In between stand-up paddle boarding on the Chattahoochee River and shopping for bargains in Sandy Springs, we ate… everything. There’s nothing wrong with eating your way through a new destination, am I right?
CalyRoad Creamery
Need some “Brie” time? Wanna have a party with Havarti? Jeez Louise we ate a lot of cheese in Sandy Springs.
Okay, no more puns. Seriously, these aren’t even that grate.
CalyRoad Creamery is the CUTEST cheese shop, and lucky for us, they were kind enough to offer us a free tasting when we wandered in. The talented cheesemakers create their own special blends in-house, so cheese aficionados absolutely have to visit.
“I had no idea cheese was so complicated.” – Rachel. My poor little sis. She only knows about mozzarella cheese sticks from a bag.
My favorite cheese: Big Bloomy, aged in-house with a soft white rind and a big taste.
Rachel’s favorite cheese: Mozzarella, Italian-style cheese made from fresh cow’s milk.
But definitely try these out, too:
- WayPoint: Flavor of Georgia, Dairy Division 1st place winner in 2010, and 11th place on 2012 at the Wisconsin World Wide March Cheese Contest, a French-style Camembert recipe.
- Little Epiphany: Crottin-style aged cow with sharp and sour notes.
- RedTop: In-house aged cheese with a dusting of smoked paprika on the bloomy rind.
CalyRoad Creamery has just invented a new hard cheese all their own, so be sure to ask for a sample!
{Three} Sheets
{Three} Sheets is a modern, elegant way to spend an evening in Sandy Springs. The view, the food, the atmosphere – 10/10! Enjoy a specialty cocktail with local ingredients or indulge in the famous five-course grilled cheese and wine pairing dinner. But be sure to book in advance – tickets are required for this weekly event and can’t be purchased at the door.
If you’re wandering in without a reservation as we did, you can order gourmet-grilled cheese off the menu. The cheesy goodness of Sandy Springs continues.
We ate upstairs on the outdoor patio. It provides a beautiful backdrop for the night, and not a bad place for photos either. Before you go, check out their website for special upcoming events.
My favorite: Brussels Sprouts
Rachel’s favorite: Gourmet Grilled Cheese
Café Vendôme
Rachel and I spent a week in Paris back in 2009, on one of our very first sister trips, so our visit to Café Vendome was like a delicious time machine of nostalgia. Be prepared for an overload of treats — eclairs, pain au chocolat, mousse, créme brûlée, quiches — all the best of France. Decorated like a quintessentially Parisian café, we were transported to the Champs Elysees… the only thing missing was a charming man with an accordion.
Same Favorite: Pain au Chocolat
Perk & Pooch
Can you even call yourself a human being if you don’t love dogs and coffee? Perk & Pooch is a dog grooming parlor and coffee shop, all in one. Grab a tasty beverage and a snack, wash your dog or have one of the canine beauty technicians suds up your pup while you wait. Or if you’re like Rachel, grab a latte and completely freak out over every cute dog that comes in. I wish we had one of these back home.
Under the Cork Tree
Who knew cute little Sandy Springs was so international? Up next, we took our Tour de Cuisine to the Mediterranean. Under the Cork Tree has a free weekly wine tasting (you can sign up online) and afterward, you kinda owe it to yourself to stay and indulge in tapas. ALL THE TAPAS.
We kept eating long after we were full, a rookie mistake and perhaps not the best idea. But with food this good, we couldn’t help it. Check out the extensive wine list, stocked with more than 200 wines from around the world. A top place to eat in Sandy Springs!
My favorite: Grilled Hanger Steak Chermoula with crispy shallots
Rachel’s favorite: Tagliatelle Bolognese sauce and Parmesan-Reggiano
Ray’s on the River
If you go to one place to eat in Sandy Springs, this is it. Since 1984, Rays on the River has been a must-do culinary experience in Georgia. With award-winning Sunday brunch, panoramic views of the Chattahoochee River and elegant landscape, it was the perfect place to wrap up our girls’ foodie weekend in Sandy Springs. We indulged in a Del Monico rib-eye and seafood (flown in fresh every day – WOW!) while enjoying live music.
My favorite: Surf and Turf (always!)
Rachel’s favorite: Goat Cheese Pimento Fritters
Warning: You may need to go up a size in pants after you leave Sandy Springs. We certainly shopped along the way for more than one reason.
This post brought to you in partnership with Visit Sandy Springs, iExplore and Travel Mindset. As always, all opinions are my own.
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