Omnivore - Sugary lunch at Sweet Auburn Curb Market

Cool signs and sugary sweets at Atlanta’s oldest grocery.

By Cliff Bostock Tuesday March 26, 2013 10:21 AM EDT

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Two facing booths at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market advertise whole pigs and various organs, including alledgedly savory “mountain oysters.”

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Neon (or fluorescent) pig refuses to glow.

I was speeding on sugar Thursday after lunch at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market. First stop was Arepa Mia, which serves some of the best kinda-sorta-fast-food in the city.

Lis Hernandez, the owner-chef, prepares arepas like you’ve never tasted outside Venezuela. I ordered my fave, the pabellon, again Thursday. It’s stuffed with shredded beef, black beans, feta cheese, and plantains. I blame the plantains for amping up my sweet tooth.

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Sign at Rawesome Juicery. I kept my distance.

I noticed the High Road ice cream booth out of the corner of my eye and rushed over. The woman behind the counter tried to make me taste every flavor. I settled for a scoop of cinnamon and a second of the Meyer lemon tart. The latter clicked on my nostalgia button, reminding me of my mother’s lemon meringue pies. The cinnamon was as intense as the Meyer lemon and the two flavors had a blast shoving one another in my mouth.

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Yes, arepas are an aphrodisiac.

One messy arepa and two massive scoops of ice cream behind me, I left. Oh wait. Miss D’s New Orleans Pralines is by the front door. I would be terribly remiss if i did not eat a praline to make sure their quality has not declined. I’m happy to say that they remain the best in the city.

While at the market, I found myself checking out signs. They’re another expression of the market’s personal character.