Tag Archive for: patio lifestyle

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?

Park Tavern: Piedmont Park’s Go-To Spot

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 6/16/20

Piedmont Park is one of Atlanta’s best features, boasting miles of walking trails, public amenities, a serene pond, and a fantastic view of the Midtown Skyline. On the corner of Monroe and 10th sits Park Tavern, go-to spot for post-run and group activity patio grub, as well as fresh sangria, cocktails, and a refreshing beer. They have a little bit of everything from fried seafood to tacos, buffalo chicken wings, freshly brewed beer on-site, cocktails, and even buffalo cauliflower to Nashville Hot Chicken. It’s hard not to find something to enjoy after your day at the park, meeting friends, or to just enjoy a cocktail or two. In Real Estate they say, location, location, location. Park Tavern has that in spades and so much more. Parkside adventure ahead, so grab your walking shoes, and come hungry.

Park Tavern isn’t lacking in beer options, since they brew their own beer with everything from an IPA, Pilsner, Amber, and more typically on draft year-round, you can grab a pint and watch the sunset, hang out at the fire pits, or catch the stars over the midtown skyline. Plus, they have tons of cocktail options, and even a tasty red sangria that’s fruity and refreshing. Not big red wine fans, we were surprised by the refreshing citrus and orange forward sangria that was perfectly paired with the sprawling Park Tavern patio and gardens. Impressed.

Of the array of appetizers, the best one of the bunch was the rich and meaty chicken wings with tender meat and the right amount of medium spice. From the crunch of the skin to the meatiness of the chicken and the overall flavor of the sauce, this was a delicious overall bite after a day at the park! We also really enjoyed the buffalo cauliflower, which was perfectly breaded and fried tender cauliflower with a spicy, hot sauce kick on the back-end. It’s spicier than expected. Take a moment to dip it in the blue cheese or ranch, it almost like eating a chicken wing! Creamy. Spicy.

The best handheld was the delicious Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich. The perfect fried chicken filet breaded and fried just right with a serious hot sauce bite. We can’t get over how tender and meaty the chicken turned out to be, plus, the addition of the pickles gave it more crunch and tartness! Let’s not forget the creamy coleslaw that cuts through the spiciness and ending up making the entire bite cool as a cucumber. This dish ramps up the heat and flavor and then cools it. Amazing. Paired with fries, the sandwich is even better if you stuff a few of those seasoned fries on there for a little more crunch! Even better with Park Tavern’s legendary tots. Yum!

So, as the sunsets over the Atlanta Midtown Skyline, park lovers are heading to Park Tavern to find the perfect pairing of beer and wings or sangria and hot chicken. They relax watching the sun fade, feeling good about their day and raising a glass to their night cap at Park Tavern.

TOP ATLANTA PATIOS 2020

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 6/3/20

Umbrellas are blossoming all over town so spring must have sprung! As you can imagine, here in Atlanta we have warm Spring weather and one way to truly enjoy the city is to take it all in on a Patio! Especially, this year being outside has been a game changer to the restaurant experience. We thought intently about our favorite spaces, patios, and outdoor dining destinations and came up with a carefully curated list of our top patios. We considered everything from type and range of views, bites, sips, and the little things in between. Are you ready for the patio lifestyle? Who do you want to see on the list? These are in no particular order.

Ray’s on the River’s Luxurious Lawn Party

We’re in love with Ray’s on the River. On a sunny day in late May, there was a light breeze over the Chattahoochee River and the intermittent clouds cooled down the late afternoon heat. Next to the river sits a beautifully landscaped lawn dotted with large patio umbrellas and a collection of tables, patio furniture, and a serene walkway with purple, red, and pink flowers. Ray’s on the River is the ultimate lawn party that reminds us of an all-day Kentucky Derby soiree with pretty dresses, upscale, sippable cocktails, and on-point tasty bites. They wooed us with their impeccable cocktail menu and service, plus you absolutely can’t beat that view. Being from Atlanta, why hadn’t we visited this wonderful, magical happy place before?

There isn’t a bad bite on this menu, but if we had to chose a recommendation we’d say the Ahi Tuna Poke would be our choice of appetizer because it’s so dynamic, and the Horseradish Black Grouper because it has it ALL. Plus, we mentioned their cocktail menu is perfection, can we recommend them all? If we MUST choose, we’ll go with the Vitamin Sea that reminds us of the beach, and the Fig Old Fashioned because being their most popular drink on the menu, we know why, it’s one of the best Old Fashioned we’ve ever sipped.

Ray’s on the River is located at 6700 Powers Ferry Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30339 and more information can be found at here.

Brews and Views a top New Realm Brewery’s Rooftop Patio

Directly off the Atlanta Beltline, New Realm Brewery is a beer and food lovers paradise with expansive patio, large beer list, and serious bar eats. Whether you settle yourself on the Beltline side patio, beer garden, or rooftop bar, you’ll have midtown Atlanta skyscraper views, an amazing amount of people watching, and a killer sunset views over the Atlanta Skyline. Beyond the view, you can relax with the New Realm Brewery’s latest and greatest brew and a hearty set of wings or a meaty pizza. Beer not your thing? They’ve introduced a line of fun seltzers like Cherry Cola and even distill their own liquor from vodka to bourbon!

Our recommendation is to at least try one of their beers, like Lime of the Party, and either the Cherry Cola Seltzer or cocktail. They have so many beer varieties and depending on your taste, they pretty much have something for everyone. Don’t forget the food here either. If you’re looking for bar food go with the Asian Loaded Fries or the Meathead Pizza. If you want something southern inspired, go for the Spanish Style Meatballs and the Beer Can Chicken. Really, you can’t go wrong with anything!

New Realm Brewery is located at 550 Somerset Terrace NE, Unit 101, Atlanta, GA  30306 and more information can be found here.

Riverside Relaxation and Romance at Canoe

Take a stroll with us through the grounds at Canoe. The quiet river flows by as the covered patio keeps you cool from the late Spring sun and the winding walkways meander around the lawn sending you down hidden paths, can you see it? Good. Located right on the Chattahoochee river near Vinings, Canoe is the perfect escape with a mix of gardens, patio space, ambiance, as well as top notch food and drinks. From the moment you enter Canoe, the staff and servers are there for you and make you feel right at home. Canoe, where have you been all our lives? 

While you’re there, we’d recommend starting with the scones that are flaky and wonderful, while washing it down with our new favorite thing, a Sparkling Mule. You also must try the Smoke Salmon starter and the Smoked Chicken on a bed of silky grits. We’ve also heard that they make a mean Duck burger for brunch. Next time?

Canoe is located at 4199 Paces Ferry Rd, SE Atlanta, Ga 30339 and more information can be found here.

Camp Yourself at Ladybird Grove and Mess Hall

Located in Atlanta’s historic Old Fourth Ward district, Ladybird is the first outdoor-oriented restaurant and bar to open along the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail. The restaurant’s pet-friendly “Grove” space is a go-to for outdoor revelry and includes an outdoor bar in a vintage, painted camper, relaxed seating, communal, beer garden-style tables, string lights and more. Ladybird’s full-service menu of elevated campfire cuisine and beverage program of craft cocktails, wine and local beer can be enjoyed on the outdoor patio overlooking the Grove. Michael Lennox, Founder of Electric Hospitality, is behind the restaurant and its sister spots Golden Eagle and Muchacho in Atlanta’s Reynoldstown neighborhood.

Ladybird Grove and Mess Hall is located at 684 John Wesley Dobbs Ave, Atlanta, GA 30312 and more information can be found here.

Photo c/o Blue Hominy PR and photographer Andrew Thomas Lee.

Beer Heaven at Wild Heaven West End’s Patio

Quickly you realize you have arrived at Beer Heaven when you step off the West-Side Beltline and are greeted with Wild Heaven West End Brewery and Gardens extensive patio. With tons of space, they have several places to sit and relax all along the lawn and the space even extends up to Boxcar ATL, ASW Exchange, and up into Monday Night Garage, who has some fun spaces of their own. So, you can stop by for a tasty brew, hard seltzer, wine, cocktail, and even a Whiskey Slushie and just relax after a long beltline walk or ride. We’d recommend grabbing a brew from Wild Heaven like one of the Happiest Hour Exploration Project Series that brought you Fauci Spring or our favorite, Zoom Fatigue Porter. Please don’t forget to pick up a snack, like our favorite taco in Atlanta, Walking Taco from their on-site Fina Fine Foods. Then, stay a while for a Whiskey Slushie like the strawberry lemonade from ASW Exchange or try one of Monday Night’s new Narwhal hard seltzers. Monday Night Garage also does a tasty stout if that’s your thing. HINT: It’s ours. If you’re feeling even more adventurous head over to Best End, they’re building a tiki bar on the beltline!!

Wild Heaven West End and Gardens is located at 1010 White St SW, Atlanta, GA 30310 and more can be found here.

9 Mile Station’s Sweeping Skyline Views on Ponce City’s Roof

You’re in for a treat up a-top Ponce City’s Roof from the moment you enter the elevator hearing about the rich past of the Ponce City Market’s history and then walk out onto the game-centric boardwalk. If you delve a little bit deeper, 9 Mile Station just beyond the boardwalk is the destination for spectacular skyline views of downtown and midtown Atlanta. Whether you sit on the covered patio, around the fire pit, or on the ledge seating, you can’t help but marvel at the stellar view. Being one of the IT spots to spend a sunset, let’s not forget the bites and sips that will compliment any occasion. We’d recommend you sip on one of their cocktails, like the One Way Ticket to Mars that was whiskey and wine (what!) to the Rose All Day 2.0 which was bubbly and refreshing or opt for a wide variety of beer and wine. Plus, their light bites are the perfect pairing to relax and watch the sunset, be it the delectable lemon pepper chicken wings to the beautifully plated, earthy, and crunchy smoked trout croquettes.

9 Mile Station is located on top of Ponce City Roof at 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. Atlanta, GA 30308 and you can find out more information here.

Show me the Cocktails at the Fox Theatre’s Marquee Club

The Marquee Club Presented by Lexus is the Fox Theatre’s premium membership club, recognized by Venues Now magazine as 2019’s “Best New/Refurbished Space in Food and Drink.” The Moroccan and Middle Eastern-style club is 10,000 square feet of interior and exterior space with five stationary. Open only during public events at the Fox Theatre, the Marquee Club offers a preeminent pre-show through post-show experience for club guests with amenities, including priority pre-sale ticketing notifications, access to private restrooms, concierge guest services and self-parking access to an adjacent lot for some membership levels. Visit FoxTheatre.org/MarqueeClub for limited, single-event access passes.

The rooftop terrace at Marquee Club presented by Lexus overlooks the famed Peachtree Street, offering public access to the Fox Theatre rooftop for the first time in decades. Club guests can get up close and personal with the iconic marquee sign while also enjoying pre-show through post-show amenities. The perfect blend of outside and in, there are three rooftop environments including the climate-controlled Conservatory, patio covered Arcade Terrace and the outdoor Rooftop Terrace with access to private bars and restrooms.

From the grand atmosphere to seasonal bites, the Marquee Club was intentionally designed to enhance your night beyond the performance. Start your night at the Fox Theatre with a warm welcome, then enjoy delicious, locally sourced foods; hand-crafted drinks; and vibrant company before and after the show. At the Marquee Club, you get the time you want to enjoy and savor each performance.

Photo c/o Brave PR.

Park it at Park Tavern at Piedmont Park

Several groups of people dot the lawn outside Park Tavern at Piedmont Park, one group is enjoying a picnic, the other are stretching for a long run, while the third are laughing as their dog jumps, this is the scene at Piedmont Park almost every day. Next to it, situated on the corner of 10th and Monroe is Park Tavern, THE go-to hang out for Piedmont Park lovers. Beyond the beauty of the park and magnificent midtown views, Park Tavern also invites you to enjoy a cocktail, some upscale bar food, or maybe some sushi. If we had to recommend a bar bite, we’d suggest the super plump and juicy Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich or when sushi returns, that’s a must. Park Tavern brews their own beer, so grab a crisp and cold pint, or even some of their refreshing sangria, as well as a ton of fun options like High Noon canned cocktail.

Park Tavern is located at 500 10th St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 on the edge of Piedmont Park. More information here.

Meatballs are a Must at Grana

On the busy corner near Rock Springs on piedmont, Grana’s newly erected rooftop bar and patio, as well as impressively upscale dining room pay homage to the Chef’s Italian heritage. It’s stunning. The second you enter the patio, you’re greeted with the neon sign that reminds you that this place will be known for it’s balls, meatballs that is. As you come around the corner from there, you immediately get a beach vibe with beautiful outside bar adorned with blue tile, lounge furniture, and partial cover to keep you out of the sun. Plus, we’re being told that they have spectacular sunset views. On top of the ambiance, they have stellar bites and sips. We’d recommend the best meatball ever, their Crispy Veal Meatball or one of their array of pizzas like the Roni that boasts of pepperoni and honey. Of the sips, let us recommend the Frozen Aperol Spritz. They sometimes will have Froze instead, but frozen sips are all the rage right now, so get this while you can.

Grana is located at 1835 Piedmont Ave Atlanta, GA and more information/reservations can be found here.

All the Possibilities at “Patio Row” on the Beltline

For as a long time, Krog Street Market and Auburn was about the end of the Beltline, but then along came our friends at Hawkers, Nina and Rafi, Guac Y Margys, Pour, and more in a conglomerate of wonderful patio space, what we call Beltline Patio Row. What’s amazing about this little spot is the unlimited possibilities you can get by just hanging out here for an afternoon. You can start with some tacos and margaritas at Guac Y Margys to a good stout down at Pour Taproom to our favorite lettuce wraps at Hawkers to some delectable pizza at Nina and Rafi. It’s a smorgasbord of tastiness.

We reached out to Nina and Rafi since their one of the main go-to destinations the Beltine Patio Row and they wanted you to know, “Named one of Bon Appétit’s 50 Nominees List for Hot 10: America’s Best New Restaurants in 2019, Nina & Rafi is an Italian-American restaurant and bar from restaurateur and bar aficionado Billy Streck of Hampton + Hudson and Anthony Spina of O4W Pizza. Located in Old Fourth Ward on the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail, the restaurant features expansive steel-frame garage doors to offer patio seating on warm days. Nina & Rafi’s menu of Italian-American comfort food includes famed pizzas from Spina’s nationally renowned O4W Pizza, Italian snacks to start, salads, parmesan heroes, and Italian specialties – chicken parmesan and eggplant parmesan – available after 5pm. The “Meat Me in Detroit” pizza, a favorite among diners, was a “Best Dish” finalist in the 2019 Eater Awards. Curated by Beverage Director Corey Phillips, the bar offers craft and Italian beers on draft and in cans and bottles, as well as a selection of Italian wines – red, white, sparkling, orange, and rosé. A tight cocktail list rotates regularly, and the full bar features a very large selection of Amara and Italian spirits.”

On top of that, we love Hawkers and when you to see them on Patio Row, you should grab a lettuce wrap and definitely get one of their adult capri suns called, That’s My Bag Baby. You heard us, stick a straw in it and enjoy. Plus, we know John who owns Pour Taproom, and we love that you can get lost for hours in the beer offerings that the pour-your-own-beer store has, as well as wines and cocktails. It’s amazing how many stouts we’ve discovered there, from Monday Night down the street to IPAs from across the country.

This row is located off the Beltline at 661 Auburn Ave, Atlanta, Ga 30312.

Nina and Rafi photo by Bart Sasso provided by Blue Hominy PR.

Canoe, Where Have You Been All Our Lives?

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/31/20

The second you drive up to Canoe, romance is in the air. The quiet river flows by, the covered patio keeps you cool from the late Spring sun, winding walkways meander around the lawn sending you down hidden paths, can you see it? The popular brunch spot is the perfect place to sit in an Adirondack chair by the Chattahoochee holding your honey’s hand. During our intimate Sunday Brunch, we sipped on a Sparkling Mule, dipped a scone in the homemade preserves, crunched into their smoked salmon starter, relaxed with a glass or wine or Aperol spritz, and even enjoyed a hearty half chicken with silky grits. We swear you can hear Frank Sinatra in the background. Canoe, where have you been all our lives?

We’re always on the hunt for the best patio drinks and we may have found our new favorite: Sparkling Mule. One-part sparkling wine, one-part Moscow mule with ginger, vodka, and soda, it’s as refreshing as you can get. From the crispness of the sparkling wine to the coolness of the ginger and that perfect hint of lime. From there, we sipped on an Aperol Spritz that was refreshing, as well, with the tartness of the Aperol adorned with a ton of bubbles. And what’s better than that crisp glass of white wine while you watch the river roll by?

Listen up. Let’s get real about the scones. From savory to sweet to spicy to nutty, these scones were the perfect addition to our meal. The favorite was the plain scone, which the staff calls “fairy dust.” It was a magical mix of flaky biscuit with a hint of sugar and cinnamon. The rest of them were unbelievably tasty too, one was the prefect mix of cheddar and jalapeno, one had a hint of chocolate, and the last one was nutty and rich with almonds. A great mix of flavors dipped in homemade preserves, jams, and honey butter. Dessert first should be our new thing.

If you know us, you know that we love anything that resembles a lox bagel. What’s not to love about some tender salmon, crisp bagel, creamy cheese, and sharp onion? Canoe has a delightful starter, the House Smoked Salmon, that was every bit of this but elevated with a crispy potato cake, the salmon was absolute perfection slow smoked and tender, and the mix of cream cheese and goat cheese was the icing on the cake! Let’s dot it with some spicy onion and scallions and it’s one of the best little bites! Still can’t get over that crunch. We ended up eating the entire thing. Lick the plate? It’s a possibility.

When you think brunch, you think pancakes, French toast, hash, eggs, but what if we told you that we got a beautiful half chicken nestled on a bed of cheddar grits? Imagine chicken that falls off the bone tender, plus, perfectly cooked, seasoned, and beautifully presented. That’s what you get, with the Oak Roasted Springer Mountain Chicken, a mouthwatering, juicy chicken dish with deep and rich grits with the light crunch of the green beans drenched in au jus and perfectly seasoned skin. Could not get over the flavor of the au jus and skin. Our tip: take the au jus mix it in with the grits, beans, and some of the chicken, top with the saltiness of the skin and it’s such a memorable dish. Dreamy!

Come with us down the path that leads to the chairs by the river, relax in the shade with your favorite wine. That’s the feeling you get at Canoe. We could sit here a while. Join us?

Dantanna’s: It’s the Patio Lifestyle

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/20/20

Across from Atlanta’s landmark Lenox Mall in the North Buckhead is Dantanna’s. They’re one-part sports bar and corporate happy hour spot and one-part steak and seafood house. Everything from savory apps, to refreshing cocktails, to staple steakhouse entrée favorites, they have a something for the big game or the corporate dinner. On our patio adventure, we sampled chicken egg rolls, wings, salmon, and a refreshing mojito, while we enjoyed a warm, spring day in the shade of one of their large umbrellas. It’s the patio lifestyle, let’s jump in.

You know what screams patio drink? MOJITO! A bit of bubbles, lots of citrus up front and then comes the mint and tart on the back to finish it off. With a balance between all of these, it was one of those easy, breezy sips you could enjoy all day. It was perfect for our outdoor, patio experience.

Of the appetizers, our hands down favorite was the Cajun Chicken Egg Rolls. If you close your eyes and take a bite, it’s the perfect mix of crispy outside, gooey and soft chicken mixture inside. From the savory of the chicken and beans, crunchy onion, to the crispy outer shell, it’s an overall balanced and delicious dish. The cherry on top is the cajun mustard dipping sauce. With a dollop, dip, or maybe even a little slathering, the sauce is a hearty spicy mustard with cajun spices and something creamy! It elevates the egg rolls and makes it a spicy, savory, crunchy, creamy, tart bite that even re-heated the next day was amazing. Make sure you get all the ingredients, pico on the side, and the sauce into one bite. Insert love emoji.

With fried and rich covered, we opted for something a little lighter with the salmon entrée joined by broccoli and asparagus. First off, the vegetables are signature steakhouse prepared with butter, oil, garlic, and the right amount of salt and pepper. The salmon was freshly pan-seared and cooked medium and came to the table flaky and warm. With a little bit of crunch, it was well-cooked and savory main dish. Don’t get us started on the luscious shitake-brandy-cream sauce because it was “melt in your mouth” delicious. The mushrooms were perfectly sliced, cooked, and marinated in brandy just the right amount of time and combined with a little bit of dairy. It was drizzled over the salmon and gave it a richer, heartier weight that was oh-so good. Altogether, salmon should always come with this sauce. Recipe please?

While you’re at Dantanna’s, sit on the patio, at the bar, or dine on the floor, you’ll never miss a minute of the vibrant people watching, the game, or even a pooch on the patio. Next time, we’re in for a steak. Can we add the shitake-brandy-cream sauce?