Cartwheels. Top Gun high fives. Smiling from ear to ear. I did all of these things when I discovered TJ had opened up a store in Buckhead. I know, I know. Huge dork. But TJ happens to be one of my numero uno's. I love me some TJ. Organic, el-cheapo, bucks the brands, grrreat quality, what's not to love? So to have one at arm's length is saweet. So in honor of this outstanding revelation I present...
1) Trader Joe's Bavarian Style Hefeweizen.This brewskie is full of citrus, bubble gum, clove and banana flavors and is brewed with 50% malted wheat. Around $5 for a 6-er, $1 to try to just one. One of the best hef's I've ever had. No joke.
2) Maitre Pierre Tarte D'Alsace.French style flat bread with ham, caramelized onions & gruyere chees (It looks like a thin-crust pizza but it is more of a tart). To. die. for. Based on 100-year-old recipe from the Alsace-Lorraine region of France. TJ employees say they fly off the shelves so fast, its hard to keep them in stock!
3)Trader Joe's Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels. Pretzies are unsalted. Only 150 cals for about 11 pieces, and trust me they are filling! Peanut butter melts in your mouth. The purfect snack.
4) Trader Joe's Gnocchi of Gorgonzola. Heaven comes pretty cheap these days. At $3 a pop, this frozen pasta dish is a piece of cake. Pan to stove. Olive oil & Gnocchi to pan. 7 minutes, finito. Wayyy too easy to taste that good.
5)Trader Joe's Banana Waffles. Maybe we can sleep in. I'll make you banana waffles. Pretend like its the weekend now. And we could pretend it all the time. Can't you see that it's just raining, ain't no need to go outside. At my last TJ visit, I didn't see these bad boys. I'm hoping they are just out of season and not discontinued. I opted for the Blueberry for a satisfying alternative.
6) Harmony Bay Hazelnut Creme Ground Coffee. I kept the empty canister in my cabinets for weeks after the coffee was gone because the smell is that soothing. And don't even get me started about the smooth and creamy taste.
7) Fire Roasted Vegetables with Balsamic Butter Sauce. Seriously, its hard to imagine slaving over the stove for hours when you can buy frozen bags upon frozen bags of restaurant level food at TJ. How do they pack so many amazing flavors into their frozen food, without losing the integrity of the food in the short cooking process? This is a staple in my freezer, a great side dish for any meal.
8) Candy Cane Trader Joe-Joe's Cookies. Because I claim ownership to the world's largest sweet tooth, I had to include a sweet on this list. It was hard to pick, TJ does sweet very sweetly. These Candy Cane Joe- Joe's are giving Oreo's three snaps in a Z formation. Cocoa sleeves with minty, fluffy vanilla inset & candy-cane flecks throughout. Resist eating them all in one sitting. Seasonal.
9) Sharon's Raspberry or Lemon Sorbet. Both have za-zero fat and are under 150 calories per serving. No-brainer here! But maybe a little bit of brain freeze.
10). Two Buck Chuck. Last, but certainly not least, Charles Shaw brand vino. Ranging from $1.99-$3.49 per bottle (depending on the region), TBC is some of my favorite wine out there. According to TJ, these super-valued wines came to life when California wineries had an oversupply of that sweet, sweet nectar. The epitome of bang for buck. Take that Napa.
These Georgia hometown boys are some of my favorites. I've been watching them play since 2006 when their music echoed from the walls of Dixie Tavern. Spent many a night at Peachtree Tavern with a cold beer and a pair of jeans that fit just right. My friends and I caught every show possible because we knew it was only a matter of time before the secret was out to the rest of the country. I'm proud to say that day has come forZBB. Their album The Foundation dropped yesterday and Chicken Fried has been riding the radio waves for months!
I'll put up pics from their show with Los Lonely boys at the Tabernacle shortly. In the meantime, enjoy this video of Zac Brown letting us in on his recipe for Tri-Colored Roasted Potatoes from Eat, Drink, or Die.
I was sifting through old DC emails when I ran across this gem and had to share. 10 meals under $10. Cha-Ching!
Rumbling tum, meet economy. Delicious meals, meet Mr. Hamilton. When it comes to cheap eats in this town, pickings are anything but slim.
1. Oak Grove Market: The dollar breakfast bar (sausage, eggs, grits) and daily lunch special (2757 Lavista Road, 404-315-9831).
2. Alon’s: Single-serving Nutella? Pinch us. Grab a few up front, order some bread, and splurge on good coffee (1394 North Highland Avenue, 404-872-6000; 4505 Ashford Dunwoody Road, 678-397-1781).
3. Holy Taco:Oye como cheap. Grab a gazpacho cup and pork belly torta and wash ’em down with a ginormous sweet tea (1314 Glenwood Avenue, 404-230-6177).
4. M Bar: Chicken sliders are marinated with orange rum, lime, and ginger, topped with lettuce and tomato, and served on grilled flatbread (257 Peters Street, 404-523-1555).
5. Quattro: Sit parkside with a huge plate of fresh hummus and a summer brew (1071 Piedmont Avenue, 404-881-0000).
6. Ceviche Taqueria: Hit the road (okay, GA-400) for poblano soup topped with shrimp and crab and served with jalapeno cornbread (963 Canton Street, 678-461-4025).
7. SunO: Not an Asian dessert. It’s a state of mind. Shovel a gourd of shaved ice milk topped with just about any fruit under the sun (1291 Old Peachtree Road, 770-497-1567).
8. Super H Mart Food Court: Pork to-go comes with rice, bok choy, and relish. Unless you want a whole roast duck. They sell those, too (2550 Pleasant Hill Road, 770-495-7522).
9. Pig-N-Chik: Napkins are free. Meaty options for ribs, wings, and turkey are close enough (5071 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, 770-451-1112; 4920 Roswell Road, 404-255-6368).
10. Cameli’s: The monster slice lives up to its name. The newly spiffed bar and drinks don’t hurt either (699 Ponce de Leon Avenue, 404-249-9020).
Kings of Leon is a southern-infused garage rock band with roots in TN. The band of brothers (seriously, three of the bandmates are brothers with their first cousin rounding it out on the lead guitar) derive their name from the brothers' father and grandfather, both named Leon. Europe was the first to embrace KOL, but are they are starting to make headway here in the US.
KOL is playing at the Tabernacle next Tuesday and I highly recommend jumping on a ticket. That is if it isn't sold out already. I've been told its one of the best live shows you can see. I'll weigh in on that one post-concert.
It has been a historic election year and events leading up to the party nominations were no snooze. Early voters have been turning out in droves. My co-worker and her boyfriend waited in line for 5 hours to cast their ballots at an early voting precinct in Suwanee. One man even went to great lengths to electioneer his views at the 250 ft required distance from the polling center via parasail. A for effort and creativity.
Election Day DEAL ALERT! Vote tomorrow and eat for free all day. Just show your "I Voted" sticker to get your free grub atanumber of greater Atlanta area restaurants. It pays to be patriotic.
All jokes and free incentives aside, this is the most exciting election in decades and comes at a crucial time for our country. Regardless of which candidate you are cheerleading for, it is important to exercise your civic duty by rocking YOUR
Cartwheels. Top Gun high fives. Smiling from ear to ear. I did all of these things when I discovered TJ had opened up a store in Buckhead. I know, I know. Huge dork. But TJ happens to be one of my numero uno's. I love me some TJ. Organic, el-cheapo, bucks the brands, grrreat quality, what's not to love? So to have one at arm's length is saweet. So in honor of this outstanding revelation I present...
