Huitlacoche has a wonderful name in English: “corn smut”. The Aztec word “huitlacoche” is even better: “sleeping excrement”. It’s actually a blue/black fungus (think mushroom) that grows on ears of corn. And with cheese on a grilled tortilla it’s surprisingly tasty. Some marketing geniuses have taken to shilling it as “Mexican Corn Truffle” for $30+/lb…

Sopa de 7 Mares

Now for the boring stuff:

This is a free, informal gathering. I’m not going to ask people to sign up – but if you think you’ll attend please let me know in the comments. It also doesn’t matter if you’re a blogger, a reader, or just curious. El Rey del Taco is spacious and stays open late (might be 24 hours – don’t remember off hand). Plus, they’re used to crowds.

The When

Wednesday, February 15, 2012
7PM – til they kick us out

The Where

El Rey del Taco
5288 Buford Hwy NE
Atlanta, GA 30340

The Fine Print

The is an open social gathering. There is practically no planning, no management and no control. The meeting place is public – the environment is what it is. When I did the first dinner I posted a few rules (some people told me they were pretty harsh), but they were intended to minimize the discomfort of meeting strangers in a strange environment. They don’t all apply here, and I’ve softened them for this “eat up” but most are common sense.

1. Have an open mind and be willing to explore. If you haven’t been to El Rey del Taco before (or you aren’t familiar with traditional Mexican food), it may be a bit confusing – some things have funny names, it’s definitely NOT Tex-Mex. Don’t worry – this is about exploration. The waitresses are friendly and some of us may be able to help – a bit.
2. Big one here – pay for your own food (CASH is ALWAYS accepted!). El Rey del Taco accepts cards, but cash is king. Also, I’m not providing food, etc. I’m just meeting people with some common ground! This event is Dutch. My previous rule was: “If you show up and forget to bring cash or some acceptable way to pay for your meal – you work it out with the owners/cops – I don’t know you.” You know, as a group we’d probably help you out, but don’t put your new friends in that position… BRING CASH (or some valid form of payment)!
3. Please – no whining. If you like the place and the food (and I hope you do), great. Even better – write about it, tell all your friends. If you hate it – enjoy the company and help me pick out a different place for the next one!
4. One new one – we occasionally end up with a big group. Be patient with the staff – we’ve never had an experience where a restaurant has done anything but bend over backwards for us – and they don’t even know we’re coming! If the kitchen is slow, eat more chips or order another beer (or if you have your food, share some with others – they’ll do the same). Relax, have fun, and make some new friends!
5. Another new one – not a lot of places on Buford Highway have alcohol licenses, but El Rey does. I don’t care how much or how  little you  drink (if at all) – but if you do drink and you’re a sloppy, mean or rowdy drunk – please stay home.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Check out some of our past EatUps:

Chinatown Food Court

La Casona (Colombian)

Shoya Izakaya

Am I a slacker? Yes. Yes, indeed I am. We haven’t done an “EatUp” since September, 2010. So where to this time? Pho Dai Loi #2 is my go-to for a quick Vietnamese fix. Yes, there are probably “better” Viet restaurants for specific dishes, but PDL2 has a lot going for it. Good pho, tasty cơm, rocket fuel cà phê, a paint scheme that screams “Vietnam”. Even better, the last time we went, A. said it “smelled good”.

This is a free, informal gathering. I’m not going to ask people to sign up – but if you think you’ll attend please let me know in the comments. It also doesn’t matter if you’re a blogger, a reader, or just curious. Pho Dai Loi has a ton of room and there are some pretty long table setups, so I don’t think space will be a problem. Plus, they’re used to crowds.

The When

Wednesday, October 26, 2011
7PM – til they kick us out

The Where

Pho Dai Loi #2
4186 Buford Hwy NE # G
Atlanta, GA 30345

The Fine Print

The is an open social gathering. There is very little planning, no management and no control. The meeting place is public – the environment is what it is. When I did the first dinner I posted a few rules (some people told me they were pretty harsh), but they were intended to minimize the discomfort of meeting strangers in a strange environment. They don’t all apply here, and I’ve softened them for this “eat up” but some are common sense.

1. Have an open mind and be willing to explore. If you haven’t been to Pho Dai Loi #2 before (or you aren’t familiar with traditional Vietnamese food), it may be a bit confusing – things have funny names, there’s weird Portuguese letters interspersed on parts of the menu, multiple menu items have identical descriptions. Don’t worry – the waiters are friendly and some of us may be able to help – a bit.
2. Big one here – pay for your own food (CASH is ALWAYS accepted!). Pho Dai Loi #2 accepts cards, but cash is king. Also, I’m not providing food, etc. I’m just meeting people with some common ground! This event is Dutch. My previous rule was: “If you show up and forget to bring cash – you work it out with the owners/cops – I don’t know you.” You know, as a group we’d probably help you out, but don’t put your new friends in that position… BRING CASH (or some valid form of payment)!
3. Please – no whining. If you like the place and the food (and I hope you do), great. Even better – write about it. If you hate it – enjoy the company and help me pick out a different place for the next one!

Check out some of our past EatUps:

Chinatown Food Court

La Casona (Colombian)

Shoya Izakaya

You see, this is why you don’t want to miss the Buford Highway Blogger EatUps. A few pics from the Chinatown Food Court last week. Stay tuned for information on more upcoming Eatups.

We visited the food court at Chinatown Square a little less than a year ago for the first Buford Highway Blogger’s EatUp. Despite horrific weather and the proximity to the holidays, we still had a nice turnout. Now it’s time to do it again. Atlanta’s Chinatown is a minor heaven if you like “real” Chinese food, and even if you don’t – there’s a place that sells all the fried rice and chicken wings you can handle.

This isn’t limited to just food bloggers – we’ve got some devoted followers and food fanatics that hang out with us online and you’re welcome too.

This is a free, informal gathering. Please SIGN UP HERE if you think you’ll attend – let me know if you have to cancel (there aren’t any reservations here – it’s a food court, but it will help to know how many people will be there).

The When

Tuesday, September 14, 2010
7PM – til they kick us out

The Where

Chinatown Food Court
5385 New Peachtree Rd
Atlanta, GA 30341

The Fine Print

The is an open social gathering. There is very little planning, no management and no control. The meeting place is public – the environment is what it is. When I did the first dinner I posted a few rules (some people told me they were pretty harsh), but they were intended to minimize the discomfort of meeting strangers in a strange environment. They don’t all apply here, and I’ve softened them for this “eat up” but some are common sense.

1. Have an open mind and be willing to explore. If you haven’t been to the Chinatown Food Court before (or you aren’t familiar with traditional Chinese food), it may be a bit confusing – some menus are only written in Hanzi. Don’t worry – the vendors are friendly and some of us may be able to help – a bit.
2. Big one here – pay for your own food (BRING CASH!). None of the vendors accept cards of any type. Also, I’m not providing food, etc. I’m just meeting people with some common ground! This event is Dutch. My previous rule was: “If you show up and forget to bring cash – you work it out with the owners/cops – I don’t know you.” You know, as a group we’d probably help you out, but don’t put your new friends in that position… BRING CASH!
3. Please – no whining. If you like the place and the food (and I hope you do), great. Even better – write about it. If you hate it – enjoy the company and help me pick out a different place for the next one!

Once again, Atlanta area food bloggers are invited to get together in a casual, informal environment, grab a bite to eat and get to know each other. This isn’t limited to just food bloggers – we’ve got some devoted followers and food fanatics that hang out with us online and you’re welcome too.

This is a free, informal gathering. We’re trying out Eventbrite to see if we can have a better handle on how many people will show up. Please SIGN UP HERE if you think you’ll attend – let me know if you have to cancel (I don’t make reservations, but it will help the restaurant out if I can let them know how many people will be there).

The Where

This time up: Colombian! We’re going to La Casona. The only downside I’ve found to this place is that they close kind of early (around 8PM). The upside is the food – a great introduction to Colombian if it’s your first time. La Casona also serves beer and aguardiente!

The Fine Print

The is an open social gathering. There is very little planning, no management and no control. The meeting place is public – the environment is what it is. When I did the first dinner I posted a few rules (some people told me they were pretty harsh), but they were intended to minimize the discomfort of meeting strangers in a strange environment. They don’t all apply here, and I’ve softened them for this “eat up” but some are common sense.

1. Have an open mind and be willing to explore. If you haven’t been to La Casona before (or you aren’t familiar with Colombian food, or you don’t speak Spanish), it may be a bit confusing/overwhelming. Don’t worry – the proprietors are friendly and some of us may be able to help – a bit.
2. Big one here – pay for your own food (BRING CASH!). I’m not providing food, etc. I’m just looking to meet people with some common ground! This event is Dutch. My previous rule was: “If you show up and forget to bring cash – you work it out with the owners/cops – I don’t know you.” You know, as a group we’d probably help you out, but don’t put your new friends in that position… BRING CASH! The restaurant accepts cards, but don’t make them run a bunch of small transactions. Just bring cash and make it easy on everyone.
3. Please – no whining. If you like the place and the food (and I hope you do), great. Even better – write about it. If you hate it – enjoy the company and help me pick out a different place for the next one!

Atlanta area food bloggers (actually, it doesn’t matter where you’re from) are invited to get together in a casual, informal environment, grab a bite to eat and get to know each other. Pretty much a similar deal to the last one, just a different location and I’m no longer using the words “Eat Up” (this was co-opted by someone else after our last event :< ). This isn’t limited to just food bloggers – we’ve got some devoted followers and food fanatics that hang out with us online and you’re welcome too.

Details are after the jump…

The What

Again, you’re invited to meet face to face, prove you exist in the physical world, grab some good food and get to know some of your compatriots.

The When

Wednesday, April 21, 2010
7PM – whenever

The Where

Doh! We have changed venue. It appears that Bamboo Grill is closed on Wednesdays (probably explains my inability to get a hold of them on Wednesday…). We’re going to invade Shoya Izakaya!

Shoya Japanese Restaurant
6035 Peachtree Road
Suite A-101
Doraville, GA 30360
http://www.shoyaatlanta.com

One of the great things about Shoya – it’s an izakaya, meaning we get to do some mid-week drinking!

How Do I Find You?

Because this is an informal gathering and I’m not holding your feet to the fire, I don’t make reservations – I’m just not sure who’ll show up. If you guys are all really good and confirm through the comments (and don’t back out at the last minute ;>), it will help. I’ll let management know we’re there and I’ll try to be there a little early – I look a little bit like the scary guy pictured over here or here. Just walk up and say “Hi”.

The Fine Print

The is an open social gathering. There is no planning, management or control. The meeting place is public – the environment is what it is. I’ll hearken back to a post I did a while ago to encourage people to meet for dinner (here). Back then I posted a few rules (some people told me they were pretty harsh), but they were intended to minimize the discomfort of meeting strangers in a strange environment. They don’t all apply here, and I’ve softened them for this “eat up” but some are common sense.

1. Have an open mind and be willing to explore. If you haven’t been to Shoya before (or you aren’t familiar with Japanese pub food), it may be a bit confusing/overwhelming. Don’t worry – the proprietors are friendly and some of us may be able to help – a bit.
2. Big one here – pay for your own food (BRING CASH!). I’m not providing food, etc. I’m just looking to meet people with some common ground! This event is Dutch. My previous rule was: “If you show up and forget to bring cash – you work it out with the owners/cops – I don’t know you.” You know, as a group we’d probably help you out, but don’t put your new friends in that position… BRING CASH! The restaurant accepts cards, but don’t make them run a bunch of small transactions. Just bring cash and make it easy on everyone.
3. Please no whining. If you like the place and the food (and I hope you do), great. Even better – write about it. If you hate it – enjoy the company and help me pick out a different place for the next one!

I hope to see some of you there! Ping me on Twitter (@EatBuHi) or leave a comment here if you think you can make it.

I started this blog a little less than 12 months and 150 posts ago. In that time I’ve discovered quite a few people that share a similar passion for food and a willingness to share that passion with the rest of us. After a recent post listing at least some of the local Atlanta food bloggers (here), and a slew of missed encounters at Primal, I realized that I’ve only met 2 local bloggers face to face: Jennifer and Gene – both a pleasure to meet. But food being the social experience that it is, I want to meet more of you.

I started toying with an idea of an “eat up” on Twitter right before Thanksgiving, and it seems to have some acceptance among the crowd there, so as informal as this is intended to be, it seems prudent to give this “eat up” a home.

The What

Your cover is blown. Having collected you in a list, I’ve now taken it upon myself to invite you to meet face to face, prove you exist in the physical world, grab some good food and get to know some of your compatriots. There are some pretty devoted followers to some of our blogs and they’re welcome to join too.

The When

Wednesday, December 2, 2009
7PM – whenever

The Where

Chinatown Food Court
5385 New Peachtree Rd
Atlanta, GA 30341

How Do I Find You?

The food court is an open space, so we’ll just push tables together according to how many people show up. I’ll try to be there a little early – I look a little bit like the scary guy pictured over here. Just say “Hi”, and wander off to find something to eat and bring it back to wherever we end up gathering. That’s what I intend to do…

The Fine Print

The is an open social gathering. There is no planning, management or control. The meeting place is public – the environment is what it is. I’ll hearken back to a post I did a while ago to encourage people to meet for dinner (here). Back then I posted a few rules (some people told me they were pretty harsh), but they were intended to minimize the discomfort of meeting strangers in a strange environment. They don’t all apply here, and I’ve softened them for this “eat up” but some are common sense.

1. Have an open mind and be willing to explore. If you haven’t been to the Chinatown Food Court before (or you aren’t familiar with traditional Chinese food), it may be a bit confusing – some menus are only written in Hanzi. Don’t worry – the vendors are friendly and some of us may be able to help – a bit.
2. Big one here – pay for your own food (BRING CASH!). I’m not providing food, etc. I’m just looking to meet people with some common ground! This event is Dutch. My previous rule was: “If you show up and forget to bring cash – you work it out with the owners/cops – I don’t know you.” You know, as a group we’d probably help you out, but don’t put your new friends in that position… BRING CASH! As far as I know, none of the vendors accept cards of any type.
3. Please no whining. If you like the place and the food (and I hope you do), great. If you hate it – enjoy the company and help me pick out a different place for the next one!

I hope to see some of you there! Ping me on Twitter (@EatBuHi) or leave a comment here if you think you can make it.