Burgers and Boozy Libations

Whew. What a busy October it has been! You know when you look at your calendar, and you think to yourself, when is the next free day?! Yep, that's been our world over here. We're busy at work, the hubs is also busy at school, and both of us were topping it all off with crazy busy weekends including two football road trips, a cabin getaway and a wedding.

Seriously, though, I always love October for this scheduling. Every year, it happens again, and every year, POOF we are thrown right into hard core Fall with the holidays right around the corner. Just like that, the trees are turning colors, tomorrow is Halloween and family comes into town in a few weeks for Thanksgiving. It might be busy, but it's always a gateway month leading into a few months of holiday fun. Long time readers of this blog know that I am a sucker for this entire time of year, from Fall to New Year's, so I do love the rush of it all.

Amongst that busy schedule, we found time to try out a new restaurant in town, Stillhouse Craft Burgers and Moonshine. The restaurant was kind enough to invite us to a media tasting, and so we had fun testing out the various burgers ... and of course, the moonshine :)

Photo courtesy of Stillhouse

One of the first things we noticed was that Stillhouse has taken over the space previously occupied by the East Andrews downstairs bar, making it a great spot for a late evening bite, perhaps before heading to a concert at Andrews Upstairs. The restaurant opens out onto a patio area that you can see from the street. Plus, the bar area has seen an awesome upgrade, complete with barrels filled with Stillhouse's signature moonshines and whiskeys.


We tried out a few different items on the menu. The pimento cheese, smoky as described, was quite good -- and that's coming from this Betty who of course has a recipe of her own momma's that she stands by! ;) We also tried out a few drinks. I really liked the Thyme to Shine -- herby and not too strong a flavor of moonshine, a nice late Summer/early Fall drink.

Photo courtesy of Stillhouse

Brad tried out the "Smoke Your Drink" feature, where the bartender infuses your selection of bourbon, whiskey or 'shine with the smoke from woods like Cherry, Apple or Pecan. They did the smoking effect tableside for us, which I don't think is standard, but I told them it should be -- it was cool to watch!

Our burgers were tasty as were the sides. We tried out the PB&J, which featured peanut hummus and fig jam, and the Southern, which had collard greens and gouda. The sides were really, really good -- try out the fries with gouda and the Spicy Mac and Cheese. Then (as if we had room in our stomachs to fit this, ha), we also tried out some desserts. The Chocolate Marble Cheesecake S'mores were decadent.

All in all, we had a good meal. The restaurant staff was really nice and helpful, and eager to share more about the restaurant's burger and moonshine theme. A quick side note to you Medium/Well burger types, their standard is Medium-Rare ish, they told me, so remember when you order to ask for what you'd like :) 

Have you been to Stillhouse yet? How did you enjoy your meal? I also noticed that they are on Scoutmob, which would be a fun way to try out the menu with a cash discount, if it's your first time. 

Disclosure: We received a complimentary meal from Stillhouse in exchange for this review. However, all opinions are my own!

Traveling Betty Style, Part IV: Edinburgh

One of the most ingenious (and honestly, coincidental) things we did while planning out our honeymoon trip was scheduling our last three-day stint to fall with Edinburgh, Scotland. After 10 days in small fishing villages and remote little towns in the mountainsides, returning to a big city was a breath of fresh air. We are city people, after all, and it was high time that we headed back to the world of endless restaurants, name brand shopping, public transportation and big city blocks.

Edinburgh was simply gorgeous. We particularly loved how the town was built in layers - there are full city streets that pass over other, older, full city streets, with passageways and old, hilly roads connecting them all. It's a winding, historical place!

Loved all of the passageways off the Royal Mile!

Since we were hitting it in the early springtime in Scotland, the weather was a little hit or miss. And by hit or miss, I mean, we saw all four seasons in a single day. One of the mornings was warm and sunny, but by lunchtime, storm clouds moved in, the temperatures quickly dropped, and rain and then HAIL (yes, hail) hit. It was crazy! So, for the most part, we stuck with our winter squall coats throughout.

While the weather may have prevented us from walking up to King Arthur's Seat (my brother said this is a must-see!), we braved the misty rain for a tour of the castle. I can't recommend this more! It is very worth the $15-20 admission. The history, artifacts (the crown jewels are here) and the views from the highest point in town will just wrap you in.

We happened to arrive just before this went off that day. Oh my goodness, I aged five years right on the spot. It was so loud!

The actual One O'Clock Gun.

From the restaurant scene, we loved two of the places we stopped by. After way too many days of pub food, we were jonesing for something "worldly" like Thai food really badly -- so we did a little Yelping at the local Internet cafe and found an amazing Thai restaurant just around the corner from the castle. It was amazing! We loved Thai Orchard, but, warning: their scale of how spicy the dishes are is NO. JOKE. Don't do like we did and go into spicier ranges. We honestly had trouble eating our (amazingly delicious) dishes in between having to take huge gulps of water. Oops :)

The second was a bar near our B&B (a cute, urban townhouse), the Salisbury Arms. They had Aspall on tap, a.k.a. the most amazing. cider. ever. Imagine sipping a huge glass of something that tastes like champagne, but goes down like cider. That was Aspall. Love it! It was my favorite pint of choice of the entire trip. This place also had tasty appetizers that were perfect for cocktail hour.

I was feeling a little depressed about my wardrobe by the time we got into town. Two weeks of turtlenecks, scarves and boots starts to wear on a gal, I guess, especially since we had just entered warm weather world back in Atlanta. I needed something flowy and girly to pair with my leggings! So, of course, I continued my tradition of global H&M shopping. The next time you travel, take a break in your day to stop by the local H&M. Every store is really different, so it never fails to impress. Two dresses and a pair of espadrilles later, and my girlishness was restored!

All in all, our two weeks in Ireland and Scotland were really quite magical. We returned refreshed, renewed and happy. Our combination of tourist meets local in each town along with all of our walks, hikes and car rides allowed us a lot of time for US -- an important aspect for a honeymoon or any special trip with your significant other! We wouldn't change a thing about it, and are so happy and lucky that we could make it all happen.

I hope that you have found this mini-series helpful! I know that since this is a blog centered around lifestyle in Atlanta, a series about international travel might not be exactly what you were expecting. But even the most diehard Atlantan needs a vacation here and there, after all. I hope my recommendations provide helpful insight if you ever venture to that part of the world. Safe travels! 

BBQ and Beans

One of my favorite parts of living in the South is the food. While I am not a greens and fried chicken kind of gal, I will take a fried green tomato alongside shrimp and grits any day of the week. I can't wait to see what types of NoLa goodies make their way to the big game parties happening tonight. What are you making for your party?

If there was one Southern food that trumped all others in my book, though, it would be barbeque. I just can not pass up that slow cooked meat, y'all (yes, Northern relatives, I sometimes say "y'all," ha!). BBQ is a Southern's soul food. It's a perfect year-round meal, but it especially goes well with tailgating, cornhole and beers.

Oh wait, it's not football season yet ;) But while I am at it, Go Jackets and War Eagle! :)

People in the South are really serious about their BBQ. There are all styles of making it, first of all. From Memphis-style to Carolina, they vary in the types of meat, sauce, rubs and how they are served. On top of that, there are the sides. Some love theirs with cornbread; others can't have it without mac n' cheese or okra.

For me, I don't think there is any one "best" style. I love trying all styles of BBQ, which is what brought me to Moe's Original BBQ on 14th Street in Midtown. 

When the team behind Moe's invited me out for a meal, I knew I needed to swing by, because their storefront has grabbed my attention every time I have driven past. Local ATLiens will know their space as the renovated Kool Korners. I love that the space, once know by the Georgia Tech crowd for the cuban sandwiches, is now known as a great spot to grab some BBQ.

Moe's has a cool history. Here's a tid-bit from their site:

Moe’s Original BBQ was founded by three Bama boys: Mike Fernandez from Tuscaloosa, Ben Gilbert from Athens, and Jeff Kennedy from Huntsville. After meeting at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, they instantly became friends and had a mutual interest in all things Southern: BBQ, blues, college football, and whisky.

In 1988, Mike hooked up with Moses Day in Tuscaloosa and began learning to fire roast meats. When Moses fired up his backyard barrel pit, everyone in T-Town knew where to go. The boys were lucky to learn from Moses and his distinct style makes up Moe’s original flavor of BBQ.

Source: Uploaded by user via Moe's Original on Pinterest

Even though I am an Auburn gal, I am willing to forgive them of their Bama roots ;) because their BBQ is really that awesome. The guys at the Atlanta location, including owners Brett and Preston and GM Glen (also known as Schaffer), set us up with a huge sampler spread so we could try everything out. From their smoked turkey breast to the pulled pork sandwich and ribs, Moe's has their BBQ down. I trouble picking a favorite style. The white sauce they offer up was a really cool twist on your usual red sauce. If you pick their "Bama Style" sandwich, it comes with the white sauce right on top.

Photo courtesy of Moe's Original BBQ

The other thing Moe's does really well are those sides that I was talking about. Whether you are a baked beans person or prefer the classic slaw, Moe's has what you are looking for. They also feature a rotating menu of special sides that change daily. Among others, we got to try out some gumbo (amazing) and black-eyed peas (also stellar). I personally really enjoy cornbread with my BBQ, and Moe's cornbread (seen above on the top left) was fantastic, too - a huge slice, fried up crispy in a griddle, if I had to guess.

The thing I really loved about Moe's is that their staff is just so gosh darn friendly. This is a place that would be clutch for hanging out and watching the game with a beer, talking stats with the owners. They make everyone feel at home. It's a little touch of college town, smack in the middle of Midtown. It would also make a great pre- or post-game stop for GA Tech basketball, since it's within walking distance of the coliseum. 

Many thanks to the team at Moe's Original BBQ for having us for dinner! Can't wait to swing past again soon -- I highly recommend that you all do, too!

PS. For my fellow AU fans, you will be proud to know that there is a Moe's located right by Toomer's Corner, too :) :)

Disclosure: I was provided a complimentary meal, but all opinions are my own.

Holiday Libations

Tonight, I am hosting the Fourth Annual Girls Night Cookie Exchange at the condo. To say I am excited is an understatement. I have been thinking about this for weeks, and it's finally here!

While I will be making a special mulled wine for the ladies tonight, I think we all appreciate a good beer here and there, too, and especially at the holiday season. That's why TAP 1180's upcoming beer dinner caught my eye. Sweetwater beer paired with an awesome seasonal menu? I love it! 

Photo via TAP website

Check out the menu: 

420 + Seared New Bedford Scallop
Fennel puree, grapefruit bubbles, cucumber & mache

BROWN + Adam's Gnudi
Rosewood farm's Billy ragout, crushed pecorino, olive oil

LowRYEder + Curried Chicken & Sweet Potato "Pot Pie"
Springer Mountain Farms Chicken, coconut curry, sweet potatoes, flakey pie crust

Exodous + Roasted Venison Loin
Caramelized parsnips & carrots, sprout leaves, date and coffee puree, coriander jus

Festive Ale + Chocolate & Banana Éclairs
Chocolate ganache, banana custard, crushed macadamia nuts, banana chips

Nom nom nom. My nearest and dearest know that 420 is my go-to beer of choice (lo be the day that I don't live within Sweetwater distributor regions ... they just MUST expand nationally by then!), but any Sweetwater is good by me. 

This special dinner at TAP will be held next week, Tuesday, December 18th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $55 per person, all inclusive ... not a bad deal for five courses plus beers! I think this would make an excellent "holiday gift" for that special someone if you are still early in the dating spectrum  -- no need to stress over finding that perfect gift. 

Happy Eating (and Drinking!)!

Disclosure: No connection to TAP -- just wanted to share a great deal! 
 

More Pizza Love

You can take a girl out of Jersey, but you can't take the Jersey out of a girl. Or at least that is what I tell myself when I gorge myself on pizza whenever I have the opportunity.

Pizza is one of those things that I don't think I could ever give up. Even when I am behaving my best on WW or trying to drop a few pounds at the gym, a hot, cheesy pizza has me at hello, every. single. time. The only pizza I could care less about? The fast food/frozen variety. No thanks. Local NYC pizza shop? Hello, lover.

Last night we ventured out of the Buckhead bubble to try out a brandy new wood-fired pizza place down in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood. Friends who live nearby, you are about to be sooo happy. Ammazza is opening up today, featuring Naples-style wood-fired pizzas with an amazing variety of toppings.

While Ammazza officially opens today, we were invited to join in for the pre-opening weekend to test out all of the goodies. Even as soon as we drove up, we knew this place was going to be a hit with the locals. I loved the building, inside and out. The middle of the restaurant features an amazing long table under original exposed ceilings and surrounded by original brick walls. I am a sucker for a converted office space turned hip restaurant! 

I also love any restaurant that provides views straight into the kitchen. The dining area overlooks a set of amazing brick ovens and a busy-working staff.

 

As if their space alone wasn't enough, Ammazza did not disappoint with their food. We tried the "Polpete," a meatball appetizer which must be someone's Italian grandmother's recipe, it was that good, and then scarfed down an entire pizza. Witness our choice:

 

We tried the restaurant's name brand pizza, the Ammazzare, which was covered in Vidalia onions, peppers, homemade sausage and house mozzarella. Holy cannoli, so good! (PS. we also had the cannoli. I, Katherine the Cannoli Lover, fully approve!)

 

Look! A rare blog sighting of the man. And he even asked to be included in today's post. He must have been smitten with the sausage and peppers pizza :)

 

I should also mention that the rest of their menu looked amazing. Here were some of the other pizzas that had my eye:

• CINQUE FORMAGGI: A white pizza with caprino, fior di latte, ricotta, romano and house mozzarella seasoned with extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil, cracked peppercorn and sea salt
• TERRA: A white pizza with wild mushrooms, house mozzarella, goat cheese, basil and truffle oil
• BOLOGNESE: Homemade meatballs and Italian sausage paired with house mozzarella, ricotta and fresh basil

Our verdict? Ammazza is an amazing addition to this neighborhood. If you are an Old Fourth Ward resident, or anyone who appreciates a good pizza like I do, you are going to want to make your way over. I love that they are catering also to the late-night crowds that populate this area (think: Sound Table and Church bars are just a few blocks down ...) and will be open until midnight Sundays through Thursdays and 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Their menu offers multiple vegetarian options, and their full bar is stocked with great local and international options, too. 

Let me know if you head over and what you think!

Ammazza

591-A Edgewood Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

404-228-1036

Disclosure: We were provided with a complimentary meal as part of this grand opening event, but all opinions are my own! Definitely try this place out :) 

 

New to the Neighborhood

Being in Buckhead for over four years now has allowed me to see a lot of places come and go. Little boutiques open and then shut because they are located on a horrible corner. Old standbys move locations and succeed even more, like Fado did around the corner. New restaurants open to critical acclaim, old favorites close after management decides to retire. It's just the way of the world, and when you live somewhere long enough, you start to really notice each individual change.

There's a new addition to the Buckhead neighborhood that I hope will be staying around for a long, long time. Last night I was lucky enough to be invited to the soft-opening of a brand new bakery on Lenox Road. Mae's Bakery opens today, and features cupcakes, croissants, cookies and a full coffee bar, making it a great new spot for you and the gals, or you and your wife, or you and the kids to head for a little sweet something-something.

Beth, the fabulous owner and momma to Mae herself (who is a cute little girl of six or seven), loved making others happy through baking so much that she has decided to take that big step and open up her own shop. Nothing better than that - go Beth! I think this is so awesome. Even better, though, is that her sweet and sugary concoctions are fabulous. Check out this display case.

I relaxed last night with a crazy-good s'mores cupcake that had a graham cracker base, a marshmallow topping and a piece of chocolate sitting right up on top.

And then I may have brought some home to "share" and maybe ate another half of a Banana Chocolate Chunk cupcake.

Note: and to top it off, I skipped this morning's run as a result, oh my! ;) 

What I really enjoyed about Mae's Bakery is that it's tucked away in that quaint little strip on Lenox Road in between Lenox Mall and Buford Highway. I have driven past there so many times, looking longingly over and wondering how nice it must be to be able to walk across the street from your highrise home to grab a drink and a bite to eat. Now, those same residents can walk across for a sweet bite at Mae's!

And I might be altering my commute to/from work a bit to make sure I can stop in more, too :)

Thanks, Beth and Mae, for inviting me to stop by! The cupcakes were great (and note: they were my only compensation for this post, ha! ;) )

Bonjour!

This is a quickie post today but mostly because the details are still pretty slim -- guess what is coming back to Atlanta, and relocating to Buckhead??

Stumped? You might remember them as this!

F.A.B. was an awesome spot in Downtown. Their rooftop bar was amazing, as was the interior decor, but the Downtown scene, while bumping during the summer Mart-DragonCon season, is pretty quiet for the rest of the calendar year. That sadly saw the end of FAB as we knew it a few years ago :(

Some of the original PR gals at a FAB summer rooftop event -- all the way back in 2008!

The team behind FAB has been working hard, though, and their newest spot has been under way since late 2011. I am so excited to see it actually coming to life! F and B's new digs, while a bit North of the main hotel drag in Buckhead, should definitely provide the traffic they need to be a popular hit for locals and tourists alike. I can't wait to head back and see how their menu has changed and which of my favorites (the mussels!) are still there. 

While it appears many of the details are being kept under wraps, you can follow along with the opening, scheduled for the 21st (Saturday night!), via their website, Twitter or Facebook.

See you soon at France in Buckhead!

Feel the Chill

Atlanta is such an ever-changing town with restaurants and bars. I only have to drive one minute down the road to see something new every few weeks. While I love the old stand-bys, I also love that you never know what cool, new place is going to open up around the corner.

While I heard about the Czar Ice Bar a month or so ago (from my mom - go Mom!), I hadn't heard much else about this new sushi + vodka spot until they reached out to me earlier this week with an invite to attend a tasting evening. You all know how I love me some V, so I was of course in! I also love sushi, and have been looking for a nice "date night appropriate" sushi spot nearby ever since Bluepointe closed (sad days).

Czar Ice Bar opened up about two months ago in a space which used to be the bar for Andrews Upstairs. Located directly next to that popular music destination, it's no wonder that Czar has a great late-night appeal and a feel of city glam.

Feeling the warmth of this crazy hot heatwave hitting A-town? Grab a seat by the bar, which, no joke, is made of ice!

If you are a vodka-drinker, your head is about to spin. The Czar Ice Bar menu has not just one huge side of their menu dedicated to the clear liquid, but half of the front side of the menu, too! We sampled a variety of V last night when we were there, but my favorite was the 7even-7even-0h. Clever pun of our phone area code aside (I love that kind of thing!), I loved seeing the bartender flambe a piece of grapefruit to rub down the edges of the glass.

 

 

BB Tip: If they don't bring you any, ask for some water, too, because even though many of these vodkas are as smooth as water, they are not water! An easy mistake for your mind to make, especially after one or two or three. Preach. 

We loved that the vodka flights came out in their very own ice mold to keep things as cold as possible!

The sushi? Also fantastic. While we didn't try any of the nigiri or sashimi, my man has tried it there on another recent occasion and said it was some of the best he's had around town. We tried a lot of their special menu items last night, instead, like the Lobster Roll (so good):

 

  

A serious caveat -- this is a vodka and sushi bar. If you don't like one or the other, there isn't much on the menu for you. They do have sodas, some beers and wine, but really don't offer many other liquors.

Not a fan of sushi? Their spring rolls and goyza dumplings were fantastic, too, and could make a good meal when combined with an order of edamame.

This wall of vodka makes me happy :)

So, our review? A must-do if you are a vodka lover, and a great date night spot for some sushi-craving fans. They have a late-night dress code, so don't expect to walk in with flip flops or shorts on. It's a good spot to leisurely hang out, too. Grab a spot on the couches and sip some V while you wait for your sushi. 

We can't wait to go back! Thanks, Czar Ice Bar!

Disclosure: I was invited to a complimentary tasting event and was able to try menu items that appealed to us. All opinions are my own. 

Hidden Pizza

Earlier last week, I received an email from Urban Daddy with the same title as this post. "Hidden Pizza and a Wine Tunnel in Buckhead." Though I was seriously intrigued with just that title alone, it wasn't until I received an invitation to scope out this new spot for it's soft opening tonight that I knew I had to stop by and see what all this buzz was about! And oh am I so glad I did!

Here's the quick run-down of our town's latest newcomer, STG Trattoria, straight from UD:

Once you do manage to get a beat on this place (it’s not visible from the street), you’ll quickly find yourself in an arched tunnel of an entryway surrounded by brick and endless racks of wine bottles. Consider it foreshadowing.

Because just to the end of that tunnel and to the right lies a massive, U-shaped communal table facing an open kitchen and those two Acunto wood-fired pie ovens. Take a seat, order some wine on tap or a Reviver Pop (it’s absinthe, Cocchi Americano wine, lemon juice and tonic) and get ready for a show.

That show: brought to you courtesy of a couple of Sotto Sotto and Abattoir vets who’ll be busy putting the perfect char on your margherita, judiciously kneading your pasta and assembling charcuterie plates like surgeons.

I was so happy to be included in tonight's preview of this cool new restaurant. The atmosphere was swank and the crowd was see-and-be-seen Buckhead.

While tonight's party was standing-room only, the restaurant will feature seating around this high-topped U-shaped table that faces into the open brick-oven kitchen.

I love restaurants that feature windows into the prep areas. It was cool to watch the teams pull together the appetizers being passed around tonight. 

 
If the small bite tasting menu from tonight was any indication, we are in for a treat when STG Trattoria opens! My favorites included the meatballs and the oven-blistered pizza. Nom nom nom.

Local friends, keep an eye out for the grand opening of STG Trattoria! It's sure to be a great new neighbor and addition to the Buckhead dining scene :)