Welcome to Atlanta where the playas play

Umm k, let's start off with a nice tall glass of beer duh! Cause that's what ya do when you're waiting for you flight to leave at 10:30am ... I mean hey Jack, it's 5:00 somewhere.

So we were headed to Atlanta the other weekend to visit some frands. Yes we do have those. Direct flight via Airtran, one carry on each, and a quick trip on MARTA. I'm a professional at navigating that train.

While we were there we headed out to lunch (on a Friday) at the food truck park. Yes, you read that right, PARK. I died!  Apparently, ATL's way cooler than Raleighwood and their allowance of food trucks to roam about as they please.

Wonder if this guy knows I'm taking a photo of his fancy neon green shirt? 

 So yeah, there's all types of food represented out here from Mexican to BBQ, to taco's. I'm on a taco kick these days. I could eat them all day every day. So naturally that's what I got, from Yumbii.They've won quite a few awards.

 

Apologies for the crappy iPhone photos.

Honestly though, the tacos were a bunch of messy goodness. The fries were fanom, and the kimchi catchup was equally as good. The fries had a sweet crispy spiciness to them that i want right meow.

One Fish and one Pulled Pork taco with the fixings

 

Oh good gracious those fries were smack yo mama good. I'm over selling it you say? I'm cereal, I would drive back now just to get these fries and come home.

 

I took this snazzy photo on the trusty ol' iPhone as well. We visited a local bottle shop to satisfy Brandon's craft beer fix. It was a dud. Although they did have a back room 'bar' where you could refill growlers. That was pretty cool. We also went to the Sweetwater Brewery.

This place was super awesome. For $10 a person you get 6 tickets and they pour you essentially a full pint of the beer. Atlanta has weird alcohol laws that don't allow brewers to sale bottled beer at the brewery. They can however, sell the tasty beverages to drink there johnny on the spot. We did just that, and had tickets left over that we gave to people who had cool shoes on. No really! That's how we choose the lucky winners.

If you ever have the chance to go to Atlanta make sure you allow some time to visit the brewery. Sweetwater Georga Brown was my fave ... Save Paula Dean's career foodies unite!

Recent Durham Eats

Having recently decided to try out some new eateries around town, specifically in Durham. A few coworkers and I have been taking turns every two weeks choosing our next eatery. For last weeks destination  we chose Parker and Otis. It's located in an old warehouse-esk building off of the Durham freeway - in the Brightleaf Square area. The lunch spot boasts way more than just a quick bite to eat. There's specialty shopping for gifts, craft beers, artisan chocolates and truffles, coffee, and pastries. There are wide planked old wooden floors and exposed beams that give Parker and Otis such a unique feel.

Because we'd never been here before I wasn't quite sure where to order. We parked in the back of the Brightleaf Square and walked into where the coffee and chocolate counter's are located. They have daily specials and a vast mix sandwiches with local ingredients.

I went with the turkey, apple, cheddar, and bacon, grilled to perfection. For a side I got the pesto pasta with spinach, which was the bomb dot com, fo realz.

 It was amaze ballz, in the true words of Mrs. Rachael Zoe. She herself should eat this. That girl needs some meat on her bones.

 
Coworker numero dos got the pimina cheese, was pretty good too - very rich though. This particular individual however, got a pimina cheese sandwich and a cup of pimina cheese as a side. He won't be able to poop for months! (that was the going joke anyway).

Before we left I had to get my favorite chocolate ... because duh, I don't pass a chocolate counter and not get something! I got two chocolate bars. One was a milk chocolate bar with sea salt toffee. It was damn delicious. The other one was also a sea salt bar (see a theme here?) made by Escazu chocolate company, located right here in Raleigh, North Carolina. It's 65% cocoa, and the bottom of the bar is sprinkled with large bits of sea salt. It is divine!

http://www.escazuchocolates.com/

If you have some time during your next lunch break, pay Parker and Otis a visit. Anyone else been there and had a similar experience? There's other lunch spots in the area, any suggestions for our next lunch outing? I'm currently obsessed with food trucks, that may just be our next lunch. Check back to find out ... I'm sure you're on the edge of your seat waiting.

Till next time ... Save Paula Dean's career foodies unite!