‘cafes in atlanta’

Pinky Review: Bella Cucina

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

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I went to the most precious cafe last weekend called, Bella Cucina. I first met the owner at Williams-Sonoma Artisans Market. She told me to stop by sometime and I did. Its owned by Alisa Barry and her husband who also designed the space. I loved the shabby chic decor when I entered the door. There was a long community size table where everyone can sit and eat together and chat. The store is lined with beautifully packaged goods that you can purchase. On the other side is a food station where you can have panini sandwiches,salads,pizzas,pastas and more.They also have a facility in East Pointe where they make everything fresh daily and ship it to the store.

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Bella Cucina is only 5 weeks old because they had another cafe a few doors down before they decided to expand and combine their products and cafe together in a bigger space. In the cafe you can buy italian goodies,vinegars,olive oils shipped in from Italy. They now offer prepared foods for their customers who would always ask when they planned on opening a place to sit down and try the foods that they would normally just buy. Oprah even loved their pesto sauce so much that she put it on her favorite list. They also carry Alisa’s LaBella Vita Cookbook. She has traveled the world and to Italy to cook with chefs, so cool!

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Polpettoni meatloaf with tomato jam

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Crostata pastry tart(peach & almond)

I ordered the Polpettoni meatloaf with tomato jam(sundried tomato meatloaf with Bella Cucina sweet & savory tomato jam) and the Crostata pastry tart of the day(peach almond). I loved my lunch, everything taste so fresh and full of flavor. I recommend you stop by to see all what they have to offer and possibly pick up a few items for friends or family. I would like to thank the staff for having me, it was a fun filled afternoon.

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For further information please visit: www.bellacucina.com

Bakeshop ATL!

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

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Yesterday I went to check out a new bakery/cafe located in Midtown Atlanta. Bakeshop is the coolest looking bakery/cafe I’ve seen in a long time. I didn’t know it was a bakery till the owner Jonathan St. Hilaire told me. I thought I was in a high end sandwich shopv lol. When you walk in all you smell is the aroma of baked goods! I loved the decorations and how it was set up.You sit at family style tables with other customers. Most people would be uncomfortable dining with total strangers but I really like how that makes you meet and mingle with others.

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Exec Chef/Hottie Jonathan St. Hilaire and I

It’s winter break for my kids, so they had to tag along with me lol. They heard food and scurried to get dressed lol. Usually I bring my partner in crime Mr.Reed but he told me to go ahead and take the kiddos! My kids are use to eating fast food occasionally or home made southern style food that my hubby or I prepare. When they got to the Bakeshop it was a reality check for them. Everything was freshly prepared and very healthy tasting foods. They thought it was going to be a pizza joint or whatever else they’re lil brains were thinking. They saw all the fresh ingredients and chefs preparing meals and had  no clue what to expect. I explained to them, that this was the way we should really eat. They still wasn’t buying what I was trying to say  lol.

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I ordered the turkey club, tuna and grilled cheese for us. Once the kids got their food they loved it. My son was trying to get seconds while my daughter tried to save her tuna sandwich for later because she was stuffed. She really loved her sandwich. I also ordered the chili soup which was very good. We also got a chance to try their pastries which were to die for…yum! Jonathan told me he went to culinary school in NYC,worked for several restaurants up there, then moved to Atlanta. He said his life long dream was to have a restaurant.

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He is in a partnership now and he loves it! He was so fun to talk to and thought my kids were funny. He told me he just had twin daughters, I said, “Oh wow, just you wait”! While talking with him, I noticed the lunch crowd started to come in. I talked to some of the customers and they said they had heard about the new restaurant from word of mouth. Bakeshop has only been open for a couple of months. One customer said he likes their fresh baked bread, that’s really hard to find in the city.

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We had a great time visiting Bakeshop, I would like to thank Jonathan for having us out and also shout outs to Hanna over at The Reynolds Group. For lunch menu,hours or more visit www.bakeshopatl.com

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