DOT'S Thoughts on Hot Spots

La Cevicheria

2012-06-01T23:30:00.001-04:00

La Cevicheria
Calle Stuart 7
Cartagena, Colombia

Yes, Katy and I went to Colombia, the country. For Thanksgiving we took the week and flew down to South America. I had always wanted to visit South America and had my eyes set on places such as Rio, Buenos Aires, and Machu Picchu. Over the last year or two I had heard about Cartagena (Colombia) becoming more than just the drug capital that people perceive it to be, and more of an up and coming food capital of the world. After researching, we found that visiting Cartagena would only be a fraction of what it would cost to do any of the other trips to SA; we made up our minds and took the plunge, even with friends and family worrying about our safety.

I could go on and on and on about how amazing Cartagena was...truly. It really was the best, most memorable and amazing place I have ever been. It's a historic, Spanish/Latin/Caribbean town that wants so dearly to rid themselves of the bad rap with drugs and kidnapping; everyone we met was extremely friendly and tried to accommodate, even though most don't speak English. The food was unlike other "Latin" food you find here in the states. We were able to eat at an Argentinean steak house, Peruvian Restaurant, and sample other South American cuisine...but the best was the local.

For lunch one day after we visited Volcan del Totumo, the largest mud volcano in the world, we had lunch at a small fishing village, Manzanillo del Mar, and had a common lunch: fish (caught about an hour before we ate), coconut rice, and patacones (double fried smashed plantains). And of course it wouldn't be a complete lunch without a local Aguila to wash it down.

Again, all of this was amazing and if you want to know more about Cartagena please ask...but if you happen to decide to visit, which I strongly urge everyone to do, make a stop at La Cevicheria for a very local meal. Located on a side street inside the wall it is a very small place with maybe 2 or 3 tables inside and 2 or 3 out front on the street. We ate outside and listened to locals playing music and serenading in the streets. Cartagena is known for its Ceviche, raw seafood that is "cooked" by marinating in citrus. Katy and I tried ceviche the first night in Cartagena which was fish of the day marinated in lime juice and red onions....it was edible, that's all. At La Cevicheria we decided to try it again and went with the shrimp ceviche for an appetizer and both got fish sandwiches for entrees. The shrimp ceviche was amazing, I would go back and eat an entire meal just of that if I ever go back to Cartagena. The shrimp were small, juicy, and the citrus just mixed perfectly. Our fish sandwiches were NOTHING like we expected but were again phenomenal. They looked almost like an open face taco....some sort of honey mustard sauce on the flat bread, chopped fish, lettuce and tomatoes. When it first came out, it didn't look appealing but I will say it was one of the tastiest sandwiches I have ever had- somehow, it just worked.

Get over everything you've heard about how dangerous Cartagena is and make a point to visit at some time in your life. Not only will you see history, beauty, and culture but you will also get to experience some amazing once-in-a-lifetime meals.

Front of La Cevicheria - the menu

Fish Sandwich

Local lunch in fishing village

Getting ready to jump into Volcan del Totumo

Main square in Cartagena

Beach at Isla Baru, Colombia

Table 1280

2012-05-31T22:19:00.001-04:00

www.table1280.com

1280 Peachtree Street NE

Atlanta, GA 30309

The Picasso to Warhol exhibit was at the High Museum and it seemed like a good way to spend the last day before Katy's membership expired. We arrived early enough to catch brunch at Table 1280, which is in the same courtyard with the High in Midtown. Known for previous Top Chef contestant Tracey (Season 7) and the artsy decor, Table 1280 tries to create a menu that not only pairs great with wine, but also the current exhibits.

Although we had a warm winter this year, this Halloween was chilly and we decided to forgo sitting outside in the courtyard. Instead, we were given a small table by a window in very uncomfortable chairs. They were the hard aluminum type that already had grooves and made you sit a certain way...not for me! Katy ordered a Cuban sandwich off of the lunch menu. I had a bite and it was good, but it was also just a Cuban. The best part of hers were the house made pickles and chips. I ordered off of the breakfast part and honestly, I don't remember what I ate. I remember the chairs being uncomfortable, but nothing about my meal...I didn't hate it, but it wasn't memorable.

It was cool to see all of the different pieces of art throughout the day from Picasso, Warhol, and Pollock, but the most memorable by far was the Grainger McKoy exhibit. McKoy makes sculptures, mainly birds of prey and other animals he encountered growing up in Lowcountry, SC. It's not the sculptures that wowed me (although they did), it was the way he displayed them and how they defied physics by not toppling over. So - maybe I just need to give Table 1280 another shot to wow me like McKoy...there was nothing too terrible about it, just nothing that defies the odds. But I think I'll wait a while, there are many other restaurants to try first!

Nippers Beach Grille

2012-02-18T20:19:00.002-05:00

http://www.nippersbeachgrille.com/
2309 Beach Blvd
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

While down at the Captain's House for a long fall weekend, Katy and I wanted to make the 30 minute drive to Jacksonville Beach, specifically to visit Chef Kenny's restaurant. Kenny was my favorite contestant on Top Chef, Season 7 and I personally think he left the show way too early - it showed at Nippers.

We went only for lunch but ate like it was our last meal. Greeted by Kenny at the bar, we were ushered quickly to a table overlooking the marina full of yachts. Not only does the restaurant offer great views, but there is a large TV room to watch the games, and a Tiki Deck that offers an outdoor area for party-goers to have fun in the sun.

We started off sharing the Conch Fritters and I also ordered the loaded potato soup, the soup of the day. The fritters were good, but I thought they could have had more conch and the potato soup was superb, thick and creamy. For our mains, Katy had the blackened fish sandwich that was first-rate, but her sweet potato fries are still the best she's had. Unlike many sweet potato fries that are thick-cut and soggy, these were cut thinly and were nice and crunchy with great flavor.

My pulled pork sandwich came with a fried green tomato, tomatillo jam, and jalapeno jack cheese. Naturally, since this may have been the only time I'll visit Nippers, I had to add the chef recommendation by making my sandwich dirty (this adds collard greens, bacon, and KG's hot sauce on the sandwich). When the waitress brought my sandwich out I wanted to waive the white flag immediately. It stood probably 8 inches high and weighed nearly 5 pounds! The pulled pork mashed with the hot sauce, collards and fried green tomato made for a hearty southern-cuisine meal. After somehow managing to take down the first half of the sandwich, I had to take the brioche bun away from the second half and finish with a fork. After finishing, we stayed another 45 minutes sipping a beer to let my stomach digest before departing this lovely Southern/Caribbean beach grill. So next time you're in Jacksonville Beach, stop in to see Chef Kenny and take your shot at a dirty meal.

Blue Pointe

2011-12-20T21:25:00.001-05:00

No Longer Open
3455 Peachtree Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30326

Blue Pointe was another Buckhead Life restaurant that was very good, located on the corner of Peachtree and Lenox, that shut down just a few weeks after we ate there in September. A slightly more upscale restaurant, we found it to be full of many professionals who stopped by for cocktails, appetizers, or to impress customers. We made the trip because we had a $25 Buckhead Life Restaurant Group card and had met the somewhat new sous chef one evening sharing small plates at Holeman and Finch.

We dug in with the Hanoi Spring Rolls and the Pork Potstickers for appetizers; if the place were still open, I would recommend the Blueplate...a tasting of the two aforementioned as well as the Lemongrass Shrimp and Duck Soup Dumplings. We opted out of this four app tasting because it was just the two of us and we wanted to be able to finish our entrees as well. I always enjoy great potstickers but was partial to the Spring Rolls due to the sweet chili sauce on the side. It was comprised of a great balance between the sweetness and spiciness of the chilies, it had just enough of that kick I look for. Katy ordered what she had been waiting for since we made our reservations the prior week....the Rare Ahi Tuna with a crispy noodle cake and soy glaze. I have to say, I was able to eat a portion of it and man, was it good! Warm but not cooked, it would just melt in your mouth and slide down your throat blissfully. I ordered the Peanut Crusted Grouper that was cooked to perfection as well and the bok choy was so fresh it tasted like I was in Shanghai.

Unfortunately, due to issues with their lease NOT the food, Blue Pointe did shut their doors at the end of November. Jeremy Miller, the young executive chef has been the named chef at the new STK Atlanta, which opened a few days ago. Although, it has had much publicity and many foodies have been awaiting this NY steakhouse to open in Atlanta, I'll probably have to wait a bit to fork over the money for $50 steaks. But if Miller can cook a steak like he can the Modern Asian food of Blue Pointe, there's no doubt it will be a success.

Tierra

2011-11-15T21:35:00.001-05:00

http://www.tierrarestaurant.com/
1425 Piedmont Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30309

Finishing Katy's birthday WEEK, we went out with her brother and his wife to Tierra to celebrate. Located just a block away from Atlanta Botanical Gardens, there is an exuberance of life and vibrant colors to this Latin/Caribbean restaurant. The inside is fairly tight but there is a lovely large back porch perfect for Spring and Summer evenings. With original style and ethnic flavors, Tierra is consistently ranked among Atlanta's best.

A changing menu every few weeks allows diners to enjoy a variety of authentic Latin cuisine. To start, we shared a chilled cucumber soup that was extremely refreshing on the hot summer night. My meal consisted of the beef tenderloin with a jalapeno onion cream and platanos fritos (potato fries). The meat was perfectly tender with just enough flavor of the jalapenos to compliment, washed down with a Caguama, El Salvadorian cerveza. Katy had the grilled garlic lime shrimp over rice and greens. The explosive flavor from the glaze was enough to put this restaurant on the list to come back to. For dessert, we all shared their famed tres leches cake and Cuban coffee flan.

The food and atmosphere was very pleasant and this was the perfect place for us to go; the previous day Katy and I had booked our vacation to Cartagena, Colombia (future comparison posts to come). When you are in Midtown or just leaving the Gardens and want a fun place with authentic food to send you Salsa-ing through the night, walk on over to Tierra, you won't be disappointed.

Atlanta Fish Market

2011-10-30T16:15:00.000-04:00

www.buckheadrestaurants.com/atlanta-fish-market/
265 Pharr Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30305

On Katy's birthday we met up with her parents at the 65 foot copper fish in Buckhead. I hadn't been here in a long time and was excited for the freshly flown-in seafood treat that was in store. An Atlanta flagship restaurant, the award-winning seafood spot has a cornucopia of fresh seafood to choose from and a menu that changes twice every day. Just off the main strip and hustle and bustle of the city, Atlanta Fish Market gives diners the local neighborhood feeling you would hope for.

We tried to sample as much as we could because its not everyday in Atlanta you can try scores of different seafood at the same location. For appetizers, there were the Oysters Rockefeller, Loaded Iceberg Wedge salad, and lump crabcakes. For entrees, you can go one of two ways: choose one of the many prepared signature entrees which Katy's mom ordered the Trout Meuniere, or you can create your own dish. This is what the rest of us did. Choosing between twenty different fresh catches, we were able to choose our preparation as well as sides. Katy's dad with the Sea scallops, Katy with Blackened Lemon Sole and I chose the Broiled Red Snapper. Everything about the meal was great and they were executed perfectly. In my opinion, taking in to consideration the expansive and very fresh menu, this is consistently the best seafood restaurant in Atlanta and worth a stop from any traveler.

Five and Ten

2011-09-21T21:15:00.002-04:00

www.fiveandten.com
1653 S Lumpkin Street
Athens, GA 30606

To celebrate my brother and Katy's birthdays this year we decided to go to a favorite in Athens by local chef Hugh Acheson (previously blogged about his Atlanta restaurant Empire State South). Known for his use of local ingredients and atypical style of comfort food, it's always exciting to see what will be on the menu. Not only is the food here amazing, but Five and Ten holds one of the most extensive wine menus in Athens.

We started with a few apps: the pimento cheese with crostinis, half-shelled oysters, and a special of the night, chicken feet. I had never tried chicken feet and have wanted to for a while, tonight was my shot. Not really what I was expecting. I'm sure there are MANY ways to cook your chicken feet and I always imagined they would be crispy, these weren't. It tasted as if they were Asian styled BBQ. Nevertheless, they were a bit fatty but appetizing. I had the trout and I can't exactly remember what sides it came with but I do remember it being great...not being able to remember everything sometimes happens in Athens. We were also able to try the Lowcountry Frogmore stew which was marvelous with an abundance of shrimp and sausage, and the Columbia River sturgeon with whipped potatoes, collards and favas.

Everything about this restaurant is exceptional from the moment you walk in the front door until you take that last sip of housemade limoncello. It is a must for those in Athens looking to pleasantly expand their taste buds. Also in Athens from Acheson, The National and Gosford Wine.

*Meet Hugh Acheson on his book tour for A New Turn In The South.

Miller Union

2011-09-11T20:15:00.001-04:00

www.millerunion.com
999 Brady Ave
Atlanta, GA 30318

One year later and still going strong, Katy and I wanted to celebrate by dining somewhere special. Miller Union is on the West Side of Atlanta, just a block away from West Egg (previously posted), and is all the rage. If you've read anything about food/restaurants in Atlanta in the past year or so then you've come across this place. Steven Satterfield has taken Farm-to-Table dining to new heights and hypes and has become a familiar face with simple elegance.

Having heard so much for so long about Miller Union, Katy and I had been anticipating this meal for some time. The food was great and we had a wonderful time...BUT, I'm not quite sure it is my absolute favorite in Atlanta, and I have my reasons. For me, it was like finally going to that movie that everyone has told you about and when you do see it, your expectations are so high that no matter how amazing it is (which Miller Union is) you're bound to be let down. I'm the first to advocate for the Atlanta dining scene and how far it has come, but I think I was expecting Le Bernardin.

We got a couple of starters, the English Pea soup and the Squash Blossoms. I will say the vegetables may have been some of the most fresh and vibrant I've had, exploding with color and flavor. The squash blossoms were an inventive and very pleasant treat; stuffed with ricotta cheese and lemon juice, the flowers were battered with lemon zest and cayenne pepper then deep fried. For entrees, I had the fish special which was very delicious but didn't knock my socks off and Katy enjoyed her first experience with whole quail and an arugula salad.

I know I have critiqued Miller Union a bit harsher than normal, but believe me, the food was great and I definitely want to go back to eat more. Satterfield has done a great job and will continue to secure Atlanta a destination in the Culinary Atlas.

West Egg Cafe

2011-08-18T21:30:00.002-04:00

http://www.westeggcafe.com/
1100 Howell Mill Rd
Atlanta, GA 30318

Taking its name from The Great Gatsby, the West Egg Cafe nestles up in the more popular West Side of Atlanta along the old railroads. It has that neighborhood comfortable feeling when you step in. As you cross the threshold a fresh bakery and full coffee bar aromas make for a pleasant olfactory overload.

I was grateful to have been invited by my friend Jess, with Good Measure Meals, to join for their fundraiser. They raise money for the charity Project Open Hand, which provides healthy meals to people and families who have been affected by some chronic disease. It is a very cool and important charity and I urge you to take a look at how you can help. Now, on to the meal....

Although it was Wednesday, $10 burger and pint night, I was in the mood for breakfast (served all day) and ordered up myself the Fried Green Tomato Wrap with bacon, eggs, and cheese. I personally just thought mine was alright, nothing too special and my side of grits weren't the best I've had. Katy had the Fried Green Tomato BLT with pimento cheese and greens. Her meal was a bit better than mine but the top dog was what Emily ordered. The "PB&J" burger. Pimento cheese - Bacon & tomato Jam double burger. I had a bite and regretted my need to always want breakfast for dinner. It is their specialty and easy to see why, definitely try it out! The portions are large and we weren't able to get one of their homemade milk shakes, which are supposed to be superb along with their Coca-Cola Cupcake. I do want to go back again and give another meal a try. As if the PB&J burger and coke cupcake aren't enough to make your dining experience memorable, they also provide a photo booth in the coffee shop to make the memory last.

*Please let me know if you want more information on how to give to Project Open Hand

ChaChah

2011-08-11T22:10:00.003-04:00

www.chachahnashville.com
2013 Belmont Blvd
Nashville, TN 37212

I had made a decision early in the summer to go up to visit my grandparents on the farm for a weekend in Indiana. Because neither Katy nor I had ever been out in Nashville we wanted to break up the 8 hour drive and see what kind of food Music City had to offer. Upon looking at some restaurants, I found Arnold Myint from Top Chef and his numerous claims. Only two of those were on Open Table and because we didn't want to limit our palate to just Asian food (Suzy Wong's House of Yum) we chose ChaChah for the variety.

First off, when visiting Nashville DO NOT stay at Opryland! It is too big, too crowded, and too far away. Second, if you are just passing through for one night try not to pick the weekend of the CMA Music Fest. As you can imagine, we did both and it hindered our time there. I don't hold a grudge against Nashville for this one night, but it was not the most pleasant stay. The one redeeming thing was we were able to have a wonderful dining experience. Our waiter was superb and attentive, granted we may have been 2 of the 8 people in the restaurant all night....including Arnold.

Hopefully the reason it was empty was because of students leaving Belmont* for the summer or because everyone was downtown getting autographs, it certainly wasn't due to the food. We ordered a bottle of wine and some tapas. With a few recommendations from our waiter we settled on brussels sprouts, 'elotes' -shaved corn with chipotle butter, chorizo croquettas, crab fritters, and the lamb meatballs with yogurt. The portions were fine and the food fully flavorful. In my opinion, the star of the night was the lamb meatballs. While displayed on a stick, the art showcased a new twist to an ordinary ball of meat. After the meal we corked our bottle of wine and headed back to Opryland. We will be back to Nashville again.

*Possibly the coolest area of any city I have been to in a while. The homes were old but still felt relevant. Looked like a great area and neat place to live.

Empire State South

2011-07-08T19:22:00.000-04:00

www.empirestatesouth.com
999 Peachtree Street, Ste 140
Atlanta, GA 30309

Finally, Atlanta has a restaurant that serves southern cuisine with a beautiful twist all day long. Open from 7am until 11pm, you could eat all three meals here and leave begging for more. Partner Hugh Acheson, famous for Five and Ten, The National, and Gosford Wine in Athens has brought his skill to the city. He was a contestant on the latest Top Chef Masters season and made Ga proud with his performance (although he shouldn't have been kicked off when he was). He brings inventive creations to very authentic southern meals for anyone stopping in to grab a to-go lunch or for those who want to stick around, relax and get next on the bocce ball court.

We went for brunch on Easter and were lucky enough to find two seats at the bar because every other seat had been reserved. I had the Jalapeno and Bacon Biscuit with pork, poached egg and balsamic onion jam. I've not had many biscuits, if any, better than this one; it had pieces of jalapeno and bacon cooked into the batter, Delic!. Katy had the Shrimp and Grits with large local shrimp and smoked bacon; a staple meal at many restaurants in the South...this one tops the charts.

We couldn't have asked for a better meal or setting to start off the day. Although we only stayed for Brunch, Hugh gave us enough to prove why he deserved to be on Top Chef Masters and I will definitely have an update dinner blog coming soon!

Doc Chey's Noodle House

2011-06-07T21:29:00.002-04:00

www.doccheys.com
1424 North Highland Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30306

It was the Friday evening before Easter and Katy and I had no plans for once. We decided not to cook and wanted to head toward the Highlands since it had been a while. Neither one of us felt like changing, waiting to be seated, or spending much money so I suggested Doc Chey's (a recommendation for good noodles with a relaxed environment from one of my customers). It's located just around the corner from Virginia and Highland and still has many boutiques and dessert shops in the vicinity for meandering.

The menu is pretty standard and straight-forward: dim sum, noodles, soups, and stir fries. The prices and food delightful. We shared some dim sum, the veggie spring rolls and the shanghai dumplings exuding fresh ginger. My meal was the traditional Chicken Pad Thai with a few extra veggies that Doc added to give it a step up from the norm. Katy's Japanese Teriyaki Udon hit spot-on, as the noodles were cooked with the vegetables and chicken first, then tossed around and stir fried with some teriyaki.

Doc Chey's is a quick and cheap eat in a family atmosphere. All of the food is prepared sans MSG so it is also healthier for the entire family. We also left feeling pretty good, seeing how we ate all that we did for only $30. Try doing that somewhere else in Atlanta.

Zentan

2011-05-22T13:13:00.001-04:00

www.zentanrestaurant.com
1155 14th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20005

We walked through famed Dupont Circle to get to The Donovan House, where superstar Chef Susur Lee has placed his inventive Asian style restaurant, Zentan. Having watched him make it to the season finale of Top Chef Masters (Season 2), I knew this would be a great choice for our last meal before heading back to Atlanta. The restaurant has its own unique feel; an upscale sushi bar, casual family-style eating tables, and the plethora of candles give a warm Asian feeling, almost 'Zen'-like.

This feeling of weightlessness quickly faded when we gawked at the menu and had no idea what to order. Sake or Beer? Appetizers or Sides? Sushi or Entrees? After some thought, and help from the Maitre D, we decided on a little bit of everything! We got a couple Sapporos and some hot sake (which Katy hated), followed by a Sushi Roll. I'm not one to crave sushi, but things can change, especially after splitting the 10 pieces of spicy tuna, smoked eel, and avocado, known as the Fire Dragon.

Already a bit overwhelmed from how much sushi we ate, we still had to make room for our appetizer, side, and BOTH entrees. But we did it. The summer roll consisted of raw chopped vegetables and bits of fresh mango wrapped in rice paper...cool, clean, and rejuvenating. Our entrees were presented with perfection, each plate showcased the highlights of the salmon and black cod. Both meals were exquisite and of course we sided them with our favorite, brussels sprouts. After having the Mediterranean inspired dish two nights earlier we had to compare their differences. No clear winner. At Zentan they are roasted large, still vividly green, and treading in soy sauce so delicious that you pray it creeps to everything else on your plate.

Susur Lee does not disappoint, every aspect of this restaurant is worth detailing and revisiting. When you get to DC, plan to eat Asian and you will quickly find out why he is considered one of the best.

We, The Pizza

2011-05-09T21:23:00.001-04:00

www.wethepizza.com
305 Pennsylvania Ave SE
Washington, DC 20003

Cheap, simple, fun, philanthropic, and yummy, Spike Mendelsohn of Good Stuff Eatery and a Top-Chef contestant opened We, The Pizza, well, for everybody. This small joint serves up gourmet pizza by the slice or the pie, ranging from Simple Cheese to Roasted Potato and Pancetta. Katy and I stopped by to grab lunch after a short walk from the Library of Congress to find the delectable pizzas on display for our choosing. With our slices and beers in hand, we topped them with red pepper flakes and headed upstairs to enjoy. We shared slices of For The Greeks In Us and Sausage And Peppers which were both greasy and flavorful. We, The Pizza recharged us as we threw away our paper plates and continued to our next destination.

Zaytinya

2011-05-05T21:47:00.005-04:00

www.zaytinya.com
701 9th Street NW
Washington, DC 20004

Just a couple of weeks after returning from Chicago, I surprised Katy with our next adventure to Washington D.C. for the Cherry Blossom Festival, some sightseeing, as well as some of the best eats around. With reservations for our first night, it was a non-negotiable for me to eat at Jose Andres' Zaytinya. I knew the Mediterranean mezze cuisine was right up our alley, not to mention Top Chef contestant Mike Isabella was the executive chef prior to opening his first restaurant, Graffiato, just blocks from Zaytinya.

Seated at a small table near the open kitchen, we were overwhelmed by the 3 ring binder menu dropped in front of us presenting numerous different Greek, Turkish, and Lebanese wine and plates. After deciding on a Lebanese Red, we sifted through the endless food selections until we landed on a flawless combination of treats to fill us up. Crispy Brussel Sprouts with barberries and garlic yogurt were some of the best we've had; HUGE sprouts with the outer leaves crisp and a phenomenal dipping yogurt made these splendid! The ouzo battered Black Cod with orange may have been the single greatest piece of fish I have eaten. We also had the seared salmon with a butternut squash puree, the braised goat and scallion hummus flatbread, and seared scallops. Finally, what may have sealed the deal was a special of the night, the feta lamb phyllo with yogurt dill sauce which was light and fluffy, yet carried a punch of flavor!

Mediterranean food is not an abundant cuisine where we normally dine in Atlanta, but in Washington there are many ethnic restaurants and I can guarantee this tops the charts. Not only was the food some of my favorite, Zaytinya is a fun and inviting restaurant that I would visit again and again were it not for the 600 miles between us; if it were only a bit closer, maybe 300...

Holeman And Finch Public House

2011-04-27T21:14:00.000-04:00

www.holeman-finch.com
2277 Peachtree Road, Suite B
Atlanta, GA 30309

For so long, I have been trying to get to Holeman and Finch because I have heard many great things, yet it has never fit with my plans. In the past few weeks, I have been twice and wouldn't mind a couple more visits in the next few. Chef Linton Hopkins and team have taken their vision and skill to ensure everybody has a wonderful experience from the second they walk in until taking their final bite.

Having the menu in small plates style allows for people like myself to have a stab at trying as much on the menu as possible. This also gives the opportunity to try dishes for the first time without the fear of paying too much...and this is exactly what I did with the Gratin of Marrow. Although, I did enjoy the flavors and scooping out of the sliced bone, I would have been hesitant to order it had it not only cost $8. Along with the bone marrow, I was able to try five of the cured meats, pork belly sandwiches, sauteed turnips, and their pimiento cheese.

You will find yourself enjoying a drink at the bar, a local watering hole where many gather regularly, as they do not honor reservations. Breads made in-house can be purchased behind the bar which accompany many of the plates on the menu. These baked goods have such a reputation that you will find them served at many other local Hot Spots.

Not in the mood for dining out? After picking up your bread-to-go, head North on Peachtree a quarter-mile to the new H&F Bottleshop for a libation of your choice, comparable with the dine-in drink selections, offered at suitable prices.

C-House

2011-04-17T21:48:00.001-04:00

www.c-houserestaurant.com
166 East Superior Street
Chicago, IL 60611

After booking a quick weekend in Chicago for my Uncle's birthday, first order of business: Reservations at C-House. Top Chef Master winner and culinary icon Marcus Samuelsson opened C-House in Chicago as a jewel among other surf and turf competitors. Katy, long-time friend Kelly, my brother, and I enjoyed a day walking the city, sight seeing, and eating Chicago Style pizza at Giordanos.

Located inside the Affinia Hotel we wined and dined...and wined some more. Taking into consideration that we were eating at one of the most renowned chef's restaurants, I convinced the table to partake in the Crispy Sweetbreads stating 'if they aren't good here, they won't be good anywhere.' Confirmed by the waiter's response, we also ordered the pan seared scallops. Having satisfied my curiosity, although determining I may not order them again, the sweetbreads were pleasantly surprising with a crispy outside and a melt-in-your-mouth center.

Entrees included sturgeon, black radish whole trout (head to tail), and grouper bestowed upon saffron risotto as well as a side of Brussels sprouts...obviously. Each dish was masterfully prepared and full of flavor; I would expect nothing less from Samuelsson. With this meal behind me, I'm able to mark another chef off my 'Must Eat Before I Die' list. We walked away with our stomachs full and wallets empty feeling the need to dance off the food at Chicago's oldest and largest real blues club, Kingston Mines.

Spoon

2011-04-12T21:53:00.000-04:00

www.spoonatlanta.com
768 Marietta Hwy, Suite A
Atlanta, GA 30318

While being one of my favorite foods, I don't eat Thai very often but Spoon is a restaurant where you just can't get enough. Parked near the Georgia Tech campus, Spoon has a small footprint but is big on flavor and is great for either a first date or night out with the family. The satisfying menu serves both traditional rice and noodle dishes as well as inspiring seasonal specials, all very affordable.

We started the evening drinking Singha and devouring spring rolls, stuffed with cabbage and other veggies, we dipped in a biting sweet and sour sauce. We both ordered the usual, Pad Z U with beef for Katy and chicken Pad Thai for myself. Because I won't allow myself to order the same as her, Katy's was somewhat better, but both exceeded those of other restaurants; no wonder it was Reader's Pick for Best Thai 2010.

Holy Taco

2011-04-10T09:42:00.002-04:00

www.holy-taco.com
1314 Glenwood Avenue
East Atlanta, GA 30316

With the latest fad of local and sustainable ingredients, our journey led us to this impressive taqueria in East Atlanta. My Mom's coworker, having read my blog noticed that we enjoy tacos, suggested we try Holy Taco for a bit of unique Mexican style. The developed menu spanning from guacamole to paella complements the informal environment well. After ordering the Mystery Beer (Goldmine) and a Tecate, our waitress brought over chips and guac to get started. These chips are unlike others served at Mexican restaurants, they are fried and fluffy, greasy and great!

Katy and I carefully chose which tacos we ordered to make sure we got the full experience. For myself, roasted beef tongue, roasted pork, and goat, which they happened to be out of goat that evening, so I had to revert to chicken. For Katy, the brisket, fried tilapia, and the skirt steak. Looking forward to the goat (and apparently a very popular choice), my favorite of the night was the roasted pork that was cooked long and perfectly topped with Mexican slaw. The beef tongue was interesting. For my first time trying it, it wasn't terrible but probably not something I would order on a regular basis. Katy's favorite was the fried tilapia with slaw and a spicy chipotle aioli.

Because it was too cold when we visited, we will have to come back and enjoy the front porch while trying another Mystery Beer. Holy Taco is definitely a cool place to drink and dine, although you need to enjoy Mexican food, this experience has something for the risky and reserved.

Varasano's Pizzeria

2011-03-28T21:51:00.001-04:00

http://www.varasanos.com
2171 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30309

Actively seeking points on OpenTable, Katy and I decided to have lunch one Sunday after church at Varasano's. A recent establishment in the Peachtree Battle neighborhood, we were hoping to find a new pizza joint that could rival our other local favorites. After checking in with the hostess to receive our 100 dining points, we laughed while realizing 11:45am reservations are not a hot commodity.

Unsure just how big the pizzas were, we ordered two to share and wound up with some leftovers. Personally loving thin crust pizza charred from a brick oven, I was confident any of the menu selections would not disappoint. I chose the Salumi that was topped with thinly sliced Italian cured meats, mozzarella, tomato sauce and spiced olives. Just as I had hoped, the flash baked crust was an ideal vehicle for the sauce and delicious combination of meats and salty olives. Katy ordered the Caramelized Onion pizza with sweet onions and a sharp Emmenthaler cheese. She added sausage with fennel which was a perfect compliment to the other present bold flavors. We folded up the slices and gobbled them down in recommended fashion.

After a lovely meal, our jubilant waitress informed us that we could save ten percent simply by blogging or tweeting about the restaurant. Knowing nothing about 'tweeting', I questioned whether or not I could become a Blogger.....enter DOT's Thoughts on Hot Spots.

Abattoir

2011-03-22T21:20:00.004-04:00

www.starprovisions.com
1170 Howell Mill Road
Atlanta, GA 30318

Meaning Slaughterhouse, Abattoir is sheltered in West Midtown with the rest of Star Provisions' award-winning restaurants and is associated with using the whole animal in their dishes. Trying to find a different, cheaper restaurant, we landed on Abattoir since it had been on our list for a while and was a bit less than one of Quatrano's other restaurants, Bacchanalia. The substantial bar up front is ideal for cocktails while waiting to be seated, whereas the rustic Edison light bulbs and open warehouse-feel to the restaurant make for an old butcher shop presence.

The food was just as great as the surroundings and after seeing the enormous pig portrait on the wall, my gut told me to order pork. To start, we had the black-eyed pea hummus and although it looked simply like a puree served with flatbread and vegetables, it was delicate and flavorful. Katy's special of fish and turnips among others was pleasing but my trio of pork took home the awards! There was a hunk of ham surrounded by even more impressive brethren pork sausage and sauteed greens with bits of pork belly, which of course makes EVERYTHING better.

Ultimately, my favorite part of the meal were the two slow cooked pork shoulder fritters on the side of my dish. They were the most pleasant make-your-eyes-widen-when-you-take-the-first-bite surprise. These pork filled 'hushpuppies' tasted as if I were a kid waking up unexpectedly to Christmas morning with tons of presents!

With the ever changing menu and offerings such as beef tongue, tripe, and sweetbreads, Abattoir is for those who enjoy a twist from the normal steakhouse. I feel they are trying to create a new restaurant on an old town idea while making dishes delightful and memorable...and they're succeeding tremendously.

Espana Restaurant

2011-03-19T22:39:00.000-04:00

http://www.espanadowntown.com/
22 South 4th Street
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034

Excited to spend another day at the beach, but not brave enough to conquer the Atlantic in January, we headed downtown for some antiquing. Not only was shopping a success, but we enjoyed a delightful brunch at Lulu's complete with crab cakes Benedict (Orleans) and a roasted red pepper salad (Love on a Plate). Hidden at the bottom of the Thompson House, Lulu's makes for a uniquely scrumptious meal.

With a trunk full of antiques and satisfied stomachs, we headed back to the Captain's House for some more shark's tooth hunting and awaited our reservation at Espana later that evening. A burly Spanish waiter helped us navigate the menu and made recommendations for items including the Gambas Mozambique, sautéed shrimp topped with a spicy coconut milk sauce and fresh cilantro as well as the Aceitunas, a variety of marinated olives, garlic and fresh herbs. Pleased with both choices, we found the other items on the menu to be somewhat typical of Spanish Tapas we've had at similar restaurants.

One of few tapas restaurants on the island, visit Espana for the authentic cuisine as a kick-start to your night on the town.

Horizons

2011-03-15T22:22:00.002-04:00

http://www.horizonsameliaisland.com/

4828 First Coast Highway

Amelia Islands, FL 32034

Fernandina Beach, situated on the East Coast of Amelia Island, is a fabulous vacation hideaway. Less than six hours from Atlanta, Katy has a condo at The Captain's House that we visited for the weekend. Renters welcome! With minimal choices for dinner on Open Table, we compared some local spots and chose Horizons, which also gave us 1,000 dining points.

After scouring the beach all day for shark's teeth, we made our way towards The Plantation for dinner. We were greeted by the amicable manager who not only escorted us to our table, but cut-up with us throughout the night which made for a pleasant evening. To start, I ordered the lobster bisque that was decent, but nothing out of this world. Katy's grilled Romaine with Brie and lump crab meat was delicious. For entrees, I ordered the special, which was a blackened fish (can't remember) with sweet potato puree and grilled asparagus while Katy dominated the potato crusted grouper with thyme cream accompanied by an assortment of vegetables.

In our opinion, the food was good, but overpriced due to the mostly tourist population. When we return to The Captain's House, we will continue to enjoy the quaint town and collecting shark's teeth, but will opt to try a different fine dining experience.

Perilla

2011-03-10T20:18:00.000-05:00

http://www.perillanyc.com/
9 Jones Street
New York, NY 10014

Located discretely off the main drag in the West Village, Perilla encompasses everything you could ask for from the original Top Chef winner, Harold Dieterle. I have been wanting to eat here since 2007 when they first opened their doors. With only 18 tables and few seats at the bar, reservations are needed to eat at this charming, predominantly locals, neighborhood joint. After walking across the city all day, the refined touch of this chef is exactly what we needed to refuel.

Upon arrival, I had already picked a medley of courses I wanted to try, but due to limited size of stomach, as well as wallet, I had to narrow it down to a concise meal...and eat whatever Katy ordered! She had the steak with sunchoke creamed spinach and I had one of the specials, the salmon. Both were insanely delicious alongside our roasted brussel sprouts with dried cranberries. Entrees and wine were phenomenal, but the fascination and high point of the night was from an appetizer, the spicy duck meatballs. Katy has decided that this may be the one meal she could eat every day for the rest of her life.

After licking our plates clean, Perilla was the perfect meal to end our vacation. The experience was everything I had hoped for, and the food better than I thought possible. We left Perilla and headed East to make our reservation for drinks at PDT's, but I will definitely eat here again.

Freemans Restaurant

2011-03-01T22:07:00.000-05:00

www.freemansrestaurant.com/
191 Chrystie Street
New York, NY 10002

Myself, Katy, and another couple took a quick vacation to New York City during Christmas. After sightseeing all day with a pit stop at The Central Park Boathouse for drinks, we navigated our way to find Freemans, an establishment recommended by a local friend. After the cab dropped us off in the Lower East Side, we had to find the hidden entrance down a dark alley. Upon entering, we could tell by the bustling crowd and the hour and a half wait that this was the Friday night watering hole.

Lucky to find four seats at the bar, we quickly made friends with the bartender while trying not to stick out like tourists. Along with drinks, we ordered the flagship appetizer, Devils on Horseback. The thought of a prune is not too appetizing for me, but stuffed with blue cheese and wrapped in bacon = success! Continuing to wait, we also devoured the amazing artichoke dip.

Finally, we were seated around 11:00 and were content with everything at the bar, so we split another bottle of wine and continued to splurge on the seasonal brussel sprouts and the five cheese macaroni...I know this may be a bold statement, but hands down this is the best mac-n-cheese we've ever had. Ever.

Freemans is worth the extra five minutes to ask a native where to go when you can't find the alley, and when you arrive and the hostess states it will be another hour or two before you are seated, stick around. It's too enjoyable of a time to give up on.