Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

TASTES, TRENDS & FLAVORS

Margherita on the move, 
dinner and the blues


Recognized by the Festa Della Pizza in Naples, Italy as ‘Best Pizza in the United States’ for 2010, Giavanni Di Palma’s year-old Antico Napoletana on Hemphill Avenue in Midtown has been joined by a sister venue.  A food truck named Antico Express.  The new pizzamobile is manned by locals, Lori & Dino McDowell, who travel about and feature the margherita and pepperoni versions (which are heated from frozen) at events in Daytona Beach, Talladega and Atlanta Motor Speedways... The 2010 Silver Spoon Awards for ‘Georgia’s Top 10 Dining Destinations’ have been announced from Georgia Trend. “The publication says every one of the moving-and-shaking restaurants revels in fresh, local ingredients, with great-tasting but original inventions often inspired by Southern classics like chicken and dumplings, smokehouse meats and good whiskey. You could almost imagine the state’s dining scene as one of S&W’s recently reopened grand Art Deco cafeterias, like those in Asheville, N.C. and Knoxville, TN. (Atlanta’s downtown location was, of course, torn down.) The crystal chandeliers and worn Italian marble stairs recall a time when Southerners thought their meat-and-threes deserved such shrines. Now, it seems, the shrine won’t be the setting, but the food itself. Maybe that’s real progress.” Local contenders making the list include Restaurant Eugene in The Aramore on Peachtree Road, Rathbun’s on Krog Street, Carver’s Country Kitchen on W. Marietta Street, Bacchanalia on Howell Mill Road and MF Buckhead on Peachtree Street.  Making the list outside the Atlanta area includes the Georgian Room at Sea Island, 61 Main in Jasper, the Greyfield Inn on Cumberland Island, Five & Ten in Athens and Elizabeth on 37th in Savannah...  Food & Wine magazine has announced its picks for ‘Top 25 Burgers in America’ and two local burger joints made the list: Holeman & Finch Public House on Peachtree Road gets raves for its 10 p.m. ‘burger time’ that sells out within minutes;  and Farm Burger in Decatur for the ‘build it’ options including unexpected toppings like cured lardo, oxtail marmalade and roasted bone marrow. 
Happenings...
Located in the Old Fourth Ward, Café Circa presents Dinner and the Blues, a series of Monday evening performances featuring celebrated Atlanta blues vocalist Francine Reed. Café Circa is also offering a two-course dinner special - choice of an appetizer or a dessert and an entrée - on the nights Reed performs created by new executive chef Hopeton S. Hibbert for $20.  Reed is slated to perform on Monday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. on December 6th, 20th and 27th. For more information or to make a reservation, visit www.cafecircaatl.com or call 404.477.0008....  Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse is celebrating the holidays with a kid-friendly event on Saturday, December 4th and again on the 11th. Pastry Chef Kathleen Miliotis will host a gingerbread-decorating party from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Buckhead restaurant.  The cost is $25 per child (must be accompanied by an adult) and includes a pre-made gingerbread house that each child can decorate with Davio’s selection of colored frostings, candy and sprinkles.  Space is limited, call 404.844.4810 to reserve a spot.  Davio’s is located in Phipps Plaza at 3500 Peachtree Road.  For more info, visit www.davios.com... On Monday, December 6th, comes the third event in the ‘Restaurant Eugene Author Dinner Series,’ a “cook and book” night with David Tanis of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, CA, who will present his new book, Heart of the Artichoke and Other Kitchen Journeys. As usual, Restaurant Eugene’s  chef/owner, Linton Hopkins, will be preparing a four course dinner inspired by the book, and this time he will be joined by guest chef, David Sweeney of Dynamic Dish.  The event begins with a reception at 6:30 p.m. and the dinner, four courses with pairings, will start at 7 p.m. Reservations are required, 404.355.0321. Seats are priced at $115, including a signed copy of book.... It’s tea time at Southern-inspired Watershed. The Decatur eatery is launching a ‘Southern Afternoon Tea’ on Thursday, Dec. 2 and it will continue weekly, every Thursday through Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m.  Cost is $15 per person and Tea Time includes organic loose tea with a variety of savory & sweet snacks prepared by chef Joe Truex (formerly with Repast) including varied items such as toasted pecans, cheese straws, tea cakes, pound cake and selected sandwiches, such as curry shrimp, goat cheese & cress, and pimento cheese. Watershed is located at 406 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue in Decatur and reservations are required, 404.378.4900... Alpharetta neighborhood mainstay Village Tavern invites Atlantans to get in the holiday spirit by hosting its ninth annual ‘Breakfast with Santa’ on Saturday, December 11. The morning kicks off at 9 a.m. with Santa’s arrival atop a fire truck, then it’s on to the breakfast buffet and a morning filled with fun.  Every child will meet Santa personally (don’t forget your camera).  Santa will also read The Night Before Christmas. Bloody Marys and mimosas will be available for adults. Tickets are $10 for children under 12 and $15 per adult. Space is limited, so call 770.777.6490 to make a reservation. Village Tavern is located at 11555 Rainwater Drive, Alpharetta.  Visit www.villagetavern.com for more.
New Year’s Eve...
The following restaurants have special evenings planned for New Year’s Eve.  Please contact the venues for details: Pura Vida, 656 N. Highland Ave., 404.870.9797, www.puravidatapas.com; Canoe, 4199 Paces Ferry Rd., Vinings 770.432.2663, www.canoeatl.com; Haven and Valenza, 1441 Dresden Dr., Brookhaven, 404.969.0700, www.havenrestaurant.com, www.valenzarestaurant.com; Bocado, 887 Howell Mill Rd., 404.815.1399, www.bocadoatlanta.com; Sal Grosso, 1927 Powers Ferry Rd., Atlanta, 770.950.1540, www.salgrosso.com; and H. Harper Station, 904 Memorial Dr., 678.732.0415, www.hharperstation.com.

News to chew on...
Taqueria del Sol, with locations on Cheshire Bridge Road and W. Ponce de Leon Avenue, has experienced success with their offering of Chef Eddie Hernandez’ weekly special tacos ranging from the authentic Al Pastor to the imaginative Sloppy Jose. Available sporadically, the flavors and scarcity of the dishes leads to multiple visits within the same week for some diners. Beginning December 1st, Taqueria del Sol will reward their  taco-devotees with ‘Tacomania,’ where guests of the restaurant will be able to cast their ballot for their favorite special taco. The winning taco will be on the menu during the month of January and the runner-up on the menu during the month of February. Guests can vote for their favorite special taco while dining at each location. Voting ends at close of business on Thursday, December 23. For more information, visit www.taqueriadelsol.com... The East Atlanta Village ice cream shop, Morelli’s Gourmet, recently announced via a blog that instead of closing for the winter months, they are looking into starting a delivery service very soon. Located on Moreland avenue in Atlanta, the shop specializes in homemade ice cream and desserts including such flavors as coconut jalepeno, maple bacon brittle, chocolate bourbon, ginger lavender, banana cream pie and Krispy Kreme among many others. Visit www.morellisicecream.com for details... Cafe di Sol chef Andy Long has set up a Belgian-style street fries stand outside his eatery at N. Highland and serves the eats every Saturday and Sunday beginning at 12:30 p.m.  Nearby Pura Vida’s chef, Hector Santiago, also operates a stand, the Burro Pollo Burrito Stand, in the parking lot across from his N. Highland restaurant on Saturdays and Sundays as well from noon until the-chicken-runs-out.
Menu updates...
Due to market conditions, SOHO American Bistro in Vinings, was forced to remove one of their most popular items from the menu, Sea Bass.  This month marks the return of the dish with an improved edemame ravioli in tow as well as baby bok choy and lemongrass buerre blanc.  The ravioli is tossed with sauteed shitake mushrooms & snow peas and served with a coconut curry cream sauce.  SOHO is located at 4300 Paces Ferry Road, 770.801.0069.  Visit www.sohoatlanta.com for details...  Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House on Memorial Drive in Grant Park has announced its new fall menu items adding: The Filthy Vox Martini (chilled Vox Vodka, extra dirty, a splash of vermouth & bleu cheese stuffed olives) for $9.50; Six Feet Under baked oysters topped with Cajun white wine sauce, ground Andouille sausage, diced red peppers and Parmesan & fried leeks ($10.50); as well as fried scallop or fried oyster chowder served New England-style with new potatoes & leeks, topped with your choice of the scallops or oysters (cup/bowl $4/$6)... Chef Zeb Stevenson, the recently appointed executive chef of Livingston Restaurant + Bar, has unveiled a new menu with focus on marrying modern, seasonal flavors with classic sensibilities. Menu items include starters such as golden beet carpaccio with champagne-vanilla vinaigrette, local apple salad with house-smoked trout and walnut dressing and grilled hearts of palm with serrano ham and toasted paprika. The Dinner Menu features butter poached lobster with chive gnocchi and a garlic broth, house smoked Berkshire pork with sweet potato hash and scallion BBQ and shrimp ravioli with fragrant chili oil. Lunch items include a skirt steak sandwich with caramelized onions and bleu cheese fondue; seared tuna with local greens, grilled shiitake and candied mustard; and shrimp and grits with toasted ancho chili, garlic and lime. Livingston Restaurant and Bar is located across from The Fox Theatre in the Georgian Terrace Hotel at 659 Peachtree St. NE.  For reservations, call 404.897.1991 or visit www.livingstonatlanta.com...  Aqua Blue on Holcomb Bridge in Roswell has rolled out a new Winter menu as well featuring such starters as salmon & tuna tartar ($10), Main lobster risotto ($14), crispy shrimp spring rolls ($12) and a jumbo lump crab cake ($15).  Two salads are featured, including a tomato & mozzarella tart ($9) as well as a butter lettuce wedge ($8).  Main plates added include grilled beef tenderloin ($25), wild shrimp & scallop grits ($24), seared ahi tuna ($19), crispy trout meuniere ($18), lollipop lamb chop ($28) and mahi mahi ($23). Sushi selections now include a vegetable tempura roll ($8), seared salmon ($10) and a fiesta roll ($11).  Aqua blue is located at 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell; 770.643.8886. Visit www.aquablueatl.com for details... Marlow’s Tavern’s seven Metro locations are offering their popular ‘Lobsters & Libations’ menu through December 31st.  The neighborhood eatery has revamped the menu with such dishes as Maine lobster and shrimp tavern chowder  ($6); Asiago lobster and crab dip  ($12); Maine lobster pot pie  ($15); over-stuffed cold water lobster tail stuffed with shrimp, scallops, mascarpone, sweet herbs, grilled pita, Nora Mills stone-ground jalapeño corn grits and jumbo asparagus served with citrus herb sauce ($24); Maine tail and turf of filet mignon, tempura lobster tail and shrimp tail with béarnaise sauce ($25); and finally, Napa Valley cheesecake with chocolate butter cake, chocolate mousse, a layer of Marlow’s classic cheesecake and chocolate ganache ($6).  Visit www.marlowstavern.com for addresses and phone numbers.
Traveling with Kevin...
Food enthusiasts hungry for a new travel adventure have the opportunity to experience a taste of Austria.  Chef Kevin Gillespie, owner/chef at Woodfire Grill on Cheshire Bridge will explore culinary Vienna, its neighboring wine regions and Budapest from March 24 to March 31, 2011.  Travelers will have an array of dining experiences from Michelin-starred establishments to Vienna’s most authentic and traditional restaurants.   The trip also includes a hands-on cooking class in the Schoenbrunn Palace, visits to private wineries and a full day in Budapest. “I have always been impressed with Austrian wines and want to share what I think is one of the world’s most brilliant wine regions.  There is so much to see and experience – from the tradition of the Heuriger to the authentic coffee house culture to the traditional culinary artisans.”  For more info, call 404.347.9055 or visit www.woodfiregrill.com.