Friday, March 14, 2008

Canoe Joins “Tap Project” To Make Sure We Don’t Take Tap Water For Granted

UNICEF Project Hopes to Raise $1 Million During U.N. World Water Week


Georgia’s water shortage is flooding the news these days. Even so, when we twist the faucet handle, clean water gushes forth. It’s hard for us to imagine that the lack of drinking water is the second-largest worldwide killer of children under age five, but that’s reality for so many around the globe. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is launching the Tap Project on World Water Day to note our privilege while raising funds to provide safe drinking water for children worldwide. In 2007, NYC Tap Project restaurants raised more than $100,000 in one day by encouraging diners to pay $1 for their “free” tap water. This year, the Tap Project will extend through United Nations World Water Week, March 16 – 22. Riverside dining destination Canoe and other Atlanta restaurants, as well as restaurants across the U.S. will be participating. Find out more about the Tap Program at http://www.tapproject.org/.



The goal for Atlanta is to recruit more than 100 volunteers, help sign up 250 restaurants and raise more than $250,000 during the week. See who’s participating in Atlanta here.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Atlanta Taverns and Restaurants are "Dublin" Up on Irish Delights for St. Patrick's Day

Green beer, green guac, Guinness drafts and Guinness brats – there’ll be plenty o’ spread to keep Irish eyes a smilin’ and Irish wannabes reveling this St. Pat’s Day in Atlanta! Green attire? That depends on if you want to add a pinch or two!

Marlow’s Tavern in Vinings starts the party at 11:30 a.m. and jigs on through midnight with green beer, Guinness brats and Irish cheddar tots at lunchtime and classic Irish cuisine during dinner hours on Monday, March 17. 2355 Cumberland Parkway; 770-432-2526.

The GLOBE brings Emerald Isle lunch and dinner favorites to Midtown on St. Patrick’s Day: sheperd’s pie ($12), fish and chips ($14), corned beef and cabbage sandwich ($10) and bangers and mash ($13). Chase your choice with a $4 Guinness draught, all day long! 75 Fifth Street, NW in Technology Square; 404-541-1487.

Trilogy fills the hungriest leprechauns with meat pastry made with braised shredded beef, Guinness and onions; sheperd’s pie and house-cured corned beef and cabbage from 5 -11 p.m. Bar opens at 4 p.m. Toe tapping to Banks & Shane begins at 8 p.m.; $10 cover. 4930 Davidson Road behind the Parkaire shopping center in East Cobb; 770-971-4770.

Woodfire Grill offers a bit of orange, as in Irish cheese, to go with the green! On Tuesday, March 18, the restaurant’s Cheese Club will hold a cheese tasting of Irish artisanal and farmstead cheeses. $20 per person includes a glass of Irish beer. Taste and learn, come back to enjoy cheese at Woodfire Grill or get some to go. 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road. Reach the restaurant by calling 404-347-9055.

Chipotle locations will be stirring up big batches of their classic green guac for St. Patrick’s devotees who like to dip south-o’-the-border. A little leprechaun snatched up the recipe, and we’re happy to share it with you! Chipotle has 12 Atlanta-area locations.

SPICY GUACAMOLE
4 large ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
1 large serrano chili, seeded and chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt

Using fork, mash avocado with lime juice in small bowl. Add cilantro, chopped onion, chopped garlic, serrano chilies and salt and stir to combine. Makes about two cups.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Who's the Best?

Atlanta magazine's Best of Atlanta party was last night at the Cobb Galleria Centre, and, in terms of restaurants, it really was the best of Atlanta! All the hot spots were there, including Ecco, Fogo de Chao, the GLOBE and Watershed. Yum!

The Cobb Galleria isn't my first choice for an event like this; as my favorite GLOBE bartender said, "it has no soul." BUT, that certainly didn't keep the crowds away; by 8:30 p.m. most of the top restaurants were already out of food?!




Some of the standout dishes from the evening included GLOBE's Campari sorbet with homemade lemon sugar cookies, Via Elisa's sweet potato gnocchi, and Watershed's custard with blood orange sauce. I'm sure I would have loved Ecco's dish too, but it must have been everyone's favorite since they were totally out by the time I got there. Fogo served mini-bites of bacon-wrapped filet, lingucia sausage and beef ancho. The linguica sausage has always been my preferred cut of meat at Fogo, and it was just the right mix of salty and spicy to temper all the sweet treats of the evening.

Overall, it was a tasty evening out!

Monday, March 10, 2008

Allegro Blends Own House Wine - Now That's Italian!


A favorite house wine is an essential ingredient to the Central Italian dinner table. Genuine to the core, Allegro now has its own labeled house wine, a “Super Tuscan” blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Syrah. The palate-pleasing vintage 2006 blend comes from the estate San Marcello in Catignano, Siena, Italy. Looking ahead, the restaurant hopes to introduce its own true Sangiovese (100%) this fall. Good things are worth the wait! Meanwhile, come savor the fresh foods and flavors of Central Italy at Allegro, located on the ground floor of the Belvedere condominium building located at 560 Dutch Valley Road in Midtown; 404-888-1890. www.allegroatlanta.com