Monthly Archives: March 2015

Ah-Ma’s Taiwanese Kitchen

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Ah-Ma’s Taiwanese Kitchen, Midtown

In a humble corner of Midtown next to Richard’s Variety lies a very good Taiwanese place that specializes in street food. Happy to say that it’s also right off the Beltline! The restaurant is small but the service is super-fast. We didn’t have to wait for a table but a larger party did. They are known for their Bao, the pork belly is my favorite, but don’t be foolish and miss the small plates. The Beef Tendon Salad had a good balance of spice and is served cold. The Salt & Pepper Chicken did not have a sauce and while I thought that would be problem it wasn’t at all, I particularly liked the use of dark meat. The best dish was the Sticky Rice but I will always think this since no matter the place it brings joy to my heart. And finally we ended with the Sweet Potato Balls, which below me away! Street food in any culture is always fun and different so if you’re up for something you wouldn’t find anywhere else head on over.

Fred’s Meat & Bread

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Fred’s Meat & Bread, Inman Park (Krog Street Market)

The name of this place says it all while the long line will make you wonder what their secret is. For a little history the creator of this wonderful sandwich counter hails from The General Muir so one should not be surprised that this spot is quickly becoming an Inman Park favorite and Krog Street stand out. The Philly is huge so if you’re ravenous that would be a winner but if you’re only hungry the Stack Burger will certainly suffice and that it was I chose to have the first time I went along with the Garlic Fries, which came with homemade ranch dressing!! One order of fries were enough for my whole group so no need to double up unless you feel it necessary or prefer to over indulge in fried goodness. If you’ve eaten burgers around this city long enough you begin to see a pattern with ingredients and back stories but pay no attention or care that it really isn’t all that original since this burger was top-notch. And while I hate to compare its most similar to the illusive H&F burger but without the obnoxious Buckhead attitude. Although the wait will hinder some I’d highly recommend grabbing a beer at Hop City before choosing to stand in line!

 

 

The Luminary

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The Luminary, Inman Park (Krog Street Market)

I went on a Friday night (do make reservations!!) after it had been open for a while and can definitely say all kinks of a new restaurant had been worked out. The waiter was not only funny but also knew the menu well. We all enjoyed cocktails, Ceviche, & Pate while we looked over the menu. While they have something for every palette I wouldn’t say the menu is overwhelming. Luckily we all got something different; I ordered the Duck Leg Confit, Kiffy the Swordfish “Amandine”, & Taylor the Crispy Rabbit Leg. strangely enough the most memorable part of the meal was the coffee. Sounds odd I know but it came in a french press and was probably some of the best restaurant coffee I’ve ever had. I enjoyed it so much that when I went home for Christmas I asked my mom for hers (I promised her it was going to a good home). I can clearly see why all sorts of crowds have been raving about this place as it really has something for everyone.

P.S. If you’re in the mood for ice cream after dinner Jeni’s is right across the way!

Waffle House

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Waffle House, 1,764 locations (across 25 states)

It’s probably no surprise that I’m a fan of NPR and tend to listen most mornings and evenings when I’m in the car. One morning last week I heard an interview with the Andrew Knowlton, The Bon Appetit Restaurant Editor, about working at a Waffle House in Atlanta as a line cook for 24 straight hours. He said it was the hardest job he ever had and I whole heartedly believe him. After hearing this I got rather interested in trying one since I typically write them off. Tom also happens to be a huge fan and had no problem going on Sunday.

I went hungry as I wanted to try more than one thing! I ordered a Chocolate Chip Waffle, smothered and covered (code for onions & cheese) Hash Browns, and a Patty Melt on whole wheat toast (not Texas toast). I have to say my whole meal was delicious, a true brunch as I ate a little breakfast and a little lunch. We sat at the counter and I was instantly mesmerized by all that was going on in the open kitchen. You have the waffle station and the grill; a third of the grill for potatoes (all shredded in-house), a third for eggs (each cooked to order), and a third for meat. The line cooks also never see a piece of paper. They know what to cook and of course how to prepare it depending on where the condiments are placed on the plate. Talk about having to remember an insane amount!

I also learned two awesome fun facts** while I was there. One, all Waffle Houses are open 24 hours and only close if a disaster is truly horrible. Waffle House’s can operate when most cannot since they have some of the strongest generators around, there is actually a Waffle House Index used by FEMA to let people know how bad the damages are. And two, they do not discriminate from their employee’s past. So there you have it I am now a Waffle House enthusiast.

**Fun facts supplied by Tom Ream (his true passion in life).

 

Gunshow

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Gunshow, Glenwood Park

I can’t remember the last time I’ve heard so much about a restaurant before I got to go; from Esquire to friends it was one of the few Atlanta restaurants anyone could or would talk about towards the end of 2014.

The restaurant itself has a different feel. It is totally open, unpretentious in all the right ways, and you don’t order like you would at another restaurant. Picky eaters seriously don’t come and take a coveted seat– had to make reservations a month in advance (was 100% worth the wait)! Kevin Gillespie along with six other chefs concoct two dishes each, come to your table, and try to “sell” you on their creation. If you’re thinking of dim sum you’re right on the money. The menu does change frequently and on average each dish is on the menu for a couple of weeks.

My tablemates and I went with wide eyes and empty stomaches, which was a great thing since we ordered 13 out of the 16 dishes being offered that night. While some dishes are a little larger I’d say most are sharable small plates just like tapas. So without further delay below are all the dishes we devoured.

  • New Mexican style cheese enchiladas. short rib peccadillo. crema*
  • Goat cheese agnolotti. wild mushroom. beet. truffle
  • Middle Eastern style pizza
  • Lobster roll… like in Boston
  • Crispy pork belly. marinated octopus. charred scallion. chorizo vin
  • Ceviche made like they do in Peru*
  • Smoked Berkshire pork loin. creamy polenta. coke braised figs. broccoli
  • Falafel. tahini sauce. house made pita. skoog
  • Olive oil poached halibut. orange braised endive. citrus. olive. fennel
  • Vietnamese style chicken wings
  • Warm old-fashioned banana pudding (always on the menu as it was Kevin’s grandmother’s recipe plus it’s just the BOMB)
  • Chocolate bread pudding. pecan pie innards. bourbon, candied bacon
  • Chocolate-peanut butter cheese cake. pretzel

the * annotate Kevin’s dishes and while you shouldn’t skip on any definitely don’t miss his!! You can tell all dishes are perfected but it didn’t stop with the kitchen as the bar is a worthy opponent. Cocktails have two categories: “while you wait” that are made behind the bar and “from the cart” literally a cart comes to your table and you see it made right there. I didn’t ask what the difference was but I had one from each and both were delectable.

There are flavors from all over the world and the style of eating can be compared to a variety of places, it may not be totally new but in Atlanta it is a breath of fresh air. If I could only choose one restaurant in Atlanta not to miss this surely would be my pick.

This was also a farewell dinner to a close friend. I’ve shared many tables and even more charcuterie plates with Kiffy but am glad we got to partake in one more restaurant together. Best of luck in Birmingham!

Illegal Food

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Illegal Food, Virginia-Highlands

While I was sad to see Bar Meatball go I am beyond thrilled Illegal Food took its spot. Who doesn’t need a neighborhood burger joint that is walking distance from their apartment?! I never made it to their hole in the wall kitchen at Joystick and for that I apologize, however, I promise to make it up! We went at 8 on a Saturday night and the wait for a table was 45 minutes but there just so happen to be two seats at the bar that we quickly grabbed. They have specials that go beyond the bun but since I was a first timer I didn’t feel right straying away from their pride & joy. I ordered The Hank, which was a dry-aged grass-fed beef burger topped with American cheese, iceberg , Vidalia onion, house made dill pickles, and special sauce. This can also easily be made into a double. All meat is ground in-house and comes from the same cow. Sorry vegetarians, you can no longer make me feel guilty about not knowing where my meat comes from! Tom ordered the Le Cluck, which was house ground chicken topped with the Warden’s special blend of herbs & spices, iceberg, fridge pickles, and 12 yolk mayo. While this “burger” was good there was no comparison to the Hank…but seriously who gets chicken at a burger place? The fries were top grade and the catsup homemade!! The beer selection was solid and the cocktails looked tempting but I couldn’t wander from the Humboldt Brown Hemp Ale. Now all I’m wondering is how long it will take me to go back.