Championship Loaf
Dotted with whole grain, this championship loaf from the Little European Bakery provides a solid foundation for cheeses, spreads and small open-faced sandwiches. The crust provides a nice crisp bite while the interior is rich with lovely nutty grain flavors. Full of cracked wheat and rolled oats, this bread is divine toasted.
This bakery shows its originality with a lineup of rustic European breads, including dense, rich Bavarian style breads. My favorite is their version of bauernbrot. A farmer’s loaf made with portions of white and rye flour, they’re version is a bit heavier and clunkier than the loaves I’ve tasted in Europe. But, they’re a decent substitute. Outside of Europe, I’ve only seen this loaf made properly in New York City. I hope this changes some day soon.
Little European Bakery
334 Sandy Springs Circle
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
404 255 8200
 Marinara
This simple pizza with marinara and anchovies demonstrated the high quality of ingredients used at Antico. Delicately sweet tomatoes melt beautifully into the dough, playing off the saltiness of the anchovies. It’s a beautiful thing. And, these aren’t just any old anchovies. These white anchovies are supremely delicate & smooth. The simplicity of this pie teeters close to perfection. We love the thick rim of beautifully charred crust that holds a whispery hint of bitterness from the wood burning fire.
San Gennaro
We first sampled the San Gennaro over a month ago, and it was definitely a case of love at first bite. Once again, the quality of ingredients is evident. Lush, sweet, & briny red peppers caramelize beautifully under the high heat fire. And, rich bites of sausage add pure indulgence. Divine!
We’re having trouble sampling the other pies. We intend to order a different pie on every visit. But, we end up ordering the San Gennaro again and again. We’ll just have to keep trying.
Antico Pizza
1093 Hemphill Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30318
404 724 2333
Dark Chocolate Covered Nutter Butter… Genius!
With an interesting assortment of nuts, chocolate, truffles, fudge, snack food and random chocolate covered treats (like marshmallows, pretzels, potato chips & cookies), we really enjoyed our handful of purchases. The dark chocolate covered raisins and sweet & spice pecans are de-lish!
Green’s Fine Foods
141 East Trinity Place
Decatur, Georgia 30030
404 378 2001
French Toast Bagel
I know… I know bagels should be savory. No sweet toppings… it’s not traditional! Whatever. This mildly sweet bagel with the taste of maple syrup and cinnamon crumbs is divine! Just toast, butter and serve. What a perfect breakfast! I am officially ignoring the no sweet bagel mandate… now and for all time!
Poppyseed Bagel BLT — Look at those lovely air bubbles! Yum!
Everything Bagel — near perfect, but, they’re a bit skimpy with the cream cheese
We also sampled the blueberry, poppy, everything, and plain. YUM! Each bagel was the perfect combination of tender & chewy with a full-flavored rich dough. The only complaint… if you don’t get there early your favorite flavor might be gone!
Essex Bagels & Deli
11030 Bell Road, Suite 160
Johns Creek, GA 30097
770 476 8214
 Peanut Butter Cup
S’more
Chocolate Crunch
Chocolate Berry Fritter
The doughnuts at Sublime are extremely light and fluffy. They have very little substance under the glazes and candy crumbs. The yeasted doughnuts are rather mild… bordering on bland. Sugary glazes and crumbled candy toppings account for most of the flavor. If you’re a fan of Nestle and Hershey’s products, Sublime Doughnuts are for you!
Sublime Doughnuts
535 10th St NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
404 897 1801
Special Madras Coffee
This coffee is utterly delightful. Rich & creamy with a delicate hint of cardamom, it’s a perfect way to start or end any meal.
Mixed Vegetable Parotta, Vegetable Bonda and Kara Dosa
This lineup could easily be called a “Best Hits List” of Saravanaa Bhavan. But, honestly, the same could be said for most of the menu. We’ve loved this restaurant from day one. And, they’ve maintained our interest for years.
Mixed Vegetable Parotta
This mix of finely sliced peppers, onions, carrots, parotta and chickpeas are blended with a mildly spiced sauce. It is suprisingly addictive. Considering my fondness for the spicier options, it’s shocking how often I opt for this comforting alternative.
Vegetable Bonda
A ball of starchy goodness wrapped in a turmeric-laden batter… then deep fried. What’s not to love? We order this on almost every visit.
Kara Dosa
We love the complex blend of spices filling this dosa. Starches are a sponge for spice. They’re a wonderful canvas for the rich fiery spices in this dish. The kitchen uses a skillful hand to maintain the unique layers of flavor that work in harmony, never allowing the heat to mask more delicate flavors. Perfectly spiced for our taste, some might find it on the high end of their spice tolerance.
Vegetable Bonda filled with smashed potatoes, lentils, chopped onion and peas
Saravanaa Bhavan
2179 Lawrenceville Highway
Decatur, GA 30033
404 636 4400
This is probably the best zombie movie since Shaun of the Dead. ‘Nuff said.
… as if I need another reason to hate clowns.
Zombieland
Eggplant & Ricotta
Tender eggplant and mounds of ricotta work beautifully on this wood-fired pizza. The touch of smoke lends a nice bit of flavor. But, I always seem to wish they’d leave the pizzas in for an extra moment or two.
Green Apple, Gorgonzola, Walnuts & Honey
Paper thin slices of green apple, gorgonzola and walnuts are a winning combination. And, we love the option of adding our own drizzle of honey. We love to apply just the tiniest drizzle for a perfect finishing touch. The faint hint of bitterness from the smoky fire highlights the buttery honey to perfection.
Shorty’s Pizza
3704 Lawrenceville Highway
Tucker, Georgia 30084
770 414 6999
Perfectly crisp sweet potato fries with tender, creamy interior
This burger is topped with a fried egg, red & green peppers and onion marmalade
Served on a whole wheat bun, this burger is close to perfect. The only complaint? The onion marmalade is listed as “caramelized onion marmalade” on the menu. I don’t know why. I didn’t see or taste anything that resembled caramelized onions in this chunky sauce. No matter, it was still quite tasty. Sweet and acidic with the onions maintaining a nice crunch, it was the perfect finishing touch.
Another egg topped burger, this time with baby greens and cranberries
My honey loves to order this unsual combination. And, no matter how many times I taste it, I’m surprised by the harmony of flavors. The cranberries play off the peppercorn steak sauce beautifully. Love it!
The Counter
850 Mansell Road
Roswell, GA 30076
678 461 9661
For those with kids, the pony rides will be the highlight of this unusual market. The flea market has two sections. One section (indoor) with new to newish goods. Dollar store finds, clothing, jewelry, and other random items sold by those renting the indoor space. The outdoor section is a collection of used garage sale items. We saw everything from toilets to stereo speakers to a battered banjo.
The food court was wrapping it up for the day. So, I can’t vouch for the food. But, a Mexican band was drawing a crowd. And, The Nutty Bavarian had a stand offering my favorite… candied cinnamon cashews.
Pendergrass Flea Market
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