Chow Down Atlanta

• Ranch 99 is being re-opened as… Super H Mart!!!
• HY Market on North Berkeley Lake Rd in Duluth has declared bankruptcy and will not open.  (Sad.)
• LA Pho inside Point Berkeley International Village has closed.
• Pho Hoa, a BuHi institution (5150 Buford Highway), is moving down the street from the CDC.
• My long lost grandma is back in the saddle at Pho Ca Dao.  (Ok, not really.  But it would be nice if she really were my grandma.  Oh how I wish.) You will remember Pho Ca Dao back in the late 90s when it used to be in the Burlington Coat Factory plaza on the corner of Dresden and Buford Highway. The new location is 4646 Buford Highway NW, Atlanta, GA 30341. And yes, same grandma is cooking.
  
• V-1’s original chef has moved from their flagship (corner BuHi and N. Berkeley) to their outpost inside Super H Johns Creek where food is much better.

West Egg Cafe has been one of my go-to places for breakfast (that is, the few times I can get myself out of bed early enough). Had a chance to finally go to their new location in White Provisions a couple of months back and I might say, the place is really nice. Funky nice. My visit was the first stop in my usual “food field trip” — several lunches, several dinners all in one day with one of my eating buddies — so we were very conservative in ordering food.

The Georgia Benedict had these savory turkey sausage patties topped with beautiful poached eggs sitting on their famous biscuit. All these were drenched in a turkey sausage gravy that was perfect in consistency (thin enough to go down smoothly, yet thick enough to coat everything). It’s always been a trusted favorite. It was, however, a little floury for my tastes this time around. My eggs came with a side of grits. They serve one of the best grits in town and it didn’t disappoint as usual. It was creamy and the taste of corn really stood out.

The Belgian Waffle was good. It was crispy on the outside. I would have loved it to be chewier on the inside, though. Make sure you substitute regular butter if you aren’t a sweet (honey) butter person like me.

FB’s Blue Plate is a good choice if you want a hearty meal. We’re both huge fans of cheesy eggs and he wanted to get the same effect but they just couldn’t duplicate it. Oh well. It was still good. I do love that the skillet potatoes came with chunks of crusty potatoes. They were peppery and really flavorful.

Other favorites of mine here include the Black Bean Cakes and Eggs (an interesting take on the Huevos Rancheros) and the bacon, eggs, and cheese biscuit (or the biscuit period). Read more here.

West Egg Cafe
1100 Howell Mill Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 872-3973

Technorati Tags: midtown, breakfast, brunch, White Provisions

I know of four good izakaya places in the city. This is one of them. Before their bar food incarnation, I’ve had a couple of not-so-satisfactory meals here. But gone are those days and for those of you who had the same past experience as I did, it’s definitely time for a revisit. I took my NYC-based brother here a couple of weeks ago and had the most enjoyable meal.

The izakaya menu here is extensive– yakitori, kushiyaki, stews, grilled fish, pickled items, sushi, sashimi, soups; you get the idea. Prices here border on the cheap and as competitive as the other places. Get an item from each category and prepare to have a leisurely meal. Oh, did I mention, your first 12oz draft beer is only 99cents? Until September at least.

One of my favorites here is the Spicy Geso. I like their version of these deep-fried squid legs. The batter is so thin, almost non-existent, and each piece is laced with a spicy powder. You get chewy, crispy, and spicy. Love it.

I love Gindara Misozuke. Or ginadara for that matter. The portion here is a lot smaller but it is also $3 cheaper than its counterparts. It is perfectly grilled and melts in your mouth. There is a tiny hint of miso paste flavor and butter. Swoon.

I am such a sucker when it comes to Chawan Mushi. And I love all versions — Korean, Chinese, Japanese. The delicious chicken stock they use here is flavored with dashi and mirin and provides a great backdrop for the soft egg custard. Mmmm.

I wasn’t so impressed with their tonkotsu ramen. At $9.25, it didn’t even come with pork. The broth was a cross between shio and shoyu (salt and soy) and I couldn’t really taste the creamy tonkotsu. Serves me right for asking for something that’s not on the menu. They do have udon and soba soups that are far better. Get those instead.

No trip to an izakaya is complete without grilled squid. The Ika Butteryaki here is so tender and the butter-teriyaki sauce will blow you away. It isn’t your normal Americanized teriyaki sauce. Their concoction has butter, grated ginger, and a sweet soy sauce. Fantastic.

Skewers of pork belly and chicken balls rule here. The pork belly slices are thick, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The chicken balls are made of soft, minced meat. Get them both with salt. So good.

There’s this Eggplant Miso that I have to warn you about. It’s a thick slice of American eggplant that is marinated in miso paste then steamed. The middle part is hollowed and filled with eggplant meat and annatto. It’s good. But it is way too rich that you’d feel so full if you eat it first. So eat it last.

The sushi and sashimi here have improved in quality as well. So do be sure to get a few rolls and slices on your visit. What are you waiting for? Go now.

Insider tip:
Check website for new menu items monthly and dinner specials.
First order of 12oz draft beer for $0.99 available during dinner only all throughout August.
Selected wine and sake are 50% off on Sundays and Mondays.

Sushi Mito
6470 Spalding Dr
Norcross, GA 30092
(770) 734-0398

Technorati Tags: Japanese, izakaya, Norcross

It’s still hot as heck in Atlanta. What better way to cool off? Naengmyeon. Chewy, homemade Korean noodles in flavorful, icy broth served in large stainless steel bowls. Two ways.

Mul Naengmyeon. My absolute favorite. The clear broth is so refreshing. The slices of radish and sweet pears balance the savory beef slices. The hard-boiled egg is icing on the cake. Yum.

Bibim Naengmyeon. The spicy gochujang dressing gives just the right kick and heat. Slices of tender beef and cucumbers make it a hearty dish. More yum.

Doo Reh Myun Ok
1291 Old Peachtree Rd NW #401 (inside the Assi Plaza - Suwanee)
Suwanee, GA 30024
(770) 476-0480

Technorati Tags: Korean, naengmyeon, Suwanee

Dinner for one.

Haru Ichiban.

P.S. Bragging rights go to Andrew!!!

A couple of weekends ago, the Cooking Channel was in town to celebrate summer. It was hot — 95° in the shade and muggy, a normal for Atlanta this time of year. To help cool things off, they brought an ice cream truck with Jake’s ice cream for everyone and Roger Mooking.

I got to talk to Roger, a talented chef and an award-winning musician. He hosts Everyday Exotic and uses exotic ingredients in his cooking. Here’s what he has to say.

On his favorite ingredient
Love. Roger believes that anyone can follow a recipe and two people can follow the same recipe exactly the same but the one who gives more energy, intent, focus, and passion into the recipe is guaranteed a thousand percent that his dish will taste better. Oh, and also salt. Season with enough salt for taste.

On the most difficult ingredient he has ever had to work with
Can you guess which one? It’s none other than… anchovies!

On the transition from music to cooking
He has always wanted to be a chef from the time he was 3. He comes from a family of restaurateurs so it was only natural that he grew up in kitchens. He started working in a kitchen professionally at 14 and he would take all his money earned and go to the recording studio. He’s been doing it ever since. He is equally passionate about both music and cooking and cannot fathom doing just either one or giving up one or the other. He is happy that he can do both and if given the chance to choose and do just one, he can’t. The opportunity to cook and do music at the same time is providing entertainment for everyone around him.

On the perfect meal
I asked Roger if I ever get lucky enough to be invited for a meal at his house, what would he feed me. Just like great chefs, he doesn’t plan a meal based on dishes. Instead, he will go to a farmer’s market or grocery store and find what’s fresh and make a meal out of all the freshest ingredients he could find.

On his favorite cuisine
Dim sum!!!

Check out Roger on Everyday Exotic. Now!

Technorati Tags: Cooking Channel, Atlanta, Roger Mooking

Verdict: RUN, don’t walk. And. Get. There. NOW!!!

Chinese Elvis. Better than the King himself. He provides live entertainment nightly.

Family friends invited us to the grand opening on July 3rd. But I was in Sanibel at the time. Talks of real, authentic Cantonese cooking circulated and wouldn’t die down — with the chef coming from the Guangdong province and apparently a brilliant one to boot, including lengthy stints in Hong Kong under his belt. But then I got a hold of the menu. And felt deflated. Disappointed. With the location being right-smack in the middle of suburbia, I kind of expected it could not sustain a menu worthy of Buford Highway clientele. And the menu was testament to that: all Americanized dishes. Yeah, I’m talking Panda Express Americanized.  The only thing I hoped for was that there was a good chance they had a Chinese menu. You know, the one reserved for the lucky Chinese people.  Written in Chinese. Well, what do you know… they don’t.

Can you read (computerized) Chinese? These are part of what we ordered.

But we still gave it a chance, banking on familiarity with Cantonese cuisine; we knew we can make the chef make dishes we liked to eat in Hong Kong. And boy, did he surprise us. Forget Bo Bo Garden and Wan Lai. This is real Cantonese food. Exceptional is even an understatement. Every single thing we ate was just beyond perfection. Do note, however, that there are no names to these dishes. We basically asked what is fresh that visit, what they had in the kitchen, and gave very loose guidelines as to how they should be prepared.

The Pig’s Ears cold dish is a great appetizer. The ears are sliced thinly but big enough to constitute two bites. Tender yet still gelatinous with the requisite chew. The cucumber slices and cilantro provide texture and added background flavor with the soy sauce and sesame seed oil serving as the main yet subtle tastes in the foreground.

Quite possibly the best dish of the night. And my favorite: Giant Clam. Served in its shell. The meat was sliced into tender pieces then stir-fried in XO Sauce. I wouldn’t be surprised if the chef made his sauce from scratch. I’ll remember to ask next time. The Chinese chives provide a tiny hint of sweet that offsets the savory flavor of the sauce. Brilliant. (Tip: mix the accompanying cilantro with the dish for added oomph.)’

Soft slices of taro are underneath the duck.

The Duck+Taro was another stellar dish. First, the duck is steamed and then braised. The result is tender pieces of duck with bones crunchy enough to eat. The sauce is infused in every bite. Delicious.

The Steamed Flounder is just absolutely divine. The fish was so fresh, buttery, and just melted in the mouth. The ginger-scallion sauce was amazing. In Chinese restaurants, always opt for salt-water fish. They go better with Chinese cooking. For future reference. That’s all.

Other items that were attacked either before I could take pictures or pictures that weren’t as good because it was unbelievably dark in there include a “two-way fish” — a deep-fried Tilapia dish (freshly fished from a tank). The head is used for tofu soup and served along side the crispy fish. It will blow you away. A delicious black bean sauce is used to top the fish. Seriously delicious.

The stir-fried Sea Cucumbers were so tender yet still have a slight chew. Bite-sized pieces are laid on top of steamed baby bok choy. The sauce is light and thin. I like this version a lot because this is what I was used to eating.

Fresh Manila Clams in dry XO sauce is an excellent finger food. The clams are salty-sweet. You can taste the ocean!

The Dry-fried Beef Chow Fun has that addicting smokiness.

The Chinese Fried Chicken is crispier and doesn’t have that cloying five-spice after-taste. The stir-fried Shrimp with Oyster Mushrooms is refreshingly light. The Seafood Hot Pot puts all hot pots to shame. And the Yeung Chow fried rice (a staple in every Cantonese meal) uses sweet barbecue pork. Everything. Is. Fantastic.

Additional notes:The chef has been with the family for decades and used to cook in their old joint in Buford Highway.

Located on the corner of State Bridge Road and 141/Peachtree Pkwy/Medlock Bridge. Inside the plaza where Regal Medlock cinema is. In a free-standing building that used to be a Greek diner that used to be a Mexican place.

All servers speak English. Use this post as your guide as dishes have no names and are not on the menu.

Hong Kong House
5710 State Bridge Rd.,
Johns Creek, GA
30022
678-584-5855
Sunday-Thursday: 11AM-10PMFriday-Saturday: 11AM-11:30PM

More pictures here.

Technorati Tags: Johns Creek, Alpharetta, Cantonese, Chinese

It’s one of the most underrated breakfast places in town. Did you know? They make the best sweet potato pancakes. They’re soft, chewy, sweet potatoey. They are so good.

But wait, there’s more. They have these humongous biscuits that are also so good. Believe me, the “Flying” version doesn’t compare.

P.S. Try their take on the Huevos Rancheros. It comes with both red and green salsa.

Read more from Gato’s biggest fan here.

Gato Bizco Cafe
1660 McLendon Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 371-0889
Call for hours — can’t remember if they’re closed on Mondays and/or Tuesdays.

Technorati Tags: L5P, Candler Park, breakfast, biscuits

I’ve visited countless of times. Really.

Craving for real Mexican food that’s really good? Well, there’s a place for that — Gorditas. Way out OTP. It’s been the only place on my rotation ever since the lovely Ms. Bliss took me there this past winter. Although the place is no longer in business (technically), the menu and the chef have moved to its sister restaurant next door. The food doesn’t taste exactly the same (especially when the original chef isn’t cooking) but it’s still great, nonetheless.

Tacos

Sope

Tostada

Special Burrito

Chilaquiles

Pambazo

Caldo de Res

Molcajete

Quesadilla

Things to note: tortillas are made in-house, fresh, daily. The Sopes are creations of perfection. Get the chicken. The Tostada is a close cousin to the sope and only differs in texture. The Special Burrito is topped with warm, gooey, creamy cheese (dip). The cabeza (head) and tripa (tripe) are both stellar, both seasoned very well with the cabeza being fork-tender and the tripe being very crunchy. Get it on tacos and burritos. The Chilaquiles are the best in town. Choose the red salsa. The Pambazo is a monstrous dish. The Caldo de Res (beef soup) is so hearty, perfect for a rainy day. The Molcajete (the kitchen sink) includes a variety of grilled meats (chicken, shrimp, chorizo, beef, pork), good enough for two, and a great way to try a bunch of different things. The Quesadilla isn’t your run-of-the-mill version with its housemade toasted tortilla.

Guess how many times I’ve been there? This much.

Gorditas La Rancherita
2055 Beaver Ruin Rd
Norcross, GA 30071
(678) 206-0107

Technorati Tags: Mexican, Norcross

I’ve tried arepas from different countries but the Colombian arepas are the best. Especially the chocolo ones — made with sweet corn. Then filled with white cheese. Addicting is an understatement. Obsession, yes. How many times have I eaten them? At least once a week. Lookie… each picture is unique and taken at different visits.

Did I mention they’re made in-house fresh daily?

Other notable items on the menu? The Bandeja Paisa is a good way to sample a bunch of things. If there’s one thing you need to finish off on the huge plate, it’s gotta be the crispy fried pork belly. Pork. Fried. Enough said. For a more savory arepa, try the Pechuga de Pollo En Salsa De Champiñones filled with delicious stir-fried meat and mushrooms. Or go for the Carne Asada Cerdo that comes with grilled pork atop a regular arepa oozing with melted chees.

Discover the arepa flavor you like. Go. Now.

Menu pics here.

Las Arepas de Julia
4044 Lawrenceville Hwy
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 559-4094

Technorati Tags: arepas, Julia, Colombian, Lilburn