MAY 2011 ISSUE

May 2011 Issue

TRENDS, TASTES & FLAVORS

Dining Out For Babies, 'Tastes' from Downtown to Alpharetta

hud report staff

Gearing up for another year, the March of Dimes Georgia Chapter has announced more than 40 restaurants will participate in its 27th annual Dining Out For Babies fundraising event May 13th. Top restaurateurs have each offered up a table of ten for the evening to serve three-course meals and wine pairings from some of the best chefs in the city. Charity-minded Atlantans may purchase a table for the event for $1,000 or $1,500, depending on the restaurant. For a list of participating restaurants, visit www.marchofdimes.com/georgia, or for updated information. After dinner, guests are invited to the Stepping Out after party at King Plow Arts Center from 9 p.m. - midnight, where they will nosh on desserts and sip complimentary cocktails.... The 15th Annual River Revivalon May 19 at Park Tavern presents a huge party with a purpose at a bargain price. This fundraiser for Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeepers (UCR) will feature a triple-threat of rock n roll by Ken Block and Drew Copeland from Sister Hazel, Atlantas Ponderosa and Nashvilles The Kicks. Tickets are $45 in advance, $55 at the door and will include food from Park Tavern, beer from SweetWater and a one-year membership to UCR. There will also be a silent auction with lots of priceless items and a presentation of the River Rock Star Award to filmmakers Rhett Turner and Jonathan Wickham, who produced Chattahoochee: From Water War to Water Vision. This event helps kick off SweetWater Brewerys annual Save the Hooch campaign. Funds raised benefit UCRs river patrol and monitoring programs. And heres the twist: SweetWater Brewery will unveil a special Waterkeeper Ale at the Revival. This ale will only be offered during the campaign, which runs from Memorial Day through the Fourth of July. For more info, visit http://www.ucriverkeeper.org/river-revival.php.

Tastes around town...
The 2011 Downtown Atlanta Restaurant Week (DARW) is back for its 10th anniversary and to celebrate the occasion they have added a few new restaurants including Dantannas Downtown, Der Biergarten and Georgia Peach. The week-long event features the best Downtown Atlantas Dining District has to offer featuring new dishes and signature 3-course menus all week long. Meals will include multiple options for an appetizer, entre and a dessert that you can choose from at the fixed rate of $25 or $35 per meal depending upon the restaurant and their menu. Beverages, tax and gratuities are not included in the price of the meal. For reservations and a list of participating restaurants, visit www.atlantadowntown.com/fun/restaurant-week/darw-2011... The City of Alpharetta also eagerly prepares for 65 restaurants to set their tables along Old Milton Parkway at Wills Park on Thursday, May 12 from 5 to10 p.m. for the 21st Annual Taste of Alpharetta. Menu samplings will run .50 to $3 and will accompany musical entertainment and a variety of childrens activities as well as chef competitions. For more information, go to www.alpharetta.ga.us or 678.297.6000... The 18th Annual Taste of Marietta is also coming up on Sunday, May 1st from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on the historic Marietta Square. At last years Taste over 100,000 people hit the streets. This year, the festival has expanded to encompass the entire square to accommodate the crowd. Over 70 restaurants will be showcasing their best dishes. In addition to the food, the family festival has outdoor entertainment all day on four stages situated throughout the area, culminating with the Sunset Concert featuringBanks & Shane on the Main Stage. There are also culinary demonstrations at the Gas South Cooking Stage; Kids Alley, a childrens area complete with moonwalks, sand art and strolling characters; and Sports Corner, where you can meet up with the Atlanta Braves, the Atlanta Hawks, the Atlanta Thrashers and more. The event is free but tastes range from .50 to $4. For more info, 770.429.1115 or visit www.tasteofmarietta.com... Whether its the best in barbecue and bourbon or award-winning chefs, beverage innovators and local growers, from May 19 – 22, if it has to do with southern culinary traditions, it will be at the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival (AF&WF). The Festival is the creation of more than 200 ways for guests to sip, savor and sample Southern food and drink. Special events, culinary demonstrations and seminars, panel discussions, tasting tents, culinary trails, a street cart pavilion, chef-meet-and-greets and unique ticketed dinners fill the inaugural Atlanta Food & Wine Festival weekend and connect to the festivals three overall themes; Old Traditions, New Traditions, and Imports & Inspiration. Tickets range from $75 to $2500 from the Connoisseur and VIP packages to 3-day, day passes, foodsters and a la carte of events, visit www.atlfoodandwinefestival.com to purchase... The next Italian addition to Sandy Springs, Cibo (pronounced chee-boh) E Beve is expected to open in June and has introduced a preview dinner, “Six Degrees Of Preparation” ($75 per person) for Thursday, May 19 at sister eatery Food 101, 4969 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. The six-course meal will be accommpanied by wine selections and prepared by Partner/Food 101 chef Linda Harrell. You will start at 6 p.m. with cocktails by mixologist Justin Hadaway. At 7 p.m. the first course will begin with roasted oysters, second will be braised lamb belly and the third will serve an arugula-based salad. The fourth course features bucatini allamatriciana followed by the fifth course of butter poached scallops and deconstructed spumoini for the sixth and final course. For reservations, call Food 101 at 404.497.9700... Dressing up and sipping mint juleps forThe Run for the Roses is a Southern tradition. This year, South City Kitchen Vinings is throwing a Kentucky Derby party from 5 - 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 7 with the restaurant televising it in high volume, on flat-screen TVs. Out on the patio, saddle up with cocktail tastings of mint juleps, mojitos and Kentuckyritas and heavy hors doeuvre including smoked chicken wings, Kentucky sausage meatballs, grilled pimento cheese sandwiches and burgoo-a traditional Kentucky stew. Also, bartenders will teach guests step-by-step how to stir and shake up the cocktails themselves -- youll even get recipe cards to take home. Receive 10% off dinner if you choose to stay. You can purchase tickets online for only $25 per person (plus tax and gratuity),www.southcitykitchen.com or 770.435.0700 for details... On Friday, May 20, chefs Kevin Gillespie of Woodfire Grill and Vishwesh Bhatt of SnackBar in Oxford, Mississippi have big dinner plans at Woodfire Grill on Cheshire Bridge Road. The two will infuse Southern food with the mystique and spices of Southern India to create a memorable meal as part the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. Zapaca Rum is pouring a signature cocktail to complement the evenings aura. Purchase tickets online for $150 per person (including tax and gratuity), www.woodfiregrill.com, 404.347.9055. Discounted tickets are available for Atlanta Food & Wine Festival Connoisseur, VIP and three-day package holders... How much merlot, cabernet, pinot noir or other grape to make a perfect blend? Discover the process at Mortons Steakhouse when you mix, mingle and blend during a Meritage Wine Blending Seminar featuring Franciscan Oakville Estate Magnificat and Mortons signature filet slider hors doeuvres. Complete with wine kits and an expert to guide your every move, this seminar will explain why and how the best wines are blended to perfection. The events ($45) will take place on Tuesday, May 12 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. at the Buckhead location at 3379 Peachtree Road and on Thursday, May 19 from 6 - 7:30 at the downtown location at 303 Peachtree Center Avenue. To make a reservation call 404.816.6535 for Buckhead and 404.577.4366 for downtown or visit www.mortons.com... In addition to changing their name from Cafe di Sol to Cafe 640in honor of their address on Highland Avenue, executive chef Andy Long has announced that beginning Sunday, May 1st at 4:30 p.m., he will begin a weekly Crawfish Boil with live music all evening long. For $14 a pop, diners will feast on a pound-and-a-half of steaming crawfish, local andouille sausage and fresh corn and potatoes. To wash it all down, Peroni pitchers will be sold for $14. And of course, Cafe 640 will still serve old favorites like their famous Limoncello and the Grapefruit Rosewater Martini. For more information visit http://cafe640.com/ or call 404.724.071.

Ch, Ch, Changes...
Beginning Monday, May 2, Spice Market, located inside the W Atlanta Midtown on 14th Street, is offering wines that are no longer on the restaurants wine list for very low prices in order to make room for new selections. Two different wines will be featured each week and both options will be a steal: One will be a high end wine available for much cheaper bottle and glass rates and the other is priced at only $5 per glass as well as a reduced bottle rate. This offer will continue into summer. Spice Market will post each weeks wines on their Facebook page first thing on Monday mornings. For more info, call 404.724.2550 or visit www.spicemarketatlanta.com... The Atlanta Braves season is here and the chef at Max Lagers Downtown has created specials to give you a taste of the visiting teams cuisine such as the Philadelphia Phillies cheese steak, Florida Marlins famous fish fry and New York Mets Coney Island Dog. Look for their up and coming drink specials like the Old Fashioned Bobby Cox or the Fredi Gonzalez Spicy Margarita. Get updates when you follow them on Twitter andFacebook, key word Max Lagers... Beginning Sunday, May 1st, diners are invited to enjoy a new Sunday Brunch experience at Cafe Circa or The Reserverooftop in the Old Fourth Ward. Each Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. brunch goers can explore a menu of Caribbean and Latin inspired small plates, entrees and sides created by executive chef Hopeton S. Hibbert downstairs at Cafe Circa or alfresco at The Reserve rooftop dining. Entres include a Jerked strip steak n eggs with Circa potato hash; caramelized plantain pancakes with coconut, honey whipped cream and Captain Morgans maple syrup; a panini-pressed Cuban sandwich with sliced pork, fried egg, Manchego cheese, and cumin aioli; and shrimp and grits with Andouille sausage, stone ground grits, peppers, onions, and blackened butter sauce. To help wash down brunch, Cafe Circa will also serve up $12 bottomless mimosas. For more information or to make a reservation, visit www.cafecircaatl.com, www.theReserveATL.com or call 404.477.0008... Music is in the air at Milton's Cuisine & Cocktails on Mayfiled Road in Milton. In addition to a new Spring menu the private garden is being planted next door and music has been added on the deck each Thursday - Saturday from 7 - 11 p.m. For more details, visit www.miltonscuisine.com... After a recent closure for renovations, The Shed at Glenwood has announced its new events in its new space in the month of May. Every Wednesday is Slider Night with 13 sliders at only $3 each. Each Thursday is 'Harvest Night' featuring fresh local organic produce prepared by Chef Lance. And, on Friday & Saturday you can enjoy the $20 Buy the Bottle wine list. The Shed at Glenwood is located on Bill Kenneday Way in Atlanta, 404.835.4363 or visit www.theshedatglenwood.com... Jeff Varasano, the internet pizza guru behindVarasanos in South Buckhead has added a Sunday Brunch. The pizza joint begins serving at 10:30 a.m. and features French toast, sandwiches, omelettes and pastas among may others along with a Nutella filled donut to finish off the meal. For more details, visit www.Varasanos.com.

APRIL 2011 ISSUE

April 2011 Issue

TRENDS, TASTES & FLAVORS

'Team In Training' for a cause

& Taste of The Nation Atlanta

If you’ve ever participated in a walk, run or biking fundraiser that takes you to your limit, you know the challenge of keeping focused. Imagine the challenge of someone like local restaurateur Warren Bruno (Ormsby’s, Atkins Park Taverns), who has battled non-Hodgkin lymphoma for seven years; yet, he continues to step up to the challenge.  Bruno is in training with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team in Training for a Century Ride at Lake Tahoe on June 5th of this year.  If you’d like to help him reach his fundraising goal of $7,500, visit his fundraising page, http://pages.teamintraining.org/ga/ambbr11/wbruno... The Local Farmstand at Star Provisions has opened for the season offering the freshest produce, much of which is organic, from local Georgia farms. Led by Anne Quatrano (Bacchanalia, Quinones at Bacchanalia, Floataway Café, Abattoir and Star Provisions), the Local Farmstand not only sells ready-to-eat gifts from the earth, but also seeds of unique plantings and herbs which farmers-to-be can plant in their own at-home gardens. The Farmstand is located at 1198 Howell Mill Road and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more info, 404.356.0410 or visit www.starprovisions.com.

Dining deals...

Ted’s Montana Grill has added two new offerings to its menu: Signature steak salad and the permanent addition of Ted’s homemade chips-n’-dip.  Ted’s steak salad ($14) is an entrée-sized salad that starts with grilled, center-cut sirloin served on mixed greens with cucumber, crumbled Bleu cheese, smoky bacon and sliced tomatoes. The salad is finished with a sweet balsamic glaze and crispy fried onion straws.The chips-n’-dip, which was a limited time offer in 2010, is back by popular demand. The appetizer ($4) features homemade potato chips served with a side of ranch onion dip then topped at the table with fresh cracked black pepper.  Now through May 1, you can download a certificate for a FREE chips-n’-dip by visiting http://bit.ly/gyRzX6. For a list of locations visit www.tedsmontanagrill.com/locator.html... Next up is ‘Crabfest,’ happening through April 18 outside the perimeter at Aqua Blue in Roswell.  The limited-time Crabfest menu features such dishes as she-crab soup; jumbo lump crab cakes with avocado, mango, chili aioli, rice wine vinegar and wasabi honey mustard; soft shell crab rolls, a chilled Florida stone crab claw taster served with traditional mustard sauce; and drunken king and snow crab legs or large Florida stone crab claws served with green peppercorn cocktail sauce. Check out www.aquablueatl.com for details... Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria presents Atlanta diners with the ultimate pizza challenge as the downtown eatery unveils the newest addition to its menu – ‘The Maximus,’ a six-pound, 24-inch pizza dripping with cheese, pepperoni, sausage and meatballs on a signature crust from the coal-burning oven.  The monstrous meal is FREE for individuals who tackle the challenge and successfully finish the beast in one sitting (less than two hours).  If diners fail to finish every last bite, the price is $60.  To schedule a reservation for “The Maximus,” call 404.974.2941 in advance.  To continue the challenge, patrons can pop next door to partner restaurants Der Biergarten and STATS for even more macho meals.  At STATS, the Big Boy Platter serves four or more and includes steak tips, baby back ribs, sausages, wings, fries and slaw for $60.  Der Biergarten will soon launch King Ludwig’s Platter, an oversized feast of traditional German fare. Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria, STATS and Der Biergarten are located in the Luckie Marietta District on Marietta Street, Downtown.  For more details, visit www.luckiemariettadistrict.com...  The Oyster Roast has returned to Rosebud Restaurant on North Highland. Saturday, April 9, enjoy wine, beer, live music and as many oysters as you can eat at Chef Ron Eyester’s Morningside restaurant. The fun begins at 2 p.m. and costs $35 per person (tax and gratuity included). For more info, visit www.rosebudatlanta.com or call 404.347.9747... Experience the flavors of the wines of Napa Valley’s Tres Sabores (three flavors) Winery with a wine dinner at SIP @ Riverside on Monday, April 11, 2011. Chef Daniel Massie and Wine Director Foster Smith create a five-course menu accompanied by five wines from Tres Sabores for $50 per person (excluding tax and gratuity). The evening will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m. SIP is located at 4403 Northside Pkwy, Atlanta, 404.233.5455... Canoe Restaurant on Paces Ferry Road launches a new event, the ‘Song of the South’ live music series at its outdoor river bar on April 13th. The restaurant will feature live local artists every Wednesday evening from 7 - 10 p.m. throughout the spring on the banks of the Chattahoochee. Guests can relax in riverside Adirondack chairs, gather around the River Bar, savor their aperitif and listen to the music. Chef Carvel Grant Gould’s ‘River Snacks’ features tasty, inexpensive treats, and of course, the bar will serve a variety of local beers, signature river cocktails and wines by the glass.  The lineup includes Tim Brantley on April 13th, Sam Thacker on April 20th and Ben Deignan on April 27th. Visit www.canoeatl.com for May’s schedule.

Congrats...

In case you haven’t heard, the season eight finale of Bravo’s ‘Top Chef All-Stars’ crowned Atlantan Richard Blais as the latest chef’testant to earn the title of ‘Top Chef.’ Chef and partner of FLIP burger boutique, Blais impressively out-cooked his competition throughout the season to win this coveted title. Our many congrats go out to him... Bravo has also announced the next set of chefs competing in the upcoming season of ‘Top Chef Masters’ and among them are Atlanta/Athens chef, Hugh Acheson (Empire State South, Five & Ten, The National). The series begins April 6th...  ‘The Oscars Of The Food World,’ also known as the James Beard Foundation awards, has announced this year’s nominees and Hugh Acheson made this list as well along with restaurateur/chef Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene and Holeman & Finch Public House (see page 7 for Hopkins’ latest venture, H & F Bottle Shop)... In March, Imbibe Magazine, the ultimate guide to liquid culture (www.imbibemagazine), featured ‘The 100 Best Places To Drink In the South’ and here’s the local drinkeries that made the list: Best Whisky ~ Local Three; Best Classic Cocktails ~ H. Harper Station and The Sound Table; Best Contemporary Cocktails ~ JCT, Leon’s Full Service, Restaurant Eugene and Sauced; Off The Beaten Path ~ One Flew South and Sagehouse Coffee & Tea in Griffin; Best Hotel Bar ~ Drinkshop; Best Bar Food ~ Holeman & Finch Public House and Ormsby’s; Best Wine List ~ Miller Union and Muss & Turner’s; Best Suds ~ The Brick Store Pub, Porter Beer Bar and Young Augustine’s; and Best Southern Breweries ~ Sweetwater Brewing... Local restaurant critic, Christiane Lauterbach, has announced her ‘Best of 2010’ restaurants in her monthly publication Knife & Fork and likes the following: Cafe Q, Empire State South, Kaleidoscope Bistro and Pub, La Fourchette, Lunacy Black Market, Miso Izakaya, Nam Phuong, Sufi’s, Super Pan Latino Sandwich Shop and Sprig Restaurant... Online restaurant reservation site, Open Table, recently spotlighted area ‘Great Brunches’ and here’s what they found locally: Corner Café in Buckhead; Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia Highlands; Parks Edge in Inman Park; Einstein’s in Midtown; Rosebud in Virginia Highlands; Chequers Seafood Grill in Dunwoody; Café 640 in Virginia Highlands; and Park 75  Restaurant at Four Seasons Atlanta in Midtown.

Happenings...

More than 50 top chefs from the Atlanta area will participate in Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation Atlanta on Thursday, April 14th, at the Georgia Aquarium.  Celebrating its 23rd anniversary, this gourmet food and wine event will feature specialty food samplings; live, silent and beverage auctions; wine tastings and live entertainment. Check out the website for participating chefs and tickets ($250 per person, VIP $350 per) can also be purchased online at www.atlantataste.org or by calling 770.436.5151... Weary of shedding tears over chopped yellow onions and ready to restock your kitchen with Georgia-grown sweeties, the Vidalia Onion?  Well, the world-famous Vidalia Onion Festival, now in its 34th year, will offer up the goods April 30 and May 1, 2011 in where else but Vidalia, Georgia.  Entertainment will include an air show, rodeo, cook-offs, Miss Vidalia pageant, American Idol alum Kellie Pickler in concert, a parade, and an arts and crafts sale. And, if you get there early, Vidalia onion enthusiasts will be able to explore the history of Georgia’s beloved state vegetable with the official opening of the Vidalia Onion Museum on Friday, April 29, 2011.  The noon event is slated to include high-profile chefs and offers attendees a look into what makes the Vidalia onion so special. “When we first hired a museum consultant, they asked, ‘Really, an onion museum?’ But they quickly realized we’re not just any onion, and this isn’t just any story,” explains Wendy Brannen, Vidalia Onion Committee Executive Director. For information on the festival events, visit www.vidaliaonionfestival.com. The Vidalia Onion Museum will be located at 100 Vidalia Sweet Onion Drive and will open to the public on Friday, April 29 at 3 p.m.   For more info, visit www.vidaliaonion.org or call 912.537.1918.

New menus...

Spring days have us hankering for new tastes to match the season.  Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia Highland has updated with such dishes as the chilled asparagus salad with house pancetta, shaved Parmesan, sherry vinaigrette and a soft-poached farm egg ($8) and a Southern classic cheese plate topped with cheddar, Sweet Grass Asher Blue, Sweet Grass Green Hill, local honey, house preserves and grilled bread ($12).  For lunch is the chicken salad sandwich on toasted sourdough ($10).  More lunch and dinner offerings include a pan-fried crab cake with mashed potatoes, asparagus and tomato jam ($12 lunch/$18 dinner), grilled hanger steak ($12 lunch/$18 dinner) and farm egg carbonara with spring peas ($10 lunch/$14 dinner). Dinner adds a grilled New York strip steak ($22) and lamb two ways -- grilled porterhouse and sausage ($20)... On Mondays, Spice Market in the W Atlanta-Midtown, offers its vegetarian bento box for $24 per person.  Each box includes white or brown rice, the chef’s soup of the day and your choice of three dishes from the varied list... Woodfire Grill on Cheshire Bridge Road stays true to its farm-to-table mantra with a five-course vegetarian tasting menu for $65 (excluding tax and gratuity). Some items in season now that may show up on the menu are sunchokes, micro spring greens, baby red potatoes, arugula, baby Vidalia onions, fennel, turnips and green onions... RA Sushi on Peachtree in Midtown is always swimming with fish, and they’ve recently added two more meat-free dishes:  vegetable tempura roll with lightly battered asparagus, sweet potato and Japanese eggplantand the Tropical roll that rolls cucumber, mango and avocado together and tops them with spinach tempura bits and spicy shrimp... Sunday’s Fajita Fiesta at Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food is an easy way to cap the week with a family meal.  At least two people have to gather at the table.  Here’s what you get for $15.95 per person ($5.95 for 12 and under): chips and salsa served with your choice of guacamole or queso; a combo of mesquite-grilled chicken and beef fajitas served sizzling alongside guacamole, pico de gallo, rice, frijoles a la charra and homemade flour tortillas; and hand-made puffed sopapillas sprinkled with cinnamon and powdered sugar and served warm with ice cream for dessert.  Both Atlanta locations serve up this special every Sunday except on holidays such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.  In Buckhead, 1860 Peachtree Road, NW; 404.350.6767.  In Sandy Springs, 1140 Hammond Drive, NE; 678.736.8260.

March 2011 Issue

March 2011 Issue

TASTES, TRENDS & FLAVORS

Restaurant weeks, Mardi Gras and St. Paddy's celebrations

Atlantans can enjoy Buckhead’s best cuisine at exceptional prices during the upcoming Buckhead Restaurant Week beginning Saturday, running through Sunday, March 6, 2011. The nine-day promotion will showcase the cuisine of the area’s best restaurants. Each will offer a prix-fixe, three-course menu consisting of an appetizer, main course and dessert for $25 per person (excluding alcohol, tax and gratuity). The second annual event will fuse international and local flavors, ingredients and cooking styles into one event as the neighborhood’s best chefs create menus that highlight their unique culinary styles. A complete list of participating restaurants and their menus will soon be available online at www.brwatlanta.com.... Inman Park, located two miles east of Downtown Atlanta,  will also be highlighting its restaurants when Inman Park Restaurant Week takes place March 28th through April 3rd. Offering three-course dinners, you will be able to dine at Fritti, Pure Taqueria, The Albert, North Highland Pub and Victory Sandwich Bar for $15.  Wisteria, Parish Food & Goods, Fritti, Park’s Edge, Rathbun’s, Sauced and Sotto Sotto will run you $25 and the three courses at Kevin Rathbun Steak will cost $35. The week will benefit Atlanta’s Open Hand project. Visit www.inmanparkrestaurantweek.com more details.

Congrats...

Collectively, the editors over at The Daily Meal recently came up with a master list of 150 places from every part of the country, then divided the choices into categories — according to cuisine, region, and a number of specific factors, including service, wine list, and price level — and assembled a ranked list of the ‘101 Best Restaurants.’  Making the cut are local favorites Quinones at Bacchanalia: “Consistently considered one of best restaurants in Atlanta, the dining room at Quinones, adjacent to the older and also acclaimed Bacchanalia, has only 11 tables. The menu, which changes daily, boasts a collection of dishes that mixes modern and classic Southern cuisine, with the results skillfully prepared.” And Restaurant Eugene: “Eugene pays homage to those who grow the local produce they use right on the menu. The list typically includes around two dozen farms, dairies, and even elementary school gardens, and pays tribute to the ingredients by altering them as little as possible while making everything in the kitchen from scratch. Named as one of Food and Wine’s Best Chefs of 2009, Linton Hopkins offers refined dishes, such as his wild mushroom tasting plate, that come from the ingenuously rustic roots he describes as ‘folkways meeting Escoffier.’”

Dining, Drinking Deals...

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar at Olde Perimeter Way in Dunwoody, renews its popular “5 for $6 ‘til 7” bar menu offering your choice of 5 cocktails, 5 wines by-the-glass and 5 appetizers, at $6 each til 7 p.m. Here’s a sampling of new additions: The 99 calorie Tickled Pink cocktail (blends Belvedere Vodka with orange juice and raspberries and a splash of Italian Mionetto Prosecco); Guinness Draught (a salute for St. Patrick’s Day); and Roasted Mushroom Ravioli (Portobello and shiitake mushrooms in a porcini butter sauce). Fleming’s will also be debuting a new patio on March 20th. Visit www.flemingssteakhouse.com or call 770.698.8112 for details... Ray’s at Killer Creek is offering its brunch and lunch menu items at half price on Sundays through April 10.  Take a look at some of your options:  House-made corned beef hash with poached eggs; Spanish pulled pork sandwich with fried egg and Vermont cheddar; mascarpone-stuffed French toast topped with fresh berries; shrimp and grits; jumbo lump crab cakes; and a salmon BLT.  Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 1700 Mansell Road, Alpharetta; 770.649.0064... A month-long Mardi Gras celebration is underway at Goin’ Coastal on Virginia Avenue in Virginia Highland, with ‘Nawlins classics and cocktails served up every Thursday night in March such as the Ragin’ Cajun crawfish boil (2 lbs. of crawfish along with corn, potatoes and sausage), Buffalo gator tail platters for $5, a dozen fresh oysters for $10 and $4 Hurricanes... All seven Metro Atlanta Marlow’s Taverns are once again offering the six-week long “Bayou ‘n Bourbon” promotion through Monday, March 28. Served all day, every day, you will find roasted chicken & gumbo, crawfish fondue, N’awlins-style po’ boys, a Bayou burger, deconstructed jambalaya, pecan-crusted trout and sweet Bourbon Street ribeye ($6 - $25).  There are also five specialty cocktails offered ($4.75 - $9) as well as honey Bourbon bread pudding ($6) for dessert.  For Marlow’s locations, visit www.marlowstavern.com.

Mardi Gras happenings...

The Parish 3rd Annual Mardi Gras Celebration is planned for Satuday, March 5th from 11 a.m - 4 p.m.  Located on N. Highland Avenue in the Virginia Highland area, the $40 ticket price includes live music by Charlie Wooten & Zydefunk, all-you-can-eat crawfish, New Orleans sandwiches, a whole roasted pig, red beans & rice, house made king cake and all-you-can-drink Abita beer. Plus much more. For info, visit parishatl.com or call 404.681.4434... On Tuesday, March 8, Serpas True Food will bring Louisiana to Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward with their version of Mardi Gras Madness, offering festive food, drinks and décor. Executive Chef/Owner Scott Serpas will serve a menu of traditional favorites from his hometown of New Orleans for $10 each, including seafood gumbo, crawfish pie, red beans & rice, chicken & sausage jambalaya, king cake for dessert and $4 Hurricanes. Visit www.serpasrestaurant.com for details, 404.688.0040... Located in the 1010 Midtown building, on March 8th RA Sushi will also be celebrating Mardi Gras with decorations, food & drink specials, a costume contest and a live drag show performance by The Armorettes (7 - 9 p.m).  Throughout the evening, a DJ will be spinning a mix of rock and roll, hip hop and Top 40 tracks in the restaurant’s cocktail area.  Drink specials for Fat Tuesday will include $5 hur“RA”canes, $3 domestic beers and $2 hot sake.  Food specials include $5 Cajun wings and $8 voodoo sushi rolls. For more info, 404.267.0114 or www.RAsushi.com...  Mardi Gras weekend happens in Virginia Highland March 4th from 7 - 11:30 p.m. when Diesel, Limerick Junction, Dark Horse Tavern & Neighbor’s Pub host the Beads & Booze Bar Crawl. Trip starts at 7 p.m. at Diesel. Tickets includes a free drink at each bar, admission, food & drink specials plus 2 raffles.

St. Patty’s...

Fado Irish Pub & Restaurant on Buckhead Avenue in Buckhead, will begin the St. Patty’s celebration starting Thursday, March 10 with a Bushmills Whiskey Dinner (http://www.fadoirishpub.com/atlanta/whiskey-dinner) and culminating on Thursday, March 17 with a massive street festival offering up Guinness, 6 Nations Rugby, Soccer, Irish Whiskey, Traditional Irish Food, a Pub Quiz, Live Music and Traditional Irish Session (http://www.fadoirishpub.com/atlanta/events). They open the doors on Paddy’s Day, March 17th, at 7 a.m...  On Wednesday, March 17th, Rí Rá (located at 1080 Peachtree Street, Midtown) will make a grand tribute to its homeland by hosting a special Irish breakfast of eggs, Irish sausages and rashers, black and white puddings, grilled tomato and sautéed mushrooms available beginning at 6:30 a.m. Rí Rá will showcase a full week of festivities prior to St. Patrick’s Day beginning Thursday, March 10th. Visit www.rira.com for a complete list of the events... The St. Patty’s Day Irish party will be in full jig March 17th at TAP Gastropub Downtown.  Located at 1180 Peachtree Street, TAP celebrates with giveaways and Irish-themed food and drink specials ($5 - $8). Menu specials include green deviled eggs ($6) and an Irish Angus burger topped with shoestring potatoes ($13).For more info, visit tapat1180.com or call 404.347.2220... Murphy’s in Virginia Highland continues its 30-year St. Patty’s tradition with Irish entertainment and classic Irish fare including Finnen Haddie soup, Irish soda bread, lamb stew, corned beef with Kolcannon potatoes and Irish Whiskey bread pudding. For more, visit www.murphys-atlanta-restaurant.com or call 404.872.0904... On Saturday, March 12th from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., the East Andrews entertainment complex and Stout Irish Pub host Buckhead’s largest outdoor St. Paturday Festival. Wear you green for the wild Irish celebration with a full bar, green beer, Irish bombs and Irish entertainment by Wesley Cook & Ocean Street. Tickets are $10 and www.stoutirishpub.com has more info... On Saturday, March 5th, Park Tavern (500 10th Street, NE) will host Shamrock Fest with Yacht Rock from 2 p.m. til midnight. The day of nonsense will include live music from Yacht Rock, DJ Madflip and 5,000 Irish acting Atlantans with a Bud Light buzz. Then, on Saturday March 12th, Park Tavern will also be home to Luckyfest 2011 from noon til late. There will be tons of green beer and live music. Call 404.355.6949 for more details.

News to chew on...

Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food has just refreshed its menu. The new Plato Tampiqueno dish mixes mesquite grilled steak with guacamole, pico de gallo and a cheese & onion enchilada with red sauce served alongside rice and refried beans.  There are also new options on the margarita list including a new Patrón Classic Margarita made with Patrón Silver Tequila, Patrón Citronge Orange Liqueur and fresh-squeezed lime juice. There are two locations in Atlanta: 1860 Peachtree Road, 404.350.6767 and 1140 Hammond Drive, 678.736.8260.  For more info, visit www.unclejulios.com... Livingston Restaurant + Bar’s Executive Chef Zeb Stevenson is taking classic brunch dishes and adding his own tasty twist each Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Featured dishes include: Kabocha squash soup with coconut and winter spice oil; the BLT with house-cured bacon, tomato jam and smoked mayonnaise; a fried egg sandwich with smoked salmon; short rib hash with poached eggs and smoked hollandaise; and shrimp and grits with ancho chili and lime. Livingston is located in The Georgian Terrace Hotel at 659 Peachtree St. NE.  Call 404.897.1991 or visit www.livingstonatlanta.com for more info... Adding to his already thriving weekend burrito stand, Pura Vida’s Chef Hector Santiago is now serving up $2 portions of clove-battered French toast along with Mexican hot chocolate coffee mocha. You can top them off with such toppings as blackberry or chocolate jam, chopped chorizo or baby bananas.  You’ll find them across the street from Pura Vida on North Highland Avenue Saturdays beginning at 10:30 a.m., 404.870.9797.

Travelin’ 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 cooking class in the Schoenbrunn Palace, visits to private wineries and a full day in Budapest. For more info, call 404.347.9055 or visit www.woodfiregrill.com.

February 2011 Issue

http://www.thehudspethreport.com/feb.11.album

TASTES, TRENDS & FLAVORS

Buckhead Restaurant Week,

'Top 10s' and Hell's Kitchen

Atlantans can enjoy Buckhead’s best cuisine at exceptional prices during the upcoming Buckhead Restaurant Week beginning Saturday, February 26 and running through Sunday, March 6, 2011. The nine-day promotion will showcase the cuisine of the area’s best restaurants. Each will offer a prix-fixe, three-course menu consisting of an appetizer, main course and dessert for $25 per person (excluding alcohol, tax and gratuity). The second annual event will fuse international and local flavors, ingredients and cooking styles into one event as the neighborhood’s best chefs create menus that highlight their unique culinary styles. A complete list of participating restaurants and their menus will soon be available online at www.brwatlanta.com.

Congrats...

Southern Living Magazine’s ‘Best of the South Travel Awards’ (compiled from visits to 18 states) has named the latest winners among Southern Living’s favorite new sights, sounds and flavors across the region. Making the list of ‘Best New Restaurants’ is Miller Union:  “Modern Southern cooking, stripped of pretension. Here, the luscious regional bounty simply shines. Don’t-Miss Dish: Farm egg baked in silken celery cream or the seasonal veggie plate,” millerunion.com or 678.733.8550.  Among ‘The South’s Best Late-Night Burgers,” Holeman & Finch Public House makes the cut: “From the robust patties to the bread-and-butter pickles, Atlanta’s Holeman and Finch Public House shares what makes their burgers the best,” 2277 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, holeman-finch.com or 404.948.1175. And, lastly, in the ‘Best Food Trucks’ category, local frozen pop King, King of Pops, gets the honors... The guide to good life, Gayot (guy-OH), has named its ‘Top 10 Restaurants in the US’ and Paces 88 restaurant at the St. Regis Hotel on West Paces Ferry made the list: “The St. Regis Atlanta’s flagship restaurant is dramatic, and makes a fine backdrop for romantic dining and a good spot for a business meal. Longtime Atlanta chef Mark Alba opened the restaurant, and we know his cooking well. Presently, we think this restaurant is experiencing a classic case of too many cooks in the kitchen. Example: A well-executed chicken liver mousse comes with beautiful bread-and-butter pickles and Dijon mustard. Wait a minute! It’s a mousse, not a terrine, and those embellishments overwhelm its delicacy. Alba’s sense of balance is not here. Thursday, Friday and Saturday are the days for specials, and that’s where Alba is on the case. The “deconstructed” BLT was a success. Sous vide-cooked pork belly is crisped to render out fat and served with romaine lettuce, lovely tomatoes and a house-made ranch dressing. As for mains, rack of lamb paired with lightly cooked butter beans and potato rounds was back on target.” Also making Gayot’s list is Linton & Gina Hopkins’ Restaurant Eugene, garnering a spot on the ‘Top 40 Restaurants in the US:’ “Chef Linton Hopkins and his wife/wine director Gina run one of Atlanta’s top restaurant destinations with both taste and conscience. They founded the city’s Peachtree Road Farmers Market, tirelessly support local farmers and are active with Slow Food USA. Atlanta native Hopkins’ classic cuisine is intuitively informed by Southern traditions; a house-made pantry drives a menu replete with local sourcing from over twenty neighboring farms and regional treasures including Savannah coast shrimp and wild Georgia hackleback sturgeon caviar.”... Making a list of a different sort, Zagat’s as announced its version of ‘The 10 Worst Burger Ideas.’  The Vortex Bar & Grill, with locations in Midtown and Little Five Points, caught their eye: “Throw caution (and common sense) to the wind by eating this Atlanta mini-chain’s ‘Super Stack Heart Attack Burger,’ which combines two half-pound sirloin patties, three grilled-cheese sandwiches, two fried eggs, eight slices of American cheese, 10 slices of bacon and plenty of mayo. Your move, Michelle Obama and Jamie Oliver,” ($25.95; 404-875-1667).

Cudo’s too...

Buckhead Life Restaurant Group’s Nona Sivley, line cook at Chops Lobster Bar, was recently named the winner of ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ season 8. After months of grueling competition and then more months of keeping mum about the results, the last episode finally aired and eccentric host, Gordon Ramsay, officially announced Sivley had beat out 15 other contestants to be crowned the winner. Sivley joins the ranks of other Buckhead Life alums on reality TV: Tracey Bloom, former sous chef at 103 West and Kevin Sbraga, former sous chef at Pano’s and Paul’s, both competed in Season 7 of ‘Top Chef’ and in the end, Sbraga was named ‘Top Chef D.C.’ Eli Kirshtein, former chef at Buckhead Diner and Michael Isabella, former sous chef at Kyma, were both competitors in ‘Top Chef Las Vegas’ with Isabella returning to Season 8, ‘Top Chef All Stars.’...   South City Kitchen Midtown Sous Chef Jeffrey Gardner has been tapped to appear on the Food Network’s competition show Chopped. You’ll be able to watch him in action when the episode airs at 10 p.m. on February 8.  Better yet, join a viewing party at The Original El Taco on N. Highland in Virginia Highland from 9 - 11 p.m. and watch the culinary battle on the restaurant’s five flat screen televisions. 

Dining Deals...

Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse in Phipps Plaza on Peachtree, is kicking off 2011 by offering new specials on Sunday and Monday nights.  Family is the focus, so in addition to its regular menu, Davio’s is offering a $20 three-course menu served family-style from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.  The restaurant is also offering all house wines like Stags’ Leap Chardonnay, Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon Decoy and Van Duzer Pinot Noir (served by the glass) at half-price. Steak is the star of the show on Monday nights.  Guests who order a prime steak off the menu will get a 24 oz. draft beer for free.  For more information, visit www.davios.com... Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar at Olde Perimeter Way in Dunwoody, is offering three courses for $39.95 (you have your choice of one of two appetizers and entrées plus the chocolate mousse cake with almond brittle and crème anglaise for dessert).  Start with either hearty mushroom soup or roasted pear and candied walnut salad then choose either the bistro steak with ratatouille and Cabernet butter sauce or crackling pork shank with mashed sweet potatoes and Asian barbecue glaze as your main.  Wine pairings are suggested alongside menu items or choose selections from the ‘Fleming’s 100’ list of 100 wines available by the glass.  The menu is available through March 29 for $39.95 per person (tax, gratuity and suggested wine pairings not included).  Fleming’s will also be debuting a new patio in the Spring. Visit www.flemingssteakhouse.com or call 770.698.8112 for details.

Happenings...

Chef Linton Hopkins, of Restaurant Eugene on Peachtree, will host Bill Shore (author as well as founder & executive director of Share Our Strength) for the third dinner in the ‘Eugene Author Dinner Series’ on Tuesday, February 22nd at 6:30 p.m.  Shore will share his new work at a four-course dinner with opening reception prepared by Chef Hopkins. The dinner ($105) includes not only the reception and four courses with wine pairings, but also a signed copy of Shore’s book, The Imaginations of Unreasonable Men.   Also for sale and signing after the dinner will be Shore’s other books, The Cathedral Within, Revolution of the Heart and The Light of Conscience... Due to an overwhelming response, Café Circa, on Edgewood Avenue in Atlanta, has added more ‘Dinner and the Blues’ dates with celebrated vocalist Francine Reed. The series of memorable Monday evening performances will include one in February and three more in March. 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 executive chef Hopeton S. Hibbert for $20. Blues lovers are also invited to relax at the bar. Reed is slated to perform on Monday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. on February 28th and March 7th, 14th & 28th. For more information or to make a reservation, visit www.cafecircaatl.com or call 404.477.0008... With two Atlanta locations (West Midtown and Virginia Highland), YEAH! BURGER is hosting a week-long fundraiser for Georgia Organics (GO)  in order to support the non-profit organization’s program to bring healthier foods to school children.  YEAH will ask diners at both locations if they want to donate $1 to GO from Monday, February 14th through Sunday, February 20th, for this farm-to-school initiative. Visit www.yeahburger for hours and locations... Friends of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has been throwing Dunwoody’s best-tasting party for eight years -- and each year raised more funds for not-for-profit Children’s.  This year, more than 30 restaurants are plating up samples at Taste of Dunwoody on Friday, February 4 from 7 to 10:30 p.m.  Between forkfuls, buy drinks at the cash bar, bid in the silent auction and groove to 70s and 80s tunes performed by Yacht Rock Revue.  This year’s VIP ticket ($70) includes two complimentary drinks.  General tickets are $50 and the event takes place at the W Hotel Atlanta, Perimeter.

News to chew on...

The Waffle House Museum, located at 2719 East College Avenue in Decatur, is typically only open to the public by appointment. However, on February 19th & March 19th, from noon to 3 p.m. the public is welcome and admission is free.  This is the site of the first-ever Waffle House restaurant that opened in 1955 complete with ‘55 decor and memorabilia from the restaurant’s 56-year history. The chain has grown to 1,600 restaurants in 25 states with about 200 of them located in the Metro Atlanta area. If you’re interested in visiting the Waffle House Museum at another day and time, call 770.326.7086 to schedule an appointment. 

For beef jerky lovers... 

White Oak Pastures now has their own beef jerky for you to chew on -- made from the farm’s grass-fed beef.  Kevin Outz of The Spotted Trotter, an Atlanta-based boutique charcuterie, is producing the jerky for them.   Each half-pound jerky-filled jar sells for $15 at White Oak Pastures’ online store.  To order and for more information, visit www.whiteoakpastures.com.

Travelin’ 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. For more info, call 404.347.9055 or visit www.woodfiregrill.com.  

January 2011 Issue

http://www.thehudspethreport.com/jan.11.album

TRENDS, TASTES & FLAVORS

RA Sushi in Midtown is launching a ‘New Year, New You’ menu featuring three new skinny cocktails at $7 each -- the Cucumber Slenderita, the tart Cosmo-teeny and the Thin Mint Mojito that’s a spin on the Cuban highball.  Look for these low-cal kickers through January 31.  Combined with fruit juices, TY KU Soju and sugar-free triple sec, these cocktails pack a punch while keeping calories down.  RA Sushi is located at 1080 Peachtree Street in the 1010 Midtown building; 404-267-0114... The Market at PARISH on N. Highland Avenue is now offering whole roasted chickens and 3 sides for $20.  All items are sold hot and will give guests an opportunity to grab a complete dinner to-go. The chickens are local, Springer Mountain Farm, and average about 4 pounds. Sides are offered as pints, and include your choice of collards, Logan Turnpike grits, braised cabbage, potato salad or coleslaw.  Also offered daily in the Market, PARISH now offers $5 & $10 meal combos. For $5, enjoy one of their half sandwich options including turkey, tuna melt or egg salad along with your choice of a side salad or soup.  Feeling the urge to splurge? Try the $10 meal combo which includes your choice of a main salad or sandwich with a side of soup or salad and a cookie.  PARISH Market is located at 240 N. Highland Avenue, Atlanta and opens at 8 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday. For more info, visit parishatl.com or call 404.681.4434.... Every Wednesday, Atkins Park Tavern in Smyrna selects a collection of distinctive wines for guests to enjoy by the bottle for half off the regular price.  The new ‘Wine Down Wednesday’ special is a way to discover new favorites while stretching your dining-out dollars.  Wines and special prices include: Apothic Red ($19) that tastes like chocolate-covered cherries in a glass;  Bridlewood Pinot Noir ($20) promotes dark fruit flavors with a hint of vanilla and a smooth, lingering finish; Lamarca Prosecco ($20) sparkles with fresh citrus and honey on the nose; Maso Canali Pinot Grigio ($25) plays up lemon and fresh apple notes with a long, clean finish; and William Hill Chardonnay ($19) hints of vanilla and toasted oak with a well-balanced flavor and a concentrated finish.  Atkins Park Tavern is located at 2840 Atlanta Road in the Market Village, Smyrna, 770.435.1887... The comforting, regional cuisine offered nightly at owner Daniel Morrison’s Sprig Restaurant is now offered daily in Oak Grove/Decatur’s newest eatery. The restaurant has begun serving lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.  Sprig is located at 2860 Lavista Road and complete menus and more information can be found at www.sprigrestaurant.com... Coffee has taken to the streets and is the latest to join Atlanta’s new ‘food truck’ trend.  Rattletrap, a non-descript van (‘82 VW Westfalia), dispenses the brew in a back parking lot at 1593 N. Decatur Road behind Emory Village. The owners (former Octane Baristas) are waiting for their newest venture, Steady Hand Pour House, to open in the former Octane Coffee at the same location, and until then, will be plying their wares from the VW. Call to get their ‘tweet’ account and keep up with their hours, 404.201.0383.

Happenings...

Atlantans can enjoy Buckhead’s best cuisine at exceptional prices during the upcoming Buckhead Restaurant Week beginning Saturday, February 26 and running through Sunday, March 6, 2011. The nine-day promotion will showcase the cuisine of the area’s best restaurants. Each will offer a prix-fixe, three-course menu consisting of an appetizer, main course and dessert for $25 per person (excluding alcohol, tax and gratuity). The second annual event will fuse international and local flavors, ingredients and cooking styles into one event as the neighborhood’s best chefs create menus that highlight their unique culinary styles. A complete list of participating restaurants and their menus will soon be available online at www.brwatlanta.com... Donate a winter coat or fleece and receive a one-time $10 voucher credit at Meehan’s Public House Downtown. This offer has been extended through January 31st.  So, grab your friends, bring a coat or a blanket (or both) and join in by giving back to those most in need. (Vouchers can be used on a return visit and only one good per table.) Meehan’s Public House Downtown is located at 180 Peachtree Street.  For more information, visit www.101concepts.com... The 57th Fighter Group Restaurant, the World War II aviation-themed eatery located at the south runway of the DeKalb Peachtree Airport, first opened its doors in 1981.  After being closed for a short while and reopening in late ‘09, 57th is now celebrating a 30th anniversary throughout the month of January.   To commemorate the occasion, the restaurant is offering an array of anniversary-themed menu specials, as well as hosting events. Executive Chef Gregg Herndon is kicking off the celebration with special menu offerings available from Tuesday, January 11 through the end of the month.  To commemorate its first year of business, the restaurant is offering a special entrée and glass of house wine combo for $19.81.  The dish will change daily. To celebrate the restaurant’s historic theme, the bar menu will include a variety of classic 1940’s cocktails including Manhattans, Sidecars, Hurricanes and many more. The restaurant is also offering a selection of ‘blast from the past’ items from the original menu including crab-stuffed mushrooms, chicken Jack Daniels,  onion straws, creamed corn and farmhouse chicken. 57th is also hosting an anniversary party on Sunday, January 16 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.  The evening includes classic big band live entertainment as well as classic cocktails for $5.  57th is asking party attendees to help build its 30th anniversary scrapbook by bringing a picture of themselves from a previous visit.  Each will receive a free dessert.  To keep the good times rolling, 57th will also host a swing dance contest on Saturday, January 22 and award prizes to the first, second and third place winners.   There will be professional swing dance instructors onsite to give lessons. Guests will also have a chance to win a complimentary plane ride in a P-40 Warhawk plane ($950 value) courtesy of 57th Fighter’s owner, Pat Epps.  Epps is an award-winning pilot who is being inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame in April of 2011.  He also owns Epps Aviation. The 57th Fighter Group Restaurant is located at 3829 Clairmont Road.  For more info, call 770.234.0057 or visit www.the57threstaurant.com.... Although doors opened in mid-December at Marlow’s Tavern in East Cobb, they have waited until after the holiday crush to throw a weeklong opening celebration from Monday, January 10 through Sunday, January 16.  There’s a different special for each day of the week such as $2 Tavern Burger Tuesday -- the burger is just $2 and hourly table-number drawings fill the day with guests at each winning table getting their meal for free.  Wednesday night belongs to the ladies with $5 appetizers and drink specials from 5 p.m. until close while 790 The Zone runs a live remote.  During Friday happy hour, guests can munch on free appetizers from 5 - 7 p.m. and stay on for live music beginning at 9 p.m.  And, Sunday punctuates the week with the brunch buffet for $7 along with $7 BLT Bloody Marys, bottomless mimosas and a Marlow’s money booth for seven seconds of prize grabbing.   Marlow’s Tavern’s newest East Cobb unit is at 1311 Johnson Ferry Road in Marietta, 770.977.7747.

Peoplespotter...

Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker and former Mayor Bill Campbell all dined at TWO urban licks on the same night. Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds are both in town filming the movie Change Up. Bateman and his wife enjoyed the bistro steak, scallops and the tuna entrée while Reynolds indulged in the tuna tartar, calamari appetizer and TWO’s wine on tap. While chatting and hanging out, they all took pictures with the staff... Martha Stewart also made it to town, lunching at Canoe in Vinings, ordering the smoked salmon appetizer, oysters and a Cobb salad... Local Atlanta-native rapper/actor Lucacris hosted his annual ‘Ludachristmas’ event at Opera Nightclub on Crescent Avenue in Midtown. Ludacris has won the Screen Actors Guild, Critic’s Choice, MTV, and Grammy Awards during his career.... Decatur-native and R & B recording artist/songwriter, Keri Hilson, also held her latest album release party at the Gold Room on Piedmont Road.

News to chew on...

What do football and cookies have in common? Kent Hill, born and raised in Americus, Ga., Hill spent his boyhood in the kitchen with his mother and grandmother baking chocolate-chip cookies. He went on to have a successful pro-football career, but once retired from the NFL, Kent exchanged his #72 jersey for an apron and began perfecting the baking tradition with Ken’t Country Cookies. Originally operating online, Kent’s cookies are now available in seven Whole Foods stores throughout greater Metro Atlanta. Hill uses natural ingredients and the finest Southern Georgia pecans possible and offers five gourmet flavors ~ Chocolate Chip; Chocolate-Chocolate Chip; Pecan Chocolate Chip; Walnut Chocolate Chip; and Almond Chocolate-Chocolate Chip. Kent claims that it was his ‘Mama’s’ cookies that fueled his All Pro career with the Los Angeles Rams, as well as his five-time selection to the Pro Bowl. He played with the Houston Oilers for two seasons before retiring from the NFL in 1987. He was selected in the first round of the 1979 NFL draft out of Georgia Tech, was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2001, and into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame in 2006. Kent’s Country Cookies also supports corporate fundraisers benefitting non-profit organizations, find out how at www.kentscountrycookies.com... For 30 years Murphy’s restaurant has anchored the epicenter of the intown Virginia-Highland neighborhood with a storied background that has followed it from its humble beginnings as a basement deli to its home at the corner of N. Highland and Virginia Avenues. Embedded in its history are tales of couples who got engaged and renowned chefs beginning successful careers.  Owner Tom Murphy,  along with Jan Butsch Schroder, have presented a history of the eatery with a commemorative cookbook, ‘Murphy’s, 30 Years Of Recipes And Memories.’  The book contains more than 50 recipes from chefs that worked at or with Murphy’s, including Nick Oltarsh, Shaun Doty, Hector Santiago, Gerry Klaskala and many others. Originally published in 2005, this edition includes a new section and several new recipes covering the past five years. The book is available for $25 at amazon.com... Beef jerky lovers, White Oak Pastures now has their own beef jerky for you to chew on -- made from the farm’s own grass-fed beef.  Kevin Outz of The Spotted Trotter, an Atlanta-based boutique charcuterie, is producing the jerky for the farm.  Each half-pound jerky-filled jar sells for $15 at White Oak Pastures’ online store.  To order and for more information, visit www.whiteoakpastures.com.

Soups on...

January is National Soup Month. So, warm your tummy with some steaming hot soup, chili and gumbo.  Here are a few suggestions in Atlanta’s vast soup wasteland: Take a soup break at Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse in Phipps Plaza with a bowl of roasted tomato soup and a goat cheese-chive crostini ($6).  A cup ($4) or bowl ($6) of stick-to-your-ribs El Dorado chili at Deadwood Saloon in Midtown or be cheesy with the cheddar-based queso ($5) at all Marlow’s Tavern locations.  In the Italian tradition, Pacci Ristorante keeps bubbling with the Tuscan white bean with pancetta, pecorino cheese, crostini and rosemary oil ($7). Midtown’s RA Sushi has several soups to warm without weighing you down:  Miso Hot! soup spices up the broth and adds shiitake mushrooms, bok choy and shrimp ($6.75); and Nabeyaki udon brings on tempura shrimp, kani kama crab and scallops in a seafood broth ($13.75).  Umaido (an authentic Japanee noodle bar) in Suwanee, warms with huge bowls of tonkatsu ramen in spicy variations of hearty broth, a boiled egg, pork or seafood and veggies.  How ‘bout seafood gumbo at Ray’s on the River or Ray’s in the City ($7) while Ray’s Killer Creek offers classic French onion ($7).  Cross the globe to the W Atlanta Midtown for a trip through Spice Market’s chicken and coconut milk soup ($7) and butternut squash soup with ginger and pumpkin seeds ($7.50). Perimeter’s Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food has a hot tortilla soup of diced chicken fajita paired with fresh vegetables and tortilla strips.  There are also five other soups-of-the-day including Mexican corn chowder; poblano beef fajita; thick black bean; poblano cream; and shrimp and lobster.  All of Uncle’s soups are $5.95 a bowl.  How ‘bout soup in a burger joint? There’s Shaun’s red chili ($2.99/cup) at YEAH! Burger.  And lastly, do-it-yourselfers can thank cookbook Author Gena Knox for a simmering pot of sweet corn chowder with crumbled bacon.  The recipe is on page 15 of the January 2011 Issue and also in her recently released cookbook, “Southern My Way.”

Menu updates...

Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House on Memorial Drive in Grant Park has announced its new 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)... 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... 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.

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.