The food is Southern and as local as the seasons allow. In addition to the meats, at various times I have had corn on the cob, fried okra, sweet potatoes, cheddar potatoes, squash casserole, peas, green beans, butter peas, tomatoes, cabbage. There are biscuits, rolls and cornbread. No foil wrapped jellies for the Dillard House customers – you get apple butter served in a little bowl. And you can have more of anything you ask for.

The Dillard family has lived in this area since 1820. The cookbook sold in the gift shop includes plenty of history about the operation. In addition to the restaurant, there are rooms, cabins, a swimming pool and horseback riding. You can find out more at their website, www.dillardhouse.com. The restaurant and resort is located on Highway 441 in Dillard, Georgia. And yes, they are open for Thanksgiving.

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Jaemor Farms, 5340 Cornelia Hwy., Alto, has been established since 1981, but the Echols family who runs it has been farming here since 1929. They have a large selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, home-made cakes, pies and breads, local double-yolk and brown eggs and a number of jams and jellies. (In fact, that’s the way to find them on line – www.jamsjellies.com.) Manager Judah Echols says, “One of the biggest draws this time of year is the 14 varieties of apples that we have.”

That brings us back to whether you want a fresh-fruit fried pie (aka fritters) or a dried-fruit pie. Manager Stephanie Lewallen prefers the dried fruit filling. “That’s what I was raised on,” she says. “They’re a totally different texture from fresh.” She explains that those that contain fresh fruit are made with pastry dough, while the dried fruit pies are made with biscuit dough.

As for boiled peanuts, Stephanie says it pretty much is NOT something you acquire a taste for. “You either like ‘em or you don’t.” She cautions people who are trying them for the first time to set aside their ideas about peanuts, and think about them like pinto beans.

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Photo: Maggie has her photo opportunity at Hotel Indigo. The sign on the chair says,

Don’t Forget the Little People. Courtesy of Hotel Indigo.

Pampered pets in Atlanta know to urge their owners to take them to Hotel Indigo, a boutique hotel where they dine and enjoy cocktail hour with their two-legged friends. The pets have their own bar, called Ruff Age Bar. For the health conscious pet, this bar serves vegan doggie treats.  Yes. The pets are living it up at Hotel Indigo, where pets are not tolerated, they are catered to. Every Tuesday, the pets can enjoy cocktail hour on the patio. Pooches dine on gourmet steak and chicken, and drink bottled water.  Pet owners can order from the casual Golden Bean restaurant and choose from weekly signature drinks including, aptly named, the Salty dog, Greyhound, and the Yellow Lab. The humans can make selections for the fury friends from Hotel Indigo’s doggie menu.

For everyone’s listening pleasure, the Hotel Indigo’s new band debuted this week. The band, The House Band with a Little Sax, features Brian Myler the Food and Beverage Director of the hotel on drums, and Eddie Barton, the front desk office manager on saxophone. Tunes that humans can sing to and pets can howl to are featured. So, don’t be surprised if you hear the band play, Ain’t Nothing But a Hound Dog.

Hey, if you are looking for a pet, come out to the festivities. The Atlanta Humane Society also brings pets looking to be adopted to the cocktail party. You may just make and new friend.

Now you’ve got to see this in person.

When: Every Tuesday (All summer long)

            6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Where: Hotel Indigo- Midtown Atlanta

              (Across from The Fox Theatre)

               683 Peachtree St. NE

               404.874.9200

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“What’d have? What’d you have,” they shout. “Everybody please step down so that we can get you out of here.”

They are funny, gritty, and no nonsense. It’s sort of like eating at your favorite greasy spoon, if you know what I mean. The Varsity is actually the World’s Largest Drive-In restaurant. The downtown location can accommodate 600 cars and 800 people inside the store. That location is at:

61 North Avenue
Atlanta GA 30308

You can get various types of hot dog-dog combinations with chili, slaw and cheese. Over two miles worth of hot dogs are sold every day at the Varsity. The hot dogs range from a plain hot dog to a chili-slaw hot dog. Of course the following hot dogs are also sold:

• plain
• chili
• cheese dogs
• chili-cheese dogs

You can go heavy on the chili if you want to. Burgers, sandwiches, salads, frosted drinks, chocolate shakes, sweet tea (gotta love it) and soft drinks are also sold at the Varsity.

One thing about it, unless you are going to sit in your car and let a car hop serve you, you can’t be shy at the Varsity. It’s loud, brassy, and fun. The original location opened in downtown Atlanta in 1928. There are now several locations to choose from.

Hours for the downtown location of the Varsity are:

Sunday-Thursday 10:00am-11:30pm
Friday-Saturday 10:00am-12:30am
Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Christmas Eve hours 10:00am-9:00pm

Other metro Atlanta locations for the Varsity are:

Alpharetta

1000 West Broad Street
Athens GA 30606

Athens

11556 Rainwater Drive
Alpharetta GA 30004

Atlanta (This is a Varsity Junior, not the original)

1085 Lindbergh Drive
Atlanta GA 30324

Norcross

6045 Dawson Blvd.
Norcross GA 30093

Kennesaw

2790 Town Center Drive
Kennesaw GA 30144

Photo Credit : Afroswede, Flickr Creative Commons License

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I thought that I’d hear soft music, the type you hear while floating off to sleep, during a relaxing massage. I read Memoirs of a Geisha, after all. So, I thought that I knew what to expect.

The Geisha House was nothing at all like I’d imagined. There was only one geisha, the hostess when I visited on a Friday night. The other servers wore black slacks with red, low-cut T-shirts. I am happy to say that they had Asian servers and also servers from other ethnic groups. That was cool. After a hard day at work, I was ready to chill, so I wanted to be enveloped in soft soothing music. The music at the Geisha House was not soft and gentle. It was pounding and rhythmic, sort of like being in a club, which is fine if you are expected a club-like environment.

I can say the the Geisha House was sexy. Red lighting, seating, and low-lights gave the restaurant an exotic feel.

The food did  meet my expectations. I tried the teriyaki salmon, which was delicious. Although I am not sushi expert, the California rolls that I tried were also decent. Well, they tasted pretty much the same was as the ones at Publix. Meals at the Geisha House are a la carte. Most entrees are about $15 each. So, for about $35 I had salmon and California rolls, which is too pricey given the atmosphere.

The Geisha House is located at 1380 Atlantic Drive, in Atlanta. The phone number is 404-872-3903.

Photo Credit: Claudine Williams

Technorati Tags: Geisha House,geisha,atlanta restaurants,atlanta sushi,sushi,atlantic station

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Five Guys has locations throughout the Atlanta area. The burger and fries were incredibly filling. I fell asleep right after eating. So, if you are on a diet, hmmmm, you may want to rethink a trip to Five Guys. Now, I have a question for you. Where in the Atlanta area is your favorite burger joint?

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Maxim Prime Restaurant opened the last week in March in Atlanta. The Atlanta restaurant is the first of 25 restaurants scheduled to open around the world. This posh restaurant is said to give visitors an experience akin to spending an evening in the Garden of Eden. The color scheme of the restaurant includes chocolate brown floors, glass and quotes from Maxim Magazine.

Maxim provides diners with entrees that are just the right size, so health conscious diners won’t have that overstuffed feeling. The beef corn feed and is hormone free. The restaurant uses fresh ingredients and Chef Daniel Zoby approves  samples entrees before they are presented to guests.

Chef Daniel Zoby has worked in various hotels and restaurants. Most recently he worked at the French American Brasserie. Zoby is from Norfolk, Virginia.

Maxim Prime is located at 110 Marietta Street in Atlanta.

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The petite burgers were a filling appetizers. I wish that I had the recipe for that sauce. The fries were well-seasoned. They are perfect to share or, if you are like me, you can keep both of them for yourself.

Steak and lobster was my perfect combination.

Notice the size of that steak. Yes. It was filling. I was hungry, so I wanted to sample as much as possible for this review. It is important to note. however, that the portions at Maxim Prime are controlled so that most diners won’t be overstuffed. It depends on how much your order. I dined with a bodybuilder, on the evening that I visited!

I must also add that the service was great at Maxim Prime. Every time I left the table and left my napkin in my chair, Michelle folded it prettily. Glasses were kept filled, and I never had to look for my server.

The restaurant is next to the CNN Center, Phillips Arena and the Georgia Dome. Valet parking is $5 with validation from the restaurant. Reservations are recommended. Call 404-469-4700.

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            Grab a shopping cart in the parking lot; they are not available inside. The produce is located on the right. There is also a small flower shop across from the produce area. Spices are on the far wall to the right. You’ll find live seafood, dairy products, meats, wine and gourmet coffee. The fresh baked goods is next to the produce. The aromas will your mouth water. But never fear, if you get hungry while you are shopping, you can head over to the buffet-style restaurant near the seafood area. Stock people and clerks from all around the world are available to help. They can point you in the right direction to find a product or will check to see if it is available “by the box.”

            Although most people fill up their shopping carts, you won’t feel conspicuous if you simply want to browse or pick up a few items during the week, when the lines are usually nil. Typically, you can get in and out quickly, if you shop  Monday — Friday, while it’s a chore to maneuver through the crowds on the weekends. Whenever you go, the incredible selection of food and the attractive prices make a trip to Your DeKalb Farmer’s Market worthwhile. The market is located at 3000 East Ponce DeLeon Ave. It’s open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Call 404-377-6400.

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Post from: The Atlanta Traveler