Rathbun's: I Wish I Were a (Real) Food Critic

When I was in Atlanta last week I went out to dinner at a restaurant outside of the city: Rathbun's, as in the Food Network's Iron Chef Ken Rathbun. Now, I'm not exactly "up" on restaurants made famous by the chefs or by names and brands in general. I care more about the quality of the product or service, or in this case, the food and the ambiance, than the name so when the other girls I went with said this was rated one of the best restaurants in the country, it didn't really do much for me. 

I'd be the judge of such high praise.

Picture from here

Well, it didn't disappoint. The restaurant is tucked away in the Old Fourth Ward district of Atlanta. It's off of Krog Street. How could you not immediately feel cozy going to restaurant on Krog Street?? I have images of a cozy pub in Ireland or England coming to my mind. Also Kermit the Frog but that's super random. Anyway. It's an odd location and we kind of went through some shady areas (but then again, apparently there are quite a few of those in Atlanta. So I was told. Several times) but I loved it. Apparently, the building used to be an old stove factory. It feels like you should be on the water but you aren't. It's so neat. We sat outside on the patio and the outside of the building is run down brick. I felt like I was eating in NYC. It was so cool. Just fabulous. The weather was perfect, lighting great, a little fountain nearby. Just lovely. And we haven't even talked about the menu, yet!

The menu was extensive and impressive. This restaurant is modern American cuisine but it's definitely a little more fancy than just your average steakhouse. I wouldn't go as far as to say gourmet, but it's fancy. The pricey part of the menu was entitled, "The Second Mortgage." Clever. +2 points for wit and creativity. I was impressed and amused. I chose the special salad of the day: spinach, strawberries, and goat cheese with a vinaigrette. DELISH. The strawberries were fresh, the dressing just right and let me just tell you, I am in love with goat cheese. We've been introduced a few times (goat cheese and I), and I never really was a fan, but lately, I am loving it. For my entree, I chose a the butternut squash, apple risotto with balsamic syrup. Winner. It was SO good. Lightly, fluffy, nutty, hearty, yummy. Delish. One of the other girls got french fries with blue cheese fondue dip. I am picky about my fries and I despise blue cheese anything but not only were the fries top notch, the bleu cheese fondue was exquisite. It's probably the only time I will willingly and knowingly eat bleu cheese anything.

Now the best part (obviously): dessert. There were 4 of us ladies so we (per my rather excited request and suggestion that we all get a different dessert and share. It was well received, much to my delight!) each got a different dessert. Now, these are mini desserts, which I think are just perfect. 

One got the banana peanut butter cream pie:

One got a cheesecake with blueberries and lemon or something like that. It was fruity, light, and perfect for a summer-esque evening. One got a flourless dark chocolate cake with hazelnut gelato (my runner-up for my favorite; the hazelnut gelato was to die for), and I got the cookie dough semifreddo, which was unanimously voted the favorite (I do not mess around with my desserts!). It was SO. GOOD. I can't even describe it except to say it was a perfectly smooth texture with chunks of yummy chocolate chip cookie dough. And I wanted to order about 10 more of these. For myself.  Mmmm!! Mmmm!!! Mmmm!!

So overall, I was impressed. Chef Rathbun, I approve. I'd definitely go again. 


And since we're on my favorite topic ever (food), can I just tell you that I made Italian Chicken Pockets for dinner this week? I did. Yum. Super easy and very good. AND, on a much more exciting note, to come this week from Gabe's kitchen:

Ladies and Gents I give you homemade chocolate chip cookie dough peanut butter cups. 

Can't wait! 

The Cookie Situation

I love food.

It's really as simple as that. I am a dietetics major which is both fun and highly irritating. That means that when I'm not thinking about food for myself, I'm thinking about it for other people and therefore I'm always thinking of food. It doesn't help that one of my jobs is dietetics-related, which further requires me to think and talk about food. I also live in a region of the country that prides itself on fine and varied cuisine.

I love food! I just love food. However, I have a soft spot for chocolate and cookies and ice cream. I love them. I mean really, my first word was "cookie." What does that tell you about me and my love for cookies? At school I pretty much ate a cookie or a piece of chocolate everyday. 'Twas marvelous and might I add-I lost weight thank you. But then I came home and one day my mom caught me eating 5 cookies. Yup, five. BUSTED. She lectured me on weight gain and healthy eating habits and how if I am going to be a dietitian I can't be doing this. So, I felt like a 5-year old caught with my hand in the cookie jar (really it was the 21-year old caught getting cookies from the freezer WHICH might I add--can I help myself when my mom-who is an absolutely faaaaabulous baker-bakes all these delicious treats and then puts them in the freezer) So I come home from college and I don't have to cook and now I can't indulge in a cookie after a horrid and long day??? I decided to take action. But first, a few questions: Am I overweight? No. Am I gaining weight? No. Is their a problem? Maybe. I mean I can't have 5 cookies everyday. So I tried to stop eating sugar and save it for Sundays but you know, that's a horrid thing to do. HORRID. Deprive me of the one thing I love to eat because....why? Because why? There's no logical reason for this really. Could I cut back? Yeah sure, but you know what happens? When I tell myself I can't have cookies or chocolate, it's all I think about. It consumes my thoughts. Reading...I think of cookies, at work....I think of cookies, eating lunch...all I want is a cookie! GAH! Plus, the more someone tells me I can't do something or eat something or I shouldn't do something or eat something, the more I want to do it or eat it. So don't tell me what to do unless you want me to do it. So then when I crack and eat a cookie, I have to have 4. It's a binge. And you're telling me that's healthy? Heavens no! It's not wonder eating disorders are so prevalent!!!! So as a dietitian-to-be, what do I do? As I young woman who wants to maintain a nice figure yet enjoy the beautiful part of life that is made of eating, what do I do!?

Here's what I'm doing. Here's what I'd counsel a client to do and here's what I'm telling myself to do. You love cookies, eat cookies. FOR HEAVEN SAKES EAT COOKIES!!!! Food is given to us for pleasure. Eating should be fun, enjoyable, exciting, and satisfying. However, don't have 5 cookies everyday. Limit yourself but don't constrict yourself. That's just health suicide. So, I'm stopping this ridiculous No Gabe, no sweets whatsoever today. I was taught the beauty of being a dietetian is you know everything fits into a diet. Cookies will fit into my diet without me gaining 50 pounds. So, I'm stopping this stupid sugar restriction because it's not working. I'm allowing myself to have a cookie. Yum. Don't you dare tell me I can't have something when there's no logical reason for me not to have it, and please don't talk to me about my weight or my figure when it's quite clearly not an issue. I don't mean to turn this into a rant but this is the sort of thing I have to fight against as a dietitian and as a woman because we all know weight is a hot topic. So ladies, if you're reading this, enjoy eating. I beg you. Don't make yourself miserable. Eat right. You know what this means. If you don't-go to eatright.org and learn about it. Or message me-my mind is crammed, stuffed, and oozing with information I'm just dying to share with you. YES you CAN have sweets. Just small amounts and in MODERATION.

Go food!