I’ve probably traveled more this summer than any summer of the last three or four years. I had a number of commitments that kept me near Savannah the last couple of years, but those are gone now and it gave me, with all due respect to Southwest Airlines, the freedom to move about the country. That said, I haven’t traveled all that far. There have been no airplanes. Only drives. Wonderful drives, frankly, that have allowed me to reconnect with this wonderful region of America. The South.
You don’t have to pull over to some roadside shack to experience the “South.” Not at all. Every big city, every small town, has a culture about it. If you spend enough time in the South then you can plainly see how they fit in. In Atlanta, people talk about visiting Rosemary Beach or Lake Lanier. In Nashville you will hear Destin discussed quite a bit or one of the many beautiful lakes Tennessee has to offer. The closer you get to Florida, the more Disney World will enter into the dialogue, especially where children are concerned. Even though it’s pretty clear that the Walt Disney World Resort isn’t just for kids anymore. Not at all. You are always going to have people head North during the summer. However, outside of those that can afford to splurge on a trendy resort somewhere in order to escape the southern summer weather beat down we take every year, a good number of those people are headed North to visit family.
School is under way for a good many kids in my area. The rest will be back in very shortly. Pleasure travel is all but over for me. We have begun production of a new season of Eat It and Like It (premieres September 20th on WSAV-TV in Savannah/Hilton Head) and largely my travel going forward will be related to production of the show. I have to add that this is the first season of our show that has my undivided attention. It’s full time Eat It and Like It for the first time. That is an amazing feeling.
With all of that as a backdrop, I wanted to take a minute to share some of the spots I’ve enjoyed. Of course I’ve had some average food here and there, but as is typically the case around here, I am not going to waste your time sharing experiences that aren’t worth your money. If it’s on this list, it’s very, very good and worth your time if you are in the area. These are in no particular order. Just sorted out by city, in the city where my summer started.
Atlanta
- Atlanta Food and Wine Festival: This event kicked off my summer with a bang. What a tremendous event. Headquartered at the Loews Atlanta Hotel, guests were treated to any number of spectacular experiences. Big time names like Sean Brock and The Lee Brothers mixed and mingled, shared some secrets and offered up some delicious bites. A real highlight was the receptions held on the 9th floor deck of the hotel. Anything from Orchid Paulmeier rocking a Big Green Egg to Steven Satterfield passing out some delicious bites for brunch and the State of South Carolina providing a forum for their area’s best. This event was as advertised. I cannot wait to return next year. It should be on your list as well. June 2-5, 2016.
- Rathbun Steak: I happened to meet Chef Kevin at the Atlanta Food and Wine Festival. A former winner of the TV competition show “Chopped” there is little doubt this guy rocks. He has several restaurants around Atlanta, but I chose the steakhouse on a Monday night. The space was beautiful. The room was at capacity and the food was nothing short of spectacular. The Coca Cola Braised Ribs on a Big Green Egg were a show stopper. Oh yeah, the steak was as good as any I have ever had. And I’ve had them all over America. But that is a story for another time.
- Calle Latina: Calle Latina is in Downtown Decatur, which if you haven’t spent any time in lately, you need to. That along with Inman Park are becoming Atlanta’s go-to hot spots for people who love tasting new flavors, trying new things. Ford Frye has been in the area for a few years now with 246 (excellent) and Top Chef’s Kevin Gillespie is now also in the area with a twist on the traditional “meat and three” concept. It’s called Revival. But back to Calle Latina. There are Mexican dishes, of course. Queso with chorizo is very, very good. But there are also dishes from several other regions of Latin America. Frankly, that is what I liked most about this place. Tortas, arepas and empanadas are part of the experience. Wonderful twist on your every day Mexican. Highly recommended.
- Krog Street Market: Speaking of Inman Park. I spent a good bit of time at the area’s newest foodie enclave, Krog Street Market. It’s still being built out, but already has a couple of different anchor restaurants. Ford Frye’s Superica I enjoyed, but the rock star for me was The Cockentrice. Their description is perfect, so I will share. “The Cockentrice is Chef Kevin Ouzts’ celebration of charcuterie and meat cookery — melding traditional and modern cooking techniques plucked from the rich heritage of the Southern U.S. and beyond.” I couldn’t have described it any better. If you love to nibble on charcuterie and sip on great wine parings, you need to visit this spot. Yes, they have other dishes as well, like a ginormous “Slate Roasted and Blue Cheese Cured Ribeye.” Yeah. Eat It and Like It indeed.
Orlando
- Christner’s Prime Steak and Lobster: I’ve mentioned steaks a million times over the years. I am, without question, a snob. Frankly, steaks and burgers are the only things I will readily admit that I am snob about. When you are paying $50-$60 for a cut of beef or $15 plus for a burger, then I believe it is perfectly within your right to demand excellence. Christner’s was formerly a Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse far, FAR removed from the madness that surround the theme parks in Central Florida. As the story goes, Mr. Christner was a friend of the Del Frisco Steakhouses when they were all in Texas. He got permission (and naming rights) to open a Del Frisco’s Steakhouse in Orlando. Decades later the naming rights agreement expired. Mr. Christner was forced to give up the name, but not a steakhouse. So he slapped his own name on it and continued to deliver excellence in beef. This is without question a locals spot. How much so? The first time I ate here in the late 90’s there was a young lady hanging around the piano in the bar area with her boyfriend singing a few tunes. The singing attracted attention, the couple drew a crowd. Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake were very gracious with the guests at the bar, until they slipped out a side door into their awaiting car. And oh yeah, I’d probably rank this spot in my top five steakhouses in America.
Tallahassee
- Momo’s Pizza: I’ve been visiting Tallahassee since about 1996. This spot has been around since 1999. My first visit didn’t come until this summer. The slices are huge. (They’d better be at $4.75 plus toppings) and the X-Large Pie is so big you get special instructions on how to carry one out in a box. Yes, huge. At the end of the day, this is very, very good pizza. A college spot near the Florida State University Campus and another spot in the ‘burbs.
- Midtown Caboose: Midtown Caboose is a burger joint in the heart of town. A burger joint, with a twist. The Wells Brothers, who own the place, also operate a very popular burger spot down the street. So they took Midtown Caboose as an opportunity to do some different things, offer a nice wine list and some “elevated” (for lack of a better word) appetizers and entrees. They’ll put practically anything on a burger in here. Peanut Butter and Jelly. Mac and Cheese with Bacon and Fried Pickles and the one I tried, “The Liberty Bell.” Marinated philly cheese steak with peppers, onions, and garlic aioli. Yes, on a burger. It was exceptional. Highly recommended.
Destin
- McGuire’s Irish Pub: I’ve been vacationing in the Destin, Florida area for almost 20 years. I’ve seen places come and go and I’ve seen some classics withstand the test of time and stay every bit as good as they were once upon a time. McGuire’s is one of them. I first visited about 18 years ago at the suggestion of my mother-in-law. She lived in the area and was never one to turn down a good steak. McGuire’s is a touristy Irish pub in every sense of the word. They brew their own beer on site. They will sell you t-shirts with any number of drunken slogans on them and they will offer many classic dishes from across the pond. However, this place broke the mold on touristy. They offer over a dozen different kinds of burgers (including a hot fudge sundae burger), they have “Reuben Egg Rolls” and they offer all kinds of salads and soups. They are famous for their “Senate Bean Soup”. A wonderful white bean and ham soup that they offer as a side for 18 cents. Yes, eighteen pennies. If it’s they only thing you eat though, it’s $18. Speaking of dollars, a lot of people like to leave dollar bills posted for good luck at a restaurant, right? Estimates at McGuires in Destin range in the $1.5 million dollars stuck to their walls and hanging from their ceilings. Want to see what that looks like? Click here. It’s quite impressive. As is the food. I had a 16oz Prime New York Strip (yeah, you know me). Excellent. My daughter ordered a Filet that looked like a cantaloupe. I could give you a list of ten places along Florida’s Emerald Coast to Eat and Like. McGuire’s would probably be on any version of that list.
See you on TV.
Jesse
