Monday, January 2, 2012

TASTES, TRENDS & FLAVORS

Pink Pastry Parlor on OWN,
afternoon tea and empanadas
Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network is airing six half-hour segments called ‘Party at Tiffany’s’ based on Pink Pastry Parlor in Alpharetta.  Owner Tiffany Young’s parlor plans theme parties for tween girls including a salon for makeovers. The show debuted in December... Jenny Levison’s 10-month-old Cafe Jonah and the Magical Attic on Paces Ferry Place in Buckhead has added afternoon tea service every Tuesday - Friday from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.  $10 gets you unlimited artisan teas and bakery snacks.  Don’t forget, you can also get your psychic reading while you’re there.  And, in support of local charities, Levison has implemented a ‘pay what you want’ structure with part of the bill going to charity.  It applies to breakfast, lunch and coffee items... Alma Cocina, the latest restaurant from Fifth Group Restaurants (South City Kitchen Midtown & Vinings, La Tavola, Ecco, El Taco, Bold American Events and opening soon, Lure), debuted last month in downtown's One Ninety One Peachtree Tower in the former NY-based Italian restaurant, Il Mulino space.  Executive chef Chad Clevenger has created a contemporary Mexican menu infused with Latin America flavors. If you are looking for something a little different, try Clevenger's sweet potato empanadas with horchata ice cream, cranberry compote and spiced pepitas...  According to Creative Loafting, Braves’ second baseman Dan Uggla is playing chef at Urban Flats - in the name of charity. Uggla  has created three custom, whole-wheat flatbreads to be featured on the menu through February 29th: The Ballpark Flat, The Chicken Pot Pie Flat and The Mob Hit. The most popular flatbread will then be featured on the Atlanta location’s menu from March 2012 through February 2013 with 50% of the proceeds benefitting Dan Uggla’s Diamonds in the Rough Foundation... Aqua blue on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell is now offering a nightly 'Aqua blue plate' menu that will rotate each week. The menus feature three courses (appetizer, entrée and dessert) for $25 per person.  The  blue plate menus feature appetizer choices such as calamari with sweet chili sauce; seared pork dumplings; or a handmade sushi roll. Entrée options include hardwood grilled NY strip with roast sweet potato and asparagus; thyme crusted grilled pork loin tostada with black bean and sweet corn relish; and house-made cioppino with jumbo shrimp, sea scallops, clams and mussels in a rich tomato broth. Dessert selections range from house-made crème brûlée, soaked Ciabatta bread pudding with cinnamon ice cream and chocolate molten cake to house-made seasonal sorbets. Also, sign up for the restaurant’s E-club at www.aquablueatl.com and receive a complimentary 2 lb. lobster for your birthday.
Cudos...
Three Atlanta bars were recently among Food & Wine's '50 Best In America.' Here's what they had to say: Sound Table ~ This restaurant organizes its drink list into categories like 'Bright & Dry' (a grapefruity Paloma) and 'Strong, Rich & Strange' (the Matterhorn: Old Tom gin, bianco vermouth, Chartreuse and pine liqueur in an absinthe-rinsed glass). It transforms into a dance club most nights around 11 p.m. 483 Edgewood Ave. SW, 404.835.2534, thesoundtable.comHoleman & Finch Public House ~ From the team behind Restaurant Eugene, this gastropub serves Southern-inspired cocktails such as the Spice Bandit by mixologist Greg Best. 2277 Peachtree Rd., 404.948.1175, holeman-finch.com; and, Leon’s Full Service ~ Not only does this restaurant in a former filling station make its own liqueurs and cocktail syrups, it has bar snacks worth traveling for, like homemade peanut butter with a side of bacon. 131 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., 404.687.0500, leonsfullservice.com... Esquire magazine also recently searched the U. S. for the 'best beer menu' and Woodfire Grill on Cheshire Bridge Road was named among nine others nationwide: Woodfire Grill ~ Atlantans started crowding Kevin Gillespie’s Woodfire Grill long before his 2009 stint on Top Chef, for good reason. His beer list may not be the biggest in the South, but it fits seamlessly with the short seasonal menu. “There is no need to have a multi-page beer list,” says Woodfire bar manager M. Blake Morley. “Too many choices tend to drown out the proper choice.” The keep-it-simple philosophy often takes the form of local gems like Sweetwater 420 Extra Pale Ale and Wild Heaven Ode to Mercy imperial brown ale. Want to impress your table? Order a magnum of Anchor Brewing’s 2011 Our Special Ale, a malty Christmastime tradition that’s a match for the wood-roasted food... Woodfire Grill also made the list of online reservation site, Open Table's '2011 Top 100 Restaurant List.' (Chosen by the diners.) The steak & seafood house, Bones on Piedmont Road in Buckhead, joined Woodfire on the list... And, Southern Living magazine has named Decatur, Georgia among the top 10 'Tastiest Towns in the South.'  Here’s why Decatur ranked in the top 10: Just outside of Atlanta, Decatur is an ever-emerging mecca for young foodies who adore pristine farmers’ market produce (from Love is Love Farm and DeKalb Farmers Market, among others) and worth-the-drive restaurants like Cakes & Ale (in a new, expanded location), Farm Burger (find your dream patty here) and the pretty courtyard and stunning plates at No. 246 restaurant. Decatur is proud but not pretentious–grab a local brew at The Brick Store Pub (best beer selection in the South?) and see for yourself.
Happenings...
Join Meehan’s Public House this month for their First Annual 'Soup Wars.' Each pub location will feature special soups ranging anywhere from $6 to $9 and can be purchased with a sandwich or salad, as well as on their own. There will be four soups available through January at each pub by chefs, Jordan Wakefield (Downtown), Val Domingo (Sandy Springs) and Branden Holte (Vinings). Vote for your favorite soup and the chef and pub with the most votes wins. Their selected soup will be featured in all of the pubs for the month of February. The offerings include: Downtown ~ Carolina She-Crab Bisque, Tuscan Style Bean Soup, Smoked Berkshire Pork Brunswick Stew. Wild Georgia Shrimp Wonton Soup; Sandy Springs ~ Lemongrass Chicken & Schezuan Five Spice Dumpling, Herb-Roasted Tomato Bisque with Irish Cheese Melt, Ancho Chili-Roasted Corn & Potato Chowder, Lentil Bean Stew; and, Vinings ~ Chef’s French Onion Soup, Tomato Bisque, Guinness Lamb Stew, Smoked Mussel Corn Chowder.  Voting will take place in-house, at the three locations. By voting, the customer will automatically be entered to win a gift card to the Meehan’s pub of their choice. Visit http://101concepts.com for more details and directions.
•Atkins Park Tavern in Smyrna is gearing up for the New Year by taking guests back to 1985 for some Nintendo nostalgia. The restaurant is hosting a new type of game night with old favorites from the classic Nintendo video game system lasting through Tuesday, January 31. Currently, Atkins Park is offering Dig Dug, Football, Mario Kart, Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out and more. House cash prizes will be given out each week to the winners and a bigger prize will be available for the overall winner at the end of game night series. Atkins Park Tavern in Smyrna is located at 2840 Atlanta Road SE. For more information, call 770.435.1887 or visit www.atkinspark.com.
•Beginning Saturday, January 14 through Sunday, January 22, diners can enjoy Roswell’s finest fare at exceptional prices during the Inaugural Historic Roswell Restaurant Week. The historic neighborhood is home to several dining destinations and the nine-day promotion will showcase the cuisine of the neighborhood’s best restaurants as they each offer a three-course, prix-fixe menu consisting of an appetizer, entrée and a dessert for $15 or $25 per person (excluding alcohol, tax and gratuity). As of our print date, confirmed participating restaurants included: Fickle Pickle, The Roswell Tap, Table & Main, Ceviche, Roux, Nine Street Kitchen, Sugo, Salt Factory, INC. Street Food, Diesel Pizza, Party Chic, Zest and Oak Street Café. For more information, visit http://www.roswellrestaurantweek.com/.
RA Sushi on Peachtree Street in Midtown is hosting its monthly Sake and Sushi Social on Tuesday, January 10th. Attendees will be able to roll up their sleeves and learn about sushi rolling and sake pairing basics while treating themselves to a selection of RA Sushi’s sushi, appetizers and sakes. The cost to participate is $35 per person or $60 per couple. To book call 404.267.0114.  RA Sushi has also created three new low-calorie 'skinny cocktails' for all the New Year's resolutions out there. Slenderized to feature less than 200 calories each, the Lychee-teenie, Skinny Ninja and Thin Ginger are full of flavor. Priced at $8 each, the skinny cocktails will be available through February 29th.  Visit RA in Midtown or mix one at home.
Lychee-teenie
•1.5 oz. Voli Lemon Vodka
•1 oz. lychee juice
•.5 oz. Monin Agave Nectar
•.25 oz. lemon juice
•1 lychee for garnish

In a shaker, combine first four ingredients with ice. Shake and strain into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a lychee.
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Skinny Ninja
•1.5 oz. Voli Lyte Vodka
•1 oz. pink grapefruit juice
•.5 oz. Monin Agave Nectar
•.25 oz. yuzu puree
•.25 oz. lemon juice
•Splash of soda
•Shiso leaf & lemon slice for garnish

In a mixing glass, muddle half of the shiso leaf with agave. Add all ingredients except soda and shake with ice. Strain into ice filled glass, top with soda and garnish with remaining shiso leaf and lemon.
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Thin Ginger
•1.5 oz. Voli Lemon Vodka
•.5 oz. Monin Agave Nectar
•.25 oz. yuzu puree
•.25 oz. lemon juice
•Splash of soda
•Strawberry
•Fresh ginger root, peeled
•Lemon twist for garnish

In a mixing glass, muddle strawberry and ginger with agave. Add all ingredients except soda and shake with ice. Strain into an ice filled glass, top with soda and garnish with a strawberry and lemon twist.