Tasting Intown

By Megan Volpert

Like all good Louisiana spots, Bon Ton emphasizes the holy trinity of preps: boil, fry and pickle. The House Boil comes with snow crab, jumbo shrimp, mussels, clams, potatoes and corn for $30 per person. Fry baskets of crawfish, jumbo shrimp or catfish will run you $10, with a double order costing double. A single basket also works as an appetizer for several people. Before they do the fry, the kitchen dunks that crawfish in the boil liquid. Way beyond simply seasoning the batter with Tony Chachere’s, making use of the boil like that ensures that every morsel can set your lips aflame in the best way. The best sandwich is the blackened catfish banh mi, which most excellently combines Cajun blackening with Vietnamese pickling. It is a little known fact that there are so many good Vietnamese places to eat in New Orleans – because in some ways, French is French. You can find that super soft loaf of bread at either kind of place, and you can find it at Bon Ton as well, perched high atop some gumbo where the sausage is properly spicy and the roux is properly thickened. Also testifying to the Vietnamese influence is the bright and fresh spicy jicama and papaya salad, which is covered in chilis, lime, cilantro, ginger and mint. The red beans and rice lean Vietnamese, too. Most Gulf Coast kitchens put enough lard in those beans to run you right into the hospital, but Bon Ton reigns in the fat with a stronger tomato base that won’t clog your arteries and will keep much better in the fridge for a couple days.

With real deal Louisiana flavors at such reasonable prices in a truly sweet location, I hope Bon Ton will stick around. Once they have lift-off, I expect dessert. Give me the beignets and the bread pudding! Then I expect brunch. Give me the Bloody Mary shot through with shrimp juice and beer! Then I expect the small bar on the top floor to open up and show us something, mister. Atlanta has to let Bon Ton rouler.

The 14th Annual A Taste of the Highlands at John Howell Park is set for May 13 featuring the best neighborhood bites and drinks from Virginia Highland and beyond. Participating restaurants include: Alma Cocina, Alon’s, Atkins Park, ecco, The Original El Taco, DBA Barbecue, The Family Dog, Fontaine’s Oyster House, Genki, Goin’ Coastal, Illegal Food, La Tavola, Lure, Mali, Morningside Kitchen, Moe’s & Joe’s and Murhpy’s. It’s all you can eat and drink, so come hungry and plan to stay for an afternoon with live music in the park. All proceeds benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. General admission tickets are $50, while VIP is $100.

With the Georgia General Assembly’s passage of SB85 allowing direct sale of beer by Georgia breweries, Avondale Estate’s-based Wild Heaven Beer has announced plans for a second brewery and taproom location at the Lee + White development adjacent to the Atlanta Beltline’s Westside Trail. The 21,000 square feet space will include a large area overlooking the Beltline perfect for patrons to enjoy being outdoors while sipping beer and nibbling food made on-site. Wild Heaven Brewmaster Eric Johnson said operations will begin as a 15-barrel brewhouse, allowing production of new beers plus smaller run beers, followed by a 60-barrel system. The original Avondale Estates facility will become focused on sour and barrel-aged beer production.

The Pinewood in Decatur is now hosting Sunday Movie Night at 8 p.m. Upcoming films include “Back to the Future” (May 1), “Blue Velvet” (May 21) and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (May 28). Start the night with a signature drink based on the evening’s film and help yourself to complimentary popcorn and candy. For dinner, choose from signature fried chicken, pulled pork or burger sliders. For a little friendly competition, each guest will be given a movie-related Bingo card to fill out during the screening of the film, and the winner will receive a free drink. Tickets are $59 for two. For more information, visit pinewoodtr.com.

The 5th Annual Mommy & Me Princess Tea—A Girl Talk Fundraiser will be held at The Buckhead Theatre on Sunday, May 21, from 2 to 4 p.m. This is an all ages event with fun, family activities, afternoon tea, a theatre production with favorite songs and fairytale characters, and a Meet and Greet with the performers. Tickets are from $45 to $100 and all net proceeds directly benefit the nonprofit Girl Talk, Inc. For tickets and information, visit tea4girltalk.com.