whatatlantaeats.com

Blueberry Compote

2012-01-29T17:32:00.001-05:00

Skip the syrup with this blueberry compote made with fresh blueberries, orange juice, a little sugar and cornstarch as a thickener.

Curried Sweet Potato Soup with a Curried Caramelized Onion Garnish

2012-01-27T20:25:00.001-05:00

This is the perfect melding of savory and sweet. Spicy curry, pungent cayenne and a little brown sugar transform sweet potatoes and carrots into a wonderfully creamy and filling soup.

Curried Sweet Potato Soup with a Curried Caramelized Onion Garnish

1 large sweet potato peeled and chopped
1 large carrot peeled and chopped
1/2 cup of chopped onion
1 Knorr vegetable bouillon cube
1 teaspoon of curry powder
1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or more to taste
1 Tablespoon of butter
1 teaspoon of brown sugar (optional)- I actually found this detracted from the natural flavors of the soup, so use sparingly

Melt butter in a deep saucepan, add curry powder, cayenne and chopped onions. Stir until onions become translucent. Add sweet potato and carrot and sauté for about 5 minutes more. Next, add 2 cups of water and bouillon cube, bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer until vegetables are soft, approximately 15-20 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat, and using an immersion blender, puree until mixture is creamy. Add brown sugar if using. Use water to thin the soup if it ends up being too thick.

For Onion Garnish

1 Small Onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon of flour
1 teaspoon of curry powder

In a small saucepan, heat about an inch of vegetable oil. While oil heats, toss onion, flour and curry powder together. When oil is sizzling, drop onions in 2-3 batches into the hot oil. Cook until onions begin to crisp and brown. Remove onions from oil and drain on paper towels. Use onions to garnish soup. You can also add a dollop of sour cream to kick it up a notch.

Social Media Train Wreck

2012-01-11T10:23:00.004-05:00

As someone who runs a rather successful Facebook and Twitter account for a local restaurant, I can't but comment on the story I found in the local news about a restaurant owner, blasting a customer over a negative review on Yelp!

First of all I read the review and honestly it was not a bad review. In fact, the customer earnestly tried to find positive aspects of her overall experience several times. I troll the review sites such as Urban Spoon and Yelp and I have found several not so stellar reviews for my restaurant but on the flip slide there are also a lot of good reviews, which I found to be the case for the restaurant in question here.

What is troubling is the restaurant owner's response to the review and I quote "If you see this woman in your restaurant, tell her to go outside and (expletive) herself. Yelp that, (expletive)." I mean geez that's a little harsh for criticism over your watery baked beans isn't it? I would of thought an intelligent, responsible and conscientious business owner would of taken note of the criticisms and analyzed if (a) they were legitimate concerns and (b) if so, the action or actions that could be taken to improve upon the service, food, etc. At least that's what we do but then we have been in business for over 50 years and experience is one hell of a teacher.

I mean the cornerstone of social media is free expression right? I don't have to like what you say but I should be respectful of your right to say it and not attack you for it.

Of course this could boil down to the caveats of ScoutMob since the media is reporting that this customer used a ScoutMob deal during her visit. All you restaurant owners out there repeat after me: " Don't offer a ScoutMob deal if you're going to resent your customers for using it!!" Take it or leave it but please don't lambast those of us who choose to take advantage of it either!

Ok so, that's my 2 cents on the situation and remember you can agree or disagree that's the beauty of this great country we live in, just don't hate on me cause I choose to express myself.

Chinese Dahba

2011-11-07T13:29:00.003-05:00

I found this place in the recently renovated Patel Plaza on Church Street in Decatur. Chinese-Indian food sounded intriguing, so we gave it a try. Inside this modest space, you place your order at the counter, choose a table and wait.

Up first, Vegetable Spring Samosas. Spring roll wrappers, in a triangular shape filled with peas, and spring roll filling. I was a tad bit disappointed because I was expecting a least the crispy traditional samosa crust. The only thing I could attribute to a traditional samosa was the addition of the peas to the spring roll mix. Ah but I then remembered that this is "Chinese food with an Indian twist." After creating my own dipping sauce of ketchup and a pepper condiment mixture on the table, they were actually quite tasty. Next, Chicken 65 which was a garlicky and spicy hot salute to this Indian street food. The vegetables (onions and green bell peppers) were crisp and the chicken, chunks of white meat chicken with that wonderful tandoori coloring were very nicely done. I did though have a yearning for some naan which unfortunately does not appear on the menu in any incarnation.

Perhaps what I really craved that day was straight Indian food, we were after all next door to my absolute favorite Indian restaurant, Mirch Masala. But Chinese Dahba's epic menu deserves a second, third and fourth chance. Next time those Crispy Chili Potatoes sound divine. And what about Chili Garlic Noodles? Or the chef's favorite Chicken Bullet Dry, a name that suggests all kinds of tasty possibilities? Old Chinese standbys such as Pepper Steak and Garlic Chicken round out the menu.

The owner circulated the room surveying customer satisfaction and was curious to how we had heard about them. If you have a thing about plastic utensils, drinking out of cans and styrofoam plates, steer clear but if you are looking for a new food adventure, come on in!

Clean Up Aisle 7

2011-11-01T09:29:00.001-04:00

It's a day late but I had to share this photo I snapped at my local Publix on Halloween night.

Murphy's

2011-10-26T20:36:00.001-04:00

WARNING! Saturday brunch at Murphy’s is absolute pandemonium. I found this out this past weekend when I met some family members for lunch. Thank God they offer valet parking and kudos to those guys who figured out how to fit a million cars in the adjacent itty bitty Wells Fargo parking lot. Inside the restaurant, space was tight and I marveled how the wait staff seemed to effortlessly glide between densely packed tables.

Ok, onto the food. Like I always do, I studied the menu ahead of time, and had already decided on the Crab Cake Benedict with jalapeno hollandaise. The hash brown potatoes were my side item. After plying us with sweet orange corn muffins and fresh biscuits, the food arrived relatively quickly for such a crowd. I was presented with 2 miniature crab cakes, a poached egg perched atop each and the entire thing drizzled with hollandaise sauce. The hash browns were disappointingly shredded and topped with a mix of raw onions and peppers. I say disappointingly because I was thinking more of crispy home fries with COOKED peppers and onions when I ordered the hash browns. Caramelizing the vegetables would of definitely amped up the potatoes’ flavor. Nonetheless anything drenched in ketchup is edible, so I poured it on. The crab cakes were fresh but indistinct; the flavor was for the most part bland. I do have to compliment the perfectly poached eggs, they were absolutely heavenly. However, I was disappointed with the hollandaise, I was expecting great things and again I was presented with bland, indistinct flavors. I was so sure that the jalapeno hollandaise would have some punch or bite to it, but it was almost unnoticeable. Such a shame because this dish has such potential! A little Old Bay and some diced jalapenos could begin to turn around what is sadly just an average dish. The fresh pan fried trout that my dining companions had was tasty though and what I wished I had ordered along with a side of grits.

Anyhow, Murphy’s is definitely worth a second visit. The Chilaquiles and the Fried Green Tomato sandwich are next on my radar.

Curry Chicken

2011-10-22T09:41:00.000-04:00

This smelled and looked so yummy, that I forgot to get an "after" shot. This was taken right before the addition of the water.

Curry Chicken

6 chicken wings

1 tablespoon of vegetable oil

½ teaspoon of flour

2 cups of water

2 chicken bouillon cubes

½ onion rough chopped

2 garlic cloves chopped

3 carrots peeled and chopped

4 red skinned potatoes, peeled and sliced

½ teaspoon of celery seed

½ teaspoon of red pepper

½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes

½ teaspoon of turmeric

1 palm full (about a tablespoon) of curry powder

½ teaspoon of garlic salt

½ teaspoon of black pepper

Brown chicken wings in 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a Dutch oven or other oven proof deep pan. Add spices and stir to coat chicken. Add chopped vegetables and stir to coat, allow onions to soften. Sprinkle flour over chicken and stir to combine, cook an additional five minutes. Add 2 cups of water and the chicken bouillon cubes. Bring to a boil, allow bouillon cubes to dissolve, and then transfer to a pre-heated 400 degree oven for about 25-30 minutes to allow gravy to thicken, stirring once halfway through cooking. Serve over basmati rice and alongside naan bread. Feeds 2-3 people.

No pain, No gain- Orgain That Is

2011-10-20T12:08:00.000-04:00

I am not a breakfast person. Especially on mornings when I am rushing to get my son to school and myself to work. I could also stand to loose a few pounds. So lately I have taken to consuming protein shakes in the morning as an alternate to breakfast and hopefully a conduit to weight loss since protein is more filling and will stave off hunger longer than a carb laden meal.

I've tried SlimFast, Chocolate Royale is my favorite and evidently everyone else's since it seems to never be in stock when I go shopping. I've tried the Special K protein shakes, finding both milk and dark chocolate to be palatable. These seemed to keep me satiated for an hour or two but nowhere near the 4 hours Special K claims. And by lunch I was so hungry it was unbelievable.

Not too long ago, flipping through Women's Health magazine, I came across Orgain. Orgain is a totally organic protein shake developed by a doctor while he was undergoing cancer treatment. It seems his appetite was poor and he was looking for something to consume that was easy, tasted good, was healthy and provided sustenance. Thus, the birth of Orgain. Boasting 16 grams of protein, natural sweetener (cane juice) and green tea extracts, which have been known to be conducive to weight loss, I was sold and promptly ordered a case of the Creamy Chocolate Fudge flavor (12 drinks) from the Vitamin Shoppe.

First, let me say Orgain is not cheap. A case was $33. Way more than Slimfast or Special K. Next, the taste was not the best, even though folks had raved over the Internet about the chocolate flavor. Granted none of the protein shakes I have drank were particularly yummy, but Orgain left a peculiar after taste in my mouth that I'm still trying to figure out. Now the BIG question? Did it keep me hunger free? I have to admit it does prove to be more filling than either Slimfast or Special K. One weird side effect though was I had to pee noticeable more, which may be a good thing. Perhaps all that organic goodness is removing toxins from my system, who knows?

And the verdict? I will definitely finish my case and will probably continuing drinking it although the price may be a deterrent. Visit their website and try one for yourself. I would love to know what other folks think, so please leave your comments.

Sky Burger, Reaching New Culinary Heights

2011-10-19T11:08:00.002-04:00

Meet my new favorite game for the iTouch/iPhone/iPad. In this game, you build a burger to soaring heights while avoiding toppings you don't need as they rain down from the sky. The more burgers you build successfully the higher your score. You can even compete with other players. Just don't play this when you're hungry!

Jagger's Pizza

2011-10-14T21:40:00.003-04:00

I was lured here by devotees of this restaurant which briefly closed and is now reopened in the Sage Hills shopping center in the Emory/Briarcliff area of Atlanta. Boasting Atlanta style pizza, my curiousity and hunger got the best of me.

First let me say, Jagger's is literally a hole in the wall. There's a counter, a few tables and chairs and a flat screen TV perched atop a refrigerator loaded with soft drinks. But as we all know some of the best food can be found in joints like this. However, it gave me great pause to be greeted by gentleman who looked as if he had rolled himself in the flour they use to make the pizza, highlighted by the fact he was wearing a black shirt. Ok, I thought these guys must really love what they do to the point of becoming one with their product.

On to the pizza. So Atlanta style must be square, deep dish, cheesy and well, a tad greasy. I had a small, pepperoni and mushroom pizza, the toppings hidden under a mountain of cheese. Really I tasted nothing but the cheese and I suppose if you like cheese that's a good thing but for me I like to taste it all- the toppings, a tangy tomato sauce and cheese as an accent atop a nice crispy crust. Now the crust wasn't bad it was thick, garlicky and absorbed the grease pretty well (ha, ha) but over all I'd have to rate this average pizza at best and not meriting a return visit anytime soon.

P.S. In case you're wondering what my favorite pizza is, it's a tie between Mellow Mushroom's Mega Veggie and Domino's Pacific Vegetable, with Domino's in the lead solely due to their fabulous pizza tracker, which let's neurotic people like me check on their pizzas all during the process- from prep to delivery.

ScoutMob- From A Restaurant's POV. Is It Worth It?

2011-09-01T15:25:00.004-04:00

Sure from a customer's point of view ScoutMob, Groupon and other digital coupon aggregators are a great idea, but what about the businesses that participate in these free for alls? What benefits are lasting? And does it ultimately cost more than it's worth?

First let me say, that yes I have used a ScoutMob deal a few times but mostly at places I already patronized. Of course, it's also an incentive to try places you may have never been. Reading through, the feedback from restaurant participants, some key issues kept emerging:

Capacity Issues- Be warned if you as a restaurant owner partake of a ScoutMob deal you will in all likelihood be SWAMPED. As the boy scouts say, "Be prepared". Buy extra inventory, increase staffing and available seating if at all possible.
Wam, Bam, Thank You Mam- Many restaurant owners complained that most patrons cashing in on the ScoutMob deals were one hit wonders and would not make a return visit at regular prices. I say if you make the Scout Mob experience an excellent one, people will come back. ScoutMob gets them in the door but it's ultimately up to you and your staff to keep them coming back.

So is ScoutMob a, blessing or a curse? I'd like to hear from both restaurant owners and restaurant goers. Let me know what you think!

Guy Fieri's Big Bud's Beer Can Chicken

2011-08-08T19:05:00.005-04:00

Before

After

And on the plate!

My rendition of Guy Fieri's Big Bud's Beer Can Chicken. Yes, that is a diet coke can which I had to use since we drink bottled beer. I emptied it, rinsed it and put in half a can of beer and smashed garlic cloves. The chicken was really crispy thanks to the bacon. The pan drippings made an awesome gravy. Not your typical beer can chicken recipe but a must try. Perfect for football season and tailgating.

Summertime

2011-08-02T10:06:00.000-04:00

Nothing says summer like a fresh, crisp, homemade, locally sourced salad.

Fat Matts

2011-07-21T19:08:00.001-04:00

You know the food is good if 10 minutes after opening, the line to get in is out the door. So was the situation when I stopped by Fat Matt's Rib Shack for lunch on Thursday after craving some authentic BBQ. I like Fat Matt's because this is literally a hole in the wall. But don't be put off by the meger accomodations or the teeny tiny kitchen. The food is still unbelievable and thankfully simple. No 20 page menu here, you got ribs, pulled pork or chicken, a few sides and 2 kinds of pie. Whatever you choose you can't go wrong. On this occasion, I indulged in a pulled pork sandwhich and a small side of Brunswick stew. The sandwhich is a meaty, saucy monster, perfect in every way and the stew is a melange of BBQ heaven- pork, chicken, potatoes, tomatoes, BBQ sauce-mmmmm.

Most people grab their orders to go but there is a small inside dining room and an outdoor patio if you just can't wait to dig in and at night and on the weekends there's a house band to supply a bluesey soundtrack to an Atlanta MUST culinary experience.

Fat Matt's Rib Shack, 1811 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

Sunday Breakfast

2011-07-10T14:02:00.002-04:00

The gorgeous breakfast burrito I made this morning- leftover taco meat, cheese eggs, wrapped in a tortilla and topped with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and sour cream.

Urban pl8

2011-06-13T16:23:00.000-04:00

Check out my Banh Mi burger from Urban pl8- pickled carrots, jalapenos, cilantro and spicy mayo on 2 beef patties. On the side is a mixed green salad with golden raisins, drizzled with a garlic infused vinaigrette. Fresh and funky flavors that actually work!

McDonald's Frozen Strawberry Lemonade

2011-06-07T17:45:00.001-04:00

Armed with a free coupon today, I tried McDonald's newest menu offering- Frozen Strawberry Lemonade. Puckery is what comes to mind when I try to describe this frozen concoction of frozen lemonade with a swirl of strawberry (syrup?) through out. The lemon flavor is strong and manufactured. Strawberry is barely recognizable as the lemon flavor overpowers the entire beverage. You will be tasting that chemical lemon taste for a couple of hours afterwards. No match for Chick-fil-A's lemonade which is my absolute favorite but on a hot day it could be a hasty substitute. Glad I got mine free.

Food Truck Nation- Thursdays in Midtown Atlanta

2011-04-28T18:27:00.002-04:00

Today, my co-workers and I ventured over to the Woodruff Arts Center to sample the goodies from local food carts. Reminding myself this is a fledgling movement trying to desperately take root in our ever morphing city, I explored the offerings.

Tamales, tacos, hot dogs, ice cream, cupcakes and BBQ. I finally settled on The Tamale Queen. 2 chicken tamales + a bottled water = $6.50. The tamales were pretty good though a bit on the small side. The tomatillo and red pepper sauces that you could pour on at your leisure were very nice add ons. Though my all time favorite tamales can still be found at Taqueria La Oaxaquena. I finished off lunch with a Salted Chocolate Pop from King of Pops. So for about $9, I was able to dabble in the food cart craze.

My thoughts? Pricey and I was still hungry. Perhaps next time I need to try the Tex's Taco truck or the BBQ or the hot dog covered in apple slaw. I was actually hoping to see the Yumbii truck which I found out was at the other food cart gathering spot in front of Empire State South off of 10th street. Hopefully, they switch off and I can catch them next week. If you're in the midtown area on Thursdays for lunch, the food carts are definitely worth trying.

Doritos Flamas - Hot Stuff

2011-04-22T17:38:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, I blogged about Ruffle's Molten Hot Wings chips which were disappointingly blah. Enter my newest find, Doritos Flamas. We all love Doritos and with this new addition there's more to love.

First bite renders the tang of lime and then a burst of chili enhanced heat finished by a satisfying crunch. I so love these! Finally someone gets it! These are hard to find and may be a special edition. I found these at my local Dollar General. Drop by and grab a $1 bag of these awesome chips and then award your taste buds with some crunchy, lime tinged heat.

Gladys and Ron's Chicken and Waffles

2011-04-08T17:20:00.002-04:00

Chicken and waffles is big business. Just ask the Granddaddy of all chicken and waffle joints, Roscoes House of Chicken and Waffles. Not finding myself in Los Angeles, I settled for another contender in the Atlanta area- Gladys (as in "Midnight Train to Georgia") and Ron's Chicken and Waffles. Knight reportedly invested in this restaurant concept for her son and a business partner.

The Lithonia location is next to Stone Crest Mall, in a retail strip and holds an end spot with patio seating. Inside, the waitstaff outnumbered the customers and curiously were all females on this Friday lunch time visit. Needles to say we were seated immediately. The menu was a several pager consisting of the usual southern favorites such as collard greens, salmon croquettes and mac and cheese. But the standout was the all day breakfast and of course those ubiquitous chicken and waffles. I ordered the lunch special of a waffle and 2 wings. The chicken was decent enough but lacked the seasoning to truly make it pop. The waffle was good though, soft, warm and like dessert with melted butter and maple syrup spread over it.

The decor is a little worn and the ladies room needed some attention in one of the stalls (not a good sign when you enter a stall and find a flashlight and wrench). But all and all worthy of a visit and for me another try. Next time, I think I'll stray off the beaten path and load up on some salmon croquettes with grits and of course I have to try the greens and mac and cheese too.

Gladys and Ron's Chicken and Waffles, 7301 Stonecrest Course, Lithonia, GA 30058

Food Fail- Ruffles Molten Hot Wings Chips

2011-04-06T19:32:00.003-04:00

A sucker for a gimmick, I picked up these chips on a recent road trip. I had seen them several times before but now seemed the perfect time to nab them. Unfortunately or fortunately (depends on who you ask), I was unable to partake of them while I was away. So this afternoon, feeling a little munchy before dinner, I pulled them out of the pantry and gave them a try.

First, let me say as you bite the chip you do get a taste of chicken and hot sauce, then it gets weird. The most obvious thing to me is these are not hot. Now I do admit I have the taste buds of a dragon but I still say on the spicy/hot scale they barely register. And the chicken thing reminds me of these yucky crackers they use to sell that were chicken flavored, almost as if they had been dipped in chicken broth, sprinkled with poultry seasoning and then dried out.

Even though I'm out $1.29, I do have some suggestions for Frito Lay- add more heat and tang and loose that strange chicken flavor. It didn't work on the crackers and it doesn't work here. For now, I'm sticking with Flaming Hot Cheetos.

Red Snapper

2011-03-20T15:49:00.004-04:00

Past the Colonade, Atlanta's iconic southern food shrine and further down Cheshire Bridge road, nestled between the strip club Onyx and Cafe Sundown, is a nondescript 2 story brick building which in most cases wouldn't warrant a second glance. On this occasion however it was on my radar and in my GPS after a family member suggested we visit The Red Snapper restaurant which is on the first floor. Remembering appearances can be deceiving, I entered a well appropriated dining room which was surprisingly crowded for 5:30 on a Saturday afternoon.

Ok, I will start with the positives. The staff is very attentive and professional. Water glasses remained full, plates were removed in a timely fashion, menu items were explained and could be altered according to personal preferences, etc. And dessert (yes, I am starting with dessert here), was a divine near perfect creme brulee, no annoying egginess, just pure creamy vanilla bliss accentuated by a crisp topping of carmelized sugar, 2 rolled wafer cookies, 2 raspberries and a sprig of mint.

So from the highlights to the stark realities of a less than stellar meal. Let's begin with the seafood gumbo. I was immediately put off by the green tint of the soup, most likely the product of a too light roux and file powder. The taste was ok, a little thick for my tastes but populated with a sumptuous amount of crab meat it was a satisfactory beginning. On to my entree of Blackened Snapper. Let's just say the fish was on the verge of being not so fresh. It had a cloying ammonia laden after taste and the blackened seasoning was bland with a capital "B". The mixed veggies served on the side (baby carrots, green beans and cauliflower) were crisp and would of been ok if they had been seasoned. The rice was also devoid of flavor. I also sampled some veal. A breaded cutlet in a flavorless lemon butter sauce was utterly forgettable.

Lots of potential in this spot mostly frequented by the 50 and older set (my 7 year old was the only child in the restaurant). But I'd like to see the kitchen take more risks or just pick up the salt and pepper shakers for a start. And as a gumbo purist (I learned the craft in Mobile, AL and can throw down with the best) I'm always available to coach them on their gumbo recipe.

Red Snapper, 2100 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta, GA 30324

Cafe Sunflower

2011-03-16T20:09:00.004-04:00

Cafe Sunflower is a place I can feel good about eating my veggies. I've been frequenting this place for some years, but lunch today at their Buckhead location made me realize why I keep coming back.

Decisions, decisions. I had already studied the lunch menu online and was leaning towards the Curry Scramble when I was blindsided by the Mushroom Risotto under the lunch specials. After some serious thought I opted for the risotto and a starter of hot and spicy tofu. What can I say about the tofu but yum- good sized, firm yet, pillowy bites of tofu were enhanced with a spicy, hot and sweet brown sauce dressed up with lettuce strips and diced tomato. Absolutely, divine. But the star was definitely the risotto hidden under a mound of every kind of mushroom imaginable. The risotto tender, woodsy and sprinkled with onion and spinach blended with the mushrooms in an cacophony of pure creamy,tasty pleasure. And no meal is complete at Cafe Sunflower without one of their luscious totally vegan desserts. I opted for the sinful chocolate ganache with a crust made of crushed nuts. Dense but full of chocolate flavor in every delightful bite.

Stuffed, was not the word as I made my way out the restaurant and back to work on the fringes of a food coma. Rarely, do I leave a restaurant so satisfied and with such a happy belly. They can count on me to keep darkening their doorstep for more wonderfully, tasty adventures in food.

Cafe Sunflower, 2140 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA 30309

Desta Ethiopian Kitchen

2011-02-01T17:27:00.001-05:00

The lovely weekend weather encouraged me to venture out for some Ethiopian food at my favorite Ethiopian restaurant- Desta Ethiopian Kitchen. Located off of I-85 North at the intersection of Briarcliff and Clairmont Roads, Desta transports you into the wonderful and exotic world of Ethiopian cuisine.

For those not versed or familiar with Ethiopian traditions, the most important aspect is the lack of eating utensils. Here you use the wonderful flat bread called injera to scoop your food up. I chose the chicken tibs and a spicy red lentil stew. The chicken tibs cooked in a special blend of spices and spiked with red onion and tomato was a spicy delight next to a cool house salad with a simple vinaigrette served on the side. The lentil stew was a wonderful slow cooked melange of lentils and chili peppers. It was spicy without being over powering.

Lots of beef options abound on the menu as well as lamb and a few vegetarian options as well. The restaurant is small but has recently added space with a new enclosed patio. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, ready to suggest menu items or describe a dish. Desta is a must try for those food adventurers looking for something different with a lot of flavor.

Desta Ethiopian Kitchen, 3086 Briarcliff Road Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30329, (404) 929-0011

Hankook Taqueria

2011-01-20T15:32:00.002-05:00

Thanks to a recommendation from Alton Brown (Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate") and my work place's close proximity to this Korean fusion spot, I headed on over for some lunchtime Korean tacos. Located in an industrial area of Collier Road in Atlanta, this 'hole in the wall' is the place to be at least according to the parking lot that was so full it called for some creative parking.

Inside, is bare bones, sparse and overflowing with folks chowing down on such fare as Korean tacos and burritos, stuffed with barbequed meat, lettuce and cabbage tossed in a sesame dressing, cilantro, cheese and green onions, kimchee fried rice, sesame french fries and fried Korean sweet potatoes. There is even a spicy hot dog on the menu topped with you guessed it - kimchee. Vegans don't despair, there is a vegan menu and I have to admit the vegan bibim-bop looked very tasty since I'm not a fan of eggs or beef which is the traditional way this Korean street food is usually served up. Oh yes and my chicken tacos were really good but then can you ever go wrong stuffing something in a tortilla and covering it with cheese?

Hankook's limited menu speaks to one simple point I adhere to in life and cooking- choose something and do it extremely well. And to that end I say to Chef Lee and the Hankook team- Bravo!

Hankook Taqueria 1341 Collier Road, Atlanta, GA 30318