Cobb County Creole

2012 has actually been a pretty eventful year for Cajun and Creole cooking in Cobb County, with one new restaurant, one closure, and one reopening. Perhaps the first four months of every year are like this, and I only just happened to be paying attention this time out, but it seemed unusual to me. Continue reading “Cobb County Creole”

The Starlight Cafe, Marietta GA (CLOSED)

Growing up, I remember a restaurant on the Marietta Square called Jimmy the Greek. At the time, I was aware that CBS Sports had a commentator who went by that name. It’s not like ten or eleven year-olds pay that much attention to who provides commentary and picks before the games or the fights, but Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder (born, according to Wikipedia, Dimetrios Georgios Synodinos in Steubenville, Ohio in 1918) was so well-known that, like his peer at ABC, Howard Cosell, he was parodied on many of the sitcoms, variety shows and Saturday morning programs that I watched as a kid. And, as a kid, using child-logic, I concluded that the real Jimmy the Greek must have not only owned the restaurant by that name in Marietta, but also greeted guests and cooked all the food. I vaguely recall being disappointed to learn that was not the case. I really wanted to meet another celebrity. By the age of eleven, I think the only celebrities that I had ever met were behind tables at car shows. Continue reading “The Starlight Cafe, Marietta GA (CLOSED)”

Bloggers Invade Double Zero Napoletana

After we returned from our trip to Chattanooga, we had a day to relax and enjoy some delicious chicken that Marie cooked, and then the night after that, we joined the Atlanta Food Bloggers Society for a meeting of fun, shop talk, gossip, and learning more about food. This was our second meeting, and this time out, we met in Sandy Springs at Double Zero Napoletana for pizza and pasta. We were joined by Atlanta Etc., Atlanta Foodies, The Food and Me, Hot Dish Review, and Meals With Megan, and learned a little about one of our city’s most popular new restaurants. Continue reading “Bloggers Invade Double Zero Napoletana”

R Rice Wok Grill Sushi, Sandy Springs GA

One should acknowledge compliments, even the backhanded ones. Even the good-natured teasing, really. So it was that, a couple of months ago, our little blog ended up on Tom Maicon’s radar. Now, I freely admit that I do not know the first thing about sushi. I have never objected to it, and I have often enjoyed it a great deal, but I just don’t know what makes it good, or what I have done wrong by admitting that I like Ru San’s, which, in the circles of sushi snobs, is acting like the hillbilly at the fancy table jittering and wobbling before impatiently bellowing “Would ye please pass th’ jelly?” after waiting too long for the Polaner All-Fruit. Well, I don’t know what the issue is, because I used to date this girl who watched more Japanese cartoons than every single one of you, combined, and she liked Ru San’s just fine. Because, as everybody knows, liking Japanese cartoons a lot instantly makes you an expert on every facet of that nation’s culture, and gives you leave to do things like end your questions by saying “ja ne,” of course. Continue reading “R Rice Wok Grill Sushi, Sandy Springs GA”

Souper Jenny, Atlanta GA

My past is going down like dominoes. Two months ago, I found burritos at Bell Street that are almost as wonderful as the ones at the dearly missed Mean Bean, my all-time favorite restaurant. Two weeks ago, I stopped by Souper Jenny in Buckhead and had the best bowl of gazpacho that I have ever had, anywhere. This was even better than the Mean Bean’s gazpacho, against which all others are judged. Continue reading “Souper Jenny, Atlanta GA”

Papouli’s Gyros, Macon GA

When I was a cubicle farm dweller in Alpharetta, I would often head east on Windward Parkway and enjoy a really good lunch at Papouli’s. It’s located in a large and nice strip mall, where the restaurant failures are many, and cannot be counted on two hands. The supper traffic along this corridor is practically non-existent, so unless a manager can keep a number of big catering accounts or have a thriving after-work scene with drinks specials, their restaurant could be in trouble. Papouli’s has neither, but it still thrives. Continue reading “Papouli’s Gyros, Macon GA”