FOODIE IN FLIP FLOPS

That old saying to never judge a book by its cover is so true when it comes to Las Brasas. Don't let this rundown shack in downtown Decatur fool you, it has some of the best Peruvian style rotisserie chicken in the city. The chicken is super moist and full of wonderful flavor. It comes with a salsa verde sauce for dipping, which is made up of cilantro, mayo, lime, and garlic and is oh so delicious! There is no seating inside, there are about eight tables outside where you and your dogs could sit. Regardless of where you eat you still order at the counter. Most of their business is take-out and they also offer free delivery if you are lucky to live close enough. It is over $10 for a whole chicken which is more than I spend at Whole Foods for their hormone-free rotissierie, but for a treat every now and again it is worth it. Tip - Make sure the salsa verde is in your bag before you notice it after you get home. 

What goes around should come around for this gluten-free bakery and eatery located in Avondale Estates. They are one of the few places in the metro Atlanta area that is certified gluten-free and doesn't use any dairy, soy, or nuts in their baked goods.  The inside is more like a breakfast eatery than a coffee shop. They serve Counter Culture Coffee, which is organic, sustainable and direct trade. The coffee was very good and the staff, very friendly. They were so proud of their coffee products and being certified GF, and they weren't even the owners. I ordered the Chai Muffin and Luke ordered the oatmeal raisin cookie, both were delicious. The chai muffin was moist and had little chunks of candied ginger inside. The oatmeal cookie had the brown sugar crispy taste on the outside, while the oats were still soft and chewy. Luke is not on a GF diet and still loved the cookie. They have a breakfast and lunch menus along with daily specials. Their soup...

I was super excited to try this newer eatery in Chamblee especially since they have an EV charging station and we could plug our Leaf in for free. I had also checked out their menu and it looked great!  The restaurant was huge, two rooms, a big bar, and patio area downstairs and another bar, room, and balcony upstairs. The interior was beautiful with re-purposed items, tall ceilings with big windows, warm wood, concrete countertops, and vintage lighting. All together it created a warm atmosphere until we sat at the bar and had ice cold service. There were three bartenders that barely greeted us and begrudgingly answered our questions. I could understand it more if they were busy but they weren't. I love sitting down at a bar and getting that warm welcomed feeling, it always starts the meal off right. The service never improved, looking back we should have left after our first drink. However, we wanted to try the food.  Luke ordered the Mushroom Toast...

When Blue Moon Pizza opened in Marietta in 2003, it gave us pizza lovers hope that a non-chain pizza place could survive in the Smyrna-Marietta area. It is still around today and growing strong, they have four metro Atlanta locations and are currently expanding into Florida. They have continued to change with the times and have added a gluten-free menu, just ask the server for it.  Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on the patio, they allow them to be tied up on the outside of the gate. They are extremely kid friendly and provide raw dough to entertain the kids. If kids are not your thing, Blue Moon may not be the place for you.  My friend Susie and I met for lunch. It was one of those gorgeous fall days, cool, no humidity in the air, and not a cloud in the sky. . . .on the patio in the sun was a great spot to be.  For a pizza place, they have awesome salads. Blue Moon uses fresh ingredients and also make their own salad dressings. The Cobb S...

Aviva meaning rebirth or renewal, is very apropos for this food court eatery. It restores my faith in "fast food". Kameel is my new best friend, and that truly is the way it feels when he welcomes and greets you. Finally, I have found the perfect Paleo eatery at a reasonable price. Kameel, buys the meats and veggies hormone, pesticide free, and 100% Halal. The fish is wild and sustainable. They also use olive oil in 100% of their cooking.  Cha Ching I just hit the Paleo lottery!  Other restaurants need to take note, healthy food can be affordable and taste great. Everything is on display, so if not sure what to order maybe seeing the food will help. I  ordered the chicken shawarma. It was $8.95 and came with a choice of two sides. I chose Greek salad and fresh veggies. Everything was excellent. the chicken was moist and marinated with a melange of wonderful middle eastern spices. The tzatziki and hot sauce on top was a nice addition without being ov...

The Butcher, The Baker and me . . . because I wanted to move in after visiting this cozy, delicious eatery. They designed the inside as an industrial farmhouse, the farmhouse influence makes it cozy while the industrial touches keep it modern. They have an inviting bar that would be a ideal spot to find yourself if dining alone. Also, like many eateries on the square there are tables out front and doggies are very welcome. We went there to celebrate my friend Susan's birthday. We had wonderful service and the server bought my friend a drink for her birthday. Susan ordered the octopus which had a smoky grilled flavor, and was cooked perfectly tender. It was served on a bed of local in season greens.  I ordered the "fried lamb", translation lamb testes. I have never tried that before so figured I would despite the batter not being Paleo friendly. The lamb balls were tender, yes I said tender and not gamey. It was good, but honestly when a ...

Plum cafe is nestled behind Canton Street in downtown historic Roswell, Georgia. Historic Roswell is adorable and not at all surprised that this area is growing everyday. This newer eatery has a cute outdoor area with a gazebo. On a warmer fall or spring day it would be a great spot to enjoy a meal with your furry friend. They are very dog friendly. We ate inside since the weather did not cooperate. I had lunch with my friend Joe so we could catch up and also to try a new restaurant. He ordered the roast beef panini. The roast beef is made in house. How was it? I will never know because he is the fastest eater I know and gobbled it down in about two minutes flat. He said it was good and I will have to take his word for it.  I order the half sandwich (GF bread) and salad combo. They offer gluten-free bread and most sandwiches can be substituted accordingly. The turkey artichoke and swiss cheese sandwich was toasted and came with an aioli sauce. The...