Sunday, January 20, 2008
Food, "Dish"
Something old, something new
I met one of my newest writers
up at Lobby at Twelve in Atlantic Station for a lunch meeting last week
and was blown away...
Lobby at Twelve
CREDIT: Joe Hans |
By Kirsten Ott
LADIES WHO LUNCH
I met one of my newest writers up at Lobby at Twelve in Atlantic Station for a lunch meeting last week and was blown away. We were in and out in an hour but never felt rushed. The retromodern décor is inviting, as is the staff. There was plenty of activity in the dining room, but I could tell this restaurant nestled at the base of the relatively new boutique hotel was still a well-kept secret. Ah, I never was very good at keeping good news to myself. Lobby at Twelve is a hot lunch spot, whether escaping from the doldrums of work or taking a break from shopping. It turned out to be a healthy lunch destination as well. Since I’d recently heard that watercress is supposed to be excellent for weight loss—and it is that time of year—I ordered a soup-and-sandwich combo: chicken and watercress soup, which is served with adorable and perfectly cloud-like round mini matzo balls (a rare treat in a soup) and truffle oil; and the turkey sandwich, a combination of bacon, avocado, sprouts and a sweet-and-tart cranberry apple compote on wheat bread. To my surprise, the tasty combo was served with a side salad of greens and balsamic vinegar as well. With the antioxidants in my watercress (the superfood packs more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach and more vitamin C than oranges, and has been praised for reducing the risk of developing cancer, according to research published in a 2007 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition), the Thanksgiving-like comfort of turkey and cranberry in my sandwich and the healthy plate of greens, I really am starting the New Year right. The restaurant is currently running a special through the end of January: If you spend $30, you get $15 off with a coupon. Visit www.sundaypaper.com and click on the Editors Blogs for the link to download the coupon.
GREAT SCOTCH!
You’ve likely just recovered from NYE, though you may not have gotten in the habit of writing 2008 yet. That “Auld Lang Syne” ditty you chanted as the ball—or peach—dropped didn’t just write itself though. It was scripted by 18th-century Scottish bard Robert Burns, as was “A Red, Red Rose” and other pieces of poetic prose. The Bard, as he is called in his homeland, was born Jan. 25. What better way to salute this history-making lover of lyrical banter and haggis than by turning up a bottle of Glenkinchie’s 12-year-old single malt matured in American Oak refill casks? The dry yet sweet bright-gold drink is light, with a barley-malt and grassy nose. It becomes increasingly sweet and creamy with the addition of water. The finish is surprisingly dry with sweet spice. Glenkinchie’s distillery is located in the Lowlands of Scotland, where only two distilleries remain. The 12-year-old single malt costs $49.99 for 750 mL and is sold in major liquor stores everywhere. Slainte! SP
When she’s not checking out restaurants, interviewing chefs or nodding off after her fifth glass of wine, Life, Food & Style Editor Kirsten Ott dishes culinary and cocktail insights. E-mail her at kirstenott@sundaypaper.com.