Kevin is a regular at Street Food Thursdays in Midtown.  Almost every Thursday night he’ll come home to report how amazing his lunch was, and he’ll almost always tell me about what he’s eaten from the Ibiza Bites food truck.  Without a doubt, it’s his favorite.

I’ve definitely seen the truck before, and Dennis Dean is our favorite Atlanta caterer, so I’ve wanted to try Ibiza Bites for a while now, but I haven’t had the opportunity to do so until last Wednesday night when the truck was parked on 12th Street + Piedmont.  (Which we were told is going to become a weekly dinnertime thing for them…)

The very Q+DD on Ibiza Bites Food Truck:
Recently named by Jezebel Magazine as one of the top food trucks to watch in 2012, Ibiza Bites offers a brand new style of cuisine called “SoLa.”  It’s a bit South American, Latin American, and deep South – with a whole lot of deliciousness!  Cute.

I met Kev at the truck for dinner + we ordered up a few of his favorite items.  The truck was bumping Rihanna – so I knew I liked them immediately.  While they prepped our order, I found a high boy table waiting for us complete with a lovely floral arrangement.  Eating food out of a truck has never been so classy before! 

Our meal was sooooo decadently delicious!  We shared a pulled pork entree over cheese grits with a side of coconut/ plantain rice…

…crab cakes, fried green tomato, lemon thyme aioli over arugula w/ orange segments, pecans + fresh shaved manchego + sherry vinaigrette…

…and finally, sweet potato fries covered with melted marshmallow for dessert!

It was fantastic food truck fare, and ever since Wednesday night I’ve been stalking Ibiza Bites on Twitter to see where they’re headed next!  Follow the truck HERE! 

Next time, I’m all about trying their lobster mac ’n cheese!  Yummmmmmm…

xx, L

Ibiza Bites
Various Locations Around Atlanta
404.857.9308
www.ibizabites.com

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Tired of your usual lunchtime Lean Cuisine??

Midtown’s Pop Up Chef is BACK tomorrow with Anne Quatrano from Star Provisions serving up delicious boxed lunches in the 999 Plaza (10th Street + Peachtree Street).

What a treat! 

xx, L

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Kevin (so hard not to call him “Slick” any longer…) + I hit up Midtown’s Street Food Thursday in our ‘hood yesterday afternoon. 

It always reminds me a little of my beloved Austin to see the trucks crammed together in Midtown like one big food truck trailer park of deliciousness. 

One truck, in particular, caught my eye yesterday: WOW! Food Truck.

We got in line + in a flash of pre-ordering online due diligence, I found out that the WOW! Food Truck is Atlanta’s first truck specializing in Venezuelan arepas. (Then, I had to look up “arepas.”  Don’t judge…)  They are savory grilled corn cakes stuffed with slow roasted meats.  WOW! is also known for their delicious donuts which Creative Loafing listed on their Top 100 Bucket List .  Okay, yes yes yes!  I was ready to eat.

Here’s a glimpse at their menu:

And here’s the full Q+DD on the WOW! Food Truck:

Once upon a time, several years ago, Wendy Cross was visiting her brother (yep - that brother!) in NYC.  She asked him where she could go to get a quick bite that was really good but wouldn’t break the bank.  He quickly replied that there was an arepa bar around the corner and she should check it out.  After realizing that the word “arepa” wasn’t some sort of sophomoric attempt of him being funny, she found herself at the little restaurant eating her first arepa.  “WOW!  These are amazing” were the first words exclaimed after her first bite.  Wendy wondered…why isn’t anyone making these in Atlanta?!!  She knew at that moment it would be her mission to bring these wonderful savory stuffed corn cakes to her peeps in the ATL.  Now, all she needed to do was find a restaurant to partner with so she could bring her arepa food truck dreams to fruition. 

After interviewing several restaurateurs, she knew that the girls at Duck’s Cosmic Kitchen in Decatur would be the perfect match.  Their dedication to using only the freshest ingredients, making everything from scratch, and not owning a microwave won her over.  Wendy started to sell her arepas as a special at the restaurant while the truck was getting ready for its big debut, and after selling out the first day, they knew they were onto something good, and the rest as they say, is history!

I happen to love that story.  And also, the truck has a pretty serious paint job that I found super impressive…

Frankly, all of the menu looked interesting to me, but I was on a mission to try an arepa + a shrimp cake.

From left to right:

Chicken Sofrito Arepa: savory Venezuelan griddled corn cakes stuffed with slow roasted meats + topped with their famous creamy cilantro jalapeno “kicky” sauce.

Crispy Shrimp Cakes: panko-crusted, perfectly seasoned shrimp cakes served with “kicky” sauce alongside organic stone ground cheese grits.

Kevin and I couldn’t believe how delicious they both were!  And, really filling, too, for very little $$$.  We are going back next week for more.  Why can’t it be Midtown Street Food Monday – Friday??

If WOW! is that good, I can’t wait to see what Duck’s is all about…

WOW! Food Truck on Facebook!
WOW! Food Truck on Twitter!
WOW! Food Truck on the Internets…
WOW! Food Truck’s Menu – Yum!

Find it.  Try it.  Trust. 

xx, L

WOW! Food Truck
Location Varies
404.626.0390
http://www.wowfoodtruck.com/

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The finest chefs in Atlanta are preparing food for you to sample. The line-up currently includes:

•   Kevin Rathbun of Rathbun’s

•   Anne Quatrano of Bacchanalia

•   Shaun Doty of Yeah! Burger

•   Jay Swift of 4th and Swift

•   Hugh Acheson of Empire State South

•   Ford Fry of JCT Kitchen

•   Duane Nutter of One Flew South

•   Brian Jones of the Ritz-Carlton Atlanta

•   Joe Truex of Watershed

•   Joshua Hopkins of Abattoir

•   Ron Eyester of Rosebud

•   Scott Serpas of Serpas

•   Pano Karatassos of Buckhead Life Restaurant Group

•   Frederico Castellucci of Iberian Pig…and more to come!

 

As if that wasn’t enough, some of your favorite food trucks will also be on hand to be sure that all of your food cravings are satisfied.

 

Tours of the old Sears building will be provided during the party on a first-come first-serve basis.

Ponce City Market, a two million square-foot structure, is an adaptive reuse development that when revitalized will house a mix of retail, dining, office + residential space.  A landmark structure at the crossroads of Midtown, Poncey Highland, Old Fourth Ward + Virginia Highland, situated along the Atlanta Beltline transit corridor, Ponce City Market is perfectly positioned to become a hub among its neighboring communities, and a vibrant reflection of the diversity that makes each of those neighborhoods authentic and distinct.  It is a development borne of integrity, one that is destined to emerge as Atlanta’s next great urban experience.

This all sounds amazing, but for me The Indigo Girls performing takes the CAKE!

indigo girls

I am going to DC this weekend + will unfortunately miss PatP, but I would absolutely be there if I was going to be in town! 

Find out more about the event here: PARTY AT PONCE. 

Ticket info here: GET ‘EM WHILE THEY’RE HOT!

Party on, Atlanta. 

xx, L

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The Third Annual JCT. Kitchen Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival will be hosted by JCT. Kitchen & Bar on Sunday, July 17 from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

KILLER TOMATO!!

This spectacular, tomato-themed event brings together some of the South’s best chefs, farmers + mixologists to join forces to benefit Georgia Organics.  (Last year’s festival raised a whopping $17,000 for the organization!)

Top Tomato Ford Fry, owner and executive chef of JCT. Kitchen & Bar and co-owner of the soon-to-open No. 246 in Atlanta, is heading up the celebration + turning JCT. Kitchen & Bar into a tomato sanctuary that will also span the upstairs bar and outdoor courtyard area.  This year’s festival has been expanded to include an additional 400 tickets for a total of 1,400 available for attendees + will spread out over the Westside Provisions District bridge to feature more chef and mixologist participants. 

Participating chefs include:

Jay Swift of 4th & Swift
David Larkworthy of 5 Seasons Brewing Company
Anne Quatrano of Abattoir, Bacchanalia, Star Provisions, Floataway Café and Quinones
Gerry Klaskala of Aria
Todd Ginsberg of Bocado
Carvel Grant Gould of Canoe
Shane Touhy of Dogwood
Hugh Acheson of Empire State South, Five and Ten and The National
Matt Palmerlee of Farm 255
Cooper Miller of The Feed Store
Chris Hastings of Hot and Hot Fish Club
Ford Fry of JCT. Kitchen & Bar
Bruce Logue of La Pietra Cucina
Craig Richards of La Tavola Trattoria
Zeb Stevenson of Livingston
Steven Satterfield of Miller Union
Donald Sargent of Morelli’s Gourmet Ice Cream
Drew Van Leuvan of ONE. midtown kitchen
Andrew Smith of Ormsby’s
Hector Santiago of Pura Vida
Kevin Rathbun of Rathbun’s, Kevin Rathbun Steak and Krog Bar
Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene and Holeman & Finch Public House
Gary Mennie of Table 1280
Ron Eyester of Rosebud and The Family Dog
Scott Serpas of Serpas True Food
Jenny Levison of Souper Jenny
Christopher Neff of Sprig
Eddie Hernandez of Taqueria del Sol
Joe Truex of Watershed
Patric Bell of West Egg Café
Kevin Gillespie of Woodfire Grill
Shaun Doty of Yeah! Burger

Each featured chef will be paired with a local farmer to create a yummy tomato dish for attendees to sample, while the featured mixologists listed below will stir up their own signature cocktails.

Participating mixologists include:

Kevin Bragg of 4th and Swift
Heather Miller of Abattoir
Erik Meadows of Bacchanalia
Kellie Thorn of Empire State South
Virginia Ramsey of Floataway Café
Andy Minchow of Holeman & Finch Public House 
Lara Creasy of JCT. Kitchen & Bar
Miles MacQuarrie of Leon’s Full Service
Stuart White of Miller Union
Brian Stanger of Top Floor
Paul Calvert of Sound Table (our buddy!)

High-profile judges including CNN Features Editor Cybil Wallace, Food & Wine Restaurant Editor Kate Krader, Bon Appétit Restaurant Editor Andrew Knowlton, and registered dietician, food journalist + nutrition expert Carolyn O’Neil will be choosing the best dish, best beverage and best table decorations.  The festivities will also include live entertainment from The Spazmatics + local chef band Five Bone Rack.

Tickets now cost $55 for Georgia Organics members + $60 for the general public.  After July 1, tickets will be available for $70 per person.  Get ’em here: KILLER TOMATOES ON THE LOOSE!  

This festival is sure to be a blast! 

xx, L

JCT. Kitchen & Bar
1198 Howell Mill Road NW
Atlanta, GA  30318
404.355.2252
www.jctkitchen.com

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