Sometimes a restaurant deserves a second look. We returned to Catalina Cucina in Woodstock, Georgia, for a relaxed Sunday lunch and discovered that second chances can be delicious. From fig Bellinis and wonderful service to comforting Italian favorites and ricotta cheesecake, we’re so glad we went back!
Category: The Deliberate Detour
When Chocolate Was the Destination
Sometimes chocolate is reason enough for a detour! 🍫 We’re revisiting a deliciously indulgent 2018 visit to Toothsome Chocolate Emporium at Universal CityWalk, where one outrageous milkshake was practically an entire meal! Add a little Willy Wonka nostalgia, an unexpected personal connection to Roald Dahl’s family, and a celebration of Toothsome’s 10th anniversary, and you’ve got one sweet trip down memory lane!
Ramen, Rice & a Little Aruba
A Saturday night in Kennesaw turned into one of those easy, memorable little detours — complete with ramen, sizzling garlic rice, a terrific waiter, and an unexpected taste of Aruba at the end.
Say Cheese!
A Capital One commercial put Antonelli’s Cheese Shop on our radar — and a family trip to Austin gave us the perfect excuse to visit. Tiny but mighty, full of personality, and packed with delicious cheese, this was one very fun Deliberate Detour.
A Step Into Italy: An Early Fall Detour to Ferraro’s Kitchen
A beautiful early fall Sunday afternoon in Blue Ridge turned into a little step into Italy at Ferraro’s Kitchen — complete with a breezy second-floor patio, delicious food, wonderful service, and one very memorable cannoli.
A Rainy Saturday Detour to Cutters Cigar & Spirits
A rainy Saturday, no real plans, and one spontaneous detour to Cutters Cigar & Spirits in Alpharetta. Sometimes the best afternoons are the ones you never planned — just a comfortable chair, a slow drink, good conversation, and nowhere else you need to be.
Detours Remembered: Cefalù, Sicily
Long before The Deliberate Detour had a name, we were already taking them. A postcard from Cefalù, Sicily — and from a life already being lived deliberately.
The Deliberate Detour: Sweet Home, Alabama
A concert ticket pointed us toward Birmingham, but the weekend became much more than the main event—good friends, a hotel with character, an unforgettable brunch, Jelly Roll under the Alabama sky, and one last spontaneous stop at Talladega. Sometimes one good reason to go is all a Deliberate Detour needs.
The Deliberate Detour: Savannah — Part Five: The Journey Home
A final Savannah morning, one last look at the river, and the drive home with more than souvenirs. Some weekends end when you leave. The best ones stay with you.
The Deliberate Detour: Savannah — Part Four: Savoring Savannah
By Sunday, Savannah had become less about what was left to see and more about what was left to savor. Good food, beautiful surroundings, and the simple pleasure of enjoying every last moment.
