Jaunted - Atlanta

Flavor is the Focus For Top Chef's Eli Kirshtein at Atlanta's ENO

Heidi Atwal — 2009-11-19T16:44:30-05:00

Spiky-haired, bespectacled Top Chef contestant Eli Kirshtein garnered the ire of Tom Colicchio after serving up what the judge deemed "raw lamb." That's no mark of a master chef, but as we know, even talented artisans are prone to missteps, perhaps owing to the pressure of a major prize and a national audience in the millions.

Off the show, Kirshtein serves as the Executive Chef of Atlanta's ENO Restaurant and Wine Bar. No relation to Brian Eno as far as we can tell, although that would make it infinitely cooler. Like many of his competitors, he's a locavore, sourcing ingredients for ENO's menu from farms and specialty stores around the great state of Georgia.

Internet to Atlanta TSA Agents: Sorry About That!

Victor Ozols — 2009-10-17T16:15:07-05:00

Gosh it's hard to be objective, and no fun at all. On Friday, a travel blogger named Nicole White posted a harrowing account of being detained in Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport by TSA Agents. Entitled TSA Agents Took My Son, her post alleges, among other things, that a male TSA agent separated her from her 16-month-old son for a private pat-down, which is against TSA procedures. Christopher Elliott picked up the story on Elliott.org, and despite his sage counsel that we withhold judgment until all the facts come out, the commenting classes rose to the defense of White.

Former Top Chef Hopeful Cooks 'With Heart and Balls' in Atlanta

Heidi Atwal — 2009-10-08T15:38:27-05:00

Axed Top Chef contestant Hector Santiago may be large in stature, but what he serves are small dishes—tapas, to be exact. Tapas, for the unfamiliar, are small plates meant to be shared among many and are traditional in Spanish cuisine. At his Atlanta restaurant, Pura Vida ("Pure Life"), Santiago has taken the communal style of eating and practices a "no-rules approach" to cooking. For him that means melding unusual flavors and eschewing tradition to come up with dishes like...Tofu "Ceviche." Oh, boy. Memories of Jennifer's seitan-stuffed peppers from Episode One are coming to mind.

A few questionable choices aside (Trout Ceviche with jelly, canchita corn and milk, anyone? We didn't think so.), many of these cross-cultural menu items are appealing precisely because they're unusual. We're dying to know more about his take on Duck Confit, which comes with caramelized plantains, and Chicken Picadillo Empanadas with a chile-sugar cane vinegar "pique." And, you can't go wrong with Button Mushrooms Pinchos in chipolte garlic butter, Santiago's take on Spanish champi�ones.

Head To Atlanta For All The Coke You Dare To Ingest

egw — 2009-09-11T15:28:51-05:00

Become an informed consumer while still on vacation! Check out Jaunted's newest series of the Best Factory Tours the world over, and let us know if we missed any.

The World of Coca-Cola is probably the closest real equivalent to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, except you don't need a Golden Ticket to attend. The Atlanta tourist attraction re-opened in 2007 after the company dropped $97 million on a facelift, and even if you don't particularly enjoy its sweet ambrosia, it's worth a visit.

Originally invented as a medicinal tonic, Coke is now the biggest-selling soft drink ever, and the World of Coke is the golden altar to that success. Watch the bottling process, then check out antique Coke ads that reflected how the beverage was sold to us until we learned to love it. The international bottles display showing what the rest of the world is drinking (from Coca-Cola Inc.) and a "4-D" film will take you, no, not back in time, but on a jolting trip through distribution. To go back in time, check out the shrine to New Coke.

Southwest Still Jonesing To Get Their Hands On Atlanta-Hartsfield Airport

Omri — 2009-08-25T09:14:40-05:00

As a result of losing the bid on Frontier to Republic Airways, Southwest Airlines has also lost its hopes of entering the Atlanta market by taking over Frontier's Hartsfield gates. Perhaps they haven't lost all hope yet, as industry watchers are convinced that the world's largest low-cost carrier isn't done with the world's busiest airport quite yet.

Southwest originally upended the airline industry by ignoring the traditional hub-and-spoke model, focusing instead on underexploited "point-to-point" routes. Recently the airline has seemed intent on challenging legacy carriers on their own turf, entering markets outside its traditional southwest and northeast strongholds. Having invaded other big markets, it now may have its eyes fixed on the mega-delicious Hartsfield. Says the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

Northwest Gets Its Own Moment At Delta's Heritage Museum

kjb — 2009-05-29T14:37:02-05:00

Not satisfied with just talking over the skies, Delta now has its eyes focused on museums. At the Delta Heritage Museum just outside Atlanta, the staff recently debuted an exhibit dedicated to the role that Northwest Airlines has had in the history of commercial air travel at home and abroad.

The exhibit, Red Tail Flying: Voices and Images of Northwest Airlines, will feature vintage advertisements and commercials from the airline, onboard amenities, and even a model of a 747. All of these artifacts, notably from the former competition, snuggled right up close to some of Delta’s pieces of history.

Where to Swim with Whale Sharks and Downward Dog with The Fishes

shiralevine — 2009-04-09T15:14:02-05:00

When the Animal Overlords take over, we can rest assured that our own Shira Levine will be safe from persecution.

We're going to try to be more thoughtful the next time we eat sushi and just stick with the faux crabmeat after indulging in peaceful day at the Georgia Aquarium. This the only place in the world where you can swim in a giant fish tank with a couple of 23-foot long whale sharks.

The Atlanta fish farm hosts "Swim with Gentle Giants," swimming and diving tours in their football field-sized, eight-million gallon Ocean Voyager tank. To say the underwater experience is thrilling is an understatement.

These fish (which include massive manta rays and sting rays, guitarfish, zebra sharks, cownose rays and wobbegong sharks) are as friendly as puppies and kitties. They like to swim up really close and skim along your body before darting off into the faux deep blue.