In Georgia, hard liquor cannot be purchased at a supermarket. Instead, it is sold at designated package stores. Why is it called a package store you may ask? Because the booze they sell must be given to you in a package, or a paper bag. Yeah, that's not to stop the bottles from breaking (ok, maybe it is), its the LAW.
Now while this law is sometimes annoying (not the paper bag part, the part about not getting booze in supermarkets), it has engendered the great people of Georgia to build some truly fine liquor selling establishments. While this may seem like a strange observation, in most of Los Angeles, where liquor is sold in super markets, liquor stores are nothing more than glorified convient stores. They have crappy prepackaged food, toiletries, dog-food. Then the have beer and wine, and behind the counter theirs the hard stuff that you need to ask the attendant to get for you. The environment is bad, the service is unfriendly and sterile, and the selection is poor.
Now in Georgia, where the state motto is "Justice, Wisdom, Moderation," that just don't fly ya'll. You see when I or a fellow Atlantan is fixing for the good stuff, we want selection, cleanliness, and good service. (Unless its Sunday, the Lord's day, where you can't buy alcohol in this state except at a bar or restaurant. But that's another entry). And where's the best place to get all three of those things: the North Decatur Package Store.
The selection at the North Decatur Package Store is unmatched. While some other package stores in Atlanta may be larger, they don't fill that space with anything of value. Here you can find all your old favorites, along with new offerings across the liquor spectrum. They also carry an impressive amount of Belgium/Belgium style beers and a large selections of wines.
But the service is what I love most about it. Do you want to buy your booze from an upstanding, smartly dressed individual? Or do you want to buy it from a 6'3" 250 pounder, with the ever classic balding but long hair, and an ear ring? And while his appearance is endearing, so is his attitude. He's given my friend Leon at least a dozen glasses (some of which I've taken). And the other guys working their are characters as well, missing teeth and/or sporting haircuts which weren't fashionable 30 years ago.
When its all said and done, I think we should be able to purchase alcohol wherever we want and whatever day we want (but alas, I digress). But, if your state requires that you buy and sell liquor in a special store there's a right way to do it. And the North Decatur Package store does it right.
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so, you inspired me to make the Ahi I bought for tonight's dinner different from my usual sesame oil and wasabi-saki sauce Ahi (which by the way, is darn good). I cut the Ahi steaks in even sections, like blocks, so they would saute evenly. I then sprinkled salt and fresh ground pepper on each side. rolled it lightly in bread crumbs and seared it on the flat grill pan we have for about 45 seconds on each side. I removed it from the pan. Next I melted a Tablespoon of butter and threw in a garlic clove, a chalet clove, and a half cup of wine and let it reduce. Sliced the Ahi in a delicate fan and Poured the sauce over the Ahi and served it with green beans that were par boiled and then pan grilled with garlic cloves and a pinch of salt. Pretty yummy. Oh yeah, did i forget to mention the fat netting?
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