Lauren’s mother ignited her passion for food at a young age, when she served her a bowl of orange jello with shredded carrots. It was then, Lauren knew she would have to learn to cook for herself. She obtained a degree in Culinary Arts from Le Cordon Bleu by way of a B.A. in Political Science and Communication from Clemson while surviving on peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwiches…and beer. Prior to moving to Atlanta, Lauren and her husband, Lynn, owned a bakery in San Antonio, which was featured on the Food Network; Many will attest that she is still recovering from PTSD from both. While Lynn is at one of the Newk’s Eateries that he operates, Lauren drives her two children, Peyton and Cricket, on the continuous 3 miles loop of her home, Dunwoody Elementary and Target.
by Audra H. Anders for The Aha! Connection
First the food, then the fun! Jenn and I picked North Italia Atlanta Perimeter because well, that’s what we were hungry for! I realize Peggy and I took Coach Bass and Coach Hill there already but I was craving it again! Jenn had the Tuscan Kale salad with Salmon and I had the soup of the day (Tomato Basil) and the Arugula and Avocado salad. … Read More »
Recent excerpts from our Lunch with Lauren Facebook Group by Lauren Townsend for The Aha! Connection
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January 29 If you want to know if a place is really good try, what seems like, the simplest items on the menu. Where there is nowhere to hide and nothing is covered up.… Read More »
by Lauren Townsend for The Aha! Connection
Do people keep popping into town and you’re running out of places to take them? Do the kids have cabin fever? Skate the Square and Politan Row at Colony Square is your answer. Colony Square is in Midtown and the skating rink is surrounded by some of the city’s best restaurants.… Read More »
Lunch with friends makes any meal better, but Yao doesn’t even need the help. Fans of the bustling Tum Pok Pok will love the upscale, refined Yao. Adidsara Weerasin and Taya Denmark opened Tum Pok Pok while waiting on the build-out for Yao and both are such gems.
Yao offers lunch, dinner, and now a dim sum brunch.… Read More »
Have you been to Halcyon yet? It’s a quick drive up 400 in Alpharetta off McFarland Parkway. In warmer weather, people flock to the Big Creek Greenway trailhead situated at Halcyon and enjoy the open-air shopping and dining. In addition to a food hall that has a Gu’s, there are many restaurants for any mood or taste.… Read More »
By Lauren Townsend for The Aha! Connection
Anyone who considers themselves a “foodie” would love any of these gifts. Also, I would love any of these gifts … Lynn Townsend HiNt hInT.
by Lauren Townsend for The Aha! Connection
Is it just me, or are men hard to shop for during the holidays? They either buy what they want or they insist they don’t want anything or it’s both. Hopefully, this list will help you check someone off your list.
Start Thanksgiving by clinking a flute of bubbles. Zardetto Extra Dry Prosecco Rose 2020 is around $15. It is very well balanced with just enough acidity to make it perfect for appetizers and soft cheeses.
White Wines
Tonnino Mediterraneo is a moderately priced Chenin Blanc from Italy. Chenin Blanc is a popular turkey pairing because of its citrusy notes, but this version adds enough minerality to tie the whole meal together.… Read More »
Over on the Lunch with Lauren Facebook group, I occasionally post my weekly meal plan to give recipe ideas, but also to show the importance of meal planning in creating some ease in your week and cross utilizing products to help with budgeting.
I always try to look at what is going on the week ahead, as far as evening activities, to gauge how much time I’ll have to cook and if anyone will be around to eat.… Read More »
One of my biggest pet peeves is having to run to the grocery store more than once a week. I’ve heard that many of you have to make multiple trips and that is one of the factors in making mealtime so stressful. You may open a recipe and see that you don’t have a minor (or major) ingredient and scrap it altogether or get in the car and spend 30 minutes trying to find buttermilk.… Read More »
I was having a day that required tacos and rallied some adventurous friends to try out Let’s Taco Bout It. I dropped the address in Waze and went on my way, past that weird abandoned cylinder building at spaghetti junction, and ended on the frontage road of 85 facing the Big Green Egg building. I pulled up into what can only be described as a food hall in the form of an office park known as Prep Food Junction.… Read More »
Ready for a few places to try this week? If you don’t want to cook dinner, just need a lunch out, or want to try Dunwoody’s newest bottle shop, keep reading.
Antiguo Lobo
5370 Peachtree Rd Suite A,
Chamblee, GA 30341
Open for lunch and dinner, except on Tuesdays.
My husband and I enjoyed a nice day date at Antiguo Lobo in downtown Chamblee.… Read More »
Recent excerpts from our Lunch with Lauren Facebook Group by Lauren Townsend for The Aha! Connection
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8/5/2021
#WineWednesday is a day late because I got a new phone and it’s been super traumatic. If you haven’t already, Storypoint Pinot Noir is a must for red drinkers and white wine drinkers who don’t like heavy tannins.… Read More »
by Lauren Townsend for The Aha! Connection
Our family was lucky enough to take a summer getaway to Asheville, North Carolina. My husband and I had visited many years ago, but we have never been with our children. Since it was really a trip for my husband, I opted to stay in a VRBO about 20 miles from Asheville on a 40-acre horse farm and not a hotel downtown.… Read More »
