Best of the Big A
Best pizza
Photo: Phil Skinner, [email protected] Yes, it’s that time again. Let’s talk about pizza. It’s been almost two-and-a-half years since we last asked about pizza in Atlanta, so we definitely need to update this one. It’s said that even when it’s bad, it’s still pretty good. But why eat bad pizza when there’s so much good stuff out there? First, we need to know where to find that amazing pizza. That’s where you come in. Whether it’s thin and crispy or thick and chewy, we want to hear about your favorite place for a slice (or a… >>
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Best meat-and-three (or -two)
Photo: Hyosub Shin, [email protected] When you want Southern home cooking, but there’s no one to make it for you, what do you do? That’s where the traditional meat-and-three cafeterias and restaurants shine. These days, you might not always get three vegetables. In some places, it’s more a meat-and-two. Of course, you can usually go for all vegetables or side dishes and forgo the meat entirely. These spots are perfect for folks who are missing mom’s home-cooked meals, or for those whose moms weren’t such great cooks. It’s also a perfect place for visitors to… >>
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Best french fries
Photo: Brant Sanderlin, [email protected] It seems like such a simple thing. Potatoes cut into long sticks of varying thickness, then deep fried and salted. We all know it isn’t that simple, though. The variables make all the difference in the world. What oil do they use? How long (or how many times) are they fried? What kind of potato do they use? How thick are the potatoes cut? All of these factors and more contribute to the ultimate success of a french fry. They’re on more menus than just about anything else, but not everyone gets them right. Who… >>
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Best hot dogs
Photo: Renee Brock / Special It’s an iconic American food, often mentioned in the same sentence with apple pie and baseball. And we can be very particular about our hot dogs. Should they have ketchup? Is mustard a must? What about chili, sauerkraut or slaw? Then there are the Chicago dogs, dragged through the garden with their pickle relish, peppers, tomatoes and celery salt. Frankly, the possible combinations seem endless. But we’re looking for wieners, um, winners! We want to hear about the best hot dogs in town. Tell us about your favorite place to grab a hot dog in and… >>
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Best bets: Jan. 15-21
British singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran was a big hit at the Star 94 Jingle Jam in December, where this photo was taken. He returns to town as a headliner for a show at the Tabernacle on Monday, Jan. 21. Photo: Robb Cohen / www.RobbsPhotos.com TUESDAY Kids, visual arts: “Young Architects: Designing the Future” is an interactive exhibit inspired by famous architects. It runs through Jan. 19 at the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center in Buford. Music: Collective Soul’s Ed Roland and his Sweet Tea Project are in the midst of a January residency at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, performing every Tuesday… >>
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Best sweet tea
It might seem a little odd to be talking about iced tea in winter, but cold weather never stops us Southerners from indulging in one of our favorite beverages. When the temperature rises to 70 in January, it doesn’t seem so strange at all. Sweet tea is the house wine of many Southern homes, with a pitcher in the refrigerator at all times. It’s also expected to be on the menu at most restaurants, and that’s what we want to talk about. In April, we’ll have lots of visitors in town for the NCAA basketball playoffs, and we thought they might… >>
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Best bets: Jan. 8-14
TUESDAY Kids, visual arts: “Young Architects: Designing the Future” is an interactive exhibit inspired by famous architects. It runs through Jan. 19 at the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center in Buford. Visual arts: “Georgia Nature Photographers’ Association: The Art of the Landscape” is on view at the Chattahoochee Nature Center through Feb. 15. Stage: Shen Yun Performing Arts brings Chinese culture to life at the Fox Theatre Jan. 8-9. Stage: In this bilingual Mexican folktale “Brother Coyote and Sister Fox,” Brother Coyote conspires to eat Doña Conchita’s plump chickens, but Sister Fox is one step ahead. The Thistle Theatre of Seattle production… >>
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Favorite new restaurant of 2012
The meatloaf meatballs at Table & Main are just one reason why our readers named the Roswell restaurant their favorite new spot for 2011. Now we’re looking for your favorite of 2012. Photo: Becky Stein / Special Despite our economic woes, the dining scene in and around Atlanta continues to thrive. We were blessed with some wonderful new restaurants in 2012, but which one was your favorite? If you need a reminder of the dining spots that opened in 2012, check out this round-up by Jenny Turknett on the Food & More blog (she also lists the 2012 closings). Check it out and come back… >>
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Best bets: Jan. 1-7
Snow Mountain has 20 400-foot lanes for tubing, smaller tubing lanes for young children and a snow playground to build snowmen and forts. Photo: Jonathan Phillips / Special TUESDAY Holiday: The Atlanta Botanical Garden sparkles during Garden Lights, Holiday Nights , which continues through Jan. 5. Holiday: More than 1 million lights fill Hampton’s Atlanta Motor Speedway in Gift of Lights , a 1.5-mile drive-through experience. The display continues through Jan. 6. Holiday: Learn about international holiday celebrations at Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s “Winter Wonderland.” It continues through Jan. 6. Recreation: Hit the slopes at Snow Mountain , where it’s always a winter wonderland. The annual… >>
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Favorite dish of 2012
Here’s one of last year’s picks. In 2011, dining critic John Kessler picked the Vermont burrata, a cream-filled bundle of tender mozzarella, at Cakes & Ale. Photo: Becky Stein / Special It’s time for one of our favorite things to do on Best of the Big A. We’re going to pick the best thing we ate this year, and we want to hear about your favorite dish of 2012, too. It doesn’t have to be a new thing. Perhaps you just got around to visiting that restaurant that you’ve been hearing about for years. Tell us about your most memorable dining experience… >>
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