Review

Sugar Factory Atlanta!

/ Fiddle Dee Dee / Leave a comment

Happy almost fall boys & girls!!

Have I ever missed you all, but sometimes we just have to have a little time for ourselves to regroup, refocus and decide exactly what we want to do!! I am back and do I ever have a great restaurant to share with you this Foodie Friday!

If there’s one thing I’ve discovered in the 2 1/2 years we’ve been living in Atlanta it’s that you can find something for every palette in the family and have a blast doing so!

The latest in food and fun here in Atlanta comes in the form of the Sugar Factory in the heart of Midtown. This is the 16th Sugar Factory location, and I can totally see why the company is growing! I was invited to pop in last night for a little tasting and can’t wait to return for a night out again soon!

 

 

With fun decor from chandeliers to a candy wall & tufted benches, music, monstrous burgers (that’s what they’re called!) & salads, so many unique libations, desserts galore, the Sugar Factory is the perfect place for lunch with the kids, a girls night out, birthday celebrations and just a casual night out with friends.

It’s loud, trendy and will definitely make the perfect setting for any adult night out!

 

Last night I was able to taste a few items from the menu including bruschetta, the Big Cheesy (this one includes macaroni and cheese), shrimp, several drinks and of course I couldn’t go without sampling a fabulous over-the-top-milkshake!

 

“Sugar Factory is all about celebrating the sweetest moments in life. We want to create a fun, unforgettable dining experience for any age, at every location,” said Sugar Factory Owner Charissa Davidovici. “We are all about treasuring family fun and are looking forward to welcoming the Atlanta community to our newest restaurant.”

The drink menu is expansive and all I love dessert in one way or another. I do love the fast that any of their drinks can be made without alcohol, so those of us who do t really drink can still have a cool glass and drink, too!

 

 

Just a few quick observations:

1. This isn’t McDonalds or Chic-Fil-A. If you decide to take children plan your budget ahead of time and plan to spend money. Milkshakes begin at 20$. Lunchtime may not be as hectic as the evenings. After all this is still a bar.

2. If you are looking for an intimate spot for a date, this is not the place to go. It’s loud, colorful, and you will be seated very close to other patrons!

3. In the mood to celebrate?! This is the place! Not only is the food over the top, so are their celebrations!! Grab the girls for a night out, your closest friends to feel young again, or several couples needing a casual night and head on over!!

4. Make a reservation. Definitely make a reservation. Without one you may be waiting two hours for a table!

I’m looking forward to taking my own family when Bradley comes home on leave from the Marines in a few weeks. He’s a sugarholic and this screams our young Lance Corporal’s name!

Check out the Sugar Factory on your next weekend getaway to Atlanta.

The Sugar Factory

1080 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
470-428-4395

‘Til next time!!

Get Your Foodie Fix on Route 66

/ Fiddle Dee Dee / 1 Comment

Happy Foodie Friday y’all!

A few weeks back as we traveled out to Missouri to see Bradley, we left plenty of time in our schedule for dawdling and meandering the back roads. Now traveling through the Ozark Mountains was beautiful, but as soon as it was possible we hopped over to travel the historic Route 66 for a little time travel.

We passed old signage and motels and roadside parks; remnants of an era that has been pushed aside in the name of progress, but we also passed trough towns where folks are trying to preserve this historic highway.

The FourWay Cuba Missouri / Oh Fiddle Dee Dee

Family owned and operated The FourWay is a former filling station on the Mother Road that has been turned into a local and absolutely delightful diner.

The FourWay Rote 66 / Oh Fiddle Dee Dee

I’ll get to the food in a minute, but we must talk history first!

Historic Route 66 Marker / Oh Fiddle Dee Dee

First built in 1932, the Phillips 66 station owned by Paul T Carr was in the ideal location right on Route 66 as people traveled from Chicago towards Cali. It would have been a full-service station back in the day where attendants would pump your gas, wash the windows and even grab you a map if you asked.

Via Google Images

A whole different experience than we have now.

After Mr Carr passed in the mid-1960’s, the station was bought by the Wallis family and turned into a Mobil gas station and the offices for their new oil company venture. The Wallis family outgrew the little filling station and it sat empty for a while after a brief stint as a bakery. In 2005 with the help of a preservation grant for Route 66 history and using resources from the archives of Phillips 66 oil company, the outside of the building was restored to its original cottage appearance. Despite the renovation It sat empty until 2015, when an interior restoration was started. This time the historic gas station became the home of The FourWay Restaurant; a Mediterranean themed restaurant with a Missouri twist owned by restaurant veteran, Joanie Weir.

The FourWay Mural / Oh Fiddle Dee Dee

The FourWay Dining Room / Oh FIddle Dee Dee

We arrived to this cozy spot for a late lunch and a quiet restaurant, which is perfect when you’re wanting to pull your camera out at lunch and don’t want to feel judged. It was a weekday and 2:00 pm, so I didn’t expect a crowd. Our waitress was sweet as could be and seated us by the window where we could enjoy the gorgeous day while we dined.

The FourWay Menu / Oh Fiddle Dee Dee

We started off our meal with the FourWay Fries… steak fries topped with feta, tzatziki and a house made hot sauce. Sounds weird, but it was just delicious!

FourWay Fries / Oh FIddle Dee Dee

Since it was just lunchtime, and we still had traveling to do, we didn’t get too crazy with ordering.

Madeline and Audley both chose the Leroy burger, adding cheese and bacon, while I had a fantastic BLT sandwich.

The FourWay Leroy Burger / Oh FIddle Dee Dee

The FourWay Burger / Oh FIddle Dee Dee

The FourWay BLT / Oh Fiddle Dee Dee

BLT / Oh Fiddle Dee Dee

All of the ingredients are fresh and local when possible. BTW… the house pickles are fantastic!! We were so full from lunch we couldn’t order dessert. It was so hard to say no.

I loved the eclectic decor of the FourWay; the food pairs with it perfectly. A simple menu; a simply decorated restaurant. A meal that reminds you of home; cozy decor that doesn’t make you feel out of touch.

The FourWay Decor / Oh FIddle Dee Dee

 

Window Views from the FourWay / Oh FIddle Dee Dee

The FourWay / Oh FIddle Dee Dee

If you’re traveling through Missouri, venture off the interstate into Cuba and check out the FourWay. You’ll love the glimpse of history in this progressive world.

The FourWay

102 W. Washington Ave.

Cuba, Missouri

 

Disney on Ice Celebrating 100 Years

/ Fiddle Dee Dee / Leave a comment

Disney on Ice is here in Atlanta now through April 28, 2019 and it’s definitely a show you don’t want to miss!

It doesn’t matter if you’re an adult without kids, parents or grandparents Disney has put together a show highlighting some of their most popular characters from the traditions of Mickey Mouse to a shortened version of Elsa & Anna’s story from Frozen on ice which had the crowd (including myself) singing along.

100 Years of Disney Magic on Ice / Oh Fiddle Dee Dee

The talent among the cast doesn’t disappoint as I heard gasps from the oldest to youngest of children (myself included), and the vibrant costumes, which help tell the character’s stories were on point, as always in the World of Disney.

Songs from your favorite Disney movies are performed as the skaters dance, swirl, twirl and dazzle on the ice in a magical evening the entire family will love!

Dsney on Ice / Oh FIddle Dee Dee

Tami and I letting our inner children out as we head into the arena for Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic

Grab your Mickey (or Minnie Ears) and check out Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic at Duluth’s Infinite Energy Arena through the weekend!

A Haute Cookie in Historic Grant Park

/ Fiddle Dee Dee / Leave a comment

There are two things I simply adore and seek out when it comes to places we have lived over the years: a community that is restoring and rebuilding, and a great local food scene.

The latter is my favorite.

The Grant Park area of Atlanta (named for the city’s oldest park) is a community that has worked hard to revitalize itself after years of neglect. I remember as a little girl this wasn’t a place we visited at all, but oh how times have changed!

The Beacon at Grant Park / Oh FIddle Dee Dee

Yesterday I had the opportunity to venture out to the Grant Park neighborhood to check out a delicious “new venture”, A Haute Cookie — A Luxury Cookie Boutique, as it celebrated its grand opening.

A Haute Cookie / oh Fiddle Dee Dee

Old neighborhood full of Victorian architecture

+ local food

= the perfect afternoon out!

A Haute Cookie Luxury Cookie Boutique / Oh Fiddle Dee Dee

I say A Haute Cookie is “new”, but in reality it’s the continuation of a journey from owner Shiana White who has combined her love of fashion and homemade cookies to create a beautiful business! The idea for this grand venture began in her kitchen while having milk and cookies with her kids after a horrible breakup.

Sometimes kids inspire us with the best ideas!

From her kitchen to food truck where Shiana baked cookies and prepared ice cream sandwiches onboard, the opening of A Haute Cookie as a brick and mortar shop at the Beacon in Grant Park is the culmination of a dream come true.

Shiana White - A Haute Cookie / Oh Fiddle Dee Dee

A Haute Cookie Preview / Oh Fiddle Dee Dee

So what did I try?

More than I should have (thank goodness for a gym sesh with my trainer shortly after), but I had no regrets.

Red Velvet Oreo- Strawberry-Chocolate Chunk / Oh Fiddle Dee Dee

The first bite of cookie I tasted was the strawberry cookie. It was moist, flavorful and gone so fast that I had to get a second opinion!

Y’all strawberries were harmed in the making of this cookie and it was so good.

Strawberry Cookie - a Haute Cookie / Oh Fiddle Dee Dee

A Haute Cookie Display

So were the chocolate chunk, red velvet Oreo, simple sugar, toffee and peanut butter cookies.

Ice Cream Sandwich - A Haute Cookie / Oh Fiddle Dee Dee

As if I wasn’t on a sugar high, I indulged in an ice cream sandwich with rich vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two of Shiana’s chocolate chunk cookies.

A Haute Cookie treats / Oh Fiddle Dee Dee

I washed it down with a cookie milkshake.

Shiana utilizes the freshest quality and organic ingredients to make her creations in-house. Besides cookies you can taste frozen treats, brownie pie, and edible cookie dough in an assortment of flavors, including the delicious white chocolate, cranberry, with orange zest dough.

Edible Cookie Dough / Oh Fiddle Dee Dee

A Haute Cookie also offers vegan and gluten-free varieties as well.

You can also have A Haute Cookie host your birthday party, a girl’s night out and classes in their private kitchen. Each participant leaves class with a box of cookies and a spatula.

Shiana plans to continue running her food truck for festivals, parties and weddings, but head out to her new shop and show some love!

You can find A Haute Cookie at

The Beacon Atlanta; 1039 Grant Street, Suite B17.

Parking is free.

A Haute Cookie