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

I was off Monday and Tuesday and got to play house(almost)wife, I started a new j-o-b on Wednesday, and on Friday, my 3 best friends from HIGH SCHOOL traveled from near and far to visit the ATL for a little girls’ getaway.  

From left: Mary Bradley, Leslie, Lucy, and me. Baby Frank and Baby Drew are also present in this picture!

It was DIVINE.  We ate our way through the city (Noche – Murphy’s – JCT – Flying Biscuit) pausing only to shop, have our nails done, and laugh uncontrollably.

Things I learned:

1. We canNOT drink the volume of wine we used to… but that’s probably a good thing due to the fact that as our age advanced, so did the caliber and price tag of the wine we prefer.
2. Nobody can call you out on your own BS better than people who saw you through your braces and acne phase.
3. I am the last person in our friend group to be clued in on the easy and delicious dinnertime miracle – Santa Fe Soup.  I made it for Greg this evening and is is DELISH and totally easy and I thought I’d share it with you!

Ok so check it – this is all you need:

1lb ground sirloin
1 can white shoe peg corn
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can Rotel
1 can pinto beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can black beans
1 large onion
1 packet Ranch dressing mix
1 packet taco seasoning mix

Then you just:

1. Dice your onion and sauté it while you brown your meat and drain
2. Season the meat and onion with the ranch dressing and taco seasoning packets
3. Dump the rest of the ingredients in and bring to a boil
4. Cover and simmer for 2 hours.

D-O-N-E.  Mary Bradley told me to put a can of water in to stretch out the pot, which I will try next time – but it makes a HUGE pot of delicious and hearty soup as is.  Top it with a little sour cream and cheese and it’s AMAZING.

It’s also pretty healthy – I’d estimate it’s between 7-8 WW points before toppings.

Now back to my emotional hangover…miss you guys already!

Enjoy!

xx, L

Maki Fresh is the newest fast-casual concept from John Cassimus, founder of Zoes Kitchen.  Offering both traditional and innovative Japanese menu items, Maki Fresh serves sushi, sashimi, rice bowls, salads, sliders + more.  Maki Fresh also offers meals-to-go and self-checkout stations within the store.  Catering and delivery are available.

I’ve eaten at Maki Fresh a number of times over the past three weeks, and I’m a huge fan.  It’s super casual – in fact, last night I threw on a bizarre mix of workout clothes and ski gear and met Gorms for dinner.  I did not question my outfit once while we ate. 

Most of all, the food is fast AND really good.  Here are some things I’ve eaten and would recommend…

Kokoyashi Maki Bowl w/ Brown Rice: ahi tuna, coconut, cucumber, scallions + light coconut lime dressing.  It’s my favorite thing on the menu.

Look at all of that food!  And, for only $8.95.  Yeah, you read that right.

Tokyo Maki Bowl w/ Not-So-Fried Brown Rice: chicken, carrots, edamame, yellow pepper, scallions + teriyaki sauce.

Ringo Maki Roll w/ Brown Rice: eel, strawberry, jalapeno + cream cheese.

How creative, right?!  It was gorgeous, too.  And, I love that brown rice is an option!

Their sushi-related offerings are numerous, but Maki Fresh also has beef, chicken salad + salmon sliders for the sushi adverse. 

Y’all need to try this place.  It’s fresh, it’s yummy, it’s fast – AND it has one of the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines!

yeaaaaaaaaaaaa boy!

Love it.  See y’all there! 

xx, L

Maki Fresh
2349 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA  30305
404.869.6600
www.makifresh.com

I ordered wrong.

JenBen and I met at 5N for lunch and were seated almost immediately.  We had made a reservation, but the space seemed large enough to accommodate lunchtime drop-ins.  We inspected 5N’s menu, closely investigating the burger and sushi offerings, and we both ended up ordering the 5 Napkin Veggie Burger w/ Sweet Potato Fries.  5N’s VB comes with housemade 5N sauce, b&b pickles, lettuce, and a tomato on a multi-grain roll.

I will very honestly report that the veggie burger was not great.  It tasted and strongly smelled of beets and almost the entire burger fell apart as soon as I took a bite into it.  I was unsuccessful in trying to mash together the red veggie crumbles all over my plate, so I stabbed at the burger with my fork.  I did not enjoy it.  And, I’m pretty sure I used 40 napkins (not 5) since the burger disintegrated and there was food all over the table.

I did, however, really like the sweet potato fries!  They were the best of both fry-loving worlds: crispy AND soft at the same time.  Frankly, they were delicious enough to redeem the meal a bit.

While I was certainly underwhelmed by my first experience, I decided to give 5N one more chance.  I felt silly judging a restaurant specializing in meat burgers on their veggie burger alone.  So, Rosh and I lunched at 5N on Friday and decided to tackle its specialties.

It was a gorgeous day and we asked to sit on 5N’s patio.  Although I did not find the patio chairs to be particularly comfortable, I personally preferred sitting outside to dining inside of the restaurant.  10th and Piedmont is an excellent place to people watch and catch some rays. 

Rosh and I started off sharing the Southwestern Sushi Roll: spicy yellowtail, cilantro, chayote, scallion, soy wrapper, jalapeno + tobiko.  It was incredibly fresh and very, very tasty – perfect for sitting on a patio on a pretty day!  We were really pleased.

For our entree, we split the massive Burger for 2: 1 pound of custom ground beef, American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, b&b pickles, and 5N sauce. 

Here it is in all its meaty glory:

I’m proud to report that we finished the entire burger!  Hooray for us!  Finishing the enormous burger led us into a fairly deep conversation about food displacement along the lines of “say – hypothetically, of course – that I just ate 1/2 a pound of beef…does that mean that I weigh 1/2 a pound more?”  Yikes…

We found room for 5N’s Sweet Potato Fries (which Rosh also loved) and a Tomato, Avocado, Cotija Salad. 

I am so happy that I went back to 5N to try their meat burger and sushi – what they are really all about!  I was surprisingly impressed with both.  Although, I do have to admit that I only used 3 napkins this time.

I will reiterate again that I’m over the fancy-pants burger craze, BUT I urge you to try 5 Napkin.  (Yes, I did that in the same sentence).  If you try 5N, make sure that you order the sushi and/or meat burgers – NOT the veggie.  And, let me know if you do, in fact, use 5 napkins.  I’m pretty literal over here, folks… 

xx, L

5 Napkin Burger
990 Piedmont Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA  30309
404.685.0777
www.5napkinburger.com/midtown-atlanta/

“We originally thought we would do authentic Tex Mex and Mexican-inspired dishes,” said a Fifth Group rep.  “But after our travels + discussions with the creative leadership within Fifth Group Restaurants, as well as those who would be our regular guests, we decided to focus more on contemporary Mexican cuisine infused with the many flavors of Latin America.  Then we found Chef Chad Clevenger and knew for sure this was the right direction.”

Clevenger has 14 impressive years of culinary experience that includes work with some ultra famous chefs.  He was the executive chef at Coyote Cafe in Santa Fe, and owned award-winning restaurants + a street cart focusing on global pork dishes in Denver.  He moved to Atlanta in mid-July to begin training with the Fifth Group team, as well as to focus on Alma menu development.

CCC: chef chad clevenger

Alma Cocina will serve lunch + dinner and provide catering services to the downtown Atlanta area.  The restaurant will accommodate about 200 guests for traditional dining room seating, accented by two distinct bar areas with large booths + communal tables which will spill out into the beautiful One Ninety One Peachtree Tower atrium.

 Um, YUM!  Not going to lie, just writing all of this is making my tummy growl…  Can’t wait to meet you, Alma Cocina!  Welcome to the A!

xx, L

1 – New Orleans Beignets dusted with confectioners sugar.  JUST the right amount, too.

2 – Pigs in a Blanket with housemade andouille sausage, puff pastry + creole mustard.  Divine, divine!

These are just two of my favorite brunch items to share at Serpas – we aren’t even getting into the entrees themselves at this point…  Serpas’ brunch is absolutely stellar!  Out of this world, even.  AND, get ready for this one, they have the best coffee mugs around town.  Fact.

Def. make a reservation for Serpas’ Sunday brunch this weekend! 

xx, L

Serpas True Food
659 Auburn Ave. NE #501
Atlanta, GA  30312
404.688.0040
www.serpasrestaurant.com

2011 Summer SWAG!  Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaw!

Concentrics is keeping you cool this summer with tons of summer SWAG savings!  Simply print out the certificates in the link below or flash the offer on your phone to your server + indulge at any of their seven Atlanta restaurants.  Offer can be enjoyed from Monday, June 6th – Thursday, September 1st, 2011. 

Concentrics Restaurants: One Midtown Kitchen, Two Urban Licks, TAP, Parish, Murphy’s, Lobby Bar + Bistro, and Room at Twelve Centennial Park.

Click here to print out this super important coupon: 50% OFF MY BILL!

Eat + enjoy…all summer long! 

xx, L

 
On Monday, the three partners behind Fifth Group Restaurants announced that they purchased the piece of property in Midtown that formerly housed Vickery’s Crescent Avenue Bar & Grill + will open a new seafood restaurant named Lure in early 2012.

This is the first time Fifth Group Restaurants will own the property for one of the company’s restaurants + the owners are elated to bring more dining concepts to Midtown as a result of their acquisition.

“Fifth Group began in Midtown with the opening of South City Kitchen on Crescent Avenue 18 years ago, and it is very significant for us to be able to continue growing our company by owning a restaurant property on the very same street,” said one of the owners.  “This is a neighborhood we feel at home in and we hope that our guests will experience the same when dining at Lure,” he adds.

way to go, 5th!

Micah Willix, currently the executive chef at Ecco, will oversee the kitchen at Lure in addition to his role as Ecco.  The menu at Lure will not be limited to seafood from any one coast or region + will instead feature a variety of seafood from all over the world.

"don't worry, i didn't come from the chattahoochee"

Fifth Group Restaurants beverage director, Vajra Stratigos, is constructing the beverage program for Lure, which will include an expansive list of both draft + bottled beers, as well as a collection of interesting wines + innovative cocktails for which Stratigos is known.

Lure will seat 140 guests + will exhibit an atmosphere that is sophisticated yet still suitable for everyday dining.  The restaurant will undergo major renovations to the interior, exterior + patio.

Tell your friends.  If this place is anything like the rest of the Fifth Group restaurants…it’s going to be HOT!  Excited!

xx, L

Lure - Coming to Midtown in 2012
1106 Crescent Avenue NE
Open for Lunch + Dinner

After spending a long weekend in a city that has a food truck trailer park on almost every corner, this sounds JUST splendid to me.  (+ frankly, about time…)

Click here to find out more about Street Food Thursdays, locations + which trucks you should expect to see there on Midtown ATL’s Facebook page:  FOOD TRUCKS IN MIDTOWN

I’ll be there w/ bells on…will you? 

xx, L

terminus

With locations in Smyrna, Marietta + Johns Creek, owner Jack Huffy told What Now Atlanta that Terminus was “giving great rates on rent…”  “The rent is almost equal to our Smyrna location,” he said.

Jack’s serves breakfast, sandwiches + gourmet salads, and although Subway has plans to open in the former Dressed space at Terminus, Huffy said that they won’t be competition.

“We have a dinner menu and serve beer and wine,” Huffy said.  “Also, 95 percent of our sandwiches are served hot.”  The location will handle a majority of the area’s catering needs which up until now, have been managed through the Smyrna location.

Take a peek at the eats you can expect at Jack’s here: NEW DE(H)LI!

Welcome to the ‘hood, Jack!  The Q+DD is looking forward to meeting you. 

xx, L

Jack’s New Yorker Deli
3333 Piedmont Road NE
Atlanta, GA  30305
www.jacksnyd.com