Deep Fried Collards, Fried Chicken Thighs, & Creamy Cheddar Grits
I’ve always loved deep fried greens. I love the way they crunch and crumble under the most delicate bite. Then, they slowly dissolve on your tongue leaving only the pure essence of their flavor. The bitter greens are used to perfection here paired with the richness of the fried chicken & slow-cooked grits. Love it!
Crab Cakes with Frisee & Bacon
Another great example of balance. The hollandaise was surprisingly light & fresh on top of the uber-rich crab cake. And, this was no ordinary crab cake. Rich, creamy goodness binds these 3 (3!) crab cakes. (Also noteworthy… There’s a crazy amount of bacon hidden under that mountain of frisee.) What’s not to love about a salad of frisee and bacon? I could eat this dish now… and for all time.
Smoked Liverwurst with Toast
It’s not easy making liverwurst look pretty. Luckily, it’s tasty. We enjoyed this starter of smoky liverwurst with toast triangles. I don’t remember much. My honey devoured it in a hunger whirlwind. I was allowed to sample a tiny bite… and then it was gone.
Muss & Turner’s
1675 Cumberland Parkway
Smyrna, GA 30080
770 434 1114
Fried Pickles & Burger with More Pickles
The fried pickles were best hot out of the fryer. As they cooled, they got a bit soggy & the sourness became overwhelming. Meanwhile, the burger was generously loaded with more pickles than I’ve ever seen anyone put on a burger. As a matter of fact, they were overflowing onto the plate. But, the burger was properly cooked and tasty.
Task Complete. The pickle quota for the month of April has been met & exceeded.
Twisted Taco
4505 Ashford Dunwoody Road
Suite 32
Atlanta, GA 30346
770 399 0991
Blueberry – Acai Frozen Yogurt
Tasty… It’s no surprise that these flavors work well in a frozen yogurt. You won’t mistake this for ice cream. It has the distinctive sour tang of most frozen yogurts. But, it was pleasantly creamy and satisfying.
Yogen Fruz
Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf — Lo Mai Gai
Deep Fried Tofu Skins with Prawn Paste & Peanut Sauce
Sin Juk Guen (maybe?)
Shrimp & Chive Dumplings — Gow Choi Gau
Deep Fried Mochi stuffed with Pork — Ham Sui Gok
Ham Sui Gok
Pan Fried Gow Choi Gau
BBQ Pork in Pastry — Char Siu Sou
Another blurry shot of Char Siu Sou
Salt & Pepper Shrimp
Siu Mai
Steamed BBQ Pork Bun — Char Siu Baau
Two items are mandatory for dim sum: Chrysanthemum Tea and Mustard Greens (Gai Lan)
The rest is gravy.
Sadly, a few of my favorite dishes were MIA on this visit:
Steamed Scallop & Prawn Dumpling (Di Gie Gow)
Bitter Melon Stuffed with Shrimp
Steamed Pork & Peanut Dumpling (Sek Lau Mai)
China Delight
(A couple blocks off of Buford Highway)
2390 Chamblee Tucker Road
Atlanta, GA 30341
770 986 0898
Dancing Goats Blend
This has been our breakfast coffee of choice for almost 2 years. With roasting dates prominently displayed, it’s easy to find a bag that has been roasted the same day. (Or, on a bad day… within a day or two)
Dancing Goats Coffee Bar
419 West Ponce De Leon
Decatur, GA 30030
404 687 1100
Burger with lettuce, tomato & jalapenos
Nope, it’s not hiding at Five Guys. But, they do offer an above average fast food burger. With a decent assortment of free toppings, it’s nice to customize a burger to your taste. And, burgers are griddle fried to order. Fries are served in large serving sizes. So, turnover is quick. Chances are good that your fries will be fresh out of the fryer.
Another Plus:
Big boxes of salted peanuts in the shell are scattered around the dining area for nibbling while you wait for your burger.
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
We found this prettily packaged apple pie jam at Muss & Turner’s. And, we had to buy a jar. We’re looking forward to slathering it on tomorrow morning’s breakfast toast.
Where to buy:
Muss & Turner’s
or
Check out Emily G’s website
(to buy online or find a source near you)
The Dooley
What’s in one of the best pastrami sandwiches we’ve ever eaten? Romanian style pastrami, swiss, horseradish slaw and Russian dressing on a challah bun. The genius of this sandwich is the house-made (update: It’s New York State Brand) warm pastrami. It is nothing short of incredible. Each paper thin slice is buttery tender and rich with incredible flavor. Every element of this sandwich works. The richness of the pastrami and Russian dressing is cut by the bite of the horseradish slaw. And, the melty Swiss brings it all together in a way that’s almost magical.
The Bucky Goldstein
This is one huge sandwich. The Bucky Goldstein is a blend of smoked beef brisket with fried onion rings, dijon, and thin sour pickle slices in a challah bun. It definitely works, too. There is a nice blend of smoke and beef with a vinegary zing from the pickle. But, it couldn’t hold up to the pastrami. There were a few minor issues. While the beef had a lovely smoky flavor, it could be a wee more tender. And, the sauce was a bit runny. This coupled with the fact that it was applied with a heavy hand made it a bit much. The bottom bun was completely saturated with it.
Small Order of Fries
A small order of fries serves to provide two people with more than enough fries. This order was perfectly hot and crisp. We both love skin-on fries. So, we were very happy with these.
Muss & Turner’s
1675 Cumberland Parkway
Suite 309
Smyrna, GA 30080
770 434 1114
Poppy & Everything Bagels
Another batch of gorgeous bagels from Goldberg’s, their poppy seed bagels are one of my favorites. Poppy seeds smother the top and bottom of each and every bagel. I love that. And, look at all those toasty bits of garlic and sesame seeds on the everything bagel. They were just as good as they look… maybe better.
Chocolate & Prune Hamentashen
I’m always amazed when I enjoy something with prunes in it. They are quite tasty in these hamentashen. Prunes may never be my favorite dried fruit. (Does anyone have a favorite dried fruit?) But, this is one way to make them downright yummy. The dough could be a bit lighter, but, that won’t stop me from buying these again.
Location of choice: The Paces Ferry location is easily my favorite. The staff is super friendly.
Goldberg’s Bagel Company & Deli
1272 West Paces Ferry Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30327
404 266 0123
Lemon Ginger Sugar Cookie
This is my favorite cookie right now. I tend to prefer soft sugar cookies. And, this one is soft, tender & buttery. Close to perfect, this sugar cookie with a delicate use of lemon and crystalized ginger highlights the sweet buttery cookie base. Tender pieces of crystalized ginger literally melt into the cookie and add a fresh pop of flavor. These large cookies are the size of a saucer. And, for just over $1, they’re an incredible bargain. Love it!!
OK Cafe & Take-Away
1284 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta, GA 30327
404 233 2888
|
|
