Grilled Fish Tacos
Bonna Bella Yacht Club
Bonna Bella Yacht Club is a casual, waterfront dining spot and local secret that was recently featured on the Food Network’s Chefs vs. City. Chef Ben Melton, newly relocated here from Atlanta, says, “Our focus here is on fresh, flavorful food, including wild Georgia shrimp.” Their specialty of the house – a perfect pair of fresh fish tacos, created with your choice of three different preparation options: Caribbean spice with curried papaya relish, South American spice with tomatillo salsa verde, or lemon pepper spice with Pico de Gallo and a creamy caper sauce. Plated next to Caribbean-style rice and beans, these tacos have just the right amount of spice to give them zip! 2740 Livingston Avenue, Savannah, 912.352.3133, bonnabellayachtclub.com

View the complete story on our latest issue!

Peace of Mind Tea, Gallery Espresso

Gallery Espresso, a warm, cozy coffee shop is also a marvelous mecca for tea and art lovers alike. “Our motto here has always been ‘coffee, art, peace of mind,’” says Gallery Espresso manager, Juliana Pelosa. “However, our teas have become just as popular as our coffees.”  A few years ago, Juliana had the pleasure of attending the World Tea Exposition in Atlanta.  Once back in Savannah, she was inspired to whip up her own tasty blend.  She named it Peace of Mind and it has become Gallery Espresso’s number one signature in-house tea.

234 Bull St., 912.233.5348, galleryespresso.com

Caribe Tea, Gryphon Tea Room

According to Henry James, famed author of The Portrait of a Lady, “There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”  To partake in Gryphon’s afternoon tea, just stop in any afternoon between 4-6 p.m. (except Sunday) to indulge in this ever-so-popular tradition.  Not sure which tea to select?  Madeline Collins, general manager for 11 years, says Caribe tea is one of their most requested, aromatic offerings.  Full of nuances, this subtle blend of black and green teas is distinctively laced with strawberry, guava and a hint of coconut.

337 Bull Street, 912.525.5880

The Tea Room

As you pull open the door of The Tea Room, you’ll most likely be graciously greeted by Becky and Elizabeth, the mother/daughter team from Chicago who created the tearoom 14 years ago.  Patterned after the world famous Cranston tea rooms in Scotland, once inside, you feel like you’ve been transported across the Atlantic. Request to be seated in The Library, a special side room that resembles an old-fashioned parlor, complete with a fireplace, soft lighting, piano music and an all around homey feel.

7 East Broughton Street, 912.239.9690, savannahtearoom.com

Pick up the latest issue for more holiday treats!

Roasted Tilapia Tacos, Kayak Kafé

For a healthier alternative to time-honored college town Mexican food, Kayak Kafé’s tilapia tacos are low calorie and bursting with flavor. Served in either a corn or flour tortilla, each taco is filled with oven-roasted tilapia, pico de gallo, black beans and a slice of avocado. “Freshness is the key to our menu. It involves a lot of preparation every day, but in the end it’s worth it. People need to know that when they eat our tacos, it’s a good habit,” owner Brenden Pappas explains. “And it doesn’t hurt that they taste amazing at the same time.” A side of Latin slaw with lime-juice vinaigrette offers a healthy alternative to a dressing-laden salad. If you really want to count calories carefully, ignore the side of cilantro sour cream and order corn instead of flour tortillas. For only $11, this affordable meal leaves you feeling satisfied without the urge to nap afterward.

1 East Broughton Street (Savannah)     912.233.6044     kayakkafe.net

Tomato Thai Soup, Cafe Zeum

As owner John Deaderick sees it, in order to “make our food taste great, we start with really great ingredients. We know where all these ingredients come from, and we know there’s nothing bad in these ingredients. You eliminate a lot of unhealthy influences when you know where they come from.” While known for their healthy and great-tasting salads, Cafe Zeum’s flavorful tomato Thai soup is their healthiest dish. Instead of using cream and other traditionally fattening ingredients to thicken the soup, the soup is thickened with a pureed mixture of onions and squash. “And after we’ve done that, we add a little bit of coconut milk to really smooth everything out.” This creative substitution of ingredients adds a new flavor to a classic dish. The entree is completed with a side of freshly baked ciabatta bread from the Harris Baking Company. For an interesting twist, try the Goat Bomb—tomato Thai soup with melted goat cheese.

207 W York St. (Savannah)     912.604.2811     telfair.org/visit/museum-cafe

Mountain River Venison Loin, Local 11 Ten

When you’re looking for a leaner and meaner alternative to a beef tenderloin or filet mignon, try the orange-coriander glazed mountain river venison loin at Local 11Ten. Compared to an equivalent size of beef tenderloin, venison contains nearly 30 percent less calories and 75 percent less fat. “I like this dish a lot. It’s lean and healthy, and it’s very unique to our establishment,” says Brandy Williamson, executive chef. “You’re not going to find venison served everywhere in Savannah.” Pan seared with salt and pepper, the venison loin is served over a bed of wild rice mixed with cherries and walnuts. Bamboo steamed baby turnips from Durrence Farms and a honey-mustard vinaigrette from the Savannah Bee Company complete this elegant Southern dish.

1110 Bull St. (Savannah)     912.790.9000     local11ten.com

For more suggestions on where to eat hearty AND healthy, make sure to dig into the latest issue of South magazine!

K Bella

Why? For a healthy meal to go. Choose from their rotating menu based on seasonal specialties  and local seafood, produce and meats. They also have a wide variety of options for vegetarians and event catering. 119 Charlotte Road, 912-897-4026, kbellagourmetcarryout.com

Kayak Kafé

Why? For the The Iron Booster Salad because of the cast of characters: baby spinach, fire-roasted red peppers, baby portabellas, red onions, sunflower seeds, alfalfa sprouts, and sliced carrots. We feel stronger just thinking about it. 1 East Broughton Street, 912.233.6044, kayakkafe.net

Places to Ignore your Diet

Lulu’s Chocolate Bar

Why? For the Dark Chocolate Cake with Fresh Strawberry Buttercream. We know strawberries and chocolate are delicious, and we know cake with butter cream icing is delicious, so what else is there? Leave it to Lulu’s to create the ultimate super-dessert. 42 Martin Luther King Boulevard, 912.238.2012, luluschocolatebar.com

Papillote

Why? For the Valrhona Chocolate Lava Cake because Valrhona chocolate is arguably the best chocolate in the world and these cakes can be baked in individual servings. It’s OK—chocolate makes everyone selfish, not just you. 218 West Broughton Street, 912.232.1881, papillote-savannah.com

Umami Asian Kitchen

All diners have at some point experienced the intensity that somehow eludes definition: that enigmatic fifth taste known as umami. And Umami Asian Kitchen lives up to its unique name. “Every meal here at Umami has a distinctive taste and is freshly made to order,” says Steven Sanders, the owner of the new addition to the Twelve Oaks Shopping Center. One such dish worthy of sinking your chopsticks into is their black bean noodles. The key to unlocking these flavors is the heat, both in terms of the temperature and the spice. All stir-fry and noodle selections at Umami are quickly seared in a wok at a temperature of 700 degrees to lock in color, nutrition and freshness. The chefs create this popular entree by combining crushed black beans, ample chunks of red bell peppers, stalks of bok choy cabbage and slivers of flavorful onions and scallions: all stir-fried together with thin, tender yet firm rice noodles. You may also request that they toss in some chicken, tofu, beef or shrimp. And voila, noodle nirvana!

5500 Abercorn Street, 912.692.1411, Iwantmyumami.com

2. Jerk Fish Tacos

Barberitos

As you anxiously peer over the preparation counter at the new Barberitos, in Habersham Village, ready to place your order, every tempting taco topping waiting on the other side has one thing in common—it’s fresh! Fridays are particularly special at Barberitos because it marks the only day you can order their soon-to-be-famous jerk fish tacos. Generous tilapia filets (delivered fresh that morning) are coated in Barberitos’ own brand of spicy jerk seasoning then placed on the sizzlin’ hot grill. Depending upon your desire for “heat,” you may also wish to top off your creation with one of their four homemade sauces, including chipotle hot sauce, Southwest vinaigrette, chipotle ranch or regular ranch. According to manager Daniel Polk, “Our Fish Fridays will definitely keep you coming back for more. We have a group of regulars who return every Friday just for these jerk fish tacos.” 4525 Habersham Street, 912.349.6750, barberitos.com

3. Spicy Tuna Tar Tar

Tangerine Fusion and Sushi Bar

Tangerine’s signature Spicy Tuna Tar Tar appetizer is a towering, tantalizing treat for both the eyes and the palate. The chef begins by placing several wafer-thin slices of cold, crisp, juicy Asian pear in a decorative fan design on the plate. To this he adds a bed of wakame seaweed salad. The middle layer is a marvelous mixture of fresh sushi grade tuna chunks and soft, fleshy cubes of tree-ripened avocados, covered in a layer of Sriracha sauce. This distinctive hot sauce was named after the seaside city of Si Racha in central Thailand. The dish is artfully topped with matchstick-thin slivers of crunchy, fried crabsticks and drizzled with wasabi. “The inspiration for this dish came when I took my wife on a trip to Hawaii. These were all ingredients we experienced when we were there in the Pacific Rim,” says owner Sean Tran. 11215 Abercorn Street 912.920.5504, tangerinefusion.com

First City Club

Nestled among the tops of the majestic live oaks in Johnson Square, the First City Club epitomizes the charm, elegance and sophistication of the South. When looking for a spot to dine, Joe Steffen, legal counsel for Savannah State University, finds that “the First City Club is the perfect place for a business lunch because it has high-quality food, served in a truly unique location downtown.”

Petere Gushanas, the new manager of this members-only dining club, recently unveiled a new menu with some fresh additions. This new twist on an old classic, the Caesar salad, is sure to capture the attention of business people looking for a lower-calorie, lower-carbohydrate alternative to a sandwich, but it’s also a meal into which you can really sink your teeth.

Executive Chef Douglas Miller from Santa Barbara has created this healthy, tasty, fresh salad by first arranging individual, crunchy, baby Romaine lettuce leaves, the most nutritious of all lettuces, decoratively onto the plate. The lettuce is then nestled next to four generous slices of juicy, seared beef tenderloin, with house made creamy Caesar dressing drizzled over the lettuce and herb baked croutons, flavorful parmesan chards, and fresh cracked black pepper. 7 East Congress Street, 912.238.4548, clubcorp.com

2. Lobster Roll

The Olde Pink House

Nothing spells summer’s arrival quite like biting into a fresh Maine lobster roll. So simple yet so delicious!

According to The Pink House’s Executive Chef Vincent Burns, “It should be all about the lobster.” Therefore, he keeps his ingredients super minimal. Starting with 6 ounces of freshly steamed Maine lobster, Vince carefully slices it into large chunks of tender, sweet meat, folding it together with minced celery and tangy chipotle mayonnaise. It’s then scooped onto a buttery, toasted challah roll (a light, airy Jewish egg bread), which holds up well to the lobster. A thin layer of arugula tossed in a light citrus vinaigrette dressing is added before encasing it with the bun lid.

“The quiet dignity and ambience of the dining experience at The Pink House makes it the perfect venue for a business luncheon meeting,” says local attorney Barry Gale. “The wait staff is always attentive yet unobtrusive, when you are trying to conduct or discuss business.”

With the warm weather here, Arches Bar, the newest addition to the establishment, offers both indoor and outdoor dining. 23 Abercorn Street, 912.232.4286

3. Fresh Sauteed Flounder

Skyler’s

When Ron Weller, a vice president with BB&T Bank, wants to take an important client out to lunch, he has one main criterion. “Some places you go, it’s great once, then the next time you go back, it’s terrible. If I take a client out, I know I can always count on Skyler’s. Not only are the service and food top-notch, but it also has a quiet, subdued atmosphere, perfect for conducting business.”

So what’s their best seller? “One of the anchors of our menu and a dish that we’ve been serving ever since we opened 20 years ago is our Sauteed Flounder,” says Charles Coolidge, co-owner and manager. A generous portion of fresh flounder is lightly floured and coated in egg batter, which keeps it moist and juicy while it’s sautéed to perfection. A homemade remoulade sauce laced with capers is then drizzled on top.

Complementing the fish is a heaping mound of oriental coleslaw created from crisp, cabbage, tossed with a sweet vinaigrette dressing. With no mayo added, this alternative recipe makes for a much healthier version of this Southern standby In addition, there’s a serving of fluffy fried rice, flavored with soy sauce and bits of crunchy green scallions to add extra taste and zip. 225 East Bay Street, 912.232.3955, skylersrestaurant.com

2 BABY OCTOPUS
Ta Ca Sushi & Japanese Fusion
People aren’t the only ones creating a space for themselves on Facebook. Food has edged its way in there, too. In February, there were 342 loyal fans on the “Eating Baby Octopus” Facebook page. Through them, the experience of consuming these tiny mollusks has come out of the dark and into the limelight. Judging from comments such as “OHHHHH YYYYYYEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!,” and “I’m having a MAJOR craving!,” these miniature creatures have captured the attention of diners the world over. Mike Ta, Ta Ca’s executive chef and owner and formerly the sushi chef at Kyoto Japanese Steak House, grew up in Vietnam and has proudly brought this unusual delicacy to Savannah. Eight steamed tiny baby octopus are first marinated and then gently placed on a bed of cooked seaweed, garnished with a delicate, thinly-sliced cucumber fan, and sprinkled with savory sesame seeds and crispy green scallions. Octopus, when cooked properly, has a luxurious and meaty texture somewhat akin to a scallop, but with a tad bit more chew to it. The flavor is unique, yet mild.
513 E. OGLETHORPE AVE, 912.232.8222, TACASUSHI.COM

3 BRAISED PORK CHEEKS
Noble Fare
If you’re wondering to which “cheeks” of the pig we are actually asking you to sink your teeth into, take a guess. Cheeks are one of the best cuts you can buy for braising, which is exactly the approach the chef at Noble Fare uses. “The inspiration for this dish came from my grandmother’s pot roast, which was slow cooked all day and oh, so good.” says Patrick McNamara, the executive chef and owner. First, he marinates the cheeks in red wine “to add flavor and tenderize.” Next, they’re braised by browning them in a little fat and simmering them in liquid. Cheeks are not suitable for fast cooking. They need a low, slow heat to allow all the fibers, made tough from activity, to break down and become soft. McNamara serves up these rich braised pork cheeks nestled in a pool of cauliflower puree, lying next to fresh, perfectly-cooked, bright green haricot verts, a dollop of crunchy, sweet corn relish, and a drizzle of basil oil.
321 JEFFERSON STREET, 912.443.3210, NOBLEFARE.COM

Photography by Katie Dunkle

Bite into a beignet (ben – YAY) and you’ll get much more than a face full of powdered sugar. These sweet, little dough pillows are lightly fried clouds of heaven found right here in Savannah. At Huey’s Southern Café on River Street, an order consists of 3 beignets, served hot with a warm southern pecan praline dipping sauce made from brown sugar, creamy butter, real vanilla and laced with tiny pieces of crunchy, chopped pecans. “We make the dough here fresh daily,” says Ginger Sommers, assistant manager. “They are cut into rectangles, deep fried, and sprinkled with lots of powdered sugar. In season, we probably go through at least 50 lbs of powdered sugar each week…We sell so many of them on the weekends that we have someone in the kitchen solely dedicated to making beignets 6 hours each day.”

Huey’s Southern Café, 115 East River Street, 912.234.7385

Like what you’re reading? Check out the full article, with profiles on Rocks on the River and Firefly Cafe, in the February/March issue of South Magazine.

Nestled in the Habersham Village, Bar Food proprietors Johnny Baker, Alicia Cannon and Paula Letcher have created a back-to-the-basics approach to their French–Asian-themed restaurant. Each dish is priced under $12, and the menu is refreshed with new selections weekly. “We look at what is selling the most and listen to our clientele to guide us when changing up the menu week to week,” explains Baker, “but the BBQ Wontons aren’t going anywhere.” It’s a good thing they’re sticking around. The tasty pork pieces are slow cooked for 12 hours and spun with sesame and sauce. They are served in bite-sized crispy wontons, also made daily in the kitchen. Simply delicious. Bar Food, 4523 Habersham Street, 912.355.5956, www.barfoodsavannah.com

Lulu’s Chocolate Bar: Strawberry Suspension Cake

The menu at Lulu’s changes daily, but the crowd-pleasing Strawberry Suspension Cake is a staple. Rebecca Freeman and Janine Finn, the savvy ladies behind the delectable Lulu’s Chocolate Bar, have been in business for two years and love the restaurant’s image. “Everyone is always happy when they come in here,” says Freeman, “and it’s a fun place to be.” To create the Strawberry Suspension Cake, a middle layer of mascarpone cheese is blended with whipped cream and juicy strawberries and then sandwiched between fluffy chocolate cake. The icing delights with a thin layer of Callebaut dark chocolate, the house French chocolate of choice. Pair it with a glass of rose prosecco or the Lulutini, a dessert martini laced with homemade chocolate sauce. Lulu’s Chocolate Bar, 42 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, 912.238.2012, www.luluschocolatebar.net

Thrive: Signature Chicken Salad

Former yacht chef Wendy Armstrong opened Thrive in July of 2008, setting up shop on Whitemarsh Island for its central location. The Signature Chicken Salad is made from a mélange of Ashley Farms organic chicken, raw celery, grapes, almonds and cranberries mixed into a low fat mayo and yogurt base. Available by the pound, this delightful salad is perfect for early autumn picnics. In addition to offering a gourmet marketplace and fresh produce selection, Thrive prides itself on using all organic and local ingredients. “The market at Trustees’ [Garden], which we are a part of, has been a great source, and we are frequently approached by small growers with their local varieties, which we have incorporated in dishes like our chicken salad,” explains Armstrong. Thrive, 4700 Highway 80 East, 912.898.2131, www.thriveacarryoutcafe.com

Il Pasticcio
Ahi Tuna Wrapped in Speck Ham with Carrot-Ginger Puree, Teardrop Tomatoes and Micro Greens. Il Pasticcio has a lot of bright surprises up its culinary sleeve this summer, not the least of which includes this highly flavorful dish. Executive Chef Mir Ali found inspiration from the classic Italian favorite, veal saltimbocca. Like traditional saltimbocca, the ahi tuna is wrapped in salty speck ham and seared to perfection, then topped with sage. The ham wakes up the flavor of the tuna, and the carrot-ginger puree adds illumination. Explains Ali, “I think this dish will be popular because it’s a way to present tuna in a playful way of Italian concepts and with a new twist, not to mention that it tastes as good as it looks.”
Il Pasticcio, 2 East Broughton Street, 912.231.8888,

The Express Cafe & Bakery
Whoopie Pie. Whoopie pie may be a staple of Northern diets, but as of late, it’s crossing into Dixie and has made a debut in downtown Savannah. The Express Café & Bakery bills itself as the only restaurant in town to offer this dreamy, creamy, chocolaty, traditionally New England treat. “It got its name from the sound Amish children made when they found out their mothers had packed it in their lunch pails,” explains Express Café owner Beth Meeks. Meeks wants to pay homage to the rich history of the whoopie pie, so Chef Des Woolford sticks to the original design: two soft cakelike cookies with a rich frosty filling of vanilla cream. It’s overstuffed, overindulgent and it’s flying off the shelf at Express Café. Go early: they sell out daily.
The Express Café and Bakery, 39 Barnard Street, 912.233.4683