Alpharetta Restaurant News – January 2012

January 13, 2012 in Foodie Friday with 6 Comments

Every Friday Roots in Alpharetta features an article on food and dining in a series called Foodie Friday.

I search a lot of sources to keep up with restaurant changes in our area. But by far my best source of information is you! My readers are always sending me emails and tweets about new joints or places that have gone tango uniform. Thanks a bunch guys!

Unfortunately you guys sent me a lot of closures. Let’s get them out of the way first…

Champps Americana – Closed
Champps has wanted out of Alpharetta for some time. They employed a broker to find a new restaurant for this space. They even went so far as to offer rent concessions if someone would take over their lease. It isn’t clear at this time if they found someone or just closed. Let’s keep a close eye on this space in the weeks to come.

Tre Vietnamese – Closed
Tre never got great reviews and their prices were a little high. They closed their doors right at the new year. I wonder if the threat of a new competitor (Saigon Cafe) played a factor in their decision?

Legends Deli – Closed
This strip mall on McGinnis Ferry is a tough one. It doesn’t have good visibility from the road and obtaining a liquor license is difficult due to school/church proximity.

Rosa’s Pizza – Closed
This is a competitive market for New York-style pizza and Rosa’s couldn’t cut it. A poor location on Jones Bridge didn’t help. It’s interesting to note that this was the original Bassano’s location. We’ll talk about them in a bit.

Movie Theater – Northpoint Mall

The operators of Northpoint mall have requested a conditional use permit from the city to allow a movie theater in a vacant anchor store. One must assume this is the Parisian space. The mall did not identify which chain is interested in this location but I’m told we will know in a few weeks.

I wonder if it will be a dinner/movie combination along the lines of Studio Movie Grill (perhaps AMC Fork and Screen)? SMG’s been stealing movie goers from the two existing Northpoint theaters. It’s a total guess on my part, but we’ll know soon enough.

Carrabba’s Italian Grill – Avenue Forsyth

My friend Aldo Nahed at the Forsyth Herald broke this story last week. Carrabbas submitted plans to Forsyth County to build on the empty parcel between Chic-Fil-A and Red Robin. It’s a prime spot although traffic sometimes jams up here. And while chain Italian restaurants don’t get me very excited, I expect this location to do well.

Ipanema Grill – Old Milton

I don’t have a lot of information on Ipanema at this point. They are looking at a strip mall on Old Milton in the space where Chip’s Southern Cooking used to be before they closed… a second time.

Cafe Efendi – Main Street

They re-opened Wednesday! Go check out their new digs in Durty Kelly’s former location on North Main Street. I went for lunch yesterday and really enjoyed my doner wrap. I wouldn’t expect any opening jitters from this established player.

Brindavan – Windward

Yet another name/ownership change for this small Indian restaurant in the double-decker strip mall on east Windward. My co-workers and I still call this place Andy’s, the original name of the joint. It became Dosa Houze followed by a series of increasingly more difficult names to pronounce. I ate here Tuesday and found the food and price to be almost the same as Sai Murali, the previous restaurant.

M Chocolat – Old Milton

Turns out this is the name of the chocolate store I’d been calling Dulce Chocolat. They’re now open on Old Milton Parkway just west of Park Bridge Road. I tried a few truffles and was impressed. They’re made in-house and the prices are more than reasonable relative the competition. Being so new I’d give them some time to expand offerings before passing judgment.

Jilly’s Cupcakery – Roswell

Yesterday Jilly’s opened their second location in a strip mall on the corner of Mansell and Highway 9. I normally don’t cover events in Roswell but I thought this was noteworthy. I’m happy to see these ladies doing well as they run a fine shop.

Coming Soon

Saigon Cafe - Their opening seems imminent yet the chain isn’t publicizing a date. I talked with them over email this week and still couldn’t get a date out of them.
El Molcajete - Mexican restaurant set to open in Zola Bistro’s old space on Highway 9 in Milton.
Alfresco - Corner of Old Milton and Main Street in Alpharetta.
Bread Time - Still no word on when this German bakery will open on South Main Street in Alpharetta.
China Inn - A relo from Chamblee. They’re still building out their location on 141 in Johns Creek near the hospital.
Bassano -I was able to confirm with the new owner that they are NOT affiliated with the former Bassanos on Jones Bridge in Johns Creek. Look for the new Bassanos on State Bridge were Tasca Latin Bistro used to be.
Construct a Burger - They are looking at space near GA-400 at exit 13. Still no word on exactly where that might be. If I had to guess I’d say the Hangry’s space or Bad Bob’s old location.
Meat & Potatoes - The potential name of a restaurant to be located in the old Rio Bravo/Star Diner space in Johns Creek.

Photo credit: Ildar Sagdejev (creative commons)

Wild turkeys invade Windward

January 11, 2012 in Suburban Life with 5 Comments

So here I was, driving along the Windward side street of Edison Drive at 5:00 pm yesterday. Something caught my eye. At first I thought it was a group of geese. Then I saw their necks moving all around while they walked. Not geese, these were wild turkeys!

A group of four turkeys were pecking around in the well-manicured flowerbeds of the Metropolitan Club, probably destroying some pansies. I whipped the car around and snapped this blurry picture with my cell phone. They were not afraid of me or my car. They took one look in my direction and carried on with their pecking, almost as if they belonged here. Perhaps they’ve got an account at Private Bank?

Fulton Science Academy – Transparency and Accountability

January 10, 2012 in Faith in the Burbs, Suburban Life with 5 Comments

This is the second of two articles about the charter renewal of the Fulton Science Academy.

Last week I talked about how both the Fulton County School Board and the Fulton Science Academy acted poorly when negotiating the school’s charter renewal. Today I’ll discuss why the FCSB was justified to insist on a shorter charter term. But first let’s reveal the elephant in the room…

The Gülen Movement

This is a loosely organized group of followers of a Islamic theologian from Turkey. Here in the states they are heavily involved in education including the formation of dozens of charter schools. Many believe that the Fulton Science Academy is under Gulen influence.

If you search the internet you’ll find a lot of websites and blogs critical of the Gulen movement. Most of them have a heavy conspiracy theory tinge to their writings.

It doesn’t bother me that people of the Islamic faith from Turkey want to open schools here. However…

Gulen opponents earned a boost of credibility when a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist penned a story in the NY Times about the movement. Gulen-run schools have been accused of operating without financial transparency, offering contracts to Turkish-owned businesses without competitive bids and a lot more. Read the NY Times story for yourself.

Fulton Science Academy doesn’t seem to be nearly as shady as the schools outlined in this article. For example, I don’t see a Turkish connection with the contractor they selected to build their new campus. However there are a few conflicts that concern the Fulton County School Board.

Grace Institute

FSA spends taxpayer money on services offered by the Grace Institute. It isn’t clear to me how Grace consults the school except that they are an Educational Management Organization. According to tax returns the school continued to spend more and more money on Grace’s services each year. The FCSB insisted that the relationship with Grace end early in 2011. At this point it isn’t clear if all ties have been severed.

Transparency and Accountability

The relationship between FSA and Grace isn’t clear nor are how funds are spent. The linkage is unusual and makes many wonder who is the ultimate governing body of the school. And to make the waters more murky, some FSA board members also served on Grace’s board.

And speaking of boards… The FSA’s board should be made more diverse to include parents, school board officials, or possibly distinguished members of the community.

There are other potential issues but these strike me as the most severe. It isn’t appropriate to offer blanket waivers and maximum contract extensions to a school with such unresolved issues. The Fulton County School Board acted reasonably and responsibly when they insisted on a shorter charter. I believe the Fulton Science Academy is a terrific school. They have the opportunity to be a truly exceptional school if they will do the right thing and operate with more transparency.

The debt and building

And one final note on this issue… I believe the city of Alpharetta’s Development Authority dropped the ball. Here was a group that had the opportunity to question FSA’s dealings yet failed to do so. They failed to notice the conflicts of interest and they didn’t consider the rocky relationship between the school and the school board. The city approved the issuance of revenue bonds and construction on the new campus began. If the charter impasse continues, the school will shut down and default on the debt. And while the city and school board are not on the hook for the debt, a default might create an ugly new problem… another stalled development project in Alpharetta.

Soup Du Jour

January 6, 2012 in Foodie Friday with 8 Comments

Every Friday Roots in Alpharetta features an article on food and dining in a series called Foodie Friday.

This past Tuesday was like most days at work. I walked out of the office at about 11:30 while contemplating which Alpharetta restaurant to patronize. Then it hit me – an unexpected blast of freezing air. It’s not something I’m accustomed to during my lunch break. It made me crave a hot bowl of soup and also inspired this week’s Foodie Friday article.

No soup for you!

Most restaurants have a soup on the menu or maybe a soup du jour. Here are a few that stand out in my mind or have otherwise gained a reputation. If you have a favorite soup at an Alpharetta-area restaurant I’d love to hear about it.

Chili at Never Enough Thyme

I’m not a huge fan of this hoity toity sandwich shop. I seem to be the wrong gender each time I walk into their shop for lunch. But when I do eat here I almost always order the chili. It is the best, most authentic bowl of Texas-style chili you’ll find in Alpharetta. No beans about it! The meat is sirloin cut into cubes. The gravy is rich with deep beef flavor. This chili will stick to your ribs on a cold day. It’s by far the most manly thing on the menu at NET.

Carrot Jalapeno Soup at Boga Taqueria

Yeah, I just reviewed these guys, but I didn’t talk about the soup. Boga’s got a few soups on the menu but you really should try their carrot jalapeno soup. Don’t let the jalapeno in the name fool you as this isn’t a spicy soup. It’s creamy much like a butternut squash soup. I wouldn’t be surprised if this isn’t the base of the soup. The carrot flavor doesn’t jump out a lot to me, perhaps it’s more for color. But the jalapeno is subtle and delicate. It’s just enough spice to contrast the creaminess.

Matzo Ball Soup at The Corner Deli

I’m writing about matzo. Oy vey!

Let’s be honest – I wouldn’t know a good matzo ball if the traditional Jewish dumpling smacked me across the face. So take what I say with a grain of salt (and make it Kosher).

There’s something I enjoy about the simplicity of Corner Deli’s matzo ball soup. Sure, it’s just chicken in broth, some carrots and a dense matzo ball. They say chicken soup is good for the soul and I’m not going to disagree.

Coconut Soup at Satay House

It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Satay House so I hope they haven’t changed things around. But their coconut soup is far and away the best in town. It’s rich and intense with a solid core of coconut flavor. Satay makes it with a few pieces of chicken, some mushrooms and no lemongrass.

Honorable Mentions

I’ve not tried every soup in town. Here’s a few more that receive consistently positive reviews…

Beer Cheese Soup at Norman’s Landing - It’s not available everyday. I know some loyal fans who’ll call ahead to see if it’s on the specials board.
Tomato Basil Soup at Wildflour - A popular soup and salad choice. I regret that I’ve not tried it but I never want just half a sandwich here!
Never Enough Thyme on Urbanspoon

Photo credit: Americasroof (creative commons)

Fulton Science Academy – A game of chicken

January 4, 2012 in Faith in the Burbs, Politics, Suburban Life with 3 Comments

This is the first of two articles about the charter renewal of the Fulton Science Academy.

It’s been difficult for me to get my hands around the issue of the Fulton Science Academy’s charter renewal. Most issues like this involving children or faith are pretty easy to grasp. Start with something like land use then combine some NIMBY sentiments and a pinch of xenophobia. But FSA’s situation is entirely different with a lot of influencing factors coming into play. Those on both sides of the issue are not afraid of employing emotional appeals or hyperbole to make a point. And in issues like this the truth usually is found somewhere in the middle. So after spending many hours of my Christmas break reading up on this fiasco, I’ve come to the conclusion that FSA’s charter renewal is really just…

A game of chicken

Yep, both sides were plowing ahead at full speed, waiting to see who would swerve first. Unfortunately those along for the ride include several hundred children, their families, taxpayers and a few bond holders. And all of these groups stand to lose big because of it.

“Increasingly volatile and combative relationship”

That’s how the credit rating agency Fitch described things between the FSA and the Fulton County School Board. They made this comment as they were downgrading FSA’s credit rating on their $19 million building bond. The relationship was volatile because each side had a big club to bring to the fight. FSA’s club was their recent Blue Ribbon Award from the Department of Education. Surely the school board would not deny a request from a school with such a high distinction. Armed with this, they asked for a ten year renewal on their charter, the maximum allowed. Additionally they requested a full waiver of Title 20 rules.

FCSB’s big club was a Georgia Supreme Court decision in 2011 that found that the state could not approve charter schools. That authority, according to the court, rests only with county school boards. It makes FSA’s appeal process more difficult. This is the FCSB’s chance to flex its muscle under the new ruling. As such, the Title 20 blanket waiver was off the table and they would only consider a three year charter renewal.

Neither side moved much after months of discussion. The FSA reduced their proposal to eight years but the FCSB made it clear that they would only consider three. Nevertheless, only the eight year proposal was brought before the school board. And at the end of this game of chicken, the FCSB didn’t swerve. Crash! They unanimously voted down FSA’s eight year request.

Both sides have acted poorly. Supporters of the FSA have been out in force claiming that the FCSB wants to shut down an award-winning school. It’s hyperbole pure and simple. It’s clear to me that the FSA wanted to force the school board into making such a vote even though another offer was on the table. Nobody desires to shut down this school.

On the flip side, the FCSB has not acted in good faith since the vote. FSA has relented (finally), agreeing to the three year term. However, the FCSB now will not consider it, saying the matter is closed. I don’t understand why they cannot move to amend or reconsider a matter that was before them. Most deliberative bodies easily have this option available under their rules. It would be best for all parties involved to approve the three year charter renewal and move on.

Tomorrow I’ll talk about why the FCSB is justified in wanting a shorter charter term for the Fulton Science Academy. And as always, there’s an elephant in the room that needs to be discussed. Stay tuned.

Alternative media in Alpharetta

January 3, 2012 in Suburban Life with 3 Comments

Today marks the second anniversary of Roots in Alpharetta. It’s been a fun two years and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the conversations and friendships that have resulted from writing. While most blog readers probably don’t care much for anniversaries like this, I’d beg your indulgence a bit today. It’s this occasion coupled with the new year that makes me a bit reflective.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from writing in 2011 it is this – there is a role for alternative local media in Alpharetta. You’d think citizens would be covered for most newsworthy events that might happen. Atlanta is home to several TV stations and the AJC. We’ve got weekly newspapers such at the Revue & News, the Alpharetta Neighbor and Forsyth News. And don’t forget hyper-local online media such as The Patch that run lean and nimble news gathering operations.

Yet even with dozens of news rooms covering our area, some stories simply don’t get reported on. What stories are these local media outlets missing? Sometimes it is community buzz. Perhaps it’s a new restaurant that opened featuring a talented young chef. It might be about crime or violence that disrupt the peace in an otherwise safe suburb. Maybe it’s a question not being asked of candidates running for public office. Or it could be the back-story, the narrative behind the news that uncovers details or motives not clearly visible from the surface.

Why are journalists missing these stories? I don’t think it is deliberate although that could be a possibility. Some editors and publishers are not willing print the entire story for one reason or another. It could be that they are not using technology to listen to community chatter. Or it might be because of gaps in news cycles.

Roots in Alpharetta is certainly not exclusive when it comes to local alternative media. Other local blogs (many are in my blog roll) do outstanding work in their own respective ways. Bob Strader did a tremendous job on his blog last year reporting on school redistricting in north Fulton and Forsyth. He took a deep-dive into the issue, reporting on how redistricting effected families at the neighborhood and even street level. No other news source came close to his level of detail.

Whatever the story might be or the reason behind not reporting it, hyper-local bloggers have a role to play. It isn’t my desire to be a journalist. However, I’m more than willing to report on a story that isn’t being told for one reason or another. Sometimes it takes a local blogger to scoop a story before a news room will run with it. That’s a role I’ll gladly fill if that’s what it takes to get stories told in our community.

Thanks for reading Roots in Alpharetta in 2011 and happy New Year!

Photo Credit: RogueSun Media (creative commons)

Number of the Month – Home Invasion Arrests

January 1, 2012 in Crime in the Burbs, Number of the Month with 0 Comments

Around the first of the month I publish the number of the month, a random bit of local trivia.

Eight

The number of arrests made in connection to a home invasion in Roswell targeting an Indian family. Police in Cobb County believe the same suspects were behind a similar home invasion in Mableton.

Both crimes were similar to Alpharetta’s home invasions in September and November. It is my sincere hope that authorities can link the cases and bring these criminals to justice. It would be nice to start the new year knowing that this crime wave is behind us.

Continued kudos to Mike Petchenik at WSB-TV for offering the most timely news on home invasions in north Fulton. I suggest you follow Mike on Twitter at @PetchenikWSB.

Bite – Alpharetta

December 30, 2011 in Foodie Friday with 0 Comments

Every Friday Roots in Alpharetta features an article on food and dining in a series called Foodie Friday.

To round out 2011 I’m going to run a short replay series in my Friday food column. Today I’m re-printing my review of Bite, Alpharetta’s best new restaurant of 2011.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… the best pork you’re likely to find in north Fulton won’t come from a barbecue joint. You’ll find it in unlikely places like Bite.

Their red chile pork tacos are getting a lot of attention, as they should. They start by rubbing pork shoulders with chiles before smoking them. Next the pork takes a bath in a mole sauce braise. The pork is then pulled and cradled in a corn tortilla. These morsels of swine are smokey, tender and bursting with flavor. The texture contrasts with a crisp pickled jalapeno slaw and a creamy goat cheese.

Bite quietly opened several months ago behind the Webb Bridge post office in the old Field Good location. It is an intimate space with just a handful of tables and some seating overlooking an exposed kitchen. I suggest sitting here to observe the chefs in action. You’re close enough to smell the lemon and garlic as they hit the saute pan.

The decor is modern yet sophisticated and classy. I appreciate Bite’s artwork, photography on wrapped canvas. The restaurant will certainly appeal to affluent women from east Alpharetta and Johns Creek, drawing those who might frequent restaurants like Never Enough Thyme or Wildflour. Their distance from the offices on Windward and Old Milton should keep most of the cubicle dweller riffraff away (with the exception of yours truly, who was willing to brave Windward’s bevy of four way stops to get here).

These guys at Bite are serious about layering flavors and textures in entrees like tacos, sandwiches and salads. The menu makes prodigious use of cheese, many varieties are smoked in-house. Check out the pimento cheese, made daily. Or how about the cotija cheese on their “street corn” side dish as an alternative to boring Parmesan. I’m by no means a cheese snob, yet I enjoyed this cheesy grilled corn.

Bite’s steak sandwich both impressed and disappointed. The combination of caramelized onions, white cheddar and a sweet fig sauce on ciabatta bread was fantastic. The use of filet medallions was impressive on a sandwich, yet the steak wasn’t very tender. Unable to shred them as I was biting, I was left with entire medallions in my mouth. I was forced to discretely consume a pretty big hunk of cow that I’d hoped would have lasted for several bites.

However, none of the sides have disappointed. Bite’s potato salad hits your taste buds with a pungent tarragon kick. You can’t go wrong with the pickled jalapeno slaw or the aforementioned street corn.

Bite is a winner and will likely add themselves to many a favorite restaurant list. Try them before they completely overwhelm this small space. I’m surprised they don’t have lines out the door.

Crazy and insane local news stories of 2011

December 28, 2011 in Crime in the Burbs with 0 Comments

Hey y’all, hold my beer and watch this!

This time of year is usually pretty slow in news rooms. An easy way to generate copy is to rerun your best news stories of the year. I’ll break somewhat with tradition and offer up my picks for the most crazy and insane local news stories of 2011. It should come as no surprise that many of these involve alcohol, drugs, nudity or a combination thereof.

Taco Mac’s Deer

Step 1 – Set up surveillance cameras. 2 – Get wild animal to crash into your business in broad daylight. 3 – Release video and watch it go viral. 4 – Profit!

Even the best marketing experts couldn’t have put together a better media campaign for Windward’s Taco Mac. This story got national attention, putting Alpharetta on the map for a day or so.

Not only did we get video of the deer breaking a window but multiple cameras caught fear in the eyes of patrons and Taco Mac employees. Watch this video and you’ll see why it earns a top three spot this year.

Tree Massacre in Cumming

Again, thank God for surveillance video! This time it catches a team of local rednecks in a senseless attack on an innocent tree. The video shows their pickup cutting across traffic into a store’s parking lot. They spend a few minutes cutting down the tree and attaching a chain to the bumper. Finally they haul off with the large tree, dragging it along GA-20 leaving behind a trail of limbs and leaves. In the end, tree huggers in Cumming can breath easy as the cops quickly apprehended the rogue arborists.

Naked in Johns Creek

Don’t look, Ethel!

There must be something in the water that makes creepy guys in Johns Creek want to expose themselves. Over the summer a flasher roamed the streets, dropping trou in front of morning joggers.

In September a man was arrested for walking through a cul-de-sac wearing his birthday suit. When asked he said he liked to walk around nude in the cool air. Police were not amused and arrested him for public indecency.

(Dis)Honorable Mentions

A few stories didn’t quite have enough to make my top three list. I considered the story of the drunken woman who tried to kick a deputy in the head before urinating on the floor. I also liked the story of the young man who was smoking weed – from a bong – while driving. I don’t partake of the herb, but one would think a simple joint would be a more portable form of the drug.

Or how about the black bear found wandering through the Country Club of the South? Authorities believe he was following the river north towards Lake Lanier. No residents of CCOS were harmed by the bear, although they did question their 24-hour security for letting the bear in without being on the official guest list.

South Forsyth’s Underappreciated Restaurant Scene

December 23, 2011 in Foodie Friday with 1 Comment

Every Friday Roots in Alpharetta features an article on food and dining in a series called Foodie Friday.

To round out 2011 I’m going to run a short replay series in my Friday food column. This week I’ll reprint this column on South Forsyth.

They are the Rodney Dangerfield of the suburban food scene.

For generations, south Forsyth’s restaurants catered to the taste of indigenous locals. Not much stood out aside from a few decent country cooking joints. At the same time, the area avoided attracting the chain and franchise establishments that continue to plague Alpharetta’s reputation.

Today, south Forsyth’s restaurant scene is coming of age. Chains are slowing cropping up at new developments like The Avenue Forsyth. But for the most part, the area is thankfully free of them. Independent restaurateurs are beginning to take chances with more creative menus and local ingredients. They are also recruiting talent in the kitchen. Nearly every restaurant I’ll mention has a culinary school graduate running the show.

Here are a few restaurants that are either up-and-coming newbies or much lauded regional favorites… and they are all in south Forsyth. While this area has a long way to go before they compete with somewhere like Roswell, I still think they deserve attention. What other joints do you think stand out?

BW Tavern

A changing Forsyth demographic was one reason behind Mulligan’s transformation to BW Tavern. The local dive joint was a popular smokey hangout for locals to down a few beers. But new partner Alex King recognized the untapped potential of this diamond in the rough. As affluent suburbanites displace more and more locals, the need for smokey dive joints diminishes.

So far I’ve been impressed with BW’s creative twist on tavern food.

Dutch Monkey Doughnuts

What hasn’t been said of this small doughnut shop near The Avenue? Their amazing success has attracted reviews from far and wide. I’d go so far as to say DMD is one of the best independent doughnut shops in the southeast United States. Yet I didn’t used to think this way.

I was a little skeptical when they first opened, and gave a mediocre review on Yelp. It’s been fun to watch (and taste) as their talent and creativity blossomed. Husband and wife team Martin Burge and Arpana Satyu are both graduates of the French Culinary Institute and have impressive resumes. Their whimsical use of fresh, local ingredients and fruits keeps me coming back monthly. My waist line disapproves of anything more often!

Scootz Gourmet Grill

Chicken Piccata at Scootz

Note: Scootz is no longer in business.

Scootz may have already obtained burger supremacy in south Forsyth. It didn’t take long for this converted Cici’s Pizza to attract a loyal burger following. But Le Cordon Bleu alum chef Eric Banks does a better job with the rest of the Scootz menu. While not as creative as their new competitor down the street (BW Tavern), Scootz is executing simple dishes extremely well.

BB’s Bagels

Dough with holes in the middle. South Forsyth does this well. Like Dutch Monkey, every food writer in metro Atlanta has written about BB’s. Their original location on McFarland Parkway has become a south Forsyth institution. It’s mecca for Atlanta’s ex-patriot Yankee community. Don’t believe me? Show up on a Saturday morning and listen to the banter.

The AJC recently rated BB’s as the best bagels in Atlanta. Their chewy, water boiled bagels are a weekly treat for me. However, I don’t find the rest of their menu very compelling. The exception may be their corned beef hash. Delicious.

Casa Nuova

The Fundora family was farming their own produce long before it became hip for a restaurant to do so. Today their farm produces so much product for their restaurant they often send customers home with extras. My wife and I scored a small bag of squash and zucchini on our last visit.

I’ve read some reviews that question the authenticity of the Italian food at Casa Nuova. The criticism is undeserved in my opinion. The Fundoras are originally from Cuba but that doesn’t keep them from making some amazing Italian entrees. My favorite is the chicken francese.

The Chocolaterie

Stunningly beautiful works of edible art. Made in-house daily, the truffles at The Chocolaterie are exquisite. My favorite is the blue butterfly which is hand painted to exceptional detail. It’s a shame to destroy these little creations with your teeth. When you finally do, the snap of tempered chocolate gives way to velvety smooth ganashe.

These little morsels of chocolatey goodness are not cheap. They may very well be the most expensive food, per bite, of anything in the area. But they are a sinfully good treat. The Chocolaterie is tucked away in The Avenue Forsyth. Serious chocolate snobs should seek them out.

Photo Credit: Robyn Guy Photography

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