(Osteria del) Figo

Since I first had Figo during my freshman year at Emory, I knew that the local Italian chain was so much more than your typical chain restaurant. Despite its several locations, Figo never felt like you were going to eat at a chain like Chili's or Friday's or whatever may float your boat (or rather make you sink while trying to digest that food). The high quality food for great prices at Figo has never once let me down.

What did let me down, though, was the closing of the Virginia-Highlands location around a year ago. Living in the Emory area, that was the most convenient location for me. I now travel to either Edgewood or even the Westside to Osteria del Figo to get my weekly or bi-weekly pasta fix, even though the closest location to me is a toss up between Decatur and Edgewood. What really has me traveling to the Westside, besides its artsy feel, is the recent addition of Osteria del Figo's meatball bar. You may know that I don't eat red meat or pork, which oftentimes leads me to slim pickings at many restaurants here in Atlanta. These restrictions gave me only one choice (which I don't have a problem with) at the meatball bar: the chicken meatball.

Chicken meatballs with rigatoni and arrabiata sauce

This simple ball of chicken and artichoke gave me the protein I wanted in my pasta and didn't make me feel left out in the meat department like I often do when dining out. The ball itself was a little dry but nonetheless delicious. Adding them to the pasta and sauce was the smart thing to do to add some moisture (the balls come individually so that you can have it on the side or add them to a dish). Since the meatball concept is new to the Westside, and all of Figo, I imagine that over time they will be perfected. Not that it stopped me from ordered them for a second time within a week of first trying them!

Time to Get Social

While you're curious, take a look at my blog post for Everywhere, the social media company I am interning for this summer. There are also other great posts from my coworkers about getting involved in social media.

Ria's Bluebird

Looking for a different place to brunch at than the usual Belly General Store or Rise 'n' Dine (although I do love both of those places), I decided to check out Ria's Bluebird. I had heard the name and seen it on lists here and there, but I really didn't know anything about it. I looked up their menu online and decided that I must try the pancakes that were dubbed the "world's best" by the New York Times. I was ready to go there just by the look of the rustic website, let alone the menu.

Driving up to the hole in the wall joint that is located in Grant Park right across the street from Oakland Cemetery, I was relieved to see that Ria's Bluebird was like no other place I had been to in Atlanta thus far in my 3 years being here: it was genuinely an old place that wasn't made to look old and rustic and industrial like so many restaurants are today in Atlanta.

Coffee bar/cashier/bar dining

Having got there at 1:30, there was no wait as I'm sure there is much of the morning. A tip for those of you going to try it: if you do have to wait, they make you stand outside, or so the signs say. After being seating I ordered a cappuccino. As the foam went down some and I could actually get to the coffee, I realized that I was drinking the best coffee I had ever had.

Trying to be a little bit on the healthy side I ordered the oatmeal with bananas added. And I split a short-shack with the caramelized bananas. Yes I know, not so healthy, but at least I shared! If the NY Times named them the "world's best pancakes", I had no choice but to get them. 

Oatmeal with sliced banana

As if you need to be told

The oatmeal, made from their homemade granola, was delicious. It was full of nuts, dried fruit, and my added banana. Just that bowl alone was more than I could eat in one sitting, let alone adding the pancakes to that it. I intended to take about half of the oatmeal home with me but then left it at the cashier's counter. I was more than disappointed when I realized this about an hour later. (Is that not the worst feeling?)

The pancakes. They were amazing. Perfectly fluffy and sweet like you want them. Then you add the bananas. The caramelized bananas really put the cakes over the edge. I wish I had been able to more than the few bites I was able to stuff down. I will definitely be back for more, and you should absolutely go to try to them. In all honestly, I think that the environment of the restaurant had a lot to do with how good the pancakes were. When you go you'll understand.

I look forward to many more meals at Ria's and to trying their sister restaurant, Sauced.

Screen on the Green at Piedmont Park

This past Thursday I went to Screen on the Green to see Sixteen Candles with a friend. It being one of my very favorite movies, I had to go. Of course, the movie was entertaining as it always is, but the crowd that was in attendance was even more entertaining, and I only saw the people that were sitting around me. I imagine that if I walked around, I would have been even more entertained. Overall, I really enjoyed the experience and look forward to attending more, if it is continued. There was a shooting towards the end of the movie, or at least a helicopter was flying around with about 20 minutes left of the movie. Luckily I don't think I was anywhere near the incident. But, I guess even in the beauty of Piedmont Park that makes you forget that you're in an as urban as a city as you can get in the south, it's still the Atlanta that is laden with crime.

The early crowd

The early crowd on the hill

Delicious picnic provided by Saba

Our view

The famous Jake Ryan. Loved hearing cheering when we first saw him.

A clip to leave you with...

Richard Blais

Just hanging out with my Top Chef All-Star friend Richard Blais at the Peachtree Corners Festival in Norcross, GA. It was a great topping to the Krispy Kreme milkshake I had at FLIP Burger the night before.