On our recent trip to Nashville, there were a few other spots that I felt worthy of a mention.  I love Atlanta but I could really see myself living in Nashville.  Great neighborhoods, family, fun coffee shops and ice cream.  What more could a gluten-free girl need?

Bongo Java Coffee: This east Nashville coffee shop is a great spot for a morning get together.  They have large tables with plenty of space to spread out, and park a large stroller!  My iced coffee was one of the best iced coffees I’ve ever had.  Wonderfully smooth and refreshing after a long walk.  They roast beans in the shop so prepare to take the scent of coffee with you when you leave.  It was so good we went again for breakfast on Saturday too…

Fido: Gluten-Free Muffins: Fido, another local spot, makes gluten-free muffins that they also sell at Bongo.  I tried their strawberry banana gluten-free muffin and it was a great alternative to the glutenous bagel “bombs” (which look delicious!) that everyone else enjoyed for breakfast.  They also have a coconut variety of muffin that gets rave reviews.  They only use rice flour (not a flour blend) but it was pretty good, despite being a bit misshapen.  I’m always appreciative when breakfast places have items I can enjoy, not limited to a plate of eggs.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams: This delicious ice cream shop in East Nashville is worth the $4 for two half scoops.  Many of their flavors are GF including my personal favorites, salty caramel and pistachio & honey.  Yum!  Their sorbets (such as Riesling poached pear) look refreshing too but it’s hard for me to resist fancy ice cream.

In researching Nashville, it seems that there are a bunch of spots that offer GF options including The Wild Cow, Matteo’s Pizza and others.  I guess I’ll just have to go back!

Bongo Java – 107 S. 11th St., Nashville, TN 37206 – 615.777.EAST

Fido – 1812 21st Ave. S, Nashville, TN 37212 – 615.777.FIDO

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream – 1892 Eastland Avenue, Nashville, TN 37206 – 615 262 8611

Last weekend, David and I drove to Nashville to meet our new niece, Anna.  We have three nephews so it’s fun to add a niece to the mix!

I got to spend most of Friday, hanging out with my sister-in-law, Blair, and sweet little Anna.  They live in East Nashville and of course Blair had scoped out her neighborhood for GF goodies for me.

We went to lunch at The Green Wagon, which can be described as an environmentally friendly general store.  Lots of “green” cleaning products, alkaline water and other products.  Their goal is to minimize businesses’ and consumers’ carbon footprint.  The most exciting part about The Green Wagon though, is Aunt April’s Cafe, in the back of the store.  Aunt April’s is totally, 100% gluten free and she makes lots of baked treats.  You can also enjoy a sandwich or panini for lunch, made on April’s delicious, homemade bread.   There aren’t a ton of sandwich options but I was a very satisfied customer.

Aunt April's Cafe: Entering a Gluten-Free Zone

Blair and I enjoyed delicious paninis at The Green Wagon.  (They have seating inside so you don’t have to order to-go.)  Mine was composed of turkey, cheddar, tomato, spinach and mustard.  Yummy!  It was so nice to not have to worry about contamination and know for sure that everything I enjoyed was safe.  April’s bread was perfectly textured, with no funky after taste, and it’s clear April has been working on creating the perfect recipe for some time.

Paninis!

I also picked out a pumpkin chocolate chip muffin for dessert and a blueberry muffin that I patiently saved for breakfast the next day.  The pumpkin muffin was so delicious and might have been the best flour blend I’ve ever tried.  Perfectly pumpkin, with a taste of cinnamon and maybe nutmeg.  And of course everything tastes better with chocolate.  I only wish I’d bought more.

And a pumpkin muffin for dessert

You can also special order goodies from Aunt April.  All of her items are dairy free and can be made soy free, without the chocolate chips.  She offers cupcakes, brownies, cookies and other items as well.

I can’t wait to go back and sample more of her goodies!  You can also find her treats at other Nashville locations, including The Wild Cow and Edgehill Café.

The Green Wagon & Aunt April’s Cafe

1100 Forrest Ave
Nashville, TN 37206

615-891-1878

When David and I go for runs we talk about anything to keep us from thinking about the fact that we’re running. To quote David, “the best part about running is being done.” (Usually I let David talk and I nod my head, conserving as much energy as possible.)

On Sunday morning we went for a run and in the midst of our huffing and puffing, we created our “Top 5” Atlanta restaurant list.  When making the list, we had nice venues in mind.  Think entrees over $20.  Notice that I didn’t call this the Top 5 Gluten-Free Restaurant List…all of these make great gluten-free food because all of their food is lovely, quality and creative.

Here’s what we came up with:

1. Bacchanalia (Westside): Favorite dishes: anything and everything.
2. Empire State South (Midtown): We went here for the first time last weekend and loved it!  Our wonderful dining experience prompted our “Top 5 Discussion.”  Will post more details soon.
3. Iberian Pig (Decatur): Favorite dishes are “BWDs” and lamb ribs
4. Rosebud (Virginia Highlands): Favorite dish: scallops with pineapple smoked bacon, caroline rice, and sorghum mustard peppercorn honey
5. Wisteria (Inman Park): Favorite dish: rack of lamb and mashed potatoes

What are some of your ATL favorites?  What do you like to order?  David and I are always looking for new places to try!

Still to come: Top 5 Atlanta casual spots…list to be determined during our next run.

Last week, I got the opportunity to sample a truly lavish and delicious gluten-free meal at Tantra Restaurant & Lounge, on Peachtree Road.  I left this meal feeling satisfied, full, and thinking about all of the yummy flavor combinations I had just enjoyed.  Since David was traveling for work, I took my gluten-free friend, Jen, to Tantra with me and we wined and dined.

The culinary inspiration behind Tantra wanders the path of the Silk Road, through Asia, the Mediterranean, southern Europe, and Spain.  Each menu item is a unique and flavorful blend of these cultures, different from anything I’ve tried before.  While many Atlanta restaurants emphasize the trend of the moment, “farm to table” (which, don’t get me wrong, I love), Tantra takes its cuisine in another direction, encouraging diners to try new things and go beyond your typical fliet mignon and Ceasar salad.

During our dining experience at Tantra, the chef brought us many dishes to sample, but I didn’t feel sick or bloated, despite the amount of food I consumed.  Every component of the meal was fresh and highlighted the different ingredients on the plate.

Before we indulged in food, we enjoyed some libations including the Seven Year Spice: a spin on a margarita, made with tequila, lime juice, cilantro and jalapeno.  We also tried a bubbly drink that combined champagne and muddled blueberries.  A fun way to start our meal!

Most of Tantra’s menu is naturally gluten free or can be made GF and the chef is eager to accommodate customers.  Part of the Tantra experience is sharing and savoring dishes with others and gluten-free options abound for you to share, allowing you to feel like part of the group, not restricted to hoarding your gluten-free food in the corner of the table.  Just remember to double check with your server, emphasize gluten free, and contamination.  (You might have to convince your dining companions to forego the naan and samosas which will be a true act of love.)  Some of the gluten free dishes I sampled throughout the evening included:

PEI Mussels (no baguette): Mussels aren’t usually the first thing I choose off the menu, but these were darn good.  The red bell pepper coconut broth was delicious too and added a lot of yummy flavors to the mussels.  I know David will want to get the mussels when I return with him.

Hummus Tahini and Sautéed Lamb: The chef substituted beautiful veggies for the traditional naan bread.  If your gluten-eating friends really want the naan, I would ask your server if they can split the order in half so that your hummus doesn’t get contaminated by the naan.  Or get two orders!  This was one of my favorite dishes of the night.  The lamb and hummus taste so different from each other but go together really well.  The crunchy vegetables added another nice texture.

Short Smoked Salmon Roll: This light and tasty bite highlighted the combination of the smoky salmon, contrasted with the basil, mint and parsley.   Yum.

Cucumber & Tomato Salad and Roasted Beets & Arugula Salad: Both of these salads were not your typical starter salad.  Again, the chef used herbs to bring out the flavors of the veggies.  I loved his use of mint, cilantro and lime with the cukes and tomato salad.

Basil Caramelized Scallops: One of the more traditional dishes we sampled, the mashed potatoes that accompanied the scallops were out of this world.  The scallops were cooked just right, perfectly seared on the sides.

Grilled Ostrich Filet: I’ve never tried ostrich before but our server told us this entree was not to be missed.  He was right.  I was pretty darn full at this point, but I just couldn’t resist.  Each piece of the ostrich filet was tender and flavorful and the mushrooms were amazing.  I’m officially an ostrich convert and plan on ordering ostrich over steak whenever given the option.

And for dessert, the chef sent out, Cardamom Panna Cotta with orange and chopped pistachios AND Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee with Chocolate Ganache.  I’m not a huge panna cotta fan…something about the texture gets to me, but I appreciated the use of the pistachios as a contrast in texture.  The crème brulee was a-mazing.  I prefer desserts that involve chocolate so the ganache on the bottom was the perfect end to the meal.

I would highly recommend Tantra whether you’re gluten free or not.  I plan on taking David on a date here really soon.  Even though I sampled lots of dishes, there are still many items that I want to try, including the tuna and short rib.  One of my new favorite spots, I only wish that there was cooler outdoor seating for summertime cocktails.  (It’s pretty dark inside.)

Don’t be intimidated by the restaurant’s name either.  Tantra’s not freaky-deaky or limited as a venue for only hot and heavy dates.  Tantra would be a great spot to meet up with friends for a drink and some small plates.  The restaurant is spacious with plenty of seating so would be a good, last minute place to grab a beverage on a Friday night.

Check out Tantra and let me know what you ordered and enjoyed!

And, if you needed more convincing…

• Tantra has a Scoutmob for 50% off, up to $30 that expires August 13^th
• Monday nights is half price bottles of wine.  Can’t beat that, right?

Tantra Restaurant & Lounge

2285 Peachtree Road Northeast
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 228-7963

On our last day in New York, David and I yet again, woke up before the rest of the city, and headed out for a bit of culture at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  (We’re both former history teachers so we had to get a little history squeezed into this trip.)  I have to eat within about 30 minutes of waking up so we stopped at Dean & Deluca for some much needed coffee and breakfast.  Being the planner that I am, I had purchased a mini-coffee cake at Tu-Lu’s Bakery the previous day.  I have no shame so I broke out my coffee cake at Dean & Deluca and it was oh so wonderfully perfect with my cup of coffee.

GF Coffee Cake + D & D Coffee = Perfect

I also bought a fancy yogurt to give me a little more nutrients and protein to get me ready for a day full of walking. I had never tried Siggi’s yogurt before but it said “Certified Gluten Free” on the container so I felt very safe.  (I love it when companies get their products tested and labeled.  Little things like that make travel so much easier.)

Siggi's Yogurt: Certified GF

After our morning meal, we started walking toward Central Park to enjoy another day of nearly perfect weather in NYC.  We strolled through the park, watching more ambitious people running and biking.  (There was a big race raising money for Japan so it was fun to watch everyone in action.)  We meandered through the park, and ended our walk at the Met.

We had purchased tickets ahead of time so didn’t have to wait in any lines.  We unintentionally ended up at the Alexander McQueen exhibit, “Savage Beauty” first, which proved to be a smart decision since it was already pretty crowded and the museum had only been open for about twenty minutes.  This temporary exhibit (it ends July 31^st) walks its audience through the short career of McQueen, who died last year.  Even if you’re not a fashionista (I’m definitely not, nor is David), you should still check out this exhibit.  It’s intense, provocative, and very educational.  The unique and inventive displays give you a whole new perspective on fashion and a designer’s vision.  It made me a believer that fashion is art.  (Who knew a group of dresses with “rape” in the title could be a reflection of the history of England and Scotland’s relationship?)

We continued through the Met, checking out the Impressionists, photography, armor and other exhibits, ending our tour with a cold drink in the American Wing Café, which is bright with natural light and a perfect place to rest your feet after a toursity morning.

Following our trek to Central Park and the Met, we splurged on a cab back to the hotel, took quick naps, and headed to the Lower East Side, for a late lunch at Pala Pizza.  I had heard rave reviews about Pala from the gluten-free community and it exceeded my expectations.  All of their pizzas can be made gluten free and they are very careful about cross contamination.  We had trouble deciding what we wanted to order but ultimately went with the fried calamari as a starter.  Pala uses separate gluten-free fryers and corn meal for the breading of the calamari.  It was delicious and so fun to get an item that I can rarely enjoy and would never make for myself at home.  (We all need a little something fried every now and then.)

David and I shared the lamb sausage pizza with pesto for our lunch.  Every bite of this pizza was delicious.  The light,crispy crust, the pesto and the lamb went perfectly together.  (Maybe I think that because lamb and pesto are two of my favorite foods!)  I dominated that pizza.  For the first time in our marriage, I ate more than David.  He offered me the last two pieces and I didn’t even hesitate.  Delicious!

After our meal, we walked across the Williamsburg Bridge to Brooklyn, in our Sunday best because we were going to a late afternoon wedding on a Brooklyn pier.  Walking across the bridge was a very cool way to get to Brooklyn, but I have to admit, it freaked me out a little bit.  There are bike and walking paths, so the bridge is completely safe, but trip across felt much longer on foot than I thought it was going to be.  The Brooklyn wedding was beautiful, unique and a fun way to celebrate a couple.  We felt honored to be included in the festivities.

View of the Williamsburg Bridge

As I can’t normally enjoy wedding reception cuisine (except for the wine), we ended up at Caracas Arepa Bar for a late night dinner.  This Venezuelan restaurant makes arepas from scratch daily.

Wondering what an arepa is?  Well, it’s described on their website as, “”dense yet spongy corn-flour rounds, pitalike pockets, corn muffins, cake-swaddled mélange, white corn cakes, Latin sloppy Joe, sandwiches of a flat cornmeal patty, soft and smooth within, golden crispiness, tasty treats, burrito-killer, panini-killer, wheat-free, gluten-free crisp on the outside, steamy-soft in the middle…”  Sounds pretty good to me, right?

We ordered four arepas to go, including grilled chicken with caramelized onions and cheese, roasted pork shoulder with spicy mango sauce, and shredded beef, with black beans, plantains and cheese.  It was a lot of flavor combinations but I enjoyed sampling the different varieties.  My favorite was the grilled chicken arepa.

While we waited for our to-go order, I decided I wanted to go back to Tu-Lu’s Bakery one more time.  (And of course, David nicely complied.)  I partly wanted to return to the bakery so I could see for myself that Tu-Lu’s really stays open as late as it says it does (9:00 p.m. on Sunday nights and 10:30 on Friday and Saturday!).  I bought another cupcake (chocolate this time) and a cookie to take back to Georgia with me.

David and I finished up our amazing New York weekend eating arepas and cupcakes in our hotel room, watching the NBA playoffs…perfect.

Recap:

Pala Pizza – 198 Allen Street – NY, NY 10012

Caracas Arepa Bar – 93 ½ East 7^th Street – NY, NY 10009

Recently, David and I made a trip to New York, and I must admit, I took advantage of every opportunity to enjoy this city that’s a gluten-free diner’s delight.  There were many places I wanted to try and sadly, I wasn’t able to get to all of them. Not for a lack of trying though!  We walked all over the city, exploring neighborhoods, checking out the sites and enjoying some delicious meals.  In fact, we did so much that I’ve got to split this trip into three different posts because I don’t want to overload you with information.  I don’t think I could ever live in NYC, but I plan on visiting more frequently than I have in the past, once every five years!

On Friday afternoon we arrived in NYC, checked into our hotel and immediately set out to explore, before meeting up for drinks at Extra Virgin Restaurant with our friend, CJ.  We wandered around the West Village, looking at shops and enjoying the people watching.  After a great visit with CJ, who mapped out the whole city for us, we set out for our first Big Apple dining experience.  We had reservations at Perilla, owned by Top Chef’s Season 1 winner, Harold Dieterle.  While I didn’t have any Harold sightings, I thoroughly enjoyed his restaurant.  Located in Greenwich Village, Perilla opened in 2007, and describes its cuisine as “Seasonal American.”  There are only eighteen tables in the entire restaurant and ten bar stools so you definitely want to make reservations.

We sat at our cozy table and devoured every bite of our meals. For an appetizer, I ordered the slow poached chicken egg that came on a very springy bamboo rice with arugula.  The bright green of the rice looked beautiful with the fresh yolk on top.  (They served mine without the mustard crumble on top, as it contains gluten.)  For my entrée I chose the lamb chop that normally is served with orzo.  Instead, the chef substituted some of the meatiest, most flavorful mushrooms I’ve ever eaten.  Those veggies could have been a meal in themselves.  The lamb chop was huge, amazing and perfectly tasty.  I definitely “out ordered” David.  Luckily, there was plenty to share.  Even though Perilla’s service was not the best I’ve ever had, we still left Perilla happy that we’d made the selection because of the food and the atmosphere.  (I thought the sub par service might just be an NYC thing, but all of our other dining experiences in NYC were accompanied with great service.)

On Saturday morning, David and I woke up with no plans until dinner that evening.  We decided to follow Elaney’s suggestion and head to Chelsea Market, in the Meatpacking District, which originally housed the National Biscuit Company in the late 19^th century. This industrial building now houses many shops, eateries and other cool spots.  Being that “sleeping in” for David and me is 8:00, we were some of the first people on the street that morning.  When we arrived at Chelsea Market, we enjoyed having the place to ourselves, and wandering about, peeking in the windows of the not yet opened stores. We enjoyed some Ninth Street Espresso coffee and the rare opportunity to just be together, with nothing else going on.  (Our lives have been a tad bit busy recently!)

Chelsea Market

We sipped our coffee and waited for Friedman’s Lunch to open at 10:00.  I had spotted this restaurant’s menu online and noticed that they star the items on their menu that can be made gluten free, and according to their menu, almost all items, including pancakes and cheddar waffles (wow!), can be created to accommodate a gluten-free diner.  So I had to check Friedman’s out for myself.  Of course we were some of the first customers in the door at 10:05.  (We’re obviously not trendy New York diners that eat brunch at 2:00 in the afternoon.  I was proud of myself for waiting until ten!)  Our server was very friendly, accommodating and willing to answer all of our questions.  She tries to eat gluten free too, so she had many recommendation and I felt comfortable that I was getting a carefully made gluten-free meal.

I ordered the gluten-free pancakes and David sweetly ordered his pork flautas to be gluten free, so we could share.  We enjoyed more coffee and eagerly waited for our meal.  My pancakes were some of the most delicious pancakes I’ve eaten since going gluten free.  They were perfectly cakey and fluffy and they looked different enough from the gluten pancakes the diner next to me was enjoying, so I didn’t live in fear that I had eaten the wrong ones!  The berries on top were a fun touch that made me feel like I was dining out, and not eating pancakes in my house.

David’s pork flautas, a Mexican dish, that’s basically shredded pork, wrapped in corn tortillas and fried (in a GF fryer, of course), were amazing.  They were accompanied with a beautiful egg on top and what seemed like an entire avocado.  A very hearty brunch dish that was perfectly savory while my pancakes were wonderfully sweet.

Friedman’s is a definite recommendation, whether you’re gluten free or not.  They have gluten-free bread, so all of their sandwiches can be made gluten free.  It was so good, we really thought about going back to Friedman’s on Sunday but decided to try other spots instead.

View from the Highline

After a truly indulgent brunch, and now completely wired on caffeine, we set out for a walk along the Highline, on Manhattan’s Westside.  Originally designed in the 1930s, to keep freight trains off the streets of New York, it’s now a public park.  This beautiful walk above the city, will ultimately be a mile and a half, upon completion.  The Highline truly is a breath of fresh air in the middle of the city.  I was amazed by the greenery planted between the railroad tracks, the beautiful benches, and that it was open to everyone.  You have to see the photos to understand this unique “park.”  This walk was the perfect way to get a different perspective of the city, and move around after our yummy breakfast.

For the remainder of our Saturday, we walked endless miles around the city, going in and out of shops, checking out the neighborhoods and learning to navigate our way around the city.  We were just biding our time until our next meal…

David and I met at  Miller Union for dinner on Thursday night to celebrate the end of my successful lacrosse season and the conclusion of David’s most recent work project.  It was a perfect venue for a romantic and delicious date.

I have a confession: David and I went to Miller Union for dinner the month it opened (over a year ago) with our friend, Chris.  The three of us sat at the bar, and were a little disappointed with our dinner.  At the time, there weren’t many items on the menu, the service was mediocre and the food did not meet my expectations based on all of the hype Miller Union had been receiving.  This underwhelming meal made me sad, as I really like Chef Steven Satterfield, a frequent customer of mine at The Local Farmstand, and I love Miller Union’s mantra of minimal, fresh, local food.

Chef Steven Satterfield (photo from Food & Wine)

Since that dinner, David and I have returned to Miller Union for drinks (we love the bar), and I’ve enjoyed lunch with friends at Miller Union.  Their seasonal vegetable plate is one of my favorite dishes on the Westside and perfect for a lunch date.  The ambiance at Miller Union is bustling, yet relaxed, with the perfect amount of people watching but not so loud that you can’t talk to the person with you.

But last Thursday was our first time splurging on dinner at Miller Union since our so-so evening nearly 18 months ago.  I’m glad we gave it another try.  Nearly everything on the menu is naturally gluten-free, literally almost everything.  The only red flags were the “farrotto” that accompanied the New York Strip and the cream grits fritters appetizer.  (It turns out that the “grits fritters” are normally gluten-free but that night fried chicken was the special so the fryer was contaminated.)

So I oohed and ahhed over the menu for awhile before discussing my top choices with David.  It turns out we were on the same page and were intrigued by the same two entrees.  Since everything we wanted was gluten free, we decided to split two entrees so we could enjoy both.

David went with the fritters for an appetizer and I ordered the soup of the day: spring pea soup, which came highly recommended by our waiter.  Beautifully green, my soup was light yet very flavorful.  A great way to start the meal.

Spring Pea Soup

The first of our entrees was the grilled pork loin, with cranberry beans and braised greens.  The pork loin had an amazing kick to it, due to the apple cider vinegar they use while grilling the pork.  Juicy, flavorful, and meaty, this pork dish is a meat lover’s dream.  Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with plenty of food on the plate.  You won’t go hungry with this order.  The cranberry beans tasted meaty themselves and I loved combining them and the pork in one bite.  The greens were braised with onions and were delicious by themselves, in the juices of the pork.

While David started with the pork, I began to work my way through the sautéed quail with dirty rice and arugula.  I usually stay away from restaurant entrees that involve rice, simply because I just don’t find it all that exciting and I’d rather a vegetable, quinoa or risotto.  Miller Union’s dirty rice, however, is not your ordinary rice.  As much as I love vegetables, everything tastes better with pork and this rice affirms that statement.  The dirty rice is a mix of wild rice with Miller Union’s homemade pork sausage and bacon.  Wow.  I could have eaten just the rice as my entrée.  The quail was also yummy, and simply cooked, with crisp skin and flavorful meat.  I followed the waiter’s suggestion, and ate with my hands.  (If you use your fork and knife, you won’t get very much meat.)  The arugula added a nice bite to the dish and beautiful color on the plate.

I would highly recommend Miller Union for a date night.  While it’s a little pricey, the quality of food and ingredients make the price worth it.  Chef Steven Satterfield really uses as many local, seasonal vegetables as he can access, and supports local farmers.  Many chefs say they do this, but don’t always live the principle (to quote my new favorite show, “Big Love”). I’ll definitely be returning to Miller Union for another date night.

I only wish that I could enjoy Miller Union’s daily ice cream sandwich special!  (Not GF.)

Atlanta often gets a bad reputation because of its traffic, mediocre public transportation, and Tom Wolfe’s interpretation in A Man in Full, but I have been completely wooed by this city in the last 18 months.  The Wall Street Journal shares my love for ATL today in the article “The New New South.” From Piedmont Park to Bacchanalia, to Richard Blais, to Sid and Ann Mashburn to Peachtree Farmers’ Market, the article mentions many of our city’s highlights.

While some of my personal favorites didn’t make the list (Floataway Cafe, Iberian Pig, and Taqueria del Sol to name a few) the WSJ did a pretty good job. They neglected to mention Decatur at all, but I guess it’s not technically part of Atlanta.

What are your favorite ATL spots?

One of my new favorite discoveries in Atlanta is Dogwood Restaurant, located in Midtown, on Peachtree Street.  When my parents were in town last weekend, we took them to Dogwood for dinner Friday night.  We had a great dining experience and all of us left satisfied, despite our distinctly different palettes.  (Let’s just say my dad was mostly excited about going to the Varsity on Saturday.)

Dogwood is great venue for a variety of reasons:

• Dogwood’s spacious interior allows you to drop in for a last minute dinner on a weekend night and it’s okay not to have reservations.
• Chef Shane Touhy not only has a menu with many options, but he understands gluten very well.
• Many menu items are naturally gluten-free so I didn’t have to miss out on sauces and other aspects of the dishes that make them unique.
• The wait staff is eager to double check with the chef and work with gluten-free customers so we can eat what we want on the menu.  Both times I’ve had a wonderful waiter who doesn’t take any chances, and always defers to the chef.
• Dogwood’s not too loud.  I know, I know, I feel like an old woman saying this, but I’ve got to admit, I don’t like a really noisy restaurant.  Call me uncool, but it shouldn’t be a challenge to converse with the person across the table from me.  (But don’t worry, Dogwood’s not too quiet!)
• The food is delicious.  Variety and flavor are prominent on the menu here.  Options range from grits to trout to pork loin to lamb meatballs, each with the chef’s unique spin on the dish.
• Dogwood is entirely underrated.  Just because the chef wasn’t on Top Chef and doesn’t get featured in Bon Appetit regularly doesn’t mean the restaurant’s not worth visiting.  I actually think the food is better at Dogwood than some of the more hyped restaurants in Atlanta.

Both times I’ve been to Dogwood, I’ve had delicious salads.  Most recently, I ordered the local mixed greens, with red wine-mint vinaigrette, “Split Creek Farm” goats milk feta, and toasted pistachios.  The pistachios were delicious and I ate every last one of them.  You can’t go wrong with any of their salads.

I was disappointed that the short rib was no longer on the menu but Dogwood had plenty of other options for me.  On this visit, I went with the almond crusted scallops, with celery root puree, orange segments, green grapes, and brown butter-red wine vinaigrette.  Fruit, scallops and celery root?  I too, thought it to be an odd combination but it was delicious.  The almond crust gave the scallops a crunchy texture that other restaurants might use flour to create.  In every bite I tried to combine all of the action on the plate as I loved how it all fit together.

Who knew grapes and scallops could be so good?

Check Dogwood out for yourself and let me know what you think!  If you’re going to a show at the Fox, enjoy dinner at Dogwood first as the theater is only two blocks away.

Dogwood Restaurant- 565 Peachtree Street – Atlanta, GA 30308- 404.835.1410

It’s a beautiful week in Atlanta, which means it’s time for fun, outdoor activities.  It’s Thursday so that means I can start thinking about the weekend.  (You know how much I love Thursdays.)

My parents are coming to town tomorrow to see my lacrosse team play and spend the weekend with David and me.  On Friday night, we’re going to dinner at Dogwood Restaurant, in Midtown.  I recently discovered this yummy restaurant at a work event for David.  Their grits are amazing and the wait staff were very accommodating of my dietary needs.  The grits are incredible.  Of course I ordered the short rib.

Tulips at the Botanical Garden

On Saturday morning, Mom and I plan on checking out the Atlanta Botanical Gardens to see what’s blooming right now.  She and I went last fall but I’m sure the gardens will look completely different.  I’m hoping the tulips are still out!  If we’re really up and at ‘em on Saturday I hope to stop by the Peachtree Farmers’ Market to get veggies for a fresh, Georgia grown dinner on Saturday night.

It wouldn’t be spring without the kick off of baseball season, so on Sunday afternoon we’re going to the Braves game.  Sure, I’m not the biggest baseball fan but I love the Braves’ gluten-free concession stand AND the Avett Brothers are performing a free concert after the game!

I don’t think I could take advantage of my Georgia residence any more this weekend.  Well, there is the Masters.  Sorry, David…maybe next year.