Review Atlanta

Pumpkin Pie Donut

Pumpkin Pie Spiced Donut

So, let’s say you stop visiting a place for a very long time. You know that it’s a place that you don’t enjoy it. But, you forget exactly why. This “creme” filling was an instant reminder. They can’t call it buttercream. Why, you ask? Well, you see there’s no cream present. The unbearable density of the vegetable shortening and sugar smacked frosting “creme” was simply too unpleasant to put into words. And, let’s not even mention the way it refuses to melt in your mouth. Nah, forget that. Let’s mention it. That thick super slow melting “creme” could be the basis of a horror movie… “It lingers!” Just don’t do it.

Thanks for the unforgettable reminder, Dunkin’ Donuts!

Main Street Grill & Barbecue

Fall Colors, Always Amazing

Hurricane Falls

Suspension Bridge

It was right about here.

That’s where we started wishing that we’d eaten more than a doughnut and coffee for breakfast. When we finally made it to Main Street Grill & Barbecue (closest restaurant to Tallulah Gorge State Park) about an hour later, we were ravenous.

Fried Catfish

After one little bite, we were fighting over these gorgeous fillets.

Lightly breaded, yet super crisp and hot out of the fryer, this was some incredibly good catfish.

The pulled pork was fine. It had a nice smoky flavor. But, there was a decidedly stewed (not smoked) quality to the texture of the pork. It was the sort of texture that made us believe the smoked pork was left to stew in pot with its own juices for awhile.

It’s in a great location for hungry hikers.

Tallulah Gorge State Park

Main Street Grill & Barbecue
110 Main Street
Tallulah Falls, GA 30573
706 839 1445

Jaemor Farms

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Four large sandwich cookies for $4.99, these were soft, sweet and filled with a super sweet buttercream frosting… not a marshmallow filling. We were really hoping for marshmallow.

Pecan Hand Pies

There were hand pies with fresh fruit and dried fruit fillings. Peach and apple were available with both types of filling.

They probably won’t win any beauty contests. But, they were literally bursting with pecans. We’ll be back to try these on our next road trip.

Fresh Pecans — $4.99 Per Pound

BBQ, Too

Not a cloud in the sky, this was a great way to spend a piece of our gorgeous day.

Giant Pumpkins Everywhere

Real and inflatable, there was a wide variety of pumpkin types, color and size hiding behind every corner. If you want to pick your own in the pumpkin patch, don’t wait until the Saturday before Halloween. It was a very popular day to visit.

Hayrides, Corn Field Maze, Apple Cannon, Boiled Peanuts…

Happy Halloween!

Jaemor Farms
5340 Cornelia Highway
(Highway 365)
Alto, GA 30510

Lotus Vietnamese — Pho

Crispy Lotus Root With Salt & Pepper

These dense, crispy rounds and half rounds offer a savory richness that kept us coming back for more. We’re sure to be craving them in the very near future.

Actually, we’re up for a mini road trip right now.

Bánh Bèo Huế

We could go for more of those, too.

Herbs, Sprouts & Lime Wedges

Phở Đặc Biệt

Pho Dac Biet
(With Filet Mignon, Brisket, Flank, Soft Tendon, Tripe & Meatballs)

Here, the beef stands out vividly. Rich with flavor and meltingly tender, we devoured every tender sliver. The delicate broth added depth and dimension.

Phở Hải Sản

Shrimp, squid, fish balls, and krab(with a K) were all present.

Jasmine Tea To Finish

So many offerings, we’ve enjoyed every meal.

Lotus Vietnamese Cuisine
2550 Pleasant Hill Road
Suite 408
Duluth, GA 30096
770 622 9693

Nam Phuong — Bun Bo Hue

Canh Chua Cá
(Sour Soup with Fish)

This soup was loaded with vegetables. There was a slew of celery, a heaping bowlful of bean sprouts, oodles of okra, jalapeños, and pleasantly spicy red peppers. This bright array of vegetables brought the sweet and sour broth alive with fresh flavors. And, crispy fried pork bits add richness.

So tender, we believe the catfish was cooked gently in the steaming hot broth.

Each piece of fish was barely touched with the faintest blush of pink. Only the lightest touch was need for it to flake into tender bites.

The sweetness clearly comes from the pineapple and the juices they contribute.

Bún bò Huế

Concentrated with flavor, the saltiness of the fish sauce was dominant in a mostly good way. Sadly, the chopped herbs were a bit skimpy and limp. There was plenty of beef, blood pudding, half of a pork hock and slices of pork loaf (cha lua or gio lua). But, it was all hiding at the bottom of the bowl.

We were craving a lot more whole herb leaves and herb sprigs.

Nam Phuong Restaurant
(Nam Phuong Atlanta)
5495 Jimmy Carter Boulevard
Norcross, GA 30093
770 409 8686

I Luv Pho

Bún Bò Huế

It’s all good. From the herbs, to the onion slivers, to the beef, blood pudding, pork and pork hock, all were present in delicious abundance. And, the broth was rich and meaty with a delicate lacing of spices. We immediately contemplated a return visit. And, that’s always a good sign.

Pho Do Bien

There were generous quantities of tender squid,pork loaf slices and shrimp just below the surface of that lovely broth. It’s so full of flavor. The fresh herbs keep it bright and alive.

There are plenty of herbs and a mountain of mung bean sprouts.

There was plenty of culantro, cilantro, basil, mint, and shredded cabbage for two.

Chả Giò

We loved the sweet coconut water, too. It was loaded with 4 big slices of young, tender coconut.

I Luv Pho
5145 Buford Highway
Norcross, GA 30093
770 696 1662

Paris Baguette — Liege Waffles

Paris Baguette’s Liège Style Waffle

Liege waffles, Belgian sugar waffles, gaufrettes, gaulettes, gullets,

or …

Gaufres de Liège

Sugar waffles in the style of Liege are rich, sweet almost cookie-like waffles that are dotted with pearl sugar. This tends to cause the sugar crystals near the edges to caramelize. And, caramelized sugar teetering on the dark side makes everything better. We would’ve liked to have seen more of that caramelization on these waffles. One of our waffles was dotted with more sugar crystals than the other. You can easily guess which one of the two was better. And, these waffles were speckled with large crystals of sugar… not snowy white pearl sugar.

Large Sugar Crystal, Not Pearl Sugar

We’re really surprised that there isn’t more caramelization.

Still, these are basically griddle-fried cookie dough. So, what’s not to love?

And, on the day of our visit, we nabbed the last two. This means you’ll want to go early in the day on the weekends if you want to nab a couple, too. Life Span? Eat these on the same day that you buy them. By the second day, they lose their charm.

Feuilletés au Chocolat

Mmm, now here’s some caramelized sugar. Laminated dough filled with chocolate and covered in brûléed sugar, we’ll take that. Yes, please! More, please. We’re so sorry we only bought one. Loved it!

Paris Baguette
5252 Buford Highway NE
Doraville, GA 30340
770 455 8552

Paris Baguette — Mont Blanc

Paris Baguette’s Mont Blanc Pastry

Incredibly rich with a piping of dense chestnut paste on top and stuffed with two little roasted chestnuts under the paste, these were divine. We both love just about anything and everything with chestnuts. Yes, the chestnut paste might be just a wee touch on the too dense and crumbly side of things. This renders them slightly unattractive. But, we still love these pastries. And, we’ll definitely be back for more.

Orange & Pistachio Croissant

“Pistachio, are you sure?”

“The labelled tray and receipt both said pistachio.”

Hmm, these were quite tasty. Both were filled with a slick, slippery almond and candied orange puree. This was definitely more of a thin puree of almond and candied orange peel than a rich marzipan paste. And, the texture was extremely reminiscent of bean paste. Still tasty? Yes, but, we’d say the fragrant orange dominates. Pistachio? We sure can’t taste it.

Tomorrow:
Gaulettes!

Paris Baguette Bakery
5252 Buford Highway NE
Doraville, GA 30340
770 455 8552

Pho Dai Loi

Bún Bò Huế

Pho Dai Loi offers a version that is truly a delicious thing of beauty. The combination of rich flavors all melt together in luscious harmony.

Tender slices of beef, blood pudding, pork hock, herbs and…

Is it star anise and a hint of cinnamon??

The blood pudding was dotted with little air bubbles… so tender.

Phở Đặc Biệt

Eye round, flank steak, marble brisket, soft tendon and bible (also known as leaf) tripe, they’re all represented in seriously tender, tasty glory.

And, under all of that meat, there’s a mess of chewy noodles. We ordered medium bowls. And, both medium bowls required that we take about half of each serving home with us.