Monthly Archives: October 2013

Canoe

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Canoe, Vinings

The whole meal was simply marvelous. I sat in the bar area which served its full menu and had pretty lush seating, looked more comfortable than the chairs in the dining room! I peaked outside and would have loved to sit at that bar and listen to the live music (Blue Grass) but it was cold and I of course forgot a jacket. My server, Leigh, was well attentive, personable and of course steered me well through out the meal.

She informed me that they are known for their Manhattan’s so I order one on the rocks with Buffalo Trace. I’m not well versed with whiskey and have not indulged with many Manhattan’s but after this stellar example I think I just might start enjoying them more. For food I started off with another house favorite the House Smoked Salmon, which rest upon a crisp potato pancake and a goat cheese spread. It was indeed rich but ordering the smaller portion allowed me not to feel overwhelmed. With all flavors and textures being perfected this appetizer would probably rank in my top five. Another thing that I hadn’t seen before was bread being served piece by piece. They make all their own bread in-house daily; I opted for a piece of the sourdough and the spicy flat-bread.

For my entrée I excitedly picked the Slowed Roasted Carolina Rabbit, it was de-boned and oh so tender– no knife needed. It was served with swiss chard and bacon ravioli, sweet potato, and a candied ginger sauce. Only one word would be able to describe this dish and it would be…decadent. I had a glass of Muga Reserva from Rioja Spain and it was a great tempranillo, very jammy on the front end but had a spicy finish, which paired with the rabbit sublimely.

And last but not least I ordered the Mercier Apple & Almond Butter Cake with Cinnamon Creme Fraiche. After such a rich meal I didn’t want anything heavy or overly sweet. This was perfect– light and savory but still satisfied my need for something sweet at the end of the meal. I have never had cinnamon creme fraiche and it was a welcomed fall twist to the original. Canoe is known for their fish & game and having the  pleasure of trying both I was not disappointed. I can now see why Canoe continues to be highly regarded year after year.

Heirloom Market BBQ

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Heirloom Market BBQ, Cumberland

Heirloom was ranked #1 by Atlanta Magazine for BBQ in May 2013 and while I have not tried all of the others on the list I would agree. I have been here for lunch before so I knew to come late in order to avoid the crowd. I ordered the two meat plate with one side; I decided on the Pulled Pork & Brisket with the kitchen sauce and Green Tomato Kimchi. I wouldn’t necessarily say that this joint is Korean BBQ but BBQ with hints of Korean flair. The brisket was heavily smoked and the pulled pork just fell apart, both insanely good. The kitchen sauce was awesome because while it was spicy it wasn’t your typical spicy BBQ sauce, it tasted clean and fresh– if that makes any sense. The kimchi was chilled and crunchy which just added another satisfying texture to the meal. This place rocked but you must order your food to-go and the restaurant itself is very small, I can only hope that with time this place will be able to expand and perhaps relocate so it’s not next to the perimeter.

Revolution Doughnuts

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Revolution Doughnuts & Coffee, Decatur

I think it’s official that finding a true cider donut cannot be done south of Massachusetts, however, I did stumble upon a Pumpkin Spice doughnut at Revolution. This spot has some extravagant combinations most famously known for their bacon and salted caramel yeast style doughnut. I can’t say it has the best location but that does not stop true doughnut lovers, I have been twice and it either had a steadfast line or was engorged with groups. Now like I mentioned before there was no cider doughnut to be found but the pumpkin spice was an awesome fall find that went swimmingly with a coffee on a cloudy day!

Sunday Satisfaction

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The Jane, Grant Park

Little Tart Bakeshop

Octane Coffee

The south east corner of this refurbished building is shared with Octane Coffee & Little Tart Bakeshop. It has a loft like feel and huge windows to let the wonderful warm October air drift through. I went to pick up a Croissant from Little Tart Bakeshop but once I saw how welcoming the space was I promptly decided to stay and order a Latte. There were all kinds of seating, which was awesome because surely this place gets crowded. The croissants are made fresh daily and were buttery as well as flakey like promised. The latte was not to be faulted with the perfect share of espresso and milk. I was able to sit, sip, eat, and read without feeling the slightest bit rushed.

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The General Muir

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The General Muir, Emory

Sometimes I wish I grew up in New York City so Jewish delicatessens would have been within in walking distance and I would have a reason to crave bagels with lox or Reuben’s, however, I didn’t so I don’t really have an excuse. Nevertheless I am still a fan of Reuben’s and as luck would have it in 2013 Atlanta was presented with a restaurant that pays homage to classic Jewish delicatessens of New York City. I went last spring for brunch and got the Lower Eastside Platter with both lox and nova samples and quickly realized this place was the real deal. I only just went for lunch and ordered the Reuben, which came with a Dill Pickle and a side of Potato Salad. The corned beef on the Reuben wasn’t the thin kind but rather hardily sliced, which gave you much more than just an essence. The one switch they made on the classic was the cheese. They opted for Gruyère and not swiss but I am in support of this since Gruyère melts way better. The potato salad was not mayonnaise laden and had great notes of dill and thyme. And since the dessert menu looked promising I tested out the Spiced Apple Cake that was topped with cream cheese frosting that was anything but shy is quantity. The quality and care of its food, service, and presentation will only have me coming back for seconds!

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Hal’s

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Hal’s, Buckhead

I had the best time at Hal’s recently, knowing it is a Buckhead staple I was fervent to have the pleasure of dining here to celebrate my 24th anniversary on earth. I went with great group, all who love food. To start we ordered the Beef Carpaccio and the Grilled Oysters. The carpaccio was tissue paper-thin fillet mignon and melted in your mouth. While the fillet is one of the more popular cuts on the menu I choose to go with the 22 oz Prime Bone-in Ribeye, also known as The Cowboy, and it was no mistake. It was cooked medium rare and drizzled with melted butter; keeping a steak simple is in the only way to go! We shared a few sides as a table and picked the famed Truffle Mac & Cheese, Mashed Potatoes, and Sautéed Mushrooms. I would definitely order the first two again but probably not the mushrooms, they were okay but just not comparable to Rathbun’s. My favorite desserts that we decided on were the Chocolate Cake and the Bourbon Bread Pudding, one word of warning though one must like bourbon to appreciate the bread pudding because the bourbon glaze was no joke. I have a love for steak along with a passion for quality steak and it was clear that the meat here is a cut above. And oh I almost forgot to mention the wine, their list is long and noteworthy. We joyously picked a magnum bottle of Belle Glos Pinot Noir,  which to my knowledge went well with all cuts present at the table! The service was old-fashioned with the waiters being polite and knowledgeable. The atmosphere was welcoming and comfortable. After looking into Hal’s more I found out that most of the staff has been together for 17 years, which was clear considering the place ran with an air of ease. While I won’t be able to make this restaurant a weekly habit I will make a promise to come back and over indulge again.

Taqueria la Oaxaquena

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Taqueria la Oaxaquena, Jonesboro, GA

I really must start remembering who and where I get restaurant recommendations. This place has been on my list for a year now and I remember a bartender telling me about it but of course nothing else, all he said was “if you want legit Mexican go nowhere else.” I’m not entirely sure why it took a full calendar year but glad I eventually made the trek OTP (outside the perimeter). I could tell this place gets crowded but going on a Sunday night I didn’t have to wrestle anyone for a table. I ordered three tacos on corn tortillas; Tripa (beef intestine), Lengua (beef tongue), and Buche (pork stomach). The chips came right out after I ordered and these weren’t the kind that were just heated by a lamp… these were actually fresh! The table salsa was spicy but if that isn’t always your cup of tea they have a pretty impressive salsa bar with many options. Before I could ruin my dinner with chips and salsa my tacos came out. I didn’t really know which one to start with first so I just went left to right and the texture gods were with me because the tacos went from tender, to crispy, back to tender. The tripa was extra crispy and had something on it or perhaps that is just how it tastes, regardless it was a fun taco since I haven’t had many others like it. The lengua and buche both melted in your mouth with the lime, cilantro, and onions on top no other taco hattrick could come close to pleasing me and my taste buds. So whoever you are who told me about this place thank you, you were very correct– legit tacos along with super awesome service!