August 2011 Issue

August 2011 Issue

TASTES, TRENDS & FLAVORS

Dining with Van Leuvan & Hector; 

smokey nights, crab fest & music

•The summer ‘Chef Series’ continues at One.Midtown Kitchen as resident Chef Drew Van Leuvan welcomes area chefs for a five-course dinner paired with cocktails, wine or beer. Van Leuvan will prepare the appetizer and dessert portion of the menu while each guest chef will prepare courses two, three and four.  August 3rd, Hector Santiago of Pura Vida cooks along side Van Leuvan, followed by Drew Belline of No. 246 on August 17th, Richard Blais (Top Chef All-Stars’ Winner) on August 31st and Carvel Grant Could of Canoe on August 31st. Cost is $75 per dinner, $200 for three dinners or $300 for five dinners.  Visit onemidtownkitchen.com or call 404.892.4111 for reservations.

•’In the Smoke of the Night’ ~ Nothing says summer more than the smokey flavors of the grill.  Food 101 chefs Justin Keith and Ryan Smith have created an exclusive wine pairing dinner highlighting smokey flavors in each course for Thursday, August 4th on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. A sampling includes pecan smoked veal loin, peach smoked rock shrimp & grits, hickory smoked duck leg, mesquite smoked beef short rib and smoked sea salt & brown butter cake. Reception begins at 6:45 and dinner at 7 p.m. The cost if $45 for the pre fix menu and $15 optional for the wine pairings.  Call 404.497.9700 for reservations.

•Crab Fest + Live Music ~ Park Tavern at Piedmont Park in Midtown is combining their annual Crab & Shrimp festival with ONE Musicfest on Saturday August 27th.  You can enjoy crab legs, shrimp served a dozen different ways, a full food menu, sunshine, 12 hours of live music, libations, gaming and graffiti/tagging stations. Visit www.onemusicfest.com for tickets.

•On Tuesday, August 23rd, Restaurant Eugene on Peachtree will welcome South Carolina lowcountry author Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor to the Eugene Author Dinner series.  Her book, Vibration Cooking, or, The Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl, will be featured, and as usual, Restaurant Eugene’s chef, Linton Hopkins, will prepare a meal inspired by the author’s work. Beginning at 6:30 with a reception and book signing (complimentary book for each guest), a four-course dinner with pairings will be seated at 7 p.m.  Cost is $105 per person. Restaurant Eugene is located at 2277 Peachtree Road and reservations are required, 404.355.0321.

•Birthday Bash ~ Lucky’s Burger & Brew in Roswell is celebrating its first birthday on Sunday, August 7th from 5 - 9 p.m. with live music and $1 burgers & brews benefitting the Golden Retriever Rescue of Atlanta (the eatery is named after owners Ernie and Diane Geyer’s golden retreiver).  There will also be a ‘Birthday Burger Eating Contest’ featuring the restaurant’s ‘Grim Reaper’ burger (a four-pound beef patty, onion rings, a pound of bacon and six fried eggs layered in an oversized bun and served with chili cheese tots). Devour it in an hour and receive a $250 Lucky’s gift card, $100 cash and a T-shirt. There’s a $20 entry fee and you can register at luckysburgerandbrew.com.

•Garcia Dinner ~ On Wednesday, August 3rd, join Rosebud and chef Ron Eyester for the annual Jerry Garcia Dinner and enjoy an improvisational menu, honoring the go-with-the-flow vibe of the Grateful Dead beginning at 7:30 p.m. Guests will also enjoy live entertainment at The Family Dog, located across the street. The dinner costs $48 per person (plus tax and gratuity). For more info or reservations, call 404.347.9747 or visit www.rosebudatlanta.com. Rosebud is located at 1397 N. Highland Avenue.

   •End Of Summer BBQ ~ Canoe Restaurant joins forces with SweetWater Brewery and the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (UCR) for a second year to conclude the ‘Save the Hooch Campaign’ and celebrate the end of summer. Attendants will come together on the banks of the Chattahoochee River on Saturday, August 13th, from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. for the End of Summer BBQ party. Using ingredients from local farms as well as Canoe’s own garden, chef Carvel Grant Gould and her team will prepare a savory barbecue meal and SweetWater Brewery is providing their trademark local beers. A portion of the proceeds will benefit UCR. In addition, SweetWater will be presenting a check for this year’s campaign. The party costs $25 per person in advance, $30 at the door, and includes food, SweetWater Beer, live music and a one-year membership and donation to UCR. To register for the event, go to www.chattahoochee.org.

•Cooking with Holota ~ Join chef Cyrille Holota on Saturday, August 20th for an interactive cooking class in the kitchen at BLT Steak. The class theme, Cool Off for Summer: Frozen Desserts, Ice Creams and Sorbets, will take place from 2  to 4 p.m. The cooking classe costs $50 per person and includes wine pairings and samples of the dishes. BLT Steak is located at 45 Ivan Allen Junior Blvd. For reservations, call 404.577.7601 or visit www.bltsteak.com.

•Corks & Forks ~ The ninth-annual food and wine event to take place at Grant Park in Atlanta on Saturday August 27th from 1 to 5 p.m. Corks & Forks is held each year in conjunction with The Grant Park Summer Shade Festival. The event provides a chance to experience delicious food prepared by Atlanta’s finest chefs. At we went to print, participating restaurants included  Abattoir, Legal Sea Foods, Seasons 52, Atkins Park, Market, Serpas, Bhojanic, The Melting Pot, Six Feet Under, BLT Steak, Murphy’s, Spice Market, Cake Hag, Peasant Bistro, The Sun Dial, Canoe, Rathbun’s, Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint, Graveyard Tavern, Rosebud and Wahoo Grill. In addition, there will be wine and beer tastings of some of the newest beverages to hit the 2011 Atlanta market. Proceeds from the event benefit the Grant Park Conservancy. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://gpconservancy.org/node/18.

•Sunday Supper ~ Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is reviving the tradition of family and friends sitting down to Sunday dinner by offering its three-course prime rib dinner at a special price of $29.95 per guest every Sunday in August (price excludes tax and gratuity).  The dinner includes 12 ounces of prime rib served with a trio of sauces; a choice of The Wedge, Fleming’s or Caesar salads; choice of one side dish; and a choice of dessert.   Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is located at  4501 Olde Perimeter Way in Perimeter Place Village; 770.698.8112. 

New hours, eats, etc...

Celebrated restaurant Abattoir, on Atlanta’s Westside, has begun opening for dinner seven days a week.  Along with his wife, sommelier and general manager Kristine Lassor, chef Joshua Hopkins presents diners with approachable cuisine featuring locally and humanely raised proteins and fresh fish served in a variety of ways, as well as the peak-of-the-season produce from local farmers.  Abattoir is located at 1170 Howell Mill Road. For more info, visit www.starprovisions.com. 

•Peasant Bistro on Park Avenue West downtown has begun serving Sunday Brunch from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. that is built around soups, salads, entrees and desserts from executive chef Michael Patria. Visit www.peasantatl.com for complete menu.

•Livingston Restaurant + Bar, located in the Georgian Terrace Hotel on Peachtree, has introduced ‘Brunch Unplugged’ on Sundays. Atlanta singer/songwriter Justin Borgman brings his music to the patio every Sunday from 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Live music, brunch favorites from chef Zeb Stevenson, and summer cocktail specials are offered. Livingston is located at 659 Peachtree Street. Visit www.livingstonatlanta.com for details.

•Bad Dog Taqueria on N. Decatur Road in Emory Village is now open for lunch everyday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Taqueria will be serving up a quirky, internationally inspired menu including the Uncle Morty taco, with slow roasted brisket, marinated grilled onions and served in its own special sauce; the Chickpeas in a Pod with chickpea croquettes, avocado tahini sauce, lettuce and tomatoes; or the Snooki, with slow simmered hot ‘n spicy tomato ground beef ragu, queso fresco, lettuce and tomato (priced at around $2.99 per taco). For more information visit www.baddogtaco.com. Parking is available behind the building and on the street.

•Osteria del FIGO on Atlanta’s Westside has officially opened their ‘Meatball Bar’ which offers imaginative cocktails, Italian-inspired bites and of course, made-from-scratch, oversided meatballs alongside dipping sauces.  All seven Figo Metro locations have added the new ‘meatball’ menu ($1.50 each) featuring jumbo meatballs such as chicken parmigiana (chicken with grilled eggplant, basil and mozzarella cheese), Alba (beef with potatoes, onions and white truffle oil) and Zia Emilia (lamb with mint, goat cheese and raisins). Visit www.figopasta.com for more details.

•Cafe 640 (formerly Cafe de Sol) on N. Highland in Virginia Highlands has added new summer menu items focusing on fresh, local Georgia tomatoes.  You can now kick off your meal with a fried green tomato & shrimp appetizer, a tomato basil salad with fresh mozzarella or the spicy pimento cheese appetizer, among many others. For more details, visit www.cafe640.com.

•Cypress Street Pint and Plate’s new chef, Richard Silvey, has launched new lunch and dinner menus full of seasonal specialties, mostly sourced from local vendors and farms. Located in the heart of Midtown, a sampling of the new snacks include the Scotch egg, an egg wrapped in homemade Italian sausage, fried, filled with a pimento cheese sauce, and then served with a decadent cilantro sauce; the tomatillo pork nachos with a pineapple habanero sauce; and the edamame hummus served with sweet potato chips, parsnip chips, and red and yellow beet chips. Cypress Street Pint and Plate is located at 817 West Peachtree. For more information, visit www.cypressbar.com.

JULY 2011 ISSUE

July 2011 Issue

TASTES, TRENDS & FLAVORS

'Day of Dining' raises $130,000; 
Eating light with Cyrille Holota

23-year-old Open Hand, the community-based nonprofit organization providing comprehensive nutrition care, recently held its largest annual fundraiser, the 19th Annual Dining Out for Life event at more than 100 metro Atlanta restaurants. Participating restaurants donated 20% or more of each diner’s bill and through restaurant contributions, sponsorships and individual donations, this year’s event has raised over $130,000. For more information on Open Hand, visit OpenHandAtlanta.org, and to find out more about Dining Out for Life, visit DiningOutforOH.org...  The summer ‘Chef Series’ continues at One.Midtown Kitchen as resident Chef Drew Van Leuvan welcomes area chefs for a five-course dinner paied with cocktails, wine or beer. Van Leuvan will prepare the appetizer and dessert portion of the menu while each guest chef will prepare courses two, three and four.  July 20th, Ford Fry of JCT Kitchen cooks along side Van Leuvan followed by Hector Santiago of Pura Vida on August 3rd. Cost is $75 per dinner, $200 for three dinners or $300 for five dinners.  Visit onemidtownkitchen.com or call 404.892.4111 for reservations...  As if the summers aren’t hot enough in Atlanta, Café Circa on Edgewood Avenue in the Old Fourth Ward district is heating things up with ‘Dinner and the Blues’ dates with Atlanta vocalist Francine Reed. To make the musical experience delicious, Café Circa is offering a two-course dinner special for $20 - choice of an appetizer or a dessert and an entrée - on the nights Reed performs created by executive chef Hopeton S. Hibbert. After Francine’s set, head upstairs to The Reserve to enjoy cigars and libations from the new summer cocktail menu. Reed is slated to perform on Monday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m., July 11th and 18th. For more info, visit www.cafecircaatl.com or call 404.477.0008... Genki Noodles and Sushi, with locations in Buckhead, Sandy Springs and now Virginia-Highland, is adding new weekly events to their ranks: Sake Sundays with $1 sushi nigiri, $3 rolls, $3 Genki draft beer, $3.50 sake bombs and $5 cold sake. The Buckhead location will also feature live music starting at 6 p.m. In addition to Sake Sundays, all three Genki locations host Wine Wednesdays with half price bottles of wine starting at $12 and Genki Hour every Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with $3 appetizers, sushi rolls, wine and beer.  Visit www.genkiatl.com for addresses and numbers... Also offering tunes with food, The Charlie Wooton Project will perform on Saturday, July 2 from 10 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. at The Family Dog located at 1402 N. Highland Avenue in Atlanta. For more information, visit www.thefamilydogatlanta.com or call 404.249.0180...  Who says all wine tastings have to be the same?  The new H&F Bottle Shop on Peachtree Road is bringing a whole new kind of wine tasting starting with the Thursday night ‘food and wine’ tasting events, themed around a song, a movie, a type of food or a wine, and the ‘Unplugged and Uncorked,’ a rock and roll kind of tasting --- debuting on Saturday nights --- pairing wines with live music.  For $35 guests attend a private party with Atlanta’s best musicians. Saturday evening July performers include: Herb Harris on July 2nd; Book of Colors on the 9th; Adron on the 16th; Phillip Frobos on the 23rd; and Anna Kramer on the 30th. Check out the website, hfbottleshop.com or call 404.841.4070 for all the details.

Cooking light...

You can join Chef Cyrille Holota on Saturday, July 16 for an interactive cooking class in the kitchen at BLT Steak on Ivan Allen Junior Boulevard in Atlanta. The class theme, ‘Eating Light: Flavorful yet Healthy Entrees including Salads and Dressings,’ will take place from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. The cooking classes cost $50 per person and include wine pairings and samples of the dishes. For reservations, call 404.577.7601 or visit www.bltrestaurants.com... The third annual JCT Kitchen ‘Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival’ is set to take place on July 17th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Check out all the details on page 15... Food 101’s Executive Chef Justin Keith has created a series of local summer crop dinners that highlight the best produce available that month.  His first featured produce is sweet corn and the ‘Corn Crop Dinner’ will take place Thursday, July 14th. Highlights of the menu include: Hickory smoked pork belly “Tamale” of roasted corn, green tomato & poblano pepper relish and ham hock jus; Corn vichyssoise of lump crab, chive and truffle oil; Littleneck clam bake of chorizo, corn, fennel, fingerling potatoes and aromatic corn broth; 1855 shoulder steak a la plancha of triple creamed corn, crispy onion and red wine demi; and Sweet Corn souffle with blueberry compote, corn shoots and Cracker Jacks. The cost is $45 for the pre fix menu and $15 for optional wine pairings. Food 101 is located at 4969 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. Call 404.497.9700 for reservations... Cheshire Bridge Road has taken a lot of rap over the years, which only adds to its quirky edge. Where else in Atlanta can you find food, antique stores, boutiques and strip clubs without making any turns?  Learn more about the road’s colorful history and colorful offerings by taking the ‘Taste & Tour of Cheshire Bridge’ from 5 - 10 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, July 20 and 21.  Ticket prices are $15 per person per day or $25 per person for both days until July 1; after July 1, they’re $20 and $35 respectively.  Follow the event on Twitter (@tourofCB) for timely info... On Thursday, July 14, Morton’s The Steakhouse Buckhead location will host an interactive event featuring stemware from Riedel Wine Glass Company. Guests will explore the effect the shape of the glass has on the taste of the wine during a comparative stem to stem tasting. Signature hors d’oeuvres will be served including chicken goujonettes, petite filet mignon sandwiches and broiled sea scallops wrapped in bacon served with apricot chutney. Each attendee will receive a tasting set of four (4) Riedel Wine Glasses valued at $116. An array of featured wines will be served and the evening will also present a silent auction with 100% of proceeds benefitting Birdies for the Brave. Tickets are $95 per person (which includes tax, gratuity, hors d’oeuvres, tasting wine and set of 4 Riedel ‘Vinum’ wine glasses). Morton’s The Steakhouse is located at 3379 Peachtree Road. For tickets and additional information, call 404.816.6535.

New eats...

Through Monday, July 25, Atlantans can get a taste of America at all seven metro Marlow’s Tavern locations with its “Red, White and Brew” celebrating the flavors of the season. The menu includes the following dishes: Beer & cheese soup - a light beer soup with garlic, thyme, provolone, Swiss and Parmesan served with a ciabatta crisp ($6); Firecracker deviled eggs - pimento cheese, applewood smoked bacon, fresh herbs and firecracker sauce ($3/$5); Watermelon, feta and arugula salad - fresh basil, ginger and balsamic glaze ($9); Red, White and Bleu Burger - made with lean ground beef and decorated with red pepper, Vidalia onion and Maytag blue cheese on a toasted sesame brioche bun served with American fries ($11); Backyard blackened swordfish - dusted, grilled, pressed and stacked with baby arugula, citrus aioli, toasted challah and Red, White and Blue Potato Salad ($14); Honey glazed grilled chicken-grilled chicken glazed with honey mustard and Meyer lemon served with loaded Red Bliss potatoes and chili-slathered corn on the cob ($17); Grilled skirt steak - “hot off the grill” skirt steak blazed with house made chimichurri, summer squash and jumbo Vidalia onion rings ($19); Chili slathered corn on the cob - secret seasoning, chili butter and fresh parsley ($3); Red White and Blue Potato Salad - Red Bliss and Peruvian purple potatoes, applewood smoked bacon, chopped egg and fresh herbs ($3); and Key Lime Pie in a Glass - made with Nellie & Joe’s Famous Key Lime juice, stacked with a graham cracker-pecan crust and fresh berries ($6). The menu also features the following specialty beverages: ‘Summertime’ Watermelon Margarita - Herradura  Reposado, fresh watermelon syrup, house made sour and fresh lime ($8); Tommy’s Favorite Sangria - Savida sangria, the freshest seasonal fruit and Agave nectar ($8); Red - Rogue American Ale ($5); White- SweetWater Sch’Wheat American Wheat Ale ($5.50); and Blue - Terrapin Hop Karma IPA ($6).  Marlow’s is also hosting its Second Annual Marlow’s Tavern Grilling Recipe Contest. This competition gives grillers the opportunity to enter their favorite recipe for a chance to win an array of prizes.  Contestants can submit their recipe through July 25 at www.marlowstavern.com or fill out an entry form at one of the seven tavern locations.  A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the winning menu item will be donated in the winner’s name to Special Olympics Georgia.  Visit www.marlowstavern.com for locations and all the details...  Restaurant Eugene on Peachtree celebrates desserts with Pastry Chef Aaron Russell’s new dessert tasting menus. The three and five course tastings can be enjoyed every night and as with any tasting menu, the desserts are coursed and come with optional pairings.  A recent five course tasting included:  lavender lemonade and vanilla ice cream float, followed by caramel ganache with espresso anglaise and streusel, followed by pickled strawberries, vegan cocoa cake and orange blossom mousse, then a bite of sweet tea crème brulee and finished with blueberry sorbet and citrus shortbread. The tasting menu will change nightly and will feature the best fruits, herbs and spices of the season at just the right time for $18 and $24 respectively.  Restaurant Eugene is located at 2277 Peachtree Road and reservations are encouraged, 404.355.0321... 11-year-old Agave restaurant, located on Boulevard in the historic Cotton Mill General Store in Cabbagetown has added to its eclectic southwestern menu with new summer dishes.  Agave has kept the customers’ favorites and added new dishes such as homemade chile rellenos, spicy grilled swordfish and roasted poblano chicken soup.  Agaves signature Herb & Chile Rub is now also available ‘for sale’ at Savi Urban Market in Inman Park.

Get Shakin’...  

The second-annual Mayfield Dairy Milkshake Recipe Contest is underway offering a $10,000 grand prize to the 2011 winning ‘Below Zero Hero.’  Aspiring milkshake makers can submit their milkshake masterpiece recipes to the contest website until August. A panel of culinary judges will pick the top-10 recipes nationally based on overall appeal, originality and taste. The recipes will be posted online for consumers to test and to vote for their favorites. The first place winner will receive $10,000, second place $3,000 and third place $1,000.  Plug in the blender, purchase Mayfield ice cream and milk, gather your favorite add ins -- fresh fruit, candy or cookies --  and start shakin.’  Like the contest on Facebook and follow it on Twitter (@IceCreamFun) for tips and recipe ideas.   

JUNE 2011 ISSUE

June 2011 Issue

TRENDS, TASTES & FLAVORS

Downtown dining, wing & rock

fest and a salute to the peach

The 2011 Downtown Atlanta Restaurant Week (DARW) is back for its 10th anniversary running through June 5th. The event features the best Downtown Atlanta’s Dining District has to offer featuring new dishes and signature three-course menus.  Meals will include multiple options for an appetizer, entrée and a dessert 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 6th Annual 97.1 The River Wing & Rock Fest will move to its new location at Woodstock City Park on Saturday, June 4th from 12:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.  The outdoor music & food festival is free to the public and will offer something for everybody with over 20 chicken wing restaurants & 5 classic rock cover & tribute bands.  Kids can spend the day in the Kid Zone with inflatable amusement rides along with face painting, kids treats & other activities.  For more info go to www.wingandrockfest.com... The summer ‘Chef Series’ continues at One.Midtown Kitchen as resident Chef Drew Van Leuvan welcomes area chefs for a five-course dinner paied with cocktails, wine or beer. Van Leuvan will prepare the appetizer and dessert portion of the menu while each guest chef will prepare courses two, three and four.  June 1st, Hugh Acheson of Empire State South cooks along side Van Leuvan with Shaun Doty of Yeah! Burger arriving June 15th and Bruce Logue of La Pietra Cucina rounding out the month on June 19th. Cost is $75 per dinner, $200 for three dinners or $300 for five dinners.  Visit onemidtownkitchen.com or call 404.892.4111 for reservations... BlackStock Vineyards & Winery in Dahlonega is hosting a two-day Georgia Fine Wine Festival featuring the fine food, wine, music and art that is found in the North Georgia mountains.  Entry includes a festival glass to sample over 60 Georgia-grown wines from several wineries; two food tickets to sample tapas-style offerings from 25 North Georgia restaurants; live music from the Kip Dockery Jazz Quartet; and folk crafts demonstrations.  Additionally, a complimentary petting zoo is provided for children. Cost is $50 per person for one-day tickets.  Children are admitted free.  Advance tickets are now available online at www.bsvw.com or at 706.219.2789 x 223...  An annual fundraiser for The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF), Chocolate! 2011 will be on Thursday, June 23, at Opera (1150 Crescent Avenue) in Midtown from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.  The evening features two live bands, a specialty drink tasting, a chocolate lager and a chocolate cappuccino tasting, tasty tapas and a silent auction. Atlanta’s top bakers, chefs, vintners and caterers will provide hundreds of chocolate delicacies for attendees.  Tickets are $75 in advance and $85 at the door.  An exclusive VIP experience is available for $125.  For more information and to reserve your ticket, visit www.chocolateforcf.org...  Life’s a peach at Rosebud on N. Highland Avenue on Thursday, June 16. For the salute to the summer fruit -- the ‘Eat a Peach Dinner’ -- chef Ron Eyster will feature a variety of specials including grilled Berkshire ham steak (Mr. Melvin’s smoked ham, Riverview Farm grits & pickled peach chow chow) and the Springer Mountain chicken croquette (fennel-peach slaw, creamed corn & smoked peach jus). The menu will be offered both prix-fixe and a la carte as Parker Smith performs live acoustic music. The party continues across the street at The Family Dog, with peach-inspired cocktails and Swami Gone Bananas performing from 9:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. Visit www.rosebudatlanta.com for details... Chef Eyester is serving up a new dish on the weekends at The Family dog, Breakfast Fried Rice.  Here’s the rundown: Carolina Plantation rice, sweet peppers, sweet chili sauce, soy, house-cured & smoked Berkshire ham and scrambled eggs topped with a soft-poached egg. For details, visit thefamilydogatlanta.com or call 404.249.0180.

An Italian getaway...

Executive Chef Craig Richards of La Tavola Trattoria also in the Virginia-Highland neighborhood, is hosting a week long culinary journey to the Tuscan countryside from June 18 through June 25, at the 1000-year-old Villa Montecastello organic farm and olive orchard in Italy.  The trip includes seven nights at the Villa, seven breakfasts, five lunches, six dinners, water, one bottle of wine per day, all local transportation, and airport pickup and drop off. Pricing starts at $3,300 per person for a double shared room.  Spouses who would like to join the tour but do not want to participate in the cooking classes can attend for $2,100.  For details on booking conditions, payment methods and full program schedule, visit www.montecastelli.it.   To make reservations, contact Amie Ruditz at 212.414.4898 or amie@montecastelli.com...   The 3rd Annual Sausage Fest will be on Sunday June 5th from 2 -5 p.m. at 5 Seasons Brewing in The Prado on Roswell Road.    Local Atlanta chefs will compete for the title of ‘Sausage King’  during a day of live music, beer and most of all - Sausage.  Tickets are $5 and gets you a taste of all of the competitor’s sausages.  For more info, visit www.5seasonsbrewing.com or call 404.255.5911.

Cudos...

New York Times’ Atlanta bureau chief, Kim Severson, recently wrote a piece on dining in Atlanta and touted the likes of Chef Scott Peacock (who left town about a year ago to make films) as well as Anne Quatrano and such eateries as Cakes & Ale in Decatur, Miller Union on Atlanta’s Westside and Empire State South in Midtown, for serving sophisticated southern fare... Chef Emeril Lagasse’s new show on the Cooking Channel, The Originals with Emeril, visited Atlanta for a June episode and made the rounds to Mary Mac’s Tea Room, Busy Bee Cafe and Horseradish Grill... Over at The Food Network, local chefs Justin Burdett of Miller Union and Tom McEachern of Ray’s On The River, both take on tree competitors on the competition show ‘Chopped.’ And on Sunday, June 5, Justin Balmes goes blade to spoon against the other finalists in the running for “The Next Food Network Star.”  The 32-year-old Atlanta native works at Harry’s Farmers Market in Marietta... Travel & Leisure magazine announced their choice for ‘America’s Best Burger Cities’ in May and graced Atlanta with  No. 19 out of 20 singing the praises of Ann’s Snack Bar —famous for its chili-bacon-and-cheese-laden ‘ghetto burger’ and Richard Blais’ newcomer Flip Burger, where you can choose from burgers made of lamb, tuna tartare, or just the ‘local,’ garnished with Coca-Cola ketchup, pickled peaches and pecans... And, among Travel & Leisure’s ‘World’s Hottest Rooftop Restaurants,’ French American Brasserie placed among 10 in the world: “This restaurant spans four floors with flouirshes like a circular bar, chandeliers and hand-painted ceilings.  Take in downtown Atlanta from the rooftop, not far from Centennial Olympic Park and the Georgia Aquarium.”... bon appetite magazine’s foodist, Andrew Knowlton, searched nationwide for the ‘Top 6 Izskayas’ (a Japanese tapas bar) and Atlanta’s Miso Izakaya on Edgewood Avenue made the cut.

Updates...

The last Tuesday of each month, Diesel Filling Station on N. Highland Avenue will be hosting a ‘Bacon & Beers’ evening from 6 to 9 p.m. $25 gets you a sample of bacon-related dishes, five new beers and specialty cocktails concocted by guest bartenders. An example of what you might expect includes grilled bacon wrapped jalapenos stuffed with shrimp; a bacon & green apple fennel soup; a molasses cheesecake with orange ginger glaze & bacon graham crust; a potato ball stuffed with beef, sausage & cheese thats rolled in bacon crumbs, deep fried and served with a chili cream sauce; pan fried veal in a marsala reduction with bacon fat and capers; and bacon-themed cocktails such as a shot of reposado tequila with a pineapple jalapeno mix garnished with bacon-wrapped pineapple; or the B.L.Tini made with Bakon vodka, tomato water, spices and a Rosemary grape tomato garnish. For more info, visit dieselatlanta.com... Escape each Tuesday with a visit to Atlanta’s only South African restaurant, 10 Degrees South on Roswell Road in Buckhead.   Enjoy live music by Christian Jones from 6 to 9 p.m. along with $5 cocktails. Arrive early and sample South African fare with complimentary appetizers from 6 to 6:30 p.m.  To learn more visit www.10degreessouth.com or call 404.705.8870... Straits Restaurant, located at Fifth Street and Juniper in Midtown, has started serving lunch Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., offering Singaporean dishes of Kung Pao chicken 'Lollipops,' Singaporean spring rolls and garlic noodles along with traditional lunch fare like soups, salads and sandwiches.  Prices range from $3 for Jasmine, chicken, coconut or brown rice to $16 for calamansi shrimp but most items are in the area of $6 to $8.   For more information, visit www.straitsatl.com or call 404.877.1283... Beginning Wednesday, June 1, Spice Market, located inside the W Atlanta Midtown, is offering a way to cool down during the hot summer months: “The 90 Degree Freeze.”  The restaurant will be giving away complimentary ice cream with a $5 minimum purchase when temperatures reach or exceed 90 degrees during June, July and August. The approved weather gauge for “The 90 Degree Freeze” is The Weather Channel. Spice Market’s ice cream flavors change frequently.  Popular flavors include green tea, Vietnamese coffee, banana cashew, fresh mint and caramel. Sorbet flavors include mango, passion fruit and coconut. For more information, call 404.724.2550 or visit www.spicemarketatlanta.com.

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.