The Lovely Scoutmob…

After a brief hiatus from Eatlanta, I return in an awakening from early nap of my evening. Glad I did, and cruised over to the Scoutmob site. My tofu two ways I whipped up earlier is now bouncing in my belly from their Wednesday installment; a quick call to my dining partner in crime (who also keeps odd hours) yields a date for nosh and libations at the highly acclaimed and un-Eatlanta-ed H. Harper Station tomorrow evening… Review and pictures to follow!

On the note of Scoutmob, the city has been abuzz about their upcoming Halloween party at the Goat Farm- Saturday October 29th… Once more information goes live, I will be abuzz on this venue as well!

Street Meat Update

On the heels of the saddening Criminal Records news, the AJC uplifted my spirits a bit today with news of the Atlanta City Counsel clearing some brush for a welcoming of food trucks around Atlanta. This has been a notorious problem for those trying to embark on the food truck scene, with a series of ridiculous hurdles set up for those without established restaurants and commercial kitchens. This is truly a subject I can get behind, but the measure is receiving some criticism for the proposed hours of closing the operation from 2 am to 5 am. Personally, I do not see the need for these extended hours; we’re not a college town, or promoting late night bar crawls (as thought drift back to the crowds surrounding JB in Athens, with his utterly delicious Polish sausages…) I’m always down for cheap and fresh lunch, add the quirkiness of coming from a truck, and not just centered around an event… home run. There are plenty of places online that you can sign up for support and further information on the food truck scene, I highly recommend the Atlanta Food Carts Blog and the Atlanta Street Foods Coalition.

Fight the Good Fight

As a born-and-raised Georgian, I have some specific memories tied to certain places in my city, and these amazing elements are the foundation for what I am and appreciate in life. A fabulous example comes in the nurturing of local and independent establishments, maintaining their unique and necessary presence in my city’s landscape. I remember our high school caravan trips well; we relished and opportunity of escaping the suburbs, mostly to dig through Atlanta record stores for the music that our outside-the-perimeter stores mostly could not support. That being said, my musical taste and what I was able to be exposed to (Napster was just beginning to come into it’s own for a bit of contextualization) were heavily influenced by the shops in Little Five. Wax’N’Facts, Full Moon, and especially Criminal Records were important, special destinations for me. This still holds true today, thinking back to all of the amazing in-stores shows I was privileged for free, the superior comic selection, and art-house DVD selection of the old Criminal are burned in my memory, and the thought of the beautiful new store (with recent exterior mural work by one of my favorite local artists) closing it’s doors is breaking my heart. If you’re local, supporter of local record stores, or just a sane minded person, please rally behind causes to save this necessary institution of Atlanta.

Welcome to the neighborhood….

Hooray for Farm Burger opening their new location! Happy holiday weekend, y’all!

Not sure if this is a positive or negative trend…

Cruising down Memorial, I have cast a curious eye to the space which formerly housed Crazy Horse and a short-lived Mexican restaurant; the building as of late has been under construction of somewhere mysterious and swanky in a rather peculiar location. Thrillist debuted some interior shots of the new tapas joint, bar ONE, in the Reynoldstown/Grant Park neighborhood, and from reading over the concept and lounge-vibe the owners are shooting for still leaves me scratching my head. Located adjacent to the mixed-review-receiving H. Harper Station (mostly food and atmosphere based; I have yet to check it out so I refrain from commenting on these elements,) I am still a bit perplexed on the selection of placement for these new (dare I say Midtown-appropriate) ventures. I get it, you’re close to the affluent Grant Park and a stone’s throw away from Inman, but these spots just seem so randomly situated. Perhaps the owners are trying to follow the Edgewood model, which is proving quite successful for that 4th Ward pocket (old apartment buildings getting renovated, exciting new concepts in restaurants and bars,) but perhaps I am trying to say that this establishment would fair better closer to Indigo Bar than isolated in a stand alone building, blocks away from Boulevard. At least H. Haper’s was placed to reinvision a train depot. I am never opposed to check any new scene out, maybe their Caribbean tapas is amazing. I’m just still scratching my head.

Still Catching Up from a Food Coma…

Another birthday has come and gone for me, with festivities spanning an entire week (you can get away with this when you’re in your twenties.) I was spoiled absolutely rotten, and dined and relaxed along one of my favorite pockets of Atlanta- Old 4th Ward and Inman Park. On my day proper, dinner was Sotto Sotto, which is always consistent and satisfying. A pro-tip for any Sotto explorer- take your after dinner coffee and conversation outside on their lovely and intimate patio, especially now that nights are starting to cool off in Atlanta.

The obvious star for my celebration was a highly anticipated, highly enjoyed dinner at Rathbun’s Steak. I do not know if disappointment is within their capacity, which is highly agreed upon over the city restaurant scene. I’ve been overjoyed by the appearance of heirloom tomatoes in the peak of their season, and all of the heavy hitters in the restaurant scene are embracing their arrival with a plethora of salads. Tomatoes are, hands-down, my favorite fruit, and I can rarely pass up an heirloom salad… So of course, my ears perked when me sever included their appearance as a salad special. Like most of what comes out of Kevin Rathbun’s kitchen, he stands shoulders above the expected and traditional route. My tomatoes were gorgeous, large, fresh, and local, the buffalo mozzarella was on point, but it was the pairing of the caramelized onions en lieu of where one typically fits basil into the tomato salad equation that pushed that salad into legendary status for me. The onions had a beautiful smoky quality to them, and when deglazed with balsamic and placed atop tomatoes and cheese, there was no way the salad could fail. I loved the crab gratin appetizer, I want to find out who provides Rathbun with his jumbo lump crab meat  and hold their frozen truck hostage- some of the best crab I’ve had so far from the ocean. The flavors were very NOLA (and how I love Old Bay,) and the presentation with the little cruet is darling. Of course, the ribeye was awesome, but one would be hard pressed to find someone who does not rant about his steaks. The char was fabulous, the mid-rare perfect, and the quality of the beef (provided by Allen’s in Chicago) is stunning. I regret not finding a dinner mate to share the dry-aged options for 2, but that just sounds like a reason to return. Soon. Very soon.

The meal was perfectly timed, with me just getting over a touch of food poisoning from what I suspect to be a cockroach control issue from a place I frequent often for lunch, and KRS soothed my weak tummy. It was a busy, busy weekend regardless, with a stop by the Summer Shade Festival on Saturday for some nice Grant Park support. Being out there reminded me how I have yet to attend the Grant Park Farmer’s Market, every Sunday from 9:30 to 3. Obviously, this is going on the docket for the upcoming weekend, so I can get in on some of the heirloom tomatoes that are floating all around town. We are also inching closer to Inman Park’s Restaurant Week, which is quite exciting to report. Some of my favorite spots, including Sotto, KR’s Steak, Parish, and Wisteria, are participating this year. With prices ranging from $15 to $35 a head depending on the featured spot, it’s the perfect opportunity to explore one of my favorite neighborhoods of Atlanta.

Birthday Weekend

Gearing down for another fabulous weekend in my beloved city. Tonight marks the launch for Elevate: Art Above Underground around Alabama and Peachtree (super close to the Five Points Station,) for a night of music, video installations, and debuting some of the new street art gracing downtown. I’m hoping to make it out before Noot d’Noot starts at 9, but of course this is after a birthday dinner at Rathbun’s Steak (luckiest cat in the world right now.) But the street art and installations will be active and casting a beam of inspired art on the city for at least two months.

My day was certainly brightened with the appearance of a King of Pops stand outside my building, and aptly timed for a light lunch in preparation for a Kevin Rathbun-inspired food coma. Oh, chocolate sea salt pop, you’re too good to me.

Burgers Little and Big

Heat aside, it was another lovely weekend in Atlanta (that being said- AUGUST ARE YOU OVER YET?) I lazed away most of my weekend, save for one work appearance Saturday night, and stuffed in some fabulous film re-screenings. I made some time in my schedule for some solid noshing, one to a place I regularly frequent and the other to a place I’ve been dying to try.

I’ll start with my tested-every-thumb-up spot for a quick sandwich, the recently re-opened under-new-management Little’s Food Store in Cabbagetown. My friends who live in the neighborhood had a running joke of the previous incarnation’s description as an “inconvenience” store, with spotty hours and trouble with health codes, but the steering of the new captains show no same signs (they’ve actually been extending their hours due to popular demand.) Walking in, the place is uber retro and maintains most of the charm of the previous establishment (started in the 1920’s to nourish the workers at the defunct Fulton Cotton Mill,) with a counter to dine at and shelves of kitchen staples to accommodate for the local crowd. The owners and chefs are always friendly, and Chef Kym is a Jersey transplant with some killer cooking chops. Their burgers are awesome (and the sliders reasonably priced at $1.50,) and made from store ground and hand-packed, grass-fed beef. They are savvy enough to endorse the huge local food movement in our fair city, and keep the cheeses and produce from in-state sources. Talking with the owner several visits ago and trying to get a grilled chicken sandwich, he quite apologetically told me that it was found out that their organic chicken producers were utilizing some inorganic methods, and they were in transition from a new farm. Absolutely everything I’ve eaten there is fabulous, from the vegan burger (blend of black eye-ed peas and garbanzos) with fresh cucumber and cilantro sauce, to the delicious warm roast beef sandwich I chose Friday. Fresh baguette, beef, grilled onions, white cheddar, and horseradish mayo? Please, and thank you. It was large and hearty enough to sustain two meals for me.

It was just a beefy weekend, I guess, despite my recent reticence to dig on cow (thanks, E.Coli scare.) I was convinced when the suggestion to visit Farm Burger in Decatur was presented to me. Logging some years in Athens, I was well aware of Farm255, and enjoyed their food and regular live patio music. When I heard that the owners were branching into the Atlanta burger scene, I had to schedule some time to check our their grub. Alas, this Fulton Countier rarely makes it to Decatur, but made a special trip when making a late Sunday night decision for dinner (open until 10 on Sunday.) The menu is packed with as much local and organic as they should with the word “farm” in their name, and include a plethora of in-house accents to keep things close to home- go for the house-made pickles on your burger! Now, the burger craze has subsided somewhat, being taken over by the pizza war and posthumous hot dog take over (which I follow but do not stand behind,) and having worked in burgers, I’ve sampled plenty across the city. Hands down, best burger I’ve tasted in Atlanta (bear in mind, I have yet to have the mythic 25-made-per-night at Holeman & Finch, but it’s too gimmicky and not my style- I like consistency without an air of pretension in my restaurants.) Maybe it has to do with the high quality, grass-fed beef (hold the hormones and antibiotics in my dinner, thanks) or perhaps it was in the preparation. Perfectly seasoned, the griddle the patties are sizzled upon is well maintained, and a gorgeous crust was formed on the burger to cut into a perfect medium temperature. I highly recommend adding the  sauteed local muchrooms to the mix.

Browsing Creative Loafing’s site, I was quite excited to see this competition announced by Major Reed to design an urban farm downtown. The locavores are gaining ground, and it is monumental to see a city once notorious for it’s greasy soul food spots to take such a healthy turn, especially with an eye toward sustainability.

Yes, Another Atlanta Blog Post About Pizza….

Pizza is one of those foods that causes a great controversy (ask any displaced New Yorker, you’re bound to get some answer with unnecessary conviction .) Whether it’s the deep-dish, squared off, thick crust, thin crust, sweet sauce, white sauce argument– not even broaching the toppings debate– you’re bound to get an opinion from someone. Anyone keeping up with the recent food trends in Atlanta is well aware of the not-so-silent pizza war going on. With the opening of Antico Napoletana, the slice stations around the city certainly had to step up their game.

That being said, one of the first pizzerias to advance their bases was Fritti, the 10 year veteran restaurant of Riccardo Ullio (Sotto Sotto, Escorpion.) Having never been in before (I’ve worked in pizza and Italian for about 10 years… not the first thing I usually want dining out,) I stopped in last night for a pie and some Bravos-Giants action. I settled upon the Carciofi e Olives pie to split, and with it’s arrival felt ashamed I hadn’t wandered in this spot before. With the new ridiculously fancy oven the restaurant installed, I wish that I had sampled the previous servings as a nice comparison, but was quite happy with the product I received. Their pizzas are certified by the Associazone Verace Pizza Napoletana for added street cred, which has some pricey requirements for membership. San Marizanio D.O.P Tomatoes from the volcanic planes of Mt. Vesuvius, mozzarella di bufala Campana, and certified Neapolitan wheat flour and yeast are the starting prerequisites, along with a wood-burning oven. I like the simplicity of the pie I ordered, with artichoke hearts and Kalamata olives, but I was completely blown away by the marinara topping my pie. Tomatoes, hands down, are my favorite fruit, and I love the savory, slightly salty flavor worked into the sauce (I will shake my fist at anyone who puts sugar in their marinara.) The crust was satisfactory, but for those looking for the very crisp crust may have been a tad disappointed.

Well, off to the coffee maker, awaking at 6am and making bolognese may have not been the wisest decision….

A Stab at the Stag

I am truly loving the push of street art in the past few years over Atlanta, and the Living Walls Project has certainly been a forerunner in the advancement of that movement. This evening, I hope to make a pilgrimage around town to see what some of the artists who came into Atlanta created on the streets, here’s a map of all the places you can find their work (iffin you’re an Atlien, definitely go check out Sam Parker’s work:)

My One Eared Stag visit has come and gone, and there were some definite hits and misses to this new restaurant finding it’s feet.We arrived  on the later side not entirely famished (leftovers are a good thing.) I like their smaller, streamlined wine list, and my associate and I both dining on fish settled on a fabulous pinot gris from Frois based out of Oregon (mmmmm, Oregon wines….) The vino had such a deep smokiness mingled so nicely with the crispness expected of the grape, very satisfying. We ordered a tapas, appetizer, and entree to split- the baby artichokes, mussels in sofrito, and Mediterranean sea bass special. I enjoyed my mussels quite a bit (and goodness, did I receive a lot of them…) and found a nice balance between their sweet, light meat and the fatty sofrito sauce (which is essentially a small dice on a vegetable assortment, and almost emulsifying them into an oil.) I’ll focus on the artichokes as a strong example of what to expect with this joint… The artichokes were not a hit for me, due to the very oily preparation, but I simply adored the pairings in the dish: baby artichokes set against fresh mint and pistachio. It was a lovely introduction to the stag concept- simple, bare ingredients amalgamated in manners you would not typically imagine but with a flavor that totally makes sense. I feel that if the execution was a little stronger, the dish would have been a home run.

My dining partner decided he probably would not return, but I have yet to excommunicate the establishment (and I’ll definitely be back to Holy Taco…. I wish I was there right now.) I want to wave my Phalen flag, and see Stag take off well.  And now my stomach is a-grumblin’, I’ll hopefully upload some shots I took at One Eared Stag later today- clean, cool decorating motif.