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

Deep made an excellent suggestion of coffee at Land of a Thousand Hills in Roswell. Their location is beautiful on the inside and outside and the staff is very friendly and helpful. I couldn't pass up a pastry to go with my cappucino. My almond croissant was wonderful. It paired perfectly with the rich, nutty coffee.

This eggplant parm dinner comes from the (original?) Vintage Pizzeria in Chamblee. As always, wonderful food and very gracious take-out service. Thank you, folks, for being here.

I had some chicken stock made from an earlier roast chicken. This made the perfect opportunity to cook a pot of beans. I soaked a bag of beans for two days, then cooked with onions and tomatoes in my stock. Beans are a great winter dinner. I am both satisfied and grateful.

I haven't been to Magnolia Room in Tucker for awhile. They seem to be doing well, very good news. I found that they have a new take-out line that is fully stocked and very convenient. A wonderful meal---thanks, folks!

I've driven by Bay Leaf many times so I was glad to have the opportunity to try them out. Their menu, as it turns out, has a strong south Indian component, something I very much enjoy and appreciate. My malai kofta was excellent: nicely spiced, rich and creamy, the smoothness accented by the tender balls. I also really enjoyed this chat dish with its great range of flavors and textures.

Greek yogurt blueberries, wheat germ. What a great lunch! I am grateful.

I cooked a Kroger strip steak on the grill, always an enjoyable process. I made the home fries in the oven. The salad came from a box. All delicious. Everything took just enough time to be feasible and enjoyable. I am grateful.

It's easy to taste why Village Burger is such a popular spot. For this meal, I tried a slightly different set of toppings for my turkey burger. The fries were great, too. Thanks, folks!

These biscuits came from a can. I made the gravy the old-fashioned way. Together they made a wonderful, unfussy breakfast for which I am grateful.

Part of me thinks that boxed cake mixes are cheating and low-grade. But a one dollar deal at Publix coupled with a need not to spend my entire day cooking tempted me. As you can see, the results were pretty good. Just the fact that the brownies come out hot and fresh makes them very appealing. I am grateful and I have learned a lesson.

I don't often make Italian sausage at home. Perhaps I should put it on the playlist---it makes an easy and tasty meal. I browned the sausages, them cooked them in some canned sauce. I added pasta and a salad for a great meal. Good doesn't have to mean fancy or time-consuming.

Efficiency with leftovers saves time as well as food. I coupled this leftover pot roast with home fried potatoes and roasted brussel sprouts. The combination made for a delicious meal for which I am grateful.

Hunger and errands led me to a very enjoyable lunch from Pita. Once my falafel were freshly fried, I took my lunch to my car to enjoy. The pita were crunchy and very flavorful. They were wrapped in a soft, pillowy pita and complemented by a very nice sauce. My mixed vegetables were great. Thanks, folks!

This photo may not be attractive but the post roast sure was tasty. This dish is a meal-in-a-pot that requires only a few minutes of prep. You don't even have to cut the meat---everyone cuts their own at the table. The sale at Kroger on cuts of beef made the meal all the more enjoyable.

A drive in the country can work up a surprising appetite. I capped off my wonderful sunset view with dinner from our friends at Harmony. I ordered my usual salt-and-pepper tofu, a wonderful treat. I was too hungry to take a photo of the excellent corn soup. It was hearty and sweet. I had enough left over for lunch the next day. Thanks, folks!

Can't beat a large pork sandwich and Brunswick stew.

I haven't tried it yet but I spied Matthews Cafeteria new drive-thru setup. Matthews is a venerable, arguably legendary Atlanta dining institution. I'm glad to see their adaptations to our challenging times.

Mediterranean Bakery is, in my humble opinion, an underappreciated gem of the Atlanta eating scene. For this lunch, I ordered the falafel lunch rather than a pita. The falafel were fresh and balanced with a crispy outside, soft inside. The hummus is clearly fresh given its bright flavors. Thanks, folks!

I pulled some pork roast out of the freezer the night before and heated it up in the morning. I pulled a can of Pillsbury biscuits out and baked them. Pull apart, add pork, voila. A wonderful breakfast that didn't take me all morning to fix. If we want to enjoy our own cooking---and do so three times a day, not twice a year---we need to pick our battles. This breakfast took advantage of what I had to create both flavor and nutrition. And I was left with enough energy to take care of the other meals of the day.

Italian-American food is great comfort food. Vintage Pizzera always makes outstanding meals. Eggplant parmesan is my go-to meal. Those fried mozzarella sticks are pretty tasty, too. Thanks, folks!

I don't need to eat chocolate pecan pie for breakfast every day, but it sure makes a nice treat. To keep this one simple, I used a chocolate cookie pie crust I found at Publix. I lined the bottom with broken Ghiardelli dark chocolate. I added two tablespoons of cocoa to the standard pecan pie recipe. And I am not below using a can of whipped cream to make my breakfast even more enjoyable.

Sprig's patio makes a wonderful refuge. The view of the park next door ads to the peace. My friends and I started our lunch with Sprig's famous grits fries. Our lunches hit a lot of the Sprig classics. All very enjoyable. Thanks, folks!

Harmony Vegetarian is an Atlanta treasure. Their wonderful food has been a mainstay of the Atlanta dining scene for decades. I stopped by to pick up some dinner. I went with my mainstay, salt and pepper tofu. I love the soft tofu wrapped in crust. I love the kiss of sweet sauce. And I'm glad to see that Harmony is still here amidst all the turmoil in the world. Thank you, folks.

JR's drive-thru window used to be a curiosity to me. I now find it to be a great, convenient feature. I picked up my large BBQ sandwich and took it home to enjoy. Tender, sweet pork coated in sauce that kisses the meat. I am happy, I am grateful.

Village Burger is a treat. I brought my turkey burger home and enjoyed, complete with BBQ sauce and onions. Thanks folks, for being here!

\ I hadn't made chicken pot pie in awhile and it sounded like a hearty meal. I used a combination of leftover chicken plus some additional pieces that I cooked for the occasion. The filling included sweet potato (that's what I had), fresh green beans, okra, corn. I made a rich white gravy using roux, homemade chicken stock from the bones of that leftover chicken, and half-and-half. I had picked up a pair of new pie pans from my friends at Cake Art in Tucker. They both came in handy. I had enough filling for two full pies. They were delicious and hearty. I am grateful.

A tasty lunch on a pretty day is a treat. I stopped at Persepolis to pick up lunch, someplace I haven't visited in quite some time. Their service remains wonderfully gracious. My lunch was great, too. I went with the vegetarian kebab, full of flavor. Rice is always a treat. The salad was unexpected and tasty. I'm not sure that I've had sumac powder on a salad before but it was outstanding, piquant and nicely contrasting to the other components of the salad. The walnut halves give great flavor and a nice textural balance. Thank you!

I made squash soup for a chilly day. My chicken stock base came from the roast chicken I had made earlier. I included plenty of leeks which gave the soup great vegetal flavor. The soup was thick and hearty. Simple pleasures are wonderful pleasures.

A trip to Gwinnett led me to the chance to try 2 Spicy Burritos in Lawrenceville. Sorry, I was too hungry to grab a photo of my meal. But my carnitas tacos were flavorful with little chunks of meat and fresh tortillas. A very satisfying meal. Thanks, folks!

I've been thinking of standing rib roast for quite some time. When I saw this two-bone roast nearly half off at Kroger, I decided it would make the perfect Christmas meal. I added some root vegetables to the pan for roasting. The outer parts came out medium, the inner parts nice and pink. At the suggestion of Alton Brown's video , I made a Yorkshire pudding. I've never made one before but I have enjoyed it in England. The recipe, it turns out, is similar to an apple betty. The result was a sumptuous meal and plenty more for other days. I know that not everyone can afford such a meal even in the best of times and particularly not this Christmas. I do not take my circumstances lightly.