Our latest adventure brought us back to Athens, GA for a speaking engagement. You know I will always wrap a great meal around any type of traveling. We also invited some of our Grady School Advertising students as well. In fact my man Elliot Strauss, who created our new logo, was in attendance. The food pics were also taken by my mentee Cara. So if you notice the food pics are much improved, that's why.
These students are so much more responsible than I was, which is setting the bar fairly low
Cinco y Diez is the latest collaboration between Hugh Acheson and Melissa Clegg whom brought us five & ten. They brought on board Whitney Otawka, former executive chef at Farm 255, who was featured on Bravo’s “Top Chef."
We started out with the roasted oysters with adobo butter and masa crumble. It was delicious. Not quite Drago's in New Orleans, but probably as good as you could get east of the Mississippi. My love affair with oysters goes back to 4th grade, so I started on these things early. I feel bad for folks that can't eat any incarnation of one of natures best foods. I definitely have fallen for roasted oysters, though raw is still the best way to go.
It's as good as it looks
The ceviche with red snapper was good too and packed a nice little punch.
The Huarache might have been my favorite dish of the night. I was chorizo, potato, salsa verde, quail egg and ricotta.
MVP of the night
I also ordered the Braised Neck Lamb Barbacoa Taco and that was friggin' delicious. It may have to go into the "Best Taco" contest I've been threatening to have for the last year. It was so good, and I might have had a few drinks at this point, I forgot to get a picture.
Aesthetically they did a wonderful job. Here are a couple of more pics.
Overall, this was a great dining experience. If you are in Athens and are looking for something a little different and a nice latin flair, Cinco y Diaz should be your choice.
Today's Footnote: Athen's is a great culinary town. I still have yet to hit 5 & 10, which will have to be my next stop when I'm back there later this spring.
Below is a shot with some of our Mentee's from UGA this year. If you are in advertising and are interested being an Advertisting Mentor starting in August, please feel free to contact me. This pic was taken from a fundraiser we did for Mary Lindemulder who lost her leg in Atlanta's January snow storm. To find out how you can help Mary go to http://www.gofundme.com/6p5mw0 or www.abac-online.org
We are still looking for a new Tournament to do. "Best Taco in Atlanta" seems to be the clubhouse leader. Let me know your thoughts.
Warning: The following may be inappropriate for children under the age of 13 and those unfamiliar with Bo Kimble. Okay maybe not. I'm probably one of 10 people that remember the Bo Kimble/ Hank Gathers incredible journey in March of 1990. Click here to read more.
The old Decatur Train Depot has been converted to a total kickass restaurant with an unbelievable bar to boot. The Kimble Houseis a unique blend of old and new traditions. They pull it off in with a great ambiance and great bartenders. The dining room was smaller than I had expected and they do not take reservations, so the bar better be good! Their cocktails and scenery make it an easy wait.
My MVD (most valuable dish) of the night was the Brown Butter Sole. But let's be honest, it's two of my favorite things combined. The sole was cooked to perfection with a touch of sweetness that made me want to order another one.
Brown Butter Sole, much better than this crappy pic
The runner up MVP had to be the sauce for their Oysters. Their mignonette sauce came in an old school eye drop bottle. I felt like I was administering meds to one of my two year olds, but with shallot-infused vinegar.
They run a great Happy Hour Oyster Extravaganza at a discounted rate until 7p.
See the medicine dropper?
In fact the sauce may be too good. I'm not sure if I would pass a drug test after this one.
I bought the whole, "the balls are juiced" theory. I must have misunderstood which balls they were referring too.
The Beef Tartare was incredible with their homemade steak sauce and olives. The beef was the highest of quality. The mushroom shaped brioche was a perfect compliment. I am a sucker for anything Tartare. If you put a dead deer in front of me and gave it a fake fancy name like "vie la venison tartare," I would probably eat it and write about it. If I survived of course.
Other highlights included the Spicy Fennel Sausage and the Shaved Brussell Sprouts with mushrooms.
Spicy Fennel Sausage in a crappy picture
It may be presented like Spam, but trust me, it's delicious.
I've never understood Spam. Do people eat this? How can you justify eating a meat product with the shelf live of Ric Flair's wrestling career? When the world ends, what's left? Cockroaches, Spam and Keith Richards, right? Do you want to put that into your body?
"Hey assholes, while you were doing yoga and eating gluten free tofu, I was shooting up heroin and drinking fifths of jack for breakfast. If I could control my bladder, I would piss on your grave."
And the seafood chowder was delicious too! Better than Peter Griffin's anyway.
The Seared Sablefish was the only dissapointment. I think that is because the Brown Butter Sole was just too damn good. I thought the dish was a little bland.
Their drink selection is one of their signatures. It's a throwback menu with original concoctions. And the wine menu wasn't deep, but it receives high marks for quality.
Congrats to Leslie on her retirement from media!
Overall, this was an INCREDIBLE meal. One of our bests. I would put the Sole and Beef Tartar up against most any dish.
I would say this meal is right up there with Empire State South, Miller Union and Gunshow with a much better bar. The service was as good as Bones or Buckhead Life as well.
I would say ask for our waiter, but I can't remember his name. It was a bit porn-ish sounding. Maybe Lance?
And he may or may not have looked a little like Zach Galisnufalufagus. And the women in our group may or may not have had a crush on him and called his hair "fun." I have no idea what this means, nor do I want to.
Separated at Birth?
We give the Kimball House the absolute highest of recommendations. So go enjoy one of their signature beverages and some oysters and make it a night!
One last note. I wasn't crazy about their desserts. Full disclosure I'm not a huge dessert guy and in fairness, Leslie loved their offerings. I thought they were a little bland.
Today's Footnote: Instead of watching the Olympic Opening Ceremonies, I watched Captain Phillips. I don't think I could have made a better choice. It's an astonishing movie by Paul Greengrass.
It only took me a year, but I finally made it to the Red Eyed Mule for their famed Jakes Sloppy Slaw Burger. This of course was made famous by the Food Networks Alton Brown in "The Best Thing I Ever Ate."
This week was a historical week in Atlanta. We were brought to our knee's by what is now being called "Snowpocalypse." Atlanta hasn't been this hurt since someone by the name of Sherman came through the town in 1865. It was as if the "Walking Dead" came to fruition.
Jon Stewart did a great bit on it:
So five days after the event and my wife having the flu all week, I wanted to "get away." I know Marietta isn't exactly a road trip, buy in my myopic view of Atlanta, it kind of is. So I packed up my daughter and away we went!
Back to the Jakes Sloppy Slaw Burger. It had two things I don't like on burgers, coleslaw and Texas Toast. Oh, and it was messy, really messy. But guess what, I LOVED IT. The burger falls apart because it's ridiculously juicy and the meat almost melts in your mouth. Kind of like (yep I'm going to say it) Holeman & Finch. And the Sloppy Jimmy Sauce gives it a tiny kick and incredible flavor. It's the best sauce I've ever had on ground beef.
Sloppy Heaven.
I would also recommend the onion rings as well.
Aesthetically it has the feel of an old burger joint, but it's only been around since 2010.
The inside has minimal seating and a bar overlooking the kitchen.
And the service was great. Meaning it was both attentive and personal. You can tell they take pride in what they do, which is 50% of the battle.
Even though they are going for the "old school" look, you have to appreciate their "twists" on traditional American. They are definitely a wolf in sheep's clothing.
I will definitely be back sooner than later. And I will check out their breakfast as well. Their smoked sausage and cheese biscuit like it could clog my arteries faster than 2 inches of snow on the 75/ 285 interchange! Too soon?
The Dry Rub will leave you with this thought. If we did the burger tournament again, this burger may have changed the outcome. I think that says it all. But don't worry, the price is right. For what you get, it's an incredible deal.
Today's Footnote: This one is easy. Take the Seahawks +3. You're welcome.
Footnote #2: If you were in Atlanta in 1996 this is a must see ESPN 30 for 30. You can view it here:
Warning: The following may be inappropriate for children under the age of 13 and those who would hire Richard Sherman as their spokesman
This is one of the great "get together" times in sports. The greatest Football day of the year is the NFC/ AFC Championship Game, followed two weeks later by the Superbowl. This year featured two of the top five QB's of All-Time facing each other. And the best team won. The NFC game featured the most physical teams in the league and it lived up to all the hype. Here is a look into what happened after each game.
Brady, "Congrats and by the way, you really don't drive a Buick, right? I've been meaning to ask. Or do you deliver your Papa John's in it? I don't have to do those lame endorsements because my Supermodel wife makes more money than we do combined." Manning, "Dammit, I thought I finally got one up on you."
Jim, "Hey Pete congrats. I know I looked angry all game, but really I'm constipated, so I have to run. Then I have to go make reporters look like idiots." Pete, "No worries dude, I own your sorry ass anyway. Isn't that great?"
The Big Game should be all it's cracked up to be. Take the Seahawks +2. You are welcome.
We had some friends come over for the games. Dan volunteered to smoke a boston butt and bring it over since we have three kids under five running around my house. A side note, Dan recently was dubbed the Dry Rub Cinqo and he delivered on some delicious, mouth melting pork.
He is also one of the few people that goes by three names and hasn't killed someone famous. Think about it, John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald, Mark David Chapman, James Earl Ray, etc. If you become famous DROP THE MIDDLE NAME! Or go Michael B. Jordan for obvious reasons (see Fruitvale Station, trust me). If you are being referred to by all three of your names, the SHIT HAS HIT THE FAN.
Back to the Butt. Start with the bone in boston butt (8.5lbs) "the shoulder" with green apple and red pepper flakes from Oak Grove Market - local and great meat!
Inject with apple juice and brown sugar. Let it sit for two hours.
Use mustard rub with soy sauce and Worcestershire. Then seasoned (chili/old bay/dry mustard/garlic/s&p) right before the Green Egg.
Use apple wood chips for flavoring- smoked 10 hours at 250 degrees.
Then wrapped it with cider vinegar/apple juice/brown sugar and butter. On the grill until temp hit 195.
Then wrap it in cellophane, to finish it off and place in a cooler for 1 hour.
Use the season again to blend over it. Back on grill for another 30 mins and then swiped thick with enhanced BBQ sauce for 20 minutes.
BBQ sauce- base of Fox Bros Sauce with green apple micro-planed and red pepper flakes ground.
Animals were harmed to make this meal, but no animals were harmed making that shirt
Pulled the pork with bear claws and mixed with the sauce.
And voila! This may be the most moist and flavorful pork I have ever had. It went down like butter and we ended up in a food coma shortly there after.
Thanks for the great meal! Can't wait for the Superbowl.
Warning: The following may be inappropriate for children under the age of 13 and goyam.
The General Muir is self described as a true NY Jewish Delicatessen in Atlanta and it is as close as you'll get her in the ATL. And it's properly situated near Emory University. The General Muir has a good chance to dethrone the other culinary General, our friend General Tso. Just kidding of course. There is no Chinese food that is more "un" Chinese than pretender of a dish. It's an embarrassment to Chinese food. And probably an embarrassment to the General himself, may he rest in peace.
We started out with quite a few appetizers. The brussel sprouts were good, not as good as Valenza's, but tasty. The deviled eggs were delicious too.
But the highlight of the app's was the Poutin. It's a dish with fries, gravy, cheddar cheese curds, pastrami. It should be renamed, "The Emory Cardiologist Special."
The Poutine- Tastes as good as it looks
The close second was this Pimento Cheese jar, with what else? Pastrami! I was very reminiscent the jars at Empire State South.
Pimento Cheese, Bagels and Pastrami.? Pass the yamaka!
Oh the other highlight was this nice bar......
Great bar area. Melissa was great behind the bar and makes some great recommendations not just for drinks, but food
The Musar Jeune Red 2011 was a wonderful Lebanese wine from the Bekka Valley. It was a delicious blend that complimented the Jewish fair perfectly.
I was surprised by how much I liked this wine
For my main dish I, of course, had pastrami. But with a twist. I had it with chopped liver, russian dressing on double baked rye.
My favorite deli meat is a good pastrami and previously the only good pastrami I could count on in Atlanta was Goldbergs (as I documented in our sandwich tournament), but the General Muirs is better. And I love the many incarnations of the pastrami sandwich they provide.
Beth, our resident DR4 vegetarian Beth had the stewed lentils. She couldn't help herself and dove in before we got this picture......
For a vegetarian dish, not bad, if you are into that sort of thing
The Hot Brown was ordered by two of our diners. It's Challah bread, topped with turkey, pastrami, tomatoes and gravy. They raved about it.
This dish was both hot and brown
Overall, we loved the General Muir. I really want to try their brunch which I hear is delicious. We had a great meal with great wine and of course with great friends.
The Dry Rub Cinco!
REVISED Footnote (2/15/14):
I finally had the famous Smoked Hash with Pastrami at 8 am today. Of course the one who said we had to be there at eight cancelled at the last minute, but we made it happen anyways! And Katie, I couldn't do Chicken Liver at 8 am. The pastrami and caramelized onions were a perfect compliment with the sunny side up eggs.
Jeni's splendid ice creams is basically ice cream artistry. The expectation is set high as they are setting up shop at Atlanta's infamous Westside Provisions.
Basically, it's gourmet ice cream with something for everyone.
Here are the flavors I was partial too.
This was my favorite, lots of flavor, the brittle was a nice texture change. And anything with brown butter wins in my book.
The Brambleberry Crisp was my #2. Which surprised me since I am not a big blackberry or raspberry consumer. But this may be the most buttery ice cream I have ever had. It was as smooth as a great Napa Valley Russian River Chardonnay or Johnny Walker Blue, but much more fattening. Though it won't impact your decision making nearly as much.
This is their #1 seller and it was really good, but my #3. If you like salty ice cream, I could see why this would be right in your wheelhouse. They also had plenty of toppings as you will see below.
They also had some homemade ice cream sandwiches and had Bardorf & Bronson coffee as well. If you want to head out for ice cream, I would highly recommend Jeni's over any chain parlor.
Here is a very satisfied customer!
Today's Footnote:
I have found one of the greatest YouTube clips ever. Enjoy!
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