Shrimp Boats: The Story of a Shipwreck and its Survivors

(Second edition, Sept, 2015)

One of the most fun elements of our hobby has been researching long-lost southeastern restaurant chains. It’s comparatively easy to get a little backstory about a single business, but the story can become much more convoluted and fascinating when we’re digging into the past for little traces of what’s left when something distinctive and fun is trying to vanish. We’ve enjoyed learning about the story of Zesto in Atlanta and Columbia, and really loved tracking down what we found about Kay’s, Kay’s Kastles, and Ice Castle. Continue reading “Shrimp Boats: The Story of a Shipwreck and its Survivors” →

Familiar Flavors in Different Locations, Macon GA

Late last month, Marie and I took another short trip to Macon to meet her mother and let Marie drive her the rest of the way into the traffic and sprawl of Atlanta. This gave us another chance to quickly visit a couple of places before those two went home, leaving me the chance to mosey on home at my own darn speed. Continue reading “Familiar Flavors in Different Locations, Macon GA” →

Oli + Ve, Vinings GA

This is Marie, contributing an article about specialty oil and vinegar from Oli + Ve (pronounced Ollie and Vee), http://www.oliandve.com/ There is no actual person named Ollie or Vee, they’re just the halves of the word Olive, which became the names of two cute cartoon characters in the logo. We were there for National Vinegar Day so of course the vinegars were emphasized, but olive oil and vinegar really do best when served together. Continue reading “Oli + Ve, Vinings GA” →

Sobban, Decatur GA (CLOSED)

I’ll cut straight to the point: Jiyeon Lee and Cody Taylor have opened another restaurant called Sobban, and, like their first, the mighty Heirloom Market Bar-B-Que, they are serving very good food that has a huge crowd of curious and impatient diners in far too small a space. I was mostly very pleased with our experience, but then again, I seem to tolerate the October cold better than some do. Continue reading “Sobban, Decatur GA (CLOSED)” →

Tostones Latin Cafe, Doraville GA (CLOSED)

This is Marie, contributing an article about Tostones Latin Cafe, a Carribean/Latin American style restaurant on Buford Highway. Strictly speaking, tostones are pounded fried plantains. This restaurant tops those with meat (chorizo, chicken, steak, etc.) and other ingredients. We were contrary and didn’t have any. Continue reading “Tostones Latin Cafe, Doraville GA (CLOSED)” →

Peace, Love and Pizza, Woodstock GA

Hmmm. A tricky subject, this one. A while back, I wrote about this place’s original location in Kennesaw and praised the really excellent pizza. I also, playfully I thought, teased the business on their design, made up principally from dorm room Hendrix posters, and got a barrel of buckshot from the business’s owner for my cheek. You wouldn’t think that a deeply silly chapter that evoked the omnipresent “Hey man! Is that Freedom Rock?!” TV ads of the late eighties would aggravate anybody, but some people are touchy. Suffice it to say that subsequent trips to Kennesaw to pick up their excellent pies were done very quietly, lest our cover be blown. Continue reading “Peace, Love and Pizza, Woodstock GA” →

Wyatt’s Country Bar-B-Que, Atlanta GA

For the past eleven years, Wyatt’s has defined the word “ramshackle.” This colorful shack looked like it was about to fall down when the restaurant opened in 2002, but it houses some wonderful and friendly people and some very good, and very interesting, barbecue. It’s on Memorial Drive, about three miles east of the better-known Daddy D’z, and near Ann’s Snack Bar. Continue reading “Wyatt’s Country Bar-B-Que, Atlanta GA” →