Going back to Cali

Alright, technically, I’m already in California, but you get the drift. The hubs and I are here for the USC/Virginia game….but really, I’m here to eat.  Because let’s be honest, it’s what I do best. 

Haven’t even been here a full 24 hours and I’ve already eaten about 4 meals.  All perfectly tasty.  Oh and because I’m in California, my first stop was the Coffee Bean.  If you’ve never been, I hate to say it, but you are missing out.  I know, way harsh.  So I’m sure the coffee itself isn’t that different from anything you can get at Starbucks, but that’s not why I go.  It’s their infamous Vanilla Ice Blended that has my heart…and stomach.

And I’m one down and many, many more to go.

Tonight we’re off to see Jimmy Kimmel and eat some more.  So as you can imagine, I’m ecstatic about the remainder of the days events.

Unfortunately, I’m a numbnut and forgot my usb adapater for my camera.  So basically, no pictures until I get back Sunday.  Not to worry though, I’m sure I’ll take enough pictures to entertain myself for at least a month.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to snack…

Farm Burger {decatur}

This past weekend, on an outting to the quaint little town of Decatur, my new friend, Emily, introduced me to her side of town’s newest burger joint. As I’d already experienced Yeah! Burger, a burger joint cut from the same cloth (they both use local grassfed beef/cows/whatever), I figured I was already pretty well versed in the world of tasty, organic type burgers.

That was until I tried:

Yes kids, it’s true. I’ve found a new love and it’s called Farm Burger. And it’s delicious and awesome and mouth watering and did I mention awesome? 

Because it was.  Like totally, wonderfully, spectacularly awesome. And I’m craving it right now.  With cheddar, Duke’s mayo, grain mustard, lettuce, and ketchup. Simple.

But I have a little problem.
I live in the burbs.
And Farm Burger is 24.8 miles and an estimated 40 minutes from my house. My husband says that because it’s in Decatur (translation=too far away), that it’s like it doesn’t even exist. (Did you hear that? That was me whimpering….)

But hey, that’s his loss. Because even though it’s 24.8 miles/40 minutes away, a nice leisurely stroll down I-75 / I-85 is quite relaxing on a Saturday afternoon.
Especially when I’ve got this waiting for me at my destination.

Leon’s Full Service

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again….my city has the best restaurants, hands down. I kid you not.  There’s a phenomenal restaurant around every corner. And there are still so many I’ve yet to try. 

But the other night was a good night.  I met up with some friends at Leon’s Full Service in Decatur.  Now I am certainly not a food critic, but I do know that this restaurant is (pardon my vernacular) off the freaking chain.

Yeap, I said it. Because that’s just how good the food is. I don’t know if I can pinpoint one thing that I loved the most…because everything I ate had me drooling. What I do know is that every dish brought out to our table was spot on. (Okay, so I didn’t exactly try the chicken liver croquettes, but my dining mates gave them 2 thumbs up. I’ll just have to take their word for it.) And exquisitely presented:

And for me, presentation (well, these days at least) is everything. I know, I’m weird, but you love me. Remember?

Oh yeah, and did I mention they serve bacon?
In a glass?
With a side of peanut butter?

And homemade half-pound oatmeal cream pies?

If that isn’t reason enough to drop what you’re doing and go there straight away, I don’t know what is.

{Thanks to Ryan for the recommendations and not caring that I took pictures of everything!}

#1 most favorite restaurant in all of Atlanta.

Months ago, I started the run down of my favorite Atlanta restaurants.

It’s taken me since May to finish this list, but drum roll please, I’m finally at #1.
But for those of you who might have missed 2-5, here’s a quick recap:

#5. Five Guys (yes, I am aware it’s a chain. however, there are storefronts in Atlanta, therefore it counts. )
#4. The Silver Skillet
#3. Bacchanalia
#2. Taqueria del Sol

And coming in at #1 on my most favorite Atlanta restaurants list is….

Kevin Rathbun Steak.

To sum it up…

I crave the spinach salad. Anticipate the twice baked potato selection. And know in advance, my husband and I will be sharing the dry aged steak for two.

The food is flawless, the service is spot on, and the atmosphere (from the brick walls to the dark stained hardwoods) keep me coming back for more. Plain and simple, I adore this place.

(sorry for the iphone/hipstamatic photos. sometimes i get weird about taking my camera into the more high end restaurants. i know, i’m a freak,  but that’s why you love me.)

Stumble It!

King of Pops

Clearly, this is my “hit up every single eatery I’ve yet to visit in Atlanta” week on YAWYEOR.  My apologies to those of you who aren’t within driving distance…but it does give you an idea of how much food is at my disposal at any given second. 
It also gives you an idea of how much exercise I should be doing.

On one of my most recent jaunts around town (in search of food, of course), my friend and I ended up at the corner of North Ave. and North Highland.  To those of you not familiar with this little corner, this is the official home of  King of Pops.  

King of Pops might seem like merely a popsicle stand, but trust me, it’s so much more.  On this corner, Steven Carse, the owner, mastermind, and all around cool guy (see- cute), is quickly turning an everyday treat into a full on institution.

He’s using fresh, local ingredients all the while creating some incredibly tasty and innovative treats….(and an insane amount of buzz along the way.)
Just look to his trusty chalkboard for that day’s selection to see exactly how creative he can be.
(Fresh GA Peach, Chocolate Sea Salt, Honeydew Basil, Strawberry Rhubarb, Hibiscus Margarita and the list goes on…)

Unfortunately, I’ve only visited Steven’s cart once…had the chocolate sea salt.
Loved it.
Loved it so much I got it all over myself.

Guess I’ll just have to remember to use a napkin (or 40) next time.

So if you’re in the area, he’ll be tending his cart Tue-Fri/3p-730p and Sat-Sun/12n-730p. Oh and while you’re at it, get a t-shirt. Just sayin’.

*Thanks to King of Pops for letting me shove my camera in his face.

**Now go follow him at http://twitter.com/thekingofpops

Stumble It!

Another Atlanta Spot…Highland Bakery

Of course, being me, I’m a little late to most everything. The first time I checked out Highland Bakery wasn’t until I did the Sugar Coma tour a few months back.  Yet, the restaurant has been around since 2003.  Kind of pathetic, right?

So, I went back for a real sit down visit a few weeks back.  And now I’m kicking myself that it took me so long to get there.  It’s yet another fabulously tasty spot in Atlanta.  I tell ya, we’ve got a few.

Anyway, Highland Bakery is obviously known for well, their bakery, but the breakfast, brunch, lunch selection is equally as good.

Okay, so the wait to be seated can be a bit lengthy…
But the food, my friends, is worth it.

I’m still not sure why I’m such a slacker at trying new places. Especially when the food looks like this.

So tell me…
Do you get stuck in a restaurant rut?
What new places are you dying to try in your city?

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YEAH! Burger

Living in Atlanta, there are an obscene number of great places to eat. It doesn’t matter if it’s the high falutin’ steak restaurant in Buckhead or the taco stand down the street. This is a great city for food.

One of the newer restaurants is an uber cool spot called YEAH! Burger.

In the new world of burger boutiques, this one just kind of stands out.  In fact, when it comes to burger boutiques, YEAH! Burger is more of a burger joint.  There’s no fuss.  The food isn’t overhyped.  It’s just downright good food, plain and simple.  The chefs and owner(s) pride themselves on using local organic ingredients.  The selection rivals that of The Counter only the food at YEAH! is better.  I mean, if you want a burger you’re choosing between bison, turkey, beef, chicken, and vegetarian.  You want a hot dog, have at it. The choices are endless. Unfortunately, I’m about as indecisive as a human can be so the menu is totally lost on me.  But those more advanced will adore it.

See, I’m a simpleton. I’m perfectly content with a bacon cheeseburger…
and the 50/50 (half fries / half onion rings).

It doesn’t take much to make this girl happy.
My only problem with all of it -
my appetite couldn’t compete with the size of the burger. I know, a real problem to have.

Stumble It!

My Friend the Pastry Chef

A few years back I had the most adorable co-worker. She was kind, smart, and just about the cutest person you’d ever want to work with (or meet for that matter). But one day she out-smarted us all and left our little 9-5 rat race.  And once she left, we lost touch with each other.

Fast forward about 3 years.

I’m meeting a friend at a local restaurant called Parish to pick her brain on all things photography catch up.  We’re making some last minute food purchases when lo and behold I see the most amazing treats on the counter. And next to them, this sign:

It takes a second for everything to click. Then it hits me, my sweet friend (see comment above) is working at Parish.  So I text her… and frantically call her to find out if this Chris Marconi is in fact my Chris Marconi.

It was.

It is.

And so now, instead of fighting the daily corporate grind, Marconi, aka Snacks (her nickname back in the day…who knew we were so prophetic) is the pastry chef at Parish here in Atlanta. And instead of filing paperwork, she’s making beautiful treats and desserts like these:

And something tells me that she was meant for this job.

And I, for one, couldn’t be happier…or prouder.
So if you’re ever in Atlanta, stop by and try one of Snacks’ treats.

And then maybe take a few more for the road. (Hint: Get the s’mores poptart.)

{thanks to chris for letting me invade her work place to take 4 zillion photos of her AND her beautiful food.}

Stumble It!

Top 5 Local Restaurants – #2

Okay, so shoot me.  I can be a bit scatterbrained at times.  Thus the reason it’s been since May 20th that I last mentioned one of my top 5 Atlanta restaurants.

So now I’m back with #2 on my list.

And that restaurant is Taqueria Del Sol.

I am in love with that place love that place.
If I could get an IV drip of their queso, I would.
If I could eat every meal there, I would.
If I could decorate my kitchen like the restaurant, I would.

And now that I live in the burbs, my visits to Taqueria have become few and far between.  It’s quite sad.  But because I’m resourceful, I’ve already learned (and perfected I might add) how to make this sinful cheese dip.

Next stop, fried chicken tacos with jalepeno lime mayo.

Miss Mamie’s Cupcakes {marietta, ga}

This past weekend I ventured out to the Marietta’s Farmer’s Market , but didn’t buy anything but dog treats. However, my friend Lindsey and I made it a point of hitting up the local cupcakery. And kids, Miss Mamie’s did not disappoint.

Sadly, I wasted no time jumping at the S’mores cupcake.

I’m sorry, but speaking of desserts, this is where it’s at.

Lindsey opted for the Guinness cupcake.

And although neither of us had a clue (Guinness?) what was involved in the making of this cupcake, we both agreed that it was one of the tastiest cupcakes we’d ever tried. Oh yeah, I totally stole a bite of it. I’m nice like that. {Thanks Lindsey!}

And because I’m a nutjob for photographing pretty dessert treats, Miss Mamie herself was kind enough to let me stick my camera in her cupcakes’ faces. And I’m so glad she did.

Because not only are these some of the most incredible cupcakes I’ve ever eaten, they are some of the most beautiful. There is no denying that Miss Mamie has a way with sweets.

So if you’re ever hanging out in the quaint little Marietta Square, make it a point of stopping here. You’ll feel like you’ve died and gone to cupcake heaven. After all, you can’t go wrong with a place where the slogan is “Happiness Baked Daily”.

{Reason #392 why I love the burbs.}