Put a Fork in it at Home- Mac and Cheese Lite

Since the B.F. and I have been cohabitating, I have made an effort to become more domestic. So, not only do I try to make the bed each day and pick my hair out of the shower drain so he isn’t grossed out, I also make an effort to cook most nights of the week. This has been a savior to not only his wallet, but our waistlines as well. But my blog has been suffering.

We go out to eat at new restaurants much less than when we first started dating, which means I only post a new review about once a month. So I’ve decided to start documenting my catastrophes in the kitchen, to add more substance to my blog.
In my quest to become a better cook, I have tried numerous recipes that are definitely worth sharing. When telling the B.F. that I would now be posting recipes on my blog, he, in true smart ass fashion replied, “Wow, nobody has ever done that. You should try to cook the whole Julia Child cookbook in a year and blog about it.” (We recently watched Julie and Julia.)

So what follows is my first attempt to photograph and explain a recipe. A few things to note about my cooking technique: I never ever ever use full-fat cheese or milk or anything else. I try to cut calories from all my recipes in any way possible. So if you don’t like the low-fat or fat-free stuff…sorry! Also, I don’t really measure things out like you’re supposed to. My grandmother never uses measuring cups, and she’s the best cook I know. My downfall, though, is that I don’t really have any concept of how much any unit of measurement is. (The other day, I made a dish that called for 2 tsp of red pepper flakes. Since I eyeballed it, and apparently used way too much, the dish almost ended up in the garbage.) So I hope you enjoy my first recipe blog—Mac and Cheese Lite.

I ripped this recipe out of the September issue of Fitness magazine. Apparently, chef Rocco DiSpirito designed the recipe for his new book, Now Eat This!. So, armed with my phone (to take photos) and the tattered magazine page, I began my first attempt at homemade Mac and Cheese.


The ingredient list for the recipe is as follows:
(This makes 4 servings. I was only trying to make 2, so I halved all ingredients, which I know is a cardinal sin in cooking. But it turned out okay.)
-Nonstick cooking spray
-Salt
-4 oz of whole wheat macaroni (I couldn't find whole wheat macaroni, so I used whole wheat mini shells.)
-1/2 tsp of dry mustard (I could only find one brand in the grocery store, but it turned out fine.)

-Pinch of cayenne pepper (I omitted this)
-1 cup shredded cheddar (I prefer reduced-fat to fat-free...I think it melts better)
-1/3 cup nonfat Greek yogurt

-1/4 cup whole-wheat panko bread crumbs (I didn't measure these out, just eyeballed it)
-1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Aside from these ingredients, you also need to make an onion-garlic puree to take the place of the milk and butter that is in traditional mac and cheese. To make 1/2 a cup of the puree, you need:
-1/2 a Vidalia or other sweet onion
-4-5 garlic cloves, chopped

1.To prepare the puree, combine the onion and garlic with 1/4 cup of water in a microwave-safe bowl.
2.Season with salt and pepper.
3.Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and microwave on high for 7-9 minutes.
4.Pour mixture into a blender and blend until smooth (I used my Ninja food processor...obsessed!)


Now comes the easy part:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 and mist an 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Cook noodles according to package instructions.


3. While noodles are cooking, bring the onion/garlic puree, mustard and cayenne pepper to a simmer in a saucepan, stirring often. Whisk in cheddar until melted.

4. Remove saucepan from heat and whisk in yogurt.
5. In a medium bowl, toss the macaroni and sauce together. Pour the mixture into the baking dish, and top with panko bread crumbs and Parmesan.




6. Bake about 10 minutes, or until Parmesan is melted and macaroni is heated throughout. Let sit for 2 minutes and enjoy! We paired our mac and cheese with some pork chops that I simply sauteed with garlic salt and pepper.


~Blair Branch

Just a forkful

I attended Friends and Family night last Tuesday at recently-opened seafood spot The Big Ketch. Don’t miss the corn and crab fritters or the grilled grouper sandwich—both delicious. The ahi tuna and the scallops are other can’t-miss dishes. Stop by and enjoy the great patio before it’s too cold outside.
3279 Roswell Road, Buckhead

I had lunch with a girlfriend last week at Brookhaven-based taqueria Verde. They have a great patio and even better frozen margaritas. You can’t go wrong with the pulled pork taco or the fried chicken taco (it’s topped with applewood smoked bacon…yum!). Or, since they’re both just $3.50, try one of each.
1426 Dresden Drive, Brookhaven

Flip Burger Boutique opened last Thursday in Buckhead. (Can anyone else believe that building used to be a Blockbuster!?) Now north-Atlantans can get their fill of gourmet burgers and Krispy Kreme milkshakes at a more convenient location. Keep an eye out for my full review of Flip, coming soon!
3655 Roswell Road, Buckhead

Halloween hooch at Whiskey Blue

I’ll admit, I’m not usually a cocktail kind of girl. I usually stick to a vodka soda or light beer, and save the calories for a sinful dessert. But a friend had been raving about the Halloween-themed cocktails at Whisky Blue in the W Buckhead, and suggested I try at least one before the end of the month.

I went last Wednesday, which basically meant my sober October lasted for all of two weeks. But it was definitely worth it. The weather has been gorgeous lately, and Whisky Blue’s rooftop patio is probably the best place in Buckhead to enjoy it. We sank into the plush outdoor sofa and started sipping away.

The first cocktail we tried was the Trick or Treat—a fruity yet strong rum concoction garnished with Gummy Worms. This drink is served in an enormous bowl, and is meant to be enjoyed by four guests. I assume that I drink enough for two people, so I didn’t think I’d have a problem with it. But honestly, I’d barely made a dent in the drink before I started to feel a buzz. The Trick or Treat was potent but sweet, and it reminded me of a Capri Sun. (And no, we didn’t finish the drink built for four.)

The second cocktail was the Cinnamon S’more—a great drink to sip in lieu of having dessert. I’m not usually into rich, sweet cocktails, but I promise you—they didn’t serve this drink at your childhood campout. Made with cinnamon whiskey, crème de cacao and milk, it’s chocolate-y, creamy and cozy—all in all, the perfect fall drink! My favorite part was the crushed graham crackers around the rim (they provided much needed sustenance after two sneakily-strong drinks!).

Both drinks, plus many more festive fall cocktails are available at both Whiskey Blue in Buckhead and Whiskey Park in Midtown. Both venues are also hosting awesome Halloween parties on Saturday October 30—the perfect place to enjoy these fabulous cocktails!

~Blair Branch

Whiskey Blue is located at 3377 Peachtree Road in Buckhead. For Terror on the Rooftop Halloween party info call 678.500.3190

Whiskey Park is located at 188 14th Street in Midtown. For Horror Hotel Halloween party info visit horrorhotelparty.com

Bistro Niko brings French fare to Buckhead

I have a confession to make. I visited Paris last summer while backpacking though Europe and did not have one morsel of delicious French food. I’m superbly ashamed to admit that, even though I spent four days in the City of Light, my diet consisted of cheap croissants from a bakery across from our hostel, Thai food, Mexican food and fast food. The reason? Paris was my next-to-the-last stop on my journey. And I was basically broke. Seventy cent croissants are a lot more economical than fresh crepes.

Luckily for me, Buckhead Life Restaurant Group’s Bistro Niko brings a taste of France to the heart of Buckhead. The B.F. and I went a couple of Tuesdays ago, with hopes of enjoying the last bit of gorgeous weather on Bistro Niko’s amazing patio with Peachtree views. Needless to say, we weren’t the only folks itching for patio dining.

After a confusing conversation with the hostess (quite possibly the dumbest hostess I’ve ever encountered) we settled on a table near the bar, in close proximity to the patio.

The first thing I noticed about the space was how beautiful and classic the décor was. I feel like Buckhead Life restaurants are sometimes over the top when it comes to style (like Pricci, where the late 70s-early-80s décor makes me feel like I’m in a scene from Scarface)but Bistro Niko manages to be quaint and sophisticated.

I’ll admit—I was intimidated by the menu. Though the descriptions were quite clear, I began to sweat at the thought of having to pronounce something called Truite Mi Fumee Amandine. Even though I have taken six collective years of French classes, my pronunciation sounds about how you would expect a girl from Tifton, speaking French, to sound. Thankfully, our server Rebecca was amazing and didn’t laugh at me when I insisted on pointing to, instead of pronouncing the items I wanted to try.

As an appetizer, we had the Croque Monsieur Au Samon—basically a salmon sandwich on grilled brioche. It was delicious, but I think I could have anything between buttery grilled brioche and I’d still devour it.

Our entrees were nothing short of amazing either. The B.F. had dined at Bistro Niko previously and raved about the Coquille St. Jacques Aux Sorrel—Maine scallops served with asparagus. According to him, they were delicious yet again. I was torn between several entrees, but in the end I decided on the Supreme De Volaille Farci Aux Champignons-- basically a mushroom-stuffed chicken, served with sautéed spinach and some type of buttery-delicious-fatty cream sauce. I couldn’t get enough of this meal and I managed to join the clean-plate-club by sopping up the cream sauce with the fresh bread from our third bread basket (I love my carbs).

According to me, the French are known for two things—snootiness and pastries. So you better believe I was going to try dessert at Bistro Niko. Not in the mood for the richness of chocolate or the creaminess of Crème Brulee, we settled on the puff pastry served with ice cream, drizzled in chocolate sauce and topped with slivered almonds. The light, fluffy pastry was the perfect finish to our overindulgent, heavy meal.

I will definitely be a repeat customer at Bistro Niko. The menu is filled with dishes I can’t wait to try—Skate, Boeuf Bourguignon, Tartes (French pizzas) and Steak Frites are just a few that make my mouth water. The wine list is extensive but reasonably priced, and the food prices won’t break the bank either. Our three-course meal with wine came in at around $100, with tip.

If you can, get a seat around the perimeter of the bar—it’s much more private than the bustling, and somewhat crowded dining area. If you can make it on a Sunday, stop in for the brunch—the menu looks insanely delicious. And try to make it in the next couple of weeks, before it’s too cold to enjoy the patio. I am anxiously awaiting springtime, and I can already picture myself on the patio—sipping wine and splurging on puff pastries.


~Blair Branch
Bistro Niko is located at 3344 Peachtree Road in Buckhead.
Bistro Niko is open Sunday for brunch and Monday-Saturday for lunch and dinner.
404.261.6456

Livingston charms with southern-inspired cuisine

After what seemed like ages of being cooped up in our apartment, dining on healthy, home cooked meals, the B.F. and I were itching to try a new restaurant to celebrate our first year of dating bliss. Yep—that's right. It’s been a whole year of coupledom and since most of our dates revolve around amazing food, I was really putting the pressure on him to choose wisely. Since moving in together in late February, we’ve been trying to scale-back on our gluttonous desires, not only to save our (read, his) wallets, but our waistlines as well, so I was especially excited to see which restaurant he would choose.

After a last-minute change of heart, he decided on Livingston in the Georgian Terrace Hotel. I’ve been obsessed with the Georgian Terrace Hotel since I moved to Atlanta when I was 18 and lived in a 400-square-foot studio above Baraonda, directly across the street. I used to stroll up and down Peachtree in front of the Fox, gazing at the southern aristocrats valeting their Jags at the hotel, hoping to be one of them someday. To me, the Georgian Terrace was the epitome of class.

Though less intimidating and not quite as bustling as I remember it, the Georgian Terrace still oozes class and southern charm. Rarely at a loss for words, I was completely awe-struck upon entrance into the restaurant. It is, by far, one of the most beautiful restaurants I’ve ever seen. The abundance of white marble, the high ceilings, the deep wooden bar, the spiral staircase, the nearly floor-to-ceiling windows with Peachtree views, not to mention the stunning chandelier in the entranceway, all made for a jaw-dropping first impression. I wondered, though, while looking around at the starkly occupied restaurant, how could this place not be absolutely packed on a Saturday at 8 p.m.?

Despite the lack of patrons, Livingston was nothing short of amazing. Maybe it was the fact that I’d saved up calories all week for this meal; maybe it was the fact that I was giddy because of our anniversary; maybe it was the fact that I was giddy from the two pinot grigios on an empty stomach…but whatever it was, the food that night was some of the best I’ve had in recent memory.

The menu is divided up into bites and entrees, with a special menu for theatre patrons. The bites consist of two, four and six bite dishes/appetizers. Though the B.F. and I weren’t really planning on a tapas-style anniversary, too many of the smaller bite dishes caught our eye, and we decided to forgo ordering traditional entrees in favor of trying a bunch of different things.

After starting with a half-bottle of wine—I love when restaurants do half bottles—we proceeded to make our selections. Basically, we read the menu aloud to each other and after every dish said, “Ooooo…that sounds good!” With so many yummy-sounding items I didn’t know where to start. Short rib sliders? Livingston cracker jax? Kobe beef tartare? I’ll take one of everything? Needless to say, it was a tough decision. We finally compromised and chose three dishes to start: crab cakes, lobster fritters and papas fritas. Welcome to deep-fried heaven.

If you’re a frequent reader of my blog, (basically just my mother and the B.F.), you’re aware of my love for all things crab-cake. It was a given that we’d be ordering the Peekytoe crab fritters from the four bites section. The fritters had plenty of crab and were served with a toasted sesame drizzle that complemented well and added a unique twist. The portion size was good for the $9 price tag, and since it was just the two of us, there were definitely more than four bites to this dish.
Our next dish was more fried seafood, in the form of Lobster fritters. The fried batter of the fritter was buttery and smooth, and there was a generous portion of lobster per bite. The accompanying sauce was a zingy remoulade that also served as a delicious dipping sauce for our other dishes.

Potatoes are a food group for me, and I love them cooked any way under the sun. Mashed, steamed, deep fried—it doesn’t matter. At Livingston, Gabby’s “papas fritas” were a truly creative take on a standard potato. The menu describes them as potato gnocchi. I describe them as creamy mashed potatoes, somehow deep fried. Whatever the description, they are amazing little nuggets.

Continuing with the fried food extravaganza, we decided on one of the server-suggested specials, the fried okra. Fried okra has been a staple in my family’s household as long as I can remember, and one of the few veggies (if you can call it a veggie) that I’d eat as a child. I’m consistently disappointed with the soggy, greasy mess I’m often faced with when ordering it in restaurants, but Livingston gets it right. Whole okra are lightly battered and fried just enough to crunch without the sogginess and dripping fat.

Though we were nearly stuffed, the Beef short rib ravioli sounded too good to miss. And it truly was the highlight of our meal. The beef inside was tender and rich, and the creamy sauce was delightfully buttery, but not overpowering. These suckers were, hands down, the best thing I’ve put in my mouth. EVER. I wanted to order a second serving of them, but I knew I had to save room for dessert.

In lieu of trying something inventive and different, (strawberry popcorn, pistachio cake and rhubarb, anyone?), I stuck to old faithful—chocolate. The dish was simply called Chocolate, but was a decadent combination of chocolate cake, panna cotta and espresso ice cream. Since we ate this, I’ve been buying coffee ice cream, trying to get a mere smidgen of the amazing taste of this dessert in my mouth.

Our server was polite and attentive, though never intrusive. The manager came by to check on us, and she even took care of our dessert since we were celebrating our anniversary. Even if the dessert wasn’t on the house, the bill would’ve been well under $100, even with tip.

The meal at Livingston was a true highlight, and I hope that the lack of patrons wasn’t indicative of things to come. The location is superb and the food is some of Atlanta’s best. All in all, a perfect, delicious anniversary!


~Blair Branch


Livingston is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
Livingston is located in the Georgian Terrace Hotel, at 659 Peachtree Street in Midtown.
404.897.5000

Three Sheets brings chic to Sandy Springs

Not one to venture OTP very often, the B.F. and I trekked a whole ten minutes a few Fridays ago to try the lounge-y small-plates spot, Three Sheets.

Nestled back in the City Walk shopping center and boasting an amazing second story patio complete with its own bar, Three Sheets serves up small plates with style.

Having basically starved myself all day to save up for a calorie-bomb that evening, I arrived ravenous and ready to order. We started with the French Fries. Though they seem basic enough, these fries are anything but fast-food variety. The fries seem double-dipped in batter, with a slight crisp to the outside. The trio of dipping sauces served with them-- sriracha aioli, chimichurri and ketchup, made them perfection.

Being a fan of all things cheesy, we tried Spicy Mac and Cheese. This southern soul-food dish was delicious! I love when the cheese bakes over on top and forms a yummy crust that bursts with gooey-ness when you dig in for a bite. Ahh…my diet has met its nemesis.

The last thing we needed was more food, but since we wanted to try some more dishes, we selected a few plates from the dinner section of the menu. The Trio of Sliders come three ways—Caprese-style with tomato, mozzarella and basil, roasted chicken salad with bacon and jalapeno and the classic—Angus beef with lettuce, tomato and sriracha aioli. Diners are able to mix and match any way they want, so we chose two Angus and a chicken salad. While the chicken salad was delish, the Angus slider was amazing, and I wish we would’ve gotten all three Angus-style.

For our second main dish, we chose the Applewood Smoked Cheddar Grilled Cheese with tomato bisque. This dish is comfort food at its best. Just greasy enough and served on thick sourdough, this sandwich was the star of the meal, and the creamy tomato bisque on the side makes a perfect dipping sauce. I’ve been craving this sandwich for days, and I think it’s my new favorite meal—anywhere.

My stomach knows no limits, and though I was stuffed, I insisted we try a dessert. My devotion for chocolate steered me in the wrong direction when making the dessert choice. Though the Chocolate Mousse Cake was great, I was thrilled when a friend at our table ordered the White Chocolate Mousse Cake with Raspberry Filling. It was light, fluffy and a perfect finish to our heavy-ish meal. It should be noted though, that I ended up sufficiently staining my white dress with both cakes, so I’m not really sure which one I like best.

The service during our meal was great, especially considering that we went on the first night that the rooftop patio was open, and there was only one server for the whole area. Three Sheets is a great spot for after-work drinks and bites, a birthday celebration or a girls’ night out. Three Sheets also has live music and DJs Tuesday-Saturday nights.

With the chic yet chill ambiance, delicious food and friendly staff, I think I’ll be making the trek to Sandy Springs more often.


~Blair Branch



Three Sheets is open Tuesday through Saturday, 5pm-2am.
Three Sheets is located at 6017 Sandy Springs Circle in Atlanta.
404.303.8423

Paul's fails to please

When the B.F. asked which restaurant I’d like to dine at on my birthday, I rattled off a novella-long list of area hot-spots I’d yet to try, and left the final decision up to him. My requirements for my birthday dinner were simple. Good food and great wine. I was pleased that the B.F. chose the restaurant of local restaurant guru Paul Albrecht, Paul’s. Though Paul’s has been nestled back in Peachtree Hills for a few years, I had yet to try it. Former co-founder of Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, Albrecht has been involved with many of my favorite local restaurants, so I was anxious and excited to see what his namesake spot had in store.

Upon entrance, I felt immediately awkward for being totally overdressed for the restaurant. I didn’t expect white coats and top hats, but I certainly wasn’t expecting a Jay Leno wannabe in a denim-on-denim getup with white sneakers either. Given Albrecht’s hand in opening some of the cities sexiest restaurants, I was expecting more.

We started our meal with a bottle of red, per usual, and the All White Lump Crab Cake from the Small Plates portion of the menu. The cake was perfection, with moist and flaky bunches of crab and crispy cake served with sautéed spinach and calypso butter. I noted that I could’ve just eaten that for dinner and been content, flavor-wise. My only beef was that it was $15 for one measly crab cake! I understand it was from the Small Plates section, I just wish it had a smaller price as well.

While perusing the menu for my entrée choice, I was skeptical of finding something I’d enjoy. Though I like to eat and write about eating, I’m not super-adventurous when it comes to eating and I wanted my quarter-century birthday meal to be nothing but amazing. With menu items like Pan Seared Calf’s Liver (yuck) and Grilled Vegetable Tofu (no thanks) I feared I had made a mistake by including Paul’s on my restaurant list. Seeking less-exotic fare, I stuck with the tried and true meat and potatoes route and chose the Filet Mignon, served with rosemary rosette potatoes, crispy onion rings and jumbo asparagus, all in a red wine reduction. My filet was nothing short of delectable. It was cooked to perfection and a generous size, and the classic steakhouse sides were a welcomed accompaniment. I honestly couldn’t have been happier.

The B.F. was not as pleased, and not without merit. I tried several bites of his Hickory Short Smoked Pork Tenderloin and honestly, it tasted like my mother’s ham she used to serve on Sundays. And that’s not a compliment (sorry Mama!). I cook pork tenderloin about once a week at home, and even mine is better than this! I think the B.F. chooses his entrees based on the sides it’s served with, and with high hopes for the macaroni and cheese and collard greens, we were left disappointed. While both might’ve been delicious if served warm, we wound up eating gooey, congealed and cold mac and cheese and disgusting, limp collard greens.

I felt bad (but not too bad) that the B.F’s dinner was gross while mine was great, so I was hoping the dessert would help save the evening. I’m not hard to please in terms of dessert. You could drizzle chocolate over mayonnaise (my absolute most-hated food item) and I would eat it. So I’m not the most objective source. The dessert was good, but forgettable. It was some sort of tiramisu (my favorite food ever) and cheesecake (my second-favorite food ever). With a combo like that, I was expecting greatness. It wasn’t.

I don’t think I’ll go back to Paul’s. While the crab cake we started with was delicious, a $15 appetizer doesn’t redeem the other aspects of the meal. The restaurant has a major identity crisis, with too much going on menu-wise. I’m a believer in sticking with a common element and making it perfect, and with selections ranging from Crispy Sweetbreads and Sage Prosciutto to Vegetable Tortellonis to sushi, Paul’s is far from perfection. Service-wise, everything was great, although the B.F. was a little peeved they forgot it was my birthday (apparently he asked that they make note of it when he made the reservation.)

As we were leaving, I took it all in. The rooftop patio, the neighborhood feel, the old men sipping scotch at the bar, the piano in the corner. I guess I can learn to appreciate Paul’s for what it is—a second-rate version of Hal’s.


~Blair Branch

Paul's is located at 10 Kings Circle in Peachtree Hills.
Paul's is open daily for lunch and dinner and on Sunday for brunch.
404.231.4710