Utilizing my Spam Folder for Cafe Intermezzo

The only reason that this outing qualifies for the "frugal" aspect of the For Frugal Foodies blog is because I was willing to sacrifice my email spam folder and sign up for a website called Crowdcut.com.  The site is a daily discount service that sends you deals going on in your city but since it is so new, the only cities on the list are Minneapolis and Atlanta.  However, when you sign up as a new member, they give you a $10 gift certificate to Cafe Intermezzo.  

Cafe Intermezzo's Dining Room

This little gem has three locations around Atlanta, the oldest of which has been around for 31 years.  They are known for their European-style interior, delicious coffee, and amazing desserts (which it is rumored that they have flown in from Italy).  They also have a full menu but most people go for the over 100 different pastries, cakes, pies, cheesecakes, and tortes.  At $7.85 a slice, they are by no one's definition a frugal find but with a $10 gift certificate, Evan and I decided to treat ourselves to a dinner of just hot chocolate and dessert one evening.  The atmosphere is very cozy in the restaurant.  Even the bathrooms are amazing.  They teach you how to order in Italian while you use the facilities and wash your hands.  The candles and the low light make it the perfect place to take a date, too.

The Cheesecake Case

We ordered our hot chocolates first. I went with Mexican hot chocolate with cinnamon and dark chocolate chips and Evan chose the Belgium hot chocolate with Nutella.  Both equally amazing and both COVERED in fresh whipped cream.  Then we approached the dessert cases.  They have multiple dessert "tour guides" that stand on either side and describe each and every dessert to each and every person that asks.  No small task considering there were no less than 40 cheesecakes on one side and 40 cakes/tortes on the other side.  It is so hard to choose because each pastry looks better than the next.  And the descriptions make everything sound that much better.  Even the stuff that I normally wouldn't be that interested in looked mouth-watering.  We finally settled on a Nutella moose-filled pastry for Evan and a pumpkin-chocolate torte for me.  They were both outstanding.

The overall experience of Cafe Intermezzo is really what you go for.  The place is tight with tiny table-tops and crowded and cozy and you feel like you just stepped into a little slice of Europe.  The lights are dim, you are surrounded my mirrors, the music is soft, and the food is stellar.  You half expect the servers to speak a different language.  It could be French, it could be Italian, who cares... you just point to what you want and you know it's going to be amazing.  I am not a big drinker but this place is also quite popular for the fact that they stay open until 2am serving amazing wine, champagne, and mixed drinks as well.  It is by no stretch of the imagination the place to go if you are looking to stretch your dollar but if you are looking for an excuse to splurge, this place is worth the pb and j you're eating leading up to your fancy night out at Cafe Intermezzo.  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

                 His                                                                                       Mine



Cafe Intermezzo
4505 Ashford-Dunwoody Rd
Dunwoody, GA 30346
770-396-1344
www.cafeintermezzo.com

Sunday Lunch at Goldberg's

Goldberg's Deli

Let me start by saying that having weekends off from work is amazing because it allows me to sleep in and have late breakfast/early lunch with Evan on Saturdays or Sundays.  No, I don't mean brunch.  Brunch is a hybrid of breakfast trying to pass off as lunch food by putting an egg on a sandwich or calling ham, "Canadian bacon" and I'm not falling for it.  Late breakfast or early lunch is more like cheating.  It's when you get to eat an entire meal of one type outside its normal hours of distinction.  For example, McDonald's stops serving breakfast at 10:30am but at Sonic or Waffle House, you can order breakfast all day!  Even though the quality may be poor, there is something special about being able to eat something outside the A.M/P.M. comfort-zone.  Call me a rebel...

Goldberg's Dining Room

So on Sunday morning, Evan and I woke up craving an early lunch.  We didn't want breakfast but we didn't want to wait for the P.M. hours to eat.  And there are a limited number of places that offer a full, non-brunch menu on a Sunday morning.  But one place came up almost by chance.  I had eaten at Goldberg's once before on Evan's request (he is a self-proclaimed Reformed Jew, a very long story) and we really enjoyed the food but they are only open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. which means if you want to go after work, you better get off work early and if you want to go for breakfast, it's an option but you will have to get up super early and I am not a morning person.  Evan works a regular weekday schedule and my schedule cycles each month so when we get weekends off together, every weekend is jam packed with all the places that we never get to go when I am working.  And Sunday was a Goldberg's kind of day. 

Goldberg's Bagel Company & Deli has been around since 1972.  It has several locations but the one closest to us was the original location on Roswell Rd.  It's in a little shopping mall next to a Fresh Market and Abbadabba's shoes store.  The place seems small from the outside but once you step inside, it opens up to a full deli counter where they have a cooler for to-go orders and a sit-down restaurant that can accommodate at least at least 100 people.  The walls are decorated with the titles and characters from Broadway musical and the dining area is very cozy.  The wait staff is constantly on the move, which they have to be because the front door never seems to close.  There was a steady stream of people coming in and out; one line to be seated in the dining room, one line to pick up something to-go at the deli.  We arrived around 11 a.m. thinking it would be slow on a Sunday but the place was already packed to capacity with a line of about 12 people in front of us waiting for tables.  The host was one of the most overly friendly people I have ever had the pleasure of encountering and not in an obnoxious way but in a genuinely pleasant way.

My California Reuben

In keeping with my trying new things mantra, I was daring and tried a new dish on this fateful morning, a California Reuben.  Reubens are not too daring all by themselves but the sauerkraut was a daunting topping that I had never sampled before.  The idea of pickled cabbage on a hot dog or a sandwich may sound delicious to some people but it sounds borderline crazy to me.  However, I decided to go for it.  When the sandwiches came, Evan's brisket sandwich looked amazing and mine looked equally appetizing.  The first bite was an experience but I was delightfully surprised.  I wouldn't want to go too crazy on topping my sandwiches with sauerkraut from now on, but this particular sandwich was fantastic.  Hot pastrami, rye bread, sauerkraut and Russian dressing with a side of homemade potato salad and a sweet tea with lemon.  The food was stellar.  I ate until I couldn't possibly fit anymore food into my stomach and them looked longingly at the bit of sandwich that was left.  Not enough for a to-go box but too much for me to eat.  I wish I could have found enough stomach space to have eaten it because it was just that good, but alas, I had to leave it on the plate.  An excellent start to my Sunday morning.

Evan's Brisket Sandwich

The best thing about this whole excursion is that each entree was under $10 for a sit-down lunch.  I am always surprised to find food of this quality that cost so little.  If you go to Chick-Fil-A now, you will end up paying over $6 for the cheapest combo on their menu and that is a fast food restaurant!  This place has been around since the 70s and I know why there is a line of people wait to get in.  The people are friendly, you are treated like a guest, the quality of the food is exceptional, and the value cannot be beat.  That's what has kept the doors open all these years.  Most new restaurants don't make it past the first year of business.  Goldberg's will continue to thrive for many, many years.

And we will definitely be coming back, too.  I am already planning a return trip possibly as early as next weekend if Evan is up for it.  Next time I think I may have to go with the bagel with the lox and cheese cream, though.  I mean, it is what they are named for.  How could you go wrong?

Pickles!

By the way, they have pickles in a glass jar on the table.  Who doesn't love that?!


Goldberg's Bagel Company & Deli
4383 Roswell Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30342
404-252-1114
www.goldbergsdeli.net

I Got Sucked Into the Vortex

The Vortex

If you are passing through Atlanta, in search of a local hotspot you can never go wrong with the Vortex.  As soon as you walk in the door you will see why.  The have tall ceilings and as you look up the walls, they are plastered with framed awards from all the reviewers, magazines and critics that rate them the number one destination for a tasty burger in the South.  Some would even go as far as to say the best in the country.  When you see the line to get a table, rest assured, you picked the right place.  It's 18 and up only.  One of the few places left that still allows smoking indoors and has a full bar and a comedy club just past the bathrooms.  This place is a gem.  But the main reason you are here, is the burger.  Now I have been here many time before and have always been happy with my burgers but I have always been pretty safe with my choices; the bacon burger, the swiss and mushroom, the ragin' cajun, the yokohama mama... But I have always wanted to try the Elvis burger.

What is the Elvis burger?

Well...


"Half pound of pure deliciousness - cooked to any temperature you'd like.  Slathered with a King-sized helpin' of smooth peanut butter, bacon, and fried bananas."

The Laughing Skull Stage

Add a side of sweet potato fries and it set me back $10.25.  I'm in.  Their burger options are beef, veggie, bison, turkey, or chicken breast but I went with the traditional beef.  I figured the other frills were dangerous enough so I could leave the meat alone.  I am medium burger kind of girl so I decided to stick to a traditional order on this particular night.  The evening in question was a Wednesday but the place was packed.  Apparently this is par for the course.  It's a rare occurrence to show up after 5pm and not have to wait at least 20 minutes but believe me, it is well worth it.  I was accompanied by Evan and my friends from out of town, Katey and Beau.  The other deciding factor that sucked us into the Vortex was the comedy club attached to the back of the restaurant, The Laughing Skull Lounge.  When my friends visited last year, we came on a weekend, saw a comedian we had never heard of before, Pat Dixon, and laughed our asses off.  We vowed that next time around, we would definitely make a return trip.  Tonight was local comic night so we have about 10 local comedians to keep us laughing after our delicious dinner.

Elvis Burger

The place is decorated with a strange mash-up of everything from a taxidermy cowfish to skeletons on motorcycles to life-size half-naked tattooed lady portraits.  It's a very inviting atmosphere.  The waiting staff is pretty alternative and it is an 18 and up restaurant for a reason.  Don't come in looking for 5-star service but you will have a great time nonetheless.  Even on a super busy night, the food comes out crazy fast.  When I saw my Elvis burger, I did not regret taking a risk by ordering it.  It was in a word, amazing.  The tang of the bananas offset the creaminess of the peanut butter and the saltiness of the bacon and the beef were in perfect harmony with everything on the bun.  Be prepared to get a little sticky but it was well worth it.  I used my sweet potato fries to sop up everything that fell off my burger and left a happy, clean plate.  Mission accomplished.

Evan's Guacamole Burger

Some places get a lot of hype because they are doing crazy stuff and people want to try something new.  Some places get a lot of hype because it's expensive and people assume that if they charge a lot, it must be really good.  But if you see locals filling the entry way, weeknight after weeknight, without having to run a crazy promotion, or offer over the top food, then there is a reason the hype is deserved.  They are doing it right.  The quality is good.  They have found a niche and they are delivering night after night.  Go where the locals go and chances are, you will get a great meal.  And the locals love the Vortex.

Side note:  For those of you that watch "Man v. Food," you may have seen Adam Richman go to the Vortex before and eat the Double Bypass, which is not for the faint of heart.  I'll let the menu describe it for you:

"Two big half-pound sirloin patties, topped with two fried eggs, six slices of American cheese and eight slices of bacon , all served between the two grilled cheese sandwiches that we use in place of the regular hamburger buns.  $14.95"


The Vortex (Midtown)                      The Vortex (Little 5 Points)

8878 Peachtree Street                       438 Moreland Ave

Atlanta, GA 30309                            Atlanta, GA 30307

404-875-1667                                    404-688-1828

www.thevortexbarandgrill.com

West Egg Cupcakes on the Cheap

My first two blogs have been spent dining out which were extremely fun and easy so I figured I would invest a little more time and effort and make a recipe.  So for this installment of For Frugal Foodies I will be making Peppermint Cupcakes with White Chocolate Buttercream from a recipe from West Egg Cafe in Atlanta.  In addition to having a breakfast/brunch style cafe, they also have a bakery known for their sweet treats.  According to their website, it will set you back $27 for a baker's dozen of said cupcakes that I will be making for around 59 cents a piece.  This recipe is not an approximation of what I think would closely match their cupcakes but it came straight from their email promotion that I received on New Years so I figured that would be the best template to follow:

West Egg Cafe's
Peppermint Cupcakes with White Chocolate Buttercream

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons peppermint extract
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk

1.) Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.

2.) Mix peppermint extract and sour cream in another bowl. Set aside.

3.) Cream together the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl often.

3.) Cream together the butter and the sugar until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl often.

4.) Add half the flour mixture and beat on low speed until well combined. Add half the sour cream mixture and do the same.

4.) Add half the flour mixture and beat on low speed until well combined. Add half the sour cream mixture and do the same.

5.) Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

5.) Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

6.) Finally, add the red food coloring.

6.) Finally, add the red food coloring.

7.) Add the whole milk and blend well.

8.) Pour batter into prepared muffin tins, filling ¾ full.

Bake at 350° for 12 minutes, or until tops are a light golden brown. Cool completely before frosting with white chocolate buttercream. Before frosting sets, garnish with bits of candy canes or starlite mints (we recommend a Ziploc bag and a hammer for this!). Yields 2 dozen regular size cupcakes.

White Chocolate Buttercream

• 4 sticks (1 pound) unsalted butter, softened
• 24 ounces white chocolate, melted and cooled slightly
• 2 cups confectioner's sugar
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• candy canes or starlite mints for garnish

*I used Junior Mints as garnish instead of hard peppermint candies.*

Beat the butter at medium speed until creamy. Add the melted chocolate and beat on low speed until fully incorporated. Add the confectioner's sugar and beat at low speed until incorporated, then gradually increase the speed to high and beat until light and fluffy.

The final product wasn't quite what I was expecting.  The cupcakes were a little on the dense side and I'm not 100% sure if that was because I made a mistake in the recipe assembly or if they were supposed to taste like that and I am just more accustomed to light and fluffy cupcakes.  Regardless, I fed them to my co-workers and they seemed to be a success.  Whether they were just being polite or they were just hungry, I don't know, but they were eaten so I say it was a win.  They did turn out an adorable pink and the frosting is spectacular.  I will definitely use the recipe again for other cupcake recipes of my own.  I promise to share my failures as well as my successes in this blog.  Not every cooking venture turns out well.  We all stumble and fall flat on our faces from time to time and it's reassuring when others share their failures instead of all their brilliant successful creations in high resolution pictures.  Gag.   The best part about this recipe venture, though, was the budget break down.  When I bought all the ingredients for the cupcakes, I broke it down by servings into a spread sheet that I will share at the bottom so you can see how much it cost me to make this entire batch.  If you wanted to buy this same thing at West Egg Cafe, it cost a little most than $2 a cupcake but my recipe cost around 59 cents per cupcake. It all boils down to whether or not you are the kind of person that wants to send the money or put in the effort.  Sometimes, I can go either way but I think it's always fun to at least try doing it for yourself once.  If it doesn't go so well, then you can rightfully splurge on someone else's expertise. Happy New Year! 2 cups AP flour                             0.3                20 cups in a 5 lb bag for $3 2 tsp baking powder                    0.066            6 tsp per oz of powder 10 oz $1.99 1 tsp salt                                        N/A               ---- 2 tsp peppermint extract               0.66             6 tsp per oz. 1 cup sour cream                           1.69             8 oz container 5 1/2 sticks unsalted butter           3.74             .68 cents per stick of butter 1 cup sugar                                    0.25            8 cups of sugar in a 4 lb bag for $2 2 large eggs                                   0.2              12 large eggs for $1.20 1/2 tsp red food coloring               0.15             6 tsp per oz 1 1/2 cup milk                               0.53             1 gallon milk $5.69 has 16 cups 24 oz. white choc.                         4.98             ---- 2 cups powdered sugar                 0.43             8 cups of powd sug for $1.70 2 tsp vanilla extract                       0.04              8oz. vanilla cost $1, 6tsp per oz. box of Junior Mints                      1.16              ---- total spent                                 14.196    cost per cupcake                      0.5915    West Egg Cafe  1100 Howell Mill Road Write a review -  - Atlanta, GA 30318 Get Directions (404) 872-3973

Wings, beer, and sports; Clay's Sports Cafe

When it's game day and you aren't planning on eating an overpriced hot dog at the stadium, having a local spot to go watch the game, have a beer, and enjoy some traditional bar food is the next best thing.  Actually, it's better than the stadium.  No traffic, no expensive beer and food, no lines for the toilet, no uncomfortable stadium seats... seems like a win/win to me.  For the casual night out to have a good time, cheer on your team, and make it home before 1 a.m., then Clay's Sports Cafe is a local gem.  If you don't know where Clay's is, you will probably drive right by it the first time you are looking for it.  It's in Sandy Springs off of Roswell Road, across the street from Pep Boys and next to Sandy Spring Lamp and Shade Center.  The entire restaurant seats about 60 people, tops and there is no official bar area, although they do serve alcohol.  The big screen TV 15 years old, their computer where they ring up to-go orders runs on MS-DOS, and there is typically one server working at a time.

That being said...

There are TV's mounted in every corner of the restaurant so that even if you aren't facing the big screen, you can still follow the game and most likely another game as well.  The person taking to-go orders is so freaking awesome on that DOS computer that they will never need to update because they get your order ready in 15 minutes no matter how busy it is, even on Super Bowl Sunday.  That's right.  I called in a to-go order on Super Bowl Sunday, 30 minutes before kick-off and they had it ready in 12 minutes.  They are bad ass.  And that one server waiting on the 60 people in the restaurant, she's awesome.  It's usually the same girl every night, and she doesn't have to write down a single thing but can keep all those middle-age men's drink and wing orders straight without missing a beat and talk baseball/football/hockey/soccer with the best of them.

The best part about Clay's is unassuming environment.  When you walk in, the decor has obviously been up since the early 90s, the paint is too dark, the place is too small, but its like that cozy La-Z-Boy recliner that people have been have been begging you to throw out but once they sit in it, they realize it's the best seat in the house.  Clay's is worn in just right so that it's a perfect mix of shabby comfort.  And for the food...

The wings are great.  They have a huge selection of flavors.  Just about every flavor has a hot option as well and you can opt for all flats or all drums if you so choose.  My personal fav is the hot honey mustard.  To go along with their unassuming decor, they serve their wings on a metal pizza tray so they can stack them up high so it's the same size tray for 10 wings or 50.  By the way, it's only $7 for 10 wings and fries!  I am also a big fan of the subs.  I can never finish them so I end up turning them into two meals by eating half of the sandwich and half of the heap of fries.  They have all the traditional bar fare that you would expect; onion rings, cheese sticks, pizza, jalapeno poppers, etc.  And they also deliver if you live within the area.  Great food, check.  Great value, check.  Great service, check.    Next time you are looking to get some friends together for a great time and you don't want to fight the crowd at Taco Mac and deal with the noise at Buffalo Wild Wings or pay the prices at Dantanna's, check out Clay's Sports Cafe.

Clay's Sports Cafe
6518 Roswell Rd
Atlanta, GA 30328
404-843-1233
http://www.clayssportscafe.com

Destination, grilled cheese night! Souper Jenny

Welcome to my new blog, fellow foodies!  For those of you that do not already know me, I have a passion for food, especifically baking, and I would love to start my own baking business one day.  For now, I sell treats out of my kitchen to individual clients but I have a love for the culinary arts as a whole.  Dining out is a guilty pleasure of mine.  I am buy no means rolling in dough (non-pastry dough) so dining out is a luxury that I have to be smart about.  I love to find local businesses that do it for the love of the food, not for the love of the profit.  When it's all about making money, the quality of what is put in front of you shows it.  So for my first For Frugal Foodies blog, I wanted to focus on a business that is all about loving what they do.

Souper Jenny is a local staple in Atlanta started by an actress, Jenny Levison,  that wanted to make time for her and her fellow acting staff to have time for rehearsals and auditions so Souper Jenny is only open Monday thru Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm.  They make amazing soups, salads, and sandwiches, all from scratch and all with local ingredients.  It's counter service only, no cell phones, no credit cards, no reservations.  The line is out the door everyday by 11:30 am and totally worth the wait.  They are known for their $12 lunch.  What is the $12 lunch?  Well, I lifted this straight from their page to answer that question for you:

"It’s your choice of any two menu items (soup, salad, sandwich). It comes with a roll, the daily treat (usually a cookie), a piece of whole, fresh fruit and a drink of your choice (Coke products, Lipsey water or unsweetened iced tea). What a deal!"

On Tuesday and Thursday nights, however, they give us a special treat by allowing us to stay until 10 pm for Grilled Cheese Night.  This is not your typical grilled cheese that you would expect from your Mama's kitchen.  Jenny has that, but it's not all she has...  Each night they have a selection of soups, "traditional" grilled cheese and a "specialty" grilled cheese.  I went on Thursday night with my dining companion, Evan, and we both opted for the specialty grilled cheese.

It was a Cordon Blue Grilled Cheese.  It was made on rosemary bread with pesto grilled chicken breast, black forest ham, Swiss cheese,  and Dijon mustard.  Only one can describe it, SPECTACULAR!  The flavor combination complimented each other perfectly and the addition of the pumpkin butternut squash soup was divine.  It also came with a soft pretzel roll, a chocolate chip cookie and a root beer, all for $12.

The night also had a special surprise for us.  Our Libatious Nature was preparing sample cocktails during dinner at Souper Jenny.  Evan and I sampled a cranberry concoction and a coffee cocktail.  I'm not a big drinker but they were both very tasty.  We managed to make it there early before the crowd so it was a relaxing evening without having to wait in the rain for a table.  If we had had any room left after dinner, we would have enjoyed their all you can eat s'mores but I think the grilled cheese and soup had done us in. Each time I have been to Souper Jenny, I have left with a smile on my face and promising myself that I will come back soon.  Whatever she and her crew are doing, they are doing it right.  The friendly staff, the quality of the food, the atmosphere of the dining area, it all works.  Hell, even when people are waiting in line, they aren't grouchy about it.  Everyone is on this journey together.  There is a sense of camaraderie.  It's something about the level of anticipation to get through the door.  Once you're in, you feel like you've won.

Souper Jenny
56 E Andrews Dr NW
Atlanta, GA 30305
404-237-7687
www.souperjennyatl.com