Maybe it’s time to end the old blog. I can’t really keep up with it with a family these days, and I start grad school in August, and it’s much easier to simply post photos on Instagram. Though, that’s not a great venue to offer opinion. Not that I offer much criticism anymore, it’s mostly “highlight style” posts – pointing out things I like and at this point I tend to know the people involved, at least casually.
There was the whole “discovery” approach towards blogging where one would try to hit a new restaurant first or sample some weird dish or ethnic dive with the hopes of striking gold. This has been abated a bit by Creative Loafing and AJC “first look” style posts now, covering the new restaurants while starred reviews are on hold. And the FIRST!/dive discovery practice is a zero sum game with too many players at this point. You will never “win” when everyone with a Tumblr, WordPress, or Yelp account has any combination of more time, a greater budget, or a lonelier existence than you.
Not that you win anything, but it’s fun to put the spotlight on greatness that people may not know of or may not try otherwise. And it’s enjoyable for me to go back and read old posts from my honeymoon or Japan or Dynamic Dish pizza nights with copious amounts of wine. But whether or not I post today, the fun was still had, the experience remains, and I just want to enjoy some meals with friends and family.
Maybe I just leave the site up and post some photos now and then again of some favorites. It’s better than spamming Facebook or Instagram. Really you could just look at my Flickr account because that’s where everything on this site is posted, meaning, I only post to Flickr if it’s gonna be on here, or potentially of that caliber. So the site basically becomes a photo album, maybe with some context added on a photo or too. Perhaps if something is especially atrocious, such as the buffalo chicken soup at Taco Mac, it can make the site.
If you want criticism in Atlanta, it’s been a bit improved as of late. Jennifer Zyman at Creative Loafing has upped her game/writing since taking the official starred review job. She’s drawn some ire via a couple of critical reviews, but they were fair and pointed and in my experience talking to some industry people and others with trusted opinions, they felt it was completely accurate. Over at the AJC, Wyatt Williams appears to be reviewing (I saw no official announcement) now that Kessler has escaped the critical duties I think he loathed the last few years, and Wyatt’s an excellent writer with an understanding of decency and the zeitgeist of food today. Christiane Lauterbach offers criticism in her yes-still-actually-on-paper publication, Knife & Fork, and while I don’t always align with her point of view, she is prolific and keeps up with on-goings as well as anyone. It’s worth the subscription.
With that, which I really didn’t plan on writing, in true internet style – here are some photos of things I ate. If you end up trying them and liking them, awesome! If you disagree, from the bottom of my heart, I truly don’t care.
soft shell crabs were in season so Lusca was going a great spider roll last week
The sushi bar is a great spot for a few small bites – orange wines (best selection in town?) pairs great with the ikura toast
Le Fat on the Westside – I’ve tried a handful of things and have been pleased so far. Really nice space. Good desserts. Pho and bun bo hue lack some punch, but they are quality. Great neighborhood spot. They offer takeout too.
more Le Fat shots – take out done nicely!
Tasty China – dumplings in chili oil. It looks nuts but you don’t really eat/drink the chili oil
Dry fried beef – so great, lots of Sichuan peppercorn and tons of cilantro and jalapenos
dry fried eggplant at Masterpiece
First Antico pizzas in a while. Almost pisses me off when I enjoy them
Bar pizza at Empire State Pizza, which is a dive with spotty service, decent wings, better than usual beer list, and a satisfying goes-with-beer pizza – stellar website address too http://www.pizzawingsbeer.com/
White pie at Fellini’s. Don’t ever get a white slice, it’s not the same, but the whole white is quite bangable
Tacos La Villa – Smyrna
Taqueria Real De La Villa – Marietta – excellent, great values
Chicago supermarket – Buford Highway