Georgia’s Restaurant (“Soul Delicious”) celebrated the launch of its fourth Southern California location on Friday, October 18 at its new home at the Irvine Spectrum Center in Irvine.
“As we celebrate the opening of our Irvine Spectrum Center location, we simultaneously applaud 10 successful years since the opening of our first location, which is at the Anaheim Packing House,” says Nika Shoemaker-Machado, who owns the restaurant with her mother, Gretchen Shoemaker, and husband, Marlon Machado. “It’s quite an incredible feeling to see our family’s recipes become loved by so many throughout Southern California. We definitely filled a void in the Orange County market as we began to define local perception of Southern Soul Food.”
“Georgia’s diverse menu delivers the experience of a home-cooked meal with recipes originating from generations past, adapted and updated for today’s diner. A great place to begin is with Nana Gretchen’s Fried Green Tomatoes, crispy coated fresh green tomatoes with a lemon aioli, and finger-lickin Pulled Pork Sliders, slow-roasted pork and house-made BBQ sauce served on a brioche bun. For something a little more substantial, Southern Soul Food lovers must experience Georgia’s signature herb-seasoned, cornmeal-crusted, buttermilk Fried Chicken.”
“Plates also include Georgia’s half rack of slow-roasted St. Louis BBQ Ribs; grilled-to-order 1855 premium Black Angus Tri-Tip; and farm-raised Fried Catfish, which is noted for its Creole-seasoned cornmeal crust. Each plate offering is accompanied by choice of delectable Soulful Sides featuring Southern favorites, including Red Beans & Rice, Collard Greens, Black-Eyed Peas, Baked Beans, Coleslaw, Potato Salad, Mac & Cheese, Mashed Potatoes, Garlic Rice, Corn on the Cob, French Fries, and Nana Gretchen’s famous Cornbread, served with house-made honey butter.”
“Among Georgia’s specialty dishes are Gretchen’s Jambalaya, cooked to order with shrimp, andouille sausage and chicken, and served over pasta or rice; and Louisiana Tilapia & Shrimp, Creole-seasoned and grilled with a tomato Creole sauce, and served over rice. A sweet and savory favorite is Chicken & Waffle, with signature Fried Chicken atop a Belgian Waffle, served with maple syrup and creamy honey butter.”
Thanksgiving hint… All Georgia’s locations (except Anaheim Packing House) will be open on Thanksgiving Day for dine-in or takeout. Lip-smacking Southern side dishes and desserts to perhaps add to your own Family Thanksgiving feast! (Mama Gretchen (the recipe creator) will let you take all the credit.)
Nika Shoemaker-Machado takes a break from baking the signature cornbread to join us.