LillyBlu - Newnan

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

Update: Unfortunately, LillyBlue is now closed. Please support Coweta businesses to prevent the loss of great restaurants like LillyBlu.

We’re always excited when a new locally owned restaurant opens in Coweta County!

It’s even better when the food is delicious and there is a spacious wrap around porch where you can enjoy the sunshine with your meal.

LillyBlu is located just off the square in the former Classic Café space. It retains the same small town charm of an old southern house with warm oak floors and crown molding.

The inside has been beautifully refitted to accommodate a deli style café.

We were lucky enough to go on a warm, sunny day perfect for porch sitting.

The menu consists of breakfast foods served until eleven and sandwiches and deli style sides for lunch.

I can’t stress enough how much we love breakfast food! Our favorite dinners growing up were breakfast for dinner nights. In our opinion, there aren’t nearly enough breakfast places in Coweta, so we were ecstatic to try the offerings.

LillyBlu offers two ways to dine. You can grab a ready-made sandwich and side out of the case, or you can order a craft sandwich and side from the menu.

The case is also stocked with a variety of mouth watering baked goods, including a large selection of gluten free items.

In addition to food, LillyBlu offers a full coffee bar and a selection of loose leaf teas.

We started our meal with coffee and tea, which were amazing and served in beautiful mugs handmade just for LillyBlu.

The coffee is locally roasted and was light and citrusy.

We also had to try one of the specialty coffees. The syrups are all made in house and you can tell. We tried a caramel latte topped with freshly made whipped cream. It was so delicious, exactly what an espresso drink should be.

We tried the breakfast croissant sandwich, a flaky toasted croissant stuffed with crisp, perfectly cooked bacon, cheesy buttered eggs and sausage.

We also got the chorizo hash with a side of grits.

It is a concoction of savory fried potatoes and ground chorizo sausage topped with sour cream, a tangy cilantro sauce and a golden sunny side up egg. It was a flavorful combination of spicy and zesty.

The grits, which were hearty enough to make a meal, were so creamy, with a pleasing cheesy garlic flavor. They were by far our favorite part of the meal.

If you have a craving for elegantly presented artisan pastries, the LillyBlu pastry case will be your nirvana.

It was a tough choice when you have options such as a strawberry lemon tart, chocolate trifle or a cream stuffed canola. We finally settled on the raspberry lime donut, New York style cheesecake and strawberry lemon tart.

Citrus seems to be theme for the spring, which was perfect for us. The strawberry tart was a light fruity, lemony filling inside a thick, flaky crust topped with cream and fresh strawberries. Unbelievably delicious.

The New York cheesecake was also to die for. It was thick, creamy and very flavorful.

As regular readers know, we can’t resist an artisan donut and the raspberry lime confection perfectly fit the bill. The bread was moist, yeasty and not too sweet. The berry lime icing was sweet and summery.

Since we loved the breakfast food so much, we decided we must go back for lunch.

This time, we tried two of the sandwiches. The fried pork sandwich was a perfectly battered and fried nod to the south on a roll.

The vegetable sandwich was a mass of lightly sautéed veggies served on chewy, herb filled focaccia bread.

Of course we had to dip back into the pastry case. We decided to go with good old-fashioned staples.

The cinnamon bun was perfect. It was an explosion of yeasty cinnamony goodness topped with a sugary icing.

The macaroons were unbelievable. They were almost juicy on the inside while retaining a golden crunchy crust on the outside.

We loved that the portion sizes were perfect. We felt completely full without being stuffed after cleaning our plates.

Beside a chilled case of bottled beverages, you can find a selection of cookbooks or buy a pound of Fire Mountain Coffee. LillyBlu also offers custom cakes from their bakery.

Follow LillyBlu on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with ever changing daily offerings or get sneak peaks of their elegant cakes.

Barrington Farms Apiary - Newnan

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

Spring is in the air! Looking around Coweta, you can see the flowers starting to burst into bloom. And then there is the pollen.

The invisible sneeze maker and the not so invisible yellow coating on our cars and decks.

Those tiny granules that we find so annoying represent life.

We got the opportunity to witness one of the most important steps in the human food chain with Steve Page, president of Coweta Beekeepers Association and the owner of Barrington Farms Apiary.

He was kind enough to invite us to one of the several colonies he has around Coweta County.

We arrived at the hives excited and also a little nervous about being in such close proximity to thousands of stinging insects.

We visited the hives at the perfect time of year. The bees are busy gathering pollen and nectar and are just beginning to turn them into the fragrant, sticky honey that we love to eat!

When it comes to bees, Steve is passionate and effusive. He is a great teacher and explains the ins and outs of honey bees in simple, easy to understand terms.

Steve became interested in beekeeping around 2007 when he realized his vegetable garden wasn’t living up to its full potential because of the lack of pollinators.

He decided to remedy the problem by investing in beehives and raising his own pollinators. He became fascinated with the beekeeping process. “It’s cheaper than a bass boat and it keeps me out of trouble” he quipped.

At first, the process left him frustrated as the cold winters killed off his colonies. Purchasing new queens was a risky venture, as he never knew if the queen would even arrive on his doorstep dead or alive.

Instead of throwing in the veil like many new beekeepers, he immersed himself in the subject and studied the methods of other successful beekeepers.

He realized that the only way to be successful was to practice sustainable beekeeping. In order to achieve that, he invented a new beekeeping method for Coweta County by taking the sustainable practices of well-known keepers from around the country and adapting them to fit the conditions of this area.

And his method is working. In Georgia, the average rate of colony loss over the winter is 33 percent. Steve has reduced that over winter loss to around 16 percent using his sustainable methods.

We have to be honest, getting the chance to look inside of a working beehive is one of the most fascinating things we have ever done.

To look at the plain white boxes that house the colonies, you wouldn’t imagine the drama that is playing out just inside the wooden frames. Hive happenings are enough to make daytime soap operas seem dull and uninspired.

The first step of getting inside the hive is to smoke the bees with a cool, white pine smoke. This masks the pheromones that the bees rely on to communicate.

The smoke also serves to distract them. To bees, smoke means fire and they will try to consume as much of their precious honey as possible so they can carry it away in their digestive system before their home burns.

Of course it isn’t a real forest fire, but the distraction works perfectly and as Steve pries the top off the super (beekeeper speak for the colony boxes), the honey bees are surprisingly calm.

Almost instantly, we can smell the aromatic scents of sweet, flowery honey in the making.

After all his bee experience, Steve is still fascinated by the little insects. “It’s amazing how perfect they make their world” he marvels as he holds up a frame with faultlessly uniform hexagonal wax formations.

We could see many of the worker bees with their abdomens sticking out of the cells eating honey like there was no tomorrow.

The majority of the bees are female. They feed and raise the young, clean the hive, make the honey, forage and store nectar and pollen and care for the queen. The males, called drones, mate with a virgin queen to make new little bees.

Unfortunately for them, mating signals the end of their usefulness and they die shortly afterwards. They also have no stinger. It’s a tough life for boy honey bees.

The main concern of the hive is the queen. Without her, the population cannot grow and much of the drama centers on her.

Like every other honey bee the queen begins her life as an egg. Queen eggs are larger and as they progress through the stages of life, are only fed on royal jelly. This produces a bee that is noticeably larger than any other in the colony.

The fully formed queen emerges out of her wax-capped cell with a mission. She must be the only queen in the hive.

She makes a high-pitched sound (called piping) that calls all other virgin queens to come to her so they can fight to the death. Unlike all other female bees, the queens have a barbless stinger that allows her to sting multiple times without perishing.

The last virgin queen left takes over the colony. Her only job is to produce as many offspring as possible over the span of her life. Because all other female bees are sterile, it’s up to her to ensure the continuity of the hive.

The queen lays up to 2,000 eggs a day. She can fly up to five miles away to find suitable drones to mate with. Since drones can only fly a couple of miles from home, flying so far ensures a good genetic variety among the colonies.

The queen is constantly fed with royal jelly to ensure she stays strong, healthy and able to continuously lay eggs.

When new queen eggs are laid, the ruling queen takes around 70 percent of the hive and they fly away to find a new home. She lands on high up and the colony gathers all around her. Scout bees leave the swarm to find the perfect new place to build a hive (often a hollow tree).

We were lucky enough to visit at a time when part of a colony had just swarmed. Hundreds of honey bees were clustered together on a pine bough. We were astonished as Steve stuck his hand right on top of the swarm.

He explained to us that he could do this because the bees had no brood or honey to protect and so were not in a fighting mood.

We weren’t brave enough to test this and just watched in fascination as the bees calmly crawled around his hand.

He enjoys getting a little more up close and personal with the bees than we ever would. “I’m a crazy beekeeper” he told us, and then proved it by scooping his finger through the golden honey and sticking it directly into the hive.

The bees began to crawl on his finger licking up the honey with their long tongues (called a proboscis). The bees love the honey.

Honey is their lifeblood. It is how they make it through the winter so they can go on to make more little bees.

Caring for the brood is an extremely important part of maintaining the hive and many of the workers have tasks that just revolve around getting the young from eggs to full adults.

We got a chance to see some of the tiny curved eggs. They were so small that you have to get in very close to look at them.

Once the eggs hatch to larva, the bees are fed for a while on royal jelly and then honey and pollen. The pollen provides the source of protein that helps them mature into adult bees.

So that gritty powder that coats the world in the spring is the way plants reproduce. The bees help that by moving the pollen from the plant to plant. This makes the plants more productive, which gives us, and the animals we eat, a source of food.

Steve told us of a colony he placed by a cow field. The bees pollinated the clover that grew in the field, so that the next year the cows had more clover to eat, which is a better source of nutrients that grass. In turn, the cow’s milk production increased and the farmers had a better yield.

Not only are honey bees responsible for increasing our food yield, but they also make an incredibly delicious sweetener that is purported to have numerous health benefits.

Steve sells his honey at The Country Gardens store and at 180 Degree Farms. He also teaches workshops on sustainable beekeeping. Workshops are open to all members of Coweta Beekeepers Association. Membership is only $20, and anyone is welcome, even those outside of Coweta County.

You can visit the Coweta Sustainable Beekeeping Facebook to learn more about meetings, workshops and other upcoming events. Be sure to visit their website and subscribe to the newsletter. Steve sends out handy reminders to beekeepers to let them know what they should be attending to in their hive.

Steve has exciting future plans for expanding Barrington Farms Apiary and educating anyone who wants to learn on beekeeping in a sustainable way, so be sure to follow him.

Outside Coweta - The King's Donuts - Fairburn

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

We are not really big fans of the month of February. It’s generally unbearably cold (to our native Georgian sensibilities) and aside from Valentine’s Day it is relatively uneventful.

Finding anything that adds joy to this dreary month is a big plus, and what could be more joyful than a dose of comfort food?

Donuts may be the ultimate comfort food for us. Growing up, sugar was a treat that was almost never allowed, but every once in a while our dad would show up with a box of powdered sugar donuts for us to split.

With such positive feelings regarding this sugary pastry, we were excited to discover a local donut shop not too far away.

The King’s Donuts is a locally owned, faith-based business off of Highway 74 in Fairburn. They have been open almost a year now.

They offer a daily selection of freshly made gourmet donuts, croissants, cronuts and fritters. They also have a full coffee bar and breakfast sandwiches.

The décor, which we dubbed suburban gothic, is spacious and inviting. There are two gas fireplaces with large, leather armchairs cozied up nearby.

An imposing tiered iron chandelier draws the eye to the ceiling and the walls are lined with dark paneled wood accentuated with iron studs.

Despite the imposing décor, our eyes were immediately drawn to the two large cases on the counter, which were stocked with the freshly baked goods.

There were your classic glazed, Bavarian cream and old fashioned as well as creative flavors like almond joy, caramel apple and butterfinger.

They all looked delicious, but we weren’t sure if the taste would match the looks.

We don’t think we exaggerate when we say these donuts are exquisite.

You can taste the fresh, real ingredients. Each type of donut has a rich, true to kind flavor.

We tried several of the flavors and liked them all equally.

We also tried one of the non-donut pastries.

The King’s log is a decadent maple and bacon confection. It was the perfect combination of salty sweetness.

Of course we had to get coffee to go with our donuts. The King’s Donuts brews Safehouse Coffee Roasters blends. There is also a selection of Rituals tea for those who prefer tea.

We think this is the perfect place to go to catch up with an old friend. There are two large televisions if you need a place to go hang out and get away from life for a few minutes.

Beginning February 14th, The King’s Donuts is open seven days a week. They have regular hours, but sometimes close early if they sell out of donuts.

Follow the King's Donuts Facebook page for updates about what’s baking and upcoming events. If you try these donuts, please let us know what you think and what flavor you can’t live without.

Yesterday's Kitchen 4 Today - Newnan

Update: Unfortunately, Yesterday’s Kitchen Today is now closed. Please support Coweta businesses to prevent the loss of area businesses.

As soon as we walked in the door of Yesterday’s Kitchen 4 Today, the warm smell of freshly baked bread enveloped us and made our mouths water.

Yesterday’s Kitchen is a brand new shop located in a cute house past the square on Jefferson Street. The store is stocked with fresh fruit and vegetables, goat’s milk, whole grains and a variety of appliances.

This shop is about much more than the items that line the shelves. It’s about a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.

Owner, Marsha Thadison is a sincere, passionate woman who truly believes in the power of food to heal or sicken.

Up until recently, the food people consumed was virtually unprocessed and came from healthy farm animals.

The methods people used to preserve and store extra food, such as fermenting, often increased nutrition and added probiotics that support gut health.

These traditional methods of farming and food preparation suddenly changed as chemical preservatives and corporate farming practices took over.

This is especially apparent in the mushy, white loaves of bread that have almost no resemblance to a loaf freshly baked with whole grains.

Marsha explained to us that farmers began separating the grain and feeding the nutritious parts to the cattle. In order to compensate for the lack of nutrition, manufacturers would add vitamins back to the bread.

The result was bread that lacked fiber and could not compete with the vitamins and mineral content of unprocessed whole grains, as well as cattle that were ill from a diet that does not suit their digestive system.

This cheap method of grain processing is making both people and animals sick.

Marsha points out that low and no income families suffer the most.

She began researching the increasingly unethical practices of big farming corporations and seed companies around ten years ago.

She was outraged by what she learned. These companies were covering up problems, patenting seeds, and pumping their animals full of hormones and antibiotics.

Her heavy research led her to the conclusion that food and health are inseparable and eating well is attainable for any income level. Yesterday’s Kitchen 4 Today operates on these beliefs.

Marsha has found that eating well does not have to be expensive. The process begins with whole foods and smart preparation and storage.

The shelves of Yesterday’s Kitchen are stocked with a bounty of grains in different shades of gold.

Marsha sells these grains in bulk, as well as smaller portions. The whole grains can be milled immediately to make bread, pizza dough, cookies, waffles or anything grain based or it can be stored. If properly prepared, the grains will keep for decades.

Marsha loves to bake using whole grains. We were delighted to sample some of her spelt bread and homemade strawberry honey jam. The bread was rich and deeply flavored. It doesn’t even compare to store bought whole grain bread.

The bread and jam were both made in one of the bread makers stocked in Yesterday’s Kitchen. The store has a variety of tools that are versatile and useful for turning whole ingredients into nutritious foods.

Marsha’s true passion is teaching the next generation how to be self sufficient and healthy. She believes that health begins and ends with food. With nutritious food, there is a decline in chronic diseases such as diabetes, gout and heart disease.

Yesterday’s Kitchen hosts frequent workshops aimed at teaching food health from saving seeds to fermenting produce. They also have yogurt makers, ice cream makers, grain mills, bread makers and several more appliances.

In addition to fresh food and whole grains, Yesterday’s Kitchen has heirloom seeds, educational books, Himalayan salt, military grade food storage bags, and much more.

The shop is open every day except Saturdays. You can find out about upcoming workshops and classes on the Yesterday’s Facebook page or follow them on Twitter.

We highly recommend that you stop in at the shop. You may be lucky enough to get there just as some fresh bread or waffles are done!

Garlic Thai - Newnan

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We adore a good patio dining experience, and Garlic Thai in downtown Newnan has a cute little sidewalk patio!

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

In addition to the charming atmosphere created by sunny yellow walls with an exposed brick wall on one side, Garlic Thai has amazing cuisine.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We started out our meal with cups of tea.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Both the jasmine tea and the Thai iced tea were delicious. One was light and flowery, while the other was thick, milky and syrupy sweet.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We arrived at the restaurant beyond the point of hunger, so we immediately ordered coconut soup to stave off a state of hangry.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We’ve never really met a cup of coconut soup we didn’t like, and this was no exception. The green onions floating on top really brought out the rich, salty flavor of the broth.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

After we felt we had enough food in us to have a civil conversation with each other, we ordered a California roll to share.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The crab and avocado were very fresh, and the robust flavor of the sesame seeds on top was a nice addition.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Susan is a huge pad Thai fan, so she ordered the Garlic Thai version, which was loaded with shrimp and peanuts. She was very impressed with the delicious, chewy glass noodles and the buttery shrimp flavor that permeated the dish.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We also tried one of the specials, the curry puff, a flaky potato based pastry served with yellow curry sauce and a sweet cucumber salad. The green curry potato paste that filled the fried shell was just the right level of spice.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The heartiness of the dish made it extremely filling. We couldn’t resist ordering dessert to finish our meal.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The durian cheesecake was heavenly. The creaminess was cut by the fibrous durian fruit. It was not too sweet and almost had the flavor of a hard cheese. It was drizzled with a delicious fresh raspberry sauce and served with whipped cream and cherries.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The red bean ice cream was a nice summer treat. It was served in a triangular slice and topped with chocolate sauce, whipped cream and cherries.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

It actually tasted pleasantly fruity and the creamy dessert was extra textured, almost grainy.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We left the restaurant full of delicious food with the well wishes of the extremely friendly staff. Garlic Thai is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. You can also order the food to be delivered to your home. Check out their Facebook page for changing menu items and specials. If you have ever dined at Garlic Thai, we would love to know what your favorite dish is!

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Meat N Greet - Newnan

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

There is one restaurant in Newnan that we find ourselves consistently drawn to.

We are frequent diners at Meat N Greet in downtown Newnan.

Ever since they opened their doors to the public a little over a year ago, Meat N Greet has been a staple for Cowetans looking for a relaxed environment and amazing casual American cuisine.

The interior of the restaurant is decorated a trendy blend of reclaimed barn wood, natural stone and upcycled light fixtures.

Located right across from Full Circle Toys on the square, Meat N Greet serves up craft beers and boutique burgers.

We visited on a fine spring day and chose to sit on their newly opened patio. The weather was perfect with sun’s rays softened by a light breeze.

We decided to celebrate the perfect weather by enjoying a honeysuckle martini. Neither of us are huge drinkers, but for those who like to indulge, the adult beverage menu includes an extensive selection of microbrews, wines and specialty cocktails. The Moscow mule, a Meat N Greet favorite, is delicious.

This cocktail turned out to be an amazing choice for a patio lunch. It was a refreshing vodka martini with flowery citrus notes.

We grabbed some onion tangles for an appetizer. Having dined here often, we knew we were getting into some sinfully fried territory. The havoc eating a massive plate of fried onions wreaks on your stomach later is worth the crispy, breaded treat that is a pile of onion tangles.

The Meet N Greet menu includes a selection of unique appetizers, hot dogs and burgers. There are vegetarian options for both burgers and dogs. We got a burger with fries and a hot dog with veggies on the side.

The one eyed willie is indescribably delicious. A juicy burger is piled with lettuce, onions, bacon and cheddar cheese. The whole burger is topped with a fried egg and finished off with smoky tomato jam. Meet N Greet fries are made from scratch in house and you can taste it. They are perfectly seasoned with a hearty potato flavor and just a slight sweetness.

The textbook dog comes with all the traditional hot dog toppings including ketchup, mustard and relish. Since Rebekah is a vegetarian, she ordered the meat free dog. It honestly tastes pretty similar to a pork dog and was absolutely spot on with the textbook toppings.

Meet N Greet offers in season vegetables as a side option. They just happen to be Brussels sprouts at the moment, which despite the universal negative reviews from children forced to eat their veggies, happens to be one of our favorites. They did not disappoint. They were caramelized in a sweet bourbon vinegar based glaze and sprinkled with pecans and a peppery seasoning.

Of course we had to try dessert. We don’t normally get dessert, but it was a treat yourself kind of day, so we went for it.

The bourbon pecan bar came with a scoop of cold, sweet vanilla bean ice cream. It was a little slice of brown sugary, buttery heaven. It is definitely a quintessentially southern dessert.

We also tried the moonpie bread pudding. We were a little hesitant about this one, but the server highly recommended it so we decided to give it a shot. We are very glad we did. It was amazing. It was served in a cute little jelly jar. The dessert was rich and buttery with an almost cake like consistency.

By the time lunch was over, we were so full we practically had to roll ourselves out of the restaurant. Meet N Greet is open seven days a week from eleven to eleven. You can follow their Facebook page to get updates on specialty menu items and beverages.

Fabiano's - Newnan

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Besides amazing food, one of the top things we look for in a restaurant is atmosphere. We have never liked the cookie cutter interior décor or the forced atmosphere of the national chain restaurants. We love going to Fabiano's and knowing it is one of a kind.

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

The individuality of Fabiano's is apparent as soon as you walk in the door. From the stamped tin tiles on the ceiling, to the concrete floors Fabiano’s embodies a hip casualness. The walls are filled with local art. Fabiano’s is adjacent to The Alamo, a fun downtown bar. Together, they once made up the town’s only movie theater. The space was later turned into a gift shop until 2004 when it was converted into a restaurant, bar and music venue.

We arrived at Fabiano’s with huge appetites. A sign at the entrance encourages you to seat yourself. We ordered two appetizers to take the edge off of our hunger. The caprese salad was fresh and incredibly delicious. Flavorful tomatoes and sliced mozzarella were laid on a bed of fresh, crisp greens. The salad was seasoned to perfection and topped with fresh herbs.

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

The garlic knots were doughy balls of bread drowning in a rich, buttery garlic sauce. They were served with a thin, tangy marinara sauce for dipping.

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Fabiano’s has a very well rounded menu for a local pizza parlor. In addition to the traditional pizza and calzones, they offer several Italian dishes such as baked ziti and lasagna, as well as sandwiches, burgers and wings. Fabiano’s also offers an impressive beer and wine list and a number of specialty cocktails crafted by the Alamo’s bartenders.

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

We chose classic pizzeria fare for our appetizers. You can order an entire pizza or just a slice of your choice. We got a slice of pepperoni pizza. Fabiano’s serves their pies New York style. The giant slices come with generous toppings. There were two layers of spicy pepperoni on the lightly cheesed pizza.

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Our calzone was huge. Cheese and olives were stuffed into a perfectly browned crispy crust. The calzones are served with a thick, hearty pizza sauce for dipping.

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Even though we were so full from our meal, we couldn’t resist ordering some of the tasty looking desserts. The tiramisu was creamy with only a slight hint of coffee. We liked that it was not overly sweet. 

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

We also got chocolate chip cannoli. The hard chocolate shell was filled with thick, rich and sweet mascarpone and chocolate chips. The dessert was served with two generous dollops of light, sweet whipped cream.

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

By the time we finished our desserts, we were stuffed to the brim. The plate portions are so generous that you could easily have a full meal with just an entree. We also love the prices. We got two appetizers, two entrees and two desserts for around thirty dollars.

© 2015 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Fabiano’s has frequent special events and drink specials. They have several big screen TVs that are perfect for viewing big sports games. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with upcoming events and promotions. We are frequent customers at Fabiano's, so if you see us, please be sure to say hi!

Leaf and Bean - Newnan

Leaf and Bean Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

When it comes to coffee, we consume it with varying degrees of enthusiasm. One of us enjoys a nicely crafted espresso drink on rare occasions, and one of us believes that coffee is life-giving nectar of the gods.

Leaf and Bean Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Leaf & Bean, a coffee shop in downtown Newnan, has something for each of us.

Leaf and Bean Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

In addition to the usual drip coffee, tea and espresso beverages of a coffee shop, they also serve an assortment of café foods and desserts. Those looking to unwind after a long day, can choose a beer or wine from the adult beverage menu.

Leaf and Bean Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We love the atmosphere of Leaf and Bean. It’s a small cozy shop with black and white tiled floors, tons of exposed brick and Edison bulb light fixtures.

Leaf and Bean Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The walls are liberally dotted with original artwork by local artists. Comfy stuffed chairs and sofas invite guests to relax while enjoying their beverages.

Leaf and Bean Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Leaf and Bean offers smart choices for the health conscious as well as decadent treats for those wishing to indulge. 

Leaf and Bean Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Among the healthier foods available, is a daily selection of fresh pressed juice. We tried the carrot, celery and apple juice.

Leaf and Bean Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

It was bright orange with a lightly sweet vegetable flavor. It was very good and so filling that it could serve as a meal replacement.

Leaf and Bean Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The chicken salad, served on a buttery, flaky croissant, came in generous portions. It was flavorful without being overly heavy on the mayonnaise, a huge plus for us.

Leaf and Bean Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We loved the hummus black bean wrap. It was a tasty way to get in several servings of vegetables. The pita wrap was spread with a spicy black bean hummus and stuffed with shredded carrots, greens and fresh tomatoes.

Leaf and Bean Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Each meal comes with a choice of chips or seasonal fruit. We were good and chose the fruit. We may have negated any healthy benefits of the fresh fruit by next trying a few of the handcrafted espresso drinks and fresh baked goods.

Leaf and Bean Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Nothing goes so well together as a great cup of coffee and a perfectly made pastry.

Leaf and Bean Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The vanilla cupcake was dense and moist with a strong vanilla bean flavor. The icing was thick and sweet.

Leaf and Bean Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

This treat nicely complemented the caramel macchiato. It was creamy with a hint of vanilla flavor and a drizzle of caramel on top of the whipped cream. It could have been a dessert by itself.

Leaf and Bean Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Danish is a traditional breakfast pastry, but we got crazy and had one in the late afternoon. We like that it is not overly sweet. The delicious cream cheese filling was accompanied by a sweet cherry jam with a light icing drizzled across the entire pastry.

Leaf and Bean Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We also got a plain latte. The simple nature of this drink brings out the espresso flavor. It was sweet and smoky with a slight hint of caramel, exactly the way espresso should taste.

Leaf and Bean Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Leaf and Bean is open seven days a week. They offer wine tastings, healthy cooking classes and monthly yoga sessions near the Newnan square.

Leaf and Bean Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Be sure to follow the Leaf and Bean Facebook page to be notified of upcoming events, special promotions and giveaways.

Leaf and Bean Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Maguire's - Senoia

Maguire's Senoia, GA Coweta County Restaurant © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Since The Walking Dead began filming in Senoia, many amazing new shops and restaurants have opened their doors. Maguire’s, an Irish pub and restaurant located below the Redneck Gourmet, predates the zombie invasion of Senoia.

Maguire's Senoia, GA Coweta County Restaurant © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The menu is a mixture of traditional Irish dishes and more contemporary American pub fare.

Maguire's Senoia, GA Coweta County Restaurant © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Maguire’s experience begins with a steep descent down a narrow brick staircase and through a heavy wooden door into the dark, richly decorated pub.

Maguire's Senoia, GA Coweta County Restaurant © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The dark wooden furniture, deep red exposed brick and beefy hewed ceiling beams magnify the darkness of the basement restaurant. The natural plank floors and the bronze colored stamped tin ceiling tiles add a touch of warmth to the darkness.

Maguire's Senoia, GA Coweta County Restaurant © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The dim lighting and dark décor do not combine to make Maguire’s in any way gloomy. Instead, the atmosphere is lively and patrons always seem to be having a great time.

Maguire's Senoia, GA Coweta County Restaurant © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The walls are decorated with beautifully photographed black and white prints. There are also a few Irish artifacts and architectural drawings scattered throughout the restaurant.

Maguire's Senoia, GA Coweta County Restaurant © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Maguire's Senoia, GA Coweta County Restaurant © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We arrived on a hot day with giant appetites after walking around the downtown shops. We were extremely happy to be immediately served pretzel sticks with mustard. The crunchy pretzels tasted amazing with the tangy mustard.

Maguire's Senoia, GA Coweta County Restaurant © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We loved the pretzel sticks so much that we decided to try the pretzel appetizer. These were a more traditional soft pretzel served with a sharp cheese sauce. The yeasty pretzels came out hot and salty and were so delicious when dipped into the sharp cheddar cheese sauce.

Maguire's Senoia, GA Coweta County Restaurant © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We ordered three entrees from our friendly waitress. The Asian chicken sandwich was a grilled chicken breast on a fresh bun with buffalo sauce, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. It made a delicious sandwich with the vegetables nicely complimenting the sharp cheese and tangy sauce.

Maguire's Senoia, GA Coweta County Restaurant © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The bangers and mash, the United Kingdom name for sausage and mashed potatoes, was a satisfyingly simple dish. The potatoes were mashed with the skins on and were buttery and extremely flavorful. The bangers were spiced with traditional sausage flavors and were a savory addition to the meal. It came with fresh, buttery sautéed spinach on the side.

Maguire's Senoia, GA Coweta County Restaurant © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Our third entrée was from the seafood section of the menu. The salmon cakes with roasted potatoes were delicious. The cakes were made with ground salmon mixed with a variety of fresh vegetables. The salmon flavor was not overwhelming and blended perfectly with the carrots, onions and peppers. They came with a tart horseradish based sauce that went very well with the salmon cakes. The roasted potatoes were done to perfection. They were not over seasoned and the simple potato flavor was allowed to shine through. This entrée was served with a side of buttery broccoli.

Maguire's Senoia, GA Coweta County Restaurant © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The menu seems to be composed of simple palatable foods. The true flavors of the basic ingredients are emphasized, instead of covered. Maguire’s is an excellent restaurant to get plain, simple food with few frills.

Maguire's Senoia, GA Coweta County Restaurant © Susan Crutchfield Photography

They offer an excellent wine list as well as specialty mixed drinks and desserts. They have a large selection of dessert drinks and espresso based coffees.

Maguire's Senoia, GA Coweta County Restaurant © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Maguire’s contributes extensively to the community through charitable donations. Since they opened, they have given around thirty thousand dollars to local charities.

Maguire's Senoia, GA Coweta County Restaurant © Susan Crutchfield Photography

They offer a private dining experience for those wishing to host events at the restaurant. They also have a rewards program that offers deals and discounts to loyal customers.

Maguire's Senoia, GA Coweta County Restaurant © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We had a great time at Maguire’s and were very impressed with the friendliness of the entire staff. We highly recommend giving this restaurant a try! Follow Maguire's on Facebook to learn about upcoming events and special menu items.

Classic Café - Newnan

Update: Unfortunately, Classic Café is now closed. Please support Coweta businesses to prevent the loss of great restaurants like Classic Cafe.

Because we were both born and raised in the Deep South, classic southern cuisine is our first choice for comfort food. We associate it with warm hospitality and relaxed family gatherings where everyone brings a covered dish.

Classic Café delivers the essence of southern cooking while drawing in contemporary elements. The restaurant is housed in a cozy two story historic home just off the square in downtown Newnan. The wraparound porch offers outdoor seating with a great view of other historic homes. We decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and sit outside

Classic Cafe Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The chef uses organic, locally grown vegetables in his dishes, so the menu changes somewhat each season. We started our meal with two very different appetizers. The watermelon prosciutto salad was light and crisp with a drizzle of tangy citrus vinaigrette.

Watermelon Salad Classic Cafe Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We found this salad the perfect appetizer for a hot summer day. The melon balls were cool and refreshing and harmonized quite nicely with the tart, fruity flavors of the dressing. Unfortunately, the chef was out of the prosciutto, so we did not get to experience the salad as it is normally served.

Classic Cafe Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Our second appetizer was the old classic poutine, a traditional French Canadian dish. This is comfort food at its best. The crisp fries are smothered in hearty gravy and topped with a generous layer of melted cheddar cheese. The contrasting textures of the crispy French fries and the soft gravy soaked ones made this dish a huge hit with us.

Poutine Classic Cafe Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Just as we finished our appetizers, the wind kicked up and a torrential rainstorm drove us inside. The distressed golden wood floors, polished French doors and the pumpkin colored walls create the intimacy you would expect in an 1800s house turned into a restaurant. The mac burger is a decadent southern creation of fried mac-n-cheese, apple cider smoked bacon and fresh vegetables all stacked between two beef patties and buns. It was every bit as delicious as it sounds. Their house chips are fresh and crispy with plenty of salt.

Mac n Cheese Burger Classic Cafe Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We also ordered the pimento-n-cheese croissant, but regrettably they were out of croissants. They were able to substitute wheat bread, which went nicely with the fresh taste of tomatoes and greens. The pimento cheese was perfect. The cheddar was sharp and perfectly seasoned. We chose the fried mac-n-cheese as a side. This was surprisingly delicious. The mac-n-cheese was mild and buttery, and the deep-frying process added a flaky golden crust. Can you get more southern than deep fried mac-n-cheese? It may seem like we went overboard on the cheese, but we have yet to meet a cheese based dish we don’t like. 

Pimento Cheese Classic Cafe Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The service at Classic Café is exceptional. Our server was very courteous in handling the few mistakes and ingredient outages that occurred throughout our meal. After we had paid and it was still pouring, she walked us out to the parking lot with an umbrella, getting soaked so she could help us to the car.

Classic Cafe Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We spotted some tasty looking cinnamon rolls on the way in but were sadly too full to find out if they taste as good as they look. The average entrée is 12 dollars. They do a Sunday brunch and offer catering and special event options. Be sure to follow them on Facebook to keep up to date on new menu items and take advantage of their frequent specials.

Whitley Farms - Sharpsburg

We love spending time outdoors and we love fresh fruit, so we were sure that we would really enjoy picking our own fruit on Whitley Farms in Sharpsburg. We have often seen the brightly colored signs around Thomas Crossroads featuring large berries with arrows pointing the way, but had never been to this farm tucked away off a side road of Lower Fayetteville.

Whitley Farms Sharpsburg, GA ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

Whitley Farms is a local, family owned operation that grows a large variety of fruits and vegetables using sustainable, pesticide free methods. They sell their produce from a cute wooden stand and also offer their yields through a community supported agriculture (CSA) program.

Whitley Farms Sharpsburg, GA ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

Looking around the stand at all the plump berries, we couldn’t wait to get out in the fields and fill our buckets.

Whitley Farms Sharpsburg, GA ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

Whitley Farms Sharpsburg, GA ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

You can pick as many berries as you like and pay by the pound.

Whitley Farms Sharpsburg, GA ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The blueberry bushes and blackberry canes were drooping with tons of juicy berries. More than half of them were ripe.

Whitley Farms Sharpsburg, GA ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The plants are set up in neat rows with wide spaces between that make the fruit very accessible.

Whitley Farms Sharpsburg, GA ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

We found moving down the rows in the warm sunshine filling our baskets with berries a very peaceful experience. The open fields create a light breeze, and there is a rhythm in harvesting fruit that is calming.

Whitley Farms Sharpsburg, GA ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

Although Whitley Farms uses no pesticides on their crops, we saw very few bugs.

Whitley Farms Sharpsburg, GA ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

Whitley Farms Sharpsburg, GA ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

Our only blackberry picking experiences before this were of harvesting wild blackberries from the woods. Picking them on a farm is a very different experience without the sweat, blood and general trauma that comes from hiking into a thicket of wild blackberry canes.

Whitley Farms Sharpsburg, GA ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

We saw several children having fun trying learning to identify the ripe fruit and making a contest of finding the biggest berries.

Whitley Farms Sharpsburg, GA ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

As we dreamed about running away from home to become farm workers harvesting fruit outside all day, we realized we had filled our buckets. Back at the stand, we stocked up on fresh vegetables and fruits.

Whitley Farms Sharpsburg, GA ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

Whitley Farms Sharpsburg, GA ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

We love the taste of locally grown produce and had a hard time limiting our purchases. They also make jams, jellies and sauces and have honey from local hives.

Whitley Farms Sharpsburg, GA ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

Whitley Farms Sharpsburg, GA ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

Our favorite way to eat berries is raw with plenty of whipped cream. We ate an embarrassing amount of blueberries and blackberries with cream.

Berries and Cream  Sharpsburg, GA ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

Berries and Cream Sharpsburg, GA ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

We still have plenty of berries left, but will definitely go back to pick as long as they are in season. We recommend that you wear sunscreen and bring a wide brimmed hat to keep the sun from your face. Whitley farms offer frequent specials and discounts off produce, so be sure to follow their Facebook page to keep up.

Thai Heaven- Newnan

Update: Unfortunately, Thai Heaven is now closed. Please support Coweta businesses to prevent the loss of great restaurants like Thai Heaven.

Located in Ashley Park directly across from the movie theater, Thai Heaven is now Newnan’s only exclusively Thai restaurant. The interior is decorated with glittering art, brightly painted walls, warm wood and natural bamboo that combine with low lighting and exposed brick to give the restaurant a surprisingly warm and home-like appeal. 

Thai Heaven Coweta County, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We tried two of the dozen or so appetizers on the menu. Both dishes came out piping hot. The crispy crab cheese rolls live up to their name with a crunchy fried outer shell and a rich creamy center. The flavor of the crab meat is indistinct compared to the bright notes of cilantro.

Thai Heaven Newnan, GA Crispy Crab Rolls © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The vegetable spring rolls provided a more robust flavor with an accompanying tangy sweet and sour sauce for dipping. The rolls are stuffed with fresh vegetables, pickled cabbage and glass noodles. The tart, nutty flavor of the rolls was a great way to begin our delicious meal.

Thai Heaven Newnan, GA Vegetable Spring Roll © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Each appetizer comes with a choice of side, but this is a no-brainer. The coconut soup is a taste bud’s greatest dream. The rich, salty broth is heavy on coconut and spiced with chili and roasted garlic for the perfect savory flavor. An infusion of lime and chopped green onions lend a fresh taste that puts this soup over the top. Mushrooms and your choice of chicken or tofu float in the broth to add heart.

Thai Heaven Newnan, GA Coconut Soup © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The entrees come in generous portions so that you could easily share or have leftovers to take home. We tried two of the entrees. The masaman curry is a popular Thai dish that combines the earthy taste of root vegetables with the rich flavor of coconut and the nuttiness of cashews. Thai Heaven’s take on this dish did not disappoint. We chose tofu for the protein in this curry. The dish is nicely balanced in a way that Thai chefs have perfected. We were a little disappointed that it was not spicier, but the kitchen is happy to add extra spice or provide you with spices on the side to add heat to your taste. This dish is served with a large mound of steamed rice.

Thai Heaven Newnan, GA Masaman Curry © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Our second entrée was the traditional pad Thai dish. This stir-fried concoction is a blend of chewy rice noodles, fresh vegetables and crushed peanuts. The pungent taste of the peanuts was prevalent throughout the dish. This, like the other dish we tried, nicely combined drastically different ingredients with harmonious results.​

Thai Heaven Newnan, GA Pad Thai © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We ordered a pot of jasmine tea with our meal. They bring out an entire pot with two cups. The tea was lightly floral and a very refreshing accompaniment to the bolder spices of our dishes. The menu also includes Thai iced tea, and they will soon begin serving adult beverages.

Thai Heaven Newnan, GA Jasmine Tea © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The dessert may have been our favorite part of the meal. Their dessert menu is somewhat limited, but impactful. We tried the three kinds of ice cream offered on the menu. The mango was fruity and sweet with juicy tropical notes. The green tea was light, not too sweet and incredibly refreshing. Our favorite was the coconut ice cream, sweet and creamy with meaty coconut pieces.

Thai Heaven Newnan, GA Three Traditional Ice Cream © Susan Crutchfield Photogrpahy

We also tried the mango sticky rice, but unfortunately in our excitement and greed we ate it all without taking a photograph. It was beautifully presented with the bright yellow sliced mango on a bed of white sweet sticky rice and a delicious salty cream sauce drizzled on top with sesame seeds. The tanginess of the mango combined beautifully with the sweet rice and salty sauce. It makes a perfect dessert to share between two or three people.

Thai Heaven Newnan, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We highly recommend Thai Heaven for the finely balanced flavors in each dish and for a cozy spot for a first date or to catch up with an old friend. The average price of an entree is $11 with lunch specials available.