Scoutmob coupons are so handy lately. So many people are getting out to try restaurants they might not normally visit or even know about. I hope quality places continue to offer discounts. Our most recent Scoutmob sponsored outing was to the Old Fourth Ward’s P’Cheen. P’Cheen is an “International bistro,” which gives it the freedom to serve dishes that don’t necessarily have a particular theme. The ambiance is warm and cozy–lots of dark wood and recessed booths to give you privacy if you’d like, along with open sections that allow the restaurant to still feel like a neighborhood spot.

We started out with the drunken shrooms appetizer (white wine garlic reduction, melted provolone, white truffle oil, grilled crostini):

Drunken Shrooms

For those of you scrambling for last-minute Christmas gifts, here’s a great suggestion: See’s Candies! I received a box of assorted chocolates from the folks at See’s, which I carted home to Louisiana to share with my family.

See's Candies

Until Dec. 26, you can stop by See’s locations at the Mall of Georgia and Town Center at Cobb. I’ve also seen a See’s cart offering a smaller selection in Lenox Mall. See’s has been around since 1921, so a box of their delicious chocolates would be great for an older person with fond memories of the brand, or a younger person who just loves chocolate (I fit into this category!).

Chef Ron Eyester of Rosebud is no stranger to controversy. His guest post on CNN’s Eatocracy blog, “Six ways customers tick off chefs” stirred up a firestorm of both admiration and malice. He also likes to share his frustrations about particularly difficult patrons from his twitter persona, @theangrychef. City’s Best had the chance to talk with him about the controversy and what he thinks is best about Atlanta. Love him or hate him, here’s what he had to say.

So why are you ‘angry?’
Honestly, I don’t want to say I’m angry. When I got on twitter, we just thought “The Angry Chef” had a better ring than “The Funny Chef” or “The Sarcastic Chef.”

Read the rest here

Congrats to the winner of the copy of New American Table, Clara from California! She’s stoked because yesterday was her birthday, and I’m stoked that I have at least one reader in Cali Thanks to everyone who entered–my mom & dad are quite disappointed they didn’t win

It’s time for another giveaway! And this one’s a big ‘un. I’m giving away a copy of Chef Marcus Samuelsson‘s New American Table. You might remember Chef Samuelsson as winner of the most recent Top Chef Masters competition.

New American Table

New American Table is more than just a cookbook though, it’s full of stories from Chef Samuelsson’s childhood in Sweden and his subsequent discovery of his Ethiopian roots and their culinary traditions.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this post. You can get an extra entry by commenting on the proper post on First Bite’s Facebook Page. Contest ends at midnight, Dec. 19 (so I can try to get the winner their prize before Christmas!) and a winner will be chosen by random number generator. Good luck!

I recently visited Cafe Circa with ATL blogger Malika, a cool restaurant tucked into Downtown/Old Fourth Ward on Edgewood Ave. Armed with a Scoutmob coupon and empty bellies, we went in ready to try anything. Our meal, the service, and the ambiance were fantastic. I can’t find any photos of Cafe Circa’s exterior and forgot to take my own, so we’ll have to “settle” for this view of their cozy interior:

Cafe Circa

We started with the roasted lamb ribs in mango bbq sauce and the ackee and salt fish (red peppers, poblano peppers, onions, salt cod, ackee, hard dough bread).
Read the rest of this entry »

All pizzas are not created equal — and that’s a good thing. Anyone who has ever ordered pizza for a group has undoubtedly had to coordinate compromise on all sides. Thick or thin crust? All the toppings, or just cheese? The recent explosion in Atlanta’s pizza-slinging population ensures one of these eateries will have something to suit your taste.

Antico Pizza Napoletana: The reigning champ of the Atlanta “pizza wars,” Antico Pizza Napoletana is a true taste of Italy. Ingredients such as San Marzano tomatoes and Mozzarella di Bufala are imported from the European archipelago and made into pizza perfection by Maestro Pizzaiolo Giovanni Di Palma.

Read the rest here

Image jasoneppink, flickr