Writing and Photography
A burgeoning Atlanta food mecca sits quietly in Doraville, nestled among car dealerships and barricaded from easy access by I-285. Peachtree Pavilion, better known as the home of Super H Mart and BrandsMart USA, is home to an exciting lineup of restaurants and food purveyors that belie the shopping center’s generic name. Continue reading “Food Tour: Peachtree Pavilion Shopping Center”
Dish of the Week: Chili con queso compuesto at the El Felix Continue reading “Enjoy queso with plenty of extras at this OTP Tex Mex joint”
Dish of the Week: Bacon, fig and brie tartine at Amélie’s Continue reading “Enjoy a sophisticated French breakfast for a song at this Westside cafe”
Dish of the Week: Brown Stew Chicken at Rodney’s Jamaican Soul Food Continue reading “Jamaican soul food satisfies at this Smyrna restaurant”
The morning is no time for experimentation. Breakfast is utilitarian, fuel necessary to face the day: eggs for protein, bread and grains for carbs and something fatty to jump-start the metabolism. Chefs are asked only to serve these elements hot and fast.
Yet, the world is shrinking and expectations have changed. Once-exotic dishes like shakshuka and chilaquiles have entered the common brunchgoer’s lexicon. Some restaurants are taking advantage. Continue reading “Global flavors rise and shine on breakfast menus around town”
Around the world, people sprinkle, slather and squirt condiments on their food without a second thought. And while the idea is universal, the actual condiments themselves are anything but.
It stands to reason, then, that global flavors have made their way into the jars and bottles already awaiting you at restaurant tables. The phenomenon of Sriracha is a case study. The bright red sauce seems to be everywhere, but generations past would have had trouble imagining the spicy Thai fermented chile sauce taking over American tables. Continue reading “Creative condiments add zing to meals at Atlanta restaurants”
Dish of the Week: Vegetable Hotpot at J’s Mini Hotpot Deluxe
Some days, you stop and think, “When was the last time I had a vegetable?” This sad little question popped into my head recently as I zipped up and down Buford Highway, visiting a variety of restaurants. After a quick search for vegetarian-friendly options, I added another restaurant to my list: J’s Mini Hotpot Deluxe. Continue reading “Get healthy, hands-on hotpot at this Buford Highway restaurant”
Dish of the Week: La Poutine de Georgia at the Imperial
Poutine is a dish that’s riffed on by lots of restaurants, but many of those interpretations fall short of the real thing. Making poutine is like doing a backflip: You have to commit. The Imperial, a relatively young bar in Oakhurst that feels old at heart, shows the commitment to poutine that makes its version worth seeking out. Continue reading “This Oakhurst poutine is not for the faint of heart”
Like the monarchy, high tea and roundabouts, hot cross buns are a British obsession that registers only mildly this side of the pond. For Brits and others raised in Commonwealth nations like Australia and South Africa, hot cross buns instantly summon memories of the Easter season. Continue reading “An Easter tradition with mysterious origins”
Dish of the Week: Samosas at Cherians International Groceries
I had my first-ever samosa at Your DeKalb Farmers Market when I was a kid, grocery shopping with my mom. It was one of those seminal food moments that I still remember — a real awakening, an introduction to the pleasures of international cuisine. Continue reading “Samosas at this Decatur grocery will take you to cloud nine”