Neptune Oyster

No text needed for this homage to Neptune Oyster in the North End (Boston).

 

Clam Box

I used to escape to Ipswich when I needed a break from the myopic and insular world of medical school. Only 45 minutes' drive north of Boston lies this refreshingly real and unpretentious seaside town with some of New England's best fried clams. 

Blue Hill Grills at Stone Barns

Mid-winter outdoors barbecue grill complete with fire and snow at the Blue Hill at Stone Barns' third annual Blue Hill Grills.  The custom-made grill, a modified Argentine asado from GrillWorks, burned wood on one side, away from the food. After the wood turned into charcoal, it (sans fire) is moved to the other side to cook and smoke the meat.  Because the meat is never grilled over direct fire, it has a lovely smoked taste without any dry bitter black burnt crud.  All the dishes had at least one main ingredient that was grilled, even the grilled apple strudel dessert and the smokey-flavored vanilla ice-cream (how the heck did they do that?). 

Communal seating meant we ate with John and Nathalie Fischer from the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park.  Because many of the staff at BH@SB graduated from CIA, they worked hard to please their former mentor.  Our entire table benefited from this extra TLC from the staff, although I have to say the ballet-like synchronized serving was kind of weird.  The 4 waiters would circle our table of 8 diners, wait for the head waiter's cue, and then place our plates on the table in perfect unison.  It was like watching synchronized swimmers - fascinating, but kind of weird.  Also at our table was Greg the Farmer.  Except Greg the Farmer could also talk in depth about carbon footprint, how to turn lobster shells into charcoal, and sustainable farming issues.  There are only 3 official farmers at Stone Barns, and it appears being a scientist/genius is a prerequisite.    

Billy's Dream

Why are there so many Billy's Bakeries popping up all over NYC?  Regardless, this is to all our benefit, as their cupcakes are phenomenal, and you can go to their store(s) without running into the annoying Sex In The City Tourists who throng the lines at Magnolia Bakery.

Pat La Frieda, Burger Genius

Now available at the Delta terminal at La Guardia airport - Pat La Frieda's own custom burgers, a heavenly blend of brisket-chuck-short rib-skirt steak.   You can grab one of these on the way into NYC and another one (or two or more) on the way out of NYC.  In fact, given that there are no Pat La Frieda burgers in Atlanta (and nothing close to it), I should've bought a dozen and brought them back to Atlanta with me.  Pat La Frieda is the genius who quit Wall Street to reinvent the burger (read more in this fascinating article from New York Magazine). These burgers at the Delta terminal are AS GOOD AS the burgers he supplies to Dan Meyer's Shake Shack, and I'm still waiting to try his Minetta Tavern burgers.  

Farm 255, Athens (Georgia, not Greece)

Sunday Thai Street Food

I ate here thanks to a review on EatBufordHighway. While I normally stay away from restaurants with the words "sushi bar" in its name, I went to try the Sunday Thai street food special at Thaicoon & Sushi Bar. On the special menu (and not on the regular menu) are comfort staples such as rice noodle soups, grilled chicken/pork with sticky rice, crispy pork belly & spinach with rice, and green papaya salad. Thaicoon was definitely a solid choice if you're hankering for a more authentic and simple taste of Bangkok on a wintry Sunday afternoon in Atlanta. Of course, all this pales in comparison with the incomparable SriPraPhai Thai Restaurant in New York City, but hey I am stuck in Atlanta (for now).

Mission Chicken

Much to my delight, Pollo Campero, the deliciously addictive Guatemalan fried/grilled chicken chain, has opened on an outpost here in my far-flung corner of the world!!! 3389 Buford Highway in Atlanta, to be precise, which is only 5 minutes north of my office! Now THIS is fried chicken/fast food worth supporting, unlike the anti-gay evangelical chicken fast-food chain Chick-Fil-A. I loved Pollo Campero during the three months when I was working in rural Guatemala back in 2001. Weekend trips to Antigua or Guatemala City inevitably involved a pitstop at Pollo Campero for its delicious crispy on the outside & juicy on the inside fried chicken or lime/citrus-infused herb grilled chicken. And I am happy to report that the Atlanta incarnation is just as good as the pollo I remember from Guate. I'm also (not so) secretly delighted that the Guatemalans may be beating the American fast food chains on its own turf. Hooray for Pollo Campero! (and boycott Chick-Fil-A!).