Posts by JonathanG:
- Affordable Sustainable Seafood Choices for Your Table (wisebread.com)
Dessert for Dinner?
June 21st, 2011Yes - you read that right. Last week, I was fortunate enough to have Dessert for dinner. No, I wasn’t lazy and just ate a giant cookie from Great American Cookie Co. I actually went out, and enjoyed a plethora of fruit, dipped in chocolate fondue at Dante’s Down the Hatch.
For anyone who hasn’t been there, Dante’s is designed in the illusion of an 18th century ship. Even the outside (once you step away from the parking lot) appears like an old dock. Throughout the entire building, the feeling of sitting on a ship creates such an awe that one almost forgets that it’s in the center of Buckhead or even at a jazz club. Pictures on the wall indicate that Dante has been there for years, and a seat in the captain’s corner is only the beginning.
To order the chocolate fondue, one must make reservations 2 days in advance as they only do one a night. And even though it’s a bit pricey, you understand why once Dante visits your table.
Dante, himself, provides some excellent anecdotal evidence as to why this place is a must see in Buckhead. He explains the origins of chocolate with such enthusiasm, that you can’t help but stare at him, in awe, mouth watering as you prepare for your dessert dinner. He has a few jokes, but ultimately, you can tell he is proud of what he has been able to build - and showing no signs of retiring any time soon.
But the chocolate - it was indeed some of the best chocolate I have ever tasted. Definitely not the “crap,” as Dante put it, that you’re used to with your every day chocolate bar from the candy store.
Foreign Cuisine at it’s best
May 27th, 2011If you’re an adventurous sort and like to try new places to eat, have I got the stop for you. I would imagine that you wouldn’t be reading this blog, if you didn’t want to check out something new and different. Make sure next time your craving for something different, check out “Little Ethiopia.”
On the corner of Briarcliff and Clairmont, right near 85, there is an area of town where you can’t help but stumble into an Ethiopian eatery. My recommendation? Desta Ethiopian Kitchen. As you pull in, you can’t help but wonder if this little restaurant is a dive or find! The ambiance inside creates a very “homey” atmosphere as this place isn’t very large. But the service is friendly and is happy to answer any question you may have.
What makes this place different is that you eat with your hands. Sure, there are forks for salads -
but as I hear it (didn’t experience it for myself) even the soup and stews are eaten with Ethiopian bread called injera. We ordered plates of Tilapia and Lamb, cut into chunks, served with onions, peppers, spices, and veggies. The injera is like a thin pancake (seen rolled up in the image) that is more like naan bread than a pancake. It has a mildly sour taste, but really soaks up the juices of the dishes.
An best of all - there is currently a ScoutMob for the area. Even if you don’t go to Desta, there are plenty of Ethiopian places near by.
What’s your latest foreign cuisine find?
Sin City Specials
May 24th, 2011I love Las Vegas!! Let me reiterate. I LOVE VEGAS!! A “theme park” for adults is just the tip of the iceberg on how great of a city it is. I know, I know. This is supposed to be a blog about Atlanta, but we do have a section on “vacation spots.”
And you don’t have to love gambling, liquor, or clubs to enjoy Vegas. Though it certainly helps. Vegas is a vacation destination for everyone - and they have everything.
My theory on why Vegas is such a great attraction: It appeals to all 5 senses.
Hear: As soon as you step off the plane, you can’t help but hear it. THe “ding, ding, ding, ding, ding” of the slot machines. You are in Vegas! And that’s just the beginning. The sounds of the dealers, more slot machines, and the pay-outs falls just short of sensory overload, but it’s just a warning of what’s to come.
Smell: Whil the sense of smell is usually associated with something negative, one can’t help but notice a different type of smell in the air. Not speaking specifically about the smoke, there is clearly something that alerts your nose as soon as you walk out of the elevator and into the lobby. Rumor has it they pump oxygen into the casino’s to keep people alert and awake. Maybe they spray a little bit of perfume too.
Touch: As Anyone who has been to Vegas can tell you, as soon as you turn in your cash money, you receive a “tower” of chips. Each token you have, is another price of admission to play. Whether dice, blackjack, or craps, you are IN the game. And there is nothing more satisfying then winning, and picking up a bigger stack than you put down. Of course, if you are into poker, then you get even more
involved. Touching the cards, watching your stacks of $5 chips go to $25 chips -$25 go to $100. The sense of touch is greatly hightened, and it’s that involvement that keeps at entertained. That and maybe the hot table that doesn’t want to take your money.
Sight: I know where you think I’ll be going with this one. But we’ve talked about the casino’s already. There’s more to Vegas than gambling. And if you can break from the card games or dice games for just an evening, you will find that there are plenty of shows to go see. Magicians, Mentalists, Dancing, Acrobatics. And if you really want to, yes, there are plenty of adult themed clubs to go to.
Taste: There is nothing like the restaurants that are on the strip. Yes, you can go to an “all you can eat” buffet for $45.99, but the quality of food will not be worth what you can get if you spend a little bit more. On my last trip, we went to SushiSamaba. Not knowing what to order, we allowed our waiter to decide for us. Taking into account the seafood 
allergy at the table, our waiter quickly brought us 3 “appetizer” plates to munch on as he prepared his choices for our dinner. Little did we know that this was a theme that would continue throughout the night. New takes on Salmon Rolls (using melted mozzarella) or Spicy Tuna, including a dab of Foi Gras on top.
I love Las Vegas, and all5 of my senses are set to overload when I go. I didn’t even scratch the surface. Every time I go, I find a new hotel to walk through, a new place to eat, an interesting game to play, or even some new method to get me to buy a touristy toy or see a new show or walk into a new club. It’s also different, and always fun!
Good Ole’ Fashioned Southern Food
May 6th, 2011If you’re a fan of Dine’s, Drive-Ins, and Dives, then it’s possible that you’re familiar with one of Atlanta’s favorite southern cuisine location.
Or perhaps, you know if it simply because it has been around for almost 84 years. The Colonnade, located on Cheshire Bridge Road is one of Atlanta’s favorites for Southern Cooking.
As you pull into the parking lot, this little hut of a restaurant doesn’t look like it could fit more than 20 or so tables, but as you walk in and look to the left, the dining room is massive, fitting just under 200 people! There was not an empty seat in the entire house. And as you turn the right, a full service bar. I liked this bar because they offered complimentary chex mix as you wait. And since it was busy, it was nice to have the “bonus” snack to much on prior to ordering drinks.
As for food, think of you favorite Southern classic - they have it. Fried chicken, Pot Roast, Short Ribs, Pork Loin, Prime Rib, BBQ Salmon - the list could go on and on. And talk about the sides. Okra and Collard Greens. Baby Lima Beans and Cucumber Salad. It would be enough to just order sides for dinner - and someone in our party did just that. The portions are huge, and you’ll be happy to be taking home food for lunch the following day.
And yet, I wouldn’t put this in our “good places to eat” category just yet. The food came out between luke warm and cold. And when you order Fried Chicken and Short Ribs, you want to believe that they just came out of the fryer or oven. Also, the crowd. There is not much for diversity at this place. Even at 7:30 in the evening. It could have been due to the Cinco de Mayo parties all over the city, but this place definitely had an elder crowd to it.
I will say this - go for the rolls, stay for the Southern Classics. You won’t be disappointed.
Local Favorites still available in Va-Hi
April 18th, 2011As many of us may know, Virginia Highlands is well known for the various amount of bars in the area. But the selection of different places to eat make going to “the Highlands,” an evening affair. With places like Highland Tap, Harry and Sons, and Atkins Park, one can even eat and drink at one place and have an incredibly fun night.
Recently, there has been talk that Virginia Highlands is changing. Local eateries are not exclusive to the area. With Noche’s recent opening in Brookhaven, Taco Mac expanding from it’s original location into 27 chains (in 3 states), and the soon-to-be opening of Yeah Burger, the surrounding area is changing. And I’m not sure if the locals are happy about it.
Let me tell you, “The Highlands” aren’t changing. There are still plenty of local favorites and Goin’ Coastal is just one of them.
Goin’ Coastal is this quaint seafood restaurant caddy corner to the original Taco Mac. The menu is full of various seafood platters. For someone who lives fried shrimp platters, crab cakes, lobster bisque, and shrimp and grits, you really can’t go wrong. And for those that can’t eat seafood, they have an always changing “fresh catch.”
This Va-Hi seafood place fits with the neighborhood, as they describe themselves as a fully sustainable seafood joint. The food is either fished or farmed without compromising species’ survival or the health of the ecosystem. And their side items help make the main dishes incredible.
As someone who doesn’t eat seafood, I ordered the Rainbow Trout.
Served only one way (rubbed with their house special spice mix, grilled, and then baked for an added crisp, there was more than enough food for one person. TheCollard Greens and Jalapeno Corn Bread Pudding only helped complete this “Southern inspired” dinner. Although the Corn Bread Pudding should probably be labeled a Corn Bread Casserole.
Had there not been a Tornado Warning that night in Atlanta, we probably would have finished the evening roaming the streets, bar-hoping, and enjoying the southern spring evenings. Alas, we will have to come back another time and enjoy our “evening in the Highlands.”
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Atlanta Braves 2011
April 11th, 2011Is it still considered a memory if you keep experiencing it year after year? When the grass is freshly cut and the smell of a charcoal grill is in the air, you know it’s time for baseball. And there is nothing like going to your first game of the season after a long and cold winter.
Yes, it was only 5 months ago that I was last at Turner Field, but it’s like reuniting with an old friend. The excitement of another baseball season is pale compared to how it feels carrying your ticket stub and glove around the stadium taking in all the sensual, yet familiar, cues. The smell of the hot dogs, the taste of the beer, and the sights of another pennant hung inside the stadium.
And that’s only the beginning…
My favorite part about going to a game is walking into my section for the first time. It doesn’t matter where the seat is. Walking into the aisle, the sight of the field multiplies my excitement. The grass has never been greener. The bases?Never whiter. It is this magical experience that takes me back to being a little boy at my first game. Nothing was ever as big as that moment, and everything in the world melts away except for this moment - right there.
What excites you about a new baseball season?
It’s baseball season - Go Braves!!
Share on FacebookA weekend of wrestling
April 11th, 2011
Image via Wikipedia
Let’s get it all out now. If you’re a wrestling fan, and you went to any of the three major events that were held in Atlanta this past weekend - or even the Wrestlemania Axxess - I want to hear about your experience.
This past weekend, Atlanta hosted World Wrestling Entertainment’s Wrestlemania XXVII. The weekend included a night of wrestling Hall of Fame inductions, Wreslemania, and the aftermath of the “superbowl of wrestling,” WWE Raw. I had the opportunity to attend the Raw event, but all I heard throughout Philips Arena was how awesome Wrestlemania XXVII was the night before.
Honestly, I didn’t grow up a wrestling fan. I know the names. Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold, The Rock, Triple H. I was re-introduced to the program in college and learned of the next generation of wrestlers like John Cena and The Miz. Continuing to hear about the craziness of the night before, I was excited to see some “cameo” appearances by The Rock and Stone Cold as they became involved in current story lines.
I must admit, as I am not an avid follower, I was a little confused as to w
hat was going on and what the background has been on some of the feuds. Imagine missing a few weeks of your favorite TV show and not sure how the characters reached this pivotal point in the story arch. It was hard to follow, but entertaining nonetheless.
What always intrigues me are the fans. The people who come out in their wrestling gear, clearly favoring one wrestler over another. Shouting out things that only die-hard fans understand as they stand in line over 2 hours before the doors open. Getting their early accidently (we thought the show start at 8, but it started at 9), we were able to enjoy the Taco Mac by Philips Arena. If you haven’t been - go. Just before a Hawks game, Thrashers game, or any event at Philips. Yes, it’s just a Taco Mac. But it beats waiting in line or trying to find a table at the crowded CNN center.
So come on WWE fans, tell me what you thought about last weekend.
Share on FacebookSpring is in the air
April 1st, 2011Oh I love this time of year. Winter is gone, the Final Four is upon us, and in about 2 weeks, baseball season starts.
If you’re like me, and I hope most of you have better luck than that, you’ve already thrown away your brackets for NCAA basketball. You’re looking for something new to do, and baseball is almost here, but we still have to wait 16 more days before the Atlanta Braves have their opening day. So what’s a guy to do? Well, if you’re still following your brackets, good luck to you. If not, check out my Top 3 favorite outdoor places to visit; now that the weather is so nice.
#3 - Hudson Grille Brookhaven. Right in the heart of Brookhaven, this bar has a great outdoor seating area. With over 50 beers on tap, there is something for everyone. The outdoor patio is complete with an outdoor bar, TVs for whichever game you want to watch, and attentive staff. It makes for a great afternoon of fun, drinks, and relaxation.
#2 -Park Tavern. There is nothing this tavern won’t offer. Beers on tap, delicious food, and a seating area outside that oversees the park, how else can you imagine spending a beautiful day on the weekend? Maybe even 2. Occasionally, there may be a festival or live bands playing, but extremely worth the price of admission for an afternoon of music and beer.
# 1 - Tree House - By far, my favorite place to be when it is nice outside. A great breakfast or lunch place by day, and a bar at night. It really makes you feel like you are in a club house. Maybe not, so high as in a tree, but the decor creates an inviting and relaxing experience. AND you can bring your dog - an automatic plus. Tree House definitely incorporates everything you would want in a Saturday of hanging out with friends. Even the furry ones.
Share on FacebookRockin’ with Ruckus
March 29th, 2011I love live music. When given an option to weekend plans, I will almost always choose a band vs. a club that has a DJ or plays house music. There’s just something about live music that intensifies that urge to get on the dance floor and move.
Last weekend, I went to the Havana Club for a friend’s birthday. Now I had been there once before, and I have to say, felt very intimidated. From the outside, you wouldn’t expect the kind of atmosphere found inside. As I walked in, the number of different bars blew me away, and that was just in the front room. A friend, enthusiastically, screamed out that there were MORE rooms in the back; one having a salsa room. Yes, this buckhead club not only had a huge room with bars, private tables, and flashing lights, but it also had a salsa room and a techno room. I wouldn’t have been surprised if there were more rooms we just didn’t see. Maybe a tango room or a hip-hop room.
But, as I was saying, I prefer live music. And as fun as the salsa room could be (yes, we did venture in there for a song or two), the best thing about the Havana Club experience was the band. The Ruckus band does a great job of entertaining, but more than just that, they invite everyone onto the dance floor and seem to be having fun themselves while doing so. At first I only thought the did modern music, but as they broke out into a rock and roll
version of Tony Luc’s “Wildthing,” it was clear that their depth of music genre far exceeded my expectations.
The range of the two female singers were able to cover songs like
Usher’s “DJ Got Us Fallin” as well as Def Leppard’s ”Pour Some Sugar.” The musicians behind them were loud, rockin’, and incredibly in sync. A couple of times they would invite others to play with them. A saxophonist came up to play along to Gwen Stefani’s “Holla Back Girl.” They were so good, that during the break, when Stefani’s actual version of “Holla Back Girl” was played, no one had the desire or energy to dance.
I don’t know what it is about live music. Perhaps it’s the canned sound of a song I’ve already heard on my iPod. Perhaps it’s the energy that a performer brings onto the stage and transmits it to the audience. If you’ve seen this band, or have another favorite - let us know.
Share on FacebookBye Bye Winter Blues
February 15th, 2011I love the month of March. I know. I know. We are still in the middle of February. But March is when the weather in Atlanta gets warmer. Everyone breaks free of the hibernation mold that has existing for the last 90 days. And on a clear sunny Saturday afternoon, the Park is the place to be.
Now we were lucky enough, this past weekend, to have a midly warm weekend and sure enough - Piedmont Park was the place to be. Spiral Entertainment put on their annual OysterFest at Park Tavern, and starting at Noon, the place was busy!
With specials on bloody marys, redbull and vodka, and mojitos, as well as steamed oysters, fried oysters, and fried shrimp, OysterFest was the perfect way to spend this latest sneak preview of a warm 2011 spring. Three different bands playing all afternoon continued to make this afternoon party feel like winter was behind us.
If you missed this party, I STRONGLY urge you to buy your ticket to LuckyFest on March 12. Tickets now are only $15. If you were there on Saturday - let me know what you think!
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