sublime doughnuts – atlanta, ga

so, i’ve got a mound of vacation days to use before the new year rolls around, so i recently took a week day off from work to let the computer and myself kick back and relax.  i thoroughly enjoy taking time off during the week in my town because it gives me a chance to explore and do things that don’t fit into my weekend schedule.

on the slate that day was a visit to my sister-in-law’s office, a hydra facial at phillip’s mom’s office, and then lunch with my man.  despite the strong desire to sleep in, i got my morning started so as not to waste the day.

with a little time to kill before meeting up with kari, a brilliant idea hit me like a ton of bricks:  get a quick bite at sublime doughnuts!  my dad had seriously told me about this place years ago, and my first visit was long overdue.  google maps directed me to 10th and hemphill, and after a few missed turns, i found a parking spot just for the kessie girl.

i had no idea what to expect but was delightfully surprised as i entered.  i think the word to describe it all would be happy.  the upholstered chairs and cheery colors are quite welcoming, and the staff reflected the atmosphere.  the ladies at the counter were helpful and pleasant and ready to answer my many questions.  they gave me the quick run-down of the selection, especially those that would travel well (i was going to birmingham that night with phillip to visit my parents and planned to bring a few back for them).  i picked out half a dozen with their help and showed myself to a table.

in a spot across from me was an employee who i assumed had to be the manager.  we chatted for a few minutes before he hopped up to help with the growing line of loyal (and maybe new) patrons.  if i’d had a bit more time to spare, i surely would have talked off his ear.  i don’t at all doubt he would have been fun to interview.  next time!

with a sweet tooth like mine, i knew something chocolate-y was in order, so i bit into one of the a-town creams.  every bite of this doughnut was perfectly balanced, from the flavorful dough to the subtle chocolate to the rich and decadent cream filling.  despite how i’m describing it, you should know that it isn’t at all too sweet.

i easily could have had another, but i refrained.  i didn’t want these strangers thinking i was a total junk food addict.  speaking of junk food, did you ever read the berenstain bears as a child?  i vividly remember the one titled junk food, the words in big, bulbous purple letters on the yellow cover as papa bear, brother bear, and sister bear gorged themselves on candies and chips.  oh, and we cannot forget mama bear, looking on in disdain and disgust.  does it mean something that i so clearly recall this specific adventure of the bear family?  probably so, but until those subconscious realizations surface, i’ll obliviously carry on in life.  join me, won’t you?

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as i headed out, i thanked the manager kindly for the exceptional service and delectable treats.  “you’ve made the start of my day a great one,” i said.

“well,” he replied, “it’s all about spreading the doughnut love.”

nicely put!

the next day in birmingham we had the rest of the half dozen for breakfast.  mm, nutritious!  mom and dad loved the caramel apple fritter.  i had a nibble of the orange dream star that was utterly divine, and phillip practically was doing backflips after enjoying the reese’s peanut butter cup doughnut.

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all in all, i’m extremely glad i finally made a visit to sublime doughnuts.  the place and its staff are so genuine that you’ll have a hard time walking out of there without a smile on your face.  🙂

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pho king – atlanta, ga

is it just me, or has it been nearly a lifetime since we did a restaurant review?  you’re absolutely correct, my dear.  the last spot we wrote about was the infamous guest blog by my father for bone garden cantina back in july, so, yes!  it’s been too long!  i decided to finally put an end to the madness, which is how we found ourselves last week at pho king just a few miles down peachtree.

phillip <3s pho!

phillip

for whatever reason, i’d been craving vermicelli desperately, so it’s no surprise what i would end up ordering.  however, no one else at the table except kyle and i had enjoyed vietnamese cuisine before that night, which means there was lots of fun in store.

as everyone flipped back and forth among the menu’s pages, i took in the atmosphere around me.  pho king looks like a small new york joint from outside, but you’ll actually find some decent seating once you walk through the front doors.  although i felt a bit cramped between kyle and alison, it could have just been the 20 million plates and bowls that would come to crowd me.  sure, we’ll go with that.

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however, that argument may be hard to make when your big brother is all up in your grill.  hey, bro!

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after i looked at the picture and had my fill of laughs, the classic song “private eyes” came to mind right away.  you’re welcome.

meanwhile, kari, phillip, and nathan were just whoopin’ it up on the other side of the table.  those little troublemakers.  🙂

okay, okay, enough about us (even though i could go on for days), let’s talk food.  first out were the eggrolls and soup.  we all started with something, and as far as the pho is considered, i think the general consensus is that it was a hit and that the bowls were quite large, even the small size!

phillip and i had a small bowl of the pho with brisket.  it came out piping hot and very delicious.  when i inevitably catch my first cold of the winter season, a big bowl of pho just might be the ticket to make me feel better.

p3 - pho with brisket.

p3 – pho with brisket.

kyle’s pho with round steak looked like a renegade after he topped it with fresh jalapenos.  this trooper, though?  he ate the whole bowl and then enjoyed some leftovers that the others of us had.  get it, son!

across and to my right, nathan had the fried rice with marinated tenderloin beef chunks, which was highly recommended to him by our waitress as the best meal on the menu.  it would turn out that there was truth in her statement:  nathan ate up every morsel!  not only did he say he’d get it again, he said, with much enthusiasm, that it was ridiculously good.

across from him and to my immediate right, nathan’s lovely wife alison went with the grilled pork rice plate and thoroughly enjoyed it.  she was a member of the clean plate club that night, no questions about it!

i only got a shot of the aftermath. whoopsies!

i only got a shot of the aftermath. whoopsies!

on my other side, kari tackled a small bowl of the chicken pho, number p7, along with a couple of fried eggrolls, item a2.  i didn’t really get a review from her, but she seemed to like dining out on something a bit different, and i bet with enough persuasion i could convince her to come back.  hehehe, let the planning begin!

across from me, my sweetheart phillip chowed down on menu item r3, the grilled chicken rice plate.  the rice only needed a splash of soy sauce to perfectly accompany the well-cooked and well-seasoned chicken.  although those chicken breasts may not have looked like much, i promise you they filled phillip to the brim.

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and now, the moment you have all been waiting for, my review!  okay, i know you haven’t been waiting, but i just have to talk about my experience!  let me first get something off my chest:  when i say i love vietnamese food, that really means that i’ve only ever had vermicelli and have been hopelessly devoted to the stuff from the first time i ate it.  my heart will forever be held by this irresistible rice noodle dish, no doubt about it.  the vermicelli here at pho king is on point, a very large and satisfying serving of which i almost ate every chopstick-ful (thank you for letting me make up that word right now).  the grilled pork was to die for, although i did miss the eggroll that the menu said should have come with it.  besides that, each ingredient was complementary to the others, and i spent the better portion of dinner with my face buried in my bowl as i slurped up each bite.

after paying the checks, we rolled out with satisfied, and very full, bellies.  to be honest, there’s absolutely no reason to not come back to pho king, and when the yearning for rice noodles strikes again, you’ll know where to find me.

vegetarian chili – slow cooker style

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it felt like phillip and i had done an awful lot of eating out lately, so last week i let the crock pot whip up my new favorite dish:  vegetarian chili with sweet potato.  the recipe comes from the always trustworthy real simple.  yes, they did it again with a hearty meal full of deep flavors and rich in nutrients.  well, it was rich in nutrients until i suffocated my bowl with a mound of shredded cheddar cheese and a generous dollop of sour cream.  no judging!

but really, this one is a keeper for sure, and with the cooler months making a delicate entrance this season, i’m betting it will be a repeat before too long.

#dailyselfie – popcorn addict?

a couple weeks ago a bunch of us from work went out on lake lanier for one last summer hoorah.  although the day started out overcast, it cleared up just enough so that we could splash around in the water and get a little sun on our cheeks.  john and his lovely wife amy cooked us an amazing low country boil with sausage, potatoes, shrimp, the whole shebang!  of course, though, there were appetizers and snacks, and it was while i was sipping on my second yuengling that i had my first handful of g.h. cretors popcorn.  maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the cool breeze, or maybe it was the fact that i wasn’t working.  whatever it was, i fell in love with that stuff right then and there.  the cheese pieces aren’t overpowering, and the caramel bites are crunchy and sweet.

now, i probably don’t need a 1 lb 10 oz bag of the stuff, but my coworker greg bought it from costco, so what else would i expect?  perfectly portioned bags?  puh!  nonsense, i tell you!  i shared a few bowls with folks today while i was in the office, but i don’t expect it to last long once it’s at home with me, where i can feast on junk food in the privacy of my own living room while watching the premiere of the latest season of survivor in my sweatpants.  you know you’re jealous!

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birthday getaway, west coast style

a few weeks ago phillip and i traveled to the great state of california to celebrate my birthday with extended family.  phillip has visited places near and far, but this trip was his first to the golden state.  ah, what a thrill!  to share such special things with him made our vacation that much better.  he couldn’t get enough of the weather and coastlines, and as such, he was the official picture taker of the weekend.  i may have also secretly deemed him the official picture taker of all events, but let’s keep that between you and me.  😉

i knew we’d want to share some of the trip’s excitement with you, but i also didn’t want to spend my birthday vacation with my head down in my journal in an attempt to capture every emotion of each moment.  so with that, we give you the highlights of our adventure as told through pictures.  enjoy!

day 1:  joy that we are going on vacation, misery after a rough flight, and phillip’s first in-n-out experience at nearly one a.m. pacific time.

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bone garden cantina – atlanta, ga

Hello, all.  Due to Kelsey’s meeting with FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland, she has graciously allowed me to be, for the first time ever, a “guest blogger” for the review of Bone Garden Cantina in Atlanta.  This is Kelsey’s Dad; she has mentioned me in prior blogs, so I hope you will like and enjoy this review.

First of all, guilty as charged, this blog/review will be written from a guy’s perspective.  In addition, I have worked at Saks Fifth Avenue in Ladies’ Shoes, so I am uniquely qualified to see, understand, and comment on the male and female perspective.  Also, I love clarity, so I will let you know what to expect, what not to expect, etc…

From purely a food perspective, on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best, I would put Bone Garden at a 9.  Bone Garden is definitely worth the drive.  On the menu there are some “plates/combos,” but most of the menu is a la carte.  Portions are of good size, but 2 a la carte items would be a filling meal.

As Kelsey knows, I love things in chronological order, so following will be a step-by-step, comment-by-comment review.

Location.  In Atlanta off of I-75, a bit of a challenge to find but worth the drive.  Sidebar, as Kelsey knows, I am “technically challenge,” so she found and wrote the directions to Bone Garden.  Also, if there were a Mount Rushmore for both being “off the radar” and “king of conspiracies,” I would be on them both.  Kelsey can tell you of my mistrust of online banking, the Internet, GPS, etc…  Regarding conspiracies, the Kennedy assassination, Oswald did not act alone.  Watergate, classic example of the federal government not telling the truth.  You have probably seen this all over:  it’s not so much the crime but the cover-up.  Whatever, Bone Garden is worth the drive – get there.

Wait Staff.  ASK FOR KATIE.  If needed, mention my name.  She’s witty, charming, knows the menu, knows her tequila.  ASK FOR KATIE.

Victoria and Katie.

Victoria and Katie.

Seating.  This is important for me.  I am 6’4″ and asked for a table, not a booth.  The staff happily accommodated us.  Reason for table vs. booth?  Easy, I like to stretch my legs.

Atmosphere #1.  This is important.  Bone Garden has concrete floors.  Very loud.  Sound bounces everywhere.  If you are looking for a quiet, intimate dinner, DO NOT GO HERE.  Guys, on the other hand, if you want to have a great Mexican dinner and not hear what the others are saying, go here.

Atmosphere #2.  Guys, this is important.  Ladies, if a guy takes you here, this is what to expect.  Guys, if the girl has a great sense of humor, likes to drink, this is the place for you.  If she does not have a sense of humor, do not take her here.  If she DOES have a sense of humor, you’ll love this place.  Eat, drink, do not order from the dessert menu at the restaurant, get on I-75 ,the fast lane…you get the picture.  If she DOES NOT have a sense of humor or is high maintenance, eat, drink lots, do not order from the dessert menu at the restaurant, get on I-75, drop her off and say good night, go back to Bone Garden…you get the picture.

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House Rules.  I loved this.  On the menu there is a set of “house rules,” great stuff.  Kind of like ordering soup from the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld.

Wait Staff.  Did I mention to ask for Katie?

Ordering.  We ordered three different items.  Victoria ordered the Mole Plate:  two seasoned enchiladas topped with chihuahua cheese, homemade green mole sauce, fresh avocado flown in from California, tomatoes, queso fresco, Spanish rice, and refried beans.  Yummo!  The chicken enchiladas are great.  I had 2 a la carte items.  #1, taco, barbacoa de chive, slow braised goat, topped with onion and salsa verde.  It was just OK, would not order again, would rather try other items on the menu.  #2, tamale, Puerco Azteca, corn masa filled with free-range pork and onion, steamed in a banana leaf and served with salsa verde.  THIS WAS FANTASTIC.  Order it.  I will definitely order this again.  Yummo!

Wait Staff.  Did I mention to ask for Katie?

Summary.  I would DEFINITELY go to Bone Garden again.  As long as you understand Atmosphere #1 and #2 outlined above, you and your guest will have a terrific time.

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As Kelsey has mentioned in prior blogs, I am the guy who would prefer the Silver Skillet vs. Buttermilk Kitchen.  That pretty much says it all.  In my book, Bone Garden Cantina is a definite “home run!”

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#dailyselfie: master painters!

with my weekend kind of wide open, i made some plans with my sister-in-law kari yesterday.  after working up a sweat with her at pure barre that morning and then grabbing some oatmeal and chicken salad at cafe jonah and the magical attic, we drove on over to amsterdam walk to scratch our creativity itch at dip ‘n dab.

i had been to a similar place a few times before, and since i always seem to have a good time, i figured it’d be a fun way to get out and do something a bit different.  this was kari’s first painting and drinking experience, so i was excited to have her join me.

first things first (after getting our aprons and canvases, of course) was to pour the wine!  last night’s class was an adult-only event, so bottles were being popped all around the room.  we started with some cabernet sauvignon, keeping it ultra classy with my eskimo joe’s cups.  don’t want to be breaking any glasses!

sisters-in-law!

sisters-in-law!

next we needed the paint so that we could actually make something beautiful.  a little white, brown, yellow, pink, red, and black ought to do it!

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as we waited for everyone else to get settled, we busted open the groceries we’d picked up at publix before we arrived.  a little gouda, brie, proscuitto, salami, and sopressata paired well with our carr’s crackers and baguette.  this night would be quite an occasion!

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we eventually got started with our brushes and paints since, you know, that’s why we were actually there.  first up was a tall, skinny pink bottle on the left.  beautiful!

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now, we didn’t want it feeling lonely, so we added a tipsy plum bottle to keep the pink bottle company.

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and then, because everything is better in threes, a large purple bottle joined the crowd.  mine was a little genie-in-a-bottle-esque, but hey, diversity is a beautiful thing!

we painted a few more background bottles, and in between color mixing, wine drinking, and food eating, we enjoyed some wonderful slow jams from the jukebox.  okay, it wasn’t a jukebox; it was probably just someone’s ipod or spotify playlist, but regardless, we were bumping along to some smooth tunes all night long!

a little bit later we had six lovely bottles set on a dramatic red background.  ooh, how inspiring!

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by about this time my color palette was looking quite, shall i say it, artsy?  i was a mixing machine, purples of multiple shades and a lovely salmon/peach.  mm, get it girl!

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as the night wore on, we got closer and closer to the final product.  a little outlining and corking and we were nearly there!

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kari poured out the last drop of pinot noir (did i mention we’d opened another bottle…?) to finish out the night.  we got in the zone to put on the finishing touches and voila!  two beautiful lively bottles paintings were right there before us!  it’s like it was magic or something!

we were proud artists that night, glad to take home something we created ourselves but even happier to spend some quality time together.  with all the distraction in the world these days, sometimes it’s nice to just grab a glass of wine, some paint, and a brush and enjoy a creative and crafty evening.

naanstop – atlanta, ga

recently for nrw we wanted to keep things a little bit more casual, and as i drove home from disco kroger that sunday before, my eyes glanced left at the intersection of piedmont and lenox and there, right before me, was exactly where we would go that week:  naanstop.

i’d been dying to go there ever since they opened last year, and considering kyle, kari, and clark had already been and didn’t mind going back, it seemed like it’d be a win.  phillip and i met kyle and kari there at 7:30 sharp, and since it was still light out, i insisted we take a picture in front of the sign.  perfection!

striking a pose!

striking a pose!

clark had described naanstop as an indian chipotle, and as phillip held the door open for me and i walked in, i realized he was exactly right.

first, get in line.

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next, pick if you want a wrap, bowl, or salad.

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then decide what your filling will be.  so many good things, how can we choose just one?!

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finally, pick your chutney.  it’s really a sauce/dressing to top your selections.  get crazy!  heck, if they’ll allow it, maybe mix and match.

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at last you can choose some sides and drinks.  per kyle and kari’s recommendation, we ordered some garlic naan, a great carbohydrate supplement to what would end up being a great meal.

we grabbed a table, and as i took a look at everyone’s meals, i was excited to dig into my kabob bowl with basmati rice, onions, peppers, spinach, and cool chutney.  the meat was tender and juicy, and the cool chutney was a classic choice that didn’t overpower the rest of the bowl.  i would gladly order it again, but i would probably ask for double spinach.  can’t get enough of those leafy greens!

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next to me, phillip had a lamb naanwich on garlic naan with peppers, onions, spinach, and sweet chutney.  he started ripping the foil off in ravenous fashion when i stopped him just in time.  “phillip, the sign said not to unwrap it!”  and sure enough, he just started laughing at himself because not five minutes earlier he had taken a picture of the very sign that tells you not to unwrap the naanwich but rather to just peel the foil off as you eat.  silly boy!

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yes, that’s more like it.  🙂

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across from me, now, kyle had what i think might have been my favorite bite of the night:  the regular samosa.  i took one taste and couldn’t stop myself from saying, “ooh, baby, that is the stuff.”  the flavors were so wonderful and the pastry so flaky that it wasn’t until a few minutes later i finally realized why i loved it so much; it reminded me exactly of the green thai curry pie at panbury’s.  as i was sitting there thinking about panbury’s and savoring the eats of my first naanstop experience, i was in food heaven.

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at naanstop they’ve got a lot going for them.  besides a simple concept, the food is quite fresh and handmade, things that make me feel much better about eating out rather than sweating like a wildebeest in my tiny, hot kitchen making dinner.

the only thing i ask naanstop work on before i return?  that water dispenser at the soda fountain!  it was taking its sweet time, a slight inconvenience for thirsty patrons.

#dailyselfie: cheez-it mania

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ever since i was a young girl, cheez-its were my go-to cheese cracker snack.  no, cheese nips would never do.  don’t you even dare to call them an acceptable substitute!  my obsession really took hold in my college years when i actually bought my own groceries and food.  yep, there was no one there in aisle 6 of the east side kroger in athens to keep me from buying the family size box of cheez-its.  and what’s worse is that no one even seemed to care!  should it be normal for a young woman to eat that entire box herself in a single sitting?  no, absolutely not, but that didn’t stop me from doing it.  it didn’t help that my very first roommate ellen essie was an elite enabler.  we would spend our friday nights laughing on our lofted beds, chomping down on cheez-its, and then falling asleep with all of the lights burning bright.

i wish i could say my passion for cheez-its came to an end along with my college years, but in fact, it did not.  i think, if it’s possible, it might have even grown!  my pantry was never without them, and sometimes there were multiple boxes if publix was having a bogo sale.  it’s like they knew i was going shopping on those days.  i wouldn’t even wait until a box was empty to buy more, for i never wanted to be without them.  in fact, i loved cheez-its so much that my first tweet ever was about how i eat cheez-its in three’s.  one at a time?  nope.  how about two?  not for me, sir.  three cheez-its at once are the perfect bite, and even before i’m done chewing a handful i’m reaching back into the box for more.

as i began traveling regularly for work, the cheez-it buying frenzies were fewer and farther between my local grocer visits.  in fact, the box you see in the picture above is the first one i’ve bought in months.  now, i don’t want cheez-its thinking they’ve done anything wrong.  i still love their commercials and that bright red box, but sometimes your heart grows fonder when there’s a little distance.  i still love this cheesy, salty snack with all my heart’s might and do, too, believe that real cheese matters.

p.s.  i know this picture technically isn’t a selfie, but i still think it’s worthy of the #dailyseflie tradition!