there were a lot of things that made this dinner so special.

first, it was special that we met kevin and EJ at forkheartknife.  second, it was special that EJ was charmingly persistent in inviting us to visit woodfire grill on our vacation.  third, my dude- michael, engaged me on vacation!  (ps- that 1st, 2nd, and 3rd were not listed in order of importance, obviously!)

we drove to atlanta from asheville, getting excited the whole way for what promised to be a food adventure.

we tried to get a little gussied up after nearly a week of camping and hotel-ing.  and found our way from our hotel to woodfire grill.  we didn’t quite catch the restaurant on a strip of eye catching businesses: strip clubs, vacuum repair stores and the like.  a road that we couldn’t tell as outsiders if it was on its way up or its way down.

after circling back, we got there!  woodfire grill has an suspenseful entrance with a wooden facade and solid wood doors.  we walked into a lounge of couches and the bar area.  this thursday, there were just a few others at the bar and, being early, we were invited to have a drink at the bar while we waited for our table.  we ordered cocktails and enjoyed the bartender who offered suggestions of other places to eat in atlanta.  did i mention that he knew who i was?  and then EJ came to welcome us to the restaurant and  i am trying to tell you that this was a night of feeling like a celeb!  phew!

moved in to the dining room and sat at a beautiful wood bench under a huge copper chandelier suspended from the ceiling.  past the open  kitchen, complete with a wood burning grill!  the place was beautiful, white table cloths, pale blue walls, cool art, soft pillows.  we were going to order off the menu, but after a visit from another person who freaking knew who i was- we were convinced to try a tasting menu.  so we did!  we ordered a 5 course tasting menu…  but i’m pretty sure we ended up eating lots more courses!

i took crappy pictures with my phone and lots of notes during the meal, not wanting to miss anything.  the photos don’t do anything justice, and i will try to let my notes do some!

everything was paired with wine.  i must say that i don’t remember anything about the wines, but that they were well matched.  i noticed on the list lots of spanish wines.  ten points!

we started with a spoonful of the most delightful amuse.  the few times we got served things on these spoons were some of the best tastes.  but first, a few small diced bits of peach with a thai basil oil and a salty and creamy local feta cheese.  yup.

next came a salmon tartare, spooned onto rounds of salted cukes, with housemade creme fraiche, applewood smoked roe, and a triangle of crispy focaccia.  i am weird about fish, usually, and this was no exception- but it was perfect fish, beautifully pink in color and FRESH!

next course: shellfish- michael got a scallop on a blackened corn and truffle puree (which i sneaked a taste of) with a salad of pea, fennel and radish.  i got a vegetarian course- a very smooth fennel puree with sauteed malabar spinach and a garam marsala tossed okra pod.  this was probably one of my favorite courses, i can’t stop thinking of it!

third course: a cube of perfectly cooked pork belly!  presented most beautifully with color!  pink radish kimchi, chiffonade of bright green butter lettuce and tiny orange sweet potato chips.  there had to have been some sweet chili oil somewhere in there!  the zziipp of this one was GOOD to balance the crisp of fat of the meat.

we had a cleansing course in the middle- so stimulating!  a very dense celery juice with a whipped ginger ale, formed with xantham gum, and drizzled with cider vinegar and minus 8 vinegar.  i loved the green color and the liquid play on the flavors of waldorf salad.  fun!

next course- quail!  i loved the peach /mustard sauce, roasted baby carrots and parsnips.  and the switch to red wine!  more meat to come!

i think the next course was perfection- slices of grilled duck breast leaning on some alsatian braised cabbage studded with golden raisins and mustard and caraway seeds.  three sauces made streaks on the plate- smoked squash puree, paprika vinaigrette and a duck fat emulsion (!!)

i was about ready to throw in the towel, but with promises that we were coming near the end, i was happy to see and taste the lamb!  cooked sous vide, then grilled and sliced-  on big white corona beans with roasted sweet peppers- lightened up with a ‘salsa verde’ of mint and parsley.

another little spoon came out with a cube of lemon buttercream panna cotta, small dice of peaches, and candied lemon zest.  a spoon that packed lots of punch!

and since that was our dessert ‘amuse’, we had to enjoy a few other sweet plates.  i got to try a new dessert that was still in R & D – a chocolate bread pudding with a meringue, banana puree and salty peanuts with a spoon of chocolate mousse on the side.  michael had a plate set in front of him with a semolina cake on a sweet corn puree with blueberry sorbet.

as you can tell, this meal was simply OVER THE TOP!  we enjoyed ourselves so much and really really really enjoyed the meal.  the food was all so perfectly presented, perfectly balanced.  everything was so perfect!  everyone was so generous!  i feel totally overwhelmed by the hospitality of everyone we met.