Perfect Patios for Fall

This is an announcement, just in case someone other than my mother reads this blog (hi mom!). I have really been slacking lately on updating, mainly because I'm lazy, and partly because I recently got engaged (see below) so all of my focus has been directed towards stationary and whether to have bubbles or rose petals thrown at us (any thoughts on this?)




I have eaten on some great patios lately and I want to spread the word!

D.B.A. Barbecue in Virginia Higlands has been on our list of places to try for a while. The B.F. (now fiance!)purchased a coupon from one of those deal sites, and since we rarely venture outside of Buckhead for dinner, we thought it'd be worth the trip for discounted food. Parking kind of sucks here, but probably just because it was pretty packed the night we went. The weather was gorgeous, and they have a great patio to take full advantage of that. We started with some adult bevs, Firefly and Lemonade for me, beer for the F.H. (future hubby). For an app we had the Warm White Cheese and Corn Muffins with Honey Butter and they were amazing!




The menu is pretty large for a basic BBQ joint, and though the Beef Brisket was tempting me, I couldn't resist the Pulled Pork Sammy with Sweet Potato tots. They have an assortment of sauces, ranging from spicy to sweet, but if you're like me, mix a little of both.




Yummy! As a side note, the F.H. got the same sandwich, but with Mac and Cheese. The Mac and Cheese was good, but my tots were better. I win! I'd definitely recommend D.B.A. to anyone in need of a BBQ fix.


Keeping with the theme of patio-dining, we also went to Einstein's in Midtown recently. Just to clarify (because for some reason, people often get confused about this place...) I am not referring to the bagel place. I am referring to the awesome restaurant off of Juniper. Anyway-- Einstein's has some great drink specials for the thrifty-- like $5 martinis-- along with a creative menu.

I began my meal with Creamed Corn Hush Puppies, which I tried not to share, but the F.H. got his paws on one. Also, I ate most of them before I remembered to take a photo. Oops.



Next I had the Pot Roast Raviolis. These were hands down one of the best things I've eaten in a while. The meat was so tender and velvety, and the sauce was so rich-- perfect comfort food!



A regular person would've stopped eating at this point but I pushed the limits of stretchy pants and kept going. I tried the Crab Cake-- pretty basic but good.



I also took a few bites of the F.H.'s Shrimp and Grits:



and got to try my friend Ashley's Angus Steak Taco that she raves about:



Everything at Einsten's consistently tastes great and the prices are a steal for the quality of food. Also, the patio is one of the best for people-watching.

It's officially fall now, which means Atlanta's best weather is happening now. Park it on a patio now and enjoy it while you can!

~Blair Branch

D.B.A. Barbecue is located at 1190 N. Highland Avenue in Virginia Highlands.
404.249.500

Einstein's is located at 1077 Juniper Street in Midtown.
404.876.7925

Traveling Forks: Tastes From the South

I think my love of all things food-related comes from where I was born and raised-- Tifton, GA. I look forward to going out to eat each time I take a trip down south, because it never ceases to amaze me the quality, creativity (a fried ham and cheese sandwich? Yes please!) and copious amounts of food these southern cooks create, all at a reasonable price point. Atlanta restaurants could learn a thing or two from these home-grown joints. Below are a few highlights from my recent trips.

First stop, George and Louie's in Thomasville, GA. My dad and stepmother live in Thomasville, and I used to eat at this locally-owned and operated joint all the time when I visited as a child. Though known for their fresh seafood, locals around town flock to George and Louie's for their amazing burgers. On a recent trip, I tried the fried green tomatoes with my burger, and they were perfection! Fresh tomatoes with just enough crispy batter, served with a side of ranch. They don't make them like this in any restaurant in Atlanta.



On another trip, we visited my brother and sister-in-law in Moultrie, GA. With all of the wonderful food Atlanta has to offer, I never thought I'd be raving about the culinary masterpieces of a restaurant in Moultrie, but my meal at Tarragon Grill was one of my best ever. Maybe it was because of the company I was with (my whole family was together for birthdays) or maybe it was because of the reasonable prices (I must remind myself, just because a glass of pinot grigio only costs $4 doesn't mean I have to drink twelve of them...). Or maybe it was because they serve the most decadent sandwich I've ever tasted. The Monte Cristo-- a hot ham and cheese sandwich, battered in funnel cake batter (weird-sounding, but delicious) and deep fried, served with a side of ranch. I should mention, I didn't order it myself (my brother said I had to try the lasagna, plus I was too worried about looking like a fat-ass, so I peer-pressured the B.F. into ordering it). The Monte Cristo is everything that's wrong and unhealthy with American food, and that makes it so right. It's cheesy and gooey on the inside, and doughy, sweet, and lightly fried on the outside. It's even dusted with powdered sugar, just like a funnel cake. And the portion size is simply ridiculous. Behold, the Monte Cristo:



And my lasagna:



And no southern meal would be complete without some fried-green tomatoes on the side:



On our most recent trip, we had some of the best BBQ I've ever had at Smok'n Pig in Valdosta. In true southern fashion, the portions were massive. I had the pulled pork plate with green beans and mac and cheese. And this mac and cheese was the real deal-- the B.F. pointed out that you could tell it was homemade because you could taste the roux (apparently he made mac and cheese in home ec). See below:



Know of any great south-Georgia restos? Let me know and I'll check them out next time I'm visiting!


~Blair Branch