Spoonfed (Atlanta)

All content ©Mark Petko Photography (click here for permission)

So I have decided to expand the parameters of the Spoonfed blog project and this post is the first of  a series that will occasionally appear.  As is the ultimate goal…this blog keeps me shooting.  It forces a camera into my hands and shoves me out the door among the feared universe to explore and discover, capture and reflect upon.  I revel in the idea of challenging myself by immersion but as of late I have noticed that the pursuit, although it has led to some visually appealing food-smut, runs the danger of becoming stagnant (to me at least and as of now this blog is mostly a self-serving entity, until google decides to buy it…hello…anyone from google…are you there…oh well, I can wait).

This new facet of Spoonfed will explore people with a similar interest in food blogging.  I have recently linked to Urbanspoon and noticed a list of 82 other food bloggers just in the Atlanta area, and these are only the ones linked with Urbanspoon.  So in keeping with ‘photographing anything culinary’, I will attempt to meet and shoot portraits of some of these other bloggers.  Shooting portraits is a totally different beast than shooting food and I feel the practice would do me good.  Luckily, with one stone and two birds,  it was a goal of mine for my ‘monthly self-assignment’ for February to shoot some environmental portraiture. Some more of which can be seen here on my photo blog, Blown Out! (blog).

Instead of diving head first into unknown waters I opted to dip my toe just a bit to test it out.  I asked a fellow blogger, whom I had actually met before if he would help me on starting this endeavor and lucky for me, he obliged.

This is Dave Jones….(spare the ‘locker’ jokes, I’m sure he’s heard’em)…

©Mark Petko Photography (click here for permission)

Dave pens the blog Eat Buford Highway.  It consist of occasional jaunts exploring the ethnic treasures found in Atlanta with an emphasis towards the Buford Highway region, Atlanta’s own ‘little HispanAsianic’ territory laced with a barrage of wonderful treats.  Alongside some restaurant trips Dave also posts some home cooking experiments with some product pointers on ingredients that most Food Network viewers still may not have heard of.  Dave says, “It started mostly out of frustration. I was looking for information on places I had never tried on Buford Highway and was having a hard time finding it. I kept finding dated articles on the same old places. My first thought was to do a comprehensive compendium of Buford Highway dining, but that became daunting really quickly. The blog is really a loose compilation of some of my explorations of food and cooking, and while I’ve tried to stick with the “Buford Highway” theme – focusing on ethnic food, primarily, I admittedly drift around. I’m currently working on prepping another blog with a friend that will have a broader approach to food. Hopefully that will let me keep EBH a bit more focused.”

We met at the Food Court at 5385 New Peachtree Road housing the Hong Kong BBQ, and Chong Qing Hot Pot among others.  It was a place we had met before for an impromptu ‘food bloggers’ eat up organized by Dave and shared by yours truly, Octosquid, Live to Feast, and Food Near Snellville.(beware fellow bloggers…I want to shoot you).

Dave is a pleasant fella that became involved in food at an early age since his grandfather owned Jones’ Open Pit Barbecue just a stone’s toss from Daytona Speedway in Florida.  He may try to fool you into believing that he is floundering with his blog and that he may not know much about food but don’t be duped by his nonchalant demeanor of smoke and mirrors.  He knows what he talks of and he writes it well.

When asked if he has any ‘must read’ blogs that he visits regularly he replys, “Sadly, I don’t have as much time to catch up on blogs as I’d like. In my reader, I’ve got a folder of Atlanta food blogs that I try to skim over once a week, and I’ve got another folder of “other” food blogs.

• I do like TheKitchn (http://www.thekitchn.com/) – it’s more of a general food mag site.
• Rasa Malaysia (http://rasamalaysia.com/) is a favorite – simple recipes, good photography.
• No Recipes (http://www.norecipes.com/) kind of blew me away. This guy is nuts and his approach really speaks to me.
• Liete’s Culinaria (http://leitesculinaria.com/) I’ve been going to this site for years.

When asked about ‘must visit’ restaurants…

Wow, that’s hard – there are so many, and I change my mind constantly.
Manchunhong – Chinese/Korean
Pho Dai Loi #2 – Vietnamese
El Pastor – Mexican
Cho Sun Ok – Korean Barbecue
Quoc Huong – Vietnamese – best banh mi
El Pollo del Rey – Peruvian chicken
La Casona – Colombian
Wareong Corner – Indonesian
Chinatown Food Court
Mings, Mings, Mings

Pay him a visit and comment on his blog. Eat Buford Highway or follow him on twitter @EatBuHi

I realize this is a long shot but if any other Atlanta based food bloggers are not camera shy and wouldn’t mind sitting for a portrait please contact me.

Stay tuned for upcoming posts from Raging Burrito (Decatur), RA sushi (midtown), and the Brickstore (Decatur)

Check out a recent shot from Top Flr (Atlanta)

What up in Raleigh?

Check out my monthly portrait project.

All content ©Mark Petko Photography (click here for permission)

Aqua Blue

1564 Holcomb Bridge Road

Roswell, GA 30076

770.643.8886

www.aquablueatl.com (link)

Is there notable culinary life outside the perimeter of Atlanta?  Living in the burbs I would suggest so.  Even though the concentration of independent restaurants may be less then in the pit of the peach, there are some juicy pulp options for those that have chosen to shake city living.  Granted these places are often dwarfed and camouflaged by the massive standards of plazas, laced with signage frequently displaying ‘Max’, ‘Depot’, or ‘Mart’.  But for those that snicker when one of us outsiders make reference to our location, you may want to take a look around.  Some of the newer developments that are gracing your prestigious city are looking more and more like the burbs everyday and are including the same generic logos.  Getting past the sliders, spinach dip, and molten lava cake and finding worthy eats in the burbs does take effort, but the hunt makes the kill all the more enjoyable.  Sure we may not be able to walk to such places and that may negate a ‘neighborhood’ feel but parking is hardly an issue and I’ve never had to wonder what that swerving Penske truck is up to and why my back hurts. Don’t get me wrong.  I do enjoy a night ‘in-town’ and relish the vibe of a big city, but let us not forget, nor mock the places that sustain those on the fringe.

Co-founder, Owner and Executive Chef John Metz aims to provide us o.t.p.-ers with a worthy option other than driving into Atlanta to find a decent meal.  Located just off 400, Aqua Blue invites one to “Enjoy our Fresh Seafood and Sushi Prepared Daily, along with our Hand cut Steaks cooked to perfection. Our delicious cuisine can be enjoyed with our Classic Cocktails and Signature Martinis or our extensive Wine List with Over 50 Wines by the Glass.”  Metz brings many years of experience to the table at Aqua Blue and also owns Marlow’s Tavern and Sterling Spoon.
All content ©Mark Petko Photography (click here for permission)

Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass-pan seared, served w/ Baby Bok Choy, sauteed spinach in a lush shitake mushroom broth

Sashimi Combo- Sake Futo Maki and assorted sashimi

Grilled Beef Tenderloin- Yukon Gold Cheddar Potato Cake, sauteed Spinach, matchstick potatoes, and Harvey's Bristol Cream

All content ©Mark Petko Photography (click here for permission)

Leon’s Full Service

131 East Ponce De Leon Ave.

Decatur, GA 30030

404.687.0500

www.leonsfullservice.com (link)

I had heard about Leon’s a while ago just by being somewhat conscious.  It was hard not to.  Created by the owners of the much loved Brickstore, just around the corner,  Leon’s reputation preceded itself before we were formally introduced.  It was on my list of ‘someday’, maybe I’ll get there to eat.  It’s quite a haul from Marietta and even further from Raleigh.  But at the recommendation of an ex-photographer, now financial guru friend, our time to meet one another was set as if we were on a blind date, not knowing much about each other, seeing some pics and asking around and each of us deciding, “why not, what’s a little peck on the cheek?”

At early contact, thru email, I was asked if I minded being there during the same time as another photographer, doing a shoot for a local business magazine.  My blind date was starting off two-timing and playing the field.  You dirty….  ”Ooohhhhhh man, two vipers in the same pit.”  I joked, reassuring that I was used to working with anywhere from 7 to 15 photographers elbow to ribcage and that there would be no problems from me…I think I’m pretty easy to work alongside (comments welcome to the contrary, go on, speak your mind…).

I arrived and set up finding a nice little spot to begin.  It wasn’t long before the other photographer arrived, we quickly got to talking and as is common with the photo community in Atlanta, found that we knew some of the same people.  Judging by our similar outlook, I could tell there would definitely be no problems and it was a great opportunity to meet another mentor and maybe pick up some tips from a seasoned pro.  Here is one:  At the end of the shoot he loaded up the ‘shot’ edibles in take out containers and hit the road (oh yeah, I could learn a lot from this guy!)  John Haigwood based in Roswell has been working as a photographer in Atlanta since 1988.  Check out some of his work here.

Having read some of the other blog posts and reviews on Leon’s and fearing even more repetition, I will spare the usually verbal chronicles and let the images speak to the deliciousness of their food.  I would like to first link you to some of the reviews: here.   And also, more importantly, mention that this post is going up in time to spread the word about Leon’s One Year Anniversary event: (from their site).

One Year Anniversary party!!! Tuesday Feb 9th… we’re roasting a whole pig! Live music from tongo hiti-featuring Mike Geier and members of Kingsized, tiki cocktail features

So stop on in grab some hog and let them know how good their food looked on Spoonfed (Atlanta)!

See more Leon’s events: here

All images and words ©Mark Petko Photography

grass-fed beef burger, tillamook cheddar, house made catsup, mustard, bread & butter pickles

pork, grilled all natural chop, roasted fingerlings, greens, orange chimichurri

baby arugula, candied lemon peanuts, black cherry vinaigrette, grana padano

fish, crispy skin mountain trout, endive & radicchio, cashews, apricot vinaigrette

bird, grilled duck breast, golden beets, dried cranberries, orange duck jus

All images and words ©Mark Petko Photography