By Liz Miller, West End Wine Manager
I was recently reading an article in Noble Rot Magazine (you can find these locally at Press Shop in Summerhill) about Wu’s Wonton King in New York City. My best friend is the wine manager for June, Rucola, and Anaïs in Brooklyn, and the last time I visited her, she took me to the iconic Wu’s. It is known amongst fellow cork dorks as THE B.Y.O.B. spot in NYC, and from the moment you walk in, it's easy to see why. Large round tables are filled with families celebrating birthdays, the in-crowd drinking bottles of Jean-Pierre Robinot Chenin Blanc, and Keller Riesling, and waiters walking around with enormous live king crabs in hand. It is loud, bustling, and the food is equally as exciting - you really can’t go wrong here, but don’t sleep on the succulent pan fried veal chop with dried shallot (pictured above). The wine we brought paired beautifully with the food, and the memory will live with me forever.
This article had me thinking - what comparable B.Y.O.B.s do we have in Atlanta (ITP or OTP, I don’t care… I’ll drive for good food).
Northern China Eatery (Northern Chinese - Beijing & Tianjin)
Weiser-Künstler Riesling Feinherb 26.99
If Atlanta has one B.Y.O.B. institution, it’s got to be Northern China Eatery. You can’t beat the quality of food for the price, and from the moment you walk in, the smell will transport you to another place altogether. You’re likely to see Atlanta chefs and somms in the know surrounded by friends and a couple bottles of glou-glou. It’s a place where you can spend an entire evening drinking and eating small tasty morsels without feeling guilty the next day.
Northern China is known for their wheat based dishes - think noodles, dumplings, and steamed buns. When Northern China Eatery first opened their doors, they served traditional breakfasts of hot soy milk with crisp Chinese donuts, and pan-fried pork and chive dumplings to Chinese expatriates. Now, of course, they are an Atlanta destination known for their dumplings (including frozen take-home options), and other deeply satisfying plates such as hot-pot, lamb ribs, and “lion’s heads” meatballs steamed over cabbage. Any wine geek knows that spicy chili sauces, and heavily spiced meats beg to be married with an off-dry or even sweet riesling. Not only will the residual sugars balance the spiciness of the food, but German rieslings are also delightfully high in mouthwatering acid, and tend to have a unique flinty flavor from the slate soil that the grapes are grown in - a characteristic that I feel pairs beautifully with a multitude of Asian cuisines.
La Mei Zi (Taiwanese)
Sérol “Turbullent” 28.99
I asked local wine legend, Nick Kaiser, where his favorite B.Y.O.B. was, and this was the answer he delivered. Turns out he got the deets from another local wine enthusiast, and former guest performer for Public Enemy, Adam Venable (A.K.A. Obeah). Located in the well known Asian Square on Doraville’s segment of Buford Highway, you will find a wide array of Asian businesses - including restaurants, bakery’s, grocery stores, and even a dentist’s office. According to Nick, order the “god-tier” chef’s special “three cups chicken” and pair it with Domaine Sérol’s “Turbullent” - a delicately sweet and fruity sparkling rosé of Gamay.
Nam Phuong (Vietnamese)
Union Sacre Edelzwicker 23.99
If you’ve lived in Atlanta long enough, you’ve probably heard of Nam Phuong Vietnamese. Upon entering, you feel like you’ve either stepped into a hotel dining room or a no-frills diner - complete with a koi pond and small planes flying overhead from the nearby airport. The service is impeccable, and the food is bar none. Nam Phuong happens to be one of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta, but don’t expect the street staple, bánh mì (leave that to Quởc Hương or Lee’s Bakery). When my partner and I dine here, we order a piping hot bowl of tendon and tripe phở with all the fixins. We also share an order of bánh hỏi - a fun dish where the table is given everything they need to make their own rolls (including a special caddy with water and rice paper).
When pairing wine with heavily herbed and spiced cuisines like Vietnamese or Indian, I tend to reach for highly floral Alsatian varietals like Gewürztraminer or Muscat, to mirror the floral and herbaceous notes of the food. This pink-hued, skin-contact wine from Union Sacre includes a blend of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Sylvaner, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Muscat Ottonel. It’s floral, round, and lightly sweet - and adds a perfect balance to the intense flavors of mint, cilantro, chili, lemongrass, and fish sauce.
Starlight Drive-In (drive-in cinema)
Spritz Del Conte Non-Alcoholic Italian Spritz $19.99
This ready-to-drink non-alcoholic Italian spritzer is a harmonious blend of aromatic herbs with subtle sweetness and notes of zesty bitter Italian orange. Perfect to pair with hot buttered popcorn in front of the big screen while cozied up with your special someone. If I were you, I’d buy a ticket to “Alien: Romulus” or “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (don’t say it again), and pick-up a couple of bottles for you and yours… Because it’s not a drive-in experience without sneaking something in 😆
Try this! Looking for a boozy spritz option? Made with a unique blend of white wine, clementines, and herbs from the coastal pine forests of Corsica, Clementine Corsican Wine Spritzer ($17.99) is the perfect low ABV (5%) option!
If you have a favorite B.Y.O.B. spot in Atlanta, send an e-mail to lizmiller@hopcitybeer.com
And come taste through some of these gems this Friday and Saturday at our Krog + West End shops from 3-8pm!
