Blog Soup

Moving On

2009-09-30T10:43:00.000-04:00

First of all, thank you so much to all the loyal readers of Blog Soup over the last few years. This blog was started right after we moved to Atlanta, and it's been a great way to chronicle our time here. I've had a great time writing restaurant reviews, talking about cooking, making random observations about life in A-town and getting to know others in the blogging world!

As we get ready to leave Atlanta and make our way back to Kansas City, I feel like Blog Soup is something that belongs here, so I won't be taking it with me to KC.

That being said, I think my internet addiction makes it impossible not to blog. So I've got a new one, The DIY Diaries!

The next several months of our lives will be pretty heavily focused on the ups and downs of home improvement. I'm really excited for it. Please hop on over there, and follow along. Thanks for reading y'all!

Woodfire Grill

2009-09-30T10:16:00.001-04:00

Final stop on the Bon Voyage Atlanta Mini Restaurant Tour! I'm so glad we went to Woodfire Grill before the train pulls out of the station here in just a few hours. (Hours!) When we first moved to the ATL and lived down in the Virginia Highland area, we'd been eyeing Woodfire... just never went. I suppose it took Executive Chef Kevin Gillespie getting on season 6 of Top Chef to really light a fire under our asses and get us over there!

Loved the ambiance of this restaurant. It's inviting, but still has the slightest flutter of formality. The dining room is lively but not too loud. The scent of the woodfire grill is intoxicating as you first walk in. The bartender has a friendly face. It's easy to feel right at home.

We'll start with service. The service at Woodfire was some of the best we've had from some of the finer establishments we've dined at as of late. Attentive but not too talkative, this guy had it right.

There is a nice selection of seasonal cocktails available from the bar - I personally went with the Blackberry Bramble which had fresh muddled blackberries and gin. Fresh, tasty and not oppressive with the taste of alcohol, this is definitely a nicely mixed cocktail. The wine list is also notable - we had a 2005 Ferrari Carano Prevail Cab/Syrah with dinner that was outstanding. Compared to retail ($55), the price of the bottle at the restaurant ($59) was not bad at all! I love anything red from the Alexander Valley. It was bold, big in the mouth, juicy and delish!

Now on to the food :) I started with the caramelized gala apples with celery leaf, fennel bulb and a sort of salty cheese on top. Very nice juxtaposition of sweet/salty/fresh and some great textures as well. One of our dinnermates ordered the pork belly.... originally we'd passed but once it got to the table Mason and I had to have an order to split. Definitely not the wrong move there. More fat than meat, but a nice crisp carmelization from the woodfire on the outside paired nicely with the apple butter served on the side. Can you ever really go wrong with pork belly? Another dinnermate had the prosciutto wrapped arugula salad with cherries and cranberries... delectable!

My main course was a grass fed beef strip loin, which I had to clarify with the waiter -- was it a strip or a tenderloin? It was the tenderloin in fact - three 1/2" pieces. Cooked to a perfect medium rare, but it was the slightest bit tough. The au-gratin-ish potatoes served on the side were underwhelming at best and overly salty. Mason had the halibut, which was served with a curry cabbage... his reaction to it was so-so.

Dessert redeemed a few of the entree shortcomings. Banana fritters with banana bavarian creme, milk chocolate mousse, salted caramel sauce and candied bacon was heavenly.

One interesting option offered by Woodfire is the 3 or 5 course blind chef's tasting. I think the next time we go, we might have to go in that direction.

Verdict - definitely worth the trip, there are some impressive qualities to the restaurant. I'd like to give it another try.

Canoe Review

2009-09-29T11:49:00.001-04:00

Stop #3 on our BVAMRT (Bon Voyage Atlanta Mini-Restaurant Tour) was Canoe in Vinings, GA. We got there just in the nick of time before the great flood of 2009 hit the restaurant. The good news is, the restoration is in full swing and they should be back up and running soon.

Canoe is situated right on the banks of the Chattahoochee River and boasts some absolutely lovely gardens that are perfectly suited for an outdoor reception, rehearsal dinner or other fancy-pants party. The interior of the restaurant is warm, with lots of wood and brick. A very comfortable environment overall.

Executive Chef Carvel Grant Gould is careful in selecting the items that go on her menu, and many of the proteins and veggies are locally sourced. I always like to see the Executive Chef when we go to a restaurant, and Chef Gould was spot on, managing the kitchen and walking throughout the restaurant while we were there to make sure everything was humming.

Canoe's wine list was huge. We started with an 2006 Anne Amie Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley of Oregon that was outstanding. When dinner came, we ordered the 2006 JC Cellars Syrah - and much to our delight they had a 2004 that they presented instead. The JC Cellars was incredibly rich for a Syrah - almost more like a Cab or a Zinfandel.

For starters I began with the carrot and pistachio soup, which was topped with tempura snow peas and pistachio oil. Thick, creamy and delicious. For dinner, I opted for their swordfish special, which was seared and then finished in the oven and served with a bacon and leek risotto. I wish I could remember exactly what else came with it... but it's been a few days and I'm a bad blogger... oops. I'm also not one of those food bloggers that takes pictures of the food... maybe that makes me a REALLY bad blogger but eh. Either way, it was fresh and delicious!

For dessert I also went with their special which was a watermelon and lime sorbet. The lime was great - the watermelon lacked flavor. Presentation was good. We also had a warm ricotta cheesecake with meyer lemon that was quite the treat.

Canoe is on my 10 best list for a reason - definitely worth the trip!

Canoe

2009-09-22T10:50:00.004-04:00

It's pretty scary how quickly things can go from perfect to a total mess. We had the pleasure of dining at Canoe on Saturday night - and now just 2 days later, a good portion of the restaurant is underwater.

The food was fabulous though, review to come soon.

Update 9/23/09: Canoe is definitely reopening! Wish them all the best for a quick cleanup.

10 Best Atlanta Restaurants

2009-09-21T23:38:00.003-04:00

Considering that a good portion of this blog has been devoted to Atlanta area restaurants, I thought it proper to post a top 10 list (another one!) before we depart in a few days. So here they are folks, Blog Soup's A-town favorites. I will note that this list is more or less off the cuff... I didn't deliberate on my choices for too long. These are the restaurants that came to mind first.

Most of these are centrally located - so if you're visiting Atlanta, they're easy to find.

10. Two Urban Licks. Great place to take out-of-towners with a hip, urban vibe. I like this place for the environment more than the food. Quintessentially Atlanta.

9. Canoe. Focus on local, fresh, in season. Comfortable dining in a gorgeous setting right by the Chattahoochee. Admirable wine list. Good seafood selections.

8. JCT Kitchen. Deliciousness in every course. Fantastic bread from The Bread Garden, upscale Southern comfort food. Fried chicken and angry mussels are to die for. Great bar upstairs!

7. Alon's Bakery & Market. Fabulous cheese and olive selection, great grab & go entrees, delectable soups and sandwiches.

6. The Colonnade. An ATL favorite since the late 1920's, this is my favorite meat & three in town. I wake up at 3am craving their yeast rolls and butter on a regular basis.

5. Hal's for Steaks. Skip the snootiness of Bones and/or Chops and head for a place that will give better service and phenomenal steaks in a hard-to-find laid back environment. The piano player and regulars in the bar add to the charm.

4. Varasano's Pizza. Only been there once, but the pizza was better than any other pie I've had in the ATL. Hot, thin and crispy.

3. One Midtown Kitchen. Another Concentrics creation, this is also a goodie for the out of town crowd. Reasonable prices, consistent quality and innovation are among One's best traits.

2. Sotto Sotto. My choice in town for Italian. Superb lemon chicken in the best neighborhood in ATL - Inman Park.

1. Rathbun's. Definitely my favorite restaurant in Atlanta. Only wish I'd had more chances to visit!

Floataway Cafe

2009-09-21T22:50:00.005-04:00

The first stop on our BVAMRT (that's the Bon Voyage Atlanta Mini-Restaurant Tour, for the uninformed) was Floataway Cafe. Owned by the Bacchanalia folks, this place had been on our hit list for awhile. In a sentence - I enjoyed the meal but wasn't completely enamored with the experience overall.

The environment is completely charming, kind of airy and beachy and ethereal. Some bright pops of orange in the lounge area give a nice modern vibe. The menu has a huge variety of choices - literally everyone should be able to find something they like. Our friends brought their darling and very well behaved 10 year old twins and they had no problem selecting something off the menu that was suited for a decade-old palate.

Quick rundown: we started with the roasted peppers, anchovies on the side. Overall the peppers lacked flavor - like they hadn't been roasted long enough to bring that depth and sugar out. Mason had the bibb lettuce salad with green goddess dressing, bacon, maytag and tomatoes -- a great salad that's hard to mess up. We also had an order of gougeres for the table. The outside was perfectly flaky and light. The cheese inside was a bit too runny for my tastes.

Both husband and I had the quail for our entree which I have to say was cooked perfectly. The wood grill gave the outside a beautiful char and carmelization. It was advertised with roasted figs and balsamic - however nary a fig was to be found on my plate. Disappointing since they're in season right now.

Dessert was a toffee pudding cake with vanilla ice cream as well as a fig brown butter tart with buttermilk sorbet. The pudding cake was tops and the tart honorable as well; however the buttermilk sorbet tasted much more like citrusy lemon than it did buttermilk.

Service was just so-so. Kind of slow.

The verdict: Hard to judge after just one visit. I feel like I'd need to give it another chance.

Restaurant Weekend

2009-09-11T15:31:00.003-04:00

We're hitting up a few places this weekend with both some local and out of town friends - I can't wait!

Friday will be Floataway Cafe. I'm eyeing the marinated roasted peppers, ellijay apple and endive salad, warm cheese gougeres, local fig pizza with maytag and prosciutto, and the wood grilled quail. How's a girl to decide.... We're going to bring our bottle of Caymus Zinfandel with us. Hell to the yeah.

Tomorrow night will be the much anticipated Rathbun's with a good friend of mine from Philly who's coming in from out of town. I'm semi-embarrassed we haven't made it down there yet, seeing as the chef is semi famous and the restaurant has received so much praise. I didn't know Chef Kevin Rathbun himself was born and raised in good ole Kansas City... a man after my own heart to say the least! Eggplant steak fries with confectioner's sugar, coriander roasted pork belly, roasted bone marrow (Bourdain's fave and a curiosity of mine), and the Maine Lobster and roasted chile soft taco are all looking pretty tasty.

Maybe I should just commit myself to gaining 15# this weekend.

I'd really like to get to Woodfire Grill before we leave but not sure if it will be happening. Stay tuned for reviews!

Another reason to miss Trader Joe's

2009-09-08T20:18:00.003-04:00

Thank God for Trader Joe's. I am going to miss them so much when we move... hopefully it won't be too long til KC gets one. I have to rave about this latest find that I picked up on a whim during my last trip. This Trader Joe's Chicken Gorgonzola totally saved me in a pinch tonight.

2 chicken breasts, with chopped roasted tomatoes, portabellas, gorgonzola cheese and a light pesto sauce goes from freezer to table in 8 minutes and it's the perfect amount for two. The sauce would go nicely with a side of pasta - but we actually poured it over a little steamed broccoli for an extra veggie fix. The best thing - the chicken gorgonzola has all natural ingredients - no Yellow 5, high fructose corn syrup or nitrates or nitrites or whatever that crap is packaged in. Totally did not taste like a frozen meal.

The verdict: better than a Lean Cuisine any day.

Picking up a few things...

2009-09-03T11:46:00.004-04:00

In preparation for our move, I had to make one final trip to Ikea to get a few things I knew I'd want for the house right off the bat. I know there will be things to add to my shopping list... and luckily we'll be spending Christmas in Chicago with my family (and driving the truck up there) so we can make a run if need be. But, for the time being, this collection of lovelies will have to tide us over. I'm really into white right now for some reason. Normally I'm big on color, but I think in my old age, I'm starting to neutralize just a tiny bit. The new house will have lots of color... but some nice white and neutral pieces as well.

Before I get into all of the Ikea stuff, let me show you this office chair I just got from Z Gallerie. I spotted this on a picture from Young House Love and fell in, well...... love. My office chair has been broken so it was the perfect excuse to pick up a new one :)

Since we're talking about the office, check out these loverly wispy panels that will be going up on the window:

We have a pretty good sized TV (61"... what?!!) in the living room. I have some Lack shelves from Ikea in a dark chocolate brown I'm planning on hanging above the TV. I think a few of these boxes will look so neat and clean perched on top: Our dining room has some built in bookshelves that we'll be using as a china cabinet. The dining room's a bit smaller (see here for pics), so we don't have much room to put doors on the shelves, so instead we'll be using some of these hanging panels to cover the front. We did a similar set up in our dining room in our first apartment in Atlanta, here. The white panel is semi transparent, and I think when layered with the brown panels below, the overall effect will be cool. Last but not least - I have an unhealthy obsession with grommeted window panels. I LOVE love love them. Our living room is painted with Behr's Prarie Field, and we have a light khaki couch and we'll be working in some chocolates, oranges, and greens. Click here to see some of the furniture we'll be using in the living room. I think some lighter colored panels will be great on the corner windows, close to the fireplace. So there you have it kids! Let the games begin! As we get moved in, I'll be sure to post lots of before & afters.

Georgia Top 10

2009-08-31T11:57:00.005-04:00

Time for a very important announcement: As of October 1, 2009, Blog Soup will be relocating to Kansas City! This is a super exciting move for us because it means we're returning home. Atlanta has been good to us for the past few years, but our hearts are in Kansas City and we're so happy to be headed back to the midwest. Blog Soup won't be changing much... I'll still post restaurant reviews, recipes, home decor updates and more. Don't forget, I now have this plain ol' house to spruce up! The next several months are going to be an adventure in home decor, indeed.

Because of this big change, I thought it appropriate to post a Georgia Top 10 list. Here are some of the things we've enjoyed most about The Peach State.

10. Concerts available to us in Atlanta. Since we've been here, there's been no shortage of great entertainment available on any given day. My favorite concert was probably Michael Buble at the Fox Theater.

9. Fried Chicken. Not only is it one of my favorite foods, but it's available here in plentiful quantities. The best, in my opinion, can be found at JCT Kitchen, Mary Mac's and The Colonnade. Publix gets an honorable mention. I will definitely miss shopping at Publix after we're gone. It is really a fantastic grocery store, they epitomize customer service.

8. Savannah. One of America's great smaller cities, Savannah is only a 4 hour drive from Atlanta and is absolutely chock full of great things to do. The trolley tours, historic district and Forsyth Park are among my activities of choice.

7. Dunwoody. We moved up to the burbs about a year ago, and even though it's truly the definition of suburbia, I really like it. It's convenient, safe, and close to Buckhead and Midtown.

6. Springtime in February. I'm sure I'll be cursing our move when I'm scraping ice off my car this coming winter.

5. Georgia Wine Country. There are some really fantastic wineries just an hour north of Atlanta in the Dahlonega area. I particularly liked Three Sisters.

4. Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. True, it might be the busiest airport in the world, but you can get a direct flight to anywhere.

3. Virginia Higland. In my opinion, this is one of the coolest neighborhoods in Atlanta. We spent our first year in the neighborhood and loved it. A great place to live if you're young and want to be close to the city.

2. Inman Park and the Inman Park Festival. By FAR this is my favorite neighborhood in Atlanta. Gorgeous historic homes, great restaurants... tons of personality. Take the tour of homes during the IP Festival in the spring -- totally worth every penny. Don't miss Fritti and Sotto Sotto restaurants while you're there.

1. Fantastic Restaurants. Being the capital of the South, there is no shortage of amazing places to dine in ATL. We've had many a tasty meal here, several of which have been documented in this blog. We're trying a few more places before we go, namely Canoe, Woodfire Grill and Rathbun's.

Edit: 8/31/09, 10:43pm: This post wouldn't be complete without a shout out to Trader Joe's and Ikea! Oh the joys of living in a big city, how I will miss thee.

Last but certainly not least, I must say that we are going to miss the friends we've made here more than anything. It's hard to make new friends when you're new in town and don't know anyone. We've had some of the kindest people take us under their wing and I don't want to leave them. A huge THANK YOU to all of our Atlanta friends - we will miss you!!

Sausage & Lentil Soup

2009-08-28T12:35:00.005-04:00

There's been a chill in the air this week and it's been kind of rainy. Odd weather for Georgia in August. Combine that with trying to use up a few pantry items, and you get the perfect equation for Sausage & Lentil Soup. I love the rustic flavor combination of sausage and lentils -- served with some country bread or garlic naan from Trader Joe's and you've got yourself a nice cozy lunch or dinner.

Sausage & Lentil Soup

1 lb italian sausage, casing removed

3 stalks celery, diced

1 onion, diced

2 carrots, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

thyme

parsley

8 oz. green lentils

2 T. olive oil

48 oz chicken broth

1/4 c. tomato paste

In a large stock pot or dutch oven, heat oil and crumble and brown the sausage until cooked through. Remove to a plate, leaving the rendered fat in the pan. Saute carrot, onion and celery until translucent, about 7 minutes. Add garlic. Meanwhile, pour boiling water over lentils and let sit for 15 minutes. Drain. Add lentils, herbs, tomato paste and sausage to vegetables, and cover with chicken broth. Simmer 1 hour on medium low heat. Serve with warm bread.

Make This Now: Manale Shrimp

2009-08-22T19:14:00.006-04:00

A few weeks ago we were asked to a shrimp boil for a friend's birthday. In addition to the shrimp/corn/potato loveliness, we sampled a different type of shrimp called Manale shrimp made by the birthday girl's parents. Originally from Pascal's Manale restaurant in New Orleans, these crusteaceans were to die for. Spicy and tangy with a rich buttery sauce for soppin'. Heaven.

Mason just got home from a long business trip overseas, so I wanted to make something extra delectable for his first night home. I thought these would be perfect for the occasion served with some crusty french bread, corn on the cob and of course some cold beer. I'm not much for tootin' my own horn, but this was the best meal I've made at home in awhile. It's a snap to put together and would make a dynamite dinner for casual company. I'll definitely be making this the next time my mom's in town or we have guests over.

There are lots of different recipes on the internet for this (and the family recipe itself is closely guarded), but here's how I cooked em up. Serves 2-3. Make sure to follow the SPE method (thanks to Bird on a Wire) when diving into these lovelies. SPE meaning suck, peel, eat. First pull the shrimp through the sauce by the tail, and suck off all the sauce that clings to the shrimp. Then peel, and eat. Ce magnifique, no?

Manale Shrimp

1.5 lb raw shrimp, unpeeled

note: In my humble opinion, Costco has some of the best shrimp around at their seafood roadshow on Fridays & Saturdays. 1# of shrimp runs $8.99, and these suckers are huge - about 12 to a pound. Best value in town!

1.5 sticks butter

A few teaspoons of olive oil

2 large cloves garlic, minced

1 t. oregano

1 t. thyme

1 t. basil

1 t. paprika

several dashes cayenne pepper (I used a lot, we like them spicy)

salt

freshly ground pepper

3-4 T. worcestershire sauce

lemon juice

Rinse shrimp and dry. Lay out in a baking dish. Preheat oven to 425. Melt butter in a saucepan and add garlic, spices, lemon juice, worcestershire and oil. Stir to combine. Pour over shrimp. Grind a whole bunch of fresh pepper over the shrimp. Bake in a 425 oven for 15 minutes total, turning over and grinding more pepper at the halfway point. Serve with sliced french bread.

Identity Crisis

2009-08-21T10:19:00.001-04:00

Ok, so I changed my background. Again. I was having trouble reading on the last one I was using due to the texture of the background. So here we are again.... hopefully this change makes it easier to read, and no more changes for awhile!

How cute is this!

2009-08-21T00:54:00.003-04:00

I am so getting this for my office from Mod Dog Shop on Etsy.

What I'm Loving Right Now

2009-08-20T22:43:00.011-04:00

We're getting primed for a living room update and here's what I'm loving right now:

Media center from Crate & Barrel. Love the varied colors of the wood anchored by the dark wood on the sides and handles. Can also work as a sideboard or buffet.

Arched lamp from CB2:

Silver bowl from Ikea. Wouldn't a series of 6 of these look cool hung over a couch?

Last but not least I love this rug from Ikea. I think it looks like an onion. I don't know if we'll end up buying it, but I think I'd like the look of it under a coffee table.

Pura Vida

2009-08-20T21:56:00.005-04:00

We hit up Pura Vida last week. This has been a restaurant I've been wanting to try since we lived in the Highlands, but we just never got around to it. Luckily Ali & Byron were game for it... plus we wanted to give it a try because Chef Hector Santiago is one of the competitors on the newest season of Top Chef. Proudly, Atlanta has three chefs on this season!

When we got there at 7ish it was pretty empty, but it filled up as we got through dinner. The cocktails were inventive, and I particularly enjoyed a hibiscus number... can't quite remember what was in it, but it was light, fresh and fruity. The mojitos were also quite good.

I love the tapas style of eating because when it comes down to it, I really prefer snacking over a full meal. To hit a few highlights, we loved the malanga root chips with cremini mushroom dip, the bone in short rib with orange chipotle bbq sauce, and the steamed coconut buns with the dreamiest protein ever, pork belly. Quite delish across the board! Unfortunately the mussels were very fishy, and the chicken barbacoa burrito smacked of Taco Bell. We tried a few desserts - the first was a sheep's milk ice cream with blackberry caviar (basically just the little rounds of blackberry) and a salted caramel sauce. Interesting taste - a little bit of a dry texture - didn't love it, didn't hate it. Glad we tried it. The second was a chocolate chile flan brulee which was delicious. I loved the combination of heat & sweet.

The verdict: Go!!

Holy Crap

2009-08-18T16:55:00.003-04:00

My friend Jules just tipped me off to Wine.Woot.com.

New site to stalk - yes!!

Perfect Sunday Night

2009-08-16T20:19:00.003-04:00

Elements of said perfect Sunday night:

1. vino

2. season premiere of Mad Men

3. Pillsbury Mint Chocolate brownies baking in the oven right now. I had to remove the spatula from my mouth before all the batter was gone to leave some for the actual brownies.

The only thing missing is a certain husband who is on a business trip for a few days.

So much to write about these days! Stay tuned for a forthcoming restaurant review of Pura Vida (chef Hector Santiago will be on Top Chef Las Vegas starting this coming Wednesday), fun new things I'm shopping for in the home decor department, and more.

Have a good week friends!

Varasano's Pizza

2009-08-10T21:24:00.003-04:00

We had the pleasure of trying Varasano's Pizza this past week with a friend. In a word (or two): quite tasty. I'll give you a quick rundown:

Drink Menu: versatile, inventive.

Bar Service: attentive.

Table Service: Par for the course, annoyingly suggestive. I want to order what I'd like to order, not what the server wants me to order. If you don't want to serve it, don't put it on the menu.

Appetizer Selection: limited, decent salumi.

Pizza: Some of the best I've had in Atlanta. Super thin, hot, bubbly slightly charred crust. Crisp, not floppy.

What we ordered: Nana's with sausage & roasted red pepper, white clam, and finally the caramelized onion with emmenthaler cheese and mushrooms.

Wine: Stephen Vincent Crimson for $6/$28. A great glass of full-bodied wine for the price, I'll be seeking it out in my local wine store.

Promo: Tweet or update your Facebook from the table and show your server - get a free slice of cake. Genius.... nearly free exposure for the cost of - literally - a piece of cake.

The cake itself: Skip the boozy Italian Cream Cake and go for the chocolate.

Minty Fresh

2009-08-10T20:53:00.003-04:00

If you're anything like me you have a gazillion online accounts for more or less every website you frequent. Financially speaking, I think I have at least 10 different login/password combinations for everything from my car to our mortgage to the water/trash/sewer provider from eight years ago. There are some services like Password Wallet that will keep these straight for you, but I wanted to see all my accounts in one place.

Enter Mint.com. I had heard about this site from some friends and wanted to scope it out. It took a bit of time, but within about an hour, I had all of our assets, investments, debts, and spending trends in front of me in one handy place! It's particularly useful if you follow Dave Ramsey's Debt Snowball plan (highly recommended by Blog Soup), as it lists your debts in order from smallest to largest. Even more convenient is their budgeting tool. You can get extremely specific with what you spend in each category monthly (alcohol at the wine store ::cough cough:: what???), and set a budget accordingly. Last but not least there are friendly reminder emails letting you know when some of your bills are due.

Similar products like Quicken are popular as well; however Quicken wouldn't sync with my mortgage servicer so that was a big negative and I couldn't feasibly use their service longterm.

Since signing up I have to say I'm in love! Play around with it yourself and see if it works for you.

Three Dollar Cafe - Roswell Road

2009-08-06T10:34:00.005-04:00

I challenge you to name a better hangover cure than salty bar food after a night of debauchery! Hard to do, isn't it? I sure could go for some right about now...

Lucky for us we have some of the best pub fare in Atlanta right down the street from us. Three Dollar Cafe on Roswell Road has a great menu full of homemade goodies and the best hot wings I have ever had. Extra crispy and served with homemade blue cheese dressing, these wings will knock Buffalo on it's behind. The teryaki ones are hard to beat as well. I've been a fan of Locos for a pretty long time, but since being introduced to Three Dollar by chums Ali & Byron, my loyalties have changed!

Although the Roswell Road location doesn't have a website, the menu at the Norcross location is about the same. Click here for details.

What we've had and loved:

Wings - either the hot or teryaki with the homemade blue cheese dressing

Cheeseburger with bacon

Reuben Sandwich

Fried Chicken Salad

Mozzarella sticks - awesome

Jerk wrap with black beans

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

Fries -- yummy thick cut steak fries

Skip for something else:

Onion rings - these are good but they're more breaded than battered and I like a nice beer batter on my onion rings.

Television Xanadu

2009-07-31T12:11:00.005-04:00

It's been a doozie of a summer - not much to select from on the ol' boob tube. Hubs and I have upped our Netflix count lately to get us through some rather boring summer evenings; HBO's cop drama The Wire has been our show of choice lately. Bravo has had some gems with NYC Prep (trainwreck) and the can't-miss premiere of Real Housewives of Atlanta (double trainwreck). We have gotten a couple good laughs out of Wipeout - my favorite parts of this show is the commentary and the BIG BALLS. Check out Jill's big ball FAIL:

But I digress...this post is entitled Television Xanadu, not Netflix Xanadu. In just a few short weeks, some of my favorite shows are coming back to the idiot box! Rejoice!

First and foremost: Mad Men. Don Draper and I will be reunited on Sunday, August 16th at 10pm via AMC. In the words of January Jones, who plays Betty Draper, "the season is a little dirtier, a little grittier." Dirtier? Yes...with three olives please!!

Next on the schedule: Flipping Out on Bravo! Premieres Monday, August 18. Everyone's favorite high maintenance real estate queen is back! How will he handle this crazy housing market?

Tuesday 8/19 marks the return of Top Chef. This season will be coming at us from Vegas. I wonder if there will be any scenes of Colicchio hanging out at the Thunder From Down Under?

Rounding out Xanadu week on Wednesday 8/20, we'll head over to Lifetime for a cup of chamomile tea, a thousand cats and a rainy afternoon with a movie about teen pregnancy. Ok not really, but that's my perception of the Lifetime network. In their biggest victory in probably, well.... ever, Project Runway will be debuting on Lifetime.

And finally, although it's a bit further away, Fox's new show choir program Glee will premiere 9/9/09. Bring on the sequins and the jazz hands, and let's do a celebratory box step!

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming...

New & Improved...

2009-07-30T22:48:00.005-04:00

Welcome to the all new, recently snazzified Blog Soup! I thought it was time for a facelift. Thanks to the folks at Hot Bliggity Blog for the inspiration!

Beer Dip!

2009-07-30T18:23:00.004-04:00

Life in the social circles I run in wouldn't quite be the same if it weren't for the introduction of Beer Dip by my friend Stacey. This dip began as just a small, everyday dip and now it has developed into nothing short of a phenomenon. Give it a try for your next party, or even your next breakfast.

Beer Dip

2 - 8oz packages cream cheese

1 packet dry ranch dressing mix (not DIP mix, dressing mix)

1/2 c. beer - drink the rest, obviously

Shredded cheddar cheese

Combine soft cream cheese, dressing mix and beer. The consistency will be weird at first, but just keep stirring. When the consistency becomes thick and smooth, add cheese. Stir to combine. Top with more cheese to taste. Best served with pretzels, wheat thins, or veggie of choice. A few notes from the chef herself: A few notes on the recipe...

+ don't use fat free cream cheese

+use whatever beer you have on hand

+keep stirring, keep stirring Enjoy!

Tasty Wines On The Cheap

2009-07-25T18:55:00.005-04:00

A few weeks back we picked up a Vinotemp wine cooler at our trusty neighborhood warehouse club. We've started to add a finer bottle or two to our, erm...collection (if you could call it that), and we thought it only right that these little babies be stored properly. The nice thing about this unit is that it can be used as a standalone, or it can be installed underneath your kitchen counter because it has a front exhaust. Someday, this lil' lady will be staring out at me from my brand new designer kitchen, complete with Ceasarstone quartz countertops, a prep sink on that huge island I'll have, maybe a copper exhaust hood.... am I getting carried away? Anyway...someday. Times being what they are, we've had our eye out for some easy drinkin', big flavored everyday wines that are friendly to the pocketbook. We've found a couple real palate pleasers that are well worth your $10 or $15 bones.

McManis Cab is the first that bears mentioning. We were tipped off on this one by our friends Brad & Ashley a few months ago during our trip to Napa & Sonoma. even though we hadn't caught our eye until recently, it seems to be everywhere now. What I like about it is that its a nice big cab but it will only run you about $9-12 max. We just picked up a bottle of the Pinot Noir tonight as well, so once we give that one a taste, I'll be sure to post the update.

This second one's a real charmer at just $5.99 a bottle. Mallee Point Cabernet comes to us from Down Under. I was floored when I found out it's made by the same folks who produce Yellowtail. Personally I think it's about 50 times better than the standard Yellowtail - it's got a nice full body and some flavors of chocolate and dark fruit. (How official did that sound!!) For 6 smackers, it can't be beat.

For you whitey lovers, pick up a bottle of NO Sauvignon Blanc. Typically selling for between $7-9, this wine skips the oak barrels and malolactic fermentation (big fancy wine words) and what's left is a crisp, citrusy beautiful white wine that would be perfect for sipping with grilled shrimp or maybe even some guac and chips.

Thank God wine is good for your heart. I must have the healthiest heart in three counties!!

DIY Pot Rack

2009-07-24T11:16:00.008-04:00

Have I told you that we live in an apartment with a teeny, tiny little kitchen? Not ideal for a cook like me who likes all kinds of gadgets, gizmos and the latest cookware. But.... in the words of the beloved Tim Gunn, it's all about making it work. It's hard for me to believe that hubs and I thrashed and fought with our seemingly unexistant cabinet space for nearly 12 months in this apartment before putting the pedal to the metal and getting funkdified with some storage solutions for our pots and pans. The goal: open up the limited space for other much needed kitchen items. Exhibit A: Our small kitchen. We do have a nice little breakfast bar, and behind that our sink and a teensy square of counter space which is our main prep area. See that larger door on the back wall? That will come into play in a minute. Please excuse the crudeness of the photo - I didn't make the kitchen too pretty for today's photo shoot. Exhibit B: Our FOUR cabinets. Yes - four. How's a girl supposed to make do? With only two drawers and essentially four full size cabinets to work with, putting the dishes away after making dinner every night was becoming a regular WWE match. Remember that door I mentioned before? It leads to our laundry area. There's some wire shelving in the laundry closet, so time to put some of that negative space to use!

Feelin' crafty at Home Depot one day, I picked up 7 or 8 S-hooks in which to begin construction on my basic pot rack. I just wanted to get these suckers out of the way so I'd have more room for baking dishes, cutting boards, my crock pot and stock pot -- and also so I wouldn't have ro rearrange the cabinets each time I wanted to take something out or put it away. The plan was to thread the S-hooks through some of the wire shelving, secure them so they didn't come unthreaded when pots are removed, and get me some more usable cabinet space in my thumbprint kitchen! See? Pretty little S-hook. I think I purchased 8 hooks for a grand total of $2.12 at Home Depot.

Being in a very un-permanent apartment, I'm going for function over form here. The first step was to hang some hooks without securing them so I could play with the layout of the pots. I didn't want them banging into each other and getting scratched or nicked. When I had my design as I liked it, I threaded the hooks through the wire shelving. To secure the hooks, I went with something I had on hand.... rubber bands! Simple, easy, functional and FREE! To secure the hooks, first thread them through the wire, then wrap and twist the rubber band around the middle of the hook and then up to the top of the S, forming an enclosure. This will ensure that the hooks don't come flying when you go to remove a pot in a hurry. As soon as the hooks were secured, it was time to hang my pots and reclaim my cabinet space! Hallelujah praise be AMEN!!!

And now for the final product!

Not too shabby, eh? This was the perfect solution to our space problem, and now using & putting away our pots and pans is a breeze. Plus I have easier access to all the other kitchen goodies I need in my cabinets!

Kiiiind of Obsessed

2009-07-23T16:07:00.009-04:00

It's been about a week since I first stumbled upon Young House Love, thanks to my friend Julie. The first night I happened upon the site, I think I was on it for ohhhh only about 5 hours. The fearsome twosome is the tops when it comes to decorating & remodeling... and often doing so on a shoestring budget. Room makeovers, great decor tricks, and my favorite - the mood boards - make this site one to add to your daily repertoire. For example, check out the deliciousness that is this mood board - suggestions for an office makeover.

I myself have had a bit of the decorating bug a bit lately, for good reasons soon to be revealed on this blog. In the meantime, I'm scouring the internet for the best and brightest and this site definitely tops my list.

Word Clouds

2009-07-20T14:03:00.003-04:00

Hello peeps. Looking for some fun artwork on the cheap? Check out Wordle.net and create some badass word clouds.

Spaghetti with asparagus and poached egg

2009-07-06T20:57:00.002-04:00

I saw this recipe in the newest Everyday Food. I couldn't find the frisee at my store, and I didn't feel like going to whole foods, so I just used asparagus instead to break up the richness of the bacon and egg. It was sooo good. Here's the original recipe.

How I reworked it: Makes 2 servings Coarse salt and ground pepper 1/4 pound spaghetti 4 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces (I used the ready bacon you just micro for 30 sec) 1 large head frisee, chopped (I used about 15 spears of asparagus cut to 2" length) 2 large eggs Grated Parmesan, for serving (optional) Directions In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente. During the last minute of cooking, blanch asparagus. drain pasta/asparagus and transfer to a large bowl. Meanwhile, cook bacon in microwave. Soft poach eggs. Chop bacon into 1/2" pieces. Season pasta/asparagus with salt and pepper. Serve pasta topped with Parmesan (if desired) and a poached egg.

Hearth Pizza - Sandy Springs

2009-05-29T11:17:00.004-04:00

My heart always sinks when I walk into a restaurant only to see tables full of dirty dishes. It's a dead giveaway that the restaurant is either understaffed, or that they have little to no skill when it comes to time management. Unfortunately, this was the case when we walked into Hearth Pizza Tavern in Sandy Springs last night. We probably should have just turned around and gone to Canton Cooks next door, but something compelled us to stay.

Had driven by the place several times, so hubs and I decided that next time we wanted some pizza we'd give them a try. Having looked at their menu online, the place looked promising. I'm a lover of the hearth fired pizza, so I was excited to try a new little neighborhood place. The hostess cleaned off a table for us, and we were seated. Immediately I began feeling my seat vibrate because the music was so damn loud. When our waiter finally came around (10 minutes later), he was happy to turn it down for us. We ordered our drinks, and after another 8 minutes or so, those arrived. 1 water, 1 beer. The whole time we were amusedly watching the bartender make key lime martinis with little tubs of coffee creamer, as apparently they had run out a decent sized container of cream. We ordered an appetizer, two salads and pizza. At this point, hubs sarcastically commented on how great it would be if everything came out at once. I was hoping this wouldn't happen.

Anoter 15 minutes pass by, and voila... salads and app show up at the same time. 45 seconds later, pizza comes out. GREAT.

Overall quality of the food was just so-so. The eggplant chips we ordered as our app were just ok - lacking salt and flavor overall. But it's eggplant, so what can you expect. The salads were a nice size and had some good extra veggies -- cukes, red pepper, onion, carrot, etc... not just lettuce which I appreciated. The salads also came with their "hearth bread" which to me looked like it had just come out of the oven at Subway. Meh. Hubs had the chicken/pesto/goat cheese pizza which was better than my meatball pizza with caramelized onions and roasted red peppers.

Our waiter never came back to check on us, however the manager did stop by to refill our waters. We mentioned the timing to him, and he just gave an excuse that we came in during the busy time. Nice. He offered to buy us dessert, but we declined... however when he brought the check he did include a few cards for free 8" pizzas. After we paid the bill and were walking out, I noticed more dirty tables and what looked like some chicken on the floor. Free pizzas or not, I'm not sure we'll go back.

Happy Friday!

2009-05-22T09:48:00.001-04:00

http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

Bonanno sale!

2009-04-29T08:41:00.003-04:00

I just received my first pair of Stephen Bonanno sandals a few weeks ago and let me just say, I can't wait to order my next pair! I have the Palm Beach Classic in platinum/platinum and they go wtih everything. And they're uber comfy too!

It's time for the annual Sunfest Sale at Bonanno, this Wednesday - Sunday (Apr 29 - May 3). They're offering $20 off all styles of Sandals. Remember, these are fully customizable, 100% leather, crafted one pair at a time lovelies, not mass produced!

Happy shopping :)

Selling our house

2009-04-23T12:41:00.003-04:00

Hi Y'all!

Time for a little shameless advertising on this here blog that I (or rather Google) owns. We are selling our house in KC. It's newly remodeled and has brand new hardwood floors as well as an updated kitchen with granite tops and stainless appliances. Here are some photos. Please pass on to anyone you might know who's looking in KC... it's a great community with a lake, swimming pool, the works. Thanks!

5119 SW Snowy Egret, Lee's Summit MO 64082 $249,900

kitchen:

Another view of the kitchen:

Hearth Room:

Living Room:

Master Bedroom with tray ceiling:

Another view of Living Room with new hardwoods:

Eat-in kitchen:

Huge deck for parties, backs to park.

Pimento Cheese Grilled Cheese Sam'wiches

2009-04-22T09:55:00.003-04:00

Hi.... don't hate me because I haven't posted in awhile. Here's a tasty recipe to try when you need something quick for dinner or a weekend lunch!

Pimento Cheese Grilled Cheese Sammies

Serves 2

4 oz cream cheese (1/2 a block)

2 T. mayo

4 oz. shredded cheddar

cayenne pepper

2 oz pimentos, drained

4 slices bread

butter

Stir together cream cheese, cayenne and mayo, then add shredded cheddar and pimentos. Return mixture to refrigerator to set up. Butter 4 slices of bread, spread mixture between slices. Grill in a pan over medium heat until golden brown. Goes extremely well with Pacific Foods Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup!

Oh the things you can buy on the internet!!

2009-03-20T16:07:00.002-04:00

iPod/iPhone accessory review - Belkin TuneBase FM with ClearScan

2009-03-18T10:15:00.003-04:00

While the new iPhone has pretty decent speakers, they just don't do the job when it comes to listening to your iPizzle in the car. Hence my purchase of the Belkin TuneBase FM with ClearScan. I picked it up at Target for about $90 (but luckily had some gift cards).

Upon first impression, I really like this little device. First of all, I like that it stands up straight and doesn't have any messy cords to deal with. Nice, neat package. Secondly, it auto-scans FM frequencies to find a station that will work well. Yes, there's still a bit of static here and there -- which is to be expected, especially in larger cities -- but overall it's a nice addition to my suite of iPizzle accessories. Definitely a must have if you want to listen to your iPod/iPhone in the car.

30 is knocking

2009-03-12T21:18:00.003-04:00

The big 3-0 is in May, so hubs and I are heading out to Wine Country and San Fran with a few friends to celebrate! Bring on the wine and relaxation, PLEASE!

We are staying at the Fairmont Mission Inn & Spa in Sonoma:

I would love to hear winery recs, restaurant recs, or any other good info you have regarding some good times in No. Cal. We did get a reservation at The French Laundry on my birthday, and for that I am insanely excited :)

Rosa Mexicano

2009-03-09T09:28:00.005-04:00

Headed over to Rosa Mexicano in Atlantic Station this past Friday night. I love Mexican so I was excited to try a new place. Rosa goes for the upscale Mexican vibe. The decor is nice - nothing special. We ordered a pitcher of sangria as well as some tableside guac (a must have). I will say the size of the sangria pitcher was quite generous, which was a welcome suprise. The tableside guac is probably their most popular item and for good reason. It was fresh, had nice pieces of avocado and was made well. We asked for medium spiciness but I really didn't detect any heat at all. There were two salsas served on the side-- a green salsa that had lots of heat (yummy) as well as a red salsa that was way too smoky.

The service was attentive for the most part, except towards the end when we were trying to get our check. More on that later. For dinner, I ordered the appetizer sized rolled chicken tacos to share with my sister in law. They were pretty basic -- came with a queso fresco as well as some crema and some nice green salsa. Mason got the Chamorro, which was a pork shank that was touted as "crispy and marinated". The flavor was just ok -- there was really no "crisp" on the outside, but it was very tender. Julie, my sister in law, had the pork tacos. They came with some nice pickled onions, but overall, they were very meh.

We had to feed a meter before we went into the restaurant, so hubs set a reminder on his phone to go back out and feed it before it expired. He ran over to where our car was parked to find a meter maid just waiting to write him a ticket with one minute left on the meter. UGH. He pumped some more change into the meter, bought us another 15 minutes, and headed back to the restaurant. That's one thing to note -- change does not buy you a lot of time in Atlantic Station. We probably would have stayed longer, but with only 15 minutes left on the meter, we were ready to head out. It was difficult to find our server, but we finally got our check and headed out. With all the other choices for Mexican in Atlanta, I'd probably try a few more places before going back to Rosa Mexicano.

It's The Dead of Winter

2009-01-14T08:38:00.001-05:00

So kindly take a moment out of your day to read this warming summer tale, so eloquently told by my friend Otis.

Nips Galore

2009-01-08T23:50:00.002-05:00

I found myself walking past a few different Ann Taylor stores this week, and I don't know WHAT is going on with their mannequins. They have some serious nippage sticking out. It's pretty weird. Go see for yourself!

2008-12-24T12:03:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas all! We are headed to KC to see the Plaza Lights. Happy New Year!

One Midtown Kitchen deal

2008-12-21T11:05:00.003-05:00

Every week Sunday - Thursday, get 2 courses for $20 or 3 courses for $25 at One Midtown Kitchen. Let's also not forget about their bottomless glasses o' wine!

2 subscriptions to Cooking Light for $10

2008-12-18T12:46:00.002-05:00

Get one for yourself and a friend for only $10!

http://www.cookinglight.com/magazine/

Pioneer Woman Recipes

2008-12-14T11:45:00.002-05:00

I am trying a few recipes by The Pioneer Woman this weekend.

#1. Chile con Queso, Revved Up:

and #2: Brisket, Baby.

Both of which will most likely be used to make these sometime during the week. Sounds like a healthy week at my house!! Whatever, it's the holidays. Thank you PW for these delectable looking pictures of your haute cuisine.

Coming up for air

2008-12-13T00:10:00.002-05:00

There's not much kickin' in Blog Soup land right now except for work, work, work. With the way the economy is, I'm not complaining one bit. Hopefully after the new year I should have a bit more time on my hands with which to update this blog. Please stay tuned!

I'm excited for our Christmas/New Year's plans... we are heading back to KC to spend several days with family & friends. I don't know how, but each of our 9 days now has some type of activity attached to it. It will be quite busy, but loads of fun. I can't wait.

In case you were wondering... the Real Housewives addiction has now moved cross-country to Orange County. Thank God for losing myself in crap TV!

Hallelujah!

2008-12-03T18:54:00.002-05:00

WSB-TV just reported that Joseph Waters, 48, has been arrested on a felony charge of animal cruelty. He'll be in court tomorrow afternoon. I hope you get a dog lover judge, phuck stick.

The clinic says that Murphy is doing quite well, and is just coming out of surgery. Before surgery, he was trying to sit up, bark and whine a bit -- also a good sign.

Calls have been pouring in from around the country, and well wishers continue to drop off toys and flowers for him. Donations to his cause can be made at any Wachovia branch.

Best news of the day!!!

Update

2008-12-03T12:24:00.002-05:00

Ok so the story below has still been weighing heavily on my mind. I called the vet where Murphy the dog is being cared for - he is being taken care of at Pets are People Too in Dunwoody, GA. They told me that the kind person that found him in the park has taken ownership of him and is organizing fundraising efforts for his care. More info should be available later in the day through WSB-TV as well as the AJC.

Poor guy. Please keep him in your prayers.

Why Why WHY

2008-12-03T10:13:00.003-05:00

I saw this story on the news last night. No preview, it just came and slapped me in the face. I was bawling after I saw it. Normally I don't post things like this as I like to keep this blog happy, but everytime I see or hear something related to animal abuse it just breaks me down. I don't understand how people can be so heartless to poor defenseless animals. It literally makes me sick to my stomach. I hugged my dog extra long last night. I will let this serve as a little public service announcement for ASPCA as well... there IS something we can do about it!

Dog beaten with sledgehammer in DeKalb park

By DAVID SIMPSON

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Investigators are asking the public’s help in finding out who struck a dog with a sledgehammer in a northDeKalb County park.

A passerby found a male brown-and-black shepherd mix with a severe head wound at Murphy Candler Park, off Ashford Dunwoody Road, on Tuesday morning, said county police spokeswoman Keisha Williams.

The dog was in critical condition at a veterinary clinic, police said.

Animal cruelty investigators found a short-handled sledgehammer and think the attack took place at the park, Williams said. Investigators are looking for anyone who saw anything unusual at the park from 9 p.m. Monday to 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Witnesses may call 404-294-2818.

***

WSB reported last night that the dog is being cared for and that the vet is optimistic.

BigOven

2008-12-02T08:21:00.002-05:00

Last night I spent some time stalking the App Store and I found this cool new application - BigOven. It allows you to access recipes anywhere -- so at the grocery store, while you're trying to figure out dinner, etc. This is perfect for me because I can't count the number of times that I've been at the store and forget one specific ingredient. It also allows you to mark favorite recipes and also recipes you'd like to try. You can also post your own recipes to the site. Check it.

I hate the new Jeopardy theme

2008-11-25T19:59:00.002-05:00

Those who know me well know that I love Jeopardy and trivia games in general. That being said, I hate the sound of this new theme! Boo! Bring back the old Jeopardy theme! Listen to it! Isn't it bad?

Real Housewives Reunion Show Tonight

2008-11-25T19:26:00.002-05:00

Who is tha bomb diggity when it comes to RHofA trivia?! Make no mistake, it's ME! Yeeah boi! Don't forget to tune into Bravo tonight for the weave-rippin', finger-pointin', bewb flauntin' reunion show!

Are these scrunchable? Can they be layered?

2008-11-19T18:34:00.001-05:00

Someone please tell me WTF. Especially you, #2.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta... aka Hot Mess '08

2008-11-12T20:35:00.002-05:00

So to say I am absolutely lapping up every last bit of the delicious gravy that is Real Housewives of Atlanta is an understatement. LOVE this show, and in my opinion it is the worst representation of Atlanta in history. Or maybe the best, depending on who you are. Either way, it is 100% pure total trash and I can't think of a better way to spend my Tuesday night. In fact, last night I was a bit upset that I missed it because we were out with a friend kicking ass at trivia. Luckily I caught up on all the Southern Fried Cattiness today. With only one episode left, here are some observations on the frilly five:

Kim: Ok she's probably my favorite story line going right now. Girlfriend thinks she is going to waltz right into a recording studio and become an overnight sensation, when she doesn't even know the first thing about music and she smokes brown-filtered 120 cigs INSIDE her townhouse all day. (And can we talk about the fact that she is in a townhouse?? Everyone else has their McMansion and Miss Barbie Crispwig is chillin in her duplex.) I think her line to NeNe about being a "low budget bitch" was hilarious and well thought out... but ultimately just retaliation against NeNe's observations regarding her lack of true talent. My prediction is that Kim will remain Lee Najjar's sugarbaby and her career is going to take off straight into the crapper.

Sheree: Obviously this woman's sense of "working her ass off" to get her clothing line off the ground means hiring shitty seamstresses and numerous personal assistants to do all of her work for her, and then just looking tired and disheveled as if she had done all the work. For some reason the fact that she barely ever gets emotional about anything really bugs. And does she ever actually mother her children? I can't wait for Mychael Knight to appear next week and give her a good schoolin' on what it takes to get a clothing line going.

Lisa: I actually like Lisa. She is sweet, but boring. Give me the drama!!!

DeShawn: I think Shawnie is the classiest of the bunch. Every time she is on screen, I am mesmerized by the fact that she can talk without moving her lips at all. I gotta hand it to her for trying to clear the air within the group by hosting a sunset barbecue (what was with that one really long table?) That went over like a bag of shit, for real. I really felt for her when her "Night of A Thousand Stars" totally bombed. Lesson learned I suppose, you got to charge people for charity tickets! I did think it was a little odd that her giant mug adorned the front of the invite. Klassy.

NeNe: Love me some NeNe. Out of all of them, I think she is the most down to earth & realistic. Give me some three snaps in a Z-formation please. She called it on Kim, and I'm glad Kim retaliated just for the drama factor, but sister had it right on about her talent. It will be interesting to see how the season wraps up between the two of them - the preview hinted at a nice looking cat fight. Bring it!

I would like to thank the fabulous Heidi for inspiring this post. I KNOW she has some great insight into this show and I can't wait to read all about it!

CNN vs. Fox News

2008-11-04T22:45:00.003-05:00

If there was any doubt in your mind that CNN is the superior news network, this clip should clear up any questions. In a strikingly powerful move by the Atlanta based network, CNN pulled out all the stops tonight and used holograms to illustrate congressional races and make reporters in Chicago look to be in studio. Killer!!! Not to mention that CNN also broadcasts in HD, and for some reason, Fox News is nowhere to be found on the HD channels (in ATL at least). FN's graphics do not even compare, and don't get me started on their reporting or their slogan "Fair and Balanced." They are about as balanced as Ron White after 8 whiskeys on premier night of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. Sounds like Fox News and the Republican party both have lots of work to do.

CNN 1, Fox News big fat goose egg.

Ode to Convenience

2008-10-17T21:04:00.007-04:00

Sometimes yours truly is a traditionalist when it comes to doing certain things. For example, I believe in making your own marinara sauce and cooking it low and slow. If I ever want my husband to do anything, I make sauce. Most of my friends know that it's the #1 trick I have up my sleeve for getting shit done around here. But let's be honest, sometimes you just don't have the time, patience or gumption to cook a homemade meal from scratch every daggum night. Hence this post. I have been trying a few convenience items here and there, and for the most part, I have liked them. I don't even have very much room to talk when it comes to stress, kids, and the like... it's just my hubs and I so for the most part, I have it pretty easy. For those of you out there who've been teetering on the brink of insanity trying to balance it all, give a few of these pups a try.

#1. Kraft Easy Mac

Comes in a bazillion different flavors, pre-portioned so you won't accidentally down a bucket of mac & cheese. The triple cheese is my favorite so far. Since I'm not originally from the South, I grew up on the stuff in the blue box and I'm not ashamed to say that I still like some Kraft every once in awhile, which basically means 4-5 times per week. 3 and a half minutes in the microwave and this baby is ready to go. Perfect for lunch at work at only 220 calories for the whole thing. Gets the job done.

#2. Ore Ida Steam & Mash Potatoes

Usually I am a total purist when it comes to any and all things potato. But, due to a coupon I had, I decided to try these out. I bought the plain russet variety and Christ on a bicycle, these were good! 10 minutes in the microwave and these little nuggets of starchy joy are steamed up and ready to smash into velvety goodness. Mix in anything you want for added flavor, or you also have the option of buying the roasted garlic, three cheese or some other varieties I can't remember right now. I kept it simple and did a little milk, butter, salt and pepper. They have a great earthy flavor and could easily win a spot on anyone's Thanksgiving table. 80 calories per 3/4 cup, and about 7 servings in each bag. Or three servings if you are me.

#3. Google Chrome

The bomb diggity when it comes to internet browsers. I don't know how all the 1's and 0's work, but it's faster than IE, Safari, or Firefox combined. I highly recommend downloading it if you're not working on some locked down work laptop. You will like. Still a few bugs here and there as it is in Beta..... and by bugs I am referring to freaking Blogger right now as I am trying to edit this damn thing and I can't resize my pictures.... but I'm sure they'll figure them out.

#4. World Market Red Wine Sale. Because let's face it people, 12 bottles of wine for a mere $82 is a steal, even in this economy! About a hundred brands are on sale. Gitcha ass over there.

The best bang for your buck

2008-10-14T17:53:00.002-04:00

Stop what you are doing and Bang Head Here.

This shiz is written by the funniest person I know, Miss Otis Campbell. Welcome to blogland Otie!

Rock the Vote

2008-10-13T18:01:00.001-04:00

I have decided that I will vote for any Georgia politicians who support lifting the ban on Sunday liquor sales. It is really the only Georgia law that affects me.

Tag I'm It!!

2008-10-12T19:27:00.002-04:00

The fabulous Heidi in STL tagged me, so here we go... 5 Joys 1. spending time with my husband, doesn't matter what we are doing 2. seeing my dog's lip get caught in her tooth so she gets that funny snarl thing going on 3. the blooming of flowers in springtime 4. spending time with extended family 5. those days when a new article of clothing makes you feel like complete hawtness 5 Fears 1. dying alone 2. being in a car accident 3. regret 4. how I will feel when someone close to me dies 5. I think the above 4 pretty much cover it. 5 Obsessions 1. checking email 2. clipping and using coupons - it's a sport 3. RB 4. CNN 5. organizing things and using my label maker whenever possible 5 Surprising Facts 1. I have been in the following musicals: Music Man, Oliver, Bye Bye Birdie, Guys & Dolls, and South Pacific. 2. New York City is my absolute favorite city on Earth. I have been at least 6 times. I went for the first time at age 13 - my grandma took me for my birthday. We stayed at the St. Moritz on Central Park South and we had a park view. I didn't know how good we had it. 3. My first job was at a horrendous late 80's/early 90's clothing store called Hit or Miss. One time, a cross dresser walked in. I couldn't tell when he was up front because I could just see his leather jacket on top, but I could definitely tell when he walked past me in a skirt and heels. 4. I stopped eating pancakes for 2 years in high school due to my employment at Gramma Sally's Pancake House. Couldn't stand the sight or smell of them. 5. I have been to 30 of 50 states. I am missing most of the Pacific Northwest and New England. I'd like to cross them all off of my list by age 40. Hmmm....who to tag?? 1. Leslie at Elite Entrees 2. Carrie at My Life in Piktures 3. Sam at Cakes by Combs 4. Trish at Bang Head Here 5. Sarah at Jagged Diary

Pineapple Chipotle Fish Tacos

2008-10-10T09:27:00.002-04:00

I am always looking for ways to incorporate more seafood into our diet at home, so I had to post about these fish tacos. This is a mix of several different recipes, but I didn't have all the ingredients from any of them, so I just improvised. So yum! Pineapple Chipotle Fish Tacos from Blog Soup

For the fish & marinade: 2 medium size filets of mahi mahi, tilapia or orange roughy 1/4 c. pineapple juice 1/4 c. lime juice salt & pepper oregano For the tacos: 4-6 flour or corn tortillas shredded lettuce or napa cabbage 1/2 cup Jack's natural salsa (I like this brand because it tastes like you just made it - can usually be found in the deli) 1 fresh pineapple spear, chopped 3 T. sour cream 6-7 dashes tabasco chipotle sauce Marinate the fish in the juices and spices for 1-2 hours. Remove from marinade and slice into 1/4" pieces. Add to a skillet on medium heat. Saute, but keep an eye on them, because the sugars from the juices will allow the fish to burn. In the meantime, warm the tortillas in the microwave. To make the chipotle crema, mix tabasco and sour cream. Combine chopped pineapple with ready-made salsa. Assemble tacos and serve open faced. I like to serve these with hint-of-lime chips and pomegranate guacamole: 2 avocados, mashed 3 green onions, fine chop 1/3 english cucumber, fine chop arils of one pomegranate cumin salt & pepper lime juice Enjoy!

This Is Not An Hourly Rate

2008-09-30T16:09:00.001-04:00

By CLARA BOSONETTO MAERZ For The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tuesday, September 30, 2008 Get ready for what could quite possibly be the sale of the year! And, the shortest. For just 80 minutes starting at 8:00am on October 1, a number of the most prestigious and elegant hotels that make up the collection of Leading Hotels of the World will celebrate the company’s founding year of 1928 - and eight decades of hospitality - with a limited number of rooms going for just $19.28 per night, double occupancy. Nearly 100 worldwide properties hotels will be offering the one price sale which represents savings of up to several hundred dollars a night. Here’s your chance to stay in the lap of luxury for a pittance! U.S. locations include: • Enchantment Resort & Mii Amo Spa, Sedona, Arizona • Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley, California • The Hay-Adams, Washington, D.C. • The Biltmore, Miami-Coral Gables • The James Chicago • Wheatleigh, Lenox, Massachusetts • La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa, Santa Fe, New Mexico • The Alex Hotel, New York City Other leading European destinations include: • Hotel de l’Europe, Amsterdam • Grand Hotel Villa Medici, Villa La Massa or Hotel Regency, Florence • Hotel Lord Byron, Rome • The Taleon Imperial Hotel, St. Petersburg • Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I, Barcelona • The Dolder Grand, Zurich • The Langham, London Other locations in the Caribbean, Central and South America, Asia and South Africa are offered at the same amazingly low price of $19.28. The $19.28 per night rate can be booked for one or a maximum of two nights with extra nights at standard rates. The special rate is valid even over weekends, but those most flexible will land the deal far easier. Stays are valid on this sale price from November 1-December 15. Have a look at the Web site to pre-register for the sale. Rooms at this rate will sell out fast. So, peruse the list of choices and get ready to pre-pay your stays starting at 8:00am on Wednesday, October 1. http://www.lhw.com/1928

Airlines have sunk to a new low

2008-09-30T09:07:00.002-04:00

Warning, this is a vent post. I am beyond annoyed with the airlines right now. Unfortunately, we have had a death on my husband's side of the family and we need to get to Oklahoma City/ SW Oklahoma on either Thursday or Friday. BUT, because the airlines are so tight these days with everything down to the last bag of peanuts, they no longer offer bereavement fares for domestic flights. It's international flights only. I am floored by this - I just think that morally and ethically, it is a new low. They are capitalizing on the misfortune and grief of Americans. Ugh, I am disgusted.

Get Your Food Coma on at Fogo

2008-09-26T08:58:00.005-04:00

I can't imagine my life without red meat, which is why I will never become a vegetarian. Just can't do it. That being said, it's hard for me not to like Fogo de Chao. I am a diner that loves to have lots of choices, and Fogo is just perfect for that. You don't have to settle on just one thing, and samples of everything are ripe for the taking. Though I'm sure most of you are familiar, Fogo de Chao is a Brazilian steakhouse featuring many different fire-roasted meats, lots of fresh veggies, some traditional and non-traditional sides, as well as a fairly admirable wine list.

Let's start with the salad bar. I love that it's not your standard lettuce/tomato/cucumber kind of place. I'm a huge fan of the parmesan wheel, the endive and butter lettuces, the fat asparagus, fresh mozzarella and the homemade dressings. The ranch is cool and creamy and the parmesan peppercorn has a nice sharp flavor. The basil dressing is to die for as well. The bar is always fresh and is presented quite well. With the many servers they have walking around the place, it is well tended to to say the very least. I also must make mention of the parmesan brioche rolls served at the table. O...M...G. These are flippin fantastic. The bread is so light and airy and the parmesan is perfectly melted within. I could eat like 17 of them.

Now on to the meat. Oh, meat. Fogo serves over 15 varieties of chicken, sausage, pork, lamb and beef. There is truly something for everyone. Personally, I like beef the best so that's what I concentrate on. My attitude is that you might as well get your money's worth. As for the non-beef choices, I prefer the lambchops and the pork tenderloin. I have found the sausage, chicken, and pork rib dishes to be a little less than satisfying... and with so many other choices, I would just rather move on. The top sirloin is a favorite, but nothing, and I mean absolutely NOTHING tops the beef ancho ribeye. I love a little crust on the outside of my red meat, and the ribeye's is mouthwatering. Absolutely nothing could add to it -- it is perfection in itself. Love love love it. The only beef I would really pass on is the bacon wrapped filet... it comes in small chunks and every time I've had it, it's usually overcooked and dry. Not one of their strong points unfortunately. For me it's all ribeye, all the way.

Lunch and dinner menus are the same. We've been for both... personally I say go for lunch -- it's $29.50 per person vs. the $48.50 per person charge for dinner. Eat your big meal during the day... maybe when you don't have to go back to work... and save yourself the $20 and spend it on some nice wine. Hubs and I had a half bottle of the J. Lohr Cab with our lunch... nothing super outstanding, but a nice addition to the meal nonetheless.

'Mad Men' walks with 6 Emmys

2008-09-22T09:19:00.003-04:00

My new favorite show, Mad Men, won 6 emmys last night. Props to them! I should add that the show's main character, Don Draper, is played by Jon Hamm who is a graduate of the University of Missouri. So, we've produced him and Brad Pitt.... not a bad docket if I do say so myself.

From AMCTV.com:

"It's official. Mad Men is the best drama on television. The show won an Emmy saying as much, in the process beating out contenders Boston Legal, Damages, Dexter, House and Lost. Creator Matthew Weiner got his own statuette as well for Best Writing, Drama Series for the pilot "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes." (The Best Actor, Drama award went to Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad.) Four other Emmys were awarded to Mad Men as part of the Creative Arts Prime Time Emmys last weekend, giving the series a grand total of six Emmys."

Vegetarian Taco Soup

2008-09-18T21:18:00.002-04:00

I needed to use up a few items in my fridge, and with the weather being just a bit cooler in Atlanta (and BOGO chicken broth), I thought a nice soup would fit the ticket. The cream cheese adds just a touch of velvety texture, and the recipe makes plenty for take-to-work lunches. Vegetarian Taco Soup from Blog Soup 1/2 onion, diced 1.5 T. olive oil 1/2 green pepper, diced 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 can diced tomatoes, drained 3/4 box of chicken broth (I think about 3c.) 1/2 can black beans, drained and rinsed (you can use the whole can if you want) 1 packet taco seasoning 10 jalapeno slices, chopped 3/4 cup of frozen corn or 1 can corn, drained 1 c. mexican blend shredded cheese 4 oz cream cheese avocado and tortilla strips, for garnishing (optional) Heat olive oil in large pot. Sweat onions, green pepper and garlic for about 4 minutes. Add drained tomatoes and seasoning packet, stirring to combine. Add chicken broth, shredded cheese and cream cheese - stir until combined and the lumps are gone. Add the remainder of the vegetables and simmer for 10 minutes on med-low heat to combine flavors. Garnish with sliced avocado and tortilla strips.

Best Place To Blow your Low Carb Diet

2008-09-15T09:39:00.004-04:00

The fries at Five Guys are my absolute favorite. I love me a potato, and the best way to eat it, in my opinion, is hand cut and french fried. There are probably 20+ locations in Atlanta now, so there's one right around the corner from you. If you've never been, definitely stop in and order a custom burger as well as a sack of these fab fries. A small (pictured) will easily serve two people and you also have the option of having them cajun seasoned.

I think the UrbanSpoon rating says it all!

Uh Oh

2008-09-14T19:56:00.001-04:00

So I have finally gotten on Facebook. Seriously, I do not need another internet addiction. I think it's already too late though.

Richard Blais Leaves HOME

2008-09-13T15:21:00.001-04:00

Looks like there may have been a scuffle between Richard Blais and Here to Serve's Tom Catherall. The following was posted on Chef Richard Blais' blog: "So, I have resigned my position at Home as of yesterday. It certainly won’t come as a surprise to many, but for many good reasons I just can’t continue my position there. As an artist, it’s all about creative control. It’s all that matters (at least when it can afford to be all that matters), and the constant struggle between an owner’s view, and a chef’s perspective, has strained me to the point of re-focusing my efforts elsewhere. It’s time to work for myself, and it’s a liberating feeling. I have my current commitments to Bravo/NBC, my creative consulting company Trail Blais and my young family to keep me more than busy. What made my decision very easy were a few uncomfortable meetings, where it was obvious that ownership didn’t value what I brought to the table and were insistent on a very archaic outlook of my position. HOME valued my physical time only, of which at times was limited because of prior commitments. When entering into this partnership, I laid out my full slate of commitments and everything was checked off on and approved. But “in theory” and “in practice” are two different things, I guess. For the record, HOME tallied a four star review, and drove business up from its previous concept by 67 %. It was the first time I achieved those 2 things together. It was the first 4 star restaurant in that company.... and most likely, no, certainly, the last... Home has been full every night with not only people searching out a good meal, but people who were coming for me, whether personally, or creatively, it was pretty apparent that this was a successful concept. It was a chef’s restaurant, a rarity in our city. But it never was the chef’s restaurant, and from the beginning, my most loyal fans knew this. For the first time, it is clear to me, that I am in the position where the guests’ threshold of creativity has reached a parallel with a successful business model. Meaning I think Atlanta is ready for a restaurant that stretches. I know that if it is going to happen in Atlanta, it’s going to happen soon... I hope Home continues with my team in place, as they have been running the restaurant anyway with much of my time devoted to travel. But it was a very simple choice, and for the first time, a decision where money wasn’t an issue. I couldn’t be more pleased and excited. I have FLIP ahead, a project where I am the creative vision, I am booked for 3 months out for appearances, and most importantly, can now take some serious time hanging out with Baby Riley and my wife, who has been working her cream puffs off. As well, there is an interesting opportunity brewing that could mean true artistic freedom."

Things We Can Learn From A Dog

2008-09-13T15:03:00.005-04:00

I have this list on my fridge and I love it. It always makes me smile to read it. In honor of the nature of this post, I'd like to introduce you to Sunnie, our French Bulldog:

She is the lurve of my life! THINGS WE CAN LEARN FROM A DOG: 1. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride. 2. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy. 3. When loved ones come home, run to greet them. 4. When it's in your best interest, always practice obedience. 5. Let others know when they've invaded your territory. 6. Take naps and always stretch before rising. 7. Run, romp and play daily. 8. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. 9. Be loyal. 10. Never pretend to be something you're not. 11. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it. 12. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. 13. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk. 14. Thrive on attention and let people touch you. 15. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do. 16. On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree. 17. When you are happy, dance around and wag your entire body. 18. No matter how often you are criticized, dont buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends.

Frou Frou Friday

2008-09-11T23:05:00.004-04:00

As I begin this post we are t-minus 50 minutes from Friday, which has prompted me to share a few nuggets that I've enjoyed this week that might add a bit of flair to your weekend. Please enjoy. 1. Hubs and I have recently joined a wine club at our neighborhood WineStyles. There are 4 or 5 locations in Atlanta and several around the country. Hubs happened to wander into the one around Perimeter one a few weeks back. It's a small wine store and all the wines are organized by style, or flavor if you will: crisp, fruity, bold, rich, etcetera. It's a nice way to buy wine; most bottles are priced between $10-$25 and the staff is quite knowledgeable about the bottles they have on hand. You are welcome to taste anything they have open: 3x 1oz pours for $2 ...or 6x 1oz pours for $4 is a steal in my book. Guess which one I usually opt for. We joined their club and I am glad we did -- for a bit of cash per month (that we'd spend on juice anyway), we get 2 bottles of wine each month, 10% off the purchase of any other bottles, discounts on tasting parties and some other nice bennies. For $35/mo, it's not a half bad deal. I like to drop by and taste what they have open because it's kind of like going out, but you're not having to do the whole deal of going to a bar. 2. While I was there this week, I happened to pick up a bottle of the following: This is an Australian Cab/Merlot blend and it is a great bottle for under $15. As you can see from this iPhone pic I am enjoying it as I write this post. It is Australian so it's got some nice berry notes. 3. If you are looking for a great app to take to a party or just to enjoy at home, you must make this, courtesy of my friend Leslie at Elite Entrees. She is a superb personal chef and will certainly be more than happy to cook for you should the need or want present itself! In her words, make this.. and then "sit back and rake in the compliments." Fabulous Apricot and Chicken Bruschetta 1 baguette Apricot preserves 3 oz of roasted chicken 3 oz of thin prosciutto Fontina cheese-about 6 oz Preheat oven to 350. Slice baguette into half inch slices and lay on baking sheet. Toast in oven for 10-12 minutes. Remove and let cool a few minutes. Spread half a teaspoon or so of apricot preserves on bread. Top with a slice of fontina cut to fit. Return to oven for a few minutes to soften the cheese. Remove and top with a little bit of the roasted chicken, followed by a portion of the prosciutto. *note from author: also makes a tasty sammy!

Happy Birthday Luvah

2008-09-10T11:55:00.004-04:00

Check out my boyfriend singing on Letterman last night. It also happened to be his 33rd birthday. Astrology.com quotes Virgos as being modest and shy, meticulous and reliable, practical, diligent, intelligent and analytical. On the dark side....fussy and a worrier, overcritical, harsh, perfectionist and conservative. I don't know about you, but he can fuss over me any time. Note the scruffy face. YES.

Eclipse di Luna - Dunwoody

2008-09-09T21:03:00.004-04:00

I tried Eclipse di Luna - Dunwoody this past Saturday night with friends new and old. We had tried to make a last minute reservation on Open Table, but it seems they don't take weekend reservations after 5p on the same day. Oh well, cocktail time! The decor in the space is pretty granola; the ceiling has several Pier1-esque hanging lanters and I think I spotted a few Christmas ornaments too. My favorite part was the large wooden tables - I like that farmhouse feel. For a Saturday night, this place was definitely hoppin' and vibrant -- people were everywhere. Tapas is probably one of my favorite ways of eating. I love all the small plates and just having little nibbles and noshes here and there. There were three of us, and all in all I think we ordered about 8 tapas which ended up being a perfectly sized meal. I'll go through all of them quickly here: Queso Frito con Miel: Fried goat cheese with honey. I think I'm the only foodie in the world who doesn't love goat cheese, but this was good. I liked the bit of caramelized crispiness on the outside. Aceitunas y Almendras: Assorted spanish olives and marcona almonds. Loved the almonds. The olives were a bit salty for me - I prefer a fresher less salty olive. Quesos Espanoles: Spanish cheese tasting served with dates and a chili honey. The machego was fantastic and the chili honey.... omg. I will be making it at home. Elote al Fuego: Fire roasted corn salad in endive. Light and slightly creamy... it had a fresh summer flavor. The sun dried tomatoes were a nice addition. Ejotes Crujientes Peixinhos da Horta: Sherry battered flash fried green beans with sea salt. Good, but kind of bland. Needed a dipping sauce. Empanaditas: Black Bean & Banana filled Savory Pastries with Spiced Caramel. Lovely. Great for the salty/sweet fan. This was one of my favorite dishes. Costillas Espanolas: Spanish-style Ribs in Aged Balsamic Vinegar. The aged balsamic was perfect; it made the dish. I am really loving aged balsamics on meat lately. Brocheta de Bistec: Beef Tenders with Chimichuri. Tender but nothing out of this world. I would have preferred the chimichuri with a bit more spice. Service Overall: The service was a B overall. Not too bad but not stellar. Our waiter had on a Georgia Bulldogs t-shirt, untucked with a pair of jeans and he was another profuse sweater. Not my fave, but he did take good care of us. Price-wise, this place is hard to beat. We each got out of there for around $25 including wine. I love tapas and it's nice to have several tapas restaurants to choose from in Atlanta. I'll definitely be going back to try more nibbles... especially one of their paellas.

Fake Out Take Out: Chinese

2008-09-09T19:37:00.002-04:00

Here's a little fake out take out action for when you're craving Chinese. Don't let the length of the ingredient list scare you... it's just lots of good-for-you veggies :) Pineapple Fried Rice from Blog Soup makes 4 entree servings or 6 side dish servings 2 c. brown rice 2 c. water 1 can pineapple chunks 1 can diced water chestnuts 1/2 c. green peas 1/2 c. corn 1/2 c. shredded carrots 1/2 onion diced 6 or 7 baby ports, sliced 1 c. snow peas 1 clove garlic 1 chicken breast, diced into small pieces 3 T. canola oil 2 T. hot sesame chili oil Emeril's Asian Essence Soy sauce Sesame Seeds (optional) Boil water and add rice. Turn down to low and allow to cook. Fluff with a fork when done. Meanwhile, heat the oils in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, garlic and onion; stir-fry 3 minutes. Add vegetables, pineapple chunks and water chestnuts and sprinkle with Essence. Continue to stir-fry until vegetables are crisp-tender. Toast sesame seeds in a warm pan. When vegetables are cooked to your liking, combine the rice and the stir fry. Add soy sauce. Continually taste until the rice is seasoned to your taste. Top with toasted sesame seeds. Pair with some Chung's vegetable egg rolls and you're good to go!

Georgia may have some redemption for not selling booze on Sundays

2008-09-05T00:28:00.002-04:00

"GEORGIA’S MERLOT-TO-GO LAW EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2008 Allows Atlanta Restaurant Diners to Take Home Unfinished Bottles of Wine ATLANTA (July 1, 2008) – Effective, July 1, 2008, Georgia’s “Merlot-To-Go” law goes in to effect allowing guests to take unfinished bottles of wine purchased with dinner home with them. Guidelines of the new law are simple: guests are allowed to take one (1) partially consumed bottle of wine home per person; guests must have purchased and consumed something to eat on the premises and consumed a portion of the bottle of wine with the meal; wine bottle must be securely re-corked and sealed in an approved wine to-go bag (provided by restaurant) by a restaurant employee; a dated receipt for the bottle of wine and meal must be attached to or placed in the sealed bag; and the guest must place the sealed to-go bag in a locked glove compartment or a locked trunk when driving home." ~Melissa Libby & Associates

Food Studio Closed

2008-09-05T00:22:00.002-04:00

I was sad to walk by Food Studio yesterday on my way to a meeting at the King Plow Arts Center only to see that it is closed. This just might be the one that got away -- I was really looking forward to trying it. The space is now dedicated to special events; I hope I'll be lucky enough to attend one there sometime soon. I'm sure the folks at Fifth Group will make sure to do it up right. It was my first time to King Plow though, and I loved the facility. The rough brick and farmy-industrial style is so soothing to me.

Dolce Enoteca e Ristorante

2008-09-03T02:24:00.004-04:00

We took a particularly picky out of town guest to Dolce seeing as they offer quite a few vanilla selections on their menu. I had visited Dolce once in the past for happy hour where I had sampled the bruschetta...It was below average, and to be honest I wasn't expecting too much more from the full meal. However, being Italian food, I figured it couldn't be too bad, right? Even though my expectations weren't high, I had to lower them considerably when we were barely greeted by the less-than-friendly hostesses. We arrived for our 6:30 reservation right on time to find the restaurant less than half full. In a situation like this, I think it's reasonable to be seated within 5 minutes of arrival. Apparently this was quite the difficult task for the hostesses, as they sat and pondered over the restaurant layout for nearly 15 minutes while the crowd at the door grew. We were finally seated around 6:45. There is nothing more annoying to me -- and to most diners I know -- than this situation. At this point I was in need of a large glass of wine. Dolce's design is sexy and plush. I do like the round leather booths; however the bar area leaves something to be desired. Most of the seating in the bar area is on one long large leather bench, so you can't really circle up to talk to your friends. The noise level on our Tuesday night visit was WAY out of the ballpark and I wished they would have turned it down 50 decibels or so. They did have a nice crooner there, however... voice as clear as a bell but he needs to learn how to turn that amp down a notch. We started out with a fritti misto which had some shrimp, calamari, zucchini and sweet potatoes. The mix was a nice change, however the same old sweet asian and italian red sauces were a bit of a bore. The foccacia bread served with oil and vinegar was quite lovely though. My husband and I split the chopped salad, which was advertised as lettuce, tomato, mozzarella, salami and avocado with a balsamic dressing. Our salad arrived sans avocado, and was just meh. Nothing special at all. For my entree, my guest and I both had the lobster ravioli, one of the house specials. It had a nice light cream sauce and good size pieces of lobster on top and inside the pasta. Spinach was added for color. The sauce was noted as a saffron champagne however I didn't get the taste of either. Okay dish, but again nothing special. I'd say about a 5 out of 10. My husband had the duck tagliatelle which arrived grossly undercooked and undersauced. The pasta was sticking together in huge clumps and really was quite unappetizing. It's a rarity, but we decided to order dessert this time as the waiter mentioned they had a chocolate creme brulee made with chevre. I was so excited for this as I love chocolate creme brulee and most restaurants only serve the vanilla kind. Welllllll, this was probably the biggest disappointment of the night as our brulee arrived vanilla and not chocolate. We still managed to have a few spoonfuls, but since I was anticipating chocolate it was less than satisfying. Overall I would give Dolce a D+. It is a chain restaurant - that much is evident in the food. The Hollywood ownership and interior decor gives the restaurant a nice sugarcoating... but once you get below that it's pretty darn bitter.

Move Over China

2008-09-03T01:51:00.003-04:00

...because The STL is in town! Hip hop on over and pay a visit to my friend Heidi, author of the brand new Fabulous in the STL! You will not find a better perspective anywhere on how to raise a gorgeous child, run a business and manage a husband all while doing it in a pair of fabulous Charles David heels behind the wheel of a pimpmobile rollin' on 20's. Hides, congrats on the new endeavor - this one's for you! (well, I'll probably have a sip too.)

BWAH!!!

2008-08-29T12:17:00.002-04:00

Perez is hosting this party at Tao tonight and guess who already had reservations?! OMG!

Drunk at the Olympics

2008-08-28T12:09:00.003-04:00

I just got these in an email from my friend Smithers and they were too good not to post. Glad we can always count on our President for a few drunken laughs.

My personal favorite:

Review: M&Ms Premiums

2008-08-26T11:18:00.004-04:00

So a couple of weeks ago, M&Ms came out with these new Premiums. I have to admit, I was a little intrigued. (Plus I had a coupon and we all know I love coupons.) I managed to pick up a package the other day at the grocery store, so here are my thoughts. I'd like to thank CandyBlog for the pics here.

First off, these little babies are quite the belle of the ball. As you can see above, they have such a pretty outside which might make them very attractive in your grandmother's candy dish. They come in a variety of flavors, however only one flavor to a package. Some of the ones that stand out are the mint, mocha and raspberry almond. They also come in a cardboard box with a resealable cellophane bag inside. Probably a little overdose on the packaging, but that might account for part of their hefty price tag.

We grabbed a raspberry almond... though I had originally wanted mint... but I thought twice about it because of the container of mint moose tracks I have in my freezer. Upon first bite I would give these a 7.5. Most noticeably, the M&M Premiums don't have the crisp candy coating that we're used to with M&Ms. My guess is that they couldn't make em look so purty if they had a crisp shell. So the texture is a bit different. Chocolate wise, I was hoping for something just a bit darker, but it's your standard M&Ms milk chocolate, if my tastebuds are correct. The almond is surrounded by a layer of raspberry white chocolate (I think -- or something like that), then the chocolate, then the coating. Not bad to have on hand when you just need the tiniest fix.

For $4.99 a box/bag, these things are WAY overpriced in my opinion. Considering a normal bag of M&Ms is what... $1.59 maybe... these are kind of a rip. But then again, they sure are purty.

Yankee Mac & Cheese

2008-08-25T19:24:00.002-04:00

So tonight I've found myself at home with a sore throat and no husband. He had a last minute work dinner, so I thought it the perfect time for a little comfort food to send my sore throat packin' back to wherever it came from. I will not be sick for this coming weekend! Mac & Cheese is a very popular side dish here in the South, and it comes in many forms. Lots of places bake their mac down here, which can sometimes result in a dry, un-creamy result... not my favorite. Now don't get me wrong, there are lots of great places to have a little mac & cheese in Atlanta. I'm not knockin on anybody. I just like my mac slightly soupy and nice and creamy. Enter Yankee Mac & Cheese... named Yankee after my own upbringing and because there is no baking involved. I used the cheese I had in the fridge -- asiago and parmesan -- but use whatever you happen to have on hand! Yankee Mac & Cheese by Leslie at Blog Soup 1/2 box elbow macaroni (I like Ronzoni SmartSense) 2 T. butter 1.5 T. flour 1.5 c. milk, more as needed 1.5 c. asiago cheese, shredded 1/4 cup grana padano parmesan cheese salt and pepper Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan. Once foam has subsided, add flour and stir to make a roux. After you have a smooth consistency, begin to gradually add the milk, about 1/4c. at a time, constantly stirring to combine. After you have added the 1.5 c. of milk, assess whether you'd like to add more milk for a slightly runnier cheese sauce. After you're done adding all of your milk, add cheeses and stir to combine. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Drain pasta, pour into saucepan with cheese sauce. Stir to combine. Taste the magic.

So excited to don this number in Vegas...

2008-08-25T11:06:00.003-04:00

I am headed to Las Vegas this weekend for a bachelorette party with 20, yes TWENTY girls. So far the plans are to visit Tao at the Venetian, Body English at Hard Rock, NOVE Italiano and Moon... the latter two at The Palms. I am sure insanity will ensue...

Anyway, I'm quite excited to wear this little number that I picked up this past weekend at Bebe. That's not typically a store I shop at much, because I have a hard time finding things that fit me proportionally, but this one was a winner. I have some cute dangle earrings I think I'll pair with it, and possibly my pink pashmina. I must admit that I've found it quite difficult to find clothes for Vegas that are classy, yet just a tiny bit revealing. There's alot of crap out there these days.

Concentrics Restaurant Week

2008-08-23T17:29:00.004-04:00

I'm a bit late on this one, but in case anyone's looking for a good value tonight... Concentrics Restaurant Week Aug 17-23 Dine at any Concentrics Restaurant between August 17-23 and enjoy three courses for $25 not including alcohol, tax or tip.

Sala Closed, Reacquired by Fifth Group

2008-08-23T17:06:00.005-04:00

I was disappointed to hear today that Sala in Virginia Highlands has permanently closed. It was right down the street from our old apartment, so hubs and I were known to make semi-regular visits there, one of which was reviewed here. The restaurant was sold in mid-2007 by Fifth Group, and now has been reacquired by them. Looks like Shaun Doty of Shaun's in Inman Park and the aforementioned Fifth Group will be opening up The Original El Taco in the space, so it should be interesting to see how that turns out. Read my friend Steakhead's full account of the latest and greatest here. Well done. (ahem). I'm hearing that Sala was doing lots of those half price gift certificates. If you're stuck with one, Fifth Group Marketing Director Michael Erickson says, "Fifth Group Restaurants has taken the property back and is in the process of reconcepting it to open under a new name in the coming weeks. If you have purchased a certificate, please contact Stuart Fierman at 678.302.3207 for further instructions on how to redeem them."

Cooking Light's Mushroom Rigatoni Bake

2008-08-23T09:25:00.004-04:00

This is the ultimate in comfort food... and it's lightened up to boot. The sherry adds so much flavor and a nice depth to the dish - it can be omitted but I don't recommend it! Mushroom Rigatoni Bake (Cooking Light) 8 oz rigatoni 8 oz baby bella mushrooms, sliced 4 oz shiitake mushrooms, sliced (I omitted these and just used baby bellas, aka creminis) 1 small onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 t. butter 1 t. dry sherry salt & pepper 1 t. dried thyme 1/4 c. flour 2 c. 2% milk (I used 1%) 1 c. asiago cheese, shredded (check Costco for some good deals on hunks of asiago) Parmesan cheese, for sprinkling Preheat oven to 375. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain well, rinse with cold water to prevent sticking. Set aside. Melt butter and saute onion for 3 minutes. Add mushrooms, salt, pepper, thyme and garlic and saute until soft, about 6-8 more minutes. Add sherry and cook 1 more minute. Put flour in the bottom of a large pan and add milk slowly, whisking to combine. Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute until mixture thickens. Add 2/3 c. asiago. Next, add the mushroom mixture to the cheese sauce. Last, add the pasta and toss. Pour into a sprayed 8x8 baking dish, top with remaining asiago and bake 30 minutes. (I baked for 15 just to heat through and prevent drying out.) Top with a bit of parmesan for saltiness and enjoy!

Dear Dan,

2008-08-22T19:41:00.000-04:00

You are so last week! xoxo

iPhone Lurve

2008-08-19T21:56:00.007-04:00

Last Friday I became the very lucky owner of a new iPhone. Soliloquy for iPhone: iPhone, iPhone how I love thee. Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Having switched over from a Palm Treo, I cannot even begin to say how happy I am with this new little dude. It is easily the sweetest-ass device I have ever owned and it has made life so much more convenient just over the last 4 days. It's the little things -- I'll be out and about and will need to know where the nearest grocery store -- wait liquor store-- is. Bada bing, I'm picking up a sixer in minutes. Gmail is right there on the home screen. It automatically synced all of my Outlook contacts as well as my calendar. Most importantly - it's a camera too, so yours truly who forgets the camera all the time no longer has an excuse. It's already come in handy, especially for some impending restaurant reviews. Beyond the basics though, are all the great apps you can download. So this post will be mainly dedicated to the apps I've grown to love so far. 1. TRISYour classic time waster. Free. What more is there to say? 2. PANDORA. Personalized, mobile and free radio. Type in the artist or song of your choice and see a customized radio station magically appear before your eyes. Rate songs, fast forward, pause... etc. I already had this on my home computer, but the fact that it's available for iPhone makes it even cooler. Definitely a must have for anyone with a computer, i.e. anyone. 3. For my KC peeps -- check live traffic cams on your phone via KSHB. 4. My absolute FAVORITE so far... Urbanspoon!! Stumped on where to grab a bite? iPhone finds where you are, then you simply shake your phone to find a restaurant. Mimicking a slot machine, it then gives you suggestions on where to eat based on location, cuisine, and price. Want to eat for cheap? Lock in the single dollar sign. Want to find a wine bar? Lock in wine bar. It is the best! So what apps have you downloaded so far? What do you love, what do you hate?

Where are you going for Restaurant Week?

2008-08-18T10:51:00.005-04:00

Midtown Restaurant Week is August 23-30... what restaurants are you going to? Husbanator and I are taking full advantage of the 3 courses for $25 deals seeing as we are stretching our restaurant buck these days. We are slated for:

I'm most excited about Park 75 and Repast. We're taking a friend from out of town to Dolce -- she is somewhat of a picky eater -- so I think it should be a pretty good fit with some foodie-oriented options for us as well as a few more vanilla options for her. Full updates coming on those after Labor Day!

FAB was totally un-FAB

2008-08-17T20:54:00.004-04:00

Nearly a month ago, we went out with some of our best friends in Atlanta for what we all thought would be a lovely evening and outstanding meal at French American Brasserie. Known to many a local as FAB, it is the follow up to the ill-fated Brasserie Le Coze, which used to occupy a space in Lenox Mall. FAB had been on my list of must-try restaurants since we moved to Atlanta in the summer of 2007. Situated at Ivan Allen Plaza in the middle of a resurging downtown Atlanta, the location is perfect for convention-goers and Atlanta foodies alike. It's a quick hop from the Civic Center Marta station as well. The space is huge, with two dining floors as well as an outdoor patio on the third. Though I don't claim to be an expert in brasserie fare or decor by any means, the space definitely felt very French, although it was a bit too big, as is the case with many an Atlanta restaurant. Diners are greeted by a friendly looking bar upon walking in, complete with stained glass tiles and the like. There are some nice details, such as fancy chandeliers and hand-painted ceilings complete the look. The wine list is well rounded and unintimidating, a welcome surprise for a French restaurant. It's been a few weeks since we were there, but I think we went with a Malbec. I don't remember it being particularly outstanding, but it got the job done. Though there were four of us, we started out with the Le Plateau for two which had chilled oysters, clams, mussels, king crab and lobster with accompanying sauces. It was plenty for all of us -- I can't imagine how big the plateau for four would have been. It was quite good, probably the highlight of the evening. At this point, the restaurant started to get very busy... we were getting on 8:30-9:00 on a Saturday night. We placed our order with the waiter and didn't see him for another 20 minutes of so. I noticed several beads of sweat forming on his face when we were ordering -- it seemed he was very short on time. Wonderful. I was very excited for the receipt of my duck confit. Having seen the delicacy on Iron Chef many a time, you can imagine how anxious I was to actually try it for the first time. Confit is a method of cooking in which a duck leg is cured for up to 36 hours and then poached in its own fat. Being a very fatty bird, duck of course makes the perfect candidate for a confit. Prior to cooking, the salt is of course brushed off. The meat is slowly poached until done, for as little as 90 minutes or up to 10 hours. (Thank you Wikipedia!) Mason ordered the veal sweetbreads (another delicacy I was happy to try), while our dining mates ordered the lambchops and the coq au vin. We ordered another bottle of wine and received our entrees. I'm pretty sure our waiter, Flash Gordon, was at our table a grand total of 18.3 seconds to deliver our food. Everything looked sumptuous, but the first bite of my duck was a huge let down. It was entirely too salty to the point of being inedible. I know salt is a key in confit, but I probably would have needed a 2-gallon container of water to finish just one leg. It came with garlic fries on the side... and who doesn't love a fabulous, hand cut, authentic french fry? I certainly do! But, unfortunately these fries tasted like they were fresh out of the Sysco freezer bag. What an utter disappointment. I haven't done this in years, but I actually sent the dish back and ordered the lambchops instead. While I was waiting, our friend was nice enough to give me one of his chops, which I will say, was quite excellent. It's probably one of the better lambchops I've ever had. Mason says the sweetbreads tasted kind of liver-y... which makes sense since a sweetbread is, in fact, a thymus gland. Draw your own conclusions here. When my lambchop order had not arrived 35 minutes later, we were all at the end of our respective ropes. Our server was nowhere to be found, and it just so happened the host/manager walked by our table as we were getting ready to request our check. The manager brought the check, and the lambchops arrived not 30 seconds later. We promptly had them boxed up and I was glad to leave after that. All in all, the experience was a let down because of the quality of my entree as well as the service. The seafood and the chops were great, so FAB won some points back there... but overall, the meal was completely not worth the price tag. On to the next one.

I just moved - I live under a rock now.

2008-08-12T17:57:00.003-04:00

Apparently I have been living under a rock, because I just found out this morning that Il Mulino is coming to Atlanta! It was kind of by accident -- I was walking through the lobby of 191 Peachtree this morning and there it was. For as many times as we have been to New York, we have not been to Il Mulino. Some travelers may be tired of it, but having never tried it, I'm hotly anticipating the restaurant's opening here in town. The sign says to expect an opening in late summer 2008, but I'm not so sure that it's on schedule. Oooooo bebe. Come to mama.

Greetings Earthlings

2008-08-11T01:31:00.003-04:00

My life has been taken over by my new job. I'm loving it, but I'm also staring at the computer alot. So when it comes time to do extracurricular computer activities, such as blogging, I gotta admit I'm about plum tapped out by the time the thought even crosses my mind. So, yes ... I know I have a ton of catching up to do. BUT, let me assure you, dear readers, that I have 3 or 4 quality posts brewing upstairs. Mostly restaurant reviews... I think that's the angle Blog Soup is taking these days. So please stay tuned for the latest and greatest on French American Brasserie, OK Cafe, ROOM at Twelve, Cafe di Sol, and maybe a few more.

In other news, hubs and I have been in the market for a new TV for awhile. We finally made a decision about a week ago and ordered our new Samsung 61" DLP from Vann's online, and just in time for the Olympics (cue Olympic orchestra theme). OMFG. I don't think I will ever have to go to a movie theater again since I am getting my own ass kicked by a TV at home in my living room. Thar she blows:

Now I know you can't really tell much about the size from the pic above, so I'll work on getting some actual pics of the TV in my living room. Fact of the matter is, it's 1:42 am and I'm just not going to pick up a camera and deal with a USB cord right now. As for Vann's though, I highly recommend them as an online retailer. Tax free, and free shipping too. Good people out of Montana.

JCT Kitchen

2008-07-20T19:15:00.005-04:00

Nearly a month ago now, some of our very good friends from Kansas City had a long layover in Atlanta on their way back from an overly family-ish family trip to Mexico. We had a little less than four hours to show off the town and slug a few drinks. I had been wanting to try JCT Kitchen for some time now, and although I don't like to take out of town guests to restaurants I've never visited, we took the gamble this warm Saturday night. I loved the look of this place the minute we walked in. Light and breezy, the interior looked like upscale diner combined seaside eatery. The restaurant has added some room dividers in the form of curtains since this picture was taken. But you get the idea. We arrived pretty early, before 7:00. I was happy with our early reservation time because I've heard that it's not uncommon for the restaurant to run out of their famed fried chicken. Luckily we made it in time to order. I was really happy with the selection on the menu - lots to choose from. Everything we had was fantastic, so instead of letting this post turn into War & Peace Vol. II, I'll try to keep it as concise as possible for you, my valued readers. First, the bread was some of the best I've had in Atlanta. Perfectly crisp and crusty on the outside and complete with a soft and chewy middle - it was so yum. They serve it with a cinnamon butter which I thought lacked cinnamon. Truthfully though, I prefer plain salted. Our server, who had the personality of a commentator on CSPAN, told us they get it from The Bread Garden. Being the carb fanatic I am, I'll have to make a visit one of these days. Looks like it's located in Amsterdam Walk. For starters, we had an order of the best parmesan truffle fries ever. Truffle is a delight, but sometimes the chefs get a little too heavy handed for my tastes (ahem Richard Blais Home Mac & Cheese cough cough.) The truffle was flavorful but just subtle enough to let the earthy taste of the potatoes shine through. I'll definitely be ordering these again. I also had a nice wedge salad with some tasty thin onions on top. For dinner I had seared scallops with summer corn risotto. That combines at least three of my favorite ingredients on one plate. The scallops were huge and had a nice sear on them. The risotto was a little bland, but still a nice addition to the dish. My friend Emily had the fried chicken at my recommendation. Oh lordy. It was quite good, definitely ranks in the top 3 I've had in Atlanta so far. I will also give MAJOR props to the mac & cheese, which was perfectly velvety in it's white cheddar cream sauce. It doesn't look like this particular mac was baked, which is my preference. The more mac I have, the more I think baking dries it out too much. This one was great though, and it made for a superb Sunday morning breakfast of champions. Even though we were all busting at the seams, we had to try the doughnuts for dessert with coffee flavored ice cream. Made fresh, these little babies were the perfect end to our meal. Well wait, I take that back. The cocktails upstairs at the JCT bar were the perfect end to our meal. I had a Chivas and water and my best friend Emily had a Manhattan. Our dudes both commented on what manly drinks we were enjoying while they sipped their Zimas and filed their nails. Overall, JCT is some of the best Southern I've found in Atlanta. It trumps South City Kitchen in my book. We will definitely be going back... and taking out of town guests!

Restaurant Weeks Are Approaching

2008-07-10T10:05:00.003-04:00

Downtown and Midtown Restaurant Weeks are on the fast approach. Downtown Restaurant Week is 7/19 - 7/26, and Midtown enjoys the spotlight August 23-30. From what I hear, Maxim Prime is filling up quickly. I know I'll be trying ROOM at Twelve during the Downtown Week. I'd like to give Re'past and Park 75 a shot in August. Make your reservations now, especially for downtown, as tables are filling up quickly. Here are links: Downtown: http://www.atlantadowntown.com/HavingFun_RestaurantWeek.asp Midtown: www.atlrestaurantweek.com

New Job

2008-06-27T10:18:00.004-04:00

Well kids, I have started a new job, therefore my time has been completely monopolized by learning new things and trying to excel at said job. I know it's been a little quiet around here. I'm hoping to change that soon. We are also moving to a new apartment right after the 4th of July. I shall miss our current location dearly, but with the goal being to buy/build another house, I'd rather pay less rent to have more money for said house. So, that's also taking up a nice chunk of time. We have managed to get out to a few restaurants though, including a second look at Vine (with new executive chef), The Varsity, Basil's in Buckhead, as well as a new favorite, JCT Kitchen. I'll post thoughts on those as soon as I have an extra minute. Having just taken a glance at the calendar, I realized that yesterday marked the end of my first official year in Atlanta. I have survived! No doubt it has been a rough road at times, but now it's safe to say I'm quite happy in our new city.

Shot Down in a Blais of Glory

2008-06-12T08:48:00.004-04:00

Ok, ok, I couldn't resist on that title. Well, I have to say that I was disappointed in last night's Top Chef results. However, seeing as the judges based their final decision on the meal they had versus the entire competition, I can see why my fave Richard Blais lost the competition. Having admittedly choked, his meal definitely failed to impress the judges -- and yours truly as well. The pork belly in mirin with pickled radish definitely looked lacking at best, and his banana scallops (although the judges were complimentary) were a dish he has won with in the past. I was hoping for a bit more ingenuity in his final challenge. Stephanie's strengths shined through in her final meal; combine that with her superior attitude and democracy in the kitchen, and I think we have an answer as to why the Chicagoan was named this year's Top Chef. Best of luck to her. On the bright side, Blais' new Home in Atlanta is noted as one of the most popular restaurants in town according to the number of reservations made on OpenTable.com. It's obviously not the last we'll be seeing of him; I'm sure Atlantans will be nutty over him as ever with the culmination of the show.

Easy Roasted Chicken and Zucchini Ribbon Salad

2008-06-02T20:00:00.002-04:00

I was short on time today but knew I wanted to make a roasted chicken for dinner. Having been busy with work, I needed a fix it and forget it type of deal. Enter the crockpot, even in hot summer weather. I love my crockpot, there's almost always something tasty that comes out of there that makes for a satisfying meal! Easy Roast Chicken 1 chicken, 4-5 lb, rinsed and gross innards removed paprika for seasoning 1/2 large onion, quartered (or one whole smaller onion) salt & pepper fresh parsley, chopped fresh oregano, chopped 1/4 c. of butter 1 c. chicken broth Rinse the chicken and pat dry. Meanwhile, heat butter in a saucepan with high sides. Season chicken liberally with paprika, salt and pepper. Stuff cavity with onion. When the butter has melted and the foam has subsided, brown the chicken in the butter on both sides. When chicken is nicely browned, transfer to crockpot and put in broth and herbs. Roast on high for 2 hours, or on low for 5 hours, or until internal temperature reaches 170 degrees. If you would like to make gravy, remove the pan juices to a saucepan and stir in 2-3 T. flour. Whisk until thickened. Tip: Use your leftovers to make chicken stock. Remove all the meat from the chicken, set aside. Put chicken bones and skin into a stock pot with carrots, celery, onion, rosemary, thyme, a bay leaf, 3 garlic cloves and 12 peppercorns. Cover with 3 qts cold water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2-4 hours on low. Strain. Stock keeps in fridge for 3-4 days, or you can always freeze it. Zuchinni Ribbon Salad (recipe courtesy Michael Chiarello) 2 zuchinni, slices lengthwise into 1/4" slices (you can use a mandoline but I just used my chef's knife) Juice of 1 lemon olive oil sea salt pepper pinch red pepper flakes fresh basil, chopped fresh parsley, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 3 T. toasted pine nuts parmesan cheese Slice zucchini lengthwise, dress with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill for about 2 minutes, or until zucchini wilts and gets light grill marks. Meanwhile, make a dressing of garlic, more olive oil, lemon juice, herbs, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Remove zucchini from pan and toss in dressing. Top with toasted pine nuts and shaved parmesan cheese.

Shrimp, Feta and Orzo Salad

2008-06-01T21:40:00.003-04:00

We're knocking on 90 degrees in Atlanta these days, so fresh, light dinners are always welcome. I saw this recipe in The Nest Magazine, and it looked so good I had to give it a try. It was delicious -- lemony, garlicky and the perfect summer weekend meal. (If I had good food photog skills, I might post pics more often... but alas, I am not blessed with this talent.) I promise it's very good though.

Shrimp, Feta and Orzo Salad
from The Nest Magazine

Salad Ingredients
1 garlic clove, minced
3/4 T. fresh lemon juice
1.5 t. minced oregano
3/4 c. orzo, uncooked
12-15 med-large raw shrimp, peeled, deveined
2 oz crumbled feta cheese
1 med tomato, chopped
3 scallions, thoroughly rinsed and sliced
1/2 c. packed flat leaf parsley, minced
2 c. baby greens

Dressing
1/2 clove garlic, minced
2 T. lemon juice
1/4 c. flat leaf parsley, chopped
2 t. minced fresh oregano
pepper
1/4 c. olive oil

1. In a bowl, whisk together garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, salt and pepper. Add shrimp to marinade, stirring to coat well. Marinate for 1 hour (I did 20 minutes and they were very flavorful.)

2. Cook orzo according to pkg directions and let cool.

3. For the dressing, combine all ingredients in a blender until emulsified.

4. When orzo is cool, stir in feta, tomato, scallions, and parsley. Add dressing to taste and toss well. Season with salt & pepper.

5. Remove shrimp from marinade and either grill or stir fry for approximately 2 min per side.

6. Layer greens, orzo mixture, and top with shrimp. Serve with crusty bread and crisp white wine!

Presidential Chest Bump

2008-05-29T23:30:00.002-04:00

There are 7 months, 18 days, 12 hours and oh about 22 seconds until Bush hands over the Presidency (who's counting anyway?) but it seems he already feels like celebrating. Check out this congratulatory chest bump with a graduating cadet of the Air Force Academy just yesterday. IMO, Bush is probably like, fuck it, I'm out of here in less than a year. I'm gonna act like a total douche and really ice this cake. The setup: And for the bump:

And back down, with the heavy exhale:

Hell, while we're at it, let's bust out the Heisman pose!

Young man, graduification has great importanance to the succesility of your career. Well, sort of. Look how far I got! Now show em your guns.

God Bless America, land that I love!

ACM Awards Commentary:

2008-05-18T20:22:00.003-04:00

1. Reigning Female Vocalist of the Year Carrie Underwood opens the show with 'Last Name,' how very appropriate. She looks like a million in a white catsuit with a fat rhinestone belt and rhinestone platforms. Did I mention her mic is also encrusted in sparkle as well? Hair is straight, bangs are swoopy. This chick who weighs 92 pounds sopping wet is truly the only one who can pull off a white bedazzled catsuit. I seethe with jealousy. 2. Reba opens up the show. This is her 10th time hosting, the first time being in 1986, three years before Taylor Swift was even born. Gaaad that makes me a little ill, I just checked and the teenage crooner was actually born in 1989. Reba looks good in her sapphire blue sheath, but her accent still gets to me a bit. 3. Toby comes on and sings the new 'She's a Hottie.' I'm a little disappointed, he has zero energy while piping out this tune. It's my guess he probably got a little too tanked last night in Vegas, or he spent a little time on Willie 's bus before the show. Durn, I really love this song too because it reminds me of some good ol' fashioned hick fun down on some Missouri float trips. 4. Lady Antebellum presents the award for best new female vocalist! (I think that was the one). I love this new group, they have a great rockabilly kind of sound. I also happen to know that they will be playing a super secret uber exclusive show at Swallow at the Hollow in Roswell on 6/23...... stay tuned here for details. Oh! And it just so happens that Lady A just won for top new duo or group! Cheers Lady, I hope good things are coming your way. 5. Blake Shelton introduces his little lady Miranda Lambert of Nashville Star fame. She rocks out her new single 'Gunpowder and Lead.' This is the best performance of the night so far. Finally a performance with some energy and soul, praise Jeezy. 6. Rodney Atkins. Cute dude, but he is flatter than Taylor Swift at age 14. Come on Rod, you're playin with the bigguns now, let's step it up a notch and sing in tune shall we? 7. Dick Clark comments on Garth Brooks' achievement award. Sadly, dude is finally starting to show his age as I mistook his voice for that of Don Imus. They both sound like they have a mouthful of cotton. Maybe they have been hanging with Willie? 8. Kenny Chesney steps up. He's up for Entertainer of the Year again, going for his 4th win in a row. Tonight he sings 'Better As A Memory.' I'm a fan of this one, it's a nice remorseful terribly depressing number that makes you think about MyStalking your ex-boyfriend for the 14th time. What? Nevermind. 9. George Strait. I have to admit, even as a country fan, I don't get this guy. Why? Ok, first of all, he is 56 and the women just swoon over him. I guess there's something hawt about 56-year old ass in Wranglers. Strangely enough, today is his 56th birthday and he is singing his 56th #1 hit for us tonight, 'I Saw God Today.' Srsly? I bet you're right George, you're not too far away from knockin' on the pearly gates. I should also mention that this 56th #1 for George officially makes him the country artist with the most #1 hits, surpassing Conway Twitty. Now get a load of this feller, ladies. 100% pure hawtness, no doubt. I heard Deb from Napoleon Dynamite actually snapped this Glamour Shot. 10. Let's bring it forward a few hundred years and welcome Sugarland to the stage. The swanky duo busts out their new tune 'All I Wanna Do,' which is stellar if you ask me. I love Jennifer Nettles' voice. Kristian Bush is bangin' some really ugly polka dottish suit though and it makes him look like a total Nancy. Here's the pair singing their new song at Atlanta's Fox Theatre: 11. 'Stay' just won for something else. I think I'm done with this song, in fact I think I was done with it about three months ago. As much as I love Jennifer Nettles, her fashion choice for this bit was abhorrent. I'll post pics as soon as they hit the internet. 12. Can someone please tell me why Taylor Swift is channeling the Grim Reaper in her crummy black hoodie? Oh wait, two dudes just came up to her and ripped her clothes off to reveal her in a skimpy black halter dress. That's more like it, 18 year old! And wait, there's more!! Just wearing a skimpy dress won't do it. I think she needs to be soaked Flashdance style. By the end of the song, 13 year old boys across our great nation had to retire to their bedrooms, I'm sure. 13. Ok so writing this post is pretty much the hardest I have worked in about 2 1/2 weeks, so I'm going to get another slug of wine and put a few cucumber slices on my eyes. Stay tuned!

He gets my vote

2008-05-18T20:11:00.003-04:00

I love 'em all, but I really think Brad Paisley deserves this year's Association of Country Music Entertainer of the Year award. If you haven't voted yet, go go go!

Dinner at Home

2008-05-17T15:35:00.005-04:00

When I heard Richard Blais would be taking over the kitchen at Posh, I made a reservation within the same minute. I thought it would be the perfect place to celebrate my birthday. It was announced that the name of the restaurant would be changing to Home and that it would be a modern, southern farm to table concept... which is quite popular these days if you ask me. I have been a Top Chef addict this season and have had Richard on my list of favorites since episode one, so needless to say I was very excited to go. Our fab neighbor Holly came with us to celebrate the occasion. In all my excitement I forgot my camera, so if you would like to see some great pictures of Richard's fare, please go here. The ambiance of the restaurant was surprising. Nestled in a cute little house, I was expecting a bit more of a casual cozy environment. Instead, I kind of felt like I was sitting in someone's rich aunt's dining room. I will say the draperies were beautiful and the lighting was very well done. Just not quite what I was expecting. Most of the diners were much older than us, kind of the Buckhead Baby Boomer see-and-be-seen set. They stuck us younguns in a corner though, as not to disturb the other diners. ;) Service was a little slow at first. It seems they have a beverage steward as well as a regular waiter for each table. I'm pretty sure the GM was our waiter that night. Holly and I each had a blackberry vodka lemonade to begin and hubster had a mint julep. Not usually the whiskey fan, I will say that this mint julep was delicious. I totally had drink envy at this point. We began our meal with two starters: the fried green tomatoes and the pimento cheese on crackers. Much to my surprise, our dining companion was born and raised in Atlanta and had never had FGT's or pimento cheese. She's played it pretty safe in the food arena, so of course we could not leave without sampling these two southern specialties. I love fried green tomatoes and was expecting the best from Richard. Sadly I was very disappointed, as was our first time FGT eater. The tomatoes were small pieces or chunks really, not the nice slices I normally like. The breading was very thick and not very crispy, although the color was a nice golden brown. The 'maters were served with a light creamy sauce and also a cool chive ice cream which was a nice change. Overall though, the dish was a big let down. The pimento cheese was a delight though. Perfectly punchy and topped with thinly sliced celery, I truly enjoyed this dish. For my second course, hubs and I both had a butter lettuce salad with green apple, black walnuts and blue cheese. This is a fairly standard restaurant salad and is difficult to screw up. The salad was light and refreshing and I liked the sweetened nuts along with the pungent blue cheese. If we do go back, I'll probably opt for the tomato soup and grilled cheese course... it looked very good. I was just worried about having too much heavy food. I was very excited about the main course being that fried chicken is pretty much on my top 3 list of favorite foods. Holly and I both ordered the fried chicken with macaroni and cheese and honey vinaigrette. Mason had the brisket. Vegetables are served family style, with each table receiving small portions of four kinds of veggies. Ours were carrots in a creamy thyme-ish/oregano sauce, brussels sprouts, collard greens, and creamy mashed potatoes. I loved all of the veggies except for the collards... those are just too bitter for me and I can't get myself to like them no matter how they are prepared. The mashers were perfectly velvety and quite delicious. Entree wise, I had very high hopes for my chicken...all of which were crushed by the end of the first bite. The honey vinaigrette made the chicken entirely too sweet and ruined the dish in my opinion. I don't mind a bit of sweet with my savory, but this was over the top. Needless to say, I was quite bummed. The macaroni and cheese had a lovely bechamel sauce and the bread crumbs on top were toasty and crisp. The chef was just a bit heavy handed with the truffle oil though. I know many of you are probably thinking that this is a physical impossibility, but I'm just a traditionalist like that... I'd rather taste the cheese in mac and cheese rather than mushrooms. On to dessert. Red velvet cake with cream cheese icing AND cream cheese ice cream. Hello gorgeous.....or so I thought. One bite into the cake and we were looking at a dry, crumbly mess. At first glance the cake looked nice and dense and perfectly moist, but unfortunately the bite revealed something entirely different. Definitely a less than satisfying way to end our meal. I heard from the valet that Richard had not even been at the restaurant for more than a week, so maybe some of these shortcomings were just sous chef oversights. Some other friends paid Home a visit a few weeks back, and said that the celebrity chef actually came out and sat with them for 15 minutes or so. Had that happened to us, I probably would have forgotten about how let down I was by our meal. Maybe next time.