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

I had some ricotta and was in the mood for a calzone. I made a batch of pizza dough. I had thought that a half-recipe would be enough luckily I made a full batch. I made the calzone in the style of most New Jersey places---a circular dough folded in half, no sauce inside. My shaping skills are still mediocre; this looks better than I deserved. Crisp and ready to go. A delightful meal when paired with canned tomato sauce. Another grateful dinner.

I ordered an outstanding delivery dinner from Meatballz. The meatballs were meaty and tender. The sauce was the best I've had in Atlanta. The mixture of acidity and sweetness brought me back to the Garden State and their slow-cooked tomato sauces. And they serve sicilian, something unknown here but a real treat that will have to wait for my next order. This is the meatball-in-a-hole, stuffed in a round roll. This is a pair of straight meatballs with cheese. And these are the fritterz with apple pie sauce. Typically, zeppole are served just with a little powdered sugar. The extra touch of a syrup coating makes them special and delicious.

I was hungry and strapped for time. When I passed the display of Valentino's sauce, I grabbed a bottle and headed home. Valentino's is one of the major Lincoln pizza chains; I didn't realize that they sold their sauce at retail. A half hour later, I enjoyed a dollop of sauce on my stuffed shells. The sauce (do they call it gravy in the Midwest?) is classic Italian-American with notes of both sweet and tart. I was satisfied enough to finish off the bottle the following night.

My dinner at Vincenzo's in Lincoln's Haymarket district was replete with classic Italian-American dishes. The meal started with fried calamari: wonderfully crunchy crust and soft interior. My main course was eggplant parmesan: tender eggplant with a crunchy interior, sauce that combined sweet and tart. I passed on the pasta and was served some excellent potatoes and vegetables. The meal ended with two classic desserts: tiramisu and cannoli.

I decided to enjoy a weekend dinner with the Contes. Since none of us had been to Galla's for awhile, we decided to go there. The service was very welcoming, as always. The casual atmosphere was just what we needed. We started with these chips, something that I haven't tried before. They came adorned with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and salt---delicious. My eggplant parm was a great comfort dish. The pasta underneath was plentiful, the sauce excellent. Catherine ordered this delicious-looking pizza. As a chaser, we headed to the Frosty Caboose where I enjoyed some chocolate mint ice cream.

I had to leave early for my flight and didn't have a chance for breakfast. When I arrived at Calgary Airport and made it through security, I looked around for an easy breakfast spot. Spolumbo's was in the food court and Italian food sounded pretty tasty. A meatball sub and coffee---I couldn't have asked for a better breakfast. The meatballs were tender and full of beefy/porky flavor. The sauce was that perfect balance of tangy and sweet. And the bread was excellent.

I wanted a relaxing dinner and my thoughts went to Italian. Spezia gave me a very enjoyable meal and very welcoming service. I started with bread, of course, and a beautiful caprese salad. My eggplant parmesan gave me all the tastes I was looking for: hearty eggplant, sweet and tart tomato sauce, tangy cheese, and that beautiful crust.

Gaetano's, in the Denver Highlands overlooking downtown, has been around for 70 years. I enjoyed both my dinner and the atmosphere. Service was very gracious and welcoming. The meal started with a warm loaf of bread, of course. Next came a Caprese salad. The aged Balsamic vinegar was a nice touch. My eggplant parmesan was thinly sliced to give a nice balance of textures. The serving of spaghetti below was just the right size. I couldn't resist these cannoli for dessert---crispy on the outside, sweet and smooth on the inside.

I visited Rao's in Las Vegas for a wonderful meal---doesn't that meatball look delicious? I captured my visit on a video for my new Atlanta etc. YouTube channel. You can see the Rao's video here . And you can keep up with all the videos at the channel directory here .

My flight to Tucson wasn't able to serve food. I landed hungry and ready for a quick bite. Luke's Italian Beef was on my way but I wasn't sure that I was ready to get out of the car for a snack. But behold! They have a drive-thru window! Two minutes later, a beautiful Italian meatball sandwich with cheese and sweet peppers sat in my hands. I took it back to my room and enjoyed every bite.

The Mad Italian has been a local favorite for decades. The restaurant has moved into its new home, just a few doors down from its original location on the I-285 access road. The new space is bigger and very comfortable. The menu is identical and the staff is as cheery as ever. I forgot to take a picture of my calzone before I started. Let's just say that I enjoyed it at least as much as ever.

A celebration called for a trip to the mountains and a nice Italian dinner. Traviana in Biltmore Park Town Centre fit the bill. My meal started with a Caesar salad and moved onto a nice plate of chicken marsala and pasta. I don't have the chance to eat marsala very often in Atlanta and I welcomed the chance to enjoy it here.

I tried Vintage Pizzeria's plate dinners for the first time and they deserve an update. This is my eggplant parmesan. The eggplant slices were thick but still very tender. The breading just kissed the eggplant, enough to give some taste and texture but not overwhelming. Their sauce hits that delicate balance between tangy and sweet. The portion was huge. And my server was extremely gracious and friendly.

Gravy is located near the state capitol in downtown Raleigh. It is in a nicely renovated older space with a great ceiling and big windows. My service was very gracious and helpful. As the name implies, the restaurant serves Italian-American dishes. It includes some vegetarian and vegan dishes in that repertoire. The meal started with a very nice knot of garlicky, salty bread. I started with this very nice Gouda cheese from a local source. I love both the texture and intensely milky taste of Gouda. I then had this nice apple and fennel salad with a very nice balance of flavors. My main course was this eggplant pie. It was made of slices of eggplant, cheese, and gravy/sauce, but no pasta. It was nicely hearty but not too heavy. The lack of competition from any pasta allowed the other flavors to shine through. I didn't have room for any dessert but I relaxed and enjoyed the evening with a little coffee.

My Virginia Tech friends introduced me to a very nice Italian restaurant in Blackburg to kick off my visit and our discussions. Avellino's has that classic Italian-American vibe that reminded me of so many nice dinners in New Jersey. The service was very gracious in a relaxed way. The sound system played a steady stream of crooners (although a little light on the Sinatra). The meal started, of course, with bread. We ordered some fried calamari which was excellent: crispy on the outside, just the right balance of tenderness and chewiness. My salad was very fresh. As my main course, I ordered veal saltimbocca. I enjoy the salty tang of the ham against the tenderness of the veal. The pasta was al dente . Lynn ordered seafood in cream sauce, which he reported was excellent. Patrick and Paul both ordered the fish, which they also declared to be excellent. We couldn't resist dessert. Paul and Lynn shared the cheesecake and limoncello cake. I didn't hear any com...

I decided to use my trip to Boston to dine in the North End, the classic Italian neighborhood. I wanted a homey and comfortable meal. I selected Giorgio's and enjoyed a satisfying meal. The service was very friendly and gracious. A cozy fire warmed me from my winter walk. The music track in the restaurant was classic Italian-American crooner with one substitution: Barry Manilow in place of Frank Sinatra. The meal started with bread and olive oil spiked with red pepper flakes. The olive oil gave a rich flavor. I ordered a cup of pasta e fagoli as my first dish. The soup was nicely hammy. My main course was a combination of chicken and eggplant parmigana. It was very hearty and satisfying. The bed of fusilli was generous and hearty. I thought the sauce could use a little more basil but overall the meal was very enjoyable. I finished with a double espresso and a nice, crisp cannoli. On the way back, I decided to stop into Maria's Pastry. Italian pastry shops ar...