Gullah Home Cooking the Daufuskie Way
by Sallie Ann Robinson
Binding: Small paperback (8.9 x 7 x .5 inches) with 170 pages
Type of Cookbook: Regional US/Southern
Photography: Scenic b/w photography of the region, for the most part — only a small amount of food photography
Level of cooking skills required: Basic cooking skills
Contents: Numerous recipes broken down into categories (Salads, The Garden, The River, The Yard, The Woods, Rice Dishes, Quick Meals, and Breads & Sweets) heavily spiced with stories and anecdotes. The recipes are simple and pure. They are not enhanced or updated. The recipes appear to be true to their roots. And, this is refreshing in a time when celebrity chef’s are constantly trying to reinvent the wheel.
My Verdict: This cookbook is a real winner. The combination of authentic recipes, rich history, and heartfelt stories make this cookbook a mandatory for any cookbook collection.
 
Funny Games
Starring: Naomi Watts, Michael Pitt, Tim Roth, Brady Corbet, Devon Gearhart
The talented cast provide us with performances that are both accomplished and unsettling. The story itself is surprising with it’s subtle introduction to the horror that will soon unfold. And, I prepare myself for a journey into the mind of two serial killers that never begins. Yes, there is a glimpse of “A day in the life of..” But, that glimpse is far too small and narrow. It lacks any insight into the development of the two disturbed boys who would take such a path. Lacking any true insight, we are left with nothing but empty images of gratuitous brutality and gore. Even if that gore is just to the left of center stage.
I’d love to go on about nihilist ideas and philosophies. Or, maybe it’s a cautionary tale teaching us the dangers of overconsumption of a diet in gratuitous violence? But, sadly, that gives the film more credit than it deserves. The lack of meaningful dialogue proves this to be true. How can you project relevance to a character who says nothing of importance and claim that it implies something deeper in meaning or carries a hidden message?
Bagel Palace Deli and Bakery
Location:
2869 North Druid Hills Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30329
Toco Hills Shopping Center
(404) 315-9016
Setting: Casual deli that offers two rooms of tables (that are all filled on the weekend) with deli and bakery counters.
Staff: Friendly and well-versed on the lengthy menu.
The Food:
Bagels — many varieties, mostly savory with a few sweet additions like blueberry and cinnamon raisin.. All Delicious! Most noteworthy: Salt, Poppyseed,everything and pumpernickel (always sold out when we visit, but, we will keep trying!)
Bagel, Egg and Cheese Sandwich — Very generous in size, served up on one of their freshly made bagels.
Cheese Blintzes — Possibly the best I’ve ever tasted, tender crepes stuffed with an incredibly rich cheese filling… Served with fruit preserves and sour cream. YUM!
Sweet Potato Fries — soft and creamy on the inside with a crisp exterior.
Potato Latkes — crispy potato goodness with a side of applesauce and sour cream.
The Stars of the Day: Cheese Blintzes, Bagels and Potato Latkes — Possibly the best in Atlanta
The Swallow at the Hollow
Location: 1072 Green Street
Roswell, GA 30075
678 352 1975
Setting: Old fashioned cabin style restaurant that oozes charm and character.
Staff: Very Friendly
The Food:
Baby Back Ribs — Tender and delicious with a flavorful bbq sauce that doesn’t overpower
Mac and Cheese — Amazingly rich and creamy
Brunswich Stew — Good enough to compete with the ribs
Three Bean Baked Beans — tasty twist on the original
Biscuits — warm and fluffy
The Stars of the day: The Baby Back Ribs and Mac & Cheese
Roswell, Georgia 300751072 Green Street
Roswell, Georgia 30075
 
Alon’s Bakery and Market
4505 Ashford Dunwoody Rd
678 397 1781
I’ve been a fan of the original for quite some time. And, I can’t wait to try the new location. This new location across from the Perimeter Mall offers the opportunity of offering all of their original lineup plus some new surprises.
I’ll be checking out this new location…. SOON!!
Alon’s Bakery and Market
Location: 1394 North Highland Ave.
Atlanta, GA
404 872 6000 (ext. 11)
Staff: Friendly, but, a bit abrupt
The Food:
Poppy seed and Gruyere Scone — full of cheesy, buttery flavor and very tender
Poppy seed and Walnut Danish — incredibly rich and delicious
Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie — Dark chocolate flavor, but, a bit too crisp
Croissant –Perfectly crisp and flaky on the outside, tender and buttery inside
The star of the day: The Croissant — one of the best in the city
These are my picks for the Oscars. They might not win. But, in my opinion, they should win! And, yes, I have left out a number of categories. But, these are the categories that interest me this year.
For the 80th Academy Awards…
I hope the winners are:
Performance by an actor in a leading role: Daniel Day-Lewis in “There Will Be Blood”
Performance by an actor in a supporting role: Javier Bardem in “No Country for Old Men”
Performance by an actress in a leading role: Marion Cotillard in “La Vie en Rose”
Performance by an actress in a supporting role: Amy Ryan in “Gone Baby Gone”
Best animated feature film of the year: “Ratatouille”
Achievement in art direction: “Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
Art Direction: Dante Ferretti
Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
Achievement in cinematography: “There Will Be Blood” Robert Elswit
Achievement in costume design: “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” Alexandra Byrne
Achievement in directing: “There Will Be Blood” Paul Thomas Anderson
Achievement in makeup: “La Vie en Rose” Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald
Adapted screenplay: “There Will Be Blood” Written for the screen by Paul Thomas Anderson
Original screenplay: “Juno” Written by Diablo Cody
Best motion picture of the year: “There Will Be Blood”
Duck’s Cosmic Kitchen
111-D New St. Decatur, Georgia 30030
404 371 8823
Location and setting
Just off of East College Ave and New Street, black wire mesh tables and chairs are scattered around a small patch of grass and fountain. Indoor and outdoor seating is available.
Waitstaff
Friendly and well versed on the menu.
The Food
Prosciutto Sandwich — This is a heaping mound of prosciutto beautifully accompanied by sweet fig preserves. Buttery and salty prosciutto paired with just the right amount of sweet fig preserves make this sandwich a hit. And, accompanied with a creamy tomato soup decorated with baby basil leaves, it will guarantee Duck’s Cosmic Kitchen a place in our restaurant rotation.
California Pizza — An individual pizza topped with chicken, garlic and avocado. While the crust and toppings were tasty, what makes this a real success is the sweet & spicy tomato sauce.
Baked Cinnamon Donuts — In a word, YUM! This delicate muffin, shaped and glazed like a donut, was the highlight of our meal. Cinnamon and vanilla were blended perfectly, letting both flavors shine instead of compete with each other.
The Star of the Day — Baked Cinnamon Donuts
Scott Antique Market
3650 Jonesboro Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30354
Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm
Admission: $5.00 per person
Held the second weekend of every month at the Atlanta Expo Centers, this is one antique market that shouldn’t be missed. The Expo Centers will be packed with exhibitors selling everything from architectural elements to jewelry. Not all of the exhibitors sell antiques. We’ve purchased handmade pottery from the artist and newly built furniture, too. So, if you have a few hours to kill this weekend you should check it out!
Joey D’s Oak Room
1015 Crown Pointe Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30338
770 512 7063
Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri 11am-11pm, Sat 4:30pm-11pm, Sun 4:30pm-10pm
Joey D’s has been a favorite restaurant of ours for longer than I can remember. Over the years we’ve sampled almost the entire menu. You could easily close your eyes and point at a random selection and be happy with your choice. However, there are a few favorites that require mentioning. The steaks are incredibly reliable and delicious. I can’t tell you the number of times we’ve enjoyed their filet mignon. And, on every occasion it has been cooked to perfection. Just the right amount of charring on the outside makes the interior pink and warm center nearly melt in your mouth. The contrast of crisp char and tender pink meat make the perfect combination, allowing all of the flavors in the meat shine.
Another standout… New Orleans Spicy Shrimp, their interpretation of New Orleans style BBQ Shrimp, whole shrimp are sauteed in butter, wine and spices. The whole shrimp are served in a large bowl with the spicy butter sauce and a chunk of toasted french bread. It is a messy proposition, tearing the shrimp apart with your fingers and then dipping it into the butter. But, it is worth the effort. Cooking the shrimp in their shells keeps them plump and moist, while the accompanying butter sauce adds the right level of spicy heat.
Also, don’t miss the honey-butter croissants. They are freshly baked and drizzled with a honey butter glaze. These feather light croissants with their sweet glaze make an interesting start to your meal.
|
|
