Author: chef

If you’re a fan of Indian Food and haven’t checked out Masti yet, you’re missing out!

When I was in culinary school I took advantage of the study abroad program and went to school in Southeast Asia for a summer. Half of my time was spent in Thailand and the other half in Singapore. I am half Thai so I was very familiar with their culture and cuisine but Singapore was brand new to me. I did not realize they had such a large Indian population but they most certainly do and with that comes super delicious Indian food! We had the opportunity to train with a Master Indian Chef who taught us how to use a tandoori oven, make naan, sheek kabob, garam masala, etc. My friend Matt and I would travel around the city and hunt down the best Indian spots because we were both so blown away by all the different flavors and techniques. It was quite the experience.

So when I recently took my first bite of sheek kabob at Masti, my mouth and mind were blown away! It tastes exactly like the version I learned how to make while I was in Singapore; I couldn’t believe it. If you’re not familiar with sheek kabob, they’re basically chicken meatballs that are seasoned with assorted spices, chilis, and mint, then cooked in a tandoori oven, garnished with fresh lemon juice, sautéed onions, and a cilantro chimichurri type sauce. It’s beyond delicious.  I could tell they really used a tandoori oven too because of the holes in the center of the kabobs which indicates they were skewered, and then of course because of the texture and flavor of the naan bread! Honestly, I haven’t ordered anything that I haven’t been a fan of yet. The food is super spot on. Give it a shot if you’re a fan of Indian cuisine!

What I usually order: Sheek Kabob, Garlic Naan, Chicken Tikka, Potato Masala Mash Dosa, and Samosas. No, not all at one time. That would be a lot of food but that’s what I’ve had and it’s all super delicious.

What you should know: They have two locations. One in Atlanta and one in Duluth. I have only been to the Duluth location. They also do not seem to believe in air conditioning or ice which is very much like my family in Thailand so perhaps that’s why it didn’t bother me too much. If you like ice or AC though you may have to put in a request or perhaps suck it up and pretend you’re in India. Either way, it’s going to be one of those.

Website: !http://www.mastiatlanta.com/

My family and I are obsessed with sushi and our number one regular go to spot is Sushi Mito off of Spalding Drive in Peachtree Corners. It is a full on restaurant with a sushi bar so if you dine in you have  some seating options. The staff is always very friendly and service is usually pretty quick.

When the pandemic first hit, this spot was one of the first, from my observations, to really take it seriously and consider the experience of a concerned customer. All employees wear masks, there is sanitizer everywhere, they put up clear plastic sheets to separate every two seats at the bar, and if you choose a pick up order you don’t have to go inside to get it, they will bring it out to you when you pull up.

When it comes to the fish, it is always on point and fresh. We’ve never had a bad experience with “fishy” tastes or anything off. The rice is perfectly cooked with a nice balance of salty, sweet, and sour notes. They have a pretty large menu that goes beyond sushi so if there is a guest in your party that doesn’t want fish they’ll definitely have options.  For a while they were also doing “Sake Flights” where you could sample about 4 or 5 different Sake’s at one time for around $15 if I recall correctly; It was definitely worth it.

All in all, this is a great spot to hit up if you’re in the area and want quality sushi with great service.

What I usually order: Salmon Serrano is a must! Although I ask for no cream cheese as I consider that inclusion to be blasphemy when it comes to sushi but to each his own of course. The Volcano Roll is great if you like hot rolls. The Yellow Tail Carpaccio with Jalapeno and Yuzu is amazing. I’m a big fan of Uni and when they have it it’s very good. The Tamago Nigiri is a common go to as well.

What you should know: It’s not cheap but its not super expensive either. For the three of us, we usually spend around $80 – $100 at a time including tip. The quality matches the price

Website: https://sushimito.com/

Well I was off to a good start with Temo’s List this year and then the Coronavirus hit. I hit pause because it felt like the wrong time to be recommending restaurants when we couldn’t even go to them. However, I think we are all aware that this isn’t going away anytime soon and since most restaurants are open again with a limited service I’m going to start this list up again. So without further ado…

This month’s pick is Onikuma Izakaya! Onikuma is a Ramen Pop Up business ran by Chef Dan Brown. Dan is a good friend of mine who also happens to be an extremely talented Chef. He’s been working on perfecting Ramen for over ten years now and I’d say he’s nailed it.

Since this is a pop up business, the process and availability is a little different than a brick and mortar restaurant. Here’s how it works. He will make a post on social media with the menu and the day it will be available that week; usually Sundays. The price is $15 and orders can be placed online. Once completed you will receive a follow up email which will provide you with the details on when and where to pick up your Ramen.

These are Ramen kits which means you take them home and finish them there. You’ll get a bag of homemade noodles to cook, as well as the broth to heat up, meats, egg, veggies, and any additional garnishes. He will generally offer a vegetarian option as well.

The one pictured here is his Smoked Gochujang Brisket Ramen. Absolutely delicous! I also recommend the Onikuma Tonkotsu and the Shiitake Mushroom Ramen! Both are amazing!

If you live in the city or in the Metro Atlanta area I highly recommend you take advantage of this pop up when its available. You wont be disappointed!

Click here to learn more!