The NOLA Restaurant Awards

A and I had the distinct pleasure of spending a whole week in New Orleans over New Year's. It was a great opportunity to stuff my face at all of New Orlean's best restaurants. Believe me, I took advantage! In honor of my week in NOLA, I thought I would honor the restaurants who so deserved to be honored.

Best gumbo/new restaurant: Sobou

Sobou stands for South of Bourbon. This fantastic new restauant is in the heart of the French Quarter but away from Bourbon Street. We went there for lunch, 3 adults, 3 children. We really had no expectations at all. It just looked cool and a friend in Atlanta had suggested we try it. But he hadn't eaten there either, so we went in blindly. Boy, were we every surprised. Everything we had was outstanding. The kids announced that it was the best place they'd ever been. And the gumbo! Oh, the gumbo. I was a little gumbo'ed out by the time we went to Sobou, so I didn't order it. But, L had arrived that day and had a hankering from some good gumbo. It was cochon de lait gumbo with a dark brown roux. Man, it was good. Still haunts my dreams. We can't wait to return.

Best appetizer/prettiest restaurant: La Petite Grocery

A and I got to New Orleans on Saturday. L arrived Thursday. I had two babysitter nights arranged for Thursday and Friday. I picked La Petite Grocery for Thursday night. It's regularly listed in the Top 10 best restaurants in New Orleans, and in purusing the on-line menu, I noticed they had an octopus appetizer. I love me some octopus. This restaurant was just beautiful, white tableclothes, soft lighting, lots of windows. A charming place. The octopus was the best I've had in the United States (but couldn't compare to the dish I had in Portugal, alas!). Everything was great. In fact, we had dinner at La Petite on the same day we lunch at Sobou. Big food day!

Stupidest Name/Coolest NOLA Vibe: Feelings Cafe

My friend Gina has recommended this restaurant to me a few times. It's in the Marigny, a popular part of town, just outside the French Quarter. She kept telling me it was beautiful and we should go there. I couldn't get past the name, tho. So I put it off. But, for our last night in NOLA (and the remaining babysitter night), the four of us (Gina, her husband Malcolm, L and I) went to Feelings Cafe. It's located in an old house from the 1800's (perhaps older). It's one of those places in New Orleans that make ghosts seem totally plausible. It had so much charm and so much character that we instantly loved it. The food? It was ok. Not as good as either of the above, but decent. But you don't go there for the food. You go there 'cause it's cool as hell.

Best birthday lunch with my darling son: the Gumbo Shop

Nothing spectacular about this French Quarter tourist trap, but A & I had a lovely lunch there. It was my birthday.

Best Overall Restaurant: Herbsaint

I've blogged about Herbsaint before so I won't gush about it again. Suffice to say: that we arrived for lunch on a chilly, busy Friday. The restaurant was full and we strolled in, a party of 6, 3 kids and 3 adults. L was clearly underdressed: not showered, and wearing work-out clothes. The hostess was repulsed by us and told us she could not seat us for at least an hour. L asked if she could turn on the heat lamps and seat us outside. She relented. We sat outside in the freezing cold, shivering away and I said "this is how much I love this restaurant. I will sit in the freezing cold, be insulted by the hostess, if only to eat this magnificent food."

And finally, thank you to Gina & Malcolm, who put A & I up in their home for a whole week. Having guests is never easy, but Gina & Malcolm were effortless in their hospitality. We hope you had as good a time as we did!

Christmas

It has become a family tradition. Without a doubt, it is one of our favorite traditions. Every Christmas, we have brunch at Park 75 at the Four Seasons. Sure, it's expensive. And yes, one cannot possibly eat enough to make it remotely cost effective. But, it is worth it? Oh, yes! It is so much fun. So decadent and such luxury. And they know us now and treat us like family!

L and I started this tradition many years ago, before we were married. I remember that first time vividly. We were so blown away. The Christmas buffet is just awesome and has something for everyone. Of course, they have a traditional carving station with turkey, ham, prime rib, fish, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing and the fixings. But they also have a cold salad station, hot pasta station, shellfish, meat and cheese, caviar. And our favorite: the asian station, featuring dim sum, sushi, korean beef, and tempura fried veggies.

This year, the salads were particularly awesome. The golden beet and red beet salads were both fantastic. As was the Morroccan chicken salad. I think the kale and sweet potato salad was my favorite. Usually, I just get a taste of everything, a bite size portion. But this year, I filled my plate at the cold salad station. And that was my first trip to the buffet.

From there, I headed to the pasta station. This is always an awesome station, but you got to be careful here. I loved the bay scallop and butternut squash risotto. And the shrimp and grits is always one of my favorites. L couldn't get enough of the mushroom ravioli. Good stuff was found at the Asian station. I'm always impressed with how fresh the sushi is. But after that, I was pretty much done.

Not L. He had seconds of everything. The man can eat.

And what of A? Was any of this fun for a 5 year old? Well, Santa was there and he came and spent a considerable amount of time at our table. A was concerned about where the reindeer were but Santa and I explained that the reindeer were very tired from the previous night's activities and were at home in the North Pole resting.

And if Santa wasn't enough to keep the boy entertained, there is the dessert station. Really it's whole room. It has gingerbread houses, a train, a giant chocolate fountain, as assortment of truffles, cakes, cookies, cheesecakes, and a chocolate-cherry bread pudding. What did A want? Swedish fish and sweet tart. Oy!

Eventually, A did get bored. He asked if we planned on staying there forever. If only we could.

But we will be back next year. Happy Holidays to one and all!

The COOLEST Restaurant Ever

Atlanta has a pretty decent dining scene. And, when I breifly lived in Manhattan, I thought I saw the coolest of the cool restaurants in the world (it was Manhattan after all!). But, I hadn't seen anything. On a recent trip to LA, L & I went to a restaurant that blew all of the others out of the water with its cool factor.

The restaurant was The Bazaar by Jose Andres (yes, that's the full name), located in the uber-swank SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. Paul, my cool Hollywood friend who took me to the Oscars, recommended the Bazaar. He said it was the coolest place in a town full of cool restaurants. And he's a man whose opinion I trust.

When we arrived for our 8:30 reservation, it was still light out, but when we entered the restaurant, it was like it was midnight...and we were in a nightclub. I immediately felt a little disoriented because I couldn't quite process how this was a restaurant and not a nightclub. I didn't immediately see an obvious dining area. What I saw was a very dark open space with a long center high top table and lounge chairs scattered about. Everything was white or black. At the far end, was an illuminated bar. Lots of people were milling about with drinks in hand. We checked in with the hostess and were advised to get a drink a bar.

No problem. At the bar, quite a scene was going on. I noticed what looked like an interesting cocktail in the hand of the beautiful and beautifully-dressed woman next to me. I asked the bartender what it was and he proceeded to tell me it was a specialty cocktail that included a berry grown only in Japan and sold nowhere else in the world because The Bazaar purchased the entire crop. (Note to self: go to Japan and verify this story!) Each berry was marinated in vodka for some ridiculous length of time and then used to make this exquisite martini. So I ordered one of those.

I don't know if L & I actually talked to each other while we hung out in the lounge area. I think we were both too bedazzled by the spectacle unfolding in front of us. I was particularly taken with the roaming bartender who moved about the restaurant with a cart, featuring yet another specialty drink that had some kind of dry ice. Alas, he did not stop near us.

At the perfect time (just as we were finishing our drinks), the hostess appeared to let us know our table was ready. At this point, I still was not entirely clear where the tables exactly were. She led us out of the bar area and around a sort of room divider and there were the tables! Lots of them. And they all seemed to be different looking. We saw all sorts of diners, young, old, families, kids (we could have brought A!), the impossibly rich and the impossibly beautiful. And they all looked to be having the time of their lives.

The two of us were seated at a long table suited for eight. Another couple sat at the far end. This is a restaurant designed for big groups. Slowly, over the course of our dinner, other couples were seated with us. Before we could order food, the roaming bartender appeared and I was finally able to order one of his special drinks. A frozen caipirinha. My favorite drink from Portugal (via Brazil.) It seemed very serendipitous!

And then we got to the issue at hand. Food. It has been my experience that uber cool, trendy restaurants often disappoint in the food area. Not so with The Bazaar. Everything we had was excellent. The menu was all tapas and small plates, divided into traditional tapas and modern tapas. Stand outs were the Iberian serrano, a hard to find (and very expensive) type of Spanish ham, the beet salad, and most importantly the cotton candy wrapped, foie gras lollipops. Sounds weird, doesn't it? Trust me. They were awesome. I don't even like foie gras! This dish was so awesome, in fact, that in the kitchen (which had an army of staff), one person was assigned the sole task of preparing the foie gras lollipops. And she was an expert.

After dinner (and wine), our server asked if we would like dessert. Of course, we replied. She then led us to yet another area of the gigantic restaurant on the other side of the bar (that somehow I hadn't seen at all until that moment!) We were seated and presented with dessert menus. The dessert area was like its own confectionary. We ordered an array of exquisite, house-made truffles.

What a night! What an experience! Next time your in LA, do not miss The Bazaar by Jose Andres.

Hob Nobbing

For A's 5th birthday, I told him we would take him out to dinner at the restaurant of his choosing. Now, my kid is a little foodie in the making, so he thought long and hard about this. Then he said: "Hob Nob, they have milkshakes." Good call, kiddo. Hob Nob is one of our neighborhood joints. It's a place to chill, have a couple drinks, some good grub, nothing fancy, just a good place to hang out. A and I go there fairly regularly on Friday nights when L is working. Nishon, who owns the place with his brother Gilbert (and they own Gilbert's in midtown, too), is an old friend and it's always nice to go there and be treated like family. The night of A's birthday celebration, L was with us. When I told him that A wanted to go to Hob Nob for his birthday, I expected some objection. Don't get me wrong. It's not that L doesn't like Hob Nob. It's just that L really likes fine dining, and I just expected that he would say "awww, come on, how 'bout Bones?" But instead, L said: "Hob Nob, cool. I haven't been there in awhile." And I have to say, that Friday night, L's eyes were opened to just how great Hob Nob is. Nishon was waiting at the door to greet us. (He had seen my name on the book and listed as 3, not 2. He wasn't sure what to make of that. Did L have a Friday night off? Or would I arrive with another man??) We told Nishon how much A was looking forward to a milkshake and the server immediately brought one. With a candle in it, no less! Everything we ate that night was fantastic. We started with the always-delicious hot pretzels and cheese sauce. Mmmmm. Those never disappoint. L had a pizza and couldn't stop gushing about how perfectly it was done. Usually, I can't get past the delicious short rib tacos. But that night, I decided to branch out and ordered a new entree item: lemon herb roasted chicken with coucous and vegetables. Man, it was SOOOO good! I practically licked the plate. A had the kids' chicken fingers and fries. I have to say, Hob Nob has *the best* chicken fingers in town! No lie. The drinks were flowing. The food was awesome. What else could we ask for? Nishon then brought out this crazy delicious dessert. I don't know what the hell it was. Some doughy thing covered in nutella and served with ice cream. Oh. My. God. Tell me again: why is it socially unacceptable to lick the plate?? It was great night. Thank you, Nishon. Can't wait to come back!

Alma Cucina

Wow! Move over Rosa Mexicano, there's a new restaurant in town, and it. is. good. Ok, maybe the gaucamole is not as good as yours, but Rosa, you better watch out.

Alma Cucina opened in December in downtown Atlanta. L & I were eagerly awaiting its opening because it is part of the Fifth Group restaurants (which include our long-time fave, Ecco), and we were told it was going to be a high-end Mexican restaurant. And we LOVE Mexican food. So we had high expectations.

We went for the first time one Sunday in January. Unfortunately, I had been sick all weekend and that day was no exception. But I had been so looking forward to brunch, that I dragged my sick, feverish ass out of bed, got all dressed up and went to Alma as planned with my two favorite men. I was too sick to really enjoy much of anything. L immediately fell in love, tho. I think it was the house tequila that sold him. Apparently, the owner flew down to Mexico to try different tequilas and ended up having a tequila made specially for the restaurant. It's a smoky tequila aged in giant barrels. You can't get it anywhere except at Alma and they will not sell you a bottle. (L thinks if he's patient and spends enough money at the restaurant, eventually he will be rewarded with a bottle of their private stock. I'm not so optimistic.)

And the restaurant itself is beautiful. It occupies a space at 191 Peachtree, which formerly housed Il Mulino. It has a cool, comfortable Mexican-vibe. Lots of browns and oranges, bronze fixtures, leather seating. The downtown location (I've lived in Atlanta for 17 years and downtown remains no man's land) and parking are a bit of a pain the ass, but the restaurant itself makes up for those inconveniences.

On that first visit, I had fried avodaco tacos and some delicious lamb meatball soup. All very good, but as I explained, I was very sick. So we went again recently. This time I wasn't sick. Oh man, oh man, oh man! First of all, the drink list is incomparable. Escorpion (another excellent Mexican restaurant in town) may have started the trend of really creative tequila-based cocktails, but I think Alma Cucina has raised the bar (so to speak.) The Najaranita (a blood orange margarita) is, so far, my favorite. But I do intend slowly working my way through that cocktail list, just to be sure.

And the food! I have to tell you that a little pet peeve of mine is when people eat at a
Mexican restaurant and complain that is was "too expensive for Mexican food" because it didn't cost 30 cents for a taco. Yes, we can all agree that, back in the day, when you got Mexican, you expected it to be cheap but decent. Let's face it, tho, it didn't blow your socks off and your chances of getting food poisoning were probably pretty high. And sure, you can still go to those hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurants and get good, cheap Mexican food. You can also get a burger at McDonalds for $1.00 or you can go to a more upscale establishment and spend $10.00. It's apples and oranges, people. Not all Mexican food is cheap fast food.

And Alma Cucina is of the fine dining variety of Mexican food. At our second visit (or my second, L had been back several times between my fist and second visit), I came to more fully realize how fantastic the food is. For an appetizer, we got these little mini green chorizo slider thingys, topped with mango. They were little bitefuls of deliciousness. For entrees, L got duck confit chilaquiles (pictured above). Now, you really can't go wrong with chilaquiles, even the fast food variety, but this was so much more than that. OHHEMMMGEEE!! Although the portion size is more than enough for two, L scarfed down the whole thing, just because it was too delicious to stop eating. I got the rock shrimp hurachacha (also pictured above) and I think that may have been one of the best dishes I've ever had. Certainly, a top 2 best Mexican dishes. And those little green wedges you see in the picture? That's roasted avocado. Mmmmmmmmm.

Even A enjoyed it. He had some delicious and creative fruit juice (I think it was lime/rasberry) and a chicken quesadilla. Our child is always up for Mexican food. We have taught him well. A couple mornings later, while lying in bed, A said to me "can we go back to that place where we had lunch the other day? That was so much fun."

Oh yes, A, we sure can!

The Red Carpet

So there we are, walking down the red carpet. Lights flashing, fans cheering. When I hear a sudden commotion behind me, I turn and see George Clooney himself! Suddenly, I'm shaking his hand!!

Wait...what's going on here? Is this a dream? Someone pinch me please! It's not a dream. This is really happening! L & I are walking the red carpet at the 84th Annual Academy Awards. How the hell did I fall down this rabbit hole?

To answer that, I have go back to high school Spanish class. I sat next to a boy named Paul and we became fast friends. Who knew that he would end up being a very successful talent agent in Hollywood! And it was because of him that L & I ended up with tickets to the Oscars and the famed and exclusive Governors Ball. Now, that's a good a friend!

The Oscars were cool, no doubt. Walking the red carpet, even cooler. But the ball...that was a spectacle! About half the Oscar attendees get the privilege of attending the ball. It's in a giant ballroom adjacent to the Kodak Theater. Wolfgang Puck prepared 50 different entrees which were passed around on trays through out the night. Baby lamb chops, pizza topped with salmon and caviar, a baked potato stuffed with caviar, mini kobe beef sliders, lobster tacos, skewered shrimp tempura, lobster with coconut/curry sauce over jasmine rice..to name a few. Upon arriving at the ball, we had some difficulty getting any food (and we were starving after 3 plus hours of Oscar!) But eventually, things settled down and the food started coming quickly. We also found a giant sushi bar with fresh octupus sliced to order (Oh my god, that was cool!) And the dessert bar..whoa! Gold dipped chocolate Oscars, a chocolate mousse dessert done in 3D..that was pretty spectacular. My one regret is that I didn't eat more desserts! (Damn obsession with not gaining weight!!) Of course, the alcohol was flowing. But the best of the drinks was the Moet-Chandon Nectar Imperial! Mmmmmm.

Celebrities were floating around and I was floating on air. Tony Bennett said "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." L & I stayed still the very end and then Paul dragged us to another Hollywood party. This one, not as elaborate but a younger, little bit wilder of a scene.

What a night to remember! What a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! I'm not sure exactly what I did in high school to earn Paul's enduring friendship and generosity, but I'm sure glad I sat next to him in Spanish class. Muchos gracias, mi amigo Pablo. I am forever indebted to you!

Looking Back on 2011 & Forward to 2012

Some great dining memories were made in 2011. For example, every single meal in Portugal, including the unforgettable Gambrinus, where we had the best meal ever. But I also can't forget Cafe Paris in Sintra, where I had a mouthwatering grilled octupus; or the Portuguese stew we had in Belem, and I must give a shout out to the caipirhina and the ubiquitous delicious custard-filled pastry. Mmmm. Portugal was also the place that ignited my love for black pasta. Upon our return to the US, I procured a jar of squid ink and L now makes a fantastic squid ink risotto.

Sure, we had the worst meal ever in Curacao, but the retelling of that particular experience has brought alot of amusement to my friends (and readers.) And the goat stew we had at Jaanchie's in Curacao almost makes up for the worst meal ever.

We also had a wonderful experience at Galatoire's in New Orleans, and what may have been a last supper with friends at Herbsaint. We fell in love with Holeman & Finch in Atlanta, continued our love affairs with La Pietra Cucina, Ecco, and Rosa Mexicano. And, we finally dined at Abattoir. On the home front, I became obsessed with Marcus Samuelsson's African cookbook (The Soul of a New Cuisine) and, I'm proud to say, have learned to make a kick ass Ethiopian Shiro!

At the end of '09, I made of a list of restuarants I wanted to go to in 2010. I didn't complete that list in 2010. It wasn't until the end of this year that I finally made it to Abattoir. And that may complete the '09 list. But I forget all the restaurants on the list, so I'm not quite sure. So what's on the agenda for 2012? Today, we had a spectacular brunch at Barcelona. I expect it to become a regular thing. Hopefully, we can get there at least once during the year for a date night! STK just opened and I can't wait to check it out. It's either going to totally rock or lay a giant goose egg. We will see. I also need to check out No. 246, Cakes & Ale, Local 3, Southern Art, Alma Cucina and I'd like to get back to Bacchanalia & Aria just once in 2012. So, here it is January and my restaurant dance card is already full. Happy New Year to all!

What Is All the Fuss About??

Holeman & Finch, that's what.

This restaurant has had so much buzz for so long that it actually started having the opposite effect on me. I thought it could not possible live up to the hype. And there was the issue with the wait. It is well-known that H&F does not take reservations. And those in the know talk about the wait as though it were some badge of honor. "One time I waited an hour and a half!" "We once waited for an hour and couldn't even get to the bar to order a drink." None of that appealed to me. I don't like to wait.

But we finally caved. (I finally got tired of my friend Brad's endless rants on the virtues of H&F and decided I had to experience it first hand.) We went on a Sunday for brunch. We got there early, or so I thought. Turns out, everyone else got there earlier. So we bravely put our name on the list and prepared to wait.

As I waited (and waited), I noticed something interesting about this tiny restaurant. Every 20something hipster and 50something foodie was there. Kind of an odd mix. And everyone seemed deliriously excited to be there. (Well, the 20something hipster don't really want to show that much excitement, but you could feel if under their unfazed, cool exterior.)

As the wait wore on (we waited an hour), I began to get impatient and then annoyed. But there was no turning back. We had waited too long to jump ship before we reached our goal (of being seated.) At one point, one of the very hip servers walked past me and said "Trust me, it's worth the wait." Somehow, that brightened my mood.

And a few minutes later, we were seated.

Was the server right? Was it worth the wait?

Hell yes! The okra and smoked red pepper appetizer lives on in my heart and I hope to be reunited with it some day. L's burger lived up to its reputation as the best in the city. The cocktails were a whole other area of expertise. I could actually do a whole post just on the cocktails. And the bacon. OMG! I didn't know bacon tasted like that. Everything we had was mouthwateringly delicious.

But what no one had told me, what we found most surprising, about H&F, something that really sets it apart, was how happy the staff was. We learned that not one employee has quit since the place opened. (And the restaurant biz is notorious for high turnover!) Our server (the aforementioned hipster) kept a picture of the burger as his phone's screen saver. He couldn't say enough good things about the food, the restaurant and his job.

Now I know what all the fuss is about. And I've become a convert. Blabbering on to everyone I meet about this great restaurant. And I'm dreaming about the next time I get to wait in line to eat at the exceptional H&F.

The Good, The Bad & The Worst Meal Ever!!

We just returned from a brief vacation in Curacao. It was an interesting island. At the end, L observed "Culinarly, Curacao is in junior high." I would say "stuck in the '70s." But you get the point.

There were a few highlights: the goat stew at Jaanchie's, the banana soup offered everywhere, and the very memorable lunch we had at Perla del Mar, a beautiful restaurant where sat on a deck with waves crashing below. (And La Carretta, the cuban place at the Miami airport was the best food of the entire trip!)

And then there was the worst. meal. ever.

We were in Curacao to celebrate our anniversary (six years of wedded bliss!) I arranged for a sitter for Saturday night. As usual, I spent alot of time and energy trying to find the right place. I settled on Bistro Le Clochard.

It got off to a good start. We were seated in a corner table on the deck, overlooking the ocean. It was dark and the water was pitch-black. The whole scene was very romantic. And at first glance, the restaurant was perfect. A memorable feast was sure to be imminent. But the first clue that things might not be what they seemed was the cocktail list. The drinks listed were things like a "side car," "yellow bird" (a drink w/ rum & galliano), an "old fashioned." Does anyone under 70 still drink these drinks?. Occasionally, a restaurant will have some old school cocktails and it's cool. It's done as a nod to the "Mad Men" era. But this was not done with a wink or a nod. It was clear to me that they had simply never updated their cocktail list.

And so we ordered an expensive bottle of champagne and some appetizers. The apps were good, but not great. Kind of weird. Rock lobster on a bed of kidney beans and escargot served with sauerkraut. For my entree, I was very excited about getting the Dover sole. Lee was equally exicted to try the veal goulash. But when we ordered, our waitress told us that neither were available. She then convinced us to try "La Potence" which she described as pieces of beef served on flaming hot skewers with several "delicious" dipping sauces. Because of the flame, this dish could only be served inside, but she promised to save our table outside for us to return to for dessert. The cost of this entree? $34 per person.

We fell for it.

Inside we went. And, in the light, the restaurant looked as outdated as the cocktail list. Fake ferns adorned the shelves and windowsills. The seat cushions were stained and frayed. the piano player doing a muzak version of Metallica was odd and cheesy. It was all sort of comical, actually.

But we went with it. I felt like I was in a 1970s made-for-tv movie or perhaps, an episode of the "Love Boat." Then they brought out the stupid meat. Yes, it was beef on skewers and yes, they set it aflame. But she neglected to mention the hotdogs on it. Yes, there were dipping sauces but they were far from delicious. No, the dipping sauces were ketchup, tartar sauce, thousand island dressing, and honey mustard. $34 per person? You have to be kidding me. (And just where were the 1970s prices? That was one area they managed to update.)

For some reason, I don't know why, maybe it was because we were in a time warp, we ate the stupid thing. We should have sent it back. However, when the waitress returned, I did not mince my words. I let her know exactly what I thought of that ridiculous meal. Did she offer a complimentary dessert? Did she comp any portion of the meal? No, she did not. When the $300+ bill arrived, my head exploded and everyone in the restaurant witnessed it.

L said we've had alot of hits and were bound to have a miss. This was surely a miss.

Boulevard at Home

I have to confess that I am a very lucky girl. The truth of the matter is that while going out to all these fancy restaurants is pretty awesome, the best dinners are actually the ones at home. The ones that L cooks. It just so happens that L does not just enjoy eating great food. He also enjoys cooking great food. And guess who benefits from his considerable talent?

Now, you may recall a particular dining experience we had a couple years ago that L proclaimed was a "top 5" meal ever. The restaurant was Boulevard in San Francisco. On that auspicious occasion, L smartly bought the restaurant's cookbook in the hopes of re-creating its fabulousness.

In the intervening two years, L hasn't cooked much out of the Boulevard cookbook. We have alot of cookbooks, and he's really been hung up on the impossible Thomas Keller cookbooks (books so complicated that I have difficulty even reading the recipes, let along cooking from them!) But a few weeks ago, L decided to drag out the Boulevard cookbook. In truth, the Boulevard cookbook is not much easier to use than the Keller cookbooks, but L is up to the challenge.

He spent the whole day preparing. The kitchen was abuzz with activity. I worked out, got hair cut and colored, took a nap, picked A from pre-school, fed A, bathed and put him to bed. All the while, L was busy chopping, cutting, basting, heating, saute-ing and other chef-related things.

Finally, at 9:00 pm afte nearly 12 hours of prep, I set the table on our rather fabulous back porch and we sat down to eat.

It was worth every second of work he put into it. The meal was a triumph! We had a filet set on a roasted tomato, beef au jus with a corn-jalapeno relish and a fried blue cheese fritter on top. On the side, we had cubed heirloom tomatoes with goat cheese. We washed it all down with a spectacular bottle of pinot.

Like I said earlier, L knows how to cook and have alot of good meals at home. But there was something special about this meal. It seemed more perfect than usual. L had clearly put his heart into it. Sitting on the back porch with soft lights and soft music, surrounded by trees didn't hurt either. L made the night a special one, a memorable one, even though it was just an ordinary Friday night. L told me once that he learned to cook to help him get girls. Well, that plan certainly worked with this particular girl. But, in the end, I undoubtedly am the lucky one.

Please Come to Boston....(and stay at the Liberty Hotel!)

Boston. It's a city full of history. The Boston Tea Party, the midnight ride of Paul Revere, the American Revolution. And most importantly, my life story, ages 0-28.

I took A there a few weeks ago to see family. I haven't actually lived there in many years, so now when I go, it's as a tourist. We stayed at the Liberty Hotel, former Charles Street jail, turned uber, and I mean UBER, swank hotel. I didn't even bother with my usual obsessive scouring of the interent looking for the best restaurants. The Liberty had 2 restaurants, with great-looking menus (and one celebrity chef.)

Truthfully, this trip wasn't about food (gasp!) It was about seeing old friends.

On Friday night, I met up with a bunch of friends at the Liberty Lobby bar (and later Clink) for drinks and dinner. Most of this group I've kept in touch with for all these years, except for 2, who I hadn't seen in over 17 years. It was a night filled with laughter, drinks, memories and black pasta (yumm!) The years have been kind to all of my old friends. They all seem to have happy, full lives. If that had been the only night I had Boston, it would've been a great weekend.

But, the real focus of the weekend, perhaps the reason I went up there was for Saturday night.

Back in high school, I had two best friends: Lauren & Guy. The three of us, so inseparable once, have not been all together in over 20 years. But (through the wonders of the internet), we got in touch and decided to put the band back together for one night only. (Well, maybe we'll do it again!)

I saved all the best places at the hotel for that night. We met at Alibi, the swank-est of the swank spots at the Liberty. Drinks were flowing, stories were shared, secrets exposed, and without missing a beat, we fell into the same rhythm from 20 years earlier. Guy would've been perfectly happy to stay at Alibi and drink mojitos all night long. But Lauren & I are small girls (both maintaining our high school weight, thankyouverymuch! And she's had 4 kids!!), we needed some food to absorb all that alcohol. So, after several drinks at Alibi, we wondered over to Scampo for dinner. Scampo is the restaurant with all the buzz at the Liberty. "A new take on Italian food" and all that jazz. The food was good. My steak was delicious. Velvety, cooked to medium-rare perfection. But this was definitely a night where everything else was so much more important and more interesting than the food. The food was eclipsed by the night.

But the night was oh-so memorable. So this post isn't about food or a great restaurant. It's about reliving old times and reacquainting with old friends and finding that, even after many years, nothing had changed at all. We could pick up right where we left off. Here's to my old friends: Lauren, who was the cutest girl in high school, is still the cutest girl in the room. Guy, my best friend, my brother, please don't lose me again. Here's to Boston, which will always be home no matter how far I stray. And here's to the Liberty Hotel, which was, for a few luxurious days, my home.

Old Friends & New Restaurants

Ahhh, New Orleans! How can one small city have so much good food, excess amounts of alcohol, ghosts, voodoo, and an abundance of quirkiness? In short, how can one city be so much damn fun??

We just returned from a quick weekend in New Orleans celebrating L's birthday. In planning our trip, we decided to do one "old school" NOLA meal and one more trendy meal. But there's so much to choose from that pinning down the right location for each was torture. After literally months of scouring the internet, and repeated emails seeking advice on this monumental decision to my very patient friends (& NOLA residents), I finally decided on Galatoire's for Friday lunch and Herbsaint for Saturday dinner.

Galatoire's, a 100 year old restaurant in the French Quarter, is known for its Friday lunch. The downstairs part of the restaurant famously does not accept lunch reservations (as opposed to the newer upstairs which accepts reservations but doesn't have the same cache as the downstairs). So, apparently, the locals start lining up at 10:00 am, some send their staff to wait in line for them. And, for those who wait in line, once they're in, they don't leave. They stay and drink until dinner (this custom is known as "Two-for.")

Although I had no intention of drinking until dinner, I really wanted to sit downstairs. But I was warned that "it gets pretty rowdy downstairs." Because we were lunching w/ my 4-year old A, and my friend Jen and her son, I made reservations for upstairs.

As soon as we walked into the restaurant, L immediately loved it. It was full of old world charm. The service was phenomenal. The staff were all dressed in white jackets and bow ties. They were discreet, respectful, helpful and detailed. I started with a Sazerac. Only in New Orleans can you even order this drink. To be honest, it wasn't for me, but I've never been a brown liquor drinker. We also had gumbo, escargot, crawfish etouffe - the staples of cajun cooking. Was it good? Of course, it was. Was it the best food I've ever had? No.

But we had a blast. Those restaurants are like stepping back in time. Suddenly, we were in a New Orleans that existed in the 1920s when people maintained a certain formality and civility that no longer exists. (A time also when children are better seen and not heard. This was definitely not A's most popular moment!)

Saturday night (the babysitter night), we went to Herbsaint with my very close friends Chris & Jen. L & I chose this restaurant because of its celebrity chef, appealing menu and bistro decor.

That day had been over 100 degrees, but the night was perfect. After a cocktail at the bar (a caipirhina for me and Pimm's Cups for Chris & Jen), we decided to sit outside. What a delightful restaurant Herbsaint proved to be. Every morsel of food was fantastic. My favorite thing was the heirloom tomatoes and burrata. But the spaghetti & guanciale appetizer was a very close second. And for entrees, I would say that Jen's braised lamb neck was the clear winner, followed by my duck confit.

As great as the restaurant was, the company was even better (and the restaurant gets kudos for knowing how to stay in the background as needed.) We hadn't seen Chris & Jen in over a year and, when they lived in Atlanta (9 years ago), they were my closest friends. So having the opportunity to eat at a great restaurant was nothing compared to spending time with my far greater friends.

My final assessment of these two restaurants: Galatoire's you do once. Herbsaint you return to.

BEST. MEAL. EVER.

Setting: Lisbon, Portugal
Restuarant: Gambrinus
Time: a beautiful night in April

It finally happened! We had the best. meal. ever. Not just the best meal, the best whole food/dining experience. I don't think it can be surpassed in my lifetime. It was was, in a word, perfect.

L, A, & I spent a glorious week in Lisbon earlier this month. We had many, many great dining experiences. I had heard that Lisbon was a great food town. Those reports were wrong: Lisbon is a fantastic food town!

I had arranged for a babysitter for two nightswhile in Lisbon. So, the restaurant choices we made for those two nights were particularly critical. In pre-trip research, the name Gambrinus appeared on every best restaurant list I found. As it happened, we stumbled upon it our second night in Lisbon and it was literally two minutes from our apartment.

So, for the first of our two adults-only nights, L made a reservations at the fabled Gambrinus. We were ushered to our seat the moment we arrived. The wait staff was comprised of handsome men in their 50s wearing black or red suitjackets. Seconds after we were seated, our head waiter (ultimately we had several) asked if we wuld like something from the bar. I immediately ordered a caipirihna (a drink I fell in love with in Portugal). Our waiter kindly shook his head and patiently said "No, I'm sorry, we don't serve those." I instantly realized that I had made a mistake! I had essentially ordered the equivalent of an umbrella drink in this old-school, formal establishment. Ofcourse, they didn't serve caipirihnas! I immediately said "Ok, well I'll just have whatever you think I should have." L nodded in agreement. Our waiter seemed pleased (thank god! for som reason, we felt the need to please him!) He then brought us each a glass of white port.

From that point on, we were like newborn infants to our bevy of waiters. They let us think that we were in charge, but really they were just humoring us. They were in charge. Not in a bad way. In a parental way. We were safe. We were taken care of. We were loved. We were also teased, flirted with (me, not L), and generally viewed as a source of amusement for our waiters.

Then the food started coming. First up, a piping hot skillet of shrimp and garlic. The shrimp tasted like it had been pulled from the sea moments earlier. It was simple and delicious. THen we shared a pasta course. Linguini with clams and tomatoes. Again, delicious. For out main course, we could not resist getting lobster. In making that decision, our waiter brought out two live lobsters, one large, one small. We opted to share the large. When it was cooked, he returned with it whole, showed it to us, and then delicately served it to us. He may as well have spoonfed us. (There was also a delightful bottle of red wine in there. Recommended by the waiter, of course.)

Before dessert, we were advised to have a glass of dark port. The waiter brought over an ancient looking bottle with some elaborate bottle-pouring contraption and poured the port in front of us. It was quite an elaborate show of old portuguese custom.

And then finally dessert. Crepes Suzette. Boy, was that a show! Our waiter brought over a mini gas stove top with a serving cart with things like a bowl with batter in it, a bottle of Gran Marnier and a bunch of other liquores. He then began pouring the batter and the liquor into a skillet. Flames that were two feet high leapt from the skillet. The comic side-kick waiter stood in mock terrorwith a fire extinguisher. The whole show was charming. The finished product was fantastic. Another simple, but delicious course.

We left that restaurant full, a little tipsy and $300 Euros poorer. And giggling like school children. It was worth every penny. I would gladly fork over the equivalent of a mortgage payment to dine there again. I miss my waiters. I miss the white port, the fabulous lobster, the sinful dessert. Oh, Gambrinus! Thank for an unforgettable night in Lisbon. Thank you for the best. meal. ever.

Santa Claus Is Coming to One Midtown

A few weeks ago, L got an email inviting us to have breakfast with Santa at One Midtown Kitchen on December 18th. He immediately made the 9:00 am reservation. We both agreed that taking A to see Santa at One Midtown sounded way better than standing in line at the Mall.

We have always loved One Midtown. It opened in late '02, and was the first restaurant in Atlanta that I dubbed "nightclub dining." The food is excellent, but you go there for the scene as much as for the food. One Midtown used to be on our regular rotation, but it's fallen off. So many new places have opened that it's hard to keep up. On top of that, One Midtown had a revolving-chef issue which resulted in it becoming a little...inconsistent. (However, Chef Drew has been there for awhile now and he's well known as an exceptional talent.)

Nonetheless, we were both excited to take A there for breakfast with Santa. But Saturday mornings aren't really my thing. And we were supposed to be there at 9:00 am. A typical Saturday for me involves going to turbo kick at 11:30, so I was a little concerned about accommodating both of these activities. To make matters worse, L & I had dinner at Ecco on Friday night, during which I consumed several martinis.

I explain all this to justify the extremely poor decision-making I displayed on the morning of the breakfast.

We all got up and got ready to go. L had to go to work immediately after the breakfast, so he showered and put on a suit. I knew A was going to get his picture taken with Santa so I put him in some dress clothes. Brown cords and a thick cable knit sweater. He looked adorable. But me? What did I decide to wear? Well, to start, I did not shower. What would be the point of that? I was planning on going to the gym afterwards. Since I was going to the gym, I put on gym clothes. Did I put on make-up? Of course not. Again, going to the gym. I did brush my hair, but just barely. So to say I looked a little rough, would be kind. But since the whole thing was going down at 9:00 am, and I honestly didn't think anyone in midtown would be up at that hour, I figured it would be ok.

Boy, was I wrong. How could I have been so misguided? I mean this is the place for whom I coined the phrase "nightclub dining." It's always been a scene. And the whole idea of breakfast with Santa targeted the beautiful, hipster intown parents. The type who effortlessly look good at 9:00 am.

The place was packed. And you know what? Regardless of my appearance, it was a blast. All of Atlanta's coolest parents were there. Handsome gay couples with kids - and you know those guys were decked out. Beautiful moms in designer clothes. People were knocking back mimosas and blooy marys. French toast and bacon was plentiful.

And Santa. I thought A was about to burst with excitement when Santa arrived. We had been given a number (17) when we arrived and had to wait til got there before us to finish with Santa was a real challenge for A. But he made it, and he happily sat on Santa's lap. We had practiced the day before what to say to Santa and he got it out: "Santa, please bring me Buzz Lightyear and Woody."

We had so much fun that we have decided to put One Midtown back on our radar. And we will most definitely return next year for breakfast with Santa. But I will be better prepared for the occasion. At the very least, I will shower beforehand!

Miller Union

Recently, Brad & I were discussing various restaurants in Atlanta and he mentioned Miller Union. This was, in fact, the second time I heard Brad mention Miller Union. When I told him that we had not been there yet, Brad scoffed at me and said "Well, you really haven't been anywhere then." Let me repeat: Brad scoffed at me.

The very next day, I made reservations at Miller Union for the following Friday night. I will not be scoffed at. When I mentioned to L that I wanted to go out to dinner Friday night, he said "Miller Union?" He will not be scoffed at either.

While Brad's derision was not deserved, it is true that L & I have not been out to a new (or really, any) restaurant in quite some time. So we were both quite looking forward to date night at Miller Union. L became even more excited on the way there when he realized that the restaurant was located in West Midtown, a supremely cool area of town that we seldom get over to.

The restaurant, in an industrial setting, managed to be sleek and warm at the same time. At the bar, I ordered their signature drink: the Miller Thyme martini. I'm ordinarily a vodka girl, but this was a gin martini. In fact, all their martinis were gin based, a trend I've noticed of late in Atlanta. I mentioned to the bartender that gin appeared to be new vodka, but he corrected me and explained that vodka had tried to be the new gin, but gin was back. (I have to confess the gin drinks I've had recently have been quite delicious. Not the tangueray and tonic of my college years!)

The restaurant was divided into smaller rooms which created a cozy atmosphere. Certainly, a problem with industrial spaces is they often are cold. Creating small rooms solved that problem. They also padded the walls which reduced the noise. Kudos to both those design touches.

I had spent the whole week studying the menu on line. So, getting the actual menu was a bit redundant. I already knew that I wanted the "farm egg baked in celery cream with rustic bread" for my appetizer. I was sure it was going to be fabulous. L opted for the chicken liver mousse, something I don't care for. Well, if the appetizer course was a competition, I won hands down. The farm egg was amazing. Soft, gooey, egg-y deliciousness.

For my entree, I had intended on getting the quail, but somehow the server talked me into the braised rabbit. Now, this dish was definitely melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The creamed turnips were divine and not like any other turnip I've ever tasted. Occasionally, I get a burst of orange in my mouth. But I have to admit, I couldn't get past the fact that it was rabbit. Maybe they could make it with something other than Peter Cottontail?

L had the New York strip. You would think that a man who runs a steakhouse would not order steak everywhere he goes. Well, you would wrong if you think that. His steak was good but it was the sides who were the stars. A savory polenta and perfectly done brussel sprouts.

Dinner was quite a success. I will now put Miller Union on my list of restaurants I must return to. I must have that farm egg again and I must try the quail next time. Of course, this assumes that I get out more!!

Date(s) Night

L & I haven't been able to get out much these days. We just moved and have been spending alot time and money on the new house. Add to that the fact that L has been working his a** off as of late. All this is to say that we just don't have the discretionary income or time to do much of anything.

Recently, we had an opportunity and we seized it. L scheduled himself off on a Friday night. I looked forward to this for weeks in advance. I tortured myself trying to figure out how best to spend this free Friday night. Should we go out with friends..or just the two of us? Should we have a dinner party? And most troubling of all....where should we go?

The few questions were easily answered. We opted for the date night. (This may be because it was just easier. If we decided to go out with friends, that would've led to a whole new host of questions...which friends? One other couple or two? I just wanted to keep things simple.) But choosing the right restaurant really challenged me. There are a million places on my list to check out, but it always seems that when the moment presents itself, no place seems quite right. Neither L nor I could agree on the right place.

Finally, after weeks of indecision, I suggested Rathbun's and L responsed "Rathbun Steak" - a place we have not been. We finally agreed and we were both super-excited about the prospect. Then, L's cousin Chris called and we invited him to join us.

So, now we were a party of 3. Still date night, but now I had TWO dates. Score for me. I put on my Jimmy Choos and my brand new little black dress and I was ready to party.

Rathbun Steak is quartered in a former industrial complex in the old fourth ward. It's urban, sophisticated and resoundingly male. But, then, what steakhouse isn't? To be honest, steakhouse really aren't my thing. If you've been to one, you've been to them all. They're all VERY expensive, have good steak, good sides, and few non-steak offerings (for the ladies.) Now, I like steak. I just don't necessarily need 22 ounces at one time.

With that being said, I would add that Rathbun Steak was a notch above your average steakhouse. Definitely a cooler, hipper version (with cooler, hipper clientele to match!) Since a steakhouse is a place of excess, it really was appropriate that I had 2 dates that night. We had a great night. The food was all fabulous. Cocktails - delicious and plentiful. Steaks - mouthwatering velvet. I had the tuna steak and it was perfect. The wine was luscious (but actually, we brought that), and dessert was sinful. And best of all, Cousin Chris picked up the (staggering) tab.

After dinner, the party continued over at Krog Bar (an adorable little place) where made new friends and stayed out much later than our old ages (or babysitter) warranted. Thank you, Cousin Chris for the fun evening. You can crash our date night anytime!

La Vitrola

In the months preceding our recent trip to Cartagena, Colombia, I prepared the way I usually do for vacations. I obsessively researched the dining scene to insure that we ate at all the "right" spots while on vacation. Now, I planned this vacation without really knowing a thing about Cartagena. Airfare was cheap and an old friend (Margaret who joined us on the trip) had mentioned it as being on her list of travel destinations. And it seeme exotic. Added to the mix was the fact that a favorite book of mine "Love in the Time of Cholera" takes place in Cartagena (and the movie was filmed there) and I was sold.

But after the tickets were purchased, my preliminary research told me that Colombia is not known for its food. In fact, I read that the food was bland and unsophisticated, even plain old bad. Oh, the horror! The whole trip was planned around L's 40th birthday and I had somehow picked a place with lousy food! However, on further research, I learned that Cartagena is considered Colombia's restaurant capital. Whew! Huge sigh of relief.

In all my research, one name kept coming up as *the* restaurant in Cartagena: La Vitrola. I couldn't read enough good things about it. According to reports, it was as legendary as it was hard to get in. I booked a reservation a month in advance, without difficulty. And then I waited impatiently for our dinner.

There were 4 of us for dinner that night. We arrived and were ushered in the somewhat secret door by the security/doorman who stands vigil at the door. He won't allow anyone in who doesn't have a reservation. We then mosied over to the bar for a pre-dinner cocktail and to catch a bit of the cuban band. The mojitos were awesome. The band was terrific.

The restaurant itself was charming. Set inside a 400 year old former monastery; it has real South American charm. This definitely was not an Atlanta restaurant. It was cavernous, yet intimate. There was something very 19th century about the restaurant, but the mojitos were definitely 21st century.

After cocktails, we sat in the dining room for dinner. Even though it was a Wednesday night, the restaurant was full. The food was cuban-inspired and everything was fabulous. I ordered the ropa vieja (which Margaret later told me translates to "dirty clothes" or "dirty laundry" or something.) It was delicious; a sort of spicy pulled beef with rice and peppers. The appetizers, mini empandas, were also great. Margaret, L, and Tom (a friend living in Colombia who joined us) all ordered pasta dishes and all raved about them. Dessert was awesome, too. ANd the mojitos flowed through out the night, while the cuban music pulsed.

We ate in many excellent restaurants while in Cartagena, but La Vitrola surpassed them all; in both food and atmosphere. I hope some day I get to return to this beautiful restaurant, but until then, I have the cherished memory of this fantastical night.

Shaun's Restaurant

Dear Shaun's,

I owe you an apology. We use to have you on our regular brunch rotation. But, somehow, you fell off. This is partly because we haven't been going out for brunch quite as much as we used to, and partly beacuse you're off our beaten path. You're clear on the other side of town and we just sort of....forgot. (ok, there was also a calorie-intake issue, but that's my problem, not yours!) I'm sorry. Believe me, I'm sorry becuase it was clearly our mistake. I now kneel down before you and beg your forgiveness.

Shaun's is a lovely restaurant in Inman Park. We've gone a few times for dinner, but usually we go for brunch. There's something so casually elegant about this restaurant. The decor manages to evoke Provence and urban chic. The food is both simple and complicated. Shaun Doty manages to make delicious, things I ordinarily steer clear of (chopped liver, anyone?) If the restaurant isn't lovely enough, the patio is even more so. It's so unexpected. It's this little hidden oasis in the back. Tucked away, not visible from the street.

After a long absence, we returned to Shaun's for Sunday brunch recently. As soon as I walked in, I felt at home and I realized "oh, I missed it here!" It's an odd feeling to not know you missed something until it's staring you in the face. How had I forgotten this little gem?

We sat on the patio, a group of 5. L insisted ordering arugula flatbread and chopped liver and egg for appetizers, along with a lovely bottle of pinot rose. Now, I'm not a fan of chopped liver, but Lee insisted I try it, and I have to say: it was delicious. The flatbread, of course, was extraordinary. Just the right amount of sea salt.

For my entree, I ordered the Louisiana grits and crawfish, with creole sauce and a sunny-side up egg on top. (Yeah, I threw the diet out the window that day!) To say it was delicious, doesn't do it justice. It was beyond delicious. It was heaven in my mouth. L had a burger and fries. Legend has it that those fries are cooked in duck fat. I believe that's why they are so darn good. We had a second bottle of rose with our entrees. Everyone was completely satiated by the meal's end (and a little buzzed!) Later that day, L looked at me and said "Can we go to Shauns' for brunch again...right now?"

Well, the good news is we moved and are now closer to Shaun's. Hopefully, this will translate to more frequent meals there. And I'm rooting for dinner. If brunch was this good, how great will dinner be?

Festival Food

So what's a self-proclaimed "foodie" like me doing writing about festival food? Serioiusly, does festival "food" count as food? Isn't it just offered to absorb the booze consumed?

Well, those are good points. Here, in Atlanta, spring is upon us and with it brings an outdoor festival each weekend. We, Atlantans, love to party outdoors under the guise of appreciating arts and crafts and live folk music. And what culinary delights are offered at these weekly festivals? Well, there's no escaping the ubiquitous chicken gyro. Don't forget the corndogs. Oh, and my personal favorite: "ice cream of the future," something called Dots. Man, that's some weird stuff.

But in New Orleans, they have a different way of doing things. L, A, and I just returned from a weekend in NOLA, celebrating Jazz Fest, the outdoor festival to end all outdoor festivals. Now, the music at Jazzfest is spectacular to be sure. But the food! I think I can safely say that we go for the food. We enjoy the music, but we make the 7 1/2 hour trek for the food.

And there's so much to choose from! Leave your diet at home and sample as much as you can. This year I opted for jambalya (ok, it had the shortest line, but it's always a safe bet!), a duck confit po'boy (mmmmmm!), and crawfish monica (can't go wrong there!). Little A had some crawfish bread which is like some delicious grilled cheese only w/ crawfish in it. L had a muffaletta and God knows what else (that man can eat!) Honestly, we barely scraped the surface. I missed out on the pheasant and quail gumbo, which my friend Jen said is her favorite thing. I resolve next year to make that a priority! Cajun sushi sounds scary to me, particularly if it's been sitting in the hot Louisana sun (but I am a little curious about it!) I always plan on getting the cochon po'boy, but the long line always scares me away. Next year, I may try the catfish almondine. That looked pretty good, too. There are desserts, too. Bread pudding, anyone...

So Atlanta, step up! Next time Paul McCartney is performing in Piedmont Park, do you think you could offer some food befitting the occasion? Look to the west, maybe New Orleans can cater the event.

Livingston

As long as I've lived in Atlanta, I've been enamored with the Georgian Terrace. Such a beautiful building, gracing the corner of Peachtree and Ponce de Leon. For the longest time, it sat, not quite abandoned, but not thriving either. Certainly, not living up to its potential either. I believe it was a hotel. But, was it? It seemed....empty.

Then, about a year ago, I drove by and noticeed a steel sign on the terrace announcing "Livingston." I thought "what's that?!? Is a cool new restaurant finally opening in that gorgeous building??" I was right. I also learned that the whole building had been renovated and was now a swank hotel, with a swank new restaurant.

I've been there now four or five times. It never disappoints. I just love dropping the car off at the valet and being escorted through the revolving door by the bellmen. I love strolling through the white marble lobby, making my way to the restaurant.

My first visit to Livingston was last Mother's Day. L was working so Brad & Eric graciously offered to take A and I to brunch. It was beautiful Sunday in May. A perfect day to sit on the magnificent terrace that overlooks Peachtree. Somehow, even though the terrace sits on Peachtree and Ponce, not the most "genteel" part of the city, sitting there, one can't help but feel peaceful, relaxed and in another time. My mind wandered to a time when trolleys rang down Peachtree, when the red carpet adorned the Fox Theater and the Georgian Terrace hosted the premiere of "Gone With The Wind." When you sit on that terrace, it's like you are there.

I remember that day, too, because A was so much fun. I got dresed in a pretty blue dress which A ruined by smearing his greasy little fingers all over it. But I didn't mind. I remember him laughing and feeding me french fries. Giggling and cooing at me. Brad & Eric, who have no kids and are very proper, tried desperately to ignore the toddler love-fest.

Livingston lives up to the grandeur of its surroundings. The food is elegant. The restaurant timeless. On the bar sits a white marble bust of the restaurant's namesake, a former mayor of Atlanta who lived across the street and was known for his flamboyant lifestyle. Cocktails at the bar include ingredients like absinthe. Now that takes you back, no?

I had dinner there again last Saturday night. Luckily, the weather was perfect and we sat on the terrace. It was beautiful. Like a fairy tale.