Tag Archive for: champagne

Bazati Atlanta

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 4/20/23

The moment you step in the delightful Pan-Latin restaurant Bazati on the Atlanta Beltline you’re immersed in vintage French decor, marble, luxurious lighting, and a beautiful bar area with leather seats and lounge area! Upstairs is Estrello Rooftop with more pastel, light Latin vibes, vibrant patio, and mezcal behind the bar. This one-two punch of Latin dining is exquisite! Everything is elevated from their sensational cocktails like the floral Houdini, decadent decaf Tequila me Softy espresso martini, and the all-new tangy Wren’s Nest. Then, phenomenal small plates from their loaded charcuterie board, creamy polenta, or their bright Strawberry Maple salad. Their entrees are sure to wow with their earthy Double Stuffed Ravioli, flavorful Brazilian Picanha, and our favorite, the juicy Pork Osso Bucco. Let’s take a trip. 

We will kick it off with the trio of cocktails we tried: Houdini, Tequila me Softly, and Wren’s Nest. The Houdini will disappear before your eyes as it is herbaceous, floral up front and balanced with bright and tangy on the back. So good! If you’re looking for a new cocktail to try, go for the Wren’s Nest that will be on their spring menu. It is boozy bourbon that starts warm and ends tangy and bright, slightly sweet watermelon shrub and a hint of ginger. It’s complete. The favorite cocktail of the night was the DECAF Tequila me Softly espresso martini. Decadent and dark chocolate, bitter and creamy, this is sure to please all those coffee lovers out there. You couldn’t tell it was decaf at all and no jitters! We will be back for more! 

On to the small plates that John and I shared from the charcuterie board, crispy polenta, and Strawberry Maple Salad. Starting with the loaded Charcuterie board that is stuffed with three meats with different flavor profiles, an array of cheese from soft to hard, salty, crispy almonds, sweet honeycomb, mixed berries, and crackers. After that we got the Crispy Polenta, which is our favorite of the small plates with a gamut of flavors from creamy to buttery to tangy to earthy and bright. The polenta bed itself is creamy and buttery with a crispy top, then it is topped with creamy and sharp cheese. A dollop of olive tempade gives it a slight earthiness to finish out the bite. Love. For our salad, we got the Strawberry Maple, which starts earthy and crunchy with the lettuce, and then is sweet from the maple, tangy from the strawberry. It is finished off with crunchy almonds and sharp blue cheese.  

In between the small plates and our entrees, we were treated to the seriously divine Double Stuffed Ravioli. Holy Truffle! Tender Handmade in-house ravioli stuffed with earthy mushroom and enveloped in a sea of creamy, truffle-forward sauce that will definitely WOW you. This is a must try dish bursting with flavor!  

Of the entrees, we got the phenomenal Pork Osso Bucco that is meat heaven with tender, fall off the bone pork, perfectly seasoned and surrounded by a moat of rich, savory jus and stuffed with eggplant, celery, and other root vegetables. It was the favorite dish of the day! John got the Brazilian Picanha that is flavorful and well-seasoned meat topped with a bright chimichurri, bright onions, and paired with crunchy fries. On the side we got two very good sides, one being the baby carrots and the other seasonal fiddle heads. The baby carrots are super sweet and candied and laid on a bed of creamy and sharp Greek yogurt. It is sweet and creamy and sharp, a winning combo. Then, fiddle heads are something neither of us had ever had before. They’re naturally foraged tops of ferns that have not blossomed yet. They taste a lot like asparagus but have a flowery, fluttery texture up front with a good crunch on the end. They’re amazing! These are cooked with butter and oil and really taste fresh and light!  

Finally, we got a pair of delicious desserts, the Tres Leches cake and the Tiramisu. The Tres Leches is super moist and mellow with a delightful light frosting, topped with fruit. The tiramisu is seriously rich and creamy, dark chocolate notes, boozy, drenched lady fingers with so much flavor. We’d recommend you stay for dessert.  

Barcelona Wine Bar: The Date Night Spot

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 10/25/21

The metal, wood, and soft hues from the setting sun enveloped the Barcelona Wine Bar Westside wrap-around patio. At the bar a couple chat over a shared bottle of red wine with an assortment of small plates. Now this is date night done right with the ambiance, impeccable food, and endless wine bottle list, all meant for sharing. We imbibed on the fantastic Aperitivo Board, bubbly BarCava, spicy Grilled Pulpo, great Grilled Broccolini, divine Potato Tortilla, creamy Jamon & Manchego Croquetas, and finished it off with crispy calamari. Who’s ready to go on a Friday night date night?

Sipping on some bubbly, the BarCava is an exclusive sparkling wine made just for Barcelona. It’s bright, tart, and crisp with tons of bubbles. A must try. To go with our wine, we started with the Aperitivo Board, which was an assortment of tasty Serrano, Feut, Mahon, tangy and creamy Patatas Bravas, spicy peppers, buttery almost, and sharp and creamy Manchego. You can mix and match in any combination, which we both loved the Serrano with the Manchego and a dollop of the spicy mustard on top.

Something that we love about Barcelona is the small plates that’s perfect to sharing. You can try more of the extensive menu this way and explore a variety of flavors. You can get everything from light dishes like the pulpo to decadent like the Potato Tortilla to hearty, fried calamari. Speaking of the dishes, one of our favorites was the Potato Tortilla. This fun dish is served like a piece of pie and starts creamy and sharp and then melts in your mouth. We found this dish eye-roll good from the richness of the cream and potato to the earthiness and tang of the chive dip on the side.

After that hearty dish, we went a little lighter with the Grilled Pulpo and Grilled Broccolini. The octopus is simply grilled and tender and topped with a mix of olives, tomatoes, and a spicy bright vinaigrette. It’s a spicy, earthy, and tender dish! On the other hand, the broccolini is slightly crunchy with a fresh, fantastic lemon aioli that comes off as bright and creamy. Impeccably paired with crispy capers for an earthy bite on the end.

To end the night our tour around the Barcelona menu, we tried the Jamon & Manchego Croquetas and the Crisp Calamari. The Croquetas are crunchy, rich, creamy, and oh-so gooey. All of the complex flavors that all go so well together. Go bold or go home, right? We ended with the Crisp Calamari. This fried goodness is the right amount of light crunch and tender squid. Juxtaposed with a tart, tangy and bright dipping sauce for the perfect bite.

What would you want to try?

Cru Food and Wine Bar Atlanta: Wine Oasis

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 7/27/20

On a bustling corner at The Battery Atlanta, there’s a wine oasis dotted with bluish-purple umbrellas, marble tabletops, warm vibes, and surrounded by several colors of delicate flowers and greenery. Cru Food & Wine Bar at the Battery Atlanta has mastered the art of superb wine procurement from magnificent champagne and Smell the Roses flights to a wide variety of dishes that compliment the wine on their menu. We can’t think of anything better to pair your favorite vino with than a solid charcuterie or small plate, and even a succulent filet mignon. Wine not join us on a culinary journey from our time at Cru Atlanta?

What’s the first thing you think of when you think of wine? Charcuterie and cheese OF COURSE. Yes, all caps. Cru Food & Wine Bar has exemplary flight pairings with carefully curated list of cheeses and meats. We got the Premier Cru which boasted of salami, prosciutto, soppressata, and manchego cheese and accompanied with a selection of pickled vegetables, tasty mustard, and rustic bread. What a great way to start our wine journey. To go with it we opted for the Smell the Roses flight which had 3 delicate and well-balanced Rose wines. Our favorite was Chateau Gassier Esprit. It was crisp and light with a delicate amount of tart, apples, citrus-like notes. Plus, who can go to a wine bar without sampling at least one champagne? The one we sampled was the Laurent Perrier Brut La Cuvee from France. It was everything a true champagne should be with brut bubbles and a slight tart finish. What’s your favorite wine varietal?

Beyond your traditional wine bar fare, Cru Food & Wine Bar also offers a wide array of sharable plates. The Ahi Tartare is mild and tender with creamy avocado, crunchy cucumber with a hint of earthiness combined with bitterness of the olive. I (Liz) don’t usually like olives (AT ALL) but the combination of the avocado, cucumber, and tomatoes, cuts the bitterness, while the olive actually adds to the flavor. Mix all the ingredients up on the plate and add some of the rustic bread, it’s a great bite. After something light, we decided on something a little heavier, like the Wagyu meatballs. With wagyu as the main ingredient, these meatballs are the right amount of meatiness, yet lighter than expected. Paired with a bright and light sauce that we loved, topped with basil that added a good amount of earthiness to balance the richness of the meat and the creaminess of the cheese. Our tip is to cut the meatballs up and pile all the ingredients on the rustic bread for a solid complete bite.

Want something a little sweeter? Cru Food & Wine Bar has these goat cheese beignets that are surprisingly decedent treat. Almost dessert-like, we’re in love with the creaminess and tart of the goat cheese, the crunch of the beignet, and the sweetness of the honey. That last touch really adds a ton of rich, sweet flavor. The secret ingredient in this dish, though, is the mascarpone. It lightens up the goat cheese and gives it more of a creaminess to the inside. Make sure to get every bit of honey, beignet, and filling into one bite and get ready for a flavor explosion. This was the biggest surprise of the night and ended up being my (Liz’s) favorite thing!

Earlier we asked what’s the first thing you think of when you think wine, but now we have a follow up. What’s the second? Before you answer, you were thinking steak, right? We knew it and this one is filet mignon at that! This beauty is a perfectly tender piece of meat cooked medium with the right amount of seasoning, sauce, and the tart of the blue cheese. The tasty sauce on the plate around the steak was a chianti-based that was slightly sweet to balance out the tart of the blue cheese and heaviness of the meat. Add in the earthiness of rosemary to round out the flavor! On the side, the au gratin potatoes are like a hearty potato pie with layer upon layer of cheese and potatoes, which goes so well with the sauce. It was also paired with green beans that had the right crunch and seasoning, adding a little hint of freshness and brightness to round out the succulent dish.

Sipping on a cool glass of champagne, we relaxed in the shade and just watched people walk by Cru Atlanta. The people around us glasses clinked, and the light sound of chatter filled the warm summer air. We couldn’t eat another bite, so we just sat full and happy. We know it’s hard but if you could choose one thing to try, what would it be?

The Shed at Glenwood: Cool Salads and Sweet Treats Mix with Traditional Brunch Fare

Nestled near the Atlanta Beltline in close proximity to EAV and Grant Park, The Shed at Glenwood has a stellar brunch menu with everything from cool salads, savory and sweet French toast, to traditional omelets, eggs, and bacon. Top it off with a specialty cocktail, bloody mary, or mimosa. Perfecto. Let’s jump into our culinary journey, come join us.

Starting with the Watermelon Baby Spinach Salad was one of the highlights of our time at The Shed at Glenwood. The crunch of the sweet watermelon combined with the slight spice of cumin in the dressing, and topped with the savory spinach, which was crisp and light. Sprinkle with crunchy sunflower seeds to all blend together; sweet, salty, light and fresh. Follow up the light salad with something sweet and savory, like the French Toast with poached pears. Light and fluffy, the bread was the right balance of sweet cinnamon, savory of the egg wash, and crunchy walnuts. Top it off with tart blackberries and warm, yet light maple syrup, and the savory crunch of the poached pears. The best thing on the French toast were those poached pears. Savory, slightly sweet, tender. Pro tip: drizzle the maple syrup directly on the poached pears. It could be a dessert itself.

After you’ve done all this, they also have some very good standard brunch and breakfast fare, like their southern chicken omelet stuffed with chicken, vegetables, and cheese. What made this dish was the side of Nashville hot sauce and some of the best roasted potatoes: salty, savory, right amount of crunch, but potato thick enough to enjoy on its own. We found that if you take some of the omelet, get some hot sauce on it, and then add a roasted potato it’s a fabulous bite.

Don’t forget to grab a refreshing cocktail or spritzer! We had one of the best summer patio drinks ever, a French 75 with champagne, lime, and a spritz of Gin. Something you could drink a few of that’s light, refreshing, tangy, sweet, bubbly, and so good. We also tried the Jungle Bird stuffed with house spiced rum, pineapple, lime and a beautiful pink color. This beauty was surprisingly tart but smoothed out on the end with the pineapple.

Next time you’re on the south end of the beltline and need a quick brunch, breakfast, or even lunch or dinner, get over to The Shed at Glenwood. You’ll be glad you did.