Friday, June 20, 2008

Blues, Brews & BBQ Three-Day Festival will be Smokin' June 20-22 at South City Kitchen and Vinings

There's nothing like a good ole' fashion barbeque to start the summer off right, but it's too hot outside to do the cooking yourself! Let someone else do the job for ya! South City Kitchen Midtown and Vinings are happy to help you while also helping others!

Hot soulful sounds, saucy eats and frosty Sweetwater beer are the clues; forks and fingers are the tools for success at "Blues, Brews and BBQ," a three- day summer souls-tice at South City Kitchen Midtown and Vinings going on Friday, June 20 through Sunday, June 22. Choose your 'cue of choice from the special menu (regular menu also available) then lick your fingers while live blues bands play each night--and toss back a Sweetwater beer or two while you're at it.

Tune menus for each location:
South City Kitchen Midtown
Friday, June 20 from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. - Chick Willis
Saturday, June 21 from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. - Electromatics
Sunday, June 22 from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. - Bill Sheffield

South City Kitchen Vinings
Friday, June 20 from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. - Electromatics
Saturday, June 21 from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. - Chick Willis
Sunday, June 22 from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. - Breeze Kings

'Cue menu for both locations:Appetizers include watermelon and tomato salad with shaved red onion, aged goat cheese, extra virgin olive oil and a cider vinegar sorghum syrup reduction ($7.50); Georgia Gouda fritters with charred corn salad and barbecue aioli ($6.95); smoked pork shoulder with corn flour cake, green mango slaw and chipotle barbecue sauce ($7.95); and sautéed garlic shrimp with creamed corn and barbecued sweet onion ($9.75).

BBQ entrees satisfy with a 14-hour smoked beef brisket sandwich with pickled Vidalia onions, BBQ- mustard mayonnaise and a side of garlic mustard greens ($12); "Sweet Tea" smoke-roasted half chicken served with Yukon potatoes, baby spinach and lemon jus ($17.95); deep fried pork ribs with spicy crust in a cider-Creole mustard glaze with broccoli macaroni and cheese ($18.95); and BBQ mahi mahi with white cheddar grits, grilled corn and arugula salad and BBQ butter ($21).

10% of Sunday's sales will go to Camp Twin Lakes, a local non-profit organization offering recreational, therapeutic and educational programs for seriously ill children facing physical, emotional and life challenges, will receive 10 percent of Sunday's sales.

South City Kitchen has two locations: 1144 Crescent Avenue in Midtown (404-873-7358) and 1675 Cumberland Parkway in Vinings (770-435-0700). Reservations recommended. The Midtown location is open seven days a week and serves lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. The Vinings location serves dinner nightly and Sunday brunch.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Shop. Then Come Eat And Drink At Marlow’s Tavern or Aqua Blue For Fun Sex And The City Nights

As a recovering shop-a-holic, I feel like I understand Carrie on higher level than most. My innate need for shoes and shopping is near primitive and has definitely left its mark on my pocketbook. I even thought about starting a support group for other recovering shop-a-holics. Although I’m sure Carrie wouldn’t be caught dead attending a meeting like that, I bet she would agree that women should be there to support each other. What better way to support each other than a girl’s night out?!

Carrie would agree with the philosophy behind Marlow’s Girls Night Out: spend less on cocktails and chow, have more moolah for shopping! Call your girlfriends and gather at Marlow’s every Wednesday in June for a Sex in the City-inspired evening of gab plus $5 drinks including the NY cosmopolitan, the “Absolut” Hunk, the Metropolitan and other city-fied cocktails along with $5 flighty white wine flights. The movie makes for tasty $5 appetizer fodder as well, bringing on summer pizza (inspired by 21 Club), jerk chicken satay (via Monkey Bar) and black bean and salsa dip (courtesy of Centrico).

In Alpharetta at 3719 Old Alabama Road, 770-475-1800; Kennesaw at 745 Chastain Road, NW, 770-425-8777; Midtown at 950 West Peachtree Street, 404-815-0323; and Vinings at 2355 Cumberland Parkway, 770-432-2526.

Wanna celebrate an evening with your girls while supporting a good cause? Head to Aqua Blue on Friday, June 20 for their Sex and the City-themed fundraiser night. Enjoy $5 cosmos and half-priced appetizers all named after your favorite characters from the star-studded film! Stretching your shopping potential even further will be giveaways from local vendors and raffle prizes . . . including an Aqua Blue wine dinner for four or dinner for two. Soundtrack, err background music, will be provided by David Scott Beluga’s Piano Man. Proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research.

Aqua Blue: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell; 770-643-8886.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Caryn and I got up early this morning for some behind-the-scenes action in the FOX 5 TV newsroom. Chef Richard Blais was cooking up a tasty Oreo cookie confection that he will be serving tomorrow night at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's annual Chocolate! event. Leave it up to Blais to take an old favorite and add a little liquid nitrogen to it! To see Blais and other top Atlanta chefs, join us tomorrow night at Villa Christina from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event features a full dinner buffet, martini bar, silent auction, two bands, and, of course, all-you-can-eat-chocolate treats! Tickets are $65 in advance, $75 at the door.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

LIT Kitchen Classes Cover All Glasses -- From Dogfish Beer To French Wines

Who says school's out for the summer? Fine tune your knowledge on finely crafted beverages this week at LIT Kitchen.
Dogfish Beer Tasting on Tuesday, June 17
Chef Carmen Cappello explains the brewing process behind Dogfish from Milton, Delaware, and tells why these beers are so pair-able with whatever you're serving. Chow on braised beef brisket and white BBQ sauce with Dogfish Festina Peche; and grilled vegetable antipasto with red wine vinegar and roasted chicken banh mi with pickled carrot and daikon paired with Dogfish Indian Brown Ale. 7 p.m. $45 per person.

An introduction to the Wines of the World on Thursday, June 19
While concentrating on wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone Valley, Loire and Alsace, learn about French wine laws, permitted grape varieties and viticulture practices that were created to protect wine producers and consumers. 7 p.m. $45 per person, includes materials, wine and palate-cleansing cheeses.

In addition to providing a facility for exploring all things culinary through classes, the 3,500 square foot space located in west Midtown Atlanta is an ideal venue for parties and events. Visit the Web site, sign up for more than one class or event and receive 25 percent off the price of your second activity. LIT Kitchen: 433C Bishop Street; 404-249-4300.