Cacao Atlanta

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Emily Hines

I love my husband but I sometimes feel like I’m having an affair with the tall dark and handsome 70% cacao bars I buy. I’m an extreme chocoholic. I’m not at all embarrassed by this affliction- I celebrate it (perhaps too often but you only live once).

A few nights ago in Buckhead, en route to Fellini’s Pizza, I spotted Cacao. I am a sucker for a chocolate shop, let alone a charming French patisserie inspired shop…clean and bright, filled with decadent delights. I stopped cold in my tracks- staring (drooling), and said to my mother- “I know where I’ll be at 11am tomorrow.”

The next day before hittin’ the road back to Athens, we ran across the street to Cacao for a quick trip to Paris by way of the South. We were welcomed by a pleasant aroma of rich coffee and sweet/bitter chocolate…heavenly. We had a great time chatting with Tricia about the history of the shop and learning about each and every product. The owner/creator Kristen Hard, a classically trained French pastry chef, fell hard for the cacao bean working as a chef around the world and thankfully brought her passion back to the South.

Tricia got us started off with some sipping chocolate (divine) and walked us through the different goodies lining the walls. My mother (a packaging junkie) spotted some adorable baskets in the corner used for creating one of a kind gift baskets, so we decided that was the best option. Having a total “Treat Yo Self” moment (Parks and Rec anyone?), I began grabbing anything that peaked my interest. Being a self-proclaimed chocolate connoisseur, I picked up quite the basket.

I love how most items are inspired by Southern desserts or flavors…pecan pie truffles, mint julep truffles, Coca-Cola truffles, homemade oatmeal cream pies, cocoa-nib peanut brittle (oh yea). The shop’s commitment to sustainability is also impressive. Each piece of chocolate is hand crafted with the highest quality organic ingredients while honoring the traditional chocolate making processes and everything in the entire store is made in Georgia, with the exception of herbal teas offered on the menu. The Cacao shop in Buckhead also offers – Honeysuckle Gelato– Southern inspired gelato based in Atlanta!

macarons!

The decor is sweet and simple and very French. A white and grey palette punctuated by the rich colors of the chocolate and other treats. The art instillation above the cafe tables is equally stunning. Created for their Valentine’s Day celebration, the lovebirds and tiny paper hearts make for a beautiful centerpiece in the shop.

sweet success

To top off our decadent morning we had to try something from the esspresso lab. I opted for the Shakerato- 3 shots of espresso and vanilla syrup shaken over ice. Buzz buzz y’all.

A tisket a tasket, I got a chocolate basket!

Since my Cacao visit, I’ve slowly sampled my goodies- or hoarding them if you will. I want to hold on to the dark chocolate goodness as long as I possibly can- or until I reorder them online (bless online shopping)! Stop by one of their three shops in the ATL immediately or visit their online store to get your cacao fix!

Cacao Atlanta- http://cacaoatlanta.com/ Cacao on Facebook Cacao Twitter

Sunday funday photo

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Emily Hines

Cacao Atlanta- Si Bon!

Anis Cafe and Bistro

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Emily Hines

Deep in the heart of Buckhead’s older residential neighborhoods is Anis Cafe and Bistro. Earning a rave review from a close family friend and long time Atlanta resident, I knew we had to check it out.

Anis Cafe and Bistro opened in 1994 by Arnaud Michel a native Frenchman inspired by his family’s winery and olive fields in Montepellier, France. The idea was to create a causal bistro where people could meet and enjoy light fare, coffee, and wine; due to overwhelming popularity, the restaurant quickly expanded offering a full brunch, lunch and dinner menu. Anis stays true to its inspiration working with the most authentic ingredients: wine and cheese from the south of France, excellent produce, and seasonal seafood.

image courtesy Atlanta Eater

The restaurant lives in a converted residential home to transport guests to Provence where the cobblestone streets are lined with shops and sidewalk cafes. I have yet to visit Provence but judging from photographs, Anis accomplished their vision beautifully.

My mom, sister, and I decided to have Sunday brunch to enjoy a sampling of their plates. I ordered for the table- Nutella Crepes, the Cured Salmon Croque Monsieur, and the Tartar de Tomato with a side of mixed berries, and applewood smoked bacon. We started the meal with some fresh baked bread and butter, coffee, and mimosas. The perfect start to a Sunday!

After the bread course, our entrees arrived already split into threes (such a nice touch). We ordered the perfect combination of savory and sweet. The Croque Monsieur was so tasty! Smoked salmon, goat cheese, onion, and capers on toast; I loved the unique twist on this classic French sandwich.

image courtesy Anis Cafe and Bistro

The tomato tartar was perfect as well: juicy tomatoes, bitter greens, creamy mozzarella, and a dash of balsamic vinegar to top it off! The crepes were the star for me; bursting with chocolatey hazelnut goodness, and topped with powdered sugar, toasted almonds and sweet bananas. Si bon!

image courtesy spoonfedatlanta.com

I discovered crepes and nutella on my first trip to France at the age of 14….and I was changed for life 🙂 or so it seemed. My aunt Catherine suggested my cousin Sarah and I to take a break from my usual dessert order, glace cafe (coffee icecream) and glace cassis (berry), and try a crepe from a stand on the way home. So we followed the smell of buttery batter and found a shop near our hotel on the Rue de St Germain. Having no idea what to get, Catherine ordered for us…nutella and banana crepes. The man behind the sizzling flat top handed us what looked like a giant folded golden napkin in parchment paper. The smell was so unbelievable and that first bite of gooey nutella magic was just the first of many more. And I digress…

The food and service were impeccable. After finishing our brunch on the patio, we explored the rest of this adorable restaurant. The main dining room is beautiful; exposed brick walls, tablecloths, bistro chairs, and fresh flowers. The bar is tiny but quaint; reminiscent of a local spot nestled on a busy street in a French town.

image courtesy of Anis Cafe and Bistro

I could see myself having a drink here in the future for sure….couldn’t you?

The waiting area outside the bar was full of personality as well. Scenes from a Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec painting scrolled on the restroom doors, a chandelier, leather bistro chairs, artwork, and a large chalkboard displaying event news brighten up an otherwise simple space.

image courtesy hunch.com

As we began to stroll out, my mom pointed out one more piece on the mantel in the waiting area…

I couldn’t agree more Mr. Franklin.

Un Petit Problème (modestexaggeration.wordpress.com)
Crepes! (darkbrightly.wordpress.com)
A Paris Guide: St Germain (A Paris Guide)

Henri’s

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Emily Hines

Amidst the never ending strip centers in Buckhead, there sits a charming bakery and deli named Henri’s. It’s your basic counter deli on one side and cases upon cases of baked treats on the other. It may seem unnecessary to celebrate such a simple concept but traditional, family owned delis and bakeries can be few and far between these days. I was over the moon when my parents took me here over the weekend…and that a place like this still exists in the neighborhood.

love the painted doors and windows

Henri’s Bakery was founded in 1929 by Henri Fiscus, a chef and native of France. His Southern adaptations of European delicacies became an instant hit and a permanent standard for every item created by the Henri’s bakers today. Henri’s Bakery has been a Buckhead fixture since locating to its current home on Irby Avenue in 1969. Its cheese straws are required eating for exclusive Buckhead cocktail parties, and cakes produced there have graced countless celebrations. In the bakery’s infancy, Henri Fiscus remained true to his baking roots—sandwiches on the in-house bread were added when the baking business was slow. The wax-paper wrapped or custom made lunchtime staples are now a mainstay of their menu. Henri’s is still a family operated business with Madeline Leonard, the oldest of Henri Fiscus’s grand children, running the show.

The mystery of this eatery’s longevity subsides when you walk through the doors…it smells of fresh baked bread, sugar from the bakery, and friendly staff greet you at the counter. It is no surprise that the place is packed with locals. Families, ladies lunching, teenagers are all standing patiently in line at the deli waiting to order sandwiches. As for choices, Henri’s has anything and everything you could want on a sandwich from Pastrami to chicken salad, anyway you want it. I opted for something I’ve never seen before- Salmon dill salad on french bread. Even with a huge chalkboard menu and making each sandwich individually, the service was excellent and fast.

We took our perfectly wrapped sandwiches (in old school wax paper) to our cafe table and chowed down. The salmon dill salad was perfect. Basically like tuna salad but with salmon, dill, little bit of celery, not too much mayo, and a little lemon, topped with lettuce and tomato, served on fresh french bread.

Salmon Dill Salad

Mom had chicken salad on wheat which was also tasty but a little too much relish for me; Boz had pastrami on rye with cheese and pickles that looked awesome. I loved the wax paper wrapping; such a unique and nostalgic touch…It reminded me of another favorite sandwich shop- Gilchrist Drug in Mountain Brook Village. Most of my family is from Birmingham, Alabama and we all frequented their lunch counter as kids.

chicken salad

pastrami

We of course ended lunch with a few laps around the bakery before deciding on a couple of cookies- Heath bar and Peanut Butter. They were so much lighter than I expected, but still had lots of flavor..I split the peanut butter with mom and it was not oily or dense like some PB cookies can be. I could’ve definitely eaten one on my own…next time.