Atlanta Shuffle - Part 1

My brother has been hanging with me here in Atlanta for the past 6 months, and sadly today he's leaving to go back to Ohio:( We decided before he left we would go on a tour of some fabulous spots here in Atlanta, and well -- here's the result.

Mind you - we did 2 shuffles, this is just the first. We didn't eat everywhere we went, but we did have some apps and of course some cocktails. Imagine that. :)

Last Saturday we decided to start out at Two Urban Licks, probably one of my favorite Atlanta spots. This restaurant is modern and trendy, but has that laid back atmosphere that I like so much about Atlanta restaurants. You just feel incredibly hip when you go to this place and the food is pretty great to boot. Two Urban Licks is tucked away in an old warehouse area of Atlanta and quite honestly you'd never find it if it were not for the signs. As you wind behind this warehouse the instinct is to immediately lock the doors and go "Where the ____"....but alas, complimentary valet parking makes it much easier. Seriously people, Atlanta has spoiled me on valet. Pretty sure life would suck without it here in the city. Once inside, the wall of gas lamps, awesome view, cool tunes and vats of wine ---- ahhhh I am cool indeed! The restaurant was bustling with the urban dwellers of the city and you just feel well......cool:) I ended up with some calamari which is soooo good and some wine before we started off to the next stop.

Before we left however, one final observation....the bathroom! My mother used to tease me as a child saying I had to inspect the bathrooms of every restaurant we went to.....well times have not changed:) Interesting concept with Concentrics....unisex bathrooms...sort of. At Two there's a series of doors....pick one and go. Each is a like a little bathroom. Takes you a little off guard the first time but you get used to it.

Next, we decided we might as well give Concentrics Hospitality our money for the night....so it was One Midtown Kitchen. One, again in a warehouse facing Piedmont Park is another cool-vibe kinda place. This night, surprisingly it was pretty slow, so we just had some cocktails and off we went. Bathroom update -- another unisex bathroom -- but much cooler than at Two. It's actually includes a lounge with couches and TV:) Love that! I have to mention our bartender here --- wonderful guy. He suggested a wine and then found out he only had about a 1/2 glass, so he gave it to me for free. Bonus!! I love him now:) I did find out something I didn't previously know about One was they have a bottomless glass of wine. SWEET. The rule is you have to buy an entree and the price is per person. So if you're not a wine person, it certainly wouldn't be worth it; but in my case and if you ARE a wine person. Can't beat it starting at $22pp.

Next we hopped across the street to a new restaurant called Amuse! We arrived a little too late for any food, but we did have a seat at the bar and chatted up with the bartender. Amuse has only been open about 2 months and is a french inspired restaurant and lounge with a very welcoming atmosphere. I stopped in for lunch a few days later and quite honestly wasn't all that impressed with the food. However, a great little spot for a cocktail.

Our final stop was Apres Diem, another favorite spot of mine for just about anything. Cocktails, Food, Dessert, Coffee....they got it all. Live music, patio and a very laid back atmosphere is a great way to close out the evening. I had a portobello sandwich that was REALLY yummy.

So - four stops in one night....I think we did pretty good:) And you know, it really was fun...plus great brother/sister bonding time!

Stay tuned for part 2!

BAD JOJO....

Happy Saturday!

Clearly, I have neglected this blog! To say November was a busy month for me, is truly an understatement. I was given a big project at the "day job" and for two solid weeks it was 12+ hours a day on that and come 10p each night, I was BEAT. Then it was off to WV/Ohio for a client visit combined with a few quality days with the parental units....back to Atlanta and as fortune would have it, my favorite pal Bronchitis came for a visit.:) However, short of having a voice that would fit in with any respectable 900-operator I'm good to go:)

Anyhooze - with all of the aforementioned activities, I haven't been able to spend much time cooking or going out lately. But I did have a few glorious moments which I will try and recount here. (Yes, that's sarcasm)

Thanksgiving Week

First it's important to understand unlike most people, I have spent the last 10 Thanksgiving alone for the most part. Save the "AWWWW's" -- it's by choice:) Because my entire family is in Ohio and Christmas is so close to Thanksgiving, I just always end up staying home and as a result, have come up with my own little ritual. I make my turkey, dressing the works; I watch the parade; I put up my tree, watch Christmas movies, play Christmas music --- all of which I love. It's my day:) Well - this year my tradition went on as per usual with one little difference...my brother was here and I had the trip I mentioned above! I returned from my client visit on Wednesday before Thanksgiving, late flight in --- but I made it! I promptly got to the apartment and crashed.

I woke Thursday morning to me flying out of bed realizing I didn't thaw the turkey. Fabulous. I now have a rock-solid frozen 10lb bird sitting in the freezer on Thanksgiving day. Sighhhhhh. OH well ---- so like every good "I gotta figure this out dinner disaster" physician I started the hot 4-hour sink bath for the bird. Gheese - what a nightmare.

But alas -- I kept the faith:) I put on my parade and started the other cooking. For the most all went well -- mind you it took my over 6 hours to put together our dinner, which I always find shocking. The thing about me and cooking is this: I love to cook, I love to eat -- but that's probably where all similarities end to any kind of real chef. How in God's name they can keep their cooking space clean while accomplishing their culinary masterpieces is beyond me. When all is said an done - my kitchen is a disaster. Kids, when I say disaster - I mean DISASTER. Food on the ceiling , food on the floor, flour-soaked hair disaster! It's actually quite comical. Had I only thought to take a picture!!

Well in the end, we had a great meal. Turkey, (slightly under-cooked mind you:), dressing, mashed potatoes, peas with mint and asparagus and a yummy pumpkin dessert. My favorite part this year was the dressing! I used cranberries and figs and it was just great. But the BEST part was a couple days after thanksgiving where I used all my leftovers for the best soup ever......including the dressing! You have to check this recipe out. You make dumplings out of the dressing!

Well - I'm off to enjoy my Saturday and promises to be better about the blog!

Delicious Autumn!

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. - George Eliot

I love Fall, it's my absolute favorite time of the year. It's cool, but not cold, and its' arrival ushers in a sweet and peaceful inundation of the senses. Colors, smells and taste buds seem to take over the next two months, and for some inexplicable reason a certain peace always seems to come over me. There's something about Fall that just calls to me. Someone told me once, it's too bad that humans can't be more like leaves and go out at their best, their most beautiful, perfect state.

It's during this time I year I love to grab the camera and just take off.

Friday, I decided it was Stone Mountain. I haven't been to the top in 12 years, and as luck would have it, it was fall then too. Imagine that:)

I figured Fall, apples, cinnamon = FALL, so I whipped up a Apple Coffeecake (courtesy of Emeril) before I left. It was pretty good. I added some pecans to the crumbly top and in retrospect I'd fore go the glaze next time. It's just extra sweetness that quite honestly you simply don't need.

So I talked my brother into going with me and off we went...

My memory, and apparently my brothers' GPS, was "spent"for the week because we ended up parking in the village and walking in to the tram. Note to self: Rethink this next time:) When you're not a walker (that'd be me) the 2 mile trek in comes as a bit of surprise!

Once there however, my incessant moaning and complaining

about how I was sure I was going to die from the walk, was

silenced and all of sudden the trek became well worth it.

You'd never guess a big slab granite rising 1600ft above

sea level could have much to offer in the beauty arena.....funny how nature does that. A good friend told me once that he found beauty in imperfection and in this case - how true.

We decided to walk down the mountain as to taking the tram and I'm so glad we did! Beyond the tremendous beauty the mountain graciously contributes, you come to recognize it gave you a much more precious gift. Time.

Time is the most precious gift you can give someone as it's part of your life that you can never get back. In this case, the time my brother and I spent together enjoying the beauty of nature and enjoying each other is a gift I'm sure I'll come to cherish.

I guess it comes back to the leaves. Sunsets, leaves, people. It's

toward the end when we recognize their beauty and when they affect us the most. They come, and in a blink of an eye - they're gone.

Enjoy life. Enjoy the people in your life. Impart the precious gift of time to those you love, because before you know it - the sun will set and the leaf will wither and fall from the tree.

Jodie

TGIF!!! What a Week!

Well, the last week or so has been a doozie to say the least. First....no shocker here....the flu. Thankfully, I started hitting the vitamins, oranges, tea and whatever else OTC remedy I could get my hands on and it didn't get toooo bad....but bad enough. Second, as of yesterday I have worked 50 hours this week which has just about pushed the princess to the edge of sanity:) It's shockingly funny how I can be so laid back in some areas of my life, but in others --like my day job, I am incredibly rigid and borderline perfectionist. The day job revolves around training and development and I LOVE it....it truly is one of my passions. But boy are there days......This week has been centered around creating online learning modules and it's been maddening! I love the end result, but the amount of work that goes into a 20minute training video is shocking! To date I have close to 60 hours on this one project and it's not over yet:)

That all being said, I've been a bit of a hermit this week and have literally have been held up in my apartment slamming out this project. I have, however, found a little time for some cooking goodness - if nothing else for the release I so eagerly look for at the end of the day. One of my absolute all time favorite meals is shrimp and grits and as eluded to in previous posts, I don't take my shrimp and grits lightly. This time, I was a bit lazy in that I didn't grill the shrimp or veggies first, but still -- pretty darn respectable. Andouille sausage is a beautiful, beautiful thing:) Now --- admittedly, I'm just beginning to embrace the spicier things of life, but I figure it takes baby steps. Sausage with onions, Pablano's (my new favorite pepper....Thank you Bobby Flay!) smoked paprika.....all over what I call "real" grits. OK I don't even want to know the calorie content of these grits because I make them with heavy cream and half and half but allllz I can say is .....uhm.....uhm..uhm. One valuable lesson this time around....grill the peppers and peel them or you'll get the skins in the gravy.

Also this week, I made a stuffed pork tenderloin and it was really good! I've never taken the time to wrap a tenderloin before, but sunshine, when I tell you it's worth it......it's worth it! This tenderloin required no fork and barely teeth to eat - it was sooo tender! I stuffed it with a mixed herbed pesto, sundried tomato and feta. Really impressed with this one.

Today, I don't see a big meal preparation in my future, but I think I do see coffee and an apple coffee cake:) I'll let you know how it goes! OK - maybe a cocktail too........or 8:)

Have a great weekend!

As American as Pizza, Cookies, Cupcakes and Apple Pie.....

For about the past month I've been raving about this "cookie place" in Decatur to the Work Husband. This place specializes in cookies and cupcakes and when I tell you it will stop you in your tracks, trust me it will. But me being me, of course, I can't quite remember the name "The Cookie Company, the Cookie Store....something cookie" as I try ever-so-eloquently to explain it to him. Thank heavens for technology because he whips out the Blackberry and punches a few things in and Voila! The Cookie Studio in Decatur! Well - it just so happened that the Work Husbands REAL wife came home one day and was raving about these cookies from Decatur that someone brought into work. The astute Work Husband, half laughing again whips out the Blackberry and shows her the website and says "Is this it?" Well, we figured enough was enough, it was time to take an extended lunch and go get a cupcake. Interesting thing was the discussion that came after, "well we couldn't eat cupcakes for lunch could we?", "where will we eat lunch?"...."oh and then we could pop by this other bakery I know about".........well one thing led to another and the "Tour de Sweets" was set. Day: Friday. Time: 1130a - until................

Friday arrives and true to form our lunch day starts promptly at 1130am. Please fasten you seat belts - it's gonna be a a SUUUUWEEEAT ride:)

First Stop? Lunch at Savage Pizza in Avondale Estates. You must first understand that one of us (WORK HUSBAND) has a passion for pizza. Thin pizza, thick pizza, pizza! Pizza!! Pizza!! So

exploring a new pizza place could have severe consequences if it doesn't live up to very specific and uncompromising standards. This place definitely delivered. First the atmosphere is really clever and inviting. Now princesses in general don't go for comic books, but I couldn't help like this place. Comic book characters all over the walls, figurines -- very clever and tastefully done. The restaurant had a very comfortable and welcoming feeling and offered bar seating as well as

outdoor patio seating in addition to the tables inside. Although the menu offered much more than pizza, we knew there was only one option: Split a Greek Salad and medium "house" pizza. OK - one little soap box here. Work Husband and I undisputedly agree ....don't be putting no weird protein or fruit on our pizza! Give it to us straight-up, hold the pineapple. Which in our books mean: marinara, cheese, pepperoni, onions, olives, MAYBE sausage and our comprise --- half green peppers/half not:) Salad was incredibly fresh, pizza incredibly good -- thumbs up from both of us.....definitely worth a go. Especially if you have anyone in the family that gets their kicks out of comic books. My only criticism was the server. Our food came out promptly, but the server rarely returned to the table for service --- but in this case - we didn't really care, we discovered another spot to put on the lunch rotation! Oh, do yourself a favor, use this coupon -- we didn't know about it until after the fact:)

Next Stop.... Cookies and Cupcakes at The Cookie Studio. Keep an eye out for this

place, because you'll easily pass it by on College Avenue if you're not paying attention. Quiet and unpretentious (shocker for me right??) on the exterior - what's inside.....nothing short of the quintessence of cookies and cupcakes. OK so it's probably time to mention the cupcakes

at this wonderful place don't get the attention or headline they deserve. Cookies??? Fabulous. But in my opinion....the cupcakes??....HOLY SMOKES. One cupcake in particular.....the coconut cupcake. Right behind it, the lemon.....the carrot cake....the red velvet.......( I could go on) Another beautiful thing?? They come in bite size and regular size. This woman knows her stuff. So let's talk about this woman for a minute. Beyond now being what I feel is the end all and be all of cookies and cupcakes, she's a darn good human. Not only by graciously serving up what I'm sure has crashed my diet for the past 2 months, she donates proceeds from her business and her expertise in the IT world to the Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children. Enough said, grab the check book and go buy some cookies and cupcakes already.

Stop 3 on Today's Tour.... Southern Sweets Bakery. People, people, people.

Want a cake? Want a Pie? Want Lunch?? -- Go here. Because we're on our sweets tour today, I'll leave the lunch menu for another time. But for the record, know you can go here have lunch AND walk out with a wonderful piece of cake, pie or numerous other wonderful desserts.

On to the other yummies... Now I brought the Work Husband here primarily for Show and Tell on the Cakes because these cakes....oh geese...they're works of art. Multiple layers of plain yumminess. Coconut cake, red velvet cake, caramel cake, carrot cake, yellow cake, chocolate cake....I could go on, and on, and on and on. Although I have been to this place before, today Southern Sweets would assume top spot on the best of the best for Apple Pie. My, My, My.....people all I can say is that this was the best apple pie I've ever had in my life, hands down, no discussion or argument - SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! This pie was sweet, savory, perfect crust (top AND bottom) and was topped off with some sort of pastry/bakery sugar that I've never had in my life. All of that and you'd think it would be an express ticket on the overly-sweet train, but no....it was perfection. The perfect mix of everything that melted in your mouth. The ONLY thing that would add to this slice of perfection.....huge dollop of vanilla bean ice cream. Work Husband and I SHARED a piece...OK - BARELY because it was a no-holds bar race to the end;) Beyond the food factor here, this little gem is tucked away in an old industrial park in Decatur. Honestly you'd never know it was there, which leads me to remind everyone what word of mouth and good food will do for you. The atmosphere in the bakery is simply wonderful. Art on the walls, couches and small tables -- just, like the food, perfect. Go, I promise you'll not be disappointed.

Final Stop on Today's Tour... Greene's Fine Foods in Decatur. AKA - CANDY SHOP! OK - by now, we're full on the sweets, but I figured what the heck, if we're gonna do this let's go all-in. So we stop by, if nothing else just for a look. Beyond having candy, chocolate, nuts, fudge and so on - this place offers a really cool atmosphere for having a kids party. It's a really neat place with some pretty darn good sweets. I've been before and had the chocolate covered oreos and some fudge, both were great. I jokingly told the staff they needed to get some milk in there, but looking back I think that might be a fabulous idea! Although we didn't buy anything today, we both walked around and let the eyes land on several "ohhh that looks good" potential buys. Again, our only critique, the service. We're not sure the kid behind the counter even said hello -- but then again we were busy with the "eye candy":)

Well folks, that concludes the Sweet Tour for today. All in all --- all wonderful food and all worth a go, and likely the only consequence of the day might be an extra 30minutes on the treadmill. Ok, 60 tops:)

Regards~

Jodie

*images courtesy of The Cookie Studio and Southern Sweets Bakery

Can't Go Wrong Greek -- Mediterranean Grill

I must say my taste for Greek food has definitely been a work-in-progress over the years. I think it stemmed back to this time when I was a young-inexperienced Hillbilly (yes folks I lived in West-By-God Virginia) traveling to Atlanta on business and naively ordered sweetbread. You know... why do they call it this? It's a evil, evil trick. What did we do to the Greeks to deserve this! You know...you order sweetbread thinking....."well heck it has to be good right??" It's sweet (ching!) it's BREAD...(ching! ching!) --- what could NOT be wonderful about this. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong!

Now, as an intimate lover of gastronomy I'd like to think I'm pretty open to all types of food. (Work Husband might disagree with this as he's seen me crinkle the nose and say "get it off my plate" when it comes to Dill pickles) But I have to say, organs in general are NOT on my list. I figure if God put a liver in my body to remove toxins, said organ need not get near my mouth. I'm sorry -- but you just can't argue with that logic! Sorry to all those that love country cooking and liver and onions and all that. Nope. Sorry. Not budging on this one. Well --- the same goes for the sweetbread.

For those of you that don't know, sweetbread is either the thyroid gland or the pancreas of a calf or lamb. I'm sure some masterful chef somewhere could make it good enough to eat, but you know - Princess just ain't goin' there.

Anyway --- back to Greek Food in general. Except for the above-mentioned nastiness, I love me some Gyro's covered in Tzaziki. Now there are places around Atlanta that do a respectable job of it, but to me... no one can get close to Mediterranean Grill. With locations in Decatur, Mid-Town and Marietta, to me this restaurant hits the nail on the head. Beyond the fact that they seem to follow my "keep it simple" philosophy - first and foremost, the food is awesome. Fresh, simple and delicious. Second it's CHEAP! You can get in and out for under $8 if you get their lunch special (with a drink!). Add some baklava and you're under $10. Seriously people...the baklava at this place...oy! On top of all of that - it's quick, the staff are attentive, nice and remember me!

Now, I will not lead anyone to thinking I have totally embraced all that is Greek when it comes to food, but I'm working on it and probably due all to Mediterranean Grill:)

Jodie

Lunch with the Work Husband...

Chicks in general have some awesome perks. Two of my favorite are the Work Husband and the Gay Boyfriend. Today we'll briefly chat about the work husband. That guy at work that pretty much fits the bill of "real husband" in terms of listening to us gripe, moan, complain and eats lunch with us to boot --- gotta luv 'em. All respective duties are abrubtly haulted come 5:00pm whereby each member of the union goes their own way. I have such a person, and quite frankly I'd be lost without him.

Monday's are pretty much the happy couple's standing lunch day and today was no different. Now, Work Husband and I have gotten into some pretty heated discussions and down right stand-off's about where to eat lunch, but today I could read the tone in the IM --- today our destination was non-negotiable. Gruby's New York Deli, end of story, "come with me or don't go woman". Well, I WENT......OF COURSE. At the risk of sounding incredibly adolescent, Gruby's just Rocks! Amazing Deli food, always yummy; never fails. Put it on your "Go To" list for lunch spots in Atlanta! I almost always have the Twin Towers which is a delicious sandwich with hot corned beef and hot pastrami on rye with Russian dressing. Just perfect. I've also had the cheesecake there...just about as authentic as you're doing to get.

If I had to pick a bad thing about Gruby's it would be the crowd and the parking. How to solve this problem? Avoid the lunch hour! If you must go at lunch, be there BEFORE noon. Parking can be a pain. As for the crowd, if you go a during the lunch hours, be prepared for the crowd, but hey -- a crowd means good food in my mind. The seating in the restaurant is crowded, so if you want a private, intimate lunch -- pick somewhere else. :)

Bonus Perk: Gruby's, as I understand, was voted one of the best places to have lunch/have a date/pick up a date/general eye-candy because of the all the medical personnel that go there for lunch. Humm....well isn't that interesting??

If you're ever in the Hilton Head/Blufton, SC area...you're in the luck they have one there too! But for us in the ATL, head toward "Pill Hill" and follow the nurses/doctors as they head toward the best "grub" around.

As for me.....dinner tonight? Soup Beans and Cornbread. I've been craving this for weeks, so this morning I put my beans on to soak and ended up with a pot of goodness:) I used smoked pork (OK that alone is crazy good) and basically cooked the soup silly. The flavors just melted together. My lesson from this dinner.....I used smoked pork neck...NOT thinking about all the little bones I'd end up with. In retrospect, I'd pick another part of the meat to use - but it was still yummy.

My cornbread? Straight out of Good Housekeeping with a few minor alterations....pureed 1/2 can of sweet corn and added about a tablespoon of honey to the batter. It made the cornbread just yummy. This of course made it a bit more sweet and cake-like, rather than the traditional southern/crusty cornbread (I love both!) -- but the sweet version fit the bill this time around.

Work Husband? Well he got a sample....we'll see what he thinks. :)

Sunday Mornings.....

I love Sunday mornings (it's truly a constant battle with Saturday's!) Sundays are fun because you generally tend to do something rewarding on Sunday's -- because inevitably.....the dreaded Monday will be here soon. For me, today it's going to be the Farmer's Market (LOVE THAT PLACE...so I'm saving it for a separate post:), a little brunchy/brunch perhaps....maybe a little retail therapy. Ahhhhh....

Well first I should mention I kicked some butt in the football pool yesterday. Dang-it. I was honestly over it all this season and went all-in yesterday, just to play gamble and be done with it. Of course I won....isn't that how it works???

Well - instead of pumpkin dessert yesterday, I ended up making some almond cookies. These are a dry/shortbread type cookie (which I typically don't go for) - but I liked them...not too bad actually. Also - a great cookie to decorate because they hold up. You can frost/ice them per the season, so I'd recommend them for just that.

This morning, I made some hash browns with poblano's and had a hankering for some french toast....so pretty simple stuff there but it hit the spot:)

Well - I'm off to figure out what's in the checking account so I'll know how much I can blow in Decatur at the Farmer's Market!

Happy Sunday!

Jodie

Rainy Days and Saturdays in Atlanta

Well it looks like the rain is not going to let up any in the ATL this week. Most say it's a bit depressing and it very well might be for some, but honestly -- I'll take rain any day over no rain. (This probably comes from my stint in Arizona:) With rain comes life, full and abundant. Beautiful green grass, flourishing vegetables and I love it. Actually, I'm a bit of a hermit and I LOVE rainy days. I generally do some cleaning, read through my cookbooks and use these days to test out some recipes.

Along with loving raining days and using those days to test out recipes, I usually put in one of my favorite movies and have at it. Today's flicks have included The Santa Claus ( I'm getting in the spirit...LOVE the holidays!) and The Phantom of the Opera and among all of that, a little football. Don't worry -- I don't actually WATCH the football...I just play in a pool and have to keep up with the scores! :)

Back to the food. Earlier today I made Spicy Potato Soup, a spin off the Italian potato/sausage/spinach soup recipes that are floating around out there. As unfortunate as it might be both my brother and me are both down with a bit of the flu today, so soup was our obvious choice:) This soup is easy-peezy to make and can be altered to suit your tastes. I tend to not make it that spicy as I'm a baby when it comes to heat/spice in things. But this one is very savory and uses Chorizo sausage which adds some nice spice. I threw in some jalapeños and poblano's and it was good to go. Now, I love a good thick potato soup at times, but when I'm not feeling the best I like a lighter broth and this recipe is good for that.

As for a little later on, I think I'm going to give a pumpkin dessert a try. It's basically a pumpkin pie in a baking pan - which sounds great to me because seriously....when is one pumpkin pie ever enough when baking up yummies for the holidays? I'll let you know how it goes!

So don't let the rain bring you down everyone...it cleans, it brings life and perhaps, just maybe....some inspiration!!

Jodie

Welcome Back 57th Fighter Group!

Good News! Good News! 57th Fighter Group Restaurant is open again! I started going to 57 when I moved to Atlanta in 2005 and immediately fell in love with it. (Especially for after-work cocktails on the patio!) It took some time to convince my Happy Hour buddies to give this place a go, but once I did.....they were hooked! Much to our dismay, it closed about 6months later and we have been in mourning since!

Not to long ago a little birdie told me it may be opening again, and true enough! The restaurant has a WWII theme, inside and out and it definitely adds to the ambiance. There are fire places throughout the restaurant and bar areas, plenty of space and a dance floor. The bar-area patio at this place just can't be beat! Approximately 20 tables on the patio allow for front-row view of the planes taking off and landing, and fire pits to boot!

As much as I love this place for cocktails, I was anxious to taste the new menu because, quite frankly, the menu with the old establishment wasn't to impressive. So it was off to lunch this past week and I was very impressed! My friend and I had a steak and cheese sub and Reuben respectively, so we each gave the other half of our sandwich and we were good to go! We both said we weren't certain which sandwich we liked better.

Also this past week, we had what I like to call an "after-hours-networking-opportunity" with some work friends because one of us was moving on to greener pastures. It was supposed to be 75 degrees on Thursday so I thought we'd give 57 a go. All 20 of us:) I have to say our server,Rebecca, did famously. She kept all 20 tabs separated (God love her!) and handled our group like a pro.

I'll be anxious to give the dinner menu a go, which I'm almost certain will be sometime soon:)

We had a wonderful evening, so thank you 57....welcome back!

Goove with Atlanta's 105.7

OK - so it's not food, travel or wine, but it is some gooooood JoJo Mojo. Atlanta's Groove 105.7 My brother clued me into this Atlanta Radio Station and it is AWESOME. They play all upbeat music from multiple decades...it'll keep you groovin' all day - Try it!!

Charleston - Bull Street Gourmet.

Bull Street Gourmet is located, you guessed it on Bull Street in Charleston! (I'm a freakin' genius, eh?) I actually saw Giada De Laurentiis go this place on her Weekend Getaways and recognized as a place that I have ignorantly walked right by on previous trips to Charleston! (Bad JOJO!)

This trip, I was NOT going to make the same mistake. My pal and I eagerly set out (ok that's a lie....it was pouring the rain, we had to find WTH the valet parked my car - not in/on/around the hotel mind you - to get rain gear and wasn't quite sure where we were going other than Bull Street) to find this place that Giada raved about. I figure if Giada raves about it, I'm going. I think I might love her in my other, non-heterosexual life, maybe. Did I say that out loud? Anyhooze, after walking and walking and walking and my friend's expert inner compass - we found it. And as expected, it was fabulous.

This place is small, unpretentious and absolutely perfect for lunch. You walk in, there's a Deli counter, a couple small 2-tops and and 2 community tables, walk-up coolers and retail wine racks. I'm in love. You somehow know immediately upon walking in this place it's going to be perfect. And it doesn't disappoint.

I ordered a chicken salad croissant that was to DIE for (it had cranberry mayonnaise!), and of course I had to have more because I want to taste as much as possible! So, I ordered tomato/mozzarella over greens as well. Good Grief! Simple and perfect. Go, Go, Go.

This is a perfect segue into my little soapbox. Yes, surprisingly I have them. :) As so expertly executed by Bull Street Gourmet, simple is best. So many restaurants go with over the top, complicated and overly sophisticated food. There may be a time and place for this style of cuisine, but seriously- how many people go back again and again for that? I say rarely. Sure it was a great experience and the food may be excellent - (which isn't bad thing!) But, for me, it's the Bull Street Gourmet's of the world that I'm going to go back to over and over and over again.

Well done Bull Street....well done!

A new fan,

Jodie

My Decatur Outing - Brick Store Pub

I love Sundays! Sundays mean I get to sleep in, go to Brunch, (which inevitably will end up meaning early cocktails which is always nice) or just relax. I was on Facebook today and saw a friend of mine's post. "Out to lunch today with the best date a man could have.....The Sunday Paper." That's what Sunday's are for, that thing you do for you:)

That being said and being that it's Fall, my absolutely favorite time of the year, would have to mean our outing today would spell success! My brother loves good beer, so I thought this Sunday we'd give the Brick Store Pub in Decatur a go. I had been there before about 4 or 5 years ago on a date, but had not returned since. (Shame JoJo, Shame!)

In an effort to help save the planet (and save ourselves from a DUI) we decided to take Marta from Brookhaven to Decatur. Oyy --- 2hours later we end up in Decatur. Yes. Two Hours. OK it was my fault, or should I say, my lack of patience's fault. The train was delayed at Inman Park, and me and my infinite wisdom told my brother -- "Oh let's get off and just take a cab". Wrong, Wrong, Wrong! No cabs to be found at the Marta Station there. I'll save you from my rant on that one. The only good thing about this incredibly intelligent decision of mine was that we wandered into what looks to be a really cool restaurant, Shaun's Restaurant. Although we did not eat, we did meet a really cool bartender, who actually made our little detour well worth it. The restaurant was actually closed when we arrived, but when we told the gracious bartender we just wanted a beer, he told us to come on in . OK I love this man already. We only spent about 15 minutes in the restaurant, but as I looked around I found myself really intrigued. White painted brick walls, open kitchen and decor with shelves of food - almost like you were looking into someone's pantry, gave the restaurant a very open, welcoming feel. Definitely putting it on my "to do" list. So we drank our beers, laughed with the bartender and off we went. OH Yes, we got BACK on the train! I know it's absurd, but that's me.

So we arrive in Decatur, find our pub and life is good. The Brick Store Pub is an amazing place for those that love beer. I believe there were over 75 bottled beers, and perhaps 17 on draft in the main bar and another 7 or 8 in the upstairs "Belgium Bar". People, I don't know how to explain this to you, other than to say WOW! If you like beer, just go. We were giddy trying all the different beers! The bar has a great atmosphere and the upstairs bar definitely makes you feel you're in an old English Pub or something - very unique. The food was pretty darn good too! We had a plate of Brie with apples and cucumbers, an arugula salad and fish and chips. All excellent. This place is well worth the visit, so either grab a designated driver, hop on the train (and don't get off!! ) or call a cab and just go!

Jodie

PS - for those of you that may be interested. I couldn't bring myself to do the train on the way home. Called a cab and $25 later, I'm home. I know.....patience is a virtue....patience is a virtue....patience is a virture:)

Charleston - Time for Breakfast!

Even though I LOVE breakfast....I only went out to breakfast twice this trip. The golden rule for weekend breakfasts in Charleston....get there early 'cause chances are your gonna wait:)

First was Joseph's a very small spot about 1/2 block from the hotel - which of course was why it was chosen. I've actually eaten at Joseph's before and my experience then rang true again. Good food, very casual atmosphere. Right up my alley for breakfast. I had eggs benedict and it hit the spot. I actually split it with my friend and it was just enough -- with my toast of course. Toast with breakfast is one of those things I'm not sure I could do without:) OK who am I kidding bread in general is on my list of things I can't live without.

My only criticism of Joseph's this time around was the service; which in this case was non-existent. The restaurant was clearly understaffed, which generally I don't like to hold against the servers because that's poor scheduling on the manager's part. However in this case when we did get the server to notice us, she had the personality of a rock. Unfortunate for the overall experience, but hey the food was good:)

Next was brunch on Sunday at Poogan's Porch. Again - out the side door of the hotel and across the street.....ding! ding! So winner in terms of location. First and foremost we should probably talk about my affinity for brunch. I LOVE BRUNCH. Maybe it's a Southern thing, I don't know --- but I love a good brunch. I think it's because you can get your typical breakfast food, but you get to throw in a little chicken and gravy, maybe some shrimp and grits....oy. So it pains me to say that Princess was very disappointed in Poogan's Porch this go 'round.

Here's the deal, I've eaten dinner at Poogan's Porch about 2 years ago and LOVED it. Not to mention, I've recommended it about a hundred times since. But boy oh boy, the brunch was a disaster.

First, there was a wait -- which actually I didn't mind. (Which for those of you that know me, this is shocking) I mean, hey, it's the weekend in Charleston...25 minute wait was doable. Poogan's Porch is located in an old, and some say haunted, house on Queen Street. The restaurant is broken up into several rooms which in my experience always presents a service challenge. The rooms are not equipped with coolers or heat for the food, so if you want coffee or an extra round of biscuits, the server has to leave the room and high-tail it to the kitchen - wherever that might be in the house. Again --- not sure about that set-up from a service perspective. If you're going to do it, staff it appropriately. We waited a good 10min before our server even came to the table....another 10min for coffee. So at this point, my patience (which my friends will tell you is limited on my best days) is started to take a dive south. It's the Yankee in me:)

Our server --- BLESS HIS HEART -- needed a stiff kick in the rear. Just didn't have a clue about service. The thing I will say, is that there was a guy busing the tables that was a sweetie. He was constantly looking around the room and actually got us coffee and biscuits - not to mention helped a couple other guests mid-cleaning table because the actual server was on hiatus. Maybe our experience could be redeemed by killer food?? Not the case unfortunately. The food was generic and the coffee was cold. NOT a combination for Brunch under any circumstance. I had the shrimp and grits, which were OK, not the best but OK. Come On! It's the South and it's Charleston. If you're going to have shrimp and grits on your menu, freakin' commit. My friends had an eggs and meat plate and I think both of them would of said the same thing. It was OK. Really disappointing after the wait and the lousy service.

So I don't know what to think about Poogan's Porch now, certainly would NOT recommend it for brunch....maybe dinner will be better? Not sure, and not sure I'm willing to give it a go again with so many wonderful options in Charleston. It hurts to say that because 2 weeks ago I would have bet my life on it. Funny how things change, eh?

Charleston Mills House Hotel

To help fund this trip I decided to cash in some Priority Club points, which limits my hotel choices in the Historic District-“ish” to 3 hotels. All three of which I’ve stayed at before. I would have loved to stay at a boutique hotel, but hey, free wins every time!! Of the three IHGproperties, I have a clear favorite; The Mills House Hotel directly in the middle of the Historic District. This 150-year-old property is so incredibly convenient it’s hard to say no to it when you’re talking free nights. The Mills House is on the corner of Meeting and Queen Streets - smack in the middle of of it all. It's big and pink - so you you can't miss it!

Beyond the historic significance and beauty of this hotel, location is definitely a selling point. It's so nice to be able to conveniently stop by your room while exploring Charleston; your feet will thank you:)

That all being said, there are some definite sacrifices you'll need to make if you want to stay at this property. The little extras like continental breakfasts, in-room refrigerators and free parking are non-existent. (Although I will say I asked for a small refrigerator to be put in my room and got it no problems) Parking will cost you a whopping $22 a day so be prepared. I called around town and it's the norm for the city, so it is what it is.

I highly recommend requesting a patio room that opens to the pool area. You’ll appreciate this extra outdoor space as the rooms are small….really small. Kids, when I say the rooms are small I mean suck-your- gut- in- to- walk- past- your- roommate -small. But hey – you’re not in Charleston to spend it in your room are you?

Other than that, the only thing on the negative side here is cost. In season will run you a little over $300/night - ouch. (Which is why this is a perfect choice for cashing in points:) Off season will run you a little under $200/night so that's a little easier to swallow.

Beautiful hotel, customer service was excellent, location was spot on --- beyond the price, it's a winner!

~Jodie

Charleston 101

If you ever consider a trip to Charleston, there is one steadfast, break-me-or-you'll-be-sorry rule to keep in mind. (Or, if you have already been, you'll certainly relate.) We'll discuss it and a few others below:)

1) Charleston is a walking city so wear comfortable, worn in shoes. This is by far the singular most important rule when going to Charleston. If ignored, you'll be in misery - trust me. Chances are you'll park your car when you arrive and not return until you leave. OK - not every trip, because there are beautiful things outside the city you must explore as well, but for the most part you'll be walking..... ALOT. Now for the Princess (that'd be me) who generally falls in the bucket of "Walk? Are you SERIOUS? Whatever...call me a Cab" club this can present a few challenges. As I type this I have 6 blisters on my feet the size of Texas as painstaking evidence of my trip to Charleston last week. AND - I followed the rule! Not to mention, the fashion sacrifices of wearing my Sketchers or Keds with EVERY outfit. All of the aforementioned, I can happily say - it's well worth it.
This brings up a secondary, almost as important rule. Ibuprofen. Bring it, love it. You'll need it. OK Ibuprofen is for amateurs, I bring the "big-girl" drugs, but that's only because I have a back that thinks it's 80 years old. Once again, chances are if you don't bring your choice of pain killers, you'll be making a stop if you're not well acquainted with walking, all day, every day.

Back to the shoes. Both of my gals that accompanied me on this trip, brought the cutest pair of high-heeled boots for our evenings out. (Bless their hearts they tried!) The first gave them a go on a 5--block walk to dinner the first night. Needless to say there was a decree that we must immediately go straight back to the hotel after dinner, do not pass "Go", do NOT collect $200. The second, put her fabulous boots on our last night...strutted around the hotel room saying "I'll be OK"...after about 10min, luckily, we talked her out of it. So lessons learned....learn my young Padawan learners.....Learn.

2) While we're talking Fashion... Here's the battle: You want to be comfortable we know this already. However, inevitably you will want to spruce yourself up at night because Charleston does have it's fair share of fashionistas strutting about. It is the South and there is a pretty clear air of, well, let's call it "Southern elegance". Dunno what to tell you kids. It's a choice I guess. Best advice I can give is to either be cognizant of the walking challenge, or hire a driver. Although I tout myself as a Princess minus pretentiousness....I chose the Keds-let's-hang-out-in-taverns-route:) Other than that. Layer, layer, layer. Spring and Fall evening can bring a chill with the ocean breezes, but the day is beautiful. Layer, layer, layer.

3) The Best time to go - Spring or Fall. Granted Charleston's beauty will be there come July and August, but trust me when I say, it'll be HOT. Really hot, if you do. With, mind you, you-got-to-cut-the-air-to-breathe-it humidity. For me, I can't stand to be hot and when I get to that point it ruins everything. Don't care how pretty things are when I have a stream of sweat running down my face, back and other sorted areas. To that end, Charleston is best in Spring or Fall. You're comfortable, the sun is shining, and no bugs. And, I promise you will have a moment of walking through the beautiful streets of Charleston, bright sunshine and you'll say, and keepsaying for that matter, "It's just so beautiful"..."It's just perfect"....and you'll have an unmistakable peace come upon you that will likely stay with you for your entire trip.

4) Explore. Although Charleston's beauty is evident everywhere you go, I find the most beautiful spots are those that are hidden, those that you just happen upon while walking around. So explore the little alley, walk

down the seemingly uncrowded street. You'll not be sorry, I promise.

Jodie

Charleston, South Carolina - October 2009

This past weekend I convinced some gal-pals of mine to accompany me to what probably is my favorite city on the East Coast, Charleston. In my humble opinion, for those that love beauty in all its forms, Charleston is for you. Rich with history, Charleston can transport you back to a simpler time and place. But for those of us that love food, it certainly competes with modern-day culinary masters. This trip, however, I found I was mesmerized by the small details of the city. The color, the sounds and the smells of the city had me awestruck. I couldn't seem to snap enough pictures, trying to notice the smallest of details. The color of the buildings, the shape and shadows of statues and the serene, hidden gardens of the historic homes. Although words can't quite capture what you feel and experience walking this through city, I'll try over the next few posts.

Regards~
Jodie