Doesn’t that doughnut look good? It’s a Reese’s doughnut from Sublime Doughnuts in Midtown. Now Sublime looks as good on paper (or in this case … the computer screen) as it does in person. You see, I got a nice little surprise when I dropped in on the Sublime Doughnuts website just a few minutes ago. Turns out, it got a big facelift and is now all nice and snazzy. Regardless of who your favorite doughnut maker in metro Atlanta happens to be, Kamal Grant’s place is always in the discussion. So take a gander at his food porn, and then go get one (or two, or three, or two dozen) for yourself. For all you digital fiends, it looks like Kamal is updating the Sublime twitter page with some frequency. Video time:
A new sandwich shop by the name of the Crazy Cuban is getting all nice and did before opening its door to customers. Though Google maps may be off a smidge, it’s going in at 290 14th Street in Midtown Atlanta. Steadfast and ardent fans of Cuban food may remember a place on Terrell Mill road that went by the same moniker. I have no idea if these are the same owners.
This all comes towards the tail end of a very tumultuous time for Cuban restaurants in our city. In reality, the Cuban restaurant scene has been a wasteland of turmoil for the past year +. It really started back in the middle of ‘08 when the Kool Korners closed up shop and went to Birmingham. Coincidentally, the old KK location is just a few blocks from where Carzy Cuban is going in. Soon after that happened, Havana on BuHi was burned to the ground. Though places like Papi’s and Las Palmeras kept on trucking, we were without our beloved flagships. Recently, Havana returned, but in a different location and with a whole big drama in tail. We’ll see what happens when this latest Cuban spot finally goes loco.
If you’re an oyster lover, don’t mind braving mildly inclement weather, and don’t have a lot going on this weekend, make it a point to hit up the Midtown area right around 11th and West Peachtree. The reason? This weekend, Steamhouse Lounge is hosting Oysterfest 2010, their annual celebration of all things oyster.
At the Steamhouse, you’ll find droves of people enjoying live music, roasted oysters, and cold brewskies. $20 gets you in on Saturday, while a ten spot will do the trick on Sunday. If that isn’t enough to motivate you, a portion of the proceeds goes to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. So buy some tickets after you check out the flyer over there on the left.
Saturday, things kick off at 11am and will last until sunset. Justin, Swami Gone Bananas, Unzipt, and The Sundogs will take the stage. On Sunday, you get started an hour later, but things still go until sunset. The talent for the day includes the curiously named Miss Kitty (with Ménage a Trios), Olde Dog, and Gary Pfaff and the Heartwells.
When Joia Restaurant & Lounge opened last July, it blew. Less than six-months later, owner Marco Betti decided to throw in the towel … sort of. With bad reviews permeating the desolate dinning space, Betti gave up on Joia and decided to reinvent the place … sort of.
Here’s what we know: The new name seems like a veiled attempt to actually make this something it’s not. The Joia website is still live (FAIL!) and the concept (part restaurant/part ultra-lounge) seems unchanged. Not only is the phone number the same, but so is the menu (well, pretty darn close). That said, the Enigma website definitely emphasizes the heavy bass beats more than the last one. As for the digs? I couldn’t see inside, so a lame exterior shot is all I can offer.
Georgia has long been unofficially known as the Empire State of the South. Now, it looks like we’re finally ready to make that official (at least in the restaurant world). Empire State South is set to be the first foray into the Atlanta dining scene for the accomplished Hugh Acheson. Sporting a progressive take on Southern cuisine, Empire State is destined to add a whole new class level to the meat and three concept. Meanwhile, it will serve as the anchor restaurant for the 999 Peachtree Streetoffice and retail building in Midtown, Atlanta.
For the better part of a year, we’ve known of Acheson’s intentions to open Empire State South. Initially, the opening date was identified as Spring 2010. Now, according to the restaurant’s website, that season has been narrowed down to April of this year. More details after the jump!
What do you get when you put a whole mess of sex inducing molluscas, a lot of libations, and a slew of sex-crazed party animals in to one open space? That’s right … you get the Spiral Entertainment OysterFest at Park Tavern. Not to be confused with the Steamhouse Lounge’s version of OysterFest, this one takes place right at the intersection of 10th and Monroe.
Later today, Atlanta’s best bar meets restaurant (a.k.a. Holeman + Finch) is set to be a location for an upcoming episode of the Food Network’s Chefs Vs City.
The premise of the show centers around a challenge from the show’s hosts (one part Aarón Sánchez and one part Chris Cosentino). They find two local foodies chefs and dare the challengers to eat some of the more adventurous dishes from the city they call home. While I’m not one of the challengers (good thing – cuz I’ll put most any dish in my tummy), it’s no surprise the H+F showed up on the schedule.
The gastro pub is best known for their burger, their hot dog [it is freakin awesome], and their cocktails. However, true fans know that the establishment serves up what most people would call “exotic” parts of the animal. Chances that the veal brains and/or the rabbit livers show up? I’d say strong to very strong. More later as the details leak out.
Saturdays and Sundays, at least the good ones, equal football and football equals wings (of the Buffalo persuasion). Late in the calendar year, and on into the earliest months of the newest 365, men and women come together on those days of little sun for rowdy goodness. At the intersection of beer guts and team pennants, you’ll find droves of people yelling at TVs and bantering with their nearest compatriots, all while donning their gayest apparel.
These engagements of caveman-like behavior would not be complete without a significant amount of sustenance. More often than not, discussions of what to eat and what to order dwindle down to the sympathetic duo of pizza and wings. For the past 28-years, J.R. Crickets has tried its best to remain at the forefront of those discussions. In more ways than one, this wing establishment has matured into the wings version of Mellow Mushroom. What started as a solitary fryer has blossomed into a dozen+ location chain with a reasonably strong following.
A Canuck by trade, the well traveled Gerstenecker has been with the Four Season chain since the early nineties. He has spent time working everywhere from his native land to the Chinese port conglomerate known as Hong Kong. It should be no surprise that Asian influences will sneak their way into the menu at Park 75. If you do decide to visit Gerstenecker, there is a chef’s table in the kitchen. It’s a friendly twist to a relatively upscale environment.
So while the seasons of our food lives continue to fluctuate, Gerstenecker keeps his nose to the ground and his food up to date. Though I have yet to weigh in on P-75, it’s a place revered by many. Time to get to know the man behind the stove. And with that, welcome to ITCK!
Nestled in the ground floor of Morningside’s Belvedere building, Amuse has taken shape as a pseudo French bistro. Now the tenants of the shuttered Allegro space, Amuse comes backed by Andy Alibaksh (via Diem Restaurant Group) and Arnaud Michel (of Anis restaurant). The duo brought in a fresh staff, hired a known chef (Lenny Robinson), and let him come up with a playful menu. But like so many before them, this “accomplished” set of restaurateurs seems to imagine dreams that just don’t become reality.
I’m lucky in that I have yet to get a serious case of writers block. Instead, I’m usually smothered by writers apathy … or whatever you may call it. Recently, this has been complicated by experiences that have left me a shell of my former self. Something about me was off … had I become soft? Had I succumbed to the whims of beautiful women? Was all not well in the life of Foodie Buddha? Maybe … maybe not. Regardless, thanks to a recent pep talk courtesy of Spark Plug … I’m back. Well, actually internal motivators aside, the true culprit here was the meal at Amuse. After several weeks of quasi uneventful dining, this little bomb blew me strait to heck … and it took a couple of my friends with me.
