BBQ Shrimp & White Cheddar Grits with Chorizo

Crab Cake Benedict on Brioche

Another visit to Buckhead Bread Co. ends with another Corner Cafe brunch.

Buckhead Bread Co. & Corner Cafe 3070 Piedmont Road Atlanta, GA 30305 404 240 1978

Cappuccino Love

Two Locations:

Octane Westside 1009-B Marietta Street Atlanta, GA 30318 404 815 9886

Octane Grant Park Suite A5 437 Memorial Drive SE Atlanta, GA 30312

Two For The Road

Check out Dutch Monkey Doughnuts Facebook for specials…

Today, they’re offering a two for one special until 4pm if you know the secret code phrase.  (Go to facebook for the code phrase.)

The cinnamon twist showcases their delicious dough to perfection.  Just a light [...]]]>

Two For The Road

Check out Dutch Monkey Doughnuts Facebook for specials…

Today, they’re offering a two for one special until 4pm if you know the secret code phrase.  (Go to facebook for the code phrase.)

The cinnamon twist showcases their delicious dough to perfection.  Just a light glaze and streaks of cinnamon here and there to complement the rich, yeasty goodness that is the Dutch Monkey doughnut.

And, of course, that nutella twist is divine decadence to the core once again.

Don’t forget, check out their facebook page for special deals and daily doughnut creations:

Dutch Monkey Doughnuts
(Facebook)

Dutch Monkey Doughnuts
3075 Ronald Reagan Blvd.
Cumming, GA 30041
404 482 3650

The Tableside View of Georgia’s Lake Lucerne

After a hike up Stone Mountain (By the way, did you know that you’re officially a slacker if you only hike up and down once?), we discovered that the nearby Starbucks has morphed into an Alcove Coffee.  Major (Major) Improvement.

The Tableside View of Georgia’s Lake Lucerne

After a hike up Stone Mountain (By the way, did you know that you’re officially a slacker if you only hike up and down once?), we discovered that the nearby Starbucks has morphed into an Alcove Coffee.  Major (Major) Improvement.

Red Velvet Cupcake With Cream Cheese Frosting

Breakfast of Champions

Chocolate Eclair

Not great.  But, we were ravenous.  So, it’ll do.

Dancing Goat Iced Coffee

Last, but certainly not least, the coffee is Batdorf & Bronson.  This is the very reason that Alcove Coffee Shop is a significant improvement over that old Starbucks.

That Roast Date Was Within One Day Of Our Visit
(Decaf?? No, thanks.  We’ll take full-on caffeine, thank you.  Whew, that was a lucky catch.)

They offer a number of blends sold by the bag (including Dancing Goat, obviously).

Alcove Coffee
4615 Highway 78
Lilburn, GA 30087
770 979 3030

Nutella Twist

In a word… phenomenal!

To Add Another Word… Never-Ending

From doughnut to the delectable, fluffy nutella cream this is doughnut perfection.  We’re not sure what sort of black magic they summon up to create these glorious doughnuts.  But, the doughnut itself is richer, tastier, [...]]]>

Nutella Twist

In a word… phenomenal!

To Add Another Word… Never-Ending

From doughnut to the delectable, fluffy nutella cream this is doughnut perfection.  We’re not sure what sort of black magic they summon up to create these glorious doughnuts.  But, the doughnut itself is richer, tastier, and in every way more delicious than any other we’ve ever (seriously, EVER) eaten.

The beautiful golden color of this twist was the first indication that this doughnut would be something special.  It’s clearly rich with butter, eggs, or both.  And, the well-developed flavor of Dutch Monkey Doughnuts replaces that raw doughy unpleasantness that other doughnuts possess.

Chocolate Cream Pie Doughnut

Filled with bittersweet chocolate pudding and topped with sweet cream, this is another work of genius.  It would not be an exaggeration to describe these doughnuts as “peerless”.  They really are that good.

Chocolate Puddin’ On The Inside

Red Velvet Cake Doughnut with Cream Cheese Icing Mountain

The Doughnut Making Geniuses Busy At Work

Stacked Up And Ready To Go

…In Our Bellies

Look For The Baby Monkey

A world of thanks to Chloe Morris & Jennifer Zyman for finding the singlemost very BEST reason EVER to venture this deep into the burbs.

The Nutella Twist, Chocolate Cream Pie Bismarck, and Red Velvet Cake Doughnuts were daily specials.  Be sure to check out their daily specials before you visit Dutch Monkey Doughnuts.

Update:  The Nutella Twist is now a regular.

To Check Daily Specials:

Visit The Dutch Monkey Doughnuts website or facebook

Dutch Monkey Doughnuts
Suite 502
3075 Ronald Regan Blvd
Cumming, GA 30041
404 482 3650

Saffron Rock Candy & Tea

This will make a lovely accompaniment to this weekend’s morning tea… or coffee.

Earl Grey & Cardamom Sugar Crystals

Many of the teas are “buy one get one free”.  So, we did.  Also, we happily grabbed a bag of cardamom sugar [...]]]>

Saffron Rock Candy & Tea

This will make a lovely accompaniment to this weekend’s morning tea… or coffee.

Earl Grey & Cardamom Sugar Crystals

Many of the teas are “buy one get one free”.  So, we did.  Also, we happily grabbed a bag of cardamom sugar crystals and a version of chocolate hazelnut spread that we’ve never seen before.  Next time we’ll be sure to try one of the many nut blends at Shahrzad… probably one of the spicy ones.

Sadly, we completely forgot about green almonds this year.  But, next year we’ll be frequent visitors of Shahrzad in late April/early May.  Now, we have at least two green almond sources in Atlanta!

Shahrzad International
6435-A Roswell Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30328
404 257 9045

Polvorones

AKA Sprinkle Cookies…

Whether you cover these in sprinkles or dip them in powdered sugar, these crumbly sugar cookies are just plain yummy.

Apple Stuffed Cake

This simple rectangle of dense cake is stuffed with a super sweet jam-like apple filling.  It’s super rich, [...]]]>

Polvorones

AKA Sprinkle Cookies…

Whether you cover these in sprinkles or dip them in powdered sugar, these crumbly sugar cookies are just plain yummy.

Apple Stuffed Cake

This simple rectangle of dense cake is stuffed with a super sweet jam-like apple filling.  It’s super rich, delicious and very dangerous.  Each rectange is HUGE.  We shared one piece.  And, still, we almost needed to be rolled to the door.

Hojaldras

Puff Pastry… Here, it’s shaped into a ring stuffed with pineapple jam and topped with sweet shreds of coconut.  We both loved this combination of sweet coconut and pineapple jam.

This flaky pastry was filled with a thin layer of jam.  Still, it’s lovely paired with a strong cup of coffee.

Pan Dulce Relleno

A nearly foot long sugar-coated “donut” roll without the deep frying?  Love it.  Ok, sure… they’re still dipped in butter, rolled in sugar, and stuffed with strawberry jam.  But, hey, at least they aren’t deep fried.  That’s something, right?  These are a simple, yet tasty indulgence.

It’s what’s for breakfast!  These clearly won’t be making a daily appearance.  But, every once in awhile?  Why not?  At just over a dollar, these are an inexpensive treat that feels like an indulgence.  As a matter of fact, all of these treats cost just over a dollar.  That’s one bargain we’ll be happy to take advantage of again and again.

Plenty of pan dulce (or sweet bread) are available here.  One of the most commonly seen are conchas.  Conchas are rolls topped with a thick butter and sugar paste.  Sometimes, that paste may flavored with cinnamon.  Or, it might be plain or brightly colored.  The paste is then carved into decorative shapes… usually swirls or arches to give them their traditional seashell appearance.

They have puerquitos (dense gingerbread piggies), cuernos de crema (cream filled horns) and besos (the kissing cookies stuffed with jam, brushed with butter, and caked in oodles of sugar), too.

Who doesn’t love sprinkles?

What if those sprinkles coat barely sweet, buttery sugar cookies?  Just say yes.  Yes, please.  The kid in both of us can’t resist these simple sprinkle-coated, crunchy-crumbly giants.

Panaderia @ Assi
1630 Pleasant Hill Road
Duluth, GA 30096
770 921 4989

Double Zero Napoletana (ice sculpture)

00 Manhattan

Double Zero Cocktails

Birra Menabrea Amber

Affettati Pizza with Scissors for Slicing

Affettati Pizza (Lots of Light, Airy Charred Bubbles)

Pizze

Caponata di Melanzane

Double Zero Napoletana
(ice sculpture)

00 Manhattan

Double Zero Cocktails

Birra Menabrea Amber

Affettati Pizza with Scissors for Slicing

Affettati Pizza
(Lots of Light, Airy Charred Bubbles)

Pizze

Caponata di Melanzane

With Mozzarella di Bufala, Fig/Onion Agrodolce, & Tomato Basil Jam

And Wood-Grilled Rustic Bread

Double Zero Chocolate Cake

Layers of chocolate cake are iced with hazelnut almond nougatine, dark chocolate ganache and espresso creme.

(On the way out, we noticed that the next Double Zero Chocolate Cake being sliced was iced with an even darker espresso creme.  We’ll be hoping for that darker espresso creme on our next visit.)

Double Zero Napoletana
5825 Roswell Road
Atlanta, GA 30328
404 991 3666

Sugar Crusted Brioche Bun

One Brioche Bun + One Cappuccino = The Perfect Weekday Breakfast

Alon’s Bakery & Market 4505 Ashford Dunwoody Road NE Atlanta, GA 30346 678 397 1781

Einstein Bros. Pretzel Bagels

It’s been years since we’ve wandered into an Einstein Bros.  The lure of a pretzel bagel instigated a visit.  The heavily salted pretzels are quite tasty.  But, there is a doughiness to Einstein’s bagels that keeps them from being truly crave-worthy.  We also tried the pumpkin [...]]]>

Einstein Bros. Pretzel Bagels

It’s been years since we’ve wandered into an Einstein Bros.  The lure of a pretzel bagel instigated a visit.  The heavily salted pretzels are quite tasty.  But, there is a doughiness to Einstein’s bagels that keeps them from being truly crave-worthy.  We also tried the pumpkin and pumpkin crunch bagels.  They were fine in an acceptable, but, almost forgettable way.  The one memory is a heavy handed use of pumpkin pie spice that left an almost bitter aftertaste.

The selection of vigorously whipped sweet schmears resemble icing more than a cream cheese spread.  The pumpkin schmear was a dead ringer for a flavored cream cheese icing.

On the day of our visit (Sunday) they were giving away $5 off gift cards for the next visit.  So, we might give them another chance.  We’ll be hoping for a batch of pretzel bagels salted with a lighter hand.

Einstein Bros