I found myself feeling very much like the Carrie Bradshaw of contributors while writing this piece because I was filled with questions on how to approach this delicious topic.
For context, this post was originally published in The Hillgrove Magazine’s March issue which featured articles about LaGrange restaurants for the town’s Restaurant Week.
Easy enough to write, especially for me, right? You would think, except for the fact that I was fasting when I wrote this article.
At the time, I hadn’t eaten a solid morsel of food in more than four days because I had challenged myself to complete “The Master Cleanse” or, what Lauren calls, “The Gimmicky Cleanse”.
I asked myself, “is it possible for me to write about food without punching someone in the face?”
And then it came to me, my newfound perspective as “The Hungriest Woman in the World” could actually help me to write about the best dishes from my favorite local restaurants because I had been dreaming about the moment I would get to enjoy them when I finished my cleanse.
I’ll start with just two words: Pasta Pomodoro.
This dish is so simple, yet so delicious. And not everyone makes it well, but Posto 31 nails it every single time. I have been known to belly up to the bar with my gal pals and start with one order and round the meal out with two plates of pomodoro.
The best friends are the ones you can strap on a feed bag with. But I digress.
Posto 31’s version of pasta pomodoro reminds me of Italy and I crave it. I also crave their roasted brussel sprouts, simple salad, and cheeseburger.
As if the food menu didn’t speak for itself, they are no slouch in the cocktail department too.
But speaking of cocktails, I do have a favorite spot to belly up for a little friendly banter with the bartenders while they put together some of the best mixed drinks in town.
Lucca’s Restaurant has a cozy bar in the main room in the middle of all the action. Tops on my list is the “She Likes it Spicy” tequila cocktail.
It’s the perfect combination of sweet and spicy, and it really packs a punch. I rarely go to Lucca’s without ordering my favorite Chicken Calabrese with one of their amazing salads, and then rounding it out with a single espresso served with a biscotti.
While I most often lean toward Italian food often when we dine out, I do love to shake up the flavors and cultural influence of the meals I enjoy.
My first choice when I’m feeling a little frisky is Kama Bistro. It’s Indian-French fusion and, let me tell you, it’s something special–do yourself a favor and go with a few people so you can try a little of everything.
My favorites are the lemon chicken appetizer, Lamb Roganjosh, Aloo Gobi and always a few sides of the naan. (Naan is the most essential part of the order because you need it to scrape your plate clean–or you’ll be licking it.)
Another go-to for my family, or sometimes just a casual date with my husband, is Mak’s House. They’ve got perfectly done, just greasy enough, cheesy, delicious burgers and a beer list that hits all the right selections.
Last, but certainly not least, is my favorite spot to enjoy solid fare, good drinks, and live music – it’s The Elm.
It’s right in the heart of town and, as my son Will says, “The Elm is a vibe.”
There are so many dishes to choose from and the cocktails are a delight.
Shit, you can enjoy all of that while you check out my band, The Pigs, when we hit their stage again for Live Music Thursday on April 22nd!
“And, Just Like That”, I’ve done it–I’ve successfully shared the dishes and drinks from the places I’ve been fantasizing about throughout this cleanse without losing my marbles!
Stay cozy,
Michelle
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