), Shrimp and Grits (light but packed with flavor), and the North Georgia Trout (clean, refined taste). For brunch, try the Corned Beef Hash (the mustard gives it a kick) and Eggs Virginia Highland (an exciting veggie option).

More pictures on my Flickr account here.

The desserts are also all good but opt for the seasonal items. A week ago, they had this amazing Carrot cake that was so moist. It was insanely good!

Post Script: As I’m writing this, my mom calls and asks me to have lunch at Murphy’s today. She is addicted

Insider tip:

Avoid peak hours at all cost as waiting times can be as long as 2 hours. Your best bet is to come on a Sunday evening. Valet parking available.

The Scoop:
Murphy’s
997 Virginia Avenue NE, Atlanta GA 30306
404.872.0904
Very limited free parking. Valet only available during dinner. Pay parking nearby.
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:00am –10:00pm
Friday: 11:00am –midnight
Saturday: 8:00am –11:00pm Brunch served 8:00am�4:00pm
Sunday: 8:00am –10:00pm Brunch served 8:00am�4:00pm

Technorati Tags: Murphy’s, Concentrics Restaurant group, Va-Hi, brunch, Gregg McCarthy, porkchops, beef shank, Atlanta