Tom Eats
Vingenzo’s: Char none
By Tom Maicon at May 16, 2009 | 4:29 pm | 2 Comments
The past couple months, there’s been a sauce-slinging pizza war between the Varasano faithful and Fritti fanatics. Terms such as “char” are now everyday vocabulary for once-upon-a-time (not so long ago) local pizza novices. So who does the better pie? Is it Enrico Liberato of Fritti with his flashy accent and wood-burning oven? Or is it the trash talking Jeff more...
Athens, GA: From fried chicken to banh mi
By Tom Maicon at May 13, 2009 | 4:24 pm | 0 Comment
Athens – When I attended The University of Georgia many, many drunken dawg barks ago, the football team was mediocre at best and there really wasn’t much of a restaurant scene to speak of, especially if it was ethnic fare you sought. But times are a changin' in bulldawg country. Not only is the football team winning a heck of a lot more games these days — the more...
Disconnect at New Orleans Connection
By Tom Maicon at April 23, 2009 | 4:23 pm | 0 Comment
Ever since Beyond the Bayou in Chamblee closed its doors, our city has experienced a major void for Cajun grub on the quick and cheap. Of course there’s always Gumbeaux’s, but let’s be honest, who in the real world considers Douglasville the Atlanta metro? And that drive could be considered anything but on the quick. A little closer to home, New Orleans more...
Spicy Thai bbq pork strips
By Tom Maicon at April 16, 2009 | 4:21 pm | 0 Comment
My beercentric neighbors recently inquired about Thai restaurants over a few hoppy beers and a funky, obscurely labeled, bottle of red wine. We live on the Westside. They like Spoon. I like Spoon, too. But I also like Siam Square (1995 Windy Hill, Marietta, Tel: 770.333.1700) — a lot. They all tilt their heads in bewilderment. “Where’s Siam more...
Hot Pot 101 Do-it-yourself-dining
By Tom Maicon at March 30, 2009 | 4:19 pm | 0 Comment
Melanie has a deep and abiding love for all annoying restaurants that require patron participation, especially those that are ethnic. Less than two hours after she learned that Dinho, now called Hot Pot 101 (5389-A New Peachtree Road, Chamblee, Tel: 770.458.9898), switched its concept to one of those goofy do-it-yourself hot pot deals, her butt was planted in a chair in more...
Varasano’s Pizzeria lives up to the hype
By Tom Maicon at March 25, 2009 | 4:16 pm | 0 Comment
Jeff Varasano is the hottest name in Atlanta these days. The hype surrounding his new restaurant Varasano’s Pizzeria (2171 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, Tel: 404.352.8216) is beyond anything I’ve ever witnessed in my seven years covering the local food scene. Varasano launched his unlikely fame through his popular website that teaches people how to make the more...
Fabulous hair but food lacks flair
By Tom Maicon at March 24, 2009 | 4:13 pm | 0 Comment
When I asked Melanie if she wanted to eat at Chef Paul’s new place for lunch, she happily replied, “The older guy with the hair?” Chef Paul Albrecht is perhaps the most respected chef in the city, and not just for his fabulous hair. Thinking back to the 80’s, parachute pants and Fast Times at Ridgemont High are close second memories — for me, anyway — more...
Posole goes mainstream
By Tom Maicon at March 10, 2009 | 4:12 pm | 0 Comment
Posole (also spelled pozole) is a traditional Mexican soup from the pacific coast region of Jalisco in west-central Mexico. True authentic offerings are made with pig’s head and cheap scraps — the ears are thought by many to be a fight-worthy delicacy. The broth is judiciously laced with carefully prepared chilies, fresh garlic and oregano, which lends an earthy, more...
Leon’s Full Service
By Tom Maicon at March 9, 2009 | 4:08 pm | 0 Comment
Think Brick Store Pub beer in every sense, from temperature-conscious storage to a proper pour. Combine that with local grass-fed burgers (White Oak Pastures) and strips of Benton’s bacon, and you’ve got Leon’s Full Service (131 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, Tel: 404.687.0500), a new concept by the owners of Brick Store Pub. Much to my surprise Leon’s more...
Hong Kong Supermarket
By Tom Maicon at February 22, 2009 | 4:01 pm | 0 Comment
The newly opened Hong Kong Supermarket (5495 Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Norcross) brings with it a food court offering up interesting ethnic fare. There is absolutely nothing fancy about it — the food is served over the counter at walk-up food stalls under a multilingual karaoke stage. During a recent visit I hit 4 impressive food stalls, which combined barely put a small more...
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