"He who distinguishes the true savor of his food can never be a glutton;he who does not cannot be otherwise. " Henry David Thoreau

There is a land of "take away" food, lunchtime dining, and pantry provisions worth every last inconvenience to visit.

The land is near the Atlanta Water Works and, I have to warn you, it always feels far away. I'm usually coming from Buckhead and by the time I pull into the parking lot, I am doubting my decision about making the trek. The little voice inside my head is saying, "this BETTER be worth it!" By the time I leave, the same voice is saying, "why aren't you eating here MORE??"

Such is the draw of Star Provisions, the "pantry" and namesake of all Star Provision restaurants (Bacchanalia, Quinones, Floataway Cafe, Abbitoir, and Summerland Farms). I promise you though, no matter where you're coming from in the Atlanta area, the drive will be worth it!

Star Provisions gives you fancy dining in a decidedly non-fancy setting. When the weather cooperates, the tables outside are my spots of choice, but you will either over-look the parking lot or the train tracks (I prefer the later). If you dine inside, you'll be at a picnic table surrounded by the store "provisions" (everything from dishes, to kitchenware, to dog treats, to cheese, to meats!) and squeezed inbetween other people. The provisions are fun to look at, but I've never purchased anything besides the prepared food. Here's what I LOVE..

Thai Beef Salad - WOW this is delicious. The secret for this dish is the spicy (but not too) meat with the light dressing. This is all-star, spectacularly great!

Sandwiches - The largest variety of menu items at Star Provisions are in the sandwich category. I have a friend who loves the Star Provision version of a "Fluffernutter" - a peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich on white bread. My Californian background won't let me even consider eating this! Still, if you are less sugar conscious than I, go for it. I have enjoyed (not loved) the felafel sandwich and LOVED the AMAZING Shrimp Po'Boy (thanks to The List).The turkey sandwich with cranberry ginger puree and BACON (!) is outstanding, but it's worth asking for extra cranberry! I'll be working on recreating this with Thanksgiving leftovers. Did I mention there's bacon on the sandwich? Nom, Nom.Sides - Most of the time I order sandwiches at Star Provisions simply because I can split them with a friend and then load up on the sides. In fact, I'd say THE driving reason to got to Star Provisions is for the side dishes. My default selections are the amazing Roasted Beets. (You can catch a glimpse of them in the Shrimp Po'Boy picture above.) This is the spot that turned me into a beets fan. The roasted cauliflower (four syllables) is also a solid choice.In the legume (that's fun to say!!) category, there's nothing like the Ceci Pea Salad. I am a HUGE hummus fan, but chick peas haven't ever been a "thing" for me to order. And yet, I can flat-out obsess over the Ceci Pea Salad. I think the secret is the heat (in the form of cayenne pepper) and sweet (in the form of dates) in this dish. Wow. YUMMY.Finally, the palate cleanser and all-time favorite, the Ellijay Apples with Olive Oil and Mint. Points in creativity for blending these ingredients together. I never would have thought! This dish HAS to be easy enough to make at home. I'll be experimenting soon.So, if you're making the drive to Star Provisions, shoot me a note and I'll be there (and don't ask me about the drive until after I've eaten!).