Valentine’s Day Chocolates:
10 Year Tawny Port — Intense dark fruit flavors blend perfectly with the dark bittersweet chocolate. A brilliant idea that is executed well.
Blackberry Caramel — Covered in white chocolate, this blackberry caramel oozes concentrated blackberry essence with the perfect hint of caramel flavor. This is one of my favorite flavor combinations.
Grand Marnier Truffle — Dark chocolate dominates with an undertone of orange and alcohol. A tiny piece of candied orange peel adds ornamentation and a touch of bitterness.
Spicy Mango — Chili powder hides in the sweet cream filling, only making itself known as you swallow and feel the heat tickling your throat.
Salty Caramel — A delicate dose of salt highlights the sweet caramel.
Stars of the Day: 10 Year Tawny Port and Blackberry Caramel battle for first with the Grand Marnier Truffle close on their heels. Mmmmm!
The Chocolate Bar
201 West Ponce De Leon Avenue, Suite C
Decatur, GA 30030
404 378 0630
Red Rose — The floral heady aroma of red roses fill your senses with each bite. This is one of the best uses of rose syrup I’ve ever tasted. The essence of a rose is achieved with great success.
Dulce De Leche — Rich caramel, this gelato pairs beautifully with their red rose.
Coconut — Sweet coconut is the perfect flavor when you want to be reminded of the sunny tropics.
Mama Mia — Sweet cream and ginger
Paolo’s Gelato Italiano
1025 Virginia Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
404 607 0055
The Setting: Down a flight of stairs, you enter a bar with a generous number of tables & chairs and plenty of stools surrounding the bar. The restaurant seating is toward the rear. Low lighting, stone walls, wooden booths and wrought iron touches lend an old world feel.
The Staff: Friendly
The Food:
French Dip — A nice version of the sandwich, the au jus is generously seasoned.
Roasted Beet Salad — Red and yellow beets dressed with a sharp vinaigrette and topped with creamy goat cheese. A milder vinegar might be a better fit for the delicate flavor of the beets.
Parmesan Truffle Potatoes — Roasted potatoes are sliced and placed under a broiler with a shredding of parmesan cheese. Then, drizzled with truffle oil. The woodsy scent of truffles perfume the potatoes.
Highland Tap
1026 N. Highland Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30306
404 875 3673
The Best Flavors of the Day:
Millefiori — A gorgeous shade of purple, this delicate floral and fruity gelato reminds me of their violet… but, even better!
Torrencino — A creamy nougaty vanilla laced with butterscotch
Walnut — Rich and nutty… Yum!
Toffee — A deep dark toffee with bits of chocolate
Strawberry Cheesecake — Ultra rich and decadent!
Paolo’s Gelato Italiano — Winter Hours (Fri, Sat & Sun Only)
1025 Virginia Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
404 607 0055
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
ee cummings
No matter what you do, do it from the heart with love… that’s the most important thing. Here are a few of my ideas:
- Breakfast in Bed! Buy the best coffee and croissants and spend your morning in bed… or maybe the day.
- Do-it-yourself flowers! Go to Dekalb Farmer’s Market and buy all the fixings to build your own bouquet for less than $25!
- Hide love notes and chocolate around the house.
- Go wine shopping. Then, sample your bounty with a great loaf of bread, cheese, and fruit.
- Picnic in the park
- Drive into the mountains and hike one of the park trails… especially one that ends with a waterfall view.
- Make your own truffles with the best quality chocolate, a bit of cream and butter. And, then enjoy the cleanup… licking the chocolate off of one another.
- Visit Scott Antique Market and wander through the aisles… lingering over collectibles. Share memories and make new ones.
- Be playful and go to the circus! www.ringling.com
- Have a BBQ. Grill up your favorite… steak, chicken, shrimp, salmon or veggie skewers. Later, toast marshmallows and make s’mores for dessert.
- Go to a make-your-own pottery shop and paint Valentine wishes on a mug or plate.
- Go lingerie shopping and watch each other model their favorites. And, make a purchase or two if you feel inspired.
- Make body paints with melted white chocolate and food coloring. Or, buy icing in a tube at the grocery store and have fun!
- Drive to Tybee Island and spend the day walking on the beach.
- Explore unknown areas of the city and find a new restaurant to try or shops to browse through.
- Visit vintage clothing stores, used/vintage book shops & record/cd shops and make something old new again.
- Go to the zoo and watch the animals. Or, visit the aquarium and stare in wonder at the wall of glass showcasing countless fish.
- Make, paint or draw something for each other.
- Bake cupcakes and decorate with love wishes or sexy (dirty) notes.
- Make white or dark chocolate fondue and feed each other marshmallows, strawberries, blueberries, pretzels, cookies, brownie bites, or cake squares coated in chocolate (I see dark chocolate fondue in me & my honey’s future)
Or, do nothing at all! Just enjoy each other’s company. Confident in each other’s love, no purchasing is necessary.
Whatever you do, make your love known. That’s all that matters.
The Setting: Atlanta’s classic diner, it’s been serving Atlantans since 1929. ‘Nuff said.
The Staff: Friendly and attentive
The Food: It’s all good… but, some if it is REALLY good. All of the usual suspects are present here. Eggs, pancakes, omelettes, burgers (veggie, turkey and beef), sandwiches and salads are made to order. And, then there are the nightly specials. What more could you ask of a diner?
On our most recent visit, we sampled:
Burger & Fries: A standard burger dished up with a very generous portion of fries. The piping hot fries served up extra crispy can make any burger shine.
Chicken Gyro: Amazingly good! Well-seasoned chicken cubes wrapped up in a perfectly fresh flat bread and topped with super fresh lettuce, onions and tomatoes. Yum! But, what really make this gyro shine is the utterly superb Tzatziki sauce. Made with yogurt, lemon, cucumber and dill, of course. But, the addition of what I believe is some type of spicy pickled pepper puree gives this yummy sauce the perfect amount of heat and zing. Served up with the super hot and crispy fries, this is definitely what’s for dinner when I’m eating at the Majestic.
Star of the Day: The Majestic! Near and dear to our hearts, this perfect little diner is open whenever we need it… We love you Majestic Diner!!
Majestic Diner — Open 24 hours a day
1031 Ponce De Leon Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
Scott Antique Market
February 13, 14, & 15, 2009
With indoor & outdoor space and up to 2400 spaces for vendor booths, touring this antique market can be an all day affair. A huge variety of antiques, collectibles and hand made goods are sold at this diverse market. Many vendors return time and again, but, there’s always something new to see! Check it out at the Atlanta Expo Center this weekend!
Scott Antique Market
3650 Jonesboro Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30354
Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm
Admission: $5.00 per person
Dollhouse
Series Premiere: Friday — February 13, 2009 at 9:00PM
I LOVE Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the series, of course, not the horrid movie). I always have… and always will. It’s a classic series that deserves to be watched… and rewatched. So, I’m thrilled to see Dushku and Whedon reunited in this new venture.
Eliza Dushku plays Echo. A member of an underground, illegal organization that erases and implants memories at will. To join the team she had her memories erased. New memories will be falsely implanted as the need arises for each given assignment. These new memories will help her accomplish tasks and missions benefiting the secret organization’s best interest. Money and power… wild guess.
Echo as a blank slate opens up the notion of ethics and morals when you have no moral compass, no history and no future… Well, not one that you’re likely to remember.
Can Dollhouse survive the mixed reviews? …And, Friday night time slot. I’d hate to see this show die before it even gets off the ground. I’ll be watching and hoping for a hit… will you?
Dollhouse
Creator: Joss Whedon
Staring: Eliza Dushku, Amy Acker, Tahmoh Penikett, Olivia Williams, Fran Kranz, Harry Lennix, Enver Gjokaj, Dichen Lachman and Reed Diamond
In a word… phenomenal!
I’m in love with the rich, intense, and amazingly complex flavors. The first impression is the sweet malty fragrance that you inhale as you take your first sip. And, then the flavors of malt, burnt caramel, espresso, bitter hops and roasted toasty goodness swirl over your tongue. The flavors are big, bold and powerful. With each rich taste, you are compelled to take another. It is addictive and utterly drinkable. The potential for food pairings are limitless. Sweet and savory pairings are easy to see with this perfectly balanced nectar. Harmony is key… Before tasting this amazing stout, I could never have imagined enjoying the art of pairings with beverages other than wine so thoroughly.
A whole new spectrum of food and beverage pairings are now open to me. I can’t wait to experience a whole new range of flavors that I never knew existed within the world of beer.
The rich malt and burnt caramel flavors round out the bitterness of the hops. Even though the powerful flavors can be a bit overwhelming, they still flatter a huge range of foods. As a matter of fact, the strong sweet and savory mingling of caramel and malt only serve to enhance whatever food you pair with this delectable brew.
As you pour the stout into a chilled glass, a gorgeous foam begins to form. The rich brown head that forms on this beer is a pleasure to your senses, both sight and scent. Bursting bubbles release the sweet malty aroma into the air. While visually, the foam is reminiscent of an espresso’s crema. It functions to stimulate the senses with its visual and sensory appeal. Disappearing as it touches your lips, the essence of caramel evaporates in an instant as it touches your lips before the bold stout reaches your tongue. And, this stout has an almost syrupy feel in my mouth. Once again mimicking the best espresso. The word luscious springs into my mind.
Savory and luscious… Black Chocolate Stout pleases every sense of taste… texture, flavor, and aroma.
Grade: A+
Brooklyn Brewery
|
|
