Georgia on My GPS Part 4: On to Raleigh

As you are reading this, I am heading back to Baltimore (I love auto-scheduled publishing). I wanted to go to Atlanta, but I've been hemming and hawing for a while because I wasn't sure I'd have the time or the money, or that my car would be able to take the extra driving (this trip pushed it over the 150K mark). That, and Atlanta is too fabulous a city to devote just one quickfire night to exploring - and I'd rather have seen it on a Friday or Saturday night when more bars are actually open!

So Atlanta is off my itinerary for this road trip. But it'll still be there when I get back (since Cathy's moving down here at some point, that isn't too far off), and I can spend a good few days in the ATL. But I've already planned for when I do get back. I asked Leslie at the Southern Social blog what is best to eat in Atlanta (thanks, Leslie). She quickly recommended a favorite Chinese restaurant off of Buford Hwy., Chef Liu. From the photos I've seen, this place looks like a dive from the outside (as many good places do), but serves delicious authentic Chinese - think more Mandarin Pork Cakes and Soup Filled Dumplings, and less General Tso's Chicken and Crispy Orange Peel Beef. Atlanta's Blissful Glutton blog corroborates Leslie's recommendation, in this post from four years ago. Since this place has been making damn good food for a while, and since it was recommended to me, it'll be the first place I stop when I finally do get to Atlanta.

But alas, I am instead heading back up the 95. I had already planned a stop in Raleigh - ATL trip or not. Raleigh is about a half hour off of I-95, but it's the perfect place to stop for the night since it's about halfway between Savannah and Baltimore. Besides, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences has this amazing looking exhibition about chocolate that I would be a damn fool to miss.

Heading off to Georgia...

Last weekend, Cathy drove down, daughter and father-in-law in tow, to spend the summer with her husband, who is currently stationed at Fort Stewart. This week I am making the big 10 hour trek to the Georgia Low Country. Though I won't be staying in Savannah, there is the promise of spending a day there.

But I won't be stopping in to see you-know-who:


This isn't a slight at Miss Paula. But the place has a long line just to make reservations. That, and Eric and Alan let me know on their visit a few years ago (on my recommendation, no less) that the buffet they serve is little more than mediocre. Granted, she's not really cooking there these days, and the word is that it was much better when Paula Deen was doing the cooking. But there are many good places to eat in Savannah. The Lady & Sons is just one.

We have cousins in Augusta that I hope to visit while we're there. If time and money hold up, I'm hoping to get to Atlanta, which isn't exactly en route between Baltimore and Savannah. But it's just so big and fabulous, I will have to struggle to resist.

Other Food Weeks of Note...

Just a head's up! DC's Restaurant Week is next week! Sadly, I will be out of town (California, here I come again), so I cannot take part. I will be living vicariously through y'all, so please go down and take part. It costs the same as ours: $20.07 for lunch, $30.07 for dinner. And, from what I understand, Atlanta also has this going on the week after DC's (thanks to The Southern Social for the tip). So if you feel like driving 11 hours down the 95 (then following the signs to the ATL), go on down. Or better yet, fly. Or EVEN better, if you happen to live near there,* take part. I would love to hear about it. And their's is only $25 for dinner, not $30. But apparently, no lunch deals. Give and take.

And OMG: I just noticed this is my 400th post! Cool 8-)

* Hey, I get hits from the UK - occasionally. A reader from Georgia would not be a strange thing. Hey hon, welcome to the blog!

Food haiku:

All these Rest'rant Weeks!
Bawlmer, DC, ATL -
SO much FOOD to TRY!

Not my best, I know.