There is a new chef in town and he is ready to rock and roll! Chef Stuart Tracy is back from a stint in Charleston and clearly happy to be home. At a recent media dinner, he regaled guests with some fantastic dinner deliciousness and I was lucky to be invited to participate. I hope the images below do justice but you must go visit him and check out what he has in store at Parish. Our evening included family style first course, entrees for the second accompanied by shareables and then family style dessert. We had a lovely Nicolas Potel , Macon Villages 2013 white and Jean Francois Merieau , Le Bois Jacou 2013 red wine keep us company for dinner and our desserts were ably partnered by Evolucio Tokaj Late Harvest, 2012 in the cutest ever dessert wine glasses I have seen in forever! My favorites of the night were pretty much anything with a nice juice/jus to the dish - which seems to be the chef's specialty. So if you try the heirloom tomato salad burrata with mint and grapefruit, the mussels in mustard saffron brother and fennel pollen, jumbo flounder or roasted chicken, you will know exactly what I am talking about. Missing from the pictures are the mussels and caramelized okra - disappeared too soon to get a picture in time!
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If you are local, you have probably driven past this building many times driving around Peachtree St and never thought to enter. Mainly because it looks like a sinister mansion with tall walls and no windows - and rightfully so. The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta wouldn't exactly pop up as a tourist attraction or a place you'd want to visit but it is free and open to the public - well, at least the museum part of it. The Visitors Center and Monetary Museum has exhibits to teach you about the Federal Reserve system and its role in the economy. Might sound like a good school field trip but it actually does have a lot of interesting information relayed in interactive formats. If the economy is something you like learning more about then you could spend a few hours in here. I happen dot have very little time to spare so could only do a quick walk around of the space. They do have a parking deck but parking on the street or other public decks in the area is easy. You will have to do a security check at the entrance and cannot take into the museum space any large bags and purses, or other carry-on items. You are allowed to keep your phone on you but cannot take calls or pictures. The museum itself has a nice flow to it and begins with an introduction to the US central banking systems and how monetary policy works. Each room gradually leads into the other so keeping track of the story flow is easy. The cash corridor talks about currency, notes, gold and coins. They also have an interactive money game to show you the flow of the economy. There is a short video you can view as well but the most exciting part for me, as well it will be for others I am guessing, was the room at the very end where you could view cash-processing. You can see employees and machines working to count and sort cash and screen for counterfeits. All that machinery is pretty impressive. And while at it, look upward at the ceiling and notice the number of cameras there - talk about a no-pressure job! This location is one of 12 regional Reserve Banks in the country to make up the central bank. If this sort of thing interests you then make sure you have at least an hour or two to spare. There are no restaurants here or gift shops. They do have restroom facilities though. I paired my visit here with my visit to the Margaret Mitchell House and lunch at Cafe Agora nearby. Spring is fantastic - not just for the weather but for all the fun new menu additions and creations in restaurants across the city! F&B Atlanta is one of my faves for French food, love their location and patio, but also Chef Haddad and his spectacular culinary offerings. Love the bouillabaisse here but he had a few new dishes in store for us at his Spring menu tasting event.Watch out! Chef Linda is one of my favorites. I have been to her restaurant several times and have recommended Cibo e Beve to many friends and colleagues. It isn't just about the food but also her personality - that she stops by tables to say hello and always has time for a friendly guest that wants to share their opinion about a meal she and her staff have cooked. Whether at home or in a restaurant, I believe a happy kitchen serves the best food, and Cibo e Beve is one among those. I was delighted to be invited to a Spring menu tasting event and Chef Linda went out of her way to share her latest culinary treats. Here's a glimpse! On one of my recent visits to areas OTP (outside the perimeter, Atlantans know!) to meet with a colleague. I decided to default to the Scoutmob app on my phone for some suggestions on venue. Cafe Chocolat caught my eye and that's where we met. They do have a noon opening so if you head there any earlier you will have to wait. I was pleasantly surprised by the decor and interiors - it had a DIY touch to it, nothing over the top, very minimal but stylishly so. I was pleased with my choice! They have ample parking and are just off the exit off the interstate. You expect it to be a French bistro but turns out it is an Asian tea place! Their claim to fame is their tea varieties and their chocolate fondue pots. Unexpected. I worked out of here during the day and it was one of the quieter places I've been to. If I am back in the area, I will check in here without a doubt. I enjoyed a hot chocolate, cheesecake and some ginger tea during my day there - everything was fantastic. I would have loved to try one of their fondue pots but lack of company to encourage such behavior ensured I did not indulge. Check out the pictures below and hope you will visit them sometime. |
10 year home!Atlanta GA was my home for my first ten years in the United States - the city has so much to offer :) Atlanta Travel & Tourism Guide from Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau Archives
January 2016
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