Silom Thai and Sushi Bar: Come for Happy Hour, Stay for Sushi

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 2/2/20

Across from Lenox Mall, a chic Thai and Sushi spot brings serious cocktails and super fresh sushi to the north Buckhead area. From the Tiki Thai and Lychee Martini to the Chicken Satay to the Chicken Pad Thai and the fresh One Night in Bangkok Roll, Silom Thai and Sushi Bar is one of those places you can enjoy happy hour, grab a small bite, or go all out with a full meal. Our tip: get the sushi!

Starting with Tiki Thai, it’s a tiki drink with Thai flare. Small batch rum, OJ, Pineapple, lychee juice, and tiki syrup all mixed up into a cocktail that reminds you of summer. It’s refreshing and sweet that leaves you wanting to grab a beach towel and lay in the sun. The Lychee Martini is another good sipper with lychee and vodka, a little bit tart, a little bit sweet. Both drinks are beautifully crafted. They offer several $5 Happy Hour Martinis including this one Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 pm. Cheers!

A staple on Sushi and Thai menus, Chicken Satay is always a must get! Tender chicken with either a sweet cucumber salad or a peanut sauce, that’s a real crowd pleaser! This one was beautifully plated and tender. The sauces were a great addition, especially the salad, which was slightly sweet and paired well with the savory of the meat. Did we mention this is a light and healthy dish? And you get a good portion. Then, there was the Chicken Pad Thai. It was sweet, savory, tender, and deep. Being a traditional dish, this one was elevated with rich flavor and mix in the crunchy carrots, tart of lime, crunchy peanuts and bingo, you have a dynamic dish! Bring a friend, it’s enough for two.

Now, let’s dive into that One Night in Bangkok Roll. By far our favorite of the night, the sushi was unbelievably fresh. The roll boasts of yellowtail, salmon, and topped with seared tuna and mango salad. The bite being sweet and spicy, the mango, creamy avocado, and spices mixed perfectly with the fish to make a well-balanced bite. Plus, the seared tuna was perfectly done and gave it a little bit of smoke and char. We added wasabi and soy sauce, which brought out the creaminess of the avocado and deepen the overall flavor. We STILL can’t get over how tender and fresh the fish was on this roll! This is a must get. We want to try more!

Will we see you there for a sushi roll and a happy hour Martini?

Whole Foods Market is the MVP of Your Big Game Party 2020

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 1/31/20

Panic mode! Are you ready for the Big Game? Recently, we started to think about what would make the ultimate Super Bowl Party for our readers. Beyond watching the game on the biggest TV we could find, we found that Whole Foods Market is the one-stop shop for what we think are winning recipes, easy grab-and-go prepared foods for all diets, as well as simple drink ideas and beverages for all ages. We took some time to talk to the Whole Foods Market Culinary Coordinator, South Region, Jason Hovan, about his MVPs that can give you the best party possible.

But first, this doesn’t need to be one of those days you slave in the kitchen. Just so you know, we’re a bunch of rookies in the Attaway household, and will be going with classic guacamole and Sirachamole with 365 Everyday Value Organic Yellow Corn Tortilla Rounds and an assortment of fresh veggies for vegans and dairy-free friends. Plus, you can’t go wrong with a mix of wings, a virtual who’s who of chicken flavors? And our most valuable player of the evening is definitely going to be the loaded baked potato pizza! Good for kids and adults, a like. Take a look at the below for some more options for anyone on your list.

Touchdown-Worthy Staples – All meeting the grocer’s champion-worthy Quality Standards

  • 365 Everyday Value Organic Dips – Salsa Con Queso, French Onion and Spinach
  • 365 Everyday Value Organic Yellow Corn Tortilla Rounds, Salted – Perfect for pairing with one of our organic dips!
  • 365 Everyday Value Sodas and Mixers, 6-packs – Ginger Ale, Cola, Root Beer, Cherry Vanilla Crème

For the Rookie, Fully-Prepared Foods – Let Whole Foods Market do the work!

  • In-House-Made Fresh Guacamole – Keep an eye out for delicious variations like Kaleamole or Sirachamole, available in select stores in the Produce department
  • Fully-Cooked Chicken Wings – Available in spicy-sweet Honey Black Pepper, Barbeque, Buffalo and Korean-inspired Gochujang sauces in our Prepared Food department
  • Pretzel Platter – Comes with sweet, Bavarian-style mustard and can be found in our Bakery department
  • Turkey, Beef or Vegan Meatballs – Available in our Prepared Food department
  • Loaded Baked Potato Pizza – You can pick up a slice on the Hot Bar or order a whole pie!

In talking to Jason Hovan, we found that there are deals and sales right now on many things you’ll need for game day. We asked a few specific questions about is ideas on beverages, prepared foods, and everything in between and here’s what he said below. The highlights include $3.99/lb chicken wing sale(!), they have an everything bagel pull-apart loaf that is good with any dip, while dips, salsa, guacamole and produce are 35% off! They have a ton of Vegan options like a 12-pack of vegan cookies, plant-based substitutes for a ton of items like meatballs, as well an array of desserts beyond the cookies. And what’s the big game without beer? They have a huge selection of local beer, seltzers, wine, and mixers. Here’s the entire conversation for more ideas.

What do you feel makes the best Super Bowl Party food and drink-wise for the person who wants everything done for them, and how can Whole Foods Market help?

    • You can’t go wrong with wings, seafood, and beer. The best part about Whole Foods Market is that we have already seasoned, precooked and oven ready items that you can buy. Additionally, we have a lot of great options for local and domestic beer in our specialty department.
      • If you want to buy premade items and cook them at home, our meat case has great deals on pre-seasoned wings and grilling items like pre-seasoned burgers, meatballs, steaks, and kabobs.
      • We also have a great deal on our hot bar in the prepared foods area where all of the food is already cooked. We have a $3.99/lb chicken wing sale 1/29 – 2/4 with a variety of flavors like Classic Buffalo, Roasted Garlic BBQ, and some possible choice flavors like Korean Pimento Scallion, Gochujang, Honey Black Pepper Garlic. There will be meatballs packed by the pound, which act as a great appetizer.
      • In the seafood department, we have tons of value added items like crab cakes, crab legs, shrimp, and smoked salmon. You can easily assemble some cooked seafood options at the seafood case. There are some take and bake items like puff pastry wrapped appetizers, a number of premade seafood salads and dips (my favorite is the smoked salmon dip). Shrimp cocktail platters can also be found premade in the prepared foods area.
      • My all-time favorite is the garlic everything bagel pull apart loaf, which is available for a limited time. It would go great with any of the seafood dips in the seafood department. Some other great options in bakery are pretzel bite platters with a mustard dipping sauce, football cookies or a 12 pack of vegan cookies if you have guests with a special diet.

What are you recommendations for Super Bowl food and drink from Whole Foods Market and what differentiates them from other sources?

      • From 1/29-2/4, our produce department has 35% off made-in-house dips, salsas and guacamole all of which are made fresh in house daily with the highest quality ingredients. We have a great variety of chips and snacks to dip with in the grocery aisle, as well.
      • In our specialty department, I recommend the below options to build a great snacking table at your party
        • My Three Sons Pimento Cheese
        • Pub Cheese-Pick one or all three: Horseradish, Cheddar Jalapeno and Cheddar
        • Cheese Cubes
          • Seaside Cheddar
          • Drunken Goat
          • Black Creek 3yr Cheddar
        • Creminelli Mini Salamis
        • Naturalissima Paninos (Salami Cheese roll-ups)
        • Olives and Antipasti Bar

Can you pick these up whenever or do any of these require advance order?

  • You can pick these up anytime, no pre-order required!

What do you recommend for people allergies and intolerances or those who are vegan or dairy free?

    • No matter what allergy or diet restriction you have, Whole Foods Market strives to delight, surprise and satisfy our customers with quality, variety and value. From gluten-free frozen items in grocery and vegan dessert options in bakery to plant-based items in the chef’s case, Whole Foods Market has offerings for everyone.

In terms of cocktails with mixes, or wine and beer, what would you recommend for Super Bowl parties?

    • In the specialty department, we have a great selection where you can find the below.
      • Artista Margarita and/or Strawberry Margarita 1.5L-ready to drink!
      • Bell’s Light Hearted Ale 6pks
      • Local Beer is always a great addition! We have a wide selection of local beers in the specialty department.
      • White Claw 12pk Variety Seltzer
      • Heineken 0.0 non-alcoholic 6pks
      • Underwood Pinot Noir, Rose or Pinot Gris

Now, grab your team jersey and enjoy. You’ll be the talk of the neighborhood.

Lily White: THE New Buckhead Hot Spot!

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 1/26/19

From the moment you enter Lily White in Buckhead you get a Miami vibe with the pops of neon, pristine marble, and sleek design. With stunning and tasty signature cocktails, good service, stellar food, and a parking lot on property, they could quickly become THE hot spot in Buckhead! It’s time to join us for our food adventure filled with lamb, kabobs, hummus, beats, and more.

Starting with the cocktails, we sampled two fun cocktails called Yalda and Hydration. The Yalda with Grey Goose Vodka, pomegranate, and pineapple was hands down our favorite with a creamy, frothy, smooth sip up front and tart and crisp on the finish. It’s one of those cocktails you can have any time of year and a real crowd pleaser. We’ll be back for it! The other cocktail, Hydration, was good, as well with gin, cucumber, St. Germain, mint, and more. This boozy beauty is one pretty lady and you feel high class when you hold the rose gold cup. From the booze and tart up front cools on the end with cucumber and mint. It would be a good summer sipper to pair with a light salad! Next time, we’re in for the Saint-Tropez.

Diving into the Mazze, we picked the wings, beet salad, and spread sampler that included hummus, tzatziki, labneh, and Mirza Ghasemi. Starting with the beet salad, if you don’t know much about us, one thing you need to know is we love beets. Restaurants don’t include beets enough in their fare, and we applaud Lily White for including a beet starter! This one was earthy with the tart and salty of the balsamic paired well with a little bit of crunch and sweet of the candied walnuts and the cream of the goat cheese. We were impressed how well the beets and goat cheese went together. Beyond the lightness of the salad, the wings were the right amount of meat, crunch and sauce. The sauce was sweet with a slight sauce of the harissa, a solid wing dish! Finally, the spread sampler is a must-get. The hummus is some of the best we’ve ever had, and we eat A LOT of hummus. With just the right amount of salt, garlic and herbs, it’s a perfect hummus bite you can eat with a spoon! Another stunner was Mirza Ghasemi, which we’d never had and now we know we love it. From the smoky eggplant that perfectly paired with the tomato and garlic, served warm, went great with the bread and veggies. Beyond that we’d recommend mixing all four dips together for one glorious bite piled high on a piece of crunchy pita. That’s the ticket.

Moving on to a selection that was cooked on an open flame, the Chicken Kabobs could have been boring, but this was anything like that! Juicy, well-seasoned, and perfectly grilled, it’s delicious! Paired with a charred and grilled tomato topped with oil and herbs to the cranberry in the rice, it’s a good meal and come hungry, you could split it!

Recommended by our waitress, the lamb shank was TO DIE FOR. There isn’t one thing we would change about this dish. The lamb is marinated and cooked for hours and literally falls off the bone. The herbs, rich, and savory in the sauce to the pop of the couscous, to the Israeli raisins that give it a tart and sweet ending, it’s one of those bites you close your eyes and just savor. Pro tip: Take the meat off the bone then mix it with all the other elements on the plate. PERFECTION. Also, I re-heated it for lunch the next day, it was still unbelievable!

Did we mention that Lily White has its own parking lot it shares with the other businesses in the complex? So, weeknights and some non-busy weekends, you can come, park, eat and not have to worry about getting side-swiped or your meter running out. We all know Buckhead can be a challenge for parking. Win-win. We can’t wait to go back and try the Seabass and Salmon. Are you in to join us?

UniTea & Coffee at 640 West: Welcome to Veganville!

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 1/19/20

With UniTea & Coffee at 640 West, Tassili Raw Reality Cafe, Slutty Vegan, and Soul, West End is THE destination for Vegan-centric cuisine in all of Atlanta. Could we just call it Veganville? On the upswing around Atlanta, Vegan options are a healthy alternative to high fat and calorie alternatives with the introduction of products like Just Eggs made of mung bean (legume family) and tapioca or meatless bacon (bean base, as well). Plus, they’re so tasty, you won’t miss the real thing. Vegans DO NOT skimp on flavor; we are here to change your mind on that! Get ready! UniTea & Coffee at 640 West is serving high-end, top notch, delicious Vegan versions of burritos, avocado toast, to their signature dish McVegan. Let’s see what we found on our Vegan adventure.

Starting this the Avocado Toast, generous helpings of fresh-made avocado topped on top of rye bread is a vegan-protein rich, simple dish that is creamy up front with the tang of onion and balsamic in the middle with earthiness of the rye on back. Typically, not big on rye bread, the addition of avocado pairs well with it and actually adds to the enjoyment of the dish. Following this light brunch staple is the Fiesta Burrito. A mix of Just Egg’s savory, hard polenta-like consistency with a mung bean crispy bacon, paprika mushroom, pico de gallo, sriracha sauce aioli, all wrapped up in a delicious shell. As one bite, it’s one of the best breakfast burritos in all the city, real egg or not. Spicy, savory, sweet, yum.

Who doesn’t love a good egg, sausage or bacon sandwich on English muffin? Enter the McVegan! From the made in house vegan egg to the Mung Bean Bacon, the salty and tart of the kale salad, crunchy and toasted Vegan English Muffin and the best garlic aioli we’ve had in a very long time round out this outstanding Vegan dish. Elevated breakfast sandwich at it’s best, easily the best thing at UniTea & Coffee at 640 West. It’s well-balanced between the sweet, savory, salty and you add that garlic aioli on the end just accentuates it all. Wowza! Insert heart eye emoji here.

Beyond the delicious fare, Chef Deuce is making awesome, home-made aiolis in house that accentuate the vegan fare at UniTea. Plus, did you know they decorate their dishes with edible flowers from the cucumber family? You can eat EVERYTHING on the plate. UniTea & Coffee at 640 West recently had a grand re-opening and now is serving their delicious hot vegan breakfast all day until 6pm. On top of the vegan breakfast, they pride themselves on bettering the community through good food, a place for the community gather, live music/events, and more. Chef Deuce is out of LA and originally was over at their sister restaurant, Tassili’s Raw Reality Cafe. He is a gracious and warm host and we can’t wait to see where he goes in Atlanta!

Der Biergarten: Gluhwein and a Side of Sauerkraut

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 1/16/19

Move over hot sauce, there’s a new elevated condiment in town, Sauerkraut! We made our way downtown to visit Der Biergarten to taste their German-centric fare and sip on their holiday cocktails. From affordable and delicious meat and cheese plates (Gemischte Wurst Und Käseplatte) to a perfectly cooked pork shank (Schweinshaxe) to something we never knew we loved, Sauerkraut, as well as a hot holiday drink tradition Glühwein, Der Biergarten is an immersive German experience in the heart of Atlanta. Ready for an adventure?

Starting with the sips, being during the holidays, they had everything form a spicy cocoa, red beer in a take-home boot, and our favorite find of the night: Glühwein. This traditional winter and holiday drink from Germany that drinks like a hot Sangria, a mix of red wine and spices. It was warm on the cold night and totally different than anything we’ve had before, with the savory, sweet of the red wine and earthiness of the clove spice on the back end. It doesn’t sound like something we’d ever like but surprised us! Along with a great selection of German bier, wine, and fun cocktails, try something new!

Who doesn’t like a good meat and cheese plate? This one was chocked full of jaeger, which is a German dry-aged traditional sausage, hard cheeses, plus a lot of bread to pair it with. We felt this was a REALLY good deal for the price and John decided this was one of the best meat and cheese plates in the city. He knows; he’s a charcuterie fanatic. Also enjoyed the pretzel (Risenbretzel) which was buttery, salty, warm, and hearty. Make sure to use the mustards they bring, as well. Go sweet the with the Bavarian Mustard or spicy with the spicy Mustard. Either way, a good tasty bite.

Then there’s the pork shank. The way it was cooked, rotisserie style with skin on, locks in the flavor and tenderness of the meat, while interesting mix of spices like clove and an herb that taste of licorice, give the crust a rich, unique flavor. Mix it with the savory au jus and the side of sauerkraut. That hits the spot. Speaking of the sauerkraut, not typically a favorite, this was the best we’ve ever found with that typical sour vinegar flavor on the back but hidden for most of the bite by the utilization of bacon. Yes, bacon! It’s savory and sour and a good accoutrement to the savory of the pork. Insert mind blown emoji here.

Are you hungry yet? We are! Meet us down at Der Biergarten!

The Rink at Park Tavern: Sushi, Sip, Skate, Repeat.

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 1/7/19

When you walk into Park Tavern, you’re instantly transported to a winter wonderland, a crisp, and cool nip in the air, and even though the holidays may be over, the sipping and skating are not! It’s open until Monday, January 20th! We recently went down for a special event to showcase the food, the drinks, and the fun that The Rink at Park Tavern has to offer. It’s one of those places that you can sit by the fire, enjoy a spiked cocoa, a crisp Bubly vodka concoction, and some delicious sushi then head over to the ice rink and take a spin! Here’s a few photos and a small recap below on more about the Rink and the event we went to recently!

A special evening celebrating the holiday season, this exclusive Skate, Sip, and Snack VIP event took place in Park Tavern’s enchanted Neo-Victorian setting that’s adorned with charming holiday decor.  Guests enjoyed complimentary signature cocktails, delicious fare, and cooked s’mores over the fire pits while taking in unobstructed views of Piedmont Park and the Midtown skyline.  Adventurous guests also hit the hit the ice at The Rink at Park Tavern powered by Bubly – making for a fun-filled evening with new and old friends.

The Rink at Park Tavern is open Monday through Friday from 4:30 p.m. to midnight and Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to midnight. Guests of all ages can enjoy skating experiences for $15 Monday through Thursday and $20 Friday through Sunday until 8 p.m. At 8:30 p.m., The Rink becomes an ages 16 and up venue until midnight.  Skaters that dress up in Steampunk attire for ‘Skate After 8 p.m.’, will get to skate for free.  The Rink is also available for private skating lessons, parties, marriage proposals and more.  To make reservations and for the most up to date event calendar, specialty packages, and venue rental information, visit www.parktavern.com.

Bulla Gastrobar: Who Loves Sangria?

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 1/3/19

Cozy and warm in atmosphere, Bulla Gastropub has an expansive menu with a mix of fresh, light tapas to hearty large plates, as well as a hefty wine list and some of the best Sangria Blanca in Atlanta. We’d argue the best! When we went it was before Christmas, so they had decked out the tables with small poinsettias and bows, and a beautiful Christmas tree with tons of presents under it. Being in the festive spirit, let’s find out what there is to celebrate about the menu. Hint: it’s celebratory!

Being more of a white wine gal, I’ve been thinking about how much I really like Sangria. Leave it to Bulla to invite us to National Sangria Day to discover what is probably the best Sangria Blanca I’ve had in a very long time. John liked it too, but he’s more a beer drinker. From the bubble of the cava to the sweetness of the fresh fruit, this pretty lady drinks refreshing and cool. It’s a good, year-round sipper!

Starting with the tapas, the Lacon Al La Gallega is a smoked ham dish sliced very thin like a tartare topped with arugula, dressing, and potato dollops. It ate like a light salad, a very light bite with a ton of flavor and the meat adds salt and heft. Tip: Take the dollops and wrap them in the arugula and ham. It’s creamy, savory, and the right amount of salt. We also got a Charcuterie plate that consisted of Manchego and Murica Al Vino cheese, as well as Jamon Serrano (ham) and Lomo Iberico. They definitely have a great selection of meats and cheeses that come with olives, crisp bread, and candied nuts. Our favorite was the earthy, nutty, sweet, and sharp Manchego cheese that paired well with the cured pork loin (Lomo Iberico). A great little snack with the bread and nuts.

We thought we got the Salmon Carpaccio but in looking at what we got versus the menu, it looks like we got the 5 oz Salmon large plate. So, moving on to the Platos Fuertes the Salmon was paired with spinach, chickpeas, and a lemon cream. The meat itself was perfectly cooked at medium and topped with a cool lemon cream that added balance between the meat and the accompaniments. The spinach and chickpeas were crunchy and earthy and mixed well with the Salmon. Overall, a great bite.

The other large plate is what we always want to try every time we get to taste a menu: Lamb! Lamb is my (Liz’s) favorite meat and this one did not disappoint. The Lamb Chop itself was fall off the bone tender with a sweet and savory honey, thyme sauce. The sauce was delectable with what starts off as sweet to herbaceous of the thyme. So unique! Paired with charred kale, asparagus, and potato foam, a tasty bite with the meatiness of the lamb, creaminess of the potato foam, and earthiness of the charred kale, and brightness of the asparagus. So much flavor!

From the wonderful meal, to the coziness and warmness of the atmosphere, to the attentive staff, Bulla Gastropub is a great place to take friends and family for an intimate meal. You’ll enjoy it.

Rock N Taco Roswell: Foxey Lady!

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 12/29/19

“Here I come baby, I’m coming to get ya!”

Previous Buckhead staple, Rock N Taco is back and it’s bigger, better, and more immersive in its new downtown Roswell location. If you’re looking for a place that you can eat a taco while watching a Stone Temple Pilots video, we’ve found your spot. It truly is a rock n roll haven with tons of early to late 90’s rock, rock inspired cocktails like The Jimi Hendrix Experience and The Offspring, as well as fresh tacos, fajitas, and everything in between. Let’s take a Journey into Rock N Taco, adventure ahead!

From the moment you enter, rock is strong with this one! Starting with the signature cocktails, they have two that we tried: The Offspring and The Jimi Hendrix Experience. First, The Offspring was a bourbon cocktail that was mellow and smooth, creamy with the whisked egg white, and topped with bitters to give it a slight bite, give it to me, baby. Followed by a real treat, The Jimi Hendrix Experience is Yuzu vodka, Crème de Cassis, and orange liquor, filled with marinated berries topped with sparkling wine, which gives makes it slightly sweeter. Drop in some dry ice. It billows and bubbles giving it a psychedelic effect. It’s really a fun, foxy drink to watch being made and to drink. Foxey, lady!

Fajitas, tacos, triple dip trios, and even inspired desserts, Rock N Taco has some good eats in a rock n roll atmosphere. We’ll start with the by taco bout some tacos. Of these solo performances hands down the best taco was The Classic. It’s perfect: simple, crunchy, beefy, cheesy, and all-around delicious. Tip: Add guacamole! Carne Asada was also simply good with tender steak, onion, cilantro, and lime. Savory, classic, and rich. The Hulk had fried avocado that was perfectly fried, good amount of avocado and crunch from the breading. Perfectly paired with a ranch sauce that adds to the creaminess of the bite.

Headliners like Metallica would be proud of this: topped with a decent amount of cheese, the tender steak combined with crisp peppers and savory onion, it was a great bite when all mixed together. Our recommendation would be to stuff everything into a tortilla with tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and top with guacamole and the original salsa. It’s a stellar creamy, savory, concoction!

They call them Encores, but we call them Show Stoppers. The Fried Ice Cream was like eating cake and ice cream, the breading was so fluffy and thick then fried and topped with raspberry and chocolate sauce. The Churro was cinnamon goodness that they fried and sandwiched creamy vanilla ice cream. It’s hard to decide which was our favorite, but that thick fried breading of the fried ice cream is probably it. Can’t decide? Order both!

Not being too far from our hood, we may adopt them as our new taco spot for live music, 90’s rock, and of course, some more of those fajitas and fried ice cream.

Firepit Pizza Tavern: Perfectly Seasoned

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 12/15/19

With a slice of pie, a dusting of unicorn seasoning, and a handcrafted My Little Pony Punch, Firepit Pizza Tavern is the perfect combo of corner pizza place, wing stop, and local watering hole. Located in the Larkin on Memorial complex in walking distance to Grant Park staple, Six Feet Under, the blossoming Memorial Drive area now has a must-go-to pizza joint with unique wing offerings, every pizza topping imaginable, and fun cocktails. Let’s take an adventure into a few of their menu highlights.

Starting with small bites like the Pork Belly Toast and Unicorn Wings, you may not want to share, so get each FOR YOURSELF. You’ve been warned. The Pork Belly Toast was a blend of savory and salty pork belly, crunchy toast, creamy feta, earthy basil, and sweet tomato jam. Every type of flavor you can pack in, it had. They actually flash fry their pork belly after it was braised overnight in beer and unicorn seasoning for extra flavor and crunch. So many flavors, but you must love sweet. Tip make sure to get all ingredients in one bite.

If you’re looking for some more traditional, don’t go for the Unicorn Wings. This is some of the best seasoning you’ll ever have, and it is a complex medley of lemon pepper, sugar, salt, an entire pantry of seasonings, and secret spices that they wouldn’t share with us. Their chicken for the wings is a two-step cooking process of blanching then frying. Worth the wait. Again, get some for yourself because you won’t want to share.

When it comes to pizza, you can always judge it by if you must add salt, garlic salt, or parmesan on top to enhance the flavor. Not needed at all here. This pizza is delicious, perfectly seasoned from sourdough bread to creamy cheese to wonderfully balanced sauce. Speaking about the sauce, it was slightly spicy with red pepper flakes and raw garlic that gave it depth. Plus, they have some of the best sausage topping we’ve ever had; it seemed fresh sliced! A secret to their delectable dough comes from it being made fresh in house every day, plus they age it for 3 days! Perfecto!

Beyond your traditional pizza fare, they have some tasty handhelds like the Salmon BLT. They slather it in garlic oil and cook it on the flat top to crisp up the tender salmon and to give it more flavor. They top it with savory bacon, creamy aioli, and add capers right to the bottom bun to give it extra tart. Great combo of flavors. We paired it with their Brussel sprouts which married crispy sprouts with bacon and blue cheese and charred for balance. The blue cheese and bacon combo really enhanced these sprouts. Was a great overall meal you could have for a quick lunch or dinner!

Let’s not forget the My Little Pony Punch. Surprisingly tart and refreshing, you’ll never believe it has Gin in it! What really makes this little cocktail pop is the sparkling wine and cranberry. This would really be a great summer cocktail by the pool.

Now that you’re ready to go to Firepit Pizza Tavern, save us a spot and get us a set of those Unicorn Wings!

Ocean & Acre: Land and Sea Perfectly Paired

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/24/19

Land and Sea come together in perfect harmony up at Ocean & Acre in the Halcyon Forsyth complex! What really sets them apart is the innovative and truly unique menu offerings like ceviche with beets, wagyu beef carpaccio, lamb belly, and savory pork chops. If meat isn’t your thing, they have tons of fish, a take on fish and chips, oysters, and even more shellfish to choose from. Like we said, perfect harmony! Beyond this, we really enjoyed the medley of flavors that they paired together in each dish to make them remarkable. Ok, enough talk, let’s take a journey through their menu, sip on a cocktail, and sit by the fire. Come on in.

Starting with the raw bar, the Bass Ceviche was one of the most unique small plates we’ve ever had with light and flaky bass mixed with beets and in a beet vinaigrette. It was earthy, fresh, and light with every flavor you could imagine in such a simple dish. Yes, you must like beets, but they are perfectly cooked and are actually the perfect pair with the fish. Light and delicious.

Maintaining our foray into the lighter side of Ocean & Acre, we opted for the wagyu beef carpaccio. The most tender slice of tartar beef paired well with some oil, herbs, and a light whipped cheese. The best bite is to wrap up the beef, cheese, herbs, and oil and stuff it all in your mouth. Savory, creamy, light.

We took a turn from there into hearty with the Smoked Lamb Belly. The meat was fresh with very little game, a different take on a pork belly dish. What was truly amazing about this dish was the best side on Ocean & Acre’s menu: the polenta. We cannot sing the praises of this more! With the creamy polenta flavor up front then the tart and sweet of the craisins and raisins on the back it’s a savory sweet MASTERPIECE. Could. Not. Stop. Eating it. Great for the cold weather!

Our main course consisted of some of the most flavorful, savory pork chops we’ve had in a long time. Perfectly cooked with herbs and a hearty au jus, this chop was well, perfect. It comes with two, cooked onions to add flavor to the sauce, as well as mushrooms. Two people can share it, it’s that big. Suggestion: get the pork chop with a side of the polenta from the lamb belly dish. We ended up mixing them together and WOW. This is THE combination to try! Highly recommend.

Let’s not forget their drink menu which had a good mix of classics and signature sips to try. The one we like the best was Barracuda. It’s their drink of the week this week, November 22nd 2019 through the Thanksgiving. They have an in-house infuser and backed it with habanero, blood orange and tequila. They paired this with crème de chassis on the top. Perfecto. We also enjoyed both the Rosetta, the drink of the week last week with whipped egg and cloves, as well as a fun tiki drink called Ebb Tide: pineapple, rum, mint. A tiki mule if you will. Wonder what fun drink of the week they will come up with next week? Can’t wait to find out.

We must say that the Halcyon up in Forsyth is really a destination for anyone living in Atlanta. They have a brew pub, sports bar, movie theater with delicious eats, and more. Let’s not forget this absolute gem, Ocean & Acre. Take your family, friends, and life mate, grab a cocktail and sit by the fire. You’ll be glad you did.