the hudspeth report: July 2012

TASTES, TRENDS & FLAVORS

Attack of the Killer Tomato Fest,

puddin' pops and BBQ & Beer

Back by popular demand, Chef/restaurateur Ford Fry and JCT. Kitchen & Bar play base camp for the ‘Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival’ forces -- the South’s best chefs, farmers and mixologists -- and their arsenal of all types of tomatoes for recipes and cocktails. Who’s to judge? Celebrities such as John Mariani, well-known national restaurant writer, actor David Miller, who played Mason Dixon in the original “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes” movie, and others. The Spazmatics and Fry’s chef band Five Bone Rack crank up the live music. Last year’s “Attack” brought together 34 chefs, 12 mixologists and more than 1,000 attendees. This year’s fourth-annual event takes place from 1 - 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 22. Tickets cost $70 per person and can be purchased online through www.xorbia.com/e/gao/killertomato12... Long known as one of the most popular dishes in the world, especially the American South, fried chicken has even claimed its own day. In honor of National Fried Chicken Day, July 6th , Food 101 in Sandy Spring will be paying homage to the recipe that has been on its menu since the day the restaurant opened more than 12 years ago, buttermilk fried chicken with whipped potatoes, green beans, cole slaw and chicken gravy. Executive chef Justin Keith will also showcase other special dishes throughout the day including fried chicken skins with white barbecue sauce, crispy chicken wings served with Louisiana Hot Sauce and celery, cornmeal crusted chicken livers with herb buttermilk dip, a crispy chicken sandwich with smoked gouda, arugula, tomato and truffled honey mustard and a fried chicken salad with pickled peaches, cucumber, goat cheese, almonds and white balsamic vinaigrette. Food 101 is located at 4969 Roswell Road. Visit www.food101.com or call 404.497.9700 for more details... Each month, HAVEN and Valenza restaurant chefs Stephen Herman and Matt Swickerath will take turns preparing a dinner that will highlight what guests would find at the Brookhaven Farmer’s Market during that month (the eateries host the market in their parking lot each Saturday). The next dinner will be at HAVEN on Wednesday, July 25 featuring tomatoes from Noring Farms and the following dinner will take place at Valenza on August 22 featuring pork and Happy Hogs. The reception begins at 6:30 p.m. and is followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m. The three-course meal is $35 per person plus tax and gratuity (wine pairings will be available for an added cost of $20). A generous percentage of the proceeds will go to support the Farmer’s Market. Seats are limited, for reservations, call HAVEN ~ 404.969.0700 or Valenza ~ 404.969.3233.

Now serving...

Grilled cheese every Thursday. Summits Wayside Taverns in Snellville, Cumming and Woodstock offer 10 innovative versions of ‘not your mom’s grilled cheeses’ with a cup of home-style tomato soup. Think roasted pork belly, bacon, pimento cheese, deep fried mac ‘n cheese, chopped sirloin and Granny Smith apples as ingredients. Visit www.summits-online.com for full menu... Through Monday, July 23, Atlantans can indulge in an array of patriotic plates at all eight Marlow’s Tavern locations with its “Red, White and Brew” menu. It includes, among several other dishes, beer and cheese soup served with a ciabatta crisp ($6); Firecracker deviled eggs with firecracker sauce ($3/$5); watermelon, feta and arugula salad ($9); red, white and bleu burger with American fries ($11); backyard blackened swordfish with red, white and blue potato salad ($14); honey glazed grilled chicken with chili-slathered corn on the cob ($16); and grilled skirt steak with house made chimichurri, summer squash and jumbo Vidalia onion rings ($18). Check out www.marlowstavern.com for details... Newly opened Watershed restaurant is now serving lunch at its new home in The Brookwood in Buckhead. Chef Joe Truex serves a Southern-inspired farm-to-table menu Tuesday through Saturday 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Notable dishes include: Pork belly wraps with hot pepper slaw, cane syrup and Dijon mustard; poached heart of palm with country ham, egg salad and garlic aioli; fried pimiento cheese sandwich with tomato basil soup; steak and panzanella salad with baby spinach, red wine vinegar and olive oil; and a crabby shrimp burger with slaw, lettuce, tomato, remoulade and fries.

Happenings...

2012 DOWNTOWN ATLANTA

RESTAURANT WEEK

July 21 - 29 ~ Saturday to Sunday

•Downtown Atlanta Restaurants

Three course dinner after 4 p.m. for $25 & $35 per person.

http://www.atlantadowntown.com/fun/restaurant-week

BBQ & BEER CELEBRATION

July 3 ~ Tuesday

•Woodfire Grill ~ Cheshire Bridge Road

Chef Kevin Gillespie’s three-course dinner for $38. Proceeds benefit ‘Save The Hooch.’

www.woodfiregrill.com

TREND OF THE MONTH

HOMEMADE PUDDIN’ POPS: Powered by DBA Barbecue on N. Highland Avenue and brining puddin’ pops into the 21st century. DBA has taken their famous banana pudding and stepped it up a notch offering it in frozen form in assorted flavors that rotate weekly. Flavors include peanut butter banana, chocolate, chocolate peanut butter, strawberry cheesecake, chocolate thin mint, banana, candied bacon banana (pictured) and chocolate dipped banana.There will also be a DBA Puddin’ Popsicle Cart, stationed in various spots throughout the Virginia Highland neighborhood as well as ‘coming soon,’ adult pops with booze. www.dbabarbecue.com

Monday, July 30, 2012

Monday, July 9, 2012

Monday, July 2, 2012

1987 - 2018