The Food Snob Eats Dessert

Discovering Atlanta is an adventure. I am not one for staying in a five-mile radius of my home, Johns Creek. I love to get out and explore new places.

Recently, on a weekly trip to the Dekalb Farmers Market (in New York we pronounce the "l" in "DeKalb" not "DeKab"!) that's another article in itself, I discovered a litttle gem, Southern Sweets Bakery. Not only is this a fine bakery with scrumptous desserts, but a restaurant as well.

The restaurant is hidden away on Rio Circle, just opposite the Farmers Market. The menu is full of sandwiches and wraps, salads, soups and more. The selections are vast with a fabulous variety of choices. And we know how picky I am about the choices!

Some of the items are Grown Up Grilled Cheese with your choice of two cheeses (my doctor will love this one for me!), Pulled Pork (what would a Southern restaurant be without pulled pork?), Tuna Melt, Caesar and Shrimpcake Salad (doesn't this sound amazing?) and so much more. It's worth the drive.

With cute couches, small tables, local art work and an amazing menu, this is definitely what I consider a great find.

Every time I go to the DeKalb Farmers Market, I see the sign, but never turn left. A friend of mine was there a few months ago and brought one of the desserts to a gathering. It was, OMG, delicious. Of course, since seeing my doctor, I am off desserts for a while, but that doesn't mean I can't look!

Labor Day weekend, my son Chase came for a visit. He'd lived here for a very short time before he went off to New Jersey to play hockey and finish high school in the "North." Together Chase, Jane (my UGA daughter) and I went down to our favorite falafel place, in Toco Hills (also to be reviewed another time). From there we went to the DeKalb Farmers Market and on to Southern Sweets Bakery. Jane wanted a little something!

It was a wonderful day filled with family fun (only people not there were Alex and Adam, our other son), great food and a discovery for me and my readers.

I'm wondering how many Johns Creekers leave the area to explore as I do. Atlanta, to me, is still a small Southern town with lots of growing pains. For a major city, it lacks the hustle and bustle of other major cities. I don't understand why people commute all the way, in traffic, to Atlanta (which is not called the city, by the way) and then come home directly after work. Why not stay and enjoy the "city" and all it has to offer in great restaurants and bars? Relax and unwind every once in a while. I am not suggesting, in any way, to drink and drive, but just to gather with co-workers, friends or have the spouse join you for dinner for a change in scenery.

"Outside the Perimeter," which is an expression that I truly do not like, there are so many places for discovery if we just get out a bit more. I'm sure Patch.com readers would love to hear about your travels "outside the perimeter" too.

Please feel free to post any suggestions for great finds outside of our five-mile, Johns Creek, radius, just for this week of course!

Travel Smart Dream Big

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