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Su-Jit Lin

@sjlin

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All-purpose word nerd, usually writing about food, making food, looking at food, eating food, or trying to work off said food. 📍ATL🍑
🐻💔🌈/🐷😺💜
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Modena photo dump 2️⃣! Short tour through the medieval city center (peep Pavarotti there!) and its historic attractions and lovely architecture, a visit to the largest-volume genuine @acetobalsamicomodena acetaia in Modena, a cooking class, twilight wanderings (where I got Pretty Womaned by a very mean luxury vintage shop owner 😆), a spectacular dinner featuring dishes made with balsamic vinegar (ofc!) with members of the @balsamicotradizionale @acetobalsamicodimodenausa consortium, lunch indicative of the region, and my "little treat," since apparently, I can't leave Milan without one for the sake of the deal! 🫠

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Modena, Italy photo dump part 1! The first two days, during which my new friends and I, escorted generously by @alexandra_in_rome of @stuntmanpr for @balsamicotradizionale @acetobalsamicomodena
about Lambrusco, received a whirlwind 101 overview of the two types of #authenticbalsamicvinegar (and their subcategories) at a 5th generation woman-owned acetaia, ate at an Italian market, and drank Lambrusco all about town.

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Still haven't quite caught my breath from the surreal, emotional, full-circle whirlwind trip to New Orleans this long weekend.

For those who don't know, I got my start in food writing in New Orleans, a freelance gig with @whereyatnola shortly after I graduated @tulaneu. My first "big break" was when I pitched a dessert guide to the magazine, which became my first cover story ... For which the front page image was of the @commanderspalace iconic creme brulee. It was there that I had my first fine dining media tasting, because they took a gamble on some know-nothing 20-something upstart. Not too long after, they kindly invited me to the opening of Adelaide, where I met Ti Martin, who was already a legend even then. I never forgot the respect with which she treated me, a starstruck nobody with big dreams, and the dessert tasting that put me on the path of achieving them.

So it was with so many big feelings that I closed this loop 20 years later as I attended the most recent #megandco dinner at Commander's with the impressive @lisamariedonovan as Ti's guests as @megbickford teamed up with North America's #1 pastry chef @eunji.leeee for a 7-course dessert dinner. I finally got to thank Ti for the opportunities she gave me when I was starting out, her willingness to talk to me those early days. I sat next to critic @ianmcnultynola, whose reviews I read as homework to train myself in vernacular, and across from @ejlagasse, of whom mutual friends had already assured me is absolutely the prodigy the culinary world says he is. My most profound thanks goes to Annie Condodina at @xbecca and @visitneworleans for this momentous homecoming.

And the biggest feeling of all, is yes -- I still know what it means to miss New Orleans. Because who I am now was born in the rain by the Pontchartrain ... And no amount of water can wash away my love for New Orleans.

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Y'all must be tired of me going on and on about the "stupid tomato" at @beymediterranean, invariably my favorite dish of the entire summer. That's because a perfect tomato - it's rare in the US (for commercial agriculture reasons), special when it happens, and magical when it's consistent. Which led to ... How do you know when you've got a good 'un?? Because I've only had mind-blowing tomatoes two other times in my life (which I also wrote about in this explainer!), and one was fresh out of my mom's garden and the other, summer in southern Italy.

So I asked some pros how to pick a perfect tomato 🍅 for @thekitchn. Here's what farmers like those at @tuckerfarmsga, producers like @sunsetgrown, and of course, chef Marc at @beymediterranean how to nail the flawless fregetable.

https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-pick-the-best-tomato-chefs-farmers-2-23838817

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ICYMI because it's been a minute or so since I've published something about it, for the record, I think all rice is beyond nice. I will nerd out so hard over this tiny grain and will never get tired of it, especially with so many varieties and ways to use them! 🌾 🍚 But one thing is non-negotiable for me when it comes to cooking it: I stan a good rice cooker. I've written shopping guides on them and have yet to this day successfully cooked rice on a stovetop. And guess what?? Pros agree! Here's why, plus some nifty tips, tricks, and factoids on how to make perfect rice.

https://www.eatingwell.com/chefs-agree-on-the-best-way-to-cook-rice-12022647

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NEW from the AJC’s Monti Carlo: Every time a publication releases a list of the best restaurants in a city, the same question inevitably follows:

How do you decide?

It’s a fair question, and one I’ve asked myself almost every day since I became senior editor of food & dining at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and inherited the ATL50 (previously known as the Atlanta 50).

As much as expert judge Henri Hollis and I know about food and restaurants, I believe something even more important: No two people can speak for an entire city.

That belief led to the biggest change you’ll see in ATL50 this year: We’ve expanded the judging panel from two voices to 12.

Each member brings a different lens to Atlanta’s dining scene. Together, they’ll help us evaluate restaurants across neighborhoods, cuisines, service styles and price points while ensuring no single perspective defines ATL50.

Meet the team, and learn more about ATL50 at the link in our bio!

🖋️ : Monti Carlo
📸 : Bailey Garrot for the AJC | Contributed

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Buford Highway may be Atlanta’s best-known destination for international dining, but outside of this famous stretch, immigrant-owned restaurants continue to transform neighborhoods across our city.

This month, we cover a pioneering Thai expansion, an Australian bakery in Marietta, a mezcalaria in Midtown, a hand-pulled noodle shop in Kennesaw and Syrian snacks popping up at farmers markets all around town.

Read more about each spot at the link in our bio. 🌎🍜

🖋️ : Su-Jit Lin
📸 : Phil Skinner / AJC | Su-Jit Lin for the AJC | Andrew Thomas Lee | Australian Bakery Cafe | Patria Mezcaleria

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This love 🥰 Everything is more magical with this man! Even return trips!

Back again in @visitsavannah in the summertime, this time staying at @kimptonbrice. Rewinding in reverse chronological order, an unforgettable #datenight❤️ at @saintbibiana, one of the most romantic, escapist luxury dining experiences ever; but prior to that, free time spent at a #dragshow Family Feud event at @duwease's college buddy Aaron's bar @bogeysbarsavannah (s/o to @ekellyr and @apatl31 for the rec!); and @moke-ing about town in search of brunch, which ended up being at @everysundaysunday. And a creepy visit to @graveface_sav, which ended up being a true crime murder museum!

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Sure I imagined that one day, I'd see my name followed by the prestige of "for the AJC" in print, but I imagine a lot of things. So it still feels unreal that @themonticarlo not only said YES to me, but is allowing -- no, encouraging! -- me the space with a new miniseries for @ajcnews so we can show Atlanta just how much of our city's cultural diversity is so essentially woven into the tapestry of our dining scene. It's far deeper than #buhi (as much as @welovebuhi!) and immigrant representation is far beyond "expected" shades of our human rainbow.

This is just the first of these highlights. So please, share with me your favorite immigrant-owned restaurants, helmed by folks sharing their culture from every continent. Because food is love, let's love our neighbors and thank each other for creating this community I so dearly love being a part of.

Big thanks for @themonticarlo for ALL of the wonderful ways she's pushing food media evolution in Atlanta, hard-working @henrihollis for being so collaborative an editor, and @soupbelly_atl and @mikejordanatl for telling both that I've got skin in this game and the words to prove it. Grateful always 🙏

More to come!!!

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IG prompted me to post a sibling Story, which reminded me to shout out to my little sis, a Middle Western genius, for the peace and love shared when we went to the 20th anniversary @chswineandfood! Thanks to @kennedynorton, who put together the most outstanding first visit itinerary for us to @explorecharleston, where we ate and explored until our pants and hearts were fit to burst.

Sister weekend began with a memorable meal at @omakasetable.atl (always such a special event) 🍣 nice drive, excellent service, and gorgeous hotel stay @johnrutledgehouseinn 🏨 unbelievable chef's counter tasting at Michelin-starred @wildcommonchs 🤤 awesome pescatarian media brunch at @thegrocerychs + hat decorating @marshandmagnoliachs! 🤠 Evening Street Eats tasting event 🌌 Hot yoga @theworkschs 🧘‍♀️ tasting tents @ the festival's culinary village 🎪 coziest dining ever at @mercichs 🤏 goodbye media brunch by @gardenandgun 🍳 impromptu street festival + anti 🧊 protest + Scottish westie dog parade.

Always so fun when @smiz_l comes to visit! #latergram

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Another overdue #latergram - this year has been nuts, and too busy to even share memories into posterity! Took a little overly eventful #minication to @secretsplayamujeres in February that I needed some time to recover from due to various medical misfortunes 😆, during which we caught some germs and then some rays, saw some birbs on but not from the closed birdwatching stations, finally pickled the ball w Rob after a year of trying unsuccessfully to make it happen, @whojustsaidthat and @ktwilli7 met their future selves, and we all learned that during-travel insurance and a strong sense of humor and gratitude is a MUST. Anywhoodles, core memories! 😂

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Another overdue #bylinebrag: a "thai"meline history of the evolution of Thai food in Atlanta, illustrated by Resy restaurants!

https://blog.resy.com/2026/01/atlanta-thai-restaurants/

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