Want to learn a little basic Japanese? Learn Ichiyo-style flower arranging or bonsai basics? Make a paper lantern or try your hand at origami with the kids? How about a little Karaoke? Or, would you like to watch an urban kimono fashion show? Learn to make a kite, or some sumi-e (ink painting) basics or take a workshop about the Art and Joy of Sake??
There’s a little something for everyone… And, even if you don’t feel artistic and creative there’s always the music and food…
Haru Ichiban, Nakato Restaurant, Suno Dessert, Sushi Niko Niko, Sushi Yoko, and Taka Sushi & Passion will each be offering tasty bites in the Japanese Food Court.
Tickets are $8 per person at the door… cash only! (Children 6 years old and younger are free)
The Setting: Ultra Casual… El Norteno on Jimmy Carter Blvd. appears to be housed in an older building that was a Pizza Hut in a previous life.
The Staff: Friendly and helpful
The Food: The menu offers a wide assortment of casual Mexican fare… burritos, fajitas, enchiladas, and grilled meats. And, the Pollo Asada (Charcoal-grilled chicken) in particular is a real stand out. Generously sprinkled with an adobo spice blend and then grilled to perfection. We’ve visited both locations (Jimmy Carter Blvd. and Buford Hwy.)on a number of occasions. On every visit, the chicken has been grilled beautifully with just a bit of char on the outside and moist on the inside.
The presentation is simple. The grilled chicken is piled high on one side of the plate, while shredded lettuce topped with a tomato slice and re-fried beans fill the rest of the plate. Since I’m not a huge fan of refried beans, they happily substituted a giant mound of fries. The fries offer the added benefit of being a great way to sop up one of their many sauces. Not that you need one, the tortilla chips and salsas are offered up on a small salsa bar… to take as you please. The green salsa with a generous dose of jalapenos and the chipotle salsa are both noteworthy. The chipotle salsa, in particular, offers a well-balanced blend of spice, smoky chipotle and crema.
El Norteno’s gaucamole is also worth mentioning. Large avocado chunks are combined with finely diced onion, tomato and just a hint of cilantro… Yum! My preference has always been for the chunkier versions of guacamole and El Norteno’s version fits the bill.
The Star of the Day: Pollo Asada (Charcoal-grilled chicken)
El Norteno Mexican Restaurant
5528 Jimmy Carter Blvd.
Norcross, GA 30093
678 646 0365
The Setting: Sushi Yoko is housed in an interesting building. A small door opens to a long hallway. At the end of the hallway, Sushi Yoko is off to the right and Tomato is off to the left. Two cloth banners mark the entrance and set the mood. This restaurant is a great example of dependable sushi in a casual atmosphere.
The Staff: Incredibly polite, helpful and attentive
The Food: All the ususal suspects are present here… ikura (salmon roe), hotate (scallop), masago (smelt roe), salmon (sake), toro (fatty tuna), sea urchin (uni), ebi (shrimp), spider roll, spicy tuna roll, and a special eel roll. They also offer sushi bowls. The Umai Don is a favorite. This bowl of sushi rice is topped with sea urchin, tuna and salmon roe.
This is not a place to offer dozens of specialty rolls. This is a place to enjoy traditional sushi. Or, one of their many offerings of traditional Japanese cuisine, cold salads, tempura, assorted rice bowls, hearty soups, and noodles. And, an assortment of sakes… both chilled and warm. I’m eager to try one of their broiled fish dishes… next time.
After you’ve enjoyed a good meal, wander out of Sushi Yoko and into Tomato across the hall. A small specialty shop featuring a vast assortment of prepared and packaged goods. And, a ton of Japanese snacks! This is a great place to pick up a few items that will tide you over til your next visit.
The Stars of the Day: Oshinko (pickled assorted vegetables), Chuka Wakame (cold seaweed salad), and sushi. My favorites have always included salmon, salmon roe and scallop.
Oktoberfest at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
Festivities begin at 3pm today and continue until 8pm… it is a church after all.
Trey Parker’s Cannibal can be summed up in a few words… “a horrific-ly hilarious account of survival including love, loss, singing, dancing, and of course…a little flesh-eating!”
Directed by George Faughnan
Featuring: Jon Carr, Joe Cerniglia, Gabriel Dean, Jessie Dougherty-Dean, Doug Graham, Kevin Huey, Matt Lewis, Stephen Platinum, Clint Sowell, & Steven Westdahl
And, here’s my favorite part of the synopsis…
* Please note: Cannibal! The Musical contains horrific violence, gore, blood, nudity, offensive language, live gunshots, water, & strobe lights. If you are easily offended, get out while you still can!
I’m sold! What about you?
Cannibal! The Musical: Performances at Dad’s Garage begin Sept. 18, 2008 and continue thru Oct. 18, 2008.
Dad’s Garage
280 Elizabeth Street, Suite C-101
Atlanta, GA
This weekend 200 photographers, potters, sculptors, painters, glass blowers, leather craftsmen, metal craftsman, multi media artists, jewelers, graphic artists and other craftsmen will be showing their art at Piedmont Park for the Atlanta Arts Festival.
Here are some of the highlights…
- An artists market with 200 artists from around the country
- Raku Pottery Firing Demonstration by Odell Pottery Studio
- Performances at the Acoustic Cafe and Beer Garden
Saturday:
Steve Monce 10am – 12pm
Billy Flopquaski 12pm – 2pm
Alan Yates 2pm – 4pm
Nic Cowan 4pm – 6pm
Critty Upchurch 6pm – 7pm
Sunday:
Amy Gerhartz 10am -12pm
Todd Wells 12pm – 2pm
Josh Ray 2pm – 4pm
Francisco Vidal and Friends 4pm – 6pm
- Musicians located throughout the festival
-The high energy and groovy beats of bucket drummer Chris Harris
-The unique musical styling of Andean group Mystic Warriors
-Celtic Harp and Flutist Lisa Lynne and George Tortorelli
- “Dirty Car Artist” Scott Wade producing astoundingly detailed and shaded drawings in the dust on the windows of a car!
- An assortment of festival food
- Plus other surprise street performers located throughout the park
Atlanta Arts Festival at Piedmont Park
• Friday, Sept. 12, 2008
4pm – 8pm
Free to the Public
• Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008
10am – 7pm
Free to the Public
• Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008
10am – 6pm
Free to the Public
The Setting: This is a huge restaurant with plenty of bar seating, gigantic booths and high top tables. A couple pool tables and game machines make the casual bar atmosphere complete. Oh yeah, they also have close to two dozen televisions broadcasting every sport known to man.
The Staff: Friendly and tolerant of the occasionally boisterous sports fan
The Food: Ale House has a large and varied menu. Most of the selections are better than average. The standouts include beer battered onion rings, conch fritters, an incredibly generous fish & chips, any one of the burgers, sliders with grilled onions, a great fish sandwich, raw bar (offering clams on the half shell….one of my favorites… in addition to the standard raw oysters), and an insanely large “35 shrimp”. The 35 shrimp offer the option of 35 fried shrimp or 35 shrimp sauteed with garlic and served over pasta.
For dessert, they offer a large wedge of ice cream cake with oreo cookie crust and drizzled with chocolate sauce or a peanut butter version with nutter butter cookies. YUM!!
Stars of the Day: Beer battered onion rings, fish & chips and your beer of choice. They have close to 75 varieties of beer and a full bar.
Miller’s Ale House is an all-time favorite of ours. We’ve been frequenting at least one of their various locations for over ten years. They offer locations all over Florida and we’ve never been disappointed with them. They’re also open late… another bonus. The comfortable, casual and laid-back atmosphere keep us coming back every time we feel a hint of nostalgia for Florida. Now, if only they’d offer a location closer to Atlanta…
Miller’s Ale House — Alpharetta Ale House
10750 Davis Drive
Alpharetta, GA 30004
678 277-2581
Who: Tiger Mountain Vineyards and Chefs Joe Truex and Mihoku Obunai of re’past
What: Harvest Dinner
When: September 20, 2008
Where: Tiger Mountain Vineyards
Why: To savor good food, wine, company and scenic views… all the while supporting two local chefs and locally grown produce of quality. A tour of the vineyard and orchards will be followed by a 5 course dinner served with reserve wines in the “Party Barn” at Tiger Mountain Vineyards. Compare old world wines with the wine of locally grown grapes.
How Much: $150 including tax and gratuities for a 5 course dinner with wine pairings
For More Information: www.tastenetwork.org
Mercado Del Pueblo… It’s proving to be my favorite find of the year. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving. After a lunchtime visit to Buford Hwy a few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to wander into this delightful market. My search for a fresh loaf of bread was rewarded tenfold. I found a bounty of delectable treats. Fresh baked bread, pastries, many varieties of chorizo, chilis, a fufu flour blend, and a vast butcher’s counter are just a few of my favorites.
This weekend’s visit offered a chance to sample a new assortment of pastries. We found strawberry tarts, apple tarts, and guava filled cookies. All tasty, but, the pastry of the day was the cream cheese and guava pastry. We stashed our huge bag of assorted pastries in our basket, and noticed the price… Just $6! Amazing! Among the selection, which amounted to a huge breakfast platter, there was not a single dud in the bunch.
The bounty of pastries would have made this trip a success on its own. But, as we were heading for the checkout, we noticed a large refridgerated counter filled with assorted types of crema. Three or four types of crema were stacked high filling almost the entire section. We couldn’t resist the Crema Salvadorena. The distinctively rich color and dense texture left no doubt in our minds that this crema would be the focal point for several meals to come. Sure enough, it was. And, still is… It will find itself prominently topping a much anticipated enchiladas rojas on tonight’s menu!
Latest Food Find: Crema Salvadorena — This rich, dense and almost buttery Salvadoran crema (to call it sour cream would be an insult) might just be the best I’ve ever tasted.
Mercado Del Pueblo
3317 Buford Hwy. NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
404 633 1188
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