IN SEARCH OF
Spots where you can have a ball and eat it, too
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Monday, March 09, 2009
There’s something fun about playing with our food, and rarely does the process turn out better than when we make little round balls of things. Like chicken soup, most cultures have some form of a round goody or two. Try these for a full-court press of flavor.
TEUSCHER CHOCOLATES OF SWITZERLAND (not rated)
1393 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta. 404-885-1010, www.teuscheratl.com or www.chocoatlanta.com
Becky Stein/AJC special
The Sicilian risotto balls known as arancini are seasoned with citrus and fennel pollen at Cakes & Ale in Decatur.
Becky Stein/AJC special
The pimiento cheese fritters are a signature dish at Relish.
No need to head to Rockefeller Center (or Switzerland) to get the goods on Teuscher chocolate — we have our very own tucked away in Virginia-Highland. Teuscher is known for making some of the finest pralines in Europe. The truffles here range from jasmine to pistachio, and a very round offering of beautifully tempered milk or dark chocolate butter crunch.
CAKES & ALE 
54 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur. 404-377-7994, www.cakesandalerestaurant.com.
There are these little balls of risotto from Sicily, see? And when mixed with cheese and other goodies, then deep-fried, they become an otherworldly experience. Cakes & Ale serves them playfully in a papered cone like fair food, seasoned with hints of citrus and fennel pollen for a bite you can’t refuse. (Look for more arancini in my review in today’s Go Guide of La Pietra Cucina.)
RELISH 
590 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell. 770-650-7877, www.relishgoodfood.com
The pimiento cheese fritters at this popular Roswell spot are little fried balls of yum — crunchy with bread crumbs on the outside, soft and gooey with piquant pepper and cheese flavor on the inside. Add a feisty tomato chowchow to the mix, and — presto! — a signature dish is born.
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