Southern Art and Bourbon Bar - Atlanta, Georgia

We've been spending a fair amount of time exploring the local dining scene in Atlanta and this weekend was no different.

We were in the Buckhead area of Atlanta for dinner at chef Art Smith's Southern Art and Bourbon Bar. Southern Art offers southern inspired foods and features an artisan ham bar and vintage dessert table.

The space is muted with pops of color that can't help but draw the eye. Most striking are the large canvasses suspended from the ceiling and the chandeliers hung with colorful glass fruit. The space is open but still maintains an intimate feel.

We had a reservation and were shown to our table as soon as we arrived. Our server, Jonathan, greeted us by name. As in good evening Mr & Mrs Our Last Name. I thought it was a nice touch and let me know that service here was taken seriously. Service throughout the evening was great. The meal was well paced, we never felt rushed and Jonathan was there to make sure we had a lovely experience and he more than succeeded.

Once we were seated we were presented a serving board with a jar of in-house pickled vegetables, some biscuits and butter. A nice welcome nosh to tide us over while we looked over the menu.

Southern Art and Bourbon Bar is known for a couple of things, one is in their name. The other is what is billed on the menu as "a ham bar". The ham bar offers at least a dozen different cured meats.

Southern Art Butcher's Board

Rather than trying to narrow down our choices from the ham bar we decided to order the Southern Art Butcher's Board as one of our starters. It included several house made cured meats, two salamis and three sliced meats, as well as three mustards and some toast. Everything we tasted was good but the standout for me was the Tasso styled cured ham. Everything good about Tasso ham, loved it.

Cheese from the South

Along with the butcher's board we also ordered the Cheese from the South starter. Three of the chef's favorites served with house made saltines, mission fig jam, honeycomb and green tomato chutney. The cheeses the night we were there were a soft rind Camembert style, a cheddar with hints of cocoa and a mild blue cheese. All of the cheeses were tasty but the blue for me was the standout. Creamy, mild, salty, excellent and made more so with the accompanying fig jam and crackers.


To go along with the starters I had a couple of glasses of a Dr. Loosen riesling. I love Riesling and have paired it with all kinds of foods. If I'm in the mood for wine and it's on the menu I always order a Riesling.

Shrimp and Grits

Bourbon Glazed Pork Shank

Creamy, decadent macaroni and cheese with bacon

After all that yummy cheese and cured meats we moved on to entrees. I had the very southern Shrimp and Grits and my dining companion had the Bourbon Glazed Pork Shank. Once again he won. Don't get me wrong, the shrimp and grits was really good, creamy grits, okra, sausage, hominy in a delicious broth. But, the pork shank was sublime. A deep mahogany colored, crispy glaze over succulent, tender pork. It was easily the standout. I snagged a few bites and would go back for this one. Along with the mains we ordered a side of macaroni and cheese to share. The mac and cheese is creamy and delicious and covered with bacon, enough said.

Dessert Bar

More dessert!

Twelve Layer Red Velvet Cake

Finally it was time for dessert. As you walk into the restaurant you pass a dessert bar. A long table filled with all manner of sweet temptation. Oh how I wanted to order more than one but truth be told, I was almost full. I know, so sad to only be able to eat one dessert but one presses on. We settled on the 12 Layer Red Velvet Cake. A perfect way to end our evening.

We had a very nice evening at Southern Art and Bourbon Bar. A welcoming space, good food and a large helping of southern hospitality. The food and service will get you in the door, the southern charm will keep you coming back.

A drop in The Bucket

I can't be the only one right? You all have a culinary bucket list too, don't you? My current list is pretty short, only two entries, dinner at Eric Ripert's Le Bernardin in New York City and Thomas Keller's French Laundry in Yountville, CA.

My culinary bucket list goes back quite a few years. One of the first entries was Commander's Palace in New Orleans and dinner at Paul Prudhomme's Louisiana Kitchen. It also included breakfast at the Cafe du Monde. We've been lucky enough to knock those off of the list.

Over the years the list has included restaurants of specific chefs, specific restaurants and dining experiences. One of the dining experiences was put on the list and knocked off in short order, eating at the lechoneras in Guavate, PR. We saw it on No Reservations and we went for it. It ranks as one of the most memorable dining experiences I've had anywhere. Eating roasted pork served right off of the spit at an open air roadside stand. Accompanied by local beer served ice cold. Perfection.

We've been lucky enough to have moved a few places to the done column. Lunch at Frontera Grill, Rick Bayless' Chicago restaurant, dinner at the Haufbrau Haus in Munich, Germany and dinner at Paula Deen's Lady and Sons. With a little luck and determination we've managed to whittle the list down to the restaurants I mentioned above and one relative new entry Mario Batali's Del Posto.

When we head to New York City, maybe later this year, Le Bernardin will be ticked off and we'll probably knock Mario Batali's Del Posto off as well. I can't wait. 

The French Laundry on the other hand has been on my bucket list for years. Point of fact, I've never been to the West Coast. I know right? Who hasn't been there? Well, me. I plan to remedy that in the not too distant future, after all a very good friend and family member lives out there. And I have no idea what I've been waiting for.

So if you see me out, I'll be the one taking pictures of my food. (When we had dinner at Five & Ten I overheard a women say "look, she's taking pictures of her food".) Yes, I know, it looks weird. But I never use a flash, I stick to what I can take pictures of from or on my table and try not to be too distracting to my fellow diners. So sue me, I'm a blogger and I take pictures of my food and all sorts of stuff. I love being able to look back at what we've done and where we've gone.

Do you have a culinary bucket list? What's on it? What has been one of your favorite dinning experiences? Please share thoughts here as I'm always looking for new places to try.

Sal Grosso - Atlanta, GA

I really love churrascarias, restaurants like Fogo de Chão and Texas de Brazil. I've started searching these types of places out when I travel.

While there is a Fogo de Chão in Atlanta we decided to give the local Brazilian steakhouse a try. So this weekend we had dinner at Sal Grosso. Like all of these types of places Sal Grosso has a huge salad bar and a choice of many types of roasted meats. And like all churrascarias you are given a small card or disc when you're seated. One side is red and one side is green. Red means no thank you, I've had plenty and green means bring on the chow. I always forget to flip my card to red. Darn!

Sal Grosso means coarse salt and that saltiness is very evident in all of the meats they serve. It works on some cuts, the Picanha for instance, but it tends to overwhelm a bit on the chicken. But not to worry. If all that salt makes you thirsty just order more caipirinhas. Caipirinhas are the national drink of Brazil made by muddling cachaca, limes and sugar. So simple but so, so good and easy to make at home.

A variety of items from the salad bar

Yes please!

 One of the best items available at Sal Grosso is only available on Sunday. It's a stew made with black beans, sausage and other meats called feijoada. Seriously delicious. Here it is served with rice but I've had it served with mashed potatoes other places. I'm looking for a recipe I can make at home. This is really good stuff.


Believe it or not I wasn't able to order dessert. I know, I couldn't believe it either. But there it is, no dessert for me. On my next visit to Sal Grosso (you had to know I'd go back right? I can leave no desserts untried!) I'm going to go on Sunday for the salad bar and dessert. I can't wait to try the feijoada again.

While Fogo de Chão may be the gold standard of churrascarias I'm really glad we gave Sal Grosso a try. And now that I have a plan to tackle it for next time, I can't wait to go back.

Walk this way...

This week I thought I would write about something I enjoy besides travel, reading and dinning out. Walking. I love to walk and make time for it almost everyday.

Over ten years ago we made the decision to start walking for health and fitness. It's easy, fun and can be done just about anywhere. (Even in Minnesota in the winter!) We're not going for any speed or distance records here. Just a good pace for a couple miles. We probably average about 10-14 miles a week. Small potatoes by some standards but we're happy with it.

One of the challenges of having been on the road for over a year is finding a nice place to take a walk. We've been lucky to find some nice parks and trails in the most of the places we've lived.

Atlanta and the metro area has some nice parks and trails. One of the parks we found is Swift-Cantrell Park. There are nice paved trails, some pretty open spaces, both large and small off leash dog parks, a skateboarding area and all kinds od swings and play equipment. We're also lucky enough to have a nice trail that basically starts right at the end of the driveway here.

One big upside to all of this walking has been how we've changed the way we travel. With very few exceptions, (Hilton Head and Tybee Island come to mind) we plan our vacations so that we can walk and use public transport. It's been years since we've had to rent a car. It takes a bit of leg work to find hotels and neighborhoods that are conducive to walking but we generally manage it.

Walking let's you experience a place in a very different way than even biking does. It provides insight that I feel can't be gained any other way.

Walking in my own neighborhood has always made me feel connected to it in a way I wasn't before. From little things like changes to the day to day landscape of the neighborhood to seeing and meeting the people who live there.

And there are other tangible benefits. For one thing my pants still zip up despite the all too frequent meals out. It's a chance to get some fresh air after being in the office all day and an opportunity to talk over the day.

So all you walkers and might be walkers, step on the trail or off of the beaten path. You may be surprised at what you find there.

The true charm of pedestrianism does not lie in the walking, or in the scenery, but in the talking.  The walking is good to time the movement of the tongue by, and to keep the blood and the brain stirred up and active; the scenery and the woodsy smells are good to bear in upon a man an unconscious and unobtrusive charm and solace to eye and soul and sense; but the supreme pleasure comes from the talk.  ~Mark Twain

The Tree That Owns Itself - Athens, GA

One of the things I wanted to do while I was in Athens, GA was to visit The Tree that Owns Itself. The tree was deeded to itself, along with the surrounding 8 feet of land, by Colonel William Henry Jackson. Jackson apparently had such fond childhood memories of the tree that he didn't want anything to happen to it.

The Tree That Owns Itself

According to an article in the Athens Weekly Banner of August 12, 1890 the deed read:
I, W. H. Jackson, of the county of Clarke, of the one part, and the oak tree… of the county of Clarke, of the other part: Witnesseth, That the said W. H. Jackson for and in consideration of the great affection which he bears said tree, and his great desire to see it protected has conveyed, and by these presents do convey unto the said oak tree entire possession of itself and of all land within eight feet of it on all sides.
(Wikipedia article)

I found out in my search for info on the tree that the current tree standing on the deeded land is The Son of the Tree that Owns Itself. The original tree succumbed to rot and fell in 1942. It was replaced by a tree grown from one of the original trees acorns.

The Tree that Owns Itself and surrounding land

A colorful folk tale about an eccentric man who loved a tree. From what little I know of the city, this seems to typify Athens. An interesting, eclectic city filled with talented people enjoying life. Definitely worth a visit.
Happy Travels!

Travel Loyalty Programs - Just say yes to free stuff

I've been doing some thinking about travel loyalty programs lately. For many years I traveled and didn't bother to take advantage of any of the loyalty programs available. Well no more. In the past few years I've signed up for, and actively use, several travel loyalty programs.

I have two frequent flyer accounts. Yes, only two. I try to keep my air travel to those airlines whenever I can. Because of this I've gotten enough miles for free RT tickets for vacations and visits to family and friends. Being loyal does pay off in some cases. Along with earning miles through straight travel I've also signed up for an airline affiliate credit card. This way I earn miles for everyday purchases. It adds up quickly. No program is perfect and there are some fees involved with the "free" travel awards but it's worth it to get signed up. If you're traveling anyway there's no reason not to take advantage of these programs.

Where I've seen the biggest return for brand loyalty has been with hotel reward programs. I've earned at least a week of free nights in the past year. Now that may not sound like a lot but at an average of $100 a night the rewards become significant. Of the many frequent traveler programs you can sign up for hotel reward programs should be at the top of your list. Besides the free nights you may get access to special deals for rooms and other freebies once you're at the property. 

The nice thing about a program like the one that Marriott sponsors is the various types of properties that it encompasses. Being a member of the Marriott reward program gives you a ton of flexibility. Their brands cover everything from their basic hotels to their higher end brands. Which means you can almost always find a property in your price range in any given city. 

Hyatt hotels also have a really good loyalty program, Hyatt Gold Passport. I like staying at the Hyatt. They have lots of great properties and always seem to have deals available. Being part of their loyalty program is just icing on the cake. One of their best programs is their Sunshine on Sale deal, stay three nights and get the fourth night free. (That was the deal, it may have changed now) We've taken advantage of that one several times. 

It pays to be a part of these programs. They offer real rewards that you can actually use. Being part of a hotel program can get you an upgraded room, free breakfast and discounted stays. And let's not forget the potential for upgrades on air travel. No matter your status within the airlines program, just being a member can get you upgrades to first class, priority boarding, free checked bags. All of these available for free or at greatly reduced prices.

If you haven't already, give these programs another look. You may be pleasantly surprised by what you find. Before you know it you could be flying and staying for free.

Happy travels!

The National - Athens, Georgia

While on a recent trip to Athens, GA we had the chance to have lunch at The National. The National is a lovely, intimate restaurant. The dining room is small but doesn't feel crowded and gives off an airy feel with it's cool blue and white color scheme.

We arrived a bit early for our lunch reservation so we had a few minutes to look around. There is a small bar opposite the dining room that seemed to be well stacked with bourbons and scotches. While we didn't take advantage of the nice selection on this trip it seems like a good spot to meet friends for a pre-dinner drink. And food is served in the bar throughout the day.

We were shown to a table along a wall filled with windows. The tables on this side  of the dining room share a long banquet and seat one to three people. The banquet was comfortable and the table, while a bit on the small side, was perfect for our party of two.

The food at The National takes its inspiration from the Mediterranean. Hummus, olives and stuffed dates are featured along with flat breads and salads. The lunch menu varies a bit from the dinner menu but in broad strokes the menus are very similar. If you can only make it for lunch, as we did, you'll miss a few items but still get a great variety to chose from.

Marinated Olives

Goat Cheese with Lavender Honey

 The menu at The National is divided into Firsts and Seconds. To start, from the Firsts menu we had the marinated olives and the goat cheese with lavender honey and toast. Both were quite good. Several different types of olives in a light dressing with a few capers thrown in. The goat cheese and honey couldn't be simpler. The lavender added a note that, to be honest, I'm still unsure of. I enjoyed it but the lavender seems an acquired taste.

After that we moved on to the seconds. We had the chicken salad with yogurt dressing, the tartine and Chucho's pizzette. All of the entrees were good but the chicken salad really stood out. The yogurt dressing was creamy and added a nice zip.

The pizzette was topped with chicken, fontina cheese, caramelized onions and pickled chilies. The onions were a nice sweet contract to the chicken and chilies.

The tartine was a toasted baguette served with triple cream cheese, beefsteak tomato, melted leeks, greens and a green olive vinaigrette. I love anything toasted so this was spot on for me. Creamy, crunchy and peppery.

We ordered coffee and tea and made our dessert selections. I had the Baklava Ice Cream with some type of blueberry compote and my lunch date had the Flour-less Chocolate Torte with cherries. While the ice cream was really good, the chocolate cake with cherries was divine. (I confess I stole more than a few bites.)

We had a very nice lunch at The National. Our server was wonderful, attentive without being intrusive and never made us feel rushed. Terrific service.

If you're in Athens, GA and looking for a lunch option that's a little bit different give The National a try. It's a great place to take a break in the middle of the day and the food and service are both top notch.