Atlanta etc.: Marilyn Wolf's Food Blog and Restaurant Blog

I've made Black Forest cake a few times and decided to make another. This is an old-fashioned recipe---no baking powder. The cake is mechanically inflated by a meringue into which the flour is folded. I made a cherry syrup from fresh cherries. I filled the cake with cherries, iced with whipped cream, and topped with chocolate shavings. Delicious, beautiful, and rich!

Grilled steak, fresh corn, home fried potatoes. A wonderful dinner for which I am grateful.

My homemade tomato sauce has inspired me to make eggplant parmesan for dinner. I understand that this dish has two styles, one without breadcrumbs. I keep coming back to the breadcrumb version. The crisp outside and the tender inside of the eggplant complement each other nicely.

I had a few minutes in the evening to relax. I headed to Topper Popper. The very friendly crew provided me with this bag of popcorn. I returned to my car and enjoyed the sunset and my popcorn.

I made a batch of sourdough pizza dough and used it to make a pizza: my homemade tomato sauce, low-moisture mozzarella, a little parmesan cheese. Chilling the dough before shaping helps me control it better. I ran the oven all the way up, somewhere just shy of 500 degrees F. The result doesn't crisp up the way it does in a real pizza oven but is still quite respectable.

Roast pork, home fries, fresh corn. A wonderful dinner for which I am grateful.

I didn't notice Dai Phat for quite some time. It is tucked away in the corner of a strip mall behind the Wal-Mart on the north side of Lincoln. I'm glad I did notice. The owners are very nice and friendly. The shelves and coolers are stocked with a full assortment of Vietnamese items. I left with a tin of coffee and some celery. This is just a small part of the sauce selection. A row of sauces here are named after Vietnamese cities. Canned meat is a staple item here just as in Hawaii...

At the end of a driving tour of southeastern Nebraka, I visited Nebraska City for dinner. My dinner at La Unica was very enjoyable. The proprietor was very friendly; she had lined her restaurants with photos of Latina women. I was the only patron so I ate inside. Chicken fajitas fit the bill. The fajitas were savory and delicious. The warm tortilla wrapping made for a perfect comfort food. The beans were outstanding. Thank you!

I discovered the Klein's Funnel Cakes trailer at the circle near Lee's Chicken. Of course, I had to sample. The staffer in charge showed me the very impressive machine used to make lemonade---she said that it saved her a lot of arm exercise. My corn dog was both huge and delicious with a fantastic crust and great snap in the dog. My classic lemonade was flavorful and refreshing. I enjoyed them in my car on a beautiful summer day. Thank you so much!

I found a farm stand next to Lee's Chicken and couldn't resist a stop. The corn was excellent and my other vegetables were similarly excellent. The produce from a farm stand is a pleasure and I appreciate all of you who operate stands.

I made peach shortcake for breakfast. Added to an omelet, this was a very satisfying meal. The box of peaches I bought have been outstanding. Summer is a wonderful time of year...

Watermelon is one of the pleasures of summer. And a cut watermelon lasts for a surprisingly long time in the fridge to give days of enjoyment.

A busy day necessitated a take-out dinner. As always, Mulberry BBQ came to the rescue. I ordered online and my meal was ready when I arrived. I drove over to the local lake and dug in. Delicious and satisfying. Thanks to the Mulberry team!

I decided to do something a little different with my tofu so I made lemon chicken-style tofu. I baked the tofu in the oven to dry it out and add texture. I then prepared the lemon and corn starch sauce. A tasty treat. I am grateful and satisfied.

I made a batch of tomato sauce. Following Marcella Hazan's recommendation, I added mirepoix vegetables (carrot, onion, celery) to the sauce for springy brightness. I pulled some meatballs from the freezer. Voila, one very satisfying dinner.

I grilled one of Witty's pork chops for dinner. I added some of my green sauce, a great combination. Combined with fresh corn, carrot souffle, and apple pie I had a heck of a meal. I am grateful for our summer harvest.

I decided to do something a little different. I made my whole wheat bread into a cinnamon roll. I used the standard formula---sugar would have messed up the hydration. I used some fresh peaches to complement my French toast. I should have used a little more cinnamon but it was a nice change of pace.

I pulled out the Pit Barrel Cooker and smoked a slab of beef. The result was very moist, great smoke on the outside, rare on the inside. Add corn, carrot souffle, salad. Voila, a sumptuous meal!

I grilled a pork chop, delicious in itself. I then added some of my tomatillo green sauce. Even better!

I found Dairy Joe's on a weekend drive west of Lincoln. They have a drive-thru window but I decided to enjoy the day a little. I got out to order, then went back to my car to enjoy. Mint chocolate chip is a favorite of mine. What an enjoyable treat! Thank you, Dairy Joe's!

I haven't made waffles in quite some time. I use Rose Levy Berenbaum's recipe---I love its rich butter content. The first waffle was a throwaway but the rest were delicious and attractive, too.

I made use of the tomato season to make fresh sauce with Roma tomatoes. I topped my egpplant parm with fresh mozzarella. Delicious!

On the way into Atlanta, our flight attendant had told me that ATL had food options---much better than the West coast, she said. It's certainly true that some restaurants were open but the large majority were not. I arrived at Terminal D for my departure and found two options in the food court: the bar and Famous Famiglia. As I walked to my gate I saw that Five Guys was also open. A good slice of pizza is always welcome in my book. This was quite good: fresh, tangy sauce, nice cheese. The fresh part was a welcome surprise given the tiny number of patrons. I watched the evening as I ate. ATL was quiet, downright sleepy, more like a small rural airport visited by 172s and Arrows. I appreciate the Famous Famiglia staff for their hazard duty and their memorable pizza.

I didn't need much for breakfast but I wanted a little food and a good dose of coffee. Chick-Fil-A is an Atlanta classic and they fit the bill. My honey biscuit was just right. My coffee was piping hot and refreshing. Thank you to the Chick-Fil-A crew for being there!

A visit to Atlanta isn't complete without a stop at Patel Plaza. Gokul Sweets is one of my favorite places thanks to its quality, variety, and simplicity. My lunch was hearty, very tasty, and rib-sticking good. Thank you!

Lunch at Seasons 52 was a welcome respite. The staff was extremely gracious. My salad with salmon was excellent and fortifying.

I ate light during the day to justify a steak dinner at Bones. Service was impeccable as always. Unfortunately, not all of the guests were careful to use masks when they weren't eating. My dry aged ribeye was served medium rare and came up amazingly quickly. Bones is one of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta. I appreciate the efforts of the staff to provide moments of grace and calm for their patrons.

Spiller Park at Toco Hill made the perfect spot for me to enjoy some coffee and check my email. All seating it outside. The staff has a nifty setup that allows them to remain safely distant but still very easy to talk to. My double espresso was rich with flavor: acid balanced with sweetness and a bit of tartness. I sat outside and enjoyed the warm afternoon.