About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 9, 2024)
4B Weekend Edition-February 9-10, 2024 The Times, Gainesville, Georgia I gainesvilletimes.com LIFE Eat More Empanadas brings Venezuelan flavor to Oakwood BY DONNELL SUGGS dsuggs@gainesvilletimes.com There are many ways to fill an empanada, and an Oakwood restau rant is in business to try and find out just how many there are. Eat More Empanadas by Kom- aos is a family-owned Venezuelan restaurant franchise that opened in Oakwood in early November 2023. Along with its location in Law- renceville, there are plans to open another Komaos location in Sandy Springs this year, according to co owner and manager Karla Melendez. The restaurant is located directly across the parking lot from a Walmart, one of the key reasons the family decided to bring Eat More Empanadas to Hall County, Melen dez said. “The Venezuelan people live here, and Oakwood is very close to Flowery Branch and Gainesville,'’ said Melendez, a mother of two sons. “This is a very American city, but it has a Hispanic culture too.” Eat More Empanadas, which is located inside a small shopping cen ter, has five booths and 10 tables. The walls are bare at the moment, but that is because the move was quick in order to take over the space previously occupied by a Korean restaurant. There are two flat screen TVs on the walls, but there are plans to add Venezuelan art to the walls. “We wanted to open in order to serve all the cultures in Oakwood because all of the Hispanic cultures have a type of empanadas,” said Melendez. Future plans also include adding catering services, Melendez said. “There is a taste here for everyone,” she said. Living up to its name, the empa nadas menu at Eat More Empanadas is vast and includes shredded beef, chicken, cheese, sausage, pulled pork, spicy pork and chili beans empanadas. There are also empa nadas with combinations of fill ings such as jalapeno and cheese, Eat More Empanadas by Komaos Where: 3885 Mundy Mill Rd., Suite 104, Gainesville Hours: 7 a.m-10 p.m. Mon.- Thurs.; 7 a.m.-12 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday More info: www.instagram.com/ eatmorempanadas/ fish and shrimp, beans and cheese, mashed potatoes and cheese, and the pabellon, which translated to Eng lish means pavilion. The national dish of Venezuela, the pabellon empanada is filled with black beans, sweet plantains, cheese and shred ded beef. Melendez said the carne asada empanadas has been the most popu lar order since the restaurant opened. “It is because everyone knows that one, they know that flavor,” she said. The patacones, sandwiches that use sweet plantains in place of the bread, can be ordered with shred ded beef, grilled chicken, beef steak and pork, or as a ham-and-cheese sandwich. “Everything here is made at the moment you order,” Melendez said. “Everything is fresh.” That includes specialty menu items like the beef soup, which is made with beef ribs, potatoes and multiple vegetables and can only be ordered on the weekends. There are promotions taking place Monday through Wednesday, sort of like how Subway has sandwich deals for every day of the week. On Mon days there is a deal on two Whop pers, shredded chicken or shredded beef sandwiches served with fries and drinks. On Tuesday the pork arepas are the promo focus, and on Wednesday the pabellon is offered for a special price with a drink. Hamburgers and cachapas, which are corn pancakes with cheese or fried pork sandwiched in between, are also available to order. Photos by Donnell Suggs The Times There are plans to add Venezuelan art to the walls at Eat More Empanadas in Oakwood. The fried rice special at Eat More Empanadas by Komaos in Oakwood. The empanadas menu at Eat More Empanadas includes shredded beef, chicken, cheese, sau sage, pulled pork, spicy pork and chili beans empanadas. Ringing in the Lunar New Year with plenty of celebration BY DEEPA BHARATH Associated Press On Feb. 10, Asian Ameri can communities around the U.S. will ring in the Year of the Dragon with community carnivals, family gatherings, parades, traditional food, fire works and other festivities. In many Asian countries, it is a festival that is celebrated for several days. In diaspora communities, particularly in cultural enclaves, Lunar New Year is visibly and joyfully celebrated. In the Chinese zodiac, 2024 Vincent Thian Associated Press is the Year of the Dragon. Dif- Divers perform an underwater lion dance at the KLCC Aquaria ahead of ferent countries across Asia Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Feb. 4. celebrate the new year in many ways and may follow a different zodiac. What is the Lunar New Year? The Lunar New Year — known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea — is a major festival celebrated in several Asian countries. It is also widely celebrated by dias pora communities around the world. It begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends 15 days later on the first full moon. Because the lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, the dates of the holiday vary slightly each year, falling between late January and mid-February. What are the animals of the zodiac? Each year honors an animal based on the Chinese zodiac. The circle of 12 animals — the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig — mea sure the cycles of time. Leg end has it that a god beckoned all animals to bid him farewell before his departure from earth and only 12 of them showed up. The Vietnamese zodiac is slightly different, honoring the cat instead of the rabbit and the buffalo instead of the ox. FROM IB Kitchen Latest scores FEB. 1 Hidalgo’s Mexican Grill Location: 1310 Dawsonville Highway, Suite A, Gainesville Score: 96, Grade: A Inspector: Brady Bowen El Sombrero Mexican Grill & Cantina Location: 1705 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville Score: 95, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh Vinny’s Little Italy Location: 3616 Atlanta Highway, Suite 900, Flowery Branch Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Location: 1195 Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville Score: 97, Grade: A Inspector: Adetayo Adewolu Oakwood’s Arrow Auto Auction Location: 4712 Flat Creek Road, Oakwood Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif Chicopee Woods Golf Course Location: 2515 Atlanta Highway, Gainesville Score: 97, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif FEB. 2 Mediterranean Breeze Bar and Grill Location: 130 John W. Morrow Jr. Parkway, Suites I & J, Gainesville Score: 97, Grade: A Inspector: Adetayo Adewolu Burger and Shake 2 Location: 5866 Spout Springs Road, Suite C, Flowery Branch Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif Danny’s Donuts #3 Location: 4037 Winder H ighway, Suite 501, Flowery Branch Score: 97, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif Panda Express #2936 Location: 418 Pearl Nix Parkway SW, Gainesville Score: 99, Grade: A Inspector: Brady Bowen Dunkin Donuts Location: 1191 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville Score: 96, Grade: A Inspector: Brady Bowen McDonald’s Restaurant #27164 Location: 2105Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville Score: 99, Grade: A Inspector: Brady Bowen FEB. 5 Levy Restaurants @ Atlanta Falcons Clubhouse Location: 4400 Falcon Parkway, Flowery Branch Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brady Bowen Pizza Hut #4819 Location: 3715 Mundy Mill Road, Suite A, Oakwood Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif Dunkin Donuts #362647 Location: 5913 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch Score: 100, Grade, A Inspector: Brady Bowen Chick-Fil-A Jesse Jewell #3609 Location: 1917 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brady Bowen Taco Bell #030345 Location: 1957 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif Longstreet Cafe Location: 1043 Riverside Terrace, Gainesville Score: 91, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh FEB. 6 Cherokee Bluff Middle School Location: 5458 Union Circle, Flowery Branch Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brady Bowen Road Atlas Pizza - Base of Operation Location: 104 Washington St. NW, Gainesville Score: 98, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif Road Atlas Pizza - Mobile Location: 104 Washington St. NW, Gainesville Score: 98, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif Downtown Nutrition Location: 150 Pearl Nix Parkway, Suite B13 A, Gainesville Score: 96, Grade: A Inspector: Brady Bowen Bubble Bees Tea Location: 333 Shallowford Road, Suite B, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif Zen Ramen & Sushi Burrito Location: 115 Washington St. NE, Gainesville Score: 70, Grade: C Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh Cherokee Bluff High School Location: 6603 Spout Springs Road, Suite A &B, Flowery Branch Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brady Bowen Longstreet Cafe Too Location: 405 Pearl Nix Parkway, Gainesville Score: 90, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush Taqueria Las Palmas #2 Location: 1276 Industrial Blvd., Suite IB Score: 96, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh Atlas Pizza Location: 104 Washington St. NW, Gainesville Score: 98, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif Arby’s #5421 Location: 3652 Mundy Mill Road, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif FEB. 7 Bourbon Brothers Smokehouse and Tavern Location: 312 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville Score: 95, Grade: A Inspector: Kobi Sisengchanh Aurelio’s Mexican Restaurant #2 Location: 1856Thompson Bridge Road, Suite 109 & 110, Gainesville Score: 96, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush Smoke House BBQ & Catering Location:3205 Atlanta Highway, Gainesville Score: 95, Grade: A Inspector: Adetayo Adewolu Hibachi Express Location: 1872 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville Score: 98, Grade: A Inspector: DeShayla Bush Johnny’s BBQ Inc. Location: 1710 Cleveland Highway, Gainesville Score: 100, Grade: A Inspector: Brittney Trif Austin Steele The Times Zen Ramen & Sushi Burrito on Washington Street scored a 70 - a low "C,” defined as “marginal compliance” - when inspected by the county health department.
