Beef Jerky Bar???

Wandered into Biltong Bar at Ponce City Market recently and was very surprised/excited/impressed. This South African snacks bar has great ambiance with huge windows and bar seating overlooking Ponce and part of the Beltine.  Great music selection and craft cocktail menu.  Perfect place to unwind and have a "Something Something DANGER ZONE" or a "See You Space Cowboy".  Check out the beef jerky menu and definitely have the red bean hummus!

http://biltong-bar.com/

Address: Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE ne152, Atlanta, GA 30308

Phone: (678) 515-0620

Crawfish Boil

This sounds like fun...a tad expensive but fun nonetheless.  New Orleans fans will approve.  Serpas is having a crawfish boil.  Details here:

Get Your Tickets Now for Our  Annual Crawfish Boil! Don't miss out on some good old-fashioned bayou fun! Chef Scott's annual Crawfish Boil returns to the Old Fourth Ward on Saturday, May 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and there are still tickets available! Tickets include: All-you-can-eat crawfish with corn & potatoes Jambalaya Potato salad Georgia strawberry cake One drink of choice (Abita Beer or specialty cocktail) Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased here.

Located at The Pavilion at Studioplex in the Old Fourth Ward historic district 659 Auburn Avenue Atlanta, GA 30312 404.688.0040 serpasrestaurant.com

Rock N' Roll Wine Dinner

Two Urban Licks is having it's 9th Annual Rock N' Roll Wine Dinner. I didn't even know there were 8 other ones before that, but could be worth checking out. Details for now are here:

Atlanta's most rockin' wine dinner is just around the corner! 

When: 

Tuesday, March 29th, 2016 

Where: 

TWO urban licks 

820 Ralph McGill Blvd. 

Atlanta, GA 30306 

404.522.4622 

Theme: 

'Women of Rock' 

Ticonderoga Club is launching brunch service this weekend

The Krog Street Market restaurant will be serving from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.  The "Yoga Pants" is looking pretty tasty.

A peak at the menu:

Ticonderoga Club
99 Krog Street NE, Suite W, Atlanta, GA 30307

Atlanta's First BeltLine Hotel

Set to open Labor Day of 2017, Atlanta will have an 140 room boutique hotel in Old Fourth Ward.  No hotel brand has been associated with it yet and I am anxious to see what that will be to determine what type of restaurants will be placed inside.  The hotel will be modeled after hotels in the New York Meatpacking District.  The artist's rendering makes it look a little bland but you had me at "rooftop bar".  

Full article here

Ticonderoga Club at Krog Street Market

Online it is billed as “Colonial era–inspired tavern serving seafood, sandwiches & craft cocktails at Krog Street Market”.  I found out Ticonderoga is a town and tourist attraction in upstate New York.  Inside the new Atlanta restaurant, I felt like I was in a bunker.  Not a fan of the décor.  Maybe they were trying to go with an exclusive members-only vibe.  I DO have to say the food and service were awesome though!  Our server was so attentive and nice.  We loved that we were able to have a yummy AND healthy meal.  It is located in the corner of the market between The Luminary and Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams.  Note:  They do not take reservations and are not open on Wednesdays.

My friend and I split:

Butternut Squash Salad (kinda like a Thai salad!)

Cured Salmon Spring Roll (kinda like sashimi!)

Vegan Noodle Bowl

Full menu here:  ticonderogaclub.com

Great Deal at Spice to Table

Spice to Table is a wonderful Indian restaurant in Old 4th Ward and they are featuring a great deal on Scout Mob ($26 for 2 people!).  Owner Asha Gomez is also a James Beard Award winner.  Here are more details:

Spice to Table Presents: An Indian Feast for Two by Chef Asha Gomez

We’d be hard-pressed to find a more exuberant culinary master than Chef Asha Gomez. With this feast for two at her very own spot, she plans to spread the love through every course – from your first sip of chai to your final bite of her signature fried chicken. (They don’t call it the joy of cooking for nothing, after all.)

WHAT TO EXPECT

• An Indian meal for two at Chef Asha Gomez's outpost in Old 4th Ward, Spice to Table
• Two chai teas to warm you up
• Two of Asha's famous samosas
• Two entrees of your choice from a menu of spicy, savory, and complex dishes

SCOUT NOTES

Ever since we had our first tastes of Asha Gomez’s cooking in a certain cozily clandestine supper club years ago, we’ve been hooked. Since then, we’ve followed her culinary climb like devotees – from her beloved underground Spice Route dinner parties, to their brick and mortar leap at Cardamom Hill, the opening of the Third Space, to their most recent evolution at Spice to Table. And we weren’t the only ones to become smitten with her passion for Kerala cuisine and the flavors of South India: her nomination from the James Beard Awards and a tip of the hat from Bon Appetit were proof in the pudding.

ScoutMob Deal here

Sneak Peek Inside The Mercury's menu

                                         

The Mercury just opened at Ponce City Market and is the largest restaurant thus far. It is located on the 2nd floor. The Mercury was started by The Pinewood's Mike Blydenstein, Brooks Cloud, and Julian Goglia. Julian recently won an Atlanta Eater Bartender of the Year award so you know the cocktails are going to be good. I am generally too impatient for "Mixologist" cocktails but I sure do love the "Goonies Never Die" cocktail at The Pinewood. Interestingly enough, the menu consists of a large steak offering, something that InTown hasn't seen in a while. Porterhouse for 2 anyone?

"From the Sea Platter"
Menu Here:  http://themercuryatl.com/menu/

Best Place to see Santa in Atlanta

After going to a few malls around town I have to say I really like the Ponce City Market Santa setting.  There was no line, no cost and the Elves were really "giving it their all".   They stayed in character the whole time.  I like their retro makeup and lit up hover boards as well.   Stop by and check them out.  Another tip:  parking is free for 30 minutes in a designated spot.  

Last Word in Inman Park/ Old 4th Ward

                               

Last Word is a cute spot on the corner of Sampson and Highland Avenue that has cocktails and food with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences.  They have a yummy glass of Sancerre and a great tagliatelle pasta with mushrooms.  I also just realized they have a happy hour special, which is even more of a reason to stop by and see them:

Last Word Classic Cocktail Hour

Tuesday-Saturday 5:30-7pm

Last Word is excited to announce our new Classic Cocktail Hour, Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30pm to 7pm. We will offer a rotating menu of our favorite classic cocktails, along with an assortment of bar snacks from the kitchen to go with them. The cocktails will be priced at a very retro $6 apiece.

Website:  http://lastwordatl.com/

Atlanta Fun Events Happening This Weekend

Some great events In Town if the weather holds up!

Flux Night:  Formerly in Castleberry Hill, now in Old 4th Ward.  Saturday 7 pm-12 am.  "Atlanta’s largest outdoor public art gallery"

Chomp & Stomp:  Saturday 11 am.  Our Lucky 13th Year of Chili, Bluegrass, and Beer! All proceeds go to maintain our Cabbagetown parks and community center. Y'all come!

chompandstomp.com

Crafts & Drafts:  Sunday Candler Park 1 pm.  FREE! Creative Loafing's inaugural Crafts & Drafts is a curated exhibition and sale of local handmade arts and crafts. In addition to y'all's fancy crafts, the fest will also showcase a tasty selection of local craft beers. Oh yeah, and it's free. Oh yeah, and it's all ages, so bring the kids! We're also planning on having the Falcons' game on so you can't use that as an excuse not to make it out! http://clatl.com/craftsanddrafts

This year's fest features 50 local craft makers - from crayon art to doggie bowties - and 5 local breweries: Red Brick Brewing, Orpheus Brewing, Dry County Brewing Company, Reformation Brewery, and Second Self Beer Company. 16 oz of cold local brew means you'll need food, so we've gotJust Loaf'n Poboys & Snoballs Truck, Chill Factory, and Meatballerz for your sustenence needs. Bring the dogs, bring the kids!

***If it rains go to The High Museum then hit up the Lowe's salad bar at Saltwood.  Current exhibit:  Be among the first to see Iris van Herpen: Transforming Fashion—the High's first fashion exhibition and the first major U.S. exhibition of work by visionary Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen

Good news at Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall

As an "Intowner" I love anything on The Beltline.  I was so excited to see this place open because you can bike there, it's close and they allow dogs on the patio.  It's located on John Wesley Dobbs which is a side street off of Sampson.  It's walking distance from Krog Street Market.  The service and food needed some kinks worked out.  Well I am happy to report I finally had a yummy meal here!   Check these out sometime (highlighted straight from the menu):  
smoked bbq wings / served with blue cheese
spinach & crispy ham / pine street ham, candied nuts, imperial blue, white balsamic
roasted cauliflower / artichoke heart, marcona almonds, beet puree
patatas bravas / smashed potatoes, cayenne, smoked paprika, creme fraiche

BTW Large TV at the bar for football fans

Miso Izakaya

Love this place!  Located in Old Fourth Ward (O4W) this sushi restaurant is probably my favorite in town.  It's usually hard to get in and that's a great sign.  Don't confuse it with Craft Izakaya close by.  "Izakaya" is a Japanese name meaning "a type of informal Japanese drinking establishment that serves food to accompany the drinks." Located at 619 Edgewood Avenue close to the Beltline and Ammaza Pizza.  There is a parking lot next to it that usually has spots.  No valet too.  Absolute favorite things on the menu:  Soft shell crab BLT buns, Shoyu Tamago (soy marinated soft boiled egg over crispy rice) and the salmon sashimi.  Another fun thing to do is to try the Strong Guy sake.  It comes in a glass that is overfilled with a cute little blue and white china bowl underneath.  If you are a sushi lover you will not be sorry!

Hello World- Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade

This site is to celebrate food, drink, events here (Atlanta) and everywhere!  After living other places I truly appreciate the kindness, food, drink, people and sense of community Atlanta has to offer.  With so many movies and TV shows being filmed here now (Y’allywood!) Atlanta is in the spotlight.  One of the many great things about Atlanta (the “REAL” Atlanta inside the Perimeter) is the BeltLine.  Tomorrow they estimate about 20,000 people will walk along the BeltLine for 6th Annual Lantern Parade.  A unique magical experience.  People also hang out afterwards in the many bars and restaurants around The BeltLine in Old 4th Ward (O4W) and Inman Park.  Here are some pictures from last year.  See you tomorrow!