The Setting: A new brick building with a clean, bright interior. Robin’s egg blue walls and silver chairs add to the light and airy feel of the place.
The Staff: Friendly
The Food: This might just be my favorite burger in Atlanta. You custom build your own burger.
- Choose beef, turkey, veggie, or chicken.
- Choose the size of your burger (But, you’d better be hungry if you order anything larger than 1/3 lb, which is their smallest size… The 2/3 lb burger is huge!… I can’t even imagine the 1lber).
- Now on to the fun stuff… Cheese? Choose blue cheese, feta, gruyere, herbed goat cheese spread, horseradish cheddar, imported swiss, jalapeno jack, sharp provolone, tillamook cheddar, or american.
- Choose 4 toppings: red onion, black olives, carrot sticks, dill pickles, dried cranberries, grilled onions, grilled pineapple, hard boiled eggs, jalapenos, lettuce, mixed baby greens, roasted chilies, roasted corn & black bean salsa, roasted red peppers, scallions, spicy pepperoncinis, sprouts, or tomatoes.
- Want a premium topping for an extra $1 each? Choose avocado, black forest ham, chili, fried egg, fried onion strings, homemade guacamole, honey cured bacon, sauteed mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes or a topping of the month.
- Choose one of 18 sauces.
- And, finally, choose one of their artisan buns: English muffin, hamburger bun, or honey wheat bun.
Their meat is 100% freshly ground (never frozen) beef raised on a vegetarian diet free from hormones and antibiotics. And, the weight of the burger reflects weight after cooking. This is not a small burger.
Oh yeah, and their sweet potato fries are outstanding!!
Is this upscale fast food? Not quite… It’s a casual restaurant that specializes in burgers. We’ve visited their Denver location, as well. And, the food is incredibly consistent at both locations. Every burger we’ve ordered has been cooked to perfection… charred nicely on the outside and medium on the inside.
Stars of the Day: Sweet potato fries and one of the best burgers in Atlanta!
The Counter
850 Mansell Road
Roswell, GA 30076
678 461 9661
The Setting: Palomilla’sGrill House is a cozy little restaurant set inside a fairly generic strip mall.
The Staff: Friendly and attentive
The Food: Palomilla’s dishes up simple Cuban food. And, it is everything that it should be. All of the favorites are represented on their menu. Vaca Frita, Ropa Vieja, Picadillo, Bistec de Palomilla, Bistec Empanizado, Boliche, Lechon Asado, and Bistec de Pollo Empanizado are just a sampling of what they offer. But, my personal favorite is the Masas de Cerdo. Marinated chunks of tender pork are deep fried and topped with sauteed onions and mojo.
The food is quite good. But, there are a few improvements that could be made. One of my complaints would be the fact that the onions garnishing many of the dishes appear stewed rather than truly sauteed. Another complaint would be the hit and miss nature of the fried sweet plantains (Platano Maduros). Mine were undercooked, while my dining companions were cooked to perfection. And, finally, the mojo itself appears a bit tamed down for the masses. It is tasty none-the-less. But, a stronger dose of fresh garlic and bitter orange would greatly enhance their sauce.
Stars of the Day: Masas de Cerdo and Medianoche… The Medianoche is noteworthy due to the use of their own roasted pork (shredded) for the sandwich.
Palomilla’s Grill House
6470 Spalding Drive, Suite B
Norcross, GA 30092
770 242 0078
Tutankhamun — The Golden King and The Great Pharaohs
November 15, 2008 – May 25, 2009
The exhibition features 50 objects from the tomb of Tutankhamun including the gold sandals that adorned the mummies feet and a beautifully adorned canopic jar that mummified his internal organs.
In addition to Tutankhamun, the exhibition’s artifacts highlight many of the most significant rulers of ancient Egypt such as Khefren, whose great pyramid is the only remaining structure of the seven wonders of the ancient world and Hatshepsut, the queen who became king.
For tickets and more information: KingTut.org
Ticket Prices: $16.50-$32.50 per person
Atlanta Civic Center Parking: $5 per car
Atlanta Civic Center
395 Piedmont Avenue, NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
Larry Miller will be appearing at The Punchline tonight and tomorrow (November 14-15, 2008)
For reservations and information call 404 252 5233.
Next Up: Cash Levy — November 16, 2008
Bleep Free Comedy Show with Al Ernst, Mike Godwin, & Derrick Tenant — November 18, 2008
The Punchline
280 Hilderbrand Drive
Atlanta, GA 30328
404 252 5233
The Setting: A few doors down from the Holeman & Finch Public House, you’ll find this adorable little bread shop.
The Staff: Friendly
The Food: This place can be defined in three words… Quality not Quantity. With a dozen or so options, it’s hard to find something you won’t enjoy. This is some of the best bread to be found in Atlanta. A small pastry counter and a handful of specialty food items round out this small gem. But, it’s well worth the trip.
Star of the Day: Normandy Rye… perfection!!
Holeman & Finch Bread Co.
2255 Peachtree Rd. NE — Suite H
Atlanta, GA 30309
404 350 8877
Andrew and Jill of Very Good Taste came up with this list of one hundred foods that every food loving omnivore should try at least once in their life. If you’d like to participate or share this with someone they’d like you to include the following rules.
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at http://www.verygoodtaste.co.uk/uncategorised/the-omnivores-hundred/ linking to your results.
1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns — and all things Dim Sum
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese — not a favorite
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas — YUM!
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut — STILL WARM — YUM
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58.Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine — without cheese curds
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu— I love Korean soju (especially green tea soju) and Japanese shochu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate — I love sampling single origin chocolates and specialty blends
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano — Mole Negro Oaxaqueno– Mole Verde
96. Bagel and lox
97.Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake
I have a few items I believe should be added to this list… Moutarde de Meaux Pommery mustard, moutarde Violette, stone crabs, dungeness crabs, fresh green peppercorns, brined green peppercorns, fresh green almonds, fresh cashew fruit juice, fresh tangerine juice, fresh mangosteen, icewine, kona coffee, fresh figs, and every artisan cheese available to you.
And then, there are epicurean experiences that are enhanced by location or your personal experience. Here are a few of my favorite and most meaningful:
- Nutella on freshly baked bread shared as an indulgent Saturday morning breakfast
- Chocolate chip cookies shared fresh out of the oven
- Roasted chestnuts eaten from a park bench in Central Park
- Garlic Crabs eaten on the beach in Florida
- Oysters on the half shell straight out of the Gulf eaten at a restaurant on the pier
- Cafe du Monde’s coffee and beignet eaten on Jackson Square
- A tomato eaten fresh off the vine and still warm from the sun
- A croissant eaten wandering the streets of Paris
- Boiled peanuts bought from a roadside stand and eaten at a picnic table
- Lobster Bora Bora for two at the Mai Kai
- A fried egg sandwich made just for me by the one I love
What food memories touch you?
The Setting: This small fast food chain has a handful of locations in Georgia. Very casual in style, these Jamaican meat patty shops are geared toward speedy service.
The Staff: The staff is friendly, but, if there’s a line… you better be ready to order.
The Food: Offering a number of varieties, the meat patties are half of the menu. There are a handful of other offerings. Braised oxtails, jerk chicken, and curried goat are also worth trying. But, the assortment of patties make it difficult to sample anything else… Unless you’re lucky enough to be located near one of the few shops. The assortment of meat patties include spicy beef, mild beef, chee-zee beef, curry chicken, jerk chicken, soy and vegetable. We’ve sampled the beef, spicy beef, curry chicken and jerk chicken. They’re all quite good. But, the mild beef is a bit bland for our taste. They also offer a variety of breads (including coco bread) and cake slices.
Cons: If you arrive near closing time, they’re likely to be out of several types of patties.
Stars of the Day: Jerk chicken patties and spicy beef patties
For locations, check out their website: goldenkrustbakery.com
The Setting: Situated at the rear of The Avenue at Webb Gin near a Barnes & Noble, this restaurant is a pleasantly serene break from the outdoor mall. Revolving glass door opens to two rooms,one with a bar and several oversized booths and another larger room with tables & chairs.
The Staff: Friendly and attentive
Cocktails: With a Martini & Cocktail menu we had to sample a few. The favorite of the night was the Pomegranate Martini with Fris Vodka, pomegranate juice and mango juice for sweetness. Topped with three frozen grapes on a skewer, this cocktail is a bit sweet, but, very enjoyable. The frozen grapes keep the drink icy cold. I’ve always loved this idea. Another winner is the Bonefish Martini. Vodka, champagne, a splash of cranberry juice and a hint of orange make this cocktail the perfect choice when you’re in the mood for something tart.
The Food: Bonefish grill proves the theory that chain restaurants CAN be good… actually much better than good. We’ve been fortunate enough to test a couple locations of this particular chain, both here and in Ohio. Fresh fish and seafood are flown in daily providing reliable quality. The seafood is predictably fresh, tasty and a bit eclectic in the offerings. There is a touch of Italian and Asian to spice up the American Grill and seafood formula. This idea is a perfect fit for a lot of couples like us. Where one person in the twosome enjoys a bit of variety and the other prefers to order the same thing again and again.
In the mood for something with a bit of an Asian flare? Try the Bang Bang Shrimp starter. These perfectly fried shrimp are lightly tossed in a rich, delicately spiced cream sauce and topped with finely sliced rings of green onion. We’ve ordered this particular dish on several occasions. And, the selling point is the ability of the staff to serve it up each and every time while the fried shrimp are still perfectly crisp. Even though they’re coated in sauce, every crispy bite proves that it was prepared just moments before. And a bit of whimsy is added by serving this dish with disposable wooden chopsticks.
Bonefish divides the menu into grilled fish, grilled specialties, and sauteed & baked. The grilled fish offers your choice of sauce to top your grilled fish. The grilled specialties include steaks, chicken, and a pork chop topped with Fontina & a prosciutto dotted marsala. And, the sauteed & baked section offers pasta and pan-seared fish. One of those offerings would be the Imperial Longfin. A thick filet of tilapia is topped with shrimp, scallop and crabmeat. Then, sprinkled with buttered crumbs and broiled briefly. Our fish was perfectly prepared and the side of potato gratin was rich, creamy and buttery. Another offering in this section includes the Diablo Shrimp Fettuccine. Spinach fettuccine and shrimp is doused with a creamy garlic sauce with tomatoes, capers, red onions and green chilies. The chilies add just the right amout of heat and help cut through the rich sauce.
Stars of the Day: Pomegranate Martini, Bonefish Martini, Bang Bang Shrimp & the Imperial Longfin.
Bonefish Grill
1350 Scenic Hwy. 124, Suite 200
Snellville, Georgia
678 344 8945
For additional locations, check out their website: BonefishGrill.com
HemlockFest 2008
Lumpkin Coalition’s 4th Annual HemlockFest will include three days of music, food, natural crafts vendors, and rustic living demonstrations. The natural craft vendors will include jewelry makers, wood sculptors, metal sculptors, blacksmiths, silversmiths, Native American crafters, painters in a variety of mediums, photographers, henna body artists, and face painting artists. Primitive camping will be available, but, space is very limited.
The music at the festival will be provided by 23 bands including folk, bluegrass, newgrass, blues, classic oldies, and Celtic rock.
When: November 7th, 8th, & 9th, 2008
Where: Starbridge ( Off of Hwy 52E between Dahlonega and Cleveland)
Why: All donations/proceeds from the festival will go toward advancing the hemlocks’ defense against the woolly adelgid.
The eastern and Carolina hemlock trees are dying due to a spreading infestation of the hemlock woolly adelgid, an aphid-like insect native to Asia. Hemlock stands are among the only old growth forests in the east and are of great importance to wildlife, water quality, economy, and basic quality of life.
Cost: Friday – $15 per person, Saturday – $25 per person, and Sunday – $15 per person. Or, purchase a weekend ticket for $50 per person. Students with valid ID and seniors will receive a $5 discount. Children 15 years old and under with an adult are free.
For More Information: LumpkinCoalition.Org
Starbridge
326 Starbridge Rd.
Murrayville, GA 30564
VSA Arts of Georgia’s Holiday Art Sale will be open now through December 23, 2008. Offering unique handcrafted gift items and affordable fine arts, there will be something for everyone at this great event supporting local arts and artists. VSA Arts of Georgia has a vision… supporting arts that are accessible to all.
Participating artists follow the priorities set forth by the gallery. This year’s priorities are art priced under $100, art that reflects the diversity of Atlanta, art that celebrates the many holidays of the winter season, and art that will appeal to everyone.
Some of the art available will include handmade books, journals, origami, textiles, stained glass art, handcrafted jewelry, and more. And, this year the art of Chet Allenchey, Lea Benson, Eleanor Brownfield, Paula Buford, “Copperman” (a.k.a. Barry Rogers), Katharine Hartwig Dahl, Doremy Kogure Diatta, Minna Hong, Stephany Glassing, Amy Stewart Hale, Ironhawk Forge, Sachiko Kogure, Mollie Lakin-Hayes, Judy Lynn, Karina Malfitano, Rozelle Morton-Bush, Mary Ann Robinson, Tony Smart, Byron Sokolik, and Beryl Taylor will be exhibited.
This Thursday, November 6, 2008 there will be a “Meet the Artist” reception. Open from 5:00pm-8:00pm. And, the normal buisness hours for the holiday art sale will be Monday thru Friday from 9;00am-5:00pm.
So, when you’re looking for a gift this holiday season support local art and local artists!!
VSA Arts of Georgia
Arts for All Gallery
Healey Building
57 Forsyth Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Arts for All Gallery is a program of VSA arts of Georgia, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing access to the arts for people with disabilities and those of low income. Major funding for VSA arts of Georgia is provided in part by the Fulton County Commission under the guidance of the Fulton County Arts Council; the City of Atlanta Bureau of Cultural Affairs – Office of the Mayor; and the Georgia Council for the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, through appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. VSA arts of Georgia is affiliated by VSA arts, an affiliate of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This program is made possible in part through funding provided by the national office of the VSA arts under an award from the U.S. Department of Education. However the content does not necessarily reflect the policy of the U.S. Department of Education and endorsement should not be assumed.
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