Mini Cooper S Convertible: Sexy in the city

Mini Cooper S Convertible with Atlanta luminary--Chef Bren Herrera & pooch Geisha Dior

Like rare fine wine, the Mini Cooper is not for everyone. But for those who know, it is a one sexy, sophisticated, powerful little whip!

Visually, it's a masterpiece for the more avant-garde. From its signature, nostalgic headlights infused with modern day technology, exciting racing stripes and chrome accents both inside and out, it will do your heart good even before you start the engine!  

Being a former 2004 Mini Cooper S Convertible driver, the first thing I noticed about the 2009 Mini Cooper S Convertible is that the turbocharged, direct injected 1.6 liter/4-cylinder engine (with 172 horses under the hood) moves a far more snappy pace. And with premium unleaded priced at $2.66 a gallon, the typical 15,0000 miles a year driver can expect to spend about $1,377 in fuel annually, achieving 26-miles per gallon in the city, 34 on the highway.

Speaking of prices, to the $26,800 MSRP, add $1,250 for the premium package (includes chrome line exterior and interior, adding the brilliance of chrome and the thrill of excitement throughout; automatic air; multi-function steering wheel and alarm), another $1,500 for the sport package (17” alloy wheels; dynamic traction and xenon headlights), $500 for rear park distance control, and $500 for Bluetooth and iPod adapter and you're right about, say $30K. Even so, we’re talking the functional basics society has come to expect in the true connoisseurs of both style and good taste enjoy. And that spells Mini!

And if you’ve ever stopped to wonder just how long you’ve been driving, worry no more in a Mini. The smallest of the three gauges keeps track of time so you don't have to! That, along with the fully automatic top slides back and holds in the first stage to become a sunroof before receiving your authority to come the rest of the way down, the sporty handling (sport button provides quicker throttle and steering response) and its overall unique and exciting looks are no doubt just a few of my favorite things about the Mini S Convertible. You've got to see it to believe it. And it qualifies for $4,500 Cash for Clunkers rebate! 

So while out and about I ran into the charming, Bren Herrera--a personal chef whose bi-weekly cooking segment appears on the syndicated show tv show, Daytime (9-10am, on WSB here in Atlanta). Notorious for cooking in heels, this Cuban native who was raised just outside of Washington, D.C., is as sassy, if not more, than the Mini S Convertible! “It parallels my personality,” is what Bren says about the Mini S Convertible--top down! 

After time with Bren I was off to more greatness, this time at Nonna Mia. Meaning “my grandmother,” in Italian, Nonna Mia holds a special place in the hearts of Alp and Hayri Arman. Of Turkish and Greek descent, the two exotic looking brothers grew up between a primary residence in Turkey and a summer home in Greece. With their family owning restaurants in both places, the two are no strangers to the business. 

“As a family owned business we focus on customer service. And that's what makes us different,” explains Alp, who along with his chef-Peter Galletta and brother Hayri, hold all four ingredients to the special recipe dough as highly classified information.

So, what’s good at Nonna Mia? Without any regrets, I go the party started early one Friday evening with the homemade sangria. Available in white and red, it's not too sweet and oh so refreshing on a summer eve.  A full carafe goes for $16, or by the glass at $4. Next, I made my way to the Margherita pizza ($10.95 small / $14.95 large). Savoring the delicious crust that housing the fresh basil, roma tomatoes and premium grande cheese, I could have stopped right here and been in heaven. But I didn’t!

At $8.75, the Divine portobello appetizer will (in the words of singer Marvin Gaye) “make you wanna holler and throw up both your hands!” Mushrooms, grilled chicken breast and spinach doused in a puddle of a not too rich and creamy sauce, served with toasted bread—yeah, divine! And if you’re watching your cash, this alone, with a glass of sangria is a satisfying meal.

Chef Galletta presents a unique creation as a daily special offering. On the day of my visit it was spicy shrimp with seared salmon, scallops, calamari and al dente linguine in a garlic and wine reduction. Uh, orgasmic!

Before heading off to walk home (I leave 30-miles outside the city), I was glad my friend Ronda was there to help eat the tiramisu that Alp insisted we try. And I’m so glad we did as it was one of the best I’ve had in America---not too dense, not too spongy, not too sweet. And at the risk of sounding greedy, I’d have to say the gelato—the chocolate and pistachio were so flavorful that for a minute there I thought I was sitting on the Spanish Stairs below Hotel Hassler!

Located on Piedmont, just a few steps south of the corner of 10^th Street (980 Piedmont, 404/532-2815, nonnamiaatlanta.com), Nonna Mia is open daily for lunch and dinner, till 11pm most nights, 2am for pizza on the weekends when DJ Heather B is in the house (on Fridays). Come mid-August, a new $14.99 brunch with bottomless mimosa, or sangria kicks in. Tell Alp and Mayri I sent you!