I know this is not a restaurant, but in a Whole Foods kind of way, it is. After I ate a Wright's I was driving around exploring and found a new Fresh Market (new to me anyway). When I walk in, the store immediately appealed to me. It is like Whole Foods, but different. All the food is on display like a work of art. You immediately want to buy everything because it all looks so great, but you must restrain yourself. Like Whole Foods, this is a boutique grocery store and items are a little overpriced. And, you could never do all your grocery shopping here. You come here when you are having a party or want some prepared food, or want a sandwich for lunch (see other post).
I was immediately wide-eyed and had to re-think my decision not to get a basket. I quickly went back for one and vowed not to buy anything cold (as i was still exploring) and not to buy too much. Once you ground yourself, you begin to see that you want all this stuff because it all looks so darned pretty and tasty. Not necessarily because you need it or because you will use it. That jar of caramel sauce, yum yum, but i sure don't need it and must put it down. Some really nice looking fall potpourri for your table, sure until you look at the price of $20.00.
Anyway, center center... so around to the prepared salad section with my weakness... pasta and potatoes. They all looked so good, so i settled on three. Yes, they were cold but I figured they would last for a few hours or so. One, i threw away after i took a few bites, the other 2 i ate, but were not remarkable and certainly will not be trying again. These prepared foods always seem so great to me, but then i get them home and remember they really are not that good.
But i did buy some jarred pasta sauce that was delicious and some pumpkin jelly candy that i can't stop eating. Good thing i steered clear of all the stuffed chicken breasts and marinated meats. Once i studied the ingredients i realized they were nothing more that fancy named chicken dishes that were stuffed with ingredients you have at home. One was stuffed with salsa and pepper jack, another with marinara sauce and provolone and the list goes one. Of course they charge for one chicken breast what you can by a package for without the stuffing. So, study the case, find your favorite and go home and make it.
Sure, i will go back to Fresh Market. It is freaking cool, the wine selection is awesome, the candy section is huge, the meats and breads make me want to sit down and eat right there. But, mostly i will go for ideas or that special something for a party. Everything here looks great, and you pay for it. Go for treats, but don't go for your regular grocery shopping.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Wright's Gourmet Shop
So, I was perusing the food articles on AJC.com as a often do and there was a question from one of the food critics about where to get the best sandwich in Atlanta. Several people commented and i was familiar with most of the places, or not interested in others... but one sparked my interest, Wright's Gourmet in Dunwoody.
First i need to say two things. (1) I do love a sandwich, but it should be hot and i want something i cannot or will not make at home. What is the point of going out to eat and ordering a ham and cheese sandwich? Seriously? Secondly, these are to only be eaten for lunch. A sandwich is not an evening meal (in most situations) :). I had a friend in college that loved sandwiches. She would seriously go to any restaurant, no matter how nice or where and order a sandwich. I could not believe it because i grew up with the mentality that if you could make it at home, you did not order it when you were out. Of course, now we have gourmet sandwiches all over the place so the rules have changed a little.
(2)- I used to be a CSI and i was all over the County, aware of and trying all kinds of new restaurants. Now I have a long commute to work and only get to eat in the county and explore new restaurants on my off days. It had been a while since i had been to Dunwoody and figured it was time i explore my old stomping grounds.
So, one Saturday i set off for my adventure. Typically i refuse to go anywhere outside of Decatur on Saturday (traffic and people, ugghh) but i was feeling adventurous and was determined to get a few things for a project i was working on at my house. SO, off i go to Dunwoody. First stop, Wright's Gourmet. I knew it was in one of the shopping centers in Dunwoody, but i certainly did not expect what i saw. It is on the side of the shopping center, so you can't see the sign from the street and really can't see it from the parking lot either. If i had not known where i was going, i probably would have passed on by without realizing it was a restaurant. There is a non-descript sign out front that says Wright's Gourmet, but there is no mention or forewarning that this is a restaurant.
The patio is huge and takes up most of the space, so much so that you really can't tell if the place is open until you walk the 40 feet or so to the front door. At 11:45 i seemed to be one of the 1st customers of the day, or the lunch service. The boards listing all the choices of sandwiches and breads and meats on the wall is a little daunting and you have to have been here before or know what you want. I grabbed a paper menu from the counter ( i had also looked online) and decided to go with one of their signature sandwiches (i hate making my own, that is part of going to a restaurant, having them decide what goes well together). Their web-site went on and on about their popular and delicious desserts, so i decided to try a slice of Lemonade Cake. They also have several salad choices that you can get as a side, or to take home for later.
I chose a seat outside and for a while was the only person at the place. I heard one family walking up, and ask (wonder) out loud if they were open. Yes, the mom said, She's on the patio. But the business picked up and about 1/2 the tables were full when i left. I got some version of a Cuban sandwich, i think it was called Bahama something. It was hot and fairly tasty. The marinated vegetables i got on the side were just so-so. Nothing i could not do at home with some Italian Dressing and blanched veggies. The Lemonade cake was ok. I took and bite and took the rest home. I never finished it if that tells you anything. It was not bad, just not good enough to waste calories over.
All in all the sandwich was good. If i am in Dunwoody, i would probably go back, but i would not drive up there specifically to eat there. On their website they act like a gourmet shop, but i would not actually call it that, more like a take- out shop. They have pre-packaged meals that you can get to go, an assortment of cupcakes, cakes and slices of cake, the aforementioned salads and of course sandwiches. If i still worked in the county or lived around the corner, I would probably give them another spin, but i doubt i will go out of my way to eat there again. Next time i will go to 34th or 48th street market like i had planned to do in the first place.
First i need to say two things. (1) I do love a sandwich, but it should be hot and i want something i cannot or will not make at home. What is the point of going out to eat and ordering a ham and cheese sandwich? Seriously? Secondly, these are to only be eaten for lunch. A sandwich is not an evening meal (in most situations) :). I had a friend in college that loved sandwiches. She would seriously go to any restaurant, no matter how nice or where and order a sandwich. I could not believe it because i grew up with the mentality that if you could make it at home, you did not order it when you were out. Of course, now we have gourmet sandwiches all over the place so the rules have changed a little.
(2)- I used to be a CSI and i was all over the County, aware of and trying all kinds of new restaurants. Now I have a long commute to work and only get to eat in the county and explore new restaurants on my off days. It had been a while since i had been to Dunwoody and figured it was time i explore my old stomping grounds.
So, one Saturday i set off for my adventure. Typically i refuse to go anywhere outside of Decatur on Saturday (traffic and people, ugghh) but i was feeling adventurous and was determined to get a few things for a project i was working on at my house. SO, off i go to Dunwoody. First stop, Wright's Gourmet. I knew it was in one of the shopping centers in Dunwoody, but i certainly did not expect what i saw. It is on the side of the shopping center, so you can't see the sign from the street and really can't see it from the parking lot either. If i had not known where i was going, i probably would have passed on by without realizing it was a restaurant. There is a non-descript sign out front that says Wright's Gourmet, but there is no mention or forewarning that this is a restaurant.
The patio is huge and takes up most of the space, so much so that you really can't tell if the place is open until you walk the 40 feet or so to the front door. At 11:45 i seemed to be one of the 1st customers of the day, or the lunch service. The boards listing all the choices of sandwiches and breads and meats on the wall is a little daunting and you have to have been here before or know what you want. I grabbed a paper menu from the counter ( i had also looked online) and decided to go with one of their signature sandwiches (i hate making my own, that is part of going to a restaurant, having them decide what goes well together). Their web-site went on and on about their popular and delicious desserts, so i decided to try a slice of Lemonade Cake. They also have several salad choices that you can get as a side, or to take home for later.
I chose a seat outside and for a while was the only person at the place. I heard one family walking up, and ask (wonder) out loud if they were open. Yes, the mom said, She's on the patio. But the business picked up and about 1/2 the tables were full when i left. I got some version of a Cuban sandwich, i think it was called Bahama something. It was hot and fairly tasty. The marinated vegetables i got on the side were just so-so. Nothing i could not do at home with some Italian Dressing and blanched veggies. The Lemonade cake was ok. I took and bite and took the rest home. I never finished it if that tells you anything. It was not bad, just not good enough to waste calories over.
All in all the sandwich was good. If i am in Dunwoody, i would probably go back, but i would not drive up there specifically to eat there. On their website they act like a gourmet shop, but i would not actually call it that, more like a take- out shop. They have pre-packaged meals that you can get to go, an assortment of cupcakes, cakes and slices of cake, the aforementioned salads and of course sandwiches. If i still worked in the county or lived around the corner, I would probably give them another spin, but i doubt i will go out of my way to eat there again. Next time i will go to 34th or 48th street market like i had planned to do in the first place.
Brick Store Pub
ah, the brick store. Who in the intown- Decatur area has not been there? Apparently is it also a popular spot for tourists, judging from my facebook (college) friend from MS that came to Atlanta to go see the Braves, drink at Brick Store and eat at Watershed. Anyway, two Thursday nights ago a friend and I decided to go there after we attended the visitation for a friend that was killed. Needless to say we were hungry and we needed some comfort food. First of all it was about 7:30 or so (Thursday) and there was a wait for a table. Those bad economic times sure don't seem to be effecting The Brick Store. We easily found a seat at the bar (odd) and ordered some drinks. After a while, when it seems our wait for a table was endless, I convinced my friend to order at the bar.
We don't need a menu, we came in for one thing... the Brick Burger. Yes, the burger is good and consistent time after time... save one thing... THAT BUN! for years the burger was served on a Challah bun that always seemed to be too much bread, especially in the middle, where the twist of the Challah puffed up. I swear they used to grill/ toast these buns back in the good ole days, but i guess with volume that ended or perhaps i am just dreaming of a nice buttery toasted bun. It just doesn't seem right to have a hot burger, with hot melted cheese, and sometimes even those wonderfully gooey hot carmalized onions, with a cold bun. But that is how they roll.
Several months or so ago (time gets away from me) they switched buns! YEA!!! The first few tries with these buns were ok. They has some sesame seeds on top and seemed to be a better consistency than the Challah bread. But, the bun fails again. As we were eating our burgers, both my friend Liz and I were picking off the bread on our burger. We laughed when we both noticed the bread graveyard on our plates. We were not doing this for any sort of carb counting ridiculousness. We did this because the bun sucked. It had to have been at least a day old, as it was slightly stale. This is fine for bread pudding, but not on my burger. It was also cold and there was WAY too much bread for the burger. Again, i love me some bread... i would choose some buttery cheesy or garlicky bread over chocolate any day, BUT i order a burger for the burger not the bread.
I realize now that finding the perfect bun must be difficult. You have to find one that stands up to the meat (I also hate it when the bottom of my bun has become nothing but a wet sponge before i can finish eating it), while choosing one that does not overwhelm the burger. I, for one, prefer a nice buttery grilled bun. The grilling not only gives the bun some flavor it also helps the bun stand up to the burger. Hell, if Zaxby's can grill all their buns, surely the Brick Store can.
So, we finished our meat, but left a bun graveyard on the plate. Will the kitchen notice when all these 1/2 eaten buns come back? Who knows... Will they try another form of bread? Doubt it, they sure are not hurting for money. The Brick Store has become one of those eating establishments that is a destination. Even if the food sucks you will go back again and again with the hopes it will be better. Why? The beer is good, the atmosphere is good, the people watching is excellent and even if the bun sucks the meat and chips (fries) were great.
So Brick Store... find a bun that stands up to your burger... and try a little grill or toasting action and see how that works.
We don't need a menu, we came in for one thing... the Brick Burger. Yes, the burger is good and consistent time after time... save one thing... THAT BUN! for years the burger was served on a Challah bun that always seemed to be too much bread, especially in the middle, where the twist of the Challah puffed up. I swear they used to grill/ toast these buns back in the good ole days, but i guess with volume that ended or perhaps i am just dreaming of a nice buttery toasted bun. It just doesn't seem right to have a hot burger, with hot melted cheese, and sometimes even those wonderfully gooey hot carmalized onions, with a cold bun. But that is how they roll.
Several months or so ago (time gets away from me) they switched buns! YEA!!! The first few tries with these buns were ok. They has some sesame seeds on top and seemed to be a better consistency than the Challah bread. But, the bun fails again. As we were eating our burgers, both my friend Liz and I were picking off the bread on our burger. We laughed when we both noticed the bread graveyard on our plates. We were not doing this for any sort of carb counting ridiculousness. We did this because the bun sucked. It had to have been at least a day old, as it was slightly stale. This is fine for bread pudding, but not on my burger. It was also cold and there was WAY too much bread for the burger. Again, i love me some bread... i would choose some buttery cheesy or garlicky bread over chocolate any day, BUT i order a burger for the burger not the bread.
I realize now that finding the perfect bun must be difficult. You have to find one that stands up to the meat (I also hate it when the bottom of my bun has become nothing but a wet sponge before i can finish eating it), while choosing one that does not overwhelm the burger. I, for one, prefer a nice buttery grilled bun. The grilling not only gives the bun some flavor it also helps the bun stand up to the burger. Hell, if Zaxby's can grill all their buns, surely the Brick Store can.
So, we finished our meat, but left a bun graveyard on the plate. Will the kitchen notice when all these 1/2 eaten buns come back? Who knows... Will they try another form of bread? Doubt it, they sure are not hurting for money. The Brick Store has become one of those eating establishments that is a destination. Even if the food sucks you will go back again and again with the hopes it will be better. Why? The beer is good, the atmosphere is good, the people watching is excellent and even if the bun sucks the meat and chips (fries) were great.
So Brick Store... find a bun that stands up to your burger... and try a little grill or toasting action and see how that works.
I'm Back
OK, so yes it has been over a year since i posted on this blog. A few things got in the way like work, house selling, house hunting and being tired and stressed from all of the above. Now that i am settled in my new house (sort-of) i have a little more time and have vowed to get back to blogging. Unfortunately due to my work schedule, I rarely get to eat out during the week. And unfortunately due to my lack of adventurous friends or due to my abundance of friends with kids, I have limited options on weekends... but nevertheless i do eat at least 4 times a day and usually try new restaurants on Fridays (my day off). So, i will backtrack a little and post some of my experiences over the last few weeks and then, start anew. Happy eating!
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