When planning a trip to the Oktoberfest celebration in Helen, Georgia, I get excited about the food, especially the food at Bigg Daddys Restaurant. My mouth waters when I think about that place.

Luckily, I was able to combine a trip to the mountains with a stop over in Helen. I made it to Oktoberfest. After walking around the Oktoberfest festivities for a while, I was hungry. I was too hungry for a little snack. I needed some real food. I’d eaten at Bigg Daddys during a previous Oktoberfest, so I knew where I wanted to go, but I didn’t remember how to get there. I asked for directions, and then I asked the million dollar question. Can I walk or should I drive?

One of the people whom I spoke with told me that it was an easy walk to Bigg Daddys. The second person told me that it was a good four blocks away, and I had the impression that she wouldn’t recommend walking. It was humid, and I was already tired, but I decided to walk anyway.

Bigg Daddys is around the corner and down the street from a Wendy’s. It’s a short distance from the “festhalle” which is the Chamber of Commerce building. Once you find it, it’s easy to recognize Bigg Daddys, from its large triangular-shaped roof. There are also signs identifying the restaurant.

When I entered Bigg Daddys I was grateful for the  cool air from the air conditioner. It was a sharp contrast from the muggy air outside.  The place was pretty full and very loud. Many of the patrons had their eyes glued to the TVs, and they would erupt into screams from the plays made in the game they were watching. I assumed that it was a Falcon’s football game.  I was seated in the back of the restaurant, because I wanted to eat inside, and there weren’t many seats left. There’s a large patio where many people were already munching on their food.

I wanted the coolest air from the air conditioner, and I wanted something freezing cold to drink. When the sever came over to take my order, I couldn’t wait to order a frozen drink, but there were no frozen drinks on the drink menu that the server directed me to. I could get something sweet on ice, so I decided to get some sweet tea.

I looked over the menu and couldn’t decide between the fish and the ribs. I had the fish last time, and it was great. That’s why I was back a second time… Should I have something different? I explained my dilemma to the server and she practically solved my problem when she said that I’d get a ton of food if I ordered the ribs.

The ribs came with the choice of two sides, so I ordered fries and macaroni. My server kept my glass of tea filled. A few minutes later, I was so full, that I could not eat another bite. I sat and people-watched for a while. I called my server to bring me the bill, but she was so busy that I had to ask another server to get her so I could pay.

When my server showed up, she had a to-go carton ready for me. I was a bit annoyed that I had to have someone get her, but I got over that when she arrived with that to-go box. I love intuitive restaurant servers.

I’m so glad that I found Bigg Daddy’s, and I chose to eat there again. I tore up the leftovers when I got home later that night. The barbecue had just the perfect flavor. I chose to have sauce instead of the dry rub. The sauce had a smokey flavor. I was glad that the pork was meaty, not fatty. I hate fatty barbecue. I really enjoyed the barbecue at Bigg Daddys, and the fish that I had on my previous trip was good, too. I can’t wait for my next visit there.

The first Hell’s Kitchen Restaurant had its official grand opening on January 27th, 2017. The winner of Hell’s Kitchen, Season 17 will be the chef for the new restaurant, which is located in  Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Before you make arrangements to enjoy a meal at Hell’s Kitchen Restaurant, you may want to know that the restaurant already has 25,000 reservations. Lunch and dinner reservations can be made by visiting www.GRHellsKitchenLV.com.

Not only does Hell’s Kitchen look like the reality show’s set, but the chefs and cooks will wear uniforms exactly like the ensembles worn on the show. The Season 17 winner of Hell’s Kitchen will have his or her portrait hung up in the restaurant, along with previous Hell’s Kitchen winners. Hell’s Kitchen Restaurant  seats 300 guests.

Photo Credit: © Brenton Ho/ KabikPhotoGroup.com

Photo of Hell’s Kitchen exterior: Patrick Gray © KabikPhotoGroup.com

A line of traffic moved slowly along the road right in front of Puff and Petals, I spied a sign hawking public parking and decided to head in there to avoid taking my chances, trying to find another park, and having trouble getting to the restaurant. Luckily, it isn’t too far off of I-75, but there are some one-way streets around, so be aware of that.

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K. Michelle’s Restaurant Puff and Petals Lounge Atlanta, Georgia

So, I parked in the lot directly across the street from Puff and Petals. The attendant told me that it was $20 and I thought I wasn’t hearing him right. There didn’t appear to be events going on. I paid the $20 and walked across the street. Thank goodness that Georgia law states that vehicles must stop when people are in the crosswalk. When the evening ended, by the way, I overheard the attendant telling another guy that there was a lot next to his that was charging $10.

When I made it across the street to the restaurant, I immediately got in the back of the small line, but another patron informed me that I should see the security guard and put my name on the list. The security guard went inside and beckoned for me to follow him in. As soon as I entered, the server seated me at the bar.  I asked for sweet tea, but there wasn’t any, so I ordered pink lemonade. I needed to be sharp to navigate Atlanta’s streets at night, and I worried about driving at night with all of the construction on the highways.

Antonio, a bartender for Puff and Petals took my order. I ordered Charlotte’s Ribs, babyback ribs with honey barbecue sauce and the lobster mac and cheese. Antonio presented my ribs a glass birdhouse. It was an impressive display. I heard one of the other customers say, “Look, it’s in a birdhouse. How cute!”

Image of ribs from K. Michelle’s Restaurant, Puff and Petals lounge, By Claudine Williams, Travel Editor

The Food

K. Michelle’s Restaurant, Puff Lounge in Atlanta, Charolette’s Ribs

I practically devoured the Lobster Mac and Cheese. It was so rich and creamy. I know that I going to have to go back and have it again. The crab cakes are also on my list.

Lobster Mac and Cheese at K. Michelle’s Restaurant, Puff and Petals Lounge, photo by Claudine Williams

Although I decided not to drink, I saw plenty of tempting concoctions like the Honeycomb, one of the dessert cocktails at Puff and Petals. It’s made with Jack Honey, Simple Syrup, Nutmeg, and Honey and Cream.

Inside Puff and Petals

I read that there is a 90-minute time limit, but I really didn’t keep track of the time that I was inside. No one asked me to leave, and I didn’t really keep track of the time. I’m sure that things would be different if I was sitting in a booth.

Now, sitting at the bar to eat wasn’t  very comfortable. It seemed as though the seat was either too low or the bar was a little too high.  Once I finished the ribs and mac and cheese, I didn’t have any room for the sweet potato fries that came with the ribs.  When I was ready to go, I asked for the bill, and it came up to about $32.99, the 18% tip was included.

As of right now, Puff and Petals seats only about 40 people in the restaurant (on the ground level) the upstairs level is still under construction and it’s 3,000 square feet. You should expect to wait to get in and/or to get your food when visiting, at least until the upper level is completed. I do not know what is planned for the upper level.

Inside  K. Michelle’s Restaurant, Puff and Petals Lounge, photo by Claudine Williams

Image of a pink booth at K. Michelle’s Restaurant, Puff and Petals Lounge, photo by Claudine Williams

Love and Hip Hop Atlanta Season 6 Episode 10 resumed at Vinny’s on Windward. Joseline Hernandez, Jessica Dime, and Melissa Scott caught up with each other, and after several years of not speaking with her, Joseline agreed to have a conversation with Karlie Redd.

In the next scene, Karlie Redd went to Yung Joc’s place to tell him that it wasn’t cool that he was seeing Tommie without telling her, and Joc admitted that he knew that Tommie was just hanging around him because she was trying to make Karlie jealous. Joc said that he had never been intimate with Tommie, and after Karlie finished crying about her frustration over men treating her foully, she managed to invite Joc to her store opening in Alpharetta.

Next, fans saw Rasheeda Frost at her Pressed store was not pleased that her mother made an announcement at the club. Shirleen Harvell said that she stood up to Kirk Frost, because someone had to do it. Kirk had been  embarrassing Rasheeda  all through Atlanta. She says that she has been thinking about a divorce, but hadn’t made up her mind. The kids were an issue. Rasheeda at her store was not pleased that her mother made an announcement at the club. Shirleen said that she stood up to Kirk; someone had to do it since he had been embarrassing Rasheeda all through Atlanta. She says that she has been thinking about getting divorced from Kirk, but hadn’t made up her mind. The kids were an issue, since she didn’t want to break up her home.

Then the cameras took the show to the Cast Iron where Tommie met up with Lovely Mimi. Tommie explained that this wasn’t the time for her to fight with Karlie Redd (and Karlie knew that she could get away with provoking Tommie).  Tommie was trying to steer clear of trouble since she was out on bail. She opened up about her mother and how she wanted to mend things.

Cast Iron Atlanta, restaurant appeared on Love and Hip Hop Atlanta

Exterior of Iron Skillet Restaurant, as appeared on Love and Hip Hop Atlanta

Love and Hip Hop Atlanta Tommie Lee, photo courtesy of VH1

At Café Bombay in North Druid Hills, Karen King met up with Samantha, Tommie’s mother.  KK, suggested that Samantha stop drinking and get counseling, but Samantha insisted that alcohol wasn’t an issue.

At Sip the Experience, Joseline met with Stevie J. Stevie offered to take care of Bonnie while Joseline was away in L.A. shooting the Real.  Joseline said that her sister was going to watch the baby.

Rasheeda, Bambi, Karlie, Mimi Faust, and Tammy Rivera had a bonfire to release their hurt. They each told their stories and threw  significant items in the fire. Rasheeda threw her diamond necklace in the fire.

Finally, Karlie got together with Melissa, Jessica, and Joseline to settle things.  Joseline started things out by saying that she was a messy bitch and the mouth of the south. Joseline also called her a dog.  She even accused her of sleeping with Stevie. Karlie found that she couldn’t have conversation with Joseline, so she walked out of the room. Will she return?

Love and Hip Hop Atlanta, Karlie Redd, photo courtesy of VH1

The Cast Iron is the Reality TV restaurant focus for Season 6, Episode 10. This is the restaurant where Tommie and Lovely Mimi met to discuss Tommie’s drama with her mama and her beef with Karlie Redd. Karlie and Tommie had a spat after Karlie confronted Yung Joc about seeing Tommie.

The Cast Iron offers new American cuisine with plenty of seasonal offerings. It’s open from Tuesday to Saturday from 5 pm to 11 pm and on Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm.

Is Ariel Malone  still working at BLT Steak? It turns out that the winner of Hell’s Kitchen, Season 15 is looking for a new opportunity, she reported to Somewhere Luxurious.  “I am currently looking for the best position for myself,” she responded when asked if she was still working at BLT.

As of April 2018 there hasn’t been any real evidence to show just where Ariel landed. She began work at the prestigious restaurant in May 2016 after 2016 after defeating Kristin Barone, a 27-year-old line cook from Chicago in the finale episode of Hell’s Kitchen. The position carried a salary of $250,000.

Is Ariel Malone still at BLT? Well, it looks like she’s making her plan to work elsewhere.

Photo of Ariel Malone Cr: Greg Gayne /  FOX. © 2016 FOX Broadcasting Co.