The Perfect Egg

I hate to brag, but I have perfected the egg. Okay, I thought I burned an egg, but it ended up being one of my new breakfast go-tos.

I've always been fickle about eggs. There's nothing better than one that's perfectly cooked, but oftentimes you encounter rubbery, flavorless eggs. Which is a total disservice, because with a little TLC, eggs can transform into something amazingly complex in flavor with several unique textures all in one little package.

This is my favorite way to cook an egg because the texture is amazing, it's crispy on the bottom with a perfectly oozy yolk. Plus, it's totally versatile! Plop it on your breakfast of choice, like hashbrowns or chilaquiles, even a juicy brunch burger. Have it on toast with some avocado and hot sauce. The possibilities are endless.

To make this egg, you need a small, (very) hot pan and some oil. Not olive oil, I use something with a higher smoke point like canola. Heat the oil on medium-high, then crack your egg into the pan. Step back, because it'll start to hiss and pop and bubble and basically throw a fit. That's okay! Let it cook until the white is opaque and the bottom is brown and crispy. To encourage the white to cook as evenly as possible, I use a spoon to baste the parts around the yolk with the hot oil from the pan. If you like your yolks less raw, you can baste it as well.



Once the white is fully cooked and the bottom is fried, take it out of the pan and serve atop the breakfast (or lunch...or dinner...) of your choice. These are best within a few minutes of cooking, but they're so quick and easy as a last-minute addition to a dish. I like to sprinkle some salt and black pepper on it, and sometimes whatever fresh herb I have lying around. You can pick up the crunchy bottom and eat it, while the yolk makes a yummy sauce. It really is perfect.

Look at that yolk!

Westside Provisions

How I imagine Tokyo feels at Little Trouble.

Atlanta has a unique restaurant culture in that the best places to eat are generally found in clusters. There are a few destination-worthy spots on their own, but for the most part, trendy neighborhoods or mixed-use developments pack in concepts from hot chefs, nestling them with bars, retail and entertainment. The Westside is arguably the hottest conglomerate of foodie haunts right now, with Anne Quatrano's Star Provisions, Bacchanalia and Little Bach, two Ford Fry concepts (Marcel and JCT Kitchen), and after-hours spots Little Trouble and Ormsby's. I frequent this area, particularly Jamestown's Westside Provisions development, often due to the bevy of dining options at a variety of price points and late-night options. Plus, free parking!

If budget is of no concern, dinner at Bacchanalia or Marcel is a true fine dining experience. For me, I like to grab little bites at a few places, creating a makeshift "crawl" through Westside Provisions.

Chardonnay and cheese? Yes, please!

Start at Ormsby's, a great spot for pub food and a beer. It has a speakeasy feel without being pretentious, and plenty of room for darts, pool, bocce ball and even skee ball. They have a huge craft beer menu, and it's one of my favorite places to catch a game.

Next, move across the railroad bridge to JCT Kitchen, and head upstairs to JCT Bar on the rooftop. Their upscale southern bar menu and creative cocktails pair perfectly with the sounds of live music and the occasional train rumbling by. The atmosphere is casual and great for a balmy evening. Plus, wine prices are great, especially when enjoyed with a cheese plate.

You can skip this step, or save it for a hot August afternoon, but I'll take any excuse to grab ice cream from Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream next door to JCT. They have great classic flavors, and more out-there options like sweet corn spoon bread, mango lassi and goat cheese with dried cheeries (my personal favorite). Scoops come in at $5 for two flavors, and are best enjoyed at the massive community dining table between Jeni's and Star Provisions.

The Jeni's stack.

Little Trouble's neon lights and trendy menu are quickly making it a hot spot for Atlanta twenty-somethings. Like something straight out of Blade Runner, Little Trouble is best described as Instagram-worthy, and the cocktails are serious business. They also have great Asian-inspired bar snacks like steamed buns and yakitori; the pork on a skewer is to die for. I drank two cocktails that were a wonderful combination of gin, ginger and Earl Grey tea.

Cap off the night at Marcel, where the typically pricey steakhouse offers cheeseburgers, fried bologna sandwiches and - my personal favorite - steak frites for less than $15 along with their full bar menu from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.

If you haven't stuffed yourself yet, you could head to nearby Six Feet Under, or newbies Barcelona and O-Ku, but the Westside Provisions development offers plenty for a night out or afternoon. Lunchtime? Out with the family? Don't miss West Egg or YEAH! Burger, and top it off with a PB&J sundae from Jeni's. Now that sounds like a Saturday!