Inman Park’s Latest Offerings

The neighborhood has two new venues for great food, each playing to different parts of the foodie palate.

My crew hit BoccaLupo, currently rated #1 on the Eater Heat Map, on its opening night in the former Sauced location on Edgewood Avenue.  We had an amazing meal, including two delightful varieties of extruded pasta. Leave the kids at home and be sure to try the black spaghetti.

While no institution will ever replace Inman Park's beloved  T.W. Collins & Co., Julianna's Coffee & Crepes is making the best use of the unique cavern at the intersection of Ashland Ave. and Lake since Todd's departure. 

The restaurant opened right before Inman Park Festival at the end of April, so things are still coming together a bit.  The classic Nutella crepe that you will see most folks eating is a flash back to your favorite day in Paris.  If you are huffing it on the Beltline, this ultimate carb load is only two blocks away.  The savory crepes are tasty but small, so stick with the sweet offerings.  
  
The burgeoning restaurant scene in Inman Park has Highland Ave. backed up the weekends, but this not an issue at all during the week.  Come enjoy a patio meal anywhere in the 'hood on a Tuesday or Wednesday for a perfect Atlanta spring evening.

Inman Park Restaurant Week is Here!

The oak pollen is all but gone, so head into Inman Park this week for great deals on the best fare from some of Atlanta's top restaurants.

This year's Inman Park Restaurant Week, running now through April 1, features discounted tasting menus from 14 of the neighborhood's best eateries. 

Enjoy!

Who Ate that Stuff?

Congratulations to Chris Francisco on wrapping up his year long culinary adventure, Who Eats That Stuff?  Chris put himself through the paces of all Bufford Highway has to offer buy eating a different food every day for a year.  While some of these adventures were tame, most focused on exotic fare like the Japanese Fish Sausage Chris enjoyed on day 365 of his trek.

Who Eats That Stuff is well written and full of  great anecdotes and food finds to torture your friends with.  I am excited to see what Chris pursues next after giving his taste buds a bit of a rest.

Wrecking Bar Brewpub's Life Affirming Sandwich

Congrats to Inman Park's own Bob and Kristine Sandage on the recent grand opening of their new venture, The Wrecking Bar Brewpub.  Their renovation of the Victorian at 292 Moreland Ave. will astonish anyone who previously visited the property to dig through mounds of old fixtures and molding during the site's previous incarnation as a Bobo junkyard.

Craft beer is the focus here, but the center piece of our visit last week was the pastrami sandwich.  This is a masterpiece to rival anything served between two pieces of bread in Atlanta.  Coleslaw drippings, expertly grilled pastrami, and the exquisite crunch of perfectly toasted breaded combine to be sublime. This is not the over-stack Katz's scene.  This is grilled not steamed in a portion that drives you savor every precious bite.

All I can say is thank you!

New Neighborhood Noshes

While it only feels like spring outside, two great new eatery have sprung up in Inman Park the past few weeks.

Igloo Zoo, located next to Acappella Books in Little Five Points, brings soft serve yogurt back to Midtown Atlanta.  While not the tangy Korean goodness offered by the now deceased (and much missed) Juicy Green, this is a lively spot with five flavors of yogurt on tap and a great selection of toppings.  Fill you cup, heap on the toppings, and pay by the ounce.

Victory Sandwich, in the heart of Inman Park, is a game changer for the neighborhood.  Build around a Taqueria del Sol model, step to the counter and choose two or three 1/2 size sandwiches from a rotating menu.  Have a seat at the bar or a table in the converted space previously home to a Johnny's Pizza.  The decor is cool, the vibe is great and the sandwiches are amazing.  If it weren't already, the intersection of Highland Ave. and Elizabeth St. is officially a hot spot in Atlanta!

The Best Food in Atlanta

Jennifer Zyman, queen of the Atlanta food scene, dropped her best of 2010 list this week.  Check out the Bliss List 2010 on her Blissful Glutton blog.

A special shout out to my neighbors at Super Pan for making the list!  You know I love you.

Taiwanese Shaved Ice Hits Inman Park!

During my time in Taiwan, my sweet tooth quickly drew me to Baobing, the Taiwanese take on a snow cone. The versions I enjoyed in the Taipei night market were usually scrapped ice smothered with red beans or fruity syrups.

Sno-Flake, just opened in Inman Park (on Highland Avenue across from the Mead Development), offers a modern take on Taiwanese shaved ice.  Check their technique for molding flavors into ice blocks before spinning the blocks on custom built electric scrappers.  The results are delicious!

Pay a visit after your next power meal at Sotto Sotto for a healthy alternative to that chocolate soup!




Here is video of the more traditional version from Gem, my favorite all time video blogger.

Great Eats for a Good Cause

Head to the 'hood this week to enjoy discounted tasting menus from thirteen of Atlanta's finest restaurants.   The event benefits the Atlanta Community Food bank.

Atlanta's Best Street Food

Hector Santiago is a TV star and owner of Pura Vida, home of Atlanta's best Tapas experience. More importantly, he is the man who has given us the world's greatest burrito!

Make your way to the parking lot at Highland and Blue Ridge on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon to experience El Burro Pollo. Chicken burrito is the only game this food stall plays - $6 for a regular, $10 for a large.

Am I obsessed? Does the smoky burn of the pickled chilies induce some kind of hallucinatory state? Is this all just an excuse to run down the street for a King of Pops dessert?

There is only one way you will find out! See you in line next weekend.

Food for Thought: Do You Need Farmers for a Farmers Market? - WSJ.com

Food for Thought: Do You Need Farmers for a Farmers Market? - WSJ.com

The King of Pops Arrives

Spring break is upon us, but the real news in Inman Park is the surfacing of King of Pops.

Last night we dropped by the Irwin Street Market to check out the scene after seeing a Facebook post from the King on his Atlanta debut. The King's store in the Buddy's parking lot is a work in progress, so consider this a sneak peak.

The popsicles, $2.50 each, where all good. Strawberry/Rhubarb was amazing. The kids had a blast and the presentation of the popsicles is cool.

I will be making a solo trip this week for Mexican Chocolate. See you there!

Oxford American Comes to Atlanta

Oxford American magazine, the pride of Arkansas, hits Atlanta on March 26 to celebrate their 2010 Southern Food issue.

Support the cause by attending the luncheon or hang with the players at the $1,000 a couple dinner at Dogwood.

I will be keeping it real by just reading the new issue of the magazine. $5.95 at your favorite newsstand.