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By Jennifer Zyman Menia Chester is a little hesitant to discuss the details of her new bakery, Desserts By Latrell (581 Edgewood Ave., 678-705-3409, www.dessertsbylatrell.com). When asked if she could tell me about the ingredients in her strawberry cake, Chester simply said, "No." How about the type of chocolate she uses in her chocolate frosting? She'd rather not say. Nothing sketchy is afoot, however. Chester grew up baking with her grandmother and aunt and most of the recipes she uses come from her An affair to forget Soldiering on through wine-tasting fatigue... By Taylor Eason I surveyed the room, sparsely filled with cosmopolites, edibles and alcohol, hoping this would be the night I would spot the elusive "good value wine." In this wretched economy, I find it crucial to provide my readers with a respite from high prices. This is perhaps the tenth formal wine-tasting fundraiser my husband and I have endured this year — the slashed decoration budget shows, the food is less lavish, and the less-than-half-of-last-year crowd of jet-set faces milling about the Dogwood's upscale Southern walks the line By Besha Rodell In the midst of our city's Southern restaurant boom, let us pause to admire one of the cuisine's staples, a dish that's been elevated from down-home comfort food to high-end food magazine cover model: the grit. Versatile, appropriate for any time of day, and able to put a Southern pedigree on a dish in a single bound, grits are the superhero of New Southern cooking. At Dogwood, they've been given their own menu section. The "grits bar" offers a plate Shaun Doty becomes a master of his domain at Shaun's By Cliff Bostock Now it can be told – the true story of my feelings about Shaun Doty's cooking. Don't worry, there's nothing really negative about it. I have enjoyed Doty's work ever since he was chef at Mumbo Jumbo. That restaurant, you'll recall, had Guenter Seeger on board as consulting chef. Doty had worked for Seeger when he was chef of the Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead. After Doty left the Dining Room, he landed at restaurants in France and Belgium, Mr. C's Neighborhood Bar & Grill By Jennifer Zyman WHERE NOBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME: Sometimes you just need to hide out in the dark corner of a seedy bar where there is no chance of running into anyone you know and drown your sorrows in a stiff drink (or three). When that time comes — and you happen to be on the Westside — head to Mr. C's. The tiny bar, which is tucked away in the strip next to the Fellini's on Howell Mill Road, has all the Reubens MUSS & TURNER'S: In a departure from its predominantly homemade ways, M&T's "Reason to Reuben" uses pre-brined corned beef brisket from New York State National Brand for authenticity's sake, which they then cook on site. The sandwich is assembled on thick slices of griddled marble rye bread from the Grateful Bread Company, slathered with Admiration Russian dressing, the perfect amount of sauerkraut, Emmenthaler cheese, thin slices of corned beef and your choice of a pickle. Superb. 1675 Cumberland Parkway, Suite Events around the city Wine tastings and and events throughout Atlanta... Upcoming Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery -- The 6th Annual End of Harvest Celebration and Bluegrass Brunch, including live music, a seasonal harvest buffet, and wine available by the glass or bottle. $30 per person (advanced reservations required). Sun., Oct. 12. Seating times 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. 180 Wolf Mountain Trail, Dahlonega. www.wolfmountainvineyards.com. Atlanta Wine School -- "Old World vs. New World." Learn about the difference between "Old World" and "New World" wines from Europe, United States, and South America. Beer life outside the Perimeter By Jeff Holland As a fanatic for great beer, I am fortunate to live a short distance from Decatur, the epicenter of beer culture in the metro Atlanta area, where even the coffee shops have a killer tap list. Having done my time in suburbia, where bars typically have more TV screens than beer choices, I have found my happy place. But things are changing in Bud Light land, as the second wave of craft beer enthusiasm spreads out from the usual hip Roy's Cheesesteaks: From Philly with love By Jennifer Zyman Recreating iconic regional specialties is a tricky (and ballsy) task. You'd better be on your game because scrutiny from natives and fanatics is inevitable. The cheese steak is one such controversial edible that Atlanta eateries have never gotten right. But Roy's Cheesesteaks (2900 Highlands Parkway, Smyrna; 404-799-7939) may be the sinfully greasy and messy answer to our prayers. Roy's is the brainchild of Roy Brostrand who founded the Philly Connection in the early '80s. He hails from South Jersey – Wine, the wonder drug Can a glass a day keep you fit as a fiddle?... By Taylor Eason I remember when I learned that my favorite fake sugar, saccharin, rendered rats cancerous after eating 20 percent of their weight per day for months. Twenty percent of my weight in anything would kill me, too, probably of boredom first, so I felt sorry for the caged creatures. These days, researchers claim popping the pink packets at normal levels is fine, but who knows when that will reverse again. So it's with a healthy dose of skepticism that I consume Noni's Bar and Deli brings Italian to the Old 4th Ward By Besha Rodell Back in March, I declared that Dynamic Dish was a canary in the coal mine for Edgewood Avenue, and to see that restaurant thrive boded well for the street in general. Today, Dynamic Dish is still alive and well, and a slew of other new restaurants have sprouted, or are about to sprout up, along the moderately bedraggled avenue. I'm tempted, this time, to resist expounding upon fast-track gentrification's numerous dichotomies. But with Noni's Bar and Deli, the elegant scene First look: The Porter Beer Bar in Little Five Points By Cliff Bostock Remember when it first occurred to you that you were sick of eating tapas? And yet you couldn't resist. One cool place after another opened and you kept going. You knew you were spending too much money by eating "light." But you couldn't stop yourself. You love tapas. You hate them. Well, one way to break a habit is to develop a new one. Say hello to the gastropub. From East Atlanta to Alpharetta, the gastropub – the British-born hybrid Trader Vic's By Jennifer Zyman FEEL THE ISLAND BREEZE: "Tiki culture" is alive at this historic Polynesian-themed chain founded by "Trader Vic" Bergeron in 1934. Walking into the restaurant's Mai Tai Lounge you're greeted by bamboo, Polynesian artifact replicas and Hawaiian music. BROK DA MOUT GROG: Trader Vic's signature drink is the mai tai, which "The Trader" claims to have invented. While the mai tai is authentic, the massive cocktail menu has virtually every tropical drink imaginable. The "Singapore Symphony," a mix of lime, passion Chinese noodles By Jennifer Zyman FRANK MA SOUTH: The renowned Frank Ma resurfaced as a consultant at the newly opened "Frank Ma South" after leaving his post at Frank Ma's. Despite a slightly rocky start (he shares the space with another restaurant and isn't on site on Tuesdays), his "special sauce noodle bowl" is as good as ever and some of the best comfort food around. A big bowl of fat white noodles are topped with a sweetish mixture made from black-bean and hoisin sauces, Wine tastings and events throughout Atlanta Upcoming Atlanta Wine School -- "Old World vs. New World." Learn about the difference between "Old World" and "New World" wines from Europe, United States, and South America. Guests will participate in tastings and discover which world they prefer. Tues., Oct. 14. 7-9:00 p.m. $50 per person. 1570 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell. 770-668-0435. www.atlantawineschool.com./aws_wineroom.php. Atlanta Wine School -- "Viva Italia." Taste up to 9 Italian wines paired with appetizers from every region. Wed., Oct. 15. 7-9:00 p.m. $50 per person. If you want other news on this page, please email me the name and location, if known. |
