Rathbun brings KR Steakbar to Peachtree Hills

     Renowned Chef Kevin Rathbun's latest concept, a steak bar with a bit of Italian flare, opened its doors to the lush little pocket of Buckhead called Peachtree Hills over the weekend. 

     Rathbun is no stranger to the restaurant scene in Atlanta; he claims fame to the trilogy of beloved restaurants known as Rathbun's, Rathbun's Steak and Krog Bar, all of which are nestled in the Old Fourth Ward area that has history so vibrant, it seems only right that Rathbun situated his foodie mecca in the deserving neighborhood. 

     And with the introduction of KR Steakbar to Peachtree Hills, a neighborhood not yet brimming with a decadent food scene, it seemed Rathbun would be a harbinger to the area; inspiring change of pace in an oft forgotten corner of Atlanta. With that in mind, we asked our closest fab foodie friends to try it out last night.     

Concept drawing of KR Steakbar

     We knew the food would be good, we've never had a bad experience at any Rathbun's restaurant. But the restaurant's concept seemed to get lost in the glow of the fancy lighting and confusing decor. The restaurant is pretty and chic to be sure, but I just didn't "get it". There were intricate wrought-iron doors, dark bordeaux wall paint, sheep and boars staring at you in the powder room - it was unsettlingly medieval.

    Perhaps that all seems fitting for a steak bar (blood and boars and ropes dangling from the ceiling), but the food seemed to get lost in translation for me. The waitress explained a preferred "try a bunch of small plates and share" method of ordering ... sounded like tapas.

    And it basically was. The courses were all presented in the same small white plates, suggesting a sense of congruency between the dishes, irrespective of their category: salumi, apps, pastas, sides, meats.

      Everything was meant to be shared in a group.  Everything was in small plates. And for a steak bar, I imagined the steaks to be big and brawny, where the entrees are substantial and fit for one, not small to be shared like an app. I certainly didn't expect a departure from the traditional big steak and order a bunch of sides idea. That's not to say I didn't like this set-up though. 

      However, I'm the first to admit that I am certainly no foodie, just ordinary gal who tends to order veggie sides for every meal. I don't even eat steak, but eaters like myself matter too. I do understand Italian food and this just didn't cut it for me. But  to be honest, I'm definitely the last person to listen to when it comes to steak.

     So try out KR Steakbar. My friends loved it and are eager to return. Get the Sophia cocktail (that was delicious). And I'll keep in mind that KR Steakbear only had its first weekend and I'm nearly positive the experience will evolve to meet the demands of the clientele.


It is Kevin Rathbun, after all. He's always winning.

Cheers to good food and friends,

B

Pinterest Recipe: Proscuitto, Asparagus and Parmesan Angel Hair

In my humble opinion, whoever invented Pinterest is an absolute genius. I love that it provides countless hours of resort wear distraction and that sometimes, it even doubles as a dinner planner.

So yesterday, in the midst of the famed "go out somewhere, get delivery or cook" discussion, my handy dandy Pinterest app led me to this little gem of a recipe. My man loved it, so I thought I'd share.

I tweaked it a bit according to our tastes, making it a little healthier.

                                                                                                        Ingredients:

                                                                                 

8 ounces of angel hair pasta
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 garlic cloves (or more, if you're us)

1 small onion, diced
About 1/2 bag of frozen peas

Sun dried tomatoes
3- 4 oz. of prosciutto, cut into strips
1 lb. asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
3/4 of a jar of Arrabiata (or whichever pasta sauce you prefer, we like heat)

1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

Black Pepper

Red Pepper Flakes

                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Chopped ingredients, ready for skillet.

 1. In a large skillet, on medium-high heat, cook the onion, garlic and olive oil until fragrant.

2. While that's going, prepare your proscuitto and veggies then toss this into the skillet as well. Sprinkle Red Pepper flakes. Cook until the asparagus is bright green, about 3 minutes or so. Save the sun dried tomatoes for later.

Garlic, onion and olive oil heating up.

3. In a large pasta pot, boil your water for the angel hair and prepare the pasta according to the directions on the box. 

4. Meanwhile, into the skillet, add the peas and the sun dried tomatoes.  Also add in 1/2 the jar of Arrabiata. Allow those to 

cook with the sauce and other ingredients few minutes.

5. Take a ladle and add just a little bit of the pasta water into the skillet. Drain pasta when done. The starch from the water helps everything absorb flavor.

6. Add the pasta into the skillet and the remaining 1/4 of the jar of Arrabiata, or all of it if you'd like. Let that hang out for a few minutes, or as you wish.

7. Top with freshly grated parmesan cheese and serve.

This pairs well with a light salad or is enough on its own. We thought it was delicious. 

Here is a link to the original recipe that inspired this one. We added veggies and opted for a spicy arrabiata that is a bit lighter rather than a heavy cream.

ValSoCal: Prociutto, Asparagus and Parmesan Spaghetti

Enjoy, buon appetito.

Cheers to Pinterest and sharing good food with those you love.

B

Oysterfest 2013 ... rant and rave

Oysterfest happened.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous this past Saturday and good-hearted Atlantans flocked to Piedmont Park to enjoy the oysters, the music and of course, the libations.

We Southerners like it hot, and, at the slightest sight of spring, we go all out - and we're good at it.

For me, that meant throwing on a Lilly Pulitzer ensemble and telling myself that four-inch wedges were the appropriate choice for a day at the park.

They weren't, but they looked fabulous.

And for the more exuberant Oysterfesters that meant buying $10 beers, waiting in incredibly arduous lines and clamoring up a large hill to catch rays and dance to the sweet southern music.

It was a great day all in all, but I think I credit the fantastic weather and the eagerness of the crowd to savor it for the good time. With a $30 cover charge and steep prices for food and drinks AND the long lines, the event set-up seemed more like a hassle than a frolic to most.


Would my crew and I all go again? Absolutely. I'm pretty sure we got the best of Oysterfest and Oysterfest got the best of us.

But I learned a few things.

Your friends, both old and new, make everything marvelous - and that is priceless.

And as true as ever, Georgia slinked back into rainy weather the next day.

Gotta love our South.

Cheers darlings,

B

New Obsession: Flywheel Atlanta

For me, exercise has always been a necessity, but it was never consistent and never really fun. Then there was Flywheel Atlanta. I'm pretty sure it has changed everything.

Flywheel is great for any guy or gal wanting to get fit and thinks they need that extra push, whatever that may be. For me, my push was having the company of the entire class, the guidance of the instructor and most importantly, the seriously awesome music that takes your mind somewhere else so you don't think about the burn.

How did I find Flywheel? One night I had dinner at STG Trattoria right behind the St. Regis and there it was, all bright and shiny, the new Flywheel studio right here in Buckhead.

What I love about Flywheel: Pretty much everything, really. First things first, your very first class is free - which is awesome.  That way, you can see if Flywheel is for you before you share any of your hard-earned cash.

Flywheel also gives you cycling shoes to wear each class that are customized to secure your feet on the cycle, which is also a nice little freebie.

Once you create an online flywheel account, you can earn credits when your friends make accounts via your link. The "Fly With Friends" program is fantastic and quite helpful once you're hooked and you want to keep on going. So be a doll and use this link, Come fly with me! xo

The location is also great. In the heart of Buckhead, Flywheel is easily accessible for people like me, who live in the area, or for many of those who work in the area. It's really worth the drive, though. Many drive in from the burbs (yeah, OTP people) to have a ride at Flywheel.

Calories are literally scorched. On average you burn almost 1000 calories a class (that's been my experience anyway). The class is 45 minutes, and the entire time the instructor helps guide you through hills and straights and even an upper body workout: arms, shoulders and back with 2 and 4 pound weights. The entire time you're adjusting your torque (resistance) and RPMs, so even though I'd suggest getting as close as you can to the mark, you can absolutely adjust everything at your own pace.

The feeling you get when you're done ... is unreal. Flywheel doesn't stress me out like other workouts. I am actually excited to go and I leave knowing it was time well spent and that I had a GREAT workout.

Downside? It's a bit pricey, unless you recruit your friends to come with you once you have an account. The first ride is free, but after that it will cost you $25 per class. There are packages available, too. But if you can swing it, I say go for it. Flywheel has given me far more than I feel I've given them.

And that's just that.

Cheers darlings, and come fly with me.

B

Something I've Always Wanted To Do

We all have them.

In this super tech society that we live in it's nearly impossible to avoid the blogosphere. These days, just about every person I know has a blog (or two, or three) that they frequent for whatever reason ... fashion, recipes, tips on new great restaurants, sports, etc. 

There's a blog for everything and everyone has a blog - or at the very least, a twitter account to regale the world with every detail of your day.

So why not start my own blog? It certainly sounds fun and I've always wanted to try it out.

See, I once wrote a travel blog about a summer in Italy and I have to tell you, the experience of reflecting and writing about my journey enriched my travel experience exponentially. But Italy is an inherently interesting subject - wine, art, the best food on earth, Prada, Ferragamo ...

A lifestyle blog, however, seems to be a great feat. Restaurants, countless trips to the mall, law school, spin class ...  I mean, who cares about what little ol' me is up to all the time? (Bless your heart if you are even the least bit interested, thanks mom).

Even with that said, the same thought came to mind when I made a Twitter, but 'lo and behold, people decided to follow me.

So y'all c'mon and join me here, take it or leave it.  

I'm just a gal, living in Buckhead and you're going to hear ALL about it.

Cheers, darlings. 

B