Trippin' with the RealTimShady

High Museum of Art 1280 Peachtree St NE Atlanta, GA 30309 A few weeks ago, Mr. Plow and I had the distinct pleasure of entertaining our friend J, Esq, for the weekend. Our primary goal was simple: to catch up while enjoying a few delicious meals in exciting locations in and around the city. We spent the better part of Saturday morning at Atlanta's internationally acclaimed art museum, The High, where we were excited to see several pieces from the permanent collection as well as the current special exhibit, Cross Country: The Power of Place in American Art (now through May 7). Among the most fascinating pieces in the permanent collection is Anish Kapoor's Untitled  (2010), a mesmerizing, concave stainless steel disk. I was also thrilled to revisit Claude Monet's Houses of Parliament in the Fog  (1903), a favorite from my very first visit to the museum back in the 1980s. The special exhibit was at once somber and captivating, a realistic and sobering view of our na...

Sickness and my continued malaise about the state of our country led me to procrastinate this week with two classic films, both fascinating in their own right, but more so when they are placed in the context of our current national situation. Giant (1956) is a sprawling epic, part melodrama and part midcentury Western. Directed by George Stevens and based on a novel by Edna Ferber, the film explores the life of wealthy rancher, Bick Benedict (Rock Hudson), his romance with the socialite Leslie Lynnton (Elizabeth Taylor), and his lifelong rivalry with Jett Rink (James Dean), a handyman who strikes it oil rich, allowing him to do opulent things like build his own hotel. Giant was a hit with both the public and the critics back in 1956, earning $12 million at the box office and garnering 10 Oscar nominations (including a win for Best Director). By today's standards, the film's soundstage-bound sets and saturated color palette lend it the aura of technicolor soap opera; the o...

Annisa 13 Barrow St New York, NY 10014 Sad news today in the restaurant world: Annisa, chef Anita Lo's intimate, gorgeous restaurant in the West Village will close in May. I had the pleasure of dining at Annisa twice - once alone (I don't remember why I went alone, but I did) and once with Mr. Plow (on a whimsical, impromptu trip to the city). On my first visit, I literally had the dining room to myself. I booked a table for 5:30 and proceeded to luxuriate in 90 minutes of attentive deliciousness. I remember two dishes distinctly: the seared foie gras with dumplings - so rich and decadent - and the unique mille-feuille with strawberries and pink peppercorns. In 2010, while on a Thanksgiving trip to Vermont, Mr. Plow and I made an unplanned road trip to New York. Though it was a last-minute decision during a holiday week, we managed both to find a room at the wonderful Hotel Giraffe and to get a table at Annisa. Once inside the warm, comforting dining room, we decide...

UPDATED: July 2, 2018 Here's a page to bookmark : my list of personal favorites from throughout Metro Atlanta. I've arranged them in three categories: Special Occasions  - for celebrating something special and money is no option Dependably Delicious  - for a comfortable and satisfying escape from a hectic week Casual Comfort  - for consistent, delicious fare that won't break the bank The list below has links to each restaurant's website. Click here to read short descriptions of why and what I love at each spot. This will be a permanent page with a link ( EAT in ATL ) in the column to the right - visit often for updates! Special Occasions Aria Bacchanalia Bones Dependably Declicious Floataway Cafe The Iberian Pig The General Muir La Tavola Miller Union The Optimist Revival Casual Comfort Bocado Food Terminal La Parrilla Leon's Full Service Magnolia Room Pea Ridge Ponko Chicken Shorty's Taqueria del Sol

Bacchanalia 1198 Howell Mill Rd Atlanta, GA 30318 After starting the evening with our favorite gin cocktails (gin and tonic for Mr. Plow, gin gimlet for me), we were treated to not one but two amuses-bouches -- a bite-sized puff pastry filled with cheese and a small sipping cup of cold potato soup topped with pickled onion.  Then the fun really began! For starters, I selected the trochon of foie gras, a sinfully creamy disc of liver served with what appeared to be chunks of - I kid you not - peanut brittle. The buttery warmth of the foie gras in combination with the crunchy sweetness of the brittle was an unexpected delight. Mr. Plow started with a heaping bowl of pan fried sweetbreads that had been stewed in a luscious brown sauce with potatoes and onions. Who knew pancreas could be so delicious? Seriously, that bowl of "sweetbreads stew" could make for some mighty expensive comfort food! For the main course, Mr. Plow selected the deliciously savory gril...