weekend bliss

although this summer cold is still waging war against me in a most ferocious way, i had a truly spectacular weekend.

spectacular weekends are hard to come by.  whoever said weekends were days for rest and relaxation obviously never worked an office job.  weekends are always filled with... the dreaded errand.  while you're stuck in the office from 8am to ?? monday through friday, things happen.  bills are generated.  clothes get dirty.  emails arrive in your inbox.  and unfortunately, the refrigerator is not self-replenishing.   

so when you come upon a weekend filled with thoughtful conversations, long afternoon hours spent with family, and satisfying food shared with friends, it is... bliss.

some highlights:

hankook taqueria

korean tacos have hit the foodie scene in a big way, especially on the west coast where people line up next to traveling taco trucks hoping for a morsel of "kor-mex" goodness.  even the new york times caught wind of it.  so i, with 3 korean friends in tow, decided to give these identity-crisis tacos a go.  the menu wasn't too extensive: 5-6 different tacos, a few different burrito choices, and 5-6 side items.  a sampling of their taco menu: beef, pork, and chicken bulgogi; fish (creatively named "saeng suhn taco" - really?); calamari; and dak do ri tang (spicy, soy-based korean chicken but it was sold out!).  the verdict: pretty good but where's the korean?  you can't just call it a "saeng suhn taco" and expect me to be impressed.  the saeng suhn taco was the best, but sadly, it was the least korean.  my advice: when the kor-mex novelty wears off, make korean tacos at home.  buy or make beef and pork bulgogi and fill the tacos with gochujang (korean red pepper paste), korean-seasoned lettuce, queso fresco, salsa verde, etc.

le petit marche

a few friends and i started a brunch tour, and le petit marche was our second stop.  atlanta has a solid food scene with lots of variety, but you have to take initiative and find hidden gems like le petit marche.  it's in one of the gentrified developments that pop up randomly next to abandoned houses all over east atlanta.  again, the menu is not too extensive - a good choice of 5-6 sandwiches and 5-6 breakfast items.  my menu philopsophy: concentrate on the quality of the food, not the quantity.  i had the grits stack.  grits stack = a scoop of creamy grits + a layer of scrambled eggs + crumbled bacon, chopped shrimp, and melted cheddar... all in one bowl of breakfast heaven.  i like le petit marche for their food, but i love them for their ambiance.  the space is light and airy from their large windows and neutral-color decor.  they have mismatched "rustic farm" tables and chairs with jams, chocolates, pasta, and coffees and teas (thus the name le petit marche) lining the walls.  jack johnson, john mayer, and bob marley tunes drift along while you immerse yourself in conversation over cups of coffee.  it has a home-y vibe that makes you feel like you're stopping by a friend's place for a few hours to catch up over a lazy, saturday morning breakfast.

friends and family

maybe age is mellowing me or maybe i'm finally learning the immeasurable value of family and good friends.  a good weekend is not just good food and no errands.  it's all about the time you have.  you need time to talk, observe, and share with someone to get to know them.  it's about catching that elusive concept of time and making the most of it.  we scramble around monday through friday attending meetings, participating in conference calls, writing briefs and reports, organizing, gathering, and "going."  we have just two days to unwind that tightly-coiled spring.  use your time wisely...