Tag Archive for: food review

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!

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!

Nikolai’s Roof Magnum Wine Dinner: Stellar Views, Delectable Food, Premium Wine

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/7/19

Way up close to the clouds, with stellar panoramic city views, Nikolai’s Roof a top the Hilton Atlanta is the perfect upscale destination of high-end food, cocktails and wine, as well as intimate events. We recently sat in the clouds and took in the city views during the Magnum Wine dinner with three courses of selectively precured wine and food pairings.

From the bubbles as you exit the elevator, to the small savory bites of the passed apps, you felt instantly welcomed to the party. Our favorite bite was the Smoked Salmon Tartare Taquito with a smoky, flaky bite of salmon nestled in corn tortilla, topped with caviar and arugula. It was stunningly platted, and a one-bite wonder of smoke, salt, and slightly sweet. Also, the Vanilla Bean Macaroon was delicious with foie gras mousse and black pepper that cut the sweet of the cookie with the savory of the mousse.

The heart of the dinner was two courses: one was duck and the other lamb perfectly paired with a high-end Magnum red wine. The first course, the Sous Vide Duck Magrete was paired with the Etude Heirloom Pinot Noir 2003. The duck was perfectly cooked at medium and there was a distinctly beautiful coffee demi-glaze that cut-through the savory, salt, and slight game of the duck. The best thing on the plate was the parsnip and Celeriac Mille Feuille, which I said was one of the best potatoes au gratin like side that was both simple, creamy, and rich. The Pinot Noir went perfectly with the duck and root vegetables!

The second course manicured by Chef Stephanie Alderete was the Charleston Lamb Chop. What a delectable good portion of lamb that was cooked medium and was mild, tender, and paired well with miso beet varieties. The beet and lamb earthiness paired well with both of the Cabernet Savignon’s that Magnum provided. These cabs were smooth and less oaky than a typical cab. Drinkable.

Our favorite wine came with the cheese plate at the end, Qupe Syrah 1999, which had enough spice to pair well with the hard cheese and mellowed out with the truffle honey! Have you ever had truffle honey? It’s both earthy and deep, but has the sweetness of honey. It was a delicious bite with the salt of the cheese.

All-in-all, we’re not huge red wine drinkers, but these red wines from Magnum really impressed us! Deep, high-end, quality wines that were easy to drink and paired well with all the food. Color us impressed. We will try more of their wines!

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.