Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Afternoon in the Country, A Social Foodie's Paradise

The 17th Annual Afternoon in the CountryAtlanta's most delicious fundraiser—is this Sunday, November 5, 2017, at Foxhall Resort & Sporting Club!


Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Your hosts are the 125 members of Les Dames d'Escoffier International-Atlanta Chapter, a non-profit organization of professional, magnificent women who are restaurateurs, chefs, caterers, public relations executives, event planners, fundraisers, culinary teachers, nutritionists, wine industry executives, hotel executives, retailers, and farmers!  

I've had the great honor of knowing members of Les Dames for nearly seven years and then I had the pleasure of working with all of them—as their Chapter Photographer—starting with a celebration of Julia Child's 100th birthday and for 4.5 years following that occasion. I'm eternally grateful for that experience and will always be an uber-fan and supporter of Les Dames.

This year will be my 5th Afternoon in the Country (AITC)! The photos I'm sharing in this post are from the last four years of Afternoon in the Country events and show some of the delicious fun you too can savor this Sunday!


Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Chef Kevin Gillespie | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Chef Kevin Gillespie | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Afternoon in the Country boasts celebrated chefs from many of Atlanta's top restaurants and fine beverages, too, all set up under festive big-top tents (it's a rain or shine event) on the pristine polo lawns at Foxhall, where another time you might enjoy horseback riding or any number of other adventures

The weather forecast for this Sunday is for a perfect partly-sunny 75° day!


Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Chef Archna Becker | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

This highly anticipated event has grown from 200 attendees in 2000 to more than an expected 2,000 in 2017! Who are they? They're some of the region's most discerning food and wine and event goers, who are there not only to enjoy amazing food and delicious wines (and local beers and spirits), they're also there to support the philanthropic mission of Les Dames and its beneficiaries...and of course a great time with fellow enthusiasts.


Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Among this year's 120+ stations, attendees will enjoy bites from The General Muir, Chai Pani, South Main Kitchen, The Optimist, O-Ku, Sweet Grass Dairy, The Woodsman & Wife, and Wrecking Barn Farm, and many other notable Atlanta dining destinations.

I can tell you from personal experience that this event is a brilliant way to expand your list of special occasion and regularly visited restaurants. Many times I've gone to a restaurant that I first tasted at Afternoon in the Country and was as delighted in-restaurant as I was at the Les Dames event. Taste your way to a litany of new culinary experiences in Atlanta!


Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Proceeds from Afternoon in the Country benefit LDEI-Atlanta Chapter's scholarship and grant programs which support the dreams of Georgia women in the culinary, beverage, and hospitality arts. Les Dames/Atlanta raised and awarded $107,242 last year for those programs! 

That's incredibly impressive for an all-volunteer organization and I've had the awesome pleasure of hearing first-hand from many of the recipients the impact those scholarships and grants made in their lives. Quite moving. The money you contribute via your event ticket purchase, silent auction win, and cake raffle tickets really and truly do go to a great cause!


Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Park 75 | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Cakes, cakes, and more cakes!

Afternoon in the Country's Cake Raffle is indeed famous! These amazing creations, made by master pasty chefs, range from cakes that will remind you of the one's your mother made for birthdays and Sunday Dinner dessert to incredibly elaborate, complex, show-stopping masterpieces! 


Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

The rules for the Cake Raffle in the past have included a "must be present to win" stipulation—because the ecstatic winners get to take home their cakes that day! At least, those who don't eat them on the spot, that is. Yes, while totally salivating, I've seen that!

There's an extensive silent auction, too! Bid, bid, bid on the fabulous auction items ranging from wine baskets to original art to luxury cookwares to travel packages. There's something for every foodie, and then some! 


Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Chef Anne Quatrano | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Chef Anne Quatrano | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

I'm sure you've heard of some of the members of Les Dames, including Grande Dames Julia Child and M.F.K. Fisher

There are too many notable Atlanta Dames to list here, but a few whom I've known and admired for years include:

Mary Moore, founder and owner, The Cook's Warehouse;
Virginia Willis, television host, educator, and cookbook author;
Anne Quatrano, founder and owner, Bacchanalia;
Holly Wulfing Chute, executive chef, Georgia Grown;
Karen Bremer, executive director, Georgia Restaurant Association; and
Dale DeSena, founder, Taste of Atlanta.

If you're an Atlanta foodie, you're going to see familiar faces, either hosting, cooking, pouring, presenting scholarships, or selling tickets for the famous Cake Raffle!


Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Although this is a grown-ups event, you'll likely see some young chefs, too! A regular at Afternoon in the Country, the daughter-of-a-chef young lady pictured above is perhaps the most photographed "chef" at the event. She totally gets the PR factor famous chefs around the world demonstrate. 

I've long been impressed, again and again, by how approachable Atlanta chefs are, beginning and well-seasoned alike. I'm proud to call many of them friends.


Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

The live music is phenomenal!

Afternoon in the Country veteran Theresa Hightower and her Jazz Band are returning for this year's event! Theresa is regarded as one of the great jazz and blues vocalists, actresses, and songwriters of her generation, and she's an AITC attendee favorite!


Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Afternoon in the Country | LDEI-Atlanta | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Toward the end of the event there are official photos made of all attending Dames and another of all participating chefs. It's one of the most concentrated powerhouses of culinary talent you'll ever see in Atlanta!

Last year, as I'm sure she will this year, Theresa Hightower had this unlikely "chorus" singing like their karaoke prize was Executive Chef of the World! They enjoy the chef camaraderie as much as attendees enjoy everything the chefs prepare. Both fantastic to experience!

There's but a tiny glimpse into the fun awaiting you. Get your tickets to Afternoon in the Country and join me and 2,000 others this Sunday for Atlanta's most delicious fundraiser!

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Let's do the Time Warp again...at Out Front Theatre!

♪♬ It's just a jump to the left...
And then a step to the right...
With your hands on your hips...
You bring your knees in tight...
But it's the pelvic thrust...
They really drive you insane...
Let's do the Time Warp again!
Let's do the Time Warp again! ♬♪

The Rocky Horror Show | Out Front Theatre | Photo: Brian Wallenberg
The Rocky Horror Show | Out Front Theatre | Photo: Brian Wallenberg

Launching its second season, Out Front Theatre is showcasing The Rocky Horror Show, based on the cult musical of 1975, in a way you've never seen...and it's magnificent! I saw their whole first season and was already impressed, but they knocked this one out of the park...out of the galaxy!

I had the great pleasure of attending Opening Night and, by a stroke of good fortune, my friend Matty and I got seats front row center! Second and third row are optimum viewing, but I like feeling like I'm practically on stage...the energy was spellbinding! 
"When The Rocky Horror Show was chosen to be the first show of our season, we knew we were dealing with a performance that people can be fanatical about," says Producing Artistic Director and Founder of Out Front Theatre, Paul Conroy. "We didn't want to rehash the movie, as much as everyone loves it, and we didn't want audiences knowing what to expect when they walked through our doors. With the cast and crew we have working on this show, I can confidently say that not a single audience member will know what has hit them!"
And Paul is right! THIS show, while wholly honoring the film that millions love, delivers laughter inducing surprises, gender twists, and character characteristic reversals...but don't worry. Your attention will not waiver, your eyes and ears will be filled with pleasure, and like me, I'll bet your cheeks hurt by intermission from laughing and smiling so much!


The Rocky Horror Show | Out Front Theatre | Photo: Brian Wallenberg
The Rocky Horror Show | Out Front Theatre | Photo: Brian Wallenberg

The callouts from the not-virgin audience members are hilarious! I'd not experienced Rocky Horror in a cinema setting until a few years ago, which was awesome, but seeing the show performed on stage by live actors is fantastic! 

You may have seen in the advertisements that this show is "Complete with sass from the audience!" You too can be part of that sass! 

Grab a bag of props from the concessions stand...1 for $3 or 2 for $5. You'll get toilet paper, a glow stick, a playing card, and more! The audience participation adds a whole other dimension to this "deliberately kitschy rock 'n' roll sci-fi gothic musical!" Your bag has a list of when which prop is to be used and the same list is in your program. Prop away!


The Rocky Horror Show | Out Front Theatre | Photo: Brian Wallenberg
The Rocky Horror Show | Out Front Theatre | Photo: Brian Wallenberg

If you're already a fan of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, you're going to be floored by some of the character "modifications" in Out Front's The Rocky Horror Show. Like Paul said, you're not going to know what hit you!

A few notes about the cast...the absolutely AMAZING cast...

Kiona D. Reese (Frank N. Furter) is beyond phenomenal! You don't once think of Tim Curry (and Tim wasn't this pretty!) while watching Kiona's masterful performance! The audience, including me and Matty, loved her! 

Jacob Jones (Brad Majors) is casting perfection! I'd go as far as to say that Jacob is better as Brad than Barry Bostwick was. No disrespect to Bostwick, but it's not often an actor comes along and actually improves on such a beloved character. Jacob did!

Ally Duncan (Janet Weiss) is super animated as Janet, which is a 1,000% requirement for this show. Ally delivers a wholly entertaining, totally fun performance. You're going to give yourself over to absolute pleasure enjoying her! 

Max Mattox (Rocky Horror) is the perfect Rocky! In every way. From a learning-to-walk newborn creature, to making a ravenous convert of Janet who changes her tune from "I don't like a man with too many muscles" to "Touch-a touch-a touch-a me...", Max has all eyes on him! 

Joe Arnotti (Magenta) has inexhaustible energy, a witticism that radiates and demonstrates brilliantly through face, body, and movement across the stage, not to mention one of the best high kicks I've ever seen from someone so tall, or short for that matter!  

Emily Duke (Columbia) is one of my favorites in this cast. She gives 1,000% (read: one thousand percent!) to her role and it comes through! There's a LOT happening on stage, but I kept following Columbia's antics and laughter-inducing facial expressions. I'm laughing again as I type!

Rotating performers will read the role of "The Narrator"—the Criminal Psychologist from the movie. On Opening Night we were treated to Brigitte Bidet—"Atlanta's Best Drag Queen" - Creative Loafing. She was AMAZING! Had us all in stitches!    

The Rocky Horror Show is onstage at Out Front Theatre now through Sunday, November 5, with a special midnight show on Friday, October 27. Get your tickets and start your Rocky Horror experience with these words from The Narrator... 

"I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey..."

Sunday, October 22, 2017

"Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum" at Fernbank

"Despite the centuries that separate us from Rome's heyday, I think many people will be surprised by the parallels between today's athletes and sporting events and those from roughly 2,000 year ago—when gladiators took center stage at the Colosseum, the greatest entertainment venue of the ancient world," says Dr. Bobbi Hohmann, Vice President of Programming and Collections, Fernbank Museum of Natural History.

From Italy, Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseumis now on exhibit at Fernbank Museum of Natural History, part of the Museum's 25th Anniversary celebration. It's been organized by Contemporanea Progetti (Florence, Italy) and Expona (Bolzano, Italy) in collaboration with the Colosseum (Rome). You can see Gladiators through Sunday, January 7, 2018.


Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Gladiators features more than 100 original artifacts—many from the Colosseum itself!—as well as large-scale replicas (also from Italy), and immersive environments.

The artifacts, including large fragments from the actual Colosseum, are fascinating! Make time to see and revel in their history, and don't miss the storytelling placards placed throughout the exhibition. There are multiple videos, too!


Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

You'll learn about more than 10 types of gladiators (I didn't know there were so many!), as well as some of the many parallels between gladiatorial contests and modern sports culture.

I found it interesting that Atlanta United recently broke an attendance record at Mercedez-Benz Stadium with 70,000 guests. The Colosseum, built more than 2,000 years ago, could seat up to 70,000 guests! Both Mercedez-Benz Stadium and the Colosseum offer tours,by the way.

The Greeks are known for the semi-circular amphitheater, but the full-circle Colosseum (oval in this case) is an Italian invention and is the inspiration for all modern-day stadiums, throughout the world!


Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Some of you know that before I wanted to be an astronaut I wanted to be an archaeologist. Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Italy have been lifelong interests. So, you would have thought that I'd have known what a Shield Boss is (pictured above). A shield boss is attached over a hole in the center of a rectangular shield, a space to protect a legionnaire's hand while grasping his shield.

This bronze shield boss was apparently quite ornate. It's from 2nd - 3rd century CE.   

Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum is as educational as it is fascinating and even mesmerizing. I was enraptured for nearly two hours, the longest I've spent in a single exhibition in a long time. I recommend going well-rested so you can expand your cranium the depth of the Colosseum itself!


Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

The displays for some of the Colosseum artifacts are brilliant! They not only tell you what the artifacts are and what they're made of, they show you where in the stadium they were located, as well as other details about that particular section of the stadium.

This photo (above) doesn't show the scale of the artifact. The capitals in its part of the Colosseum measured approximately 3 feet! 


Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum explores four themes:
  • Origins of Gladiatorial Combat & Venationes (Staged Hunts);
  • The Colosseum, Amphitheater of the Emperors;
  • Who Were the Gladiators?; and
  • A Day at the Arena.
If you're the organized type, knowing this prior to your visit and seeking out the delineations when you're there I think will make it more enjoyable for you. If you're the spontaneous type, I think you'll equally enjoy this exhibition...there's so much to learn, see, enjoy, and experience!


Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

This foot fragment wearing a Caliga—a military sandal worn by all soldiers from recruits to senior officers—is all that remains of a bronze statue of a Roman legionnaire. The sandals were made of leather and iron. 

If armor is an interest of yours, you're in for a treat! There are numerous armor artifacts on display, including an actual Caliga from the 1st century CE!


Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Greaves—leg armor to protect the chins—were worn by two types of gladiators. They were often elaborately decorated with allusions or bacchanalian themes. This particular artifact is a splendid example of how just how elaborate they could be.


Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

This bronze sword scabbard is one of many weaponry artifacts in the exhibition. This one (pictured above) is from the 1st century CE.

Did you see the Oscar-winning movie Gladiator starring Russell Crowe? It portrayed a minuscule amount of the atrocities—common day occurrences in Rome for four centuries—in the Colosseum, including gladiator fights-to-the-death, mass crucifixions, and elaborate animal hunts. 

Most gladiators didn't survive their first fight. Those who did and achieved fandom, would fight only about two to three times per year, with few living beyond 30 years old, and some "earning" their freedom. This exhibition shares with us what the daily life of an enslaved gladiator looked like, the atrocious and the good, and the lives that some led after being freed  


Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

We have reserved seating, which is awesome, but in the Colosseum prominent Romans and Senators had reserved seats with their names carved into their actual seat! Now I wonder if that's where the childhood quip "It doesn't have your name on it!" comes from. 

Seating in the Colosseum was by social order, but not much is known about how closely the "rules" were followed in this regard. There were 80 entrances to the Colosseum and it could seat 50,000 to 70,000 people! 

I lived in Greece, but never made it to Italy and so wanted to. This exhibition has Italy back at the top of my travel list!


Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

In the section of the exhibition that explores "A Day at the Arena" there are artifacts that show similarities to today's large-scale sporting events, including entertainment, commerce, and food and beverage. The above pictured glass bowl dates to the Imperial Age, somewhere between the 1st and 4th centuries. I think it's stunning.


Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
Gladiators | Fernbank Museum of Natural History | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

There's a "Kid's Colosseum" at the end of the exhibition, just before you get to the Gift Shop. Your youngsters can enjoy puppet shows, a wooden block model of the Colosseum, hopscotch (believed to have originated in Rome), and regular readings of stories from Roman mythology!

While on the media preview of Gladiators, I ran into one of Atlanta's best bloggers, Sue, of Field Trips With Sue (since merged with 365 Atlanta Family), who has been an inspiration to me from the very beginnings of wanderlust ATLANTA

She was visiting with her father who is a formidable conversationalist. I could imagine him debating the finer points of the games in the Colosseum with senators and other distinguished attendees. It was a pleasure and honor to get to chat with him and it's always a great time catching up with Sue. Field Trips With Sue has merged with 365 Atlanta Family...check out their website!

When you're making plans to see Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum, check out the other exhibitions, films, and special events, too. As there has been for 25 years, there's always something fun going on at Fernbank Museum of Natural History!


[more photos]

Top 10 Atlanta Restaurants "By the Numbers" - 10th & Piedmont

This month Nikki and I visited 10th & Piedmont in the heart of Midtown. We'd both been before, which contributed to our wanting it to be the 10th and final stop on our "By the Numbers" series. It was our grand finale...for this series, at least. 

Welcome back to our Top 10 Atlanta Restaurants "By the Numbers", a monthly series by wanderlust ATLANTA and super-popular food Instagramer atlantafoodie! Our tenth stop on this 10 restaurant tour was a neighborhood favorite, 10th & Piedmont. 

What we believe is a unique spin on 'Top 10' lists, we haven't counted down, but instead, we've showcased some of Atlanta's restaurants with numbers in their names! Some we've been to before and others were a first-time experience. We've made all of them FUN!


"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: atlantafoodie
"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: atlantafoodie

Nikki arrived a few minutes before I did and she got a window street-side table facing Piedmont Avenue. One of the things that I love about this restaurant is that the windows are open to the street, ledge to ceiling. We got chat with some friends we saw walking by as we enjoyed our dinner. Gotta love that! And it's at the intersection with the new rainbow crosswalks...festive!

She started with a Lemon Basil Fiz, which she said was easy on the sugar—just the way she likes it. It's made with Absolute Citron, hand-crafted ginger syrup, and fresh lemon.  

Later she had a Midtown Mash, one of the restaurant's freshly muddled artisan cocktails! You get a choice of style: Mojito | Margarita | Martini | Long Island | Rum Punch, and a choice of fresh flavors (ask your server what's being featured). 

Nikki had the Mango Mojito!


"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: atlantafoodie
"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: atlantafoodie

Nikki indulges my love of calamari..."Thank you, Nikki!" We ordered the Calamares Fritos. And yes, I double-checked with our server, Aalayahthat there were in fact no Fritos snacks in it before ordering. I'm all for creative and I like Fritos fine, but...  

10th & Piedmont is primarily a tapas restaurant, thus the spellings on the menu. Although tapas is traditionally Spanish appetizers, the menu here crosses borders, and is influenced by regional and local cuisine.

The calamari is served with roasted tomato cumin sauce and charred lemon. Our lemon wasn't charred, but fresh lemon is fine, too. They were quite good, nice and crispy. The sauce was excellent!


"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

I started with a 10P Martini, a classic choice, and a favorite. This one is made with Absolute Vodka, Dolin Vermouth (which I asked not be added), and Blue Cheese Truffle Olives...Yum!

Later, I had their Moscow Mule. 10th & Piedmont's is made with Old Fourth Vodka (that's what pulled me in!), ginger beer, and fresh lime. One of our stops for Nikki's birthday celebration this year, in January, was Old Fourth Distillery. GREAT time there!


"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

There's a separate bar area adjacent to the main dining room. It's a modest space, but plenty spacious for a group of friends to gather for happy hour during the week. Some of the decor in the bar—including the bar itself—was crafted by DEX Industries. I learned about them on a Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) Field Trip in 2013. Fascinating process! The shape you see in the above photo, the one that looks akin to an upside-down tooth, is actually a martini glass from the restaurant!

Our server, Aalayah, was great...super friendly, answered all of our questions, and wasn't overly intrusive, but also did't let our drinks sit empty.


"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: atlantafoodie
"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: atlantafoodie

The Mollotes is refreshing! Perfect for two, you get fried white beans and manchego on toasted baguette topped with red peppers. Apparently we got the toppings for the Tomato & Garlic Pan Catalan. It was delicious all the same.


"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

The Diablo Pimento Mousse is just a fancy name, I think, for one of the best pimento cheese dishes I've ever had. It's made with chipotle, roasted peppers and served with giant wonton crisps. Honestly, I could make dinner out of this dish and a glass of dry Sauvignon Blanc or a Malbec...maybe both.

Nikki found the chipotle to have a modest amount of spiciness and I agree. It's spice level is for the typical pre-Millennials American palette. Pre-Millennials, as so I, typically enjoy a greater degree of spice. I love spice...the hotter, more flavorful, the better!


"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: atlantafoodie
"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: atlantafoodie


The 10P Signature Chicken & Waffles is an award-winning dish! In June 2014, this dish won "Hotlanta's Best Fried Chicken" on Chow Masters, a former Travel Channel show. The prize was $10,000 and the "Golden Skillet"!

What makes this dish award-worthy? It's skewered chicken wrapped in applewood smoked bacon, dipped in house-made waffle batter and then deep fried! How's that for a unique spin on fried chicken? It's served with a condiment trio of powdered sugar, hot sauce, and Georgia sorghum syrup! Nikki called this dish, "a dream come true!" You can order 1, 2, or 3 skewers...as many as you'd like!

I didn't know about the Travel Channel award, but I've had their Chicken & Waffles on multiple prior occasions, primarily at brunch. Nikki had never had them, so she was excited to experience what all the buzz was about and I was excited to see her try them for the first time.


"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: atlantafoodie
"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: atlantafoodie

The menu is primarily tapas, which Nikki and I both love, but we wanted to try an entree, too. We opted for the Seafood Black Paella. Its squid ink makes it black, and Wow, it's chocked full of seafood! You'll find sea scallops, calamari, chicken, gulf shrimp, and spring peas. Seriously, the seafood in this dish is incredibly plentiful! 


"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

I mentioned earlier that DEX Industries did some of the decor in the bar area at 10th & Piedmont. The back wall in the bar is polished concrete! I think it's stunning and was totally surprised to learn that it's concrete! The entire restaurant is beautifully appointed.

[DEX Industries MODA Field Trip]


"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: Travis S. Taylor
"By the Numbers" | 10th & Piedmont | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

In addition to having some delicious dishes on its menu, one of 10th & Piedmont's most sought out features is its location on the corner of one of Midtown's busiest intersections—with lots of pedestrians! The people-watching is awesome and the atmosphere is totally magnificent, especially on a mild spring or fall day, or evening.

THINGS TO KNOW before going to 10th & Piedmont:
  • There's a small parking lot on the Piedmont Avenue side of the restaurant. Keep an eye out for signs indicating that valet is in operation. There's street parking, but not always a lot.
  • Brunch is a festive time to go to 10th & Piedmont! If you go to brunch, be sure to order the award-winning Chicken & Waffles!
  • 10th & Piedmont is walkable to or from Piedmont Park and a short distance from the Atlanta Botanical Garden and other tourist destinations in Midtown.
OF NOTE: 10th & Piedmont opened in the former space of Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeeshop. It was such a popular destination that the store sign from Outwrite was included in last year's "Atlanta in 50 Objects" exhibition at the Atlanta History Center.

Outwrite was Atlanta's largest independent bookstore located in the center of Atlanta's LGBT Community from 1993 until 2012. The store also hosted an outstanding series of author events, including one when I met Roseanne Barr. She's AWESOME!!! 

Here's our visited Top 10 Atlanta Restaurants "By the Numbers", one per month for the first 10 months in 2017:

ONE midtown kitchen
599 Dutch Valley Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

TWO urban licks
820 Ralph McGill Boulevard, NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Local Three Kitchen & Bar
3290 Northside Parkway, NW, Atlanta, GA 30327

Bar Margot at Four Seasons
75 14th Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

5Church Atlanta
1197 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30361

Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House
437 Memorial Drive, SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

Seven Lamps
3400 Around Lenox Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30326


Eight Sushi Lounge
930 Howell Mill Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Nine Mile Station
675 Ponce de Leon Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

10th & Piedmont
991 Piedmont Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

Disclaimer: If you live in Atlanta or visit on a regular basis, you know how quickly the Atlanta restaurant scene can change. Our lineup was subject to change based on the Atlanta restaurant landscape over the first 10 months of 2017. Also, all opinions are our own and not at all influenced by the restaurant owners, staff or PR firms, whether we treated ourselves or were hosted by the said restaurant.

If you've enjoyed this series, please follow us on:

atlantafoodie on Instagram
wanderlust ATLANTA on Facebook Twitter Instagram

Thank you so much for coming along on what we think has been a FUN food journey over the first 10 months in 2017. Our selection of restaurants was a subjective choice of what we thought was an exciting new way to experience Atlanta restaurants: "By the Numbers". Please, tell your friends and family what we've done and invite them to have a look back at our super fun taste tour!