punkerdoo

We were going downtown to try Shokitini, but they only serve lunch on Fridays, so we pointed the Black Mistress (NewCarOfPunkerdooToReplaceOldCarOFPunkerdooSmashedByOakTree) towards Lumpkin to try Cali-n-Tito’s place. Its in the old K’Bob building across from the SDT house. The building has been given a curb appeal makeover so that it resembles a shack of sorts. There is even a clothesline decoration (I assume) by the back door. The menu is pretty simple, but filled with many things we want to go back and try. We seemed to be thinking alike when we both ordered the Cuban sandwich with chorizo and egg. Punkerdoo had Fried Plantains as her side and I went with Yuca Frita. The Cubans were HUGE, I’m still full six hours later. We were also provided two sauce choices of which I brilliantly forgot to inquire their use. Not sure if they went on the cassava chips or the Cuban? Anyway one tasted a bit like spiced 1000 Island dressing and the other was more herbal oil.

The meal kicked ass. We want to go back tomorrow for empanadas……edit, while viewing the hipster olympics, I just learned that empanadas are the new global warming.

The place is BYOB, but there is no corkage fee durning the lunch hours. Also, they only take $ and checks, so plan accordingly.

1427 South Lumpkin Street

Thai food, what do I know about it? Not much except its spicy. Spicy is OK by me; Punkerdoo not so much. We reason that not all Thai food can be hot. We already know we know bupkis about the cuisine, lets go eat some.

We noticed Siri Thai a year or so ago when we were headed for breakfast at Big City Bread Cafe. Its in a brick strip building that would be more home to an accounting firm. We filed and forgot about it until the day we were driving all over Hell’s Half Acre looking for a spot to park to eat at The Grit. We came in at another level and in the back and I thought to myself, Self, that’s the Thai restaurant that used to be on the top level, we should go eat there sometime..

Later while eating at The Grit, I asked Punkerdoo where we should head for the next New Restaurant, How about a Thai place? She said. Stoopid me did not even think of the place I just saw, helicopters were not deployed, luckily she thought of it.

So where to start? We parked in the lot for Wendy’s customers only (FTS, I hate parking lots) and went in. A small room with a bar, a few tables and a spiral staircase greeted us. On the bar was a very apologetic sign telling us to come downstairs as the upstairs was closed. OK. We were seated and menued ( I seem to be verbizing things lately). We ordered Singhas and poured over the menu. I decided to order Pad Khing hot (3 spice choices, Medium, Hot and Volcano) and Punkerdoo ordered Pad Ma-Maung mild (not a choice BTW). It was lunch so we had our choice of 3 sides: Salad, Spring Roll (what they said, not what was on the menu) and Soup of the day. We were told that the soup was coconut, I really dislike coconut, but we went for it anyway. Apparently, real coconut has little to do with the processed coconut which goes on cookies and shrimp. The soup was stellar, silky and citrus. Very good. I went through my first beer pretty quickly, so I ordered a Chang, a Thai beer recommended by a waiter, who for unknown reasons reminded me of the bass player for Hüsker Dü, Greg Norton. It was great as well.

Please go eat at this place, the food is terrific.

367 Prince Avenue

Yep, I know… How long have we lived here and have never eaten at The Grit? Sorry, we are slackers for that side of town I guess.

The Grit seemingly resides in a land of no parking zones and forbidding signs stating If you are a GRIT customer and park here you will be towed. Probably drawn and quartered also when you go to pay cash for your car. Damn, all I wanted was some Vegan Chili and a macrobiotic watercress sandwich. I digress.

As is de rigeur, we arrive very late in the lunch hour or in what watch terms, about 2watch. We go in are greeted and seated warmly. There are way too many things on the menu I want to try, I see Punkerdoo is having the same difficulty. The waiter is coming back, stall stall!, avoid…..Ah HA! Drinks! I order a Terrapin, “2 please”. Oddly, we are served 2 Terrapin Golden Ales, not the usual Rye. I suppose I should have specified what Terrapin I wanted, but Golden Ale is so boring, its like T-ball or something.

Oh well, I hunker down and order lunch. Hot Noodle Bowl of the day, hmmm, garlic, ginger, chilis…good stuff. Punkerdoo has the Falafel Plate, according to her, the frying was perfect, just a bit doughy on the inside.

Great food, great price, why was it so long in coming? We will be back soon!

199 Prince Avenue

In case you have not figured it out, its a new (to us, we are boring and go to the same places all the time) restaurant and it happens for lunch on a tuesday.

We went to the Last Resort Grill. We sat in the “outside” area which, this time of year, means a patio encased in wrought iron and plastic screening. It was hot, and the heater/bug zappers on the ceiling kept coming on for a few seconds and then shutting off.

First thing, let me say they have a really different and good wine list. Its not terribly expensive and the glasses they bring actually have more than 4oz of wine in them. For this alone, we will go back.

Punkerdoo had the Ravioli of the Day with the Sauce of the Day
Husband had the Risotto

The ravioli was very good and very rich. The risotto was undercooked to the point of being cavity painful. We assume since people keep eating there and all seem to have teeth, that this was an anomaly. I have worked in too many restaurants to send it back, so I crunch on through.

The service was good; polite…..

We will go back

184 West Clayton Street

Yes I know the 27th was a Thursday. So what? We decided to call it New Restaurant Tuesday a couple of weeks later.

We went to Casa Mia to try the Tapas. They have a fairly small menu, but one of the choices was 5 tapas and a bottle of the house red. Some quick math indicated that we would save around $2 going this route, so we were on it. Can’t remember the names exactly but we ordered:

queso dulce – A pimento cheese spread with toasts
arenas – think corn meal empanadas
ceviche
chorizo
some shrimp dish I cannot remember the name, sorry

The queso dulce was very good, the chorizo was okay but over-grilled, the shrimp was pretty boring, the arenas were fantastic and the ceviche was extra primo good. The ceviche had just the right balance of lime, salt and onion.

The House Red was also pretty decent. (sorry, forgot that as well, will update some day)

The service was excellent even though we arrived at the tail end of the lunch hour and the price was quite reasonable.

We will go back and would certainly recommend this casa to anyone. A side note, as of this posting, the Casa Mia website consists only of several annoying flash clickthoughs. It is assumed they will eventually have more than just their number and address available.

269 North Hull Street
Athens, GA 30601

With all due respect to the Reverend, they were not bales, but it must of been cocaine falling from the sky as it does not snow down here. Not to worry though gentle reader! We have ample firewood, scotch and beer to last through the inevitable power outage. Additionally, we have two, count ‘em, two! gas guzzling 4 wheel drive vehicles capable of carrying us and our pack away from the canned food and bottled water riots happening down at the local Piggly Wiggly.

 Husband brought home Bisson Strip steaks from Earthfare. He basted them with olive oil and grilled them. I made a sauteed mushroom topping and a side of mashed potatoes. Having never cooked Bisson before Husband did an excellent job. One could not ask for a more perfectly cooked steak. (You’ll notice I forgot to photograph the completed dinner) They were goooud!