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DEL.ICIO.USYearning for Something Slavic
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
AT RIGHT: Chocolate cake, cherries, whipped cream — kirsch. That’s a dang good piece of Black Forest Cake.
Photo: Louie Favorite/AJC staff
First, a peaceful Passover to those who celebrate this holiday that begins tomorrow at sundown.
lived in New York when I was younger, back before the earth’s crust cooled, and my boyfriend at the time had a handle on all the spots of the Lower East Side (long before it was fashionable), from Gus’ Pickle Stand to a Hungarian restaurant that used to rest on the corner of 2nd and 7th (I’d tell you the name, but I can’t remember. And I’ve tried, believe me.)
It served incredible peirogis and blintzes, and even after I moved to New Jersey (hey — the rent was cheaper) I would venture back there just to get some potato-and-pea soup.
And after 16 years in Southern New England, I got a pretty good idea of how to make caldo verde. And Portuguese-style paella.
I miss these foods so much. Atlanta has missing pockets of food culture. Other than a few spots, I can’t think of any really great Portuguese restaurants here. And other than Slovakia in Marietta, you’ll be hard-pressed to nibble on a peirogi anytime soon. Istanbul in Decatur helps bridge the gap, but we need so many more like it.
I’ve made a list of the cuisines I wish there were more of in the ATL: 1. Eastern European — Hungarian, Slovakian — even Turkish. I could go for a cheese blintz and some chicken paprika.
Russian — ditto, and add some borscht. And yes, I know we have Nikolai’s Roof. I want more.
Portuguese — hellooooo?? Where the heck is my bacalhau? My botelo?
Spanish — Riccardo Ullio’s Cuerno fills a huge gap, but again, I WANT MORE.
German — one of the heartiest cuisines in the world. I could go for some schwarzwalderkirschtorte right now.
Do you agree? What cuisine(s) would like to see more of in Atlanta? Do you know of restaurants where we could find these foods?
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: Dining
Comments
By Shoot
April 18, 2008 4:24 PM | Link to this
Thank God you aren’t in northwest Georgia, where the nearest city(?) Chattanooga barely has any Indian or Thai food. Eastern European, French, Russian, Spanish? Pfft. Ain’t happening.
By Bo
April 18, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
Turkish restaurants around here are the excellent Cafe Efendi in Alpharetta and decent Efes at Marietta Square. There is the lunch spot Ali Baba, downtown and the old mainstay Istanbul in Decatur.
By Dave
April 18, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this
More VEGAN FOOD!!!!!
By Amber
April 18, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
Gimza Polish over in Norcross has some tasty pierogi .. and sometimes borscht!
By Steve
April 18, 2008 5:38 PM | Link to this
I have always loved german food and have always been amazed that a city like Atlanta does not have ONE german restaurant. I know there is one near stone mountain but there needs to be one in the city of atlanta. Its ridiculous that there isnt.
By GadgetGeek
April 18, 2008 6:08 PM | Link to this
Stefan’s off the Square in Marietta (used to be Slovakia Restaurant) is THE place for Eastern European food North of the perimeter. Stefan and his wife fix fantastic food, and follow the traditions of that rich culture. They have my vote on Slovakian food, hands down.
By SA
April 18, 2008 6:28 PM | Link to this
I agree with Steve—Why no German restaurant? I would love to see one that has a sampling from all of Germany’s regional cuisines.
By Georgia
April 21, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this
Have lived here 18 years and would love to see some REAL Italian Pastries…Italian Rum Cake mmmmm
Is there any Polynesian food here?
As Chik-fil-A is common to the south - we need D’ANGELOS for some good subs!!
By jr
April 21, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
Unfortunately Atlanta falls very short on the european theme starting from the grocery,deli and bakery. Restaurants are a longshot. Living in NYC I had so many choices starting with mamouns for lamb pizza the 2nd ave deli,parsi bakery which found by following the smell of bread one sunday morning, the turkish 24 hr place next to katz deli on houston the italian restaurants on mulberry street, vieneros in the lower east side near unin square, the great eastern european bakeries around green point ave and ofcourse the great butcher shops and bakeries in brooklyn I could just go on about how much i miss all this but with kids i get more bang for the buck down here and would not give it up for any thing. I JUST WISH I COULD MOVE THOSE PLACES DOWN HERE knowing Icant is what makes me sound bitter sometimes so please forgive me. Georgia and Atlanta mean as much to me as NYC.
By Nilla C
April 24, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
I was JUST SEARCHING the net for good borscht in Atlanta and found this string! Can’t help but chime in as I was just thinking—-If I hear one more person excitedly tell me of a new restaurant I should try, only to find it’s another menu of tacos, enchiladas and margaritas- I’m gonna scream. Come ON ATLANTA. Expand your tastebuds!!!!