2012 Travel Food Photo Update
Again at the end of 2012 I fell off the blogging wagon. I had many excellent food experiences I would love to share with you. Here is a quick and colorful recap of some of the great places and tastes I have was lucky enough to indulge in last year.
Feb 2012 A special Mexican dinner with family at Zapatas in Norcross, GA
POLLO TABASQUENO
Steak ARRACHERA
CAMARONES AL AJILLO
March 2012: Several great meals at The Old Edwards Inn, Highlands, NC
We had the pleasure of having an amazing dinner at Madisons as well as a cozy lunch on the next day.
Fantastic pulled pork sandwich!
April 2012: A fun weekend in Chicago!
Although I have been there a few times, this time I made sure to have some great food experiences. Dinners at Sepia and Blackbird (so nice I couldn't take pictures), as well as Gilt Bar and a fun foodie tour with Tastebud Tours Chicago!
June 2013: Denver Dining and Sizzling in St. Maarten
June brought alot of travel! I attended a conference in Denver having the luck to taste some great beer as well as to experience the The Kitchen! Later that month I celebrated an anniversary with a trip to the French side of St. Maarten/ St. Martin. The experience was a food paradise. We had the pleasure of small side of the road stores serving perfect baguette sandwiches to five star dining and everything in between.
Merguez sausage and lentils
Oskar Blues Tasting!
Guavaberry Colada
Curry Shrimp and Rice at Talk of the Town Lolo
Smoked Salmon at Holland House Beachfront Hotel
Fresh Pan Aux Rasin (finally)
Incredible Lagoon Front Escargot at La Cigale
Scallops at La Cigale
Grand Raspberry Macaron!
July 2012: Refreshing July 4th at the Grove Park Inn
We were back to Asheville for what is now a favorite tradition of watching the fireworks on the 4th while eating at the Sunset Terrace restaurant at the GPI. We also had a chance to sample some unique and delicious olive oils and vinegars at Tree and Vine in Biltmore Village.
August 2013: Birthday Celebrations!
For my birthday at the end of August, I chose to have dinner at my go to favorite Sotto Sotto as well as to take the day wine tasting at Frog Town Winery in North GA.
Ravioli Michelangelo
Frog Town Patio View
September 2013: Post Football Find
After one of the Tech football games we chose to try out Cardamom Hill. Since then it has, of course, earned the praise of everyone in Atlanta and beyond. Congratulations to Asha Gomez for her James Beard nomination for 2013!
Spicy Fish Curry
October 2012: New Orleans Adventure!
Read more about it in the individual posts.
November 2012: Thankful for Family
For an early Thanksgiving celebration I met my grandmother at Monteluce Winery in Dawsonville, GA for an amazing lunch.
Mushroom Soup
Smoked Salmon Appetizer
Amazing Short Rib
Not so ordinary roast chicken
Super Rich Chocolate Cake
Apple Walnut Pastry
December 2012: Holiday Date
Each year for holidays rather than big gifts we sometimes choose an experience, usually a meal, to have together. This year we chose well by enjoying the chef's tasting with wine pairing at the Woodfire Grill.
Tuna Crudo
Roasted Quail
Pork Tenderloin
Caramel Ice Cream, Chocolate Gnache and Marshmallow
Addition to Asheville
Over Thanksgiving, my parents celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary. We were together in Asheville for the holiday and chose to explore a restaurant new to town. Chestnut, from the same great folks who bring us the Corner Kitchen in Biltmore Village is another great culinary addition to downtown.
When we visited they had been open for only 1 month but they were already full of interested diners. The atmosphere is a hip, casual rustic modern look making the most of the great old building where they are housed. We were sure to make a reservation and were seated right away, although I would not have minded waiting at the bar!
We started with two great cocktails, a dirty martini featuring olives stuffed with Three Graces Dairy goat cheese (we tried to bribe the server for more) and the house version of an Old Fashioned. Both were well made and unique in flavor.
For starters we shared the lobster bisque, the beet salad, and the lobster risotto cakes. The bisque was creamy with generous amounts of lobster meat and the lobster risotto cakes where lightly fried shaped into cute pears. Each delivered in flavor and portions. We complemented our choices with the bread basket a not to be missed treat of (mostly) house made breads.
For entrees we were lucky enough to have several people at the table, so I had the joy of sampling much of the menu. The entrees proved to be substantial and flavorful. Two of my favorites were the filet and a halibut special. The halibut was light with a smooth butter sauce to complement its delicate flavor.
Although we could not hold another bite, we made room for the chocolate souffle. It was well worth loosening our top buttons.
I cannot wait to cozy up again in Chestnut's space. It is a worthy addition to downtown Asheville's restaurant scene.
When we visited they had been open for only 1 month but they were already full of interested diners. The atmosphere is a hip, casual rustic modern look making the most of the great old building where they are housed. We were sure to make a reservation and were seated right away, although I would not have minded waiting at the bar!
We started with two great cocktails, a dirty martini featuring olives stuffed with Three Graces Dairy goat cheese (we tried to bribe the server for more) and the house version of an Old Fashioned. Both were well made and unique in flavor.
For starters we shared the lobster bisque, the beet salad, and the lobster risotto cakes. The bisque was creamy with generous amounts of lobster meat and the lobster risotto cakes where lightly fried shaped into cute pears. Each delivered in flavor and portions. We complemented our choices with the bread basket a not to be missed treat of (mostly) house made breads.
For entrees we were lucky enough to have several people at the table, so I had the joy of sampling much of the menu. The entrees proved to be substantial and flavorful. Two of my favorites were the filet and a halibut special. The halibut was light with a smooth butter sauce to complement its delicate flavor.
New Orleans Finale
My last day in New Orleans I think I saved the best for last. We started off our morning with a leisurely stroll through the French Quarter to Cafe du Monde. Jackson Square was just waking up and you could smell the beingets! We snagged a table and helped ourselves to some fried goodness and strong coffee. Yes its touristy but its also fun and delicious.
For dinner we saved our appetites for Cochon. It was a meal full of southern goodness and fresh takes on classic dishes. This restaurant continues to be on top lists for this city. While it was crowded and trendy, the food was well worth the wait. We started with the house made charcutterie but for the main course stretched a little outside our normal fare and tried a whole pork shank served over boiled peanuts and an amazing melt in your mouth dish of rabbit and dumplings.
I will certainly save time and room for Cochon next time I am in NOLA.
For dinner we saved our appetites for Cochon. It was a meal full of southern goodness and fresh takes on classic dishes. This restaurant continues to be on top lists for this city. While it was crowded and trendy, the food was well worth the wait. We started with the house made charcutterie but for the main course stretched a little outside our normal fare and tried a whole pork shank served over boiled peanuts and an amazing melt in your mouth dish of rabbit and dumplings.
I will certainly save time and room for Cochon next time I am in NOLA.
New Orleans Touristy Tradition (Day 3)
Sunday we wanted to experience a New Orleans tradition, the Jazz Brunch.We chose to dine at Arnaud's. This restaurant is one of the classic style upscale restaurants in the French Quarter. This type of dining seems so out of place in the U.S. more like that of a French Bistro. New Orleans is lucky enough to have several of these old gems. The oldest being Antoine's and the most famous being Galatoire's and Commander's Palace.
I know this is marketed to tourists, but I was surprised at how much fun we had, how good the food was, and how many locals were eating along side our table. Our waiter, who had worked at Arnaud's for 18 years, was outstanding the type of waiter you rarely see anymore. This was not his job, it was his career. He was head waiter and had seen alot in his time at the restaurant. He noted most families in New Orleans only eat out at these institutions for special occasions. I can see why at this price point you can't do this every weekend. However, a huge family of locals celebrated a birthday at the next table with tons of oysters and multiple bottles of Dom Perignon!
We sat and enjoyed the atmosphere of the grand old dining room while being serenaded by a three piece jazz band. The men roamed table to table taking requests and playing old songs for the room. We had no less than 4 wait staff of various levels attending to our every need. This was a restaurant experience you dont really have anymore. The Sunday menu is pre-fix of four courses with the price determined by your entree choice. You get an appetizer, salad, entree and dessert. For our first course, we had the shrimp bisque and the classic shrimp Arnaud. The shrimp were poached and served in a spice remoulade atop a fresh tomato.
The salads featured the house dressing and were the perfect way to clean our palates and prepare for the entree. We chose the crab cakes and the savory crab meat cheesecake. The crab cakes were perfect lump crab lightly breaded and sauteed. They were a perfect balance of flavor and texture.
The cheesecake was amazing. This is one of the signature dishes. We hesitated to order concerned about being overwhelmed by the flavor or the richness, but it was more like an extremely rich quiche. The crust was light and flaky. I would have eaten two pieces!
I know this is marketed to tourists, but I was surprised at how much fun we had, how good the food was, and how many locals were eating along side our table. Our waiter, who had worked at Arnaud's for 18 years, was outstanding the type of waiter you rarely see anymore. This was not his job, it was his career. He was head waiter and had seen alot in his time at the restaurant. He noted most families in New Orleans only eat out at these institutions for special occasions. I can see why at this price point you can't do this every weekend. However, a huge family of locals celebrated a birthday at the next table with tons of oysters and multiple bottles of Dom Perignon!
We sat and enjoyed the atmosphere of the grand old dining room while being serenaded by a three piece jazz band. The men roamed table to table taking requests and playing old songs for the room. We had no less than 4 wait staff of various levels attending to our every need. This was a restaurant experience you dont really have anymore. The Sunday menu is pre-fix of four courses with the price determined by your entree choice. You get an appetizer, salad, entree and dessert. For our first course, we had the shrimp bisque and the classic shrimp Arnaud. The shrimp were poached and served in a spice remoulade atop a fresh tomato.
For dessert we couldn't help but order the bananas foster made table side old school style. This was fun to watch and melted in our mouths.
Its hard to eat here and not have a drink or two. The bar at Arnaud's is known as the French 75 Bar. We had to try one. They were great! We also took advantage of the brunch theme and had a few Bloody Marys as well. I am sure it has changed from the old days and sure it is something that lots of tourists do, but the Jazz Brunch experience is not to be missed. We spent almost three hours enjoying our drinks the music and the meal. We strolled out to roam the antique stores on Royal street with a slight champagne buzz. Now that is a perfect Sunday! Night on the Town NOLA (Day 2)
Saturday consisted of a great tour of the Garden District from Free Tours by Foot. This group all over the US allows you to take a walking tour for free. You are expected to tip the tour guide. We rounded up well past 20% of the value of a typical walking tour, all in all we still saved money. The Garden District was a long walk Saturday morning from the French Quarter, but the bus system made a short trip back to downtown. The St. Charles streetcar line was disrupted due to Super Bowl construction, but for anyone visiting this spring I highly recommend the ride!
All this walking worked up a great appetite. I had planned a nice night out. We started off our evening at the Waldorf Astoria Roosevelt Hotel. This hotel was originally built in 1893 as The Grunewald. It was taken over by the Fairmont in 1965. When it was the Grunewald it held a club called "The Cave" which is thought to be one of the first nightclubs in the US. The hotel and its bar were a place to see and be seen. During Hurricane Katrina the hotel was damaged and condemned. Not until 2009 was it purchased by the Waldorf Astoria line of hotels. It was restored to a blend of art deco grandeur including its famous nightclub and bar space now open as the Sazerac Bar. While according to our cocktail tour from Friday, the Sazerac was invented by a pharmacist whose shop was located near Galatoires in the French Quarter, this bar holds a reputation now for having one of the best in town. They offer the modern version (think Prohibition era) made with Herbsaint and Rye Whiskey as well as the original version featuring 1840's French Cognac. While the older version packs a punch to your wallet at seventeen dollars, it is fun to compare and contrast the flavors.
For dinner we headed Uptown through the Garden District to a quiet residential street. Good thing I had heard about the lack of visibility for our dinner spot or I think we would have driven right by. Gautreau's Restaurant has been serving New Orleanians for over a decade. Its star chef Sue Zemanick has received the James Beard rising star award for the past 4 years running. When you walk in the door it is a surprise after all the hype to see the small butcomfortable dining room. Looking around it seemed everyone from families to couples were enjoying themselves. They all seemed to know each other and the staff seemed to know them. (I take this as a sign of a good restaurant, especially at this price point). This place felt like a hidden gem among the flashy super star restaurants all over town. The menu was to the moment with perfect pairings of regional and gourmet. We started with the Duck Confit over a white bean salad and the kale and quinoa salad. Both were fresh and flavorful, but not over sauced. you could taste the individual flavors of the dish. These were the perfect compliments to the fall weather. As our entrees we couldn't resist the filet I had read so much about and also had to try the special rack of lamb crusted in pistachios. The meats were tender and juicy. The steak rested on top of ricotta gnocchi and melted in my mouth. The crunch and salt of the pistachios complemented the earthy lamb. Entree Heaven! We vowed to make room for dessert and selected the brown butter pear tart with marscapone fig ice cream. Sweet and tart this was autumn in your mouth! While I wish I could share some of these with you there are occasionally some places that are too nice and too intimate a setting to take pictures. This was one of those nights. So you will just have to dream of the flavors and rush the next time you are there to get a reservation!
All this walking worked up a great appetite. I had planned a nice night out. We started off our evening at the Waldorf Astoria Roosevelt Hotel. This hotel was originally built in 1893 as The Grunewald. It was taken over by the Fairmont in 1965. When it was the Grunewald it held a club called "The Cave" which is thought to be one of the first nightclubs in the US. The hotel and its bar were a place to see and be seen. During Hurricane Katrina the hotel was damaged and condemned. Not until 2009 was it purchased by the Waldorf Astoria line of hotels. It was restored to a blend of art deco grandeur including its famous nightclub and bar space now open as the Sazerac Bar. While according to our cocktail tour from Friday, the Sazerac was invented by a pharmacist whose shop was located near Galatoires in the French Quarter, this bar holds a reputation now for having one of the best in town. They offer the modern version (think Prohibition era) made with Herbsaint and Rye Whiskey as well as the original version featuring 1840's French Cognac. While the older version packs a punch to your wallet at seventeen dollars, it is fun to compare and contrast the flavors.
For dinner we headed Uptown through the Garden District to a quiet residential street. Good thing I had heard about the lack of visibility for our dinner spot or I think we would have driven right by. Gautreau's Restaurant has been serving New Orleanians for over a decade. Its star chef Sue Zemanick has received the James Beard rising star award for the past 4 years running. When you walk in the door it is a surprise after all the hype to see the small butcomfortable dining room. Looking around it seemed everyone from families to couples were enjoying themselves. They all seemed to know each other and the staff seemed to know them. (I take this as a sign of a good restaurant, especially at this price point). This place felt like a hidden gem among the flashy super star restaurants all over town. The menu was to the moment with perfect pairings of regional and gourmet. We started with the Duck Confit over a white bean salad and the kale and quinoa salad. Both were fresh and flavorful, but not over sauced. you could taste the individual flavors of the dish. These were the perfect compliments to the fall weather. As our entrees we couldn't resist the filet I had read so much about and also had to try the special rack of lamb crusted in pistachios. The meats were tender and juicy. The steak rested on top of ricotta gnocchi and melted in my mouth. The crunch and salt of the pistachios complemented the earthy lamb. Entree Heaven! We vowed to make room for dessert and selected the brown butter pear tart with marscapone fig ice cream. Sweet and tart this was autumn in your mouth! While I wish I could share some of these with you there are occasionally some places that are too nice and too intimate a setting to take pictures. This was one of those nights. So you will just have to dream of the flavors and rush the next time you are there to get a reservation!
Getting into the Spirits in New Orleans (Day One)
Two weeks ago, I was lucky enough to tag along on a weekend trip to New Orleans. I am not sure how this city has escaped my attention or my stomach for so long. Most people I know have made this short trip down experience the food, the fun and the music. I couldn't wait to see what the city had to offer.
We arrived mid day on a Friday and settled into our quarters for the weekend. The cute little Hotel Mazarin located right in the French Quarter. The even provided free bottled water, wifi, and breakfast each morning. The hotel was the perfect location and easily walkable to everything I wanted to see and eat!
We arrived mid day on a Friday and settled into our quarters for the weekend. The cute little Hotel Mazarin located right in the French Quarter. The even provided free bottled water, wifi, and breakfast each morning. The hotel was the perfect location and easily walkable to everything I wanted to see and eat!
We made our way toward St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square taking in the typical tourist sights along the way. Around each corner, it seemed there was another great little bar, coffee shop or restaurant waiting to be tried. I had a mission. I wanted to start my vacation out in true French Quarter style with an original Muffuletta. Central Grocery was established in 1906 as a grocery store and became a deli for the Sicilian truck farmers who sold their produce at the Farmer's Market. The sandwich was invented by by Salvatore Lupo the original owner of the grocery. The traditional New Orleans muffuletta is stuffed with ham, salami, various cheeses and marinated olive salad. While I have never been a big fan of this sandwich (too much bread not enough cheese and meat) this version won me over. My mouth is watering thinking about it as I write! The olive salad and fresh sliced deli meats paired with super soft sesame bread really make it.
We decided the best way to get to know the city was to take a tour. I was looking for something besides the typical history or ghost tours that I had experienced in Charleston or Savannah so I sought out culinary based tours and found a perfect match! The Cocktail Tour is lead by culinary historian Elizabeth Pearce. She got her start in the food world as the curator of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum and writes a monthly drinking column Neat with a Twist. She takes pride in sharing not only the history of the city but how some of its signature libations tell the stories of the development of its culture and people. Elizabeth was energetic and full of great information. This wasn't a tour where you stopped into promotional bars and got a free shot of something here and there, she has prepared homemade classic versions of three special drinks and one liquor for us to sample. We each received a small messenger bag with individually labeled cups. When we arrived at the perfect location or at the right "moment in history" we were instructed to sample. This model of touring provided more ability to see and hear the city as well as a much higher quality of drinks! We sampled the St. Charles Hotel Punch, a sazerac the official drink of New Orleans, and a Hurricane (made with real fruit juice not some over sweet mix) To round out our night we each got a share of praline liquor. We spent about 2 hours walking about 1 mile through the French Quarter. I feel like this was the perfect way to get a feel for the Vieux Carre and to kick off a great Friday night.
Back in the game!
After several months away, I am back. Proud to say I have finished a year long internship and Master's degree in Professional Counseling. Needless to say full time employee, half time intern, part time student and full time wife certainly delayed my writing. I hope you will enjoy as I catch up on the past 6 months and share what is new!
Tonight I am headed to Cochon in New Orleans. This rounds out a great long weekend of food and amazing cocktails. Details to come!
Tonight I am headed to Cochon in New Orleans. This rounds out a great long weekend of food and amazing cocktails. Details to come!
Enjoying Empire State South
I have to admit this one will be a treat for me as well! If you have not experienced one of the ACFB cooking classes, you should give them a try. They are typically hosted by Cooks Warehouse as a part of their quarterly schedule of classes. They showcase some of Atlanta's best chefs, prizes, enough food to call it dinner, and wine tastings. As an added bonus the proceeds go to the food bank itself. What a fun way to give back!
Although he has turned over the reigns of Executive Chef to Ryan Smith, Chef Acheson's strong influence is present in the tasty menu. After his recent James Beard wins, the dinning room was again packed with guests. We were looking forward to all of the great takes on traditional southern flavors.
To start, we chose the In Jars an amazing selection of tasty spreads presented in miniature mason jars. The choices included pimento cheese with bacon marmalade, smoked trout, boiled peanut hummus, ricotta with sauteed mushrooms, and a selection of house made pickles. The waiter laughed as we picked up the jars to scrape out every last bite saying, "that is how we know people like them."
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| In Jars |
For our next course we tried several of the Beginnings, a mixed green salad with duck bacon and a house made cheese puff, a warm vegetable salad with goat cheese, a fried shrimp salad with foraged greens and the farm egg served almost like bi bim bab over rice. The flavors were rich, but not over powering. These were imaginative takes on salads with a southern spin.
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| Fried Shrimp Salad |
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| Mixed Greens |
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| Warm Vegetable Salad |
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| Farm Egg |
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| Trout |
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| The Duck |
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| Pork Loin |
Freight Kitchen and Tap
Earlier this spring I had the day off and a growling stomach. I decided to head out to Woodstock to check out Neel Sengupta's Freight Kitchen and Tap. With little traffic during the day, I made it up there from Decatur in less than 30 minutes. I was delighted to see the cute downtown area and even more excited to try out the great food and drinks. First the restaurant is full of ambiance. Located in an old train depot, you are able to walk through the large doors, and across the original wood floors. The inside is at the same time modern and rustic. You can really get a feel for what it might have looked like back in the day, but more than appreciate the cool bar, and cozy nooks for guest dining.
Then you peruse the menu, the culinary team of Chef Kyle Shankman and Bar Manager Chris Pease have developed tastes that appeal to everyone, but are far from ordinary. The beer list got my attention as I was able to choose from a great selection of rotating local and regional draughts as well as some favorite and unusual bottles.
For lunch the appetizers such as house made pickles, pimento cheese, and poutine caught my eye. We were wooed by the soup a hearty pork and green chile bowl that melted in your mouth. According to the menu and my taste buds, the pork was roasted 8 hours! The flavors were set off with citrus sour cream a perfect way to start our meal. For the main course we sampled two of the sandwiches. I couldn't resist the "Stake" sandwich a rich filet of beef sliced and served on a warm baguette with grilled tomato and blue cheese dressing. We also had to try the burger (a measure of any good restaurant). We opted for the "Steam Engine" basted in BBQ sauce and topped with caramelized onions, mushrooms, swiss and cheddar; paired with the sweet potato fries it was a hit.
Overall Freight delivers in flavorful food, unique drinks and charm. I cannot wait to head back up to Woodstock to enjoy the dinner menu and take on some of their house cocktails!
Taste of the Highlands
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Photo courtesy of Wikimedia |