The Veranda (again!)

I went back to Veranda Greek Taverna with some friends for lunch and this time had a better camera with me to take some photos of the amazing Tapas dishes. Each plate costs just $5 and so far is the best Greek food I've had, outside of Greece.

Grab some friends and have lunch on the patio at Veranda. You're mouth will water for many more meals there. It's awesome!  

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Veranda Greek Taverna

11235 Alpharetta Hwy

Roswell, GA

678.330.1218

www.verandagreektaverna.com

Veranda Greek Taverna

Today I met some girlfriends for lunch at Veranda Greek Taverna, located in nearby Roswell. What an incredible meal. I can't even begin to tell you how UNBELIEVABLY delicious was every single morsel! The ingredients are perfectly fresh. The presentation was outstanding. Every bit of the experience was wonderful. There were seven of us so we each ordered at least two Tapas plates each. At $5 a plate it was a bargain. I was so taken by the place that I've already scheduled another lunch date there next week. If you haven't been to The Veranda, you must go ASAP! Here's a sample view of a few of the Tapas....

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Veranda Greek Taverna

11235 Alpharetta Hwy

Roswell, GA

678.330.1218

www.verandagreektaverna.com

Rhea's

Rhea's pronounced Rays

Best Burger in Town

Someone pretending to be Jimmy

Some people who eat here

Old fashioned Counter service

The Breakfast Menu

Do you know if this the infamous Jimmy Smith? This guy I met today, pictured above, was very strange. Like really strange. Like - Funny Ha Ha. Then again I hear that this Jimmy guy has one heck of a personality too.

I'm out to find out if this is the same guy that started this burger on bread institution in Roswell. Now grown to four locations. After today's experience I know why. It's the burgers! It sure ain't this guys warm cozy personality, that's for sure.

Seriously, the burger was juicy and the patties not a perfect circle which makes them homemade and the bread (bun) was buttery and perfect. The fries are crinkled and also tasty.

I'm going next week for breakfast to find out if the real Jimmy is there. I heard that the Mayor of Roswell and the Fire Chief and even David and Howard Chatham eat there at 7am. I'm going....

I need to beg David Chatham to try and save that Country Store at Thompson and Hopewell. I wonder if he'll talk to me?

Famous Saying

Queen Bee

Owners David & Beth Riordan

Chopped Pork Salad

Fried Green Tomatoes

Flipped Corn

The Biggest, most organized kitchen I've ever seen.

Old and New Milton Photos.

There is this restaurant, now gone, that so many still wish were around. The place was a regular hang out for the Milton crowd so interested in good home cooked food but with something much more than that. Familiarity. Comfort. The dishes you could count on. The ones you brought your friends over to the place so they could check it out and then they too became regulars. But I do not ever remember them advertising for the place or at least I never had to see an Ad to hear about it so much.

That's how you know its a great place. The locals rave and rave about it. Such it was with The Silos. And sadly, by the time I heard about it, I only had the opportunity to enjoy it twice. I remember everyone raving about their salmon. And their scallops. And Blue Plate Specials.

Well now, thank goodness, they're back! All of it. The lobster and crab cakes, even the scallops and the scalloped potatoes! All of the favorite Silos dishes are back at Queen Bee.

From Milton, it's all just a couple miles down the road. Other Beth and David restaurants are right here in Crabapple such as Cantina Del Mar and Crabapple Tavern, also known for a few of The Silos favorite dishes.

The best part about these gastronomic establishments are the visionary foodies, David and Beth Riordan. They are very much about getting to know their patrons and cater to their favorite tastes. They know they've got folks who've been eating their salmon dish for years and they still want it for years to come.....

It's called Food Love. And The Queen's got it!

Queen Bee

1655 Mansell Road

Alpharetta, Georgia

678.585.7456

Crabapple Tavern

12350 Arnold Mill Road, Alpharetta

770.667.7456

Cantina Del Mar

12635 Crabapple Road, Alpharetta

770.752.7456

MORE Slice Cafe

BEST GIRLS LUNCHEON PLACE THIS SIDE OF MILTON (in Alpharetta).

Best Onion Soup, Best Grouper Sandwich with Aioli, Best Cake, Best Charity, Best Menu, Best Atmosphere, Best Owners, Best Best Best.....BEST EVERTHING!

French Onion Soup (Special)

Grouper Sandwich (Special)

Co-Owner, Aaron P. Slattery

White Chocolate Mousse Cake

Red Velvet Cake

Oreo Mousse Cake

Heavy Weighted, Oversized Silverware Feels Great!

Slice Cafe

Great Atmosphere in addition to Great Food

Owner Louis Reynaud with Cathey Hernandez

Sample Menu (Click on Photo to Enlarge)

My Lunch: Balsamic Glazed Chicken Sandwich, with Roasted Onion, Brie Cheese and Mayo

Best Fries I've Tasted - EVER!

Alison Byrnes' Special Spinach Salad with Seared Ahi

Cake, Cake and More CAKE in the Dessert Case.

I love the word - Cake.

What a great foodie experience I had at Slice Cafe, in Alpharetta. I went for lunch with my dear friend Michelle McIlvain and ended up seeing a bunch of other Milton Moms. The place was so amazing I decided to take out my camera and start blogging about it.

The vibe is great. The food even better. And I now I know why I keep hearing such rave reviews about this place.

The restaurant is located where Veranda once was, on Main Street behind the florist. The staff couldn't be nicer and they are just as excited about the place as their customers. This is a great find. You MUST check it out soon. The food is excellent. Every little morsel. The Fries are like nothing I ever tasted before and definitely worth the calories. My taste buds danced all afternoon.

The decor reminds me of the very first Cheesecake Factory in Beverly Hills on Beverly Drive. The copper accents from their sign to the menu and inside tables. The cake case. All of it really. This cafe is a HUGE success - in every way.

I love this place!

Slice Cafe

52-B North Main Street

Downtown Alpharetta, Georgia

770.569.7511

www.slicecafe.com

Casa Nuova

Restauranteur Maria Fundora and Winemaker Eros Spinozzi

Last night, my husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary at Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant. As always, we were greeted at the door by owner Maria Fundora who makes everyone who enters the place feel like a part of her very own family and what better a place to celebrate "us" than right there.

The crowd was huge, every seat in the restaurant was filled and more folks spilled over into the bar area. Turns out it was a Wine Dinner, featuring the wines of Eros Spinozzi who was seated right across from our table though he hardly sat, mostly he went from table to table discussing the art of winemaking with the dinner patrons.

Eros Spinozzi and Dinner Guests

I found some information about Eros, who when I met him, gave me that sweet kiss-kiss, on each cheek Italian style. And he's cute too. Oh yes, I was there for my anniversary... nevermind that.

Eros was born in Marche, on the center-east coast of Italy - a region known for its particular landscape and production of wine, olive oil, meats, seafood and vegetables. He was lucky to live his childhood in a very "true, happy and quiet environment". He says, "You know, one of those old style stories, my grandmothers and mother in the kitchen half the day (like Maria here at Casa Nuova) and the rest of the day wash and clean and hang the clothes outside for sun drying." His mentor was his uncle, Eugenio Spinozzi. In 2004, after spending 10 years in the United States he founded Cuorerosso (Red Heart).

Osso Buco

Since we didn't know beforehand about Casa Nuova's Wine Dinner, we enjoyed Osso Buco, Casa Nuovo style, which was delicious though I must admit their Veal Saltimboca was the best. Heavenly. I wonder if the chef, co-owner and Maria's husband, Antonio would ever give us the recipe. I'll have to ask one day.

Antonio Fundora

Maria invited me into the kitchen to meet Antonio who was completely in his element and happy to let me take this photo, though in the the middle of pan searing something. I love kitchen tours.

Next time, I'm going down the street to visit them at home where they grow all the vegetables and herbs for their restaurant. Local Food. It's a good thing.

But I love Good People even more and that's what these two people are - really good, loving almost like family! You must go by and visit them. Upon entering the room, you'll know exactly what I mean.

And then to top off a wonderful evening, on the way out I ran into Nikki Haslett for the second time yesterday. First, at The Broadwell Cottage and then at Casa Nuova.

That's what a small community is all about. Running into friends and good people everywhere you go.

Thanks Maria and Antonio, for making our anniversary a memorable one!

Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant
5670 Atlanta Highway
Alpharetta, Georgia
770.475.9100

www.casanuovarestaurant.net

My Friends Place

My Friends Place, Mayberry in Alpharetta
by Randy Hall

My husband Ken and I discovered our favorite lunch place 2 years ago. Everyone who knows me knows what a nut I am about food quality. For me to say that Grant and Kimberly Chesin have achieved Sandwich Shop Nirvana would be an understatement! Let’s begin by talking about the egg salad and chicken salad (they are quickly becoming famous for these menu items). The chicken salad is gourmet to say the very least, all white meat mixed with apples and pecans, the egg salad, fresh daily is quite simply the best I have ever had. Grant claims the home made mayo is the key. Their recipes begin with the best deli meats, and always their Home-made Mayonnaise. Manager Robert “Cam” Wesson has been the manager for 7 years and the owners claim they couldn’t do it without him.

I think one of the things that you notice immediately is the “hands on” care that Grant and Cam put into each plate that leaves the counter. The soups are the yummiest, they even rival mine. Here are the soups available:
Cream of Potato (yup, we tried it, its amazing)
Jerk chicken
Beef vegetable barley (incredible)
Chicken noodle (oh, my gosh, bring this home to your kids with runny noses!)
Italian Wedding (this is the best soup you have ever)
Broc cheddar (yeah, this is amazing too)
Black Bean

The crew at My Friend’s Place also caters, and boy, do they. You will not be disappointed, call them for all your fall and holiday entertaining! Grant has even catered for Mayor Shirley Franklin. They can do events for 4 to 400 guests. The goal of the team at My Friends Place is always to be NUMBER ONE!

If you could pick a song to describe Grant’s take on things it would have to be John Cougar Mellenkamp’s, Small Town, Grant says he doesn’t even like to leave our community he loves it so much here! He loves that he lives right behind his store, and that his wife Kimberly and his girls Tiffany and Amanda are so close by even while he’s at work. I asked Grant what their favorite things that Daddy makes are, and he had to scratch his head and think about it, I imagine they like it all, (turkey best, wins at the moment, how cool. ) Grant said he could not do it all without the best MOM “Kimberly” taking care of things at home!

Summing it all up……you walk in, the owner is smiling at you at the window, yeah he makes your lunch…….personally asks you how you want it… and actually does what you want, after a few visits he remembers it too!

Whether you are living a Vegan life style or you are the ardent meat eater, this is the place my friends. Yup, if you want the best Reuben, the tastiest salad, the vegan dream lunch, this is the place… My Friends Place, open 8 to 3. 696B N. Main Street. Right next to Queen of Hearts Antiques.