Personally I look at life as the time from one culinary experience to another. Entrees are like the special people we meet in our lives. Each one unique and each experience, an opportunity to learn something new about ourselves and how our sense of taste interacts with all of the earth's wonderful flavors. The way most people think about money and sex, I think about take out. Lucky for me, I happen to live in Decatur. In Georgia, when it comes to eating there is a 10 mile radius (includes Decatur, VA-Highlands, Inman Park, Candler Park and Little 5 Points) and then there is everywhere else.
For instance, many people eat the same thing for breakfast... even prepared the same way. Not I. Instead I often go to sleep dreaming of the homemade cathead biscuits, chocolate covered mice and sticky buns that I can only find at Pastries a-go-go. Other times I find myself imaging the chilaquiles con huevos from La Kermex with eggs over medium and homemade salsa verde. Other times I am craving a biscuit and bean cakes from the flying biscuit and those times nothing but the eggsceptional breakfast will do. Of course Radial's excellent coffee and burrito de huevo is worthy of my affections. For brunch the Eggs Benedict from Joli Kobe is simply unequaled (unfortunately this chef walked out on them). For a truly organic experience, Belly general store (in the highlands) offers a truly unique assortment of gourmet treats... everything from chicken salad to fresh squeezed fruit and veggie juices, plus prepared entrees such as the mole scramble taco. But Belly's cupcakes (usually made around 11) and excellent coffee make this place worth the drive for me. Thumbs up diner used to be located in downtown Decatur and then moved to Inman Park. I still love it though. Their excellent omlettes and stone ground grits make this place special and their whole wheat biscuits are the icing on the cake. In the former location of Thumbs Up, Crescent Moon has become a mainstay for a greasy spoon breakfast. While it is not as good as Thumbs Up, their breakfast heap is officially the most dense food item ever stuffed into one take out box.
Man cannot live on breakfast alone though. Unfortunately many of us are trapped in one or two neighborhoods by where we work. But even being in Norcross, I have managed to fall in love time and time again. Perhaps the most unique and carefully prepared food I have found can be had at Silvia's Pastry. Although the place is a takeout pastry shop (and the pastries are great) the hot entrees (like a taqueria menu) are absolutely incredible. Aside from the homemade corn tortilla's (made to order) the mole chicken falls off the bone and the mole sauce is the best in town (made with just the right amount of chocolate). Also worth mentioning is the Consomme de barbacoa with brisket. Sia's looks like the kind of place that looks like you'd need a better job and reservations to eat there, but surprisingly it is a good deal and easy to get in to for lunch. The menu there has a little bit of everything, but if you are adventurous, the business man's special is just what the doctor ordered. Each day a different soup and two entrees and served up for under $15. For example, you might get a bowl of Lobster Bisque (which is superb there), Sashimi Tuna, and roast duck on a bed of risotto. Down to the road from Sia's you will find Atlanta's best tapas place, Barcelona. What makes this place unique is some of the wonderful preparation of tapas such as duck breast prosciutto. What really makes a meal here memorable is their incredible homemade salad dressings. In the forum shopping center, you will find J.Alexander's they have good Tortilla soup once per week, plus a few decent salads in the rotation, and of course the warm honey croissants which may ruin your appetite, but they will keep you coming back. For sushi there are a number of decent places in the Norcross area, but the best 'bang for the buck' is the sushi / sashimi lunchbox specials at the Yakatori Grill. Their sushi chef George also manages to liven up an otherwise hum drum menu with his excellent and unique assortment of rolls such as the spicy tuna entree, the double-it-up roll. For gourmet fare (aside from Sia's) Grace 17:20 offers those of us trapped in Norcross some very tempting and eclectic menu choices. Though some combinations seem to have gone awry, others are truly memorable such as their exceptional chicken salad.
Well suddenly I find myself overcome with hunger... stayed tuned for my next entry: "Dinners I dream of." Happy Holidays!
