inDECATUR

Cafe Istanbul

“The families, they come early,” says Mustafa Aytac, who owns Decatur’s Cafe Istanbul with his brother, Kamal.

But then, after the little ones go to bed, the late crowd descends. It’s an only-in-Decatur mix of Emory students, Indian club kids, CDC wonks and assorted hookah smokers. They splay over the drifts of cushions lining the four rooms of the cafe’s near-windowless warren. Aytac knows this weird coalition well: he assembled it.

Aytac (pronounced “I touch”) is a thin, energetic young man with close-cropped black hair and a beard so thick it seems to sprout a quarter inch during the course of a conversation. He had no idea what he was getting himself into 10 years ago when he wandered into Cafe Istanbul looking for a late meal.

Cafe Istanbul, 1850 Lawrenceville Highway, Decatur. 404-320-0054, www.cafeistanbulatlanta.com

JK | AJC | 12/28/2008

Wahoo! wine tasting

From 6 to 8pm on Tuesday, Whahoo! is featuring a wine tasting with four featured wines and a complimentary cheese plate. $15.

This Thanksgiving let Wahoo! do the cooking for you. Order your side dishes or full meal today by calling 404-373-3331.

Wahoo!

This is not a paid ad -- just some good ideas.

Omnivore reports on the Great Decatur Beer Festival

CL got shot inDECATUR photographer forgot to take

I woke up Saturday morning to overcast skies and wondered if this would be the first Decatur Beer Festival to not have perfect weather. But of course the clouds parted at 11:30, proving that God loves us and wants us to drink beer.

It was also great to see Twain’s serving its house-brewed beers at the festival, including a tasty cask of coffee stout. Without a distributor, brewpubs cannot take their beers off-premises in Georgia. A few local brewpubs once had contracts with distributors, but all had lapsed. It’s good to see that owners Uri and Ethan Wurtzel have signed up with Savannah Distributing; perhaps soon we can purchase Mad Happy Pale Ale or Wit and Humor Bavarian Wheat in kegs at the local beverage store.

Jeff Holland | CL | 10/24/2008

Nectar coming to Oakhurst

From the all-seeing, all-knowing, Carl the Magnificent, who buzzes around like a busy bee:

Imperial beer promotion at Corner Pub Friday 10/17/2008

Georgia Crown distributors sponsored an Imperial Beer promotion at the Corner Pub Friday night. Meghan of Georgia Crown and Esti of Imperial Beer were on hand. Free beers were given to customers, and those who could shoot a squealing monkey slingshot through a hole were given Imperial tee shirts.

See a video of the "cornhole" game from the last Imperial promotion at the CP in this 8/23/2008 inDECATUR post.

Imperial Beer is made in Costa Rica, and has been -- under some name -- since 1924, by a company named Florida Ice and Farm. See the website [in Spanish -- see rough translation of Imperial page in continuation].

Obviously these beer distributors and producers feel these promotions are worthwhile, as they are common, but I rarely see anybody order what they're pushing after they leave.

The logo is interesting. It reminds me of German things back in the 40s [and the Imperial website says a goal was to blend in German brewing tradition], but it also seems to have Asian influences, in that the head almost looks like a dragon. It certainly gives no hint the beer is from South America.

If you're wondering why they use squealing monkey slingshots in the cornhole game, it's because Costa Rica has flying spider monkeys:

Georgia pecan Muesli (recipe by Scott Peacock)

Scott Peacock, executive chef of Watershed Restaurant in Decatur, Ga., promotes using the multi-beneficial pecan to complement a balanced daily breakfast. "I love the fresh, rich, wholesome flavor of pecans from Georgia," says Peacock. "It's familiar and comforting to incorporate the distinctive, crunchy texture of Georgia pecans into homemade meals -- especially breakfast."

News-graphic.com

Recipe in continuation

Shmaltz brews to be at GDBF Saturday

On Saturday, October 18 at The Great Decatur Beer Festival (On the square in downtown Decatur, GA, Noon - 5 pm, $35, Sold Out, http://decaturbeerfestival.com ), Darren Quinlan will also feature select attractions from Shmaltz’s new line of sideshow-inspired Coney Island Craft Lagers(TM) including their flagship Coney Island Lager(TM) (5.5% alc), Albino Python(TM) (White Lager w/ Spices, 6% alc) and Sword Swallower(TM) (Steel Hop Lager, 6.8% alc). HE’BREW’s Origin Pomegranate Strong Ale, Bittersweet Lenny’s RIPA (Lenny Bruce tribute beer) and Messiah Bold will be available for tasting as well.

BR | CL

Watershed salad

SOMETIMES A SALAD IS A LOT MORE than just a little lettuce and dressing. Beyond being just a simple starter or side, some salads, tossed and composed with all sorts of special ingredients, can make a meal.

DECATUR

 

Watershed

Chef Scott Peacock’s place is a converted gas station in Decatur that features lots of local and seasonal farm offerings. His farm-style chicken salad (served at lunch) is composed of a variety of fresh nibbles. A layer of lettuce and herbs gets topped with perfectly poached chunks of chicken breast, bathed in homemade mayo, and surrounded by sliced hard-boiled egg, crispy radishes, French green beans, cucumbers, and a celery stick filled with pimento cheese. $13.

406 West Ponce De Leon Ave., Decatur. 404-378-4900. www.watershedrestaurant.com

Bob Townsend | AJC | 10/16/2008

Duck's mentioned in AJC article on eating near MARTA

After looking at Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority’s rail line, I realized that there are some very good cheap eats to get to with MARTA as the pilot. I’ll serve as co-pilot for now — feel free to add your own to the list:

Stop E6 Decatur — Duck’s Cosmic Kitchen (just a walk away from the Avondale Station, E7) has wonderful house-baked breads and pastries, plus a full menu of munchables.

MFG | AJC | 10/9/2008 (see photo of Cindy at the link)

Thanks to Carl Black for the tip.

Corner Pub Butt-Off 10/26/2008

The Corner Pub's

Fourth Annual Butt-Off

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Judging begins at 4:00

Feasting follows at 5:00

Current champion: Hugh Trotti

Corner Pub