how do you food?

I won’t insult you and pretend that I haven’t posted in a while. I haven’t. Life changes and such have given me an excuse to be lazy. One thing hasn’t changed though; I still love good food and drink, and I love helping other people discover the same.

Since we last had a chance to chat, I left the comfortable, warm climes of the Peach State to the decidedly more frigid frozen tundra. Well, it’s actually only Michigan, but it’s damned cold enough most of the time.

With that move came a very different sensibility when it comes to food. I’m not tastebud bashing, however, if you start with meat and potatoes and go off the map to walleye and asparagus, you’ve pretty much run the gamut here. But that only speaks to variety. (I will not be a food snob. I will not be a food snob. I will not be a food snob.) There is a lot of good food to be found in these parts.  

Going forward, and because I travel a lot, many of these entries will be from locales far and wide. A growing emphasis will focus on what you can find in airports. For those of us who spend a lot of time flying, finding decent food between long or short layovers is essential. I hope to be of assistance. I tend to schedule my flights to allow time to eat something, particularly in marquee cities. You never know what you may find.

So for my thirsty and hungry faithful, I have captured much in the last several months. I just need to set “pen to paper” and serve it to you in the delectable bites you’ve said you like. Until then, eat well my friends.

Here are a few pictures teases of things I want to share with you.   

Ethiopian cuisine is absolutely new terrain for me. But I was in the mood for something different.

I settled on Ethiopian because my niece suggested – repeatedly – that I try it. She is a huge fan. Plus, she got good recommendations from a few Ethiopian gents that Desta Ethiopian Kitchen was the place to go for authentic, good and affordable native food. I had no idea what to expect.

Read my full review in Esteem Magazine.

A huge hole is about to open in the heart of downtown Decatur. Zucca Pizzeria is closing. It took me a few days to process the news. I’m devastated. There is so much to mourn over the loss. Zucca is my Cheers. It is the late night spot. It is the go-to place for a good time. And plus, it has the best pizza around.

Beyond the food, I got to know and love the people who work and party there. There are places you go just for the food. Some places have a particular dish it’s famous for. And other places are well-known for the chef or simply the name on the door. Zucca is the kind of place that has the special combination of elements that just make it a great place (I’ll overlook the karaoke on weekends). Good food, staff, owners, patrons and all around good vibe. I always feel comfortable no matter what time I visit. Staff always goes out of their way to provide great service. It is an industry hangout, so you know it can be crazy fun. And plus, it has really, really good pizza!

Come February 21, I’ll miss Angela, Greg, Ryan, Marc, Q, Jeff, Tamara and the rest. The closing also will make me miss those who have already moved on to other career adventures – Tiffany, Sarah, D, Lexi, Jessica and others.

I hear Zucca’s misfortune comes at the hands of a greedy landlord. I won’t judge too harshly because I don’t know the facts. However, s/he is on my shit list. I also hear there is already a Peruvian restaurant ready to move in. Peruvian. Really? I have nothing against Peru, its people or its native foods, but does anyone know what Peruvian cuisine is, besides potatoes, corn, chicken and beef? I’ll stick to Las Brasas for now (310 E. Howard St., Decatur 30030), thank you very much.

If you get a chance, I recommend going to Zucca one last time. I’ll probably be there quite a bit over the next few weeks. I’ll shed a tear into my beer, pick over a slice of pepperoni and mushroom with a perfect crust, listlessly watch the Keno screen, and play a lot of Adele on the jukebox. I’m officially in mourning.