Sexually Speaking and Sensationally Eating – Opa!
After dining on a succulent meal at Taverna Plaka and being the middle-aged hipsters that we are, a salute to Dr. Ruth was in order as she was our generation’s sex educator.
We noticed that a Dr. Ruth documentary was being showcased by the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. Being the middle-aged hipsters that we are, a salute of respect and gratitude was in order as Dr. Ruth was our generation’s sex educator, our sex approver. She told us it was okay and completely normal to have thoughts and desires without judgment. She fought for women’s rights to make choices when it comes to our own bodies, and through these sensitive topics she managed to make us laugh with her spunk and energy.
Not only that. Dr. Ruth was a Holocaust survivor and a sniper in the Israeli military at less than 5 feet tall. This woman deserved our time and we were excited to learn more about her.
A succulent meal was called for to kick off our night. And where better than Taverna Plaka on Cheshire Bridge Road? It offers fresh Mediterranean options and prides itself on offering “kosher style” entrees by request to its guests.
“Taverna” is Greek for tavern and Pláka is an ancient neighborhood in Athens, Greece. Owner and chef Scott Duke greeted us with open arms, and Dimitri, our waiter, was sure to shower us with napkins full of love accompanied by “OPA!” a Greek expression of cheer.
Our feast began with several appetizers, one of which was hummus, but not just any hummus. … The ingredients were in a mortar and we crushed them with the pestle, just like they did in ancient times. Dimitri then brought us their famous flaming saganaki, Kefalograviera cheese in rum, um, yum! We savored these treats along with a beautifully assembled fresh salad with feta and melt-in-your-mouth spanakopita.
To quench our thirst, Dimitri recommended a light and refreshing bottle of Greek white wine that complimented all the food. Next came our entrees, a tender whole grilled branzino, a European sea bass, that was bursting with flavor and Chicken Santorini, baked chicken breast stuffed with tomatoes, onions, peppers, zucchini and herbs, served with rice pilaf.
Everything was cooked to perfection. We were STUFFED, but when Dimitri asked if we wanted desert … we couldn’t be rude! A light and fluffy tiramisu and sweet and crispy baklava arrived, quickly consumed, and rounded out our meal.
The atmosphere at Taverna Plaka is fun and whimsical, and often includes a beautiful belly dancer to liven up the experience. “Opa” is repeated by the staff as they throw napkins in the air in celebration of pretty much everything. The food was fantastic and worth going back for, and the staff was fun and very attentive to their guests’ dietary needs.
Hugging our hosts goodbye, we headed to UA Tara Cinema for the AJFF Selects screening, “Ask Dr. Ruth,” which we thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend. It should be available on Hulu June 1.
AJFF Selects screenings are a supplement to the annual film festival. As AJFF Executive Director Kenny Blank explains, “AJFF Selects is part of our year-round mix of program offerings, featuring more of what you love about our annual festival: new international releases, direct from the film festival circuit. This is a wonderful opportunity to not only stay engaged with our regular festival goers, but to introduce AJFF programming to new audiences.” Be on the lookout for the AJFF’s film next month on AJT’s Atlanta Jewish Connector: www.bit.ly/2HbfwGc.
To have Jen and Michal review your event or restaurant, contact us at 404-883-2130 or jen@atljewishtimes.com / michal@atljewishtimes.com.
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