I Love The Wine Opener Event!

Last night my friend Annie and I "sipped and savored" our way around The Atlanta Wine Opener at the Mason Muer Fine Art Gallery. The annual event benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The gallery is unassuming from the exterior but inside the gallery is a wonderful space. Inspiring art, delicious food, fine wine filled the gallery. Chef Ben McPherson of Eclipse Di Luna introduced the crowd to shrimp ceviche with spicy popcorn. I ate a piquello pepper stuffed with mushrooms at Ecco's table before dunking strawberries and graham crackers in the chocolate fountain. Oh and we did drink wonderful wine!

It's Amore...

When home is where the heart is, make Whole Foods Market a stop on your homeward bound route. What better way to surprise your mate than with a homemade meal - straight from the heart. Don't forget about those other important elements of a romantic evening... flowers, wine, gourmet cheeses and chocolates. It's all good, and it's all under one eco- friendly roof... in seven locations around town.

Woodfire Grill is the perfect place for lovers during Valentine's week. Modern Romeos and Juliets will want to partake in the "Fools for Love" wine dinner benefiting the Georgia Shakespeare Theatre on Monday, February 9. The savory sonnet woos hearts with an hors d'oeuvre reception, three-course dinner with wine and cabaret entertainment for $100 per person. Date night on Friday, February 13, brings a choice of the full dining room menu or a special $65 per person, four-course Valentine's menu that includes a complimentary glass of cava. Woodfire Grill keeps it simple for starry-eyed couples on Saturday, February 14 by setting forth only the $65 four-course prix fixe menu, with several options for each course, along with a complimentary glass of cava and a take-home box of truffles. There's a place in their heart and on the menu for vegetarians, too. For reservations, call 404-347-9055. Woodfire Grill: 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road.

Give Your Man the Treat of Meat for Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is getting closer by the minute and I have some great suggestions for women who are looking to put a huge smile on their man’s face. Red meat and wine are sure-fire ways to a man’s heart, so this year Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse, Morton’s the Steakhouse and Wolf Mountain Vineyards and Winery are at the top of my list for V-Day destinations with my hubby.

Valentine’s Day isn’t usually considered a man’s favorite holiday, but this year, Fogo de Chão’s 15 savory cuts of meat are giving men a new reason to look forward to the heart shaped boxes of chocolates and the inevitable red roses. The restaurant will be offering special Valentine’s Day hours, serving dinner from 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 14. Fogo de Chão: 3101 Piedmont Road; 404-266-9988.

Morton’s the Steakhouse joins together its signature steak and seafood dishes in a heavenly match that’s just $99.99 for two. Each person will savor a single-cut filet; their choice of seafood options including Morton’s jumbo lump crab cake, Shrimp Alexander or broiled sea scallops; choice of Caesar or Morton’s salad; and a choice of Morton’s legendary hot chocolate cake or Key lime pie for dessert. Call ahead for reservations. Morton’s The Steakhouse-Buckhead: Peachtree Lenox Building, 3379 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-816-6535. Morton’s The Steakhouse-Downtown: SunTrust Plaza Building, 303 Peachtree Center Avenue; 404-577-4366.

And, if escaping the city is part of your quest for the ultimate love potion, venture to Wolf Mountain Vineyards and Winery in Dahlonega for the winery’s third annual Valentine Gourmet Dinner on Saturday, February 14 at 7 p.m. The six-course dinner with wine pairings costs $80 per person. Sunday, February 15 brings another option, Wolf Mountain’s Valentine Brunch for $30 per person at either the 12:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. seating. Reservations are a must for these events; call 706-867-9862. Wolf Mountain Vineyards and Winery: 180 Wolf Mountain Trail in Dahlonega.

Ahhh, Moving!

Tell people you're moving and you'll get one of three responses: "I hate moving." "You poor thing - good luck." "I have a bad back."

So, yes, we are moving. Going through many years of memories and sending them to that big recycling heaven in the sky. Anyone remember The Martini Club? Filibuster's? Insignia? Fishbone? The MLA team has now been given a history lesson on the Atlanta restaurant scene!

We are leaving Buckhead and heading to the Westside. Our new office at Lumberyard Lofts should be ready in March. But, wait, what about February?

Since MLA is already a green office with most everyone tele-working, we're pretty much set up for a month of office-less-ness. And Fifth Group is letting us hang out there once a week just so we can see each other in person. Otherwise, I expect you'll find us at Octane or West Egg.

Our new address is 1425 Ellsworth Industrial Dr./30318. Our phones stay the same 404-816-3068. March will be here before we know it! We're looking forward to having Bone Garden Cantina as our office cafeteria. Come by for a margarita once we've moved in.

Oh, and there's still time to come over and help out if you don't have a bad back and you like moving!

The Baking Contest - Do I Dare?

Share Our Strength is hosting their annual Great American Baking Contest on Thursday, March 5 at The Cook's Warehouse in Midtown. This is the second year of the contest and I kinda want to participate this year. The contest has categories for professionals, amateurs and children and each category has some nice prizes ($250 for 1st place in the amateur category!).Last year, I focused on getting clients involved in the professional competition, but this year I'm half considering entering as an amateur. The only thing holding me back is that I don't really think I'm that great of a baker. I love to cook and if it was entering an entree, appetizer or something along those lines I wouldn't hesitate, but baking is tricky. Heck, I destroyed some meringues last week, and the last time I bragged about my brownies they came out so underdone that you had to eat them with a spoon. But, I have had some successes too and there is nothing like a challenge to get me motivated... I have until February 12 to get my entry in so I guess I'd better decide pretty fast if I'm actually going to do this. I'll keep you posted if I do!

Contest entry fees are $25 for amateurs and children, $95 for professionals. Click here to download the entry forms, pay the contest entry fees or buy tickets to the event. Entries must be received no later than February 12, 2009.

Fun and Casual Valentine's Day Dining Ideas

If you're looking out for your wallet or looking for something more casual than the traditional Valentine's Day options, Eclipse di Luna's Miami Circle location, all Marlow's Tavern locations and Uncle Julio's Casa Grande provide fun alternatives that won't break the bank:

Eclipse di Luna offers specialty drinks like a strawberry and ginger mojito, berry love martini and a heart-fluttering Red Bull drink on Valentine's Day. Dessert devotees will enjoy chocolate mousse with ganache, red wine and raspberry sauce and olive oil tuile. Around 10:30 p.m., the party starts as D.J. Mike Smith spins the place into the “Miami Love Lounge,” and the affair continues until 2:30 a.m. No cover. For reservations, call 404-846-0449. Eclipse di Luna in Buckhead: 764 Miami Circle.

All six metro-Atlanta Marlow’s Tavern locations have a huggable deal: a three-course Valentine’s Day menu for $29.99 per person. Marlow’s Tavern: 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; Vinings at 2355 Cumberland Parkway, 770-432-2526; Northlake at 4156 LaVista Road, 678-987-1197; and Duluth at 1950 Satellite Boulevard, 770-622-2033.

“Plato de Amor” sounds so romantic -- and tastes even more so when polished off with that special someone at Uncle Julio’s Casa Grande Monday, February 9 through Sunday, February 15. This spot is great for new couples, and the platter includes cold water lobster tail, shrimp brochette, chicken and beef fajitas, as well as guacamole, pico de gallo, rice and beans. Stay sweet by finishing with Uncle Julio’s famous coconut flan or cinnamon sugar-covered churros. Uncle Julio’s Casa Grande: 1860 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-350-6767.

Scoop Alert: Dinner with Paula

I just got off the phone with the organizers of Atlanta's second Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show (coming up April 18 - 19), and I got some fabulous scoop. They have just put tickets on sale for a special VIP book signing and supper with Paula Deen on Sunday, April 19 at 4:15 p.m.

This year's luncheon with Paula sold out in a matter of minutes so adding a second event is huge for Paula lovers. The event is limited to 160 people and tickets are $100 per person.

This year's event (and dinner with Paula) will take place at the Cobb Galleria Centre.

If you aren't a huge Paula fan, several other Food Network stars will be at this year's event. Tyler Florence will be doing a limited book signing on Saturday at 10 a.m.

Stay tuned for more scoop as we hear it!

Valentine's Day Dinner?

It's time to start making plans for Valentine's Day. The great thing about this year's lovely day is that it stretches out over the whole weekend! Throughout the week we'll be sharing with you all the best places around the city to make reservations for two.

For an intimate dining experiene outside of the perimeter, visit Aqua blue in Roswell. From Friday, February 13 through Sunday, February 15, the restaurant will offer a special prix-fixe, three-course Valentine’s menu for $55 per person (add $22 per person for wine pairings). The à la carte and sushi menus are also available. Add a bubbly champagne toast a long-stemmed red rose for $15. Enjoy live music beginnign at 8 p.m. with the sounds of Motown with Michael King on Friday and the music of Doug Easterly on Saturday. For reservations, call 770-643-8886. Aqua blue: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road.

If you are staying in the city this Valentine's Day, Executive Chef Shane Touhy at Dogwood is whipping up something new. The special menu items include a jumbo shrimp cocktail with charred green tomato cocktail sauce; Charleston she-crab soup laced with golden sherry; a pastry wrapped filet of beef stuffed with Boursin cheese; and a red velvet Napoleon layered with mocha buttercream and topped with Cabernet macerated strawberries. If you are the sharing kind, Dogwood is offering an entrée for two that includes two baked and stuffed lobsters served with creamy grits and béarnaise sauce. For reservations, call 404-835-1410. Dogwood is located at 565 Peachtree Street.

Stay tuned for more specials around the city!

Atlanta's Sweet Super Bowl Specials

This year, some of Atlanta’s restaurants and stores are making Super Bowl party planning really simple. From watching the game at the bar to taking a pizza pie to go, there are tons of options for all of Atlanta’s football fans.

Marlow’s Tavern is turning the game on at all six Atlanta area locations on Super Bowl Sunday. Guests can enjoy tasty tavern fare while watching their favorite football heroes fight for the title on one of the eight or more televisions. Marlow’s menu items range in price from $3.99 to $17.99. The restaurant also offers takeout and kid’s menus. Marlow's Tavern in Vinings is located at 2355 Cumberland Parkway, Ste.10; 770-432-2526. Marlow's Tavern in Alpharetta is located at 3719 Old Alabama Road, Bldg. 200, Suite H-I; 770-475-1800. Marlow’s Tavern in Midtown is located at 950 West Peachtree Street; 404-815-0323. Marlow’s Tavern in Kennesaw is located at 745 Chastain Road NW, Suite 1160; 770-425-8777. Marlow’s Tavern in Tucker is located at 4156 LaVista Road; 678-987-1197. Marlow’s Tavern in Duluth is located at 1950 Satellite Boulevard; 770-622-2033.

Pizza Fusion is offering some great Super Bowl specials for those watching the game in a group. On Super Bowl Sunday, if customers buy three specialty pizzas, they get one cheese pizza for free! This is the perfect deal for football fans with many mouths to feed. Some of their savory specialty pizzas include the shrimp and pesto pizza, BBQ chicken pizza and the fresh veggie medley pizza. Pizza Fusion is also offering a salad special on Super Bowl Sunday for those sticking to their healthy New Year’s resolution: buy one Fusion side salad and get one free! In addition to these specials, this earth-friendly pizzeria conveniently offers several gluten-free menu options for their customers who have food allergies, selective diets and digestive intolerances. Pizza Fusion is located at 2233 Peachtree Road. For more information, call 404-351-9334.

For those looking for to bring fresh football fare to their Super Bowl celebration, Whole Foods Market offers a variety of snacks, beverages and platters for a fantastic football feast. Some of their Atlanta area stores are offering samples of their football-friendly snacks that are perfect for any Super Bowl shindig. Place your party food order online or at in-store catering desks. Click here for Atlanta-area locations.

The W Buckhead W-Tante Party

Last night I attended the W Buckhead W-Tante party. The theme for the evening was "where modern luxury meets Southern charm." How appropriate for the Buckhead opening. Attendees included the Atlanta Housewives, NBA Player Kevin Willis, Mara Davis from Dave FM, Suchita Vadlamani from Fox 5's "Good Day Atlanta", the guy from "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" along with many others I couldn't quite cut my way through the crowd to see. The event kicked-off promptly at 7:30 p.m. with cocktail servers passing out cranberry martinis, wine, and some type of stiff bourbon drink. My favorite presentation was the champagne girls (that's what I called them). They wore ball gowns made from plastic that had holders for champagne glasses. Occassionally, you would see them sneaking back into the kitchen to refill the skirt with glasses of champagne! There was a photo booth that had props such as crowns, gloves, pearls and even wands that was quite popular. After much anticipation, the rooftop bar, Whiskey Blue, finally opened around 9ish or so. After a short elevator ride, we arrived on the top floor. What a chic setting -- a huge bar, rooftop patio with comfy sofas, and tons of cozy places to sip champagne or any other drink of choice. Did I mention a great spot for people-watching? I'll certainly be making a trip back there soon -- I hear Thursdays are the night to go. Oh, and I forgot to mention the human vending machine -- very clever way to give away W t-shirts, hats, etc.

A Group Dinner at Pizza Fusion

The team headed out on a chilly, Atlanta night to try the new Pizza Fusion restaurant in the Aramore on Peachtree. First things first - free, self-parking in the garage! From there, just allow the smell to lead you to the restaurant.

Clean, sleek interior

When you walk in you immediately notice the clean, sleek atmosphere. This is Atlanta’s first LEED Certified restaurant meaning everything from the light fixtures to the delivery vehicles is energy efficient. We sat down with the owner Jeff Melnick and got the whole schpeel . They use over 75% organic ingredients in the menu, tables are made from recycled wood, toilets are low-flow and customers who return their pizza boxes get a special discount. I love the concept of this place just as much as I love the food!

Owner Jeff Melnick

Energy efficient delivery car

We had a deliciously organic meal that started with wine and bread sticks. The mutli-grain and organic white sticks came with tomato marinara sauce and we added a side of olive tapenade. The combination of olives, garlic and red peppers made for a perfect dip.

Multi-grain and organic white bread sticks with marinara and olive tapenade.

We wanted to get a good taste of the pizzas so we ordered four of the Specialty Pies – Founder’s Pie, Greek, goat cheese & sundried tomato and the Seattle. All specialty pies are served large, which is 18” x 9”, and on a wooden plank. You have the choice of multi-grain, organic white or gluten-free crusts and we decided to test out each one.

Greek on gluten-free

goat cheese and sundried tomato on white

Seattle on white

The chalk wall boasts great lunch specials ($9.99 for a personal pizza, soda, side salad) and the build your own pizza option is enticing. In addition to organic beer and wine they also serve Boylan sodas that use natural sugar and my favorite, Honest Tea.

We had such a great time at Pizza Fusion. It’s unique in that the restaurant can host a group of ten or a couple on a date and everyone feels comfortable. The pizza is great and I love supporting a restaurant that uses organic ingredients and energy efficient appliances.

Find more of our pictures from the night on our flickr page, here. Pizza Fusion: 2233 Peachtree Road, Suite M; 404-351-9934.

Dine-out For a Safer Atlanta

In light of the current economy, restaurants as well as Atlanta, have seen the crime level rise. On January 6, John Henderson became a victim to senseless crime when he was robbed and shot after hours at The Standard on Memorial Drive.

Local restaurants in the area are banding together to stop crime and keep their communities safe. So if you dine-out on January 28th, participating restaurants are donating 20% of all their proceeds to Atlanta Police Foundation, and Atlanta Crime Stoppers John Henderson Reward Fund.

So far the list of participating restaurants includes the following:

Agave
Atkins Park
Dakota Blue
Food 101
Little Azios- East Atlanta
Ria's Bluebird
Six Feet Under (both locations)
Taco Mac
The Standard
Vickery's Glenwood
HomeGrown Restaurants
Doc Chey's Noodle House
Osteria 832 Pasta & Pizza
Stella Trattoria
U Restaurant Group
Beleza
Cuerno
Fritti
Sotto Sotto

Band together for the city you love, and the restaurants you frequent. Come out on January 28th and support Dine-Out for a Safer Atlanta.

Time for Wine

The Atlanta area has some great wine events this month. Whether you want to learn more, eat a perfectly paired meal or just try new kinds of wine, we have it all covered.


Share your dinner with eight "Pinots from Burgundy" at Woodfire Grill's first wine tasting of 2009 on Wednesday, January 21. During regular dinner hours (6 - 10 p.m.), guests can sample eight Pinots from different communes and vintages, poured blind, for $15. Nothing to hide with a blind pour, it happens to be the best way to learn how to assess body, flavor and aroma. Sample wines at your own pace, at your table or at the bar. Reservations recommended.


There's a plethora of wines out there from Australia and New Zealand or so it seems to us in the southern part of the Northern Hemisphere. Mates, we're hopping to Toulouse Bistro at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 25 to sample a variety of wines from Down Under and to find out what the Toulouse Wine Guy has to say. The price of $30 per person is a pittance, considering we'll taste 15 wines and freshen our palates with light bites in between. Toulouse Bistro: 2293 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-351-9533.


Reap the benefits of a bountiful winter harvest, wine included, by dining at Aqua blue's Winter Harvest Wine Dinner on Wednesday, January 28 at 6:30 p.m. The night's line-up of four courses with wine pairings is only $45 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Start with the sun-kissed, tropical flavors of maki served with mango, kiwi and Mandarin oranges; ease into Muscovy duck breast served with pan-seared winter greens and sweet roasted pecans followed by a hearty beef roulade stuffed with sun- dried tomatoes. Dessert melds together antioxidant rich plums and dark chocolate in a plum and decadence bombe served with a dark chocolate mousse. Specially selected wines include Adami Prosecco, Colberldo, Italia NV; Bouchaine, Pinot Noir, Carneros 2006; Edge, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa 2006; and Michael David's Zinfandel, 7 Deadly Zins, Lodi 2006. Reservations required. Aqua blue: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell; 770-643-8886.

Eat Like You Work Here: South City Kitchen Makes Mouths and Wallets Happy

With your nose glued to the grindstone, you’re beginning to feel like a dull Jack or Jane. You know, all work and no play? Turn the tables to relish the play without the work when you take advantage of Fifth Group Restaurants’ “Eat Like You Work Here” patron appreciation special on Tuesday, January 20 at South City Kitchen Midtown and Vinings. That night, you’ll save 25 percent off your meal tab, same as the employees! You can tell the wait staff and culinary crew genuinely love to work at these bustling sister restaurants - and who could blame them?! Chef Chip Ulbrich's sophisticated Southern cuisine keeps the masses coming back for favorites like buttermilk fried chicken and the seasonal vegetable plate or new additions such as Fudge Farms pork ribs and grilled Meyer beef meatloaf. Share their joy and eat up (and don't worry, they won't make you wash dishes)!

South City Kitchen Midtown: 1144 Crescent Avenue; 404-873-7358.
South City Kitchen Vinings: 1675 Cumberland Parkway; 770-435-0700.

Checking Out The Counter Burger

There's a new burger place in town. No, not THAT one. Flip your car around and head up to Roswell for a delicious made-to-order burger and some insanely crispy and addicting sweet potato fries. The Counter Burger is refreshingly friendly while still hip and cool. The staff is amazing and even though they were busy, there was no wait.

The deal here is that you can custom build your burger the way you like it. They have little pieces of paper for you to check off your choices starting with beef, turkey, veggie or chicken. Of course I went with the beef. It's humanely raised, all-natural. Perfectly prepared, so juicy. Then you can pick toppings, type of bun, sauces - the combinations must be endless. Being a bit of a burger purist, I went with Tillamook Cheddar, tomatoes, lettuce, pickles and then, getting a little crazy, I ordered the caramelized onion marmalade on the side. YUM. They also have a nice selection (8 or so) of their own burger creations. My friend got the Taco Turkey burger and that's about all I can say about it, cuz she didn't even give me a bite! Guess it was good.

They have lots of shakes and malts. We decided we just had "to taste" the featured Birthday Cake shake which our server told us tasted like cookie dough. Um, yep, it sure did. And we barely left a drop. So much for the "taste!"

I like this place. I learned later that they are based in California and have a bunch of locations. It didn't feel like a chain at all. I'm not up in Roswell that often but it was a short drive from the office and it's quicker than a trip to a congested intown area where you might have to wait an hour. Just saying.

Thrillist Launched Today in Atlanta!!!

Gentlemen, start your thrilling! That’s right, Thrillist, a daily newsletter which gives guys the inside track on what’s new, has just launched in our very own Peach State. With a well established presence in Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Miami and San Francisco, Thrillist is to guys what Daily Candy is to us girls – a lifeline!

On a personal note, I signed my hubby up for Thrillist the other day (shhh… don’t tell him!!). I’m so excited that now he won’t have to spend hours trying to identify where new hot spot is – the info will come right to his Blackberry. Plus, I don’t have to be the personal concierge to all my (and his) guy friends anymore. (SCORE!)

Check out today's hot tip about The Bureau Bar here. Fellas, be sure to sign up and start getting your thrill of the day!

Getting Ready for Taste of the Nation '09

For the second year in a row, I will be co-chairing the restaurant committee for Share Our Strength's annual Taste of the Nation event. Talk about fun volunteer work! This has always been one of my favorite events to attend - all the best restaurants are there, the Aquarium is a killer setting and they always have a fun honorary chef (last year was Tom Colicchio!).

Last night was the first planning meeting of the year. There are some great new restaurants attending the event for the first time this year and an honorary chef that I am excited to meet (stay tuned to find out who...)! So mark your calendars for Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at the Georgia Aquarium.

Next up for the restaurant committee - getting 40+ chefs to show up on the same day and time for a group photo. No easy feat I assure you!

Dogwood Weighs in With Ways to Keep Your Wallet Fit: $20 Buys Mussels and Wine

Dogwood invites you to hoist “all-you-can-eat mussels” at the bar for $20 and satisfy your thirst with a free glass of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, all day and night, Tuesday through Friday. Here’s the warm-up: Chef Shane Touhy's PEI mussels are sautéed in olive oil with garlic, white wine and house-smoked tomatoes then dressed with butter and fresh parsley. And you're sure to find a "workout buddy" while working on your mussels - the restaurant's bar is a lively and inviting space that's perfect for meeting new friends or chatting with the friendly bartenders. Dogwood is located at 565 Peachtree Street in The Reynolds condominium building; 404-835-1410.

Personalize Your Drink

Usually when you give someone alcohol as a gift, it means you completely forgot the occasion and stopped by the liquor store on the way over. But for those that do plan ahead, Knob Creek offers personalized labels to add to the bottle. And it's available through the Knob Creek website year-round. Just fill out the label with a personal message and submit. Discretion is advised and Knob Creek states on the site that they "reserve the right to refuse printing of any inappropriate material," so don't get too crazy.

I first read about this at Drive-Thru where Jill states that shipping could take 4-6 weeks. I guess that means you have to really plan ahead.

Cheers!

Dogs Can Be Foodies, Too

My puppy, Brett, loves food. She is especially gifted at picking out the good stuff. When I add yogurt to her breakfast, it is always the first thing to disappear from the bowl. She likes when it's organic just as much as I do. When I came across this blog post at Bay Area Foodie about frozen yogurt for dogs, I immediately found the closest retail shop with the stuff in stock.

Yöghund uses all ingredients that are certified organic by the US Department of Agriculture and all boxes are made from 100% recycled materials (just incase the dog eats the carton). That is something to wag your tail about little Brett. According to the website, the closest location to our office in Buckhead is The Pet Set on Briarcliff.

PS - This was my way of showing everyone the picture I took of Brett in front of my Christmas tree.

UGA Young Alum Take Over Harry Bissett's

Last night the UGA Young Alumni Council hosted a Back to Work party at Harry Bissett's in Atlanta as an excuse to party one more time before we officially say goodbye to the holidays. It was a great event! Nearly 100 young alumni showed up to eat, drink and boo the Gators.

Bissett's set up a nice buffet for the group - red beans and rice, a gumbo and some of the best wings I've ever had (I don't usually even like wings). There were actually several different events going on at the restaurant last night (everyone was watching the National Championship game) but Bissett's did a great job making sure each party had plenty of private space, attentive servers and lots of TVs.

Go Dawgs!

Happy Hour at Il Mulino

Yesterday evening I ventured downtown for the American Institute of Wine and Food Wonderful Wednesday event at Il Mulino. The Italian restaurant, originally out of Greenwich Village in New York City, recently opened in the 191 building on Peachtree. Il Mulino served us a tasty spread of ratatouille, lamb meat balls, bruschetta, melon with prosciutto and a selection of fresh breads. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay for dinner but enjoyed the appetizers and glass of wine. Il Mulino will stay on my list of restaurants to try.
Il Mulino

191 Peachtree St
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 524-5777

http://www.ilmulino.com/

Redbook Loves Tsp Spices

Looks like we aren't the only ones who *love* tsp spices. Redbook Deputy Editor Melanie Mannarino talks here about the individually packaged, organic spices. Sage and marjoram are the stars of her segment, but there are several more to choose from on their website. A must have for any cook's kitchen.

Recession Proof Drink Deals

Who doesn't love a good time, or a night out on the town? Lots of restaurants in the area are making it more affordable than ever to head out and enjoy one of your favorite cocktails or a glass of wine. Here are some of the great deals hitting the Atlanta area. This way, you won't have to skimp on your beverages, or a night out with the girls.

Good times at Eclipse di Luna - Miami Circle are affordably endless. Bottomless, you might say, when you consider the $10 bottomless glasses of sangria on Sundays followed by buy-one-get-one-free Monday Mojito Madness. Friends can easily find their way to Buckhead's congenial tapas restaurant and bar where laughter flows as readily as the sangria, and sharing specialty tapas is a cinch.

Midway through the week you may find yourself in need of some relaxation. What better way to enjoy a Wednesday night than with Aqua blue Restaurant's wine flight? The $14 wine flight will consist of 3 different types of wine paired with a delicious cheese plate. Each Wednesday, a different wine and cheese pairing will be offered so don't be afraid to go more than once!

Half-off wine can never go wrong in my book, that is why I am so glad I heard about Woodfire Grill's deal to offer their wine list at half price every Thursday night through March! This 50 percent discount will be taken off every wine, both by the glass and by the bottle. The diverse list changes weekly to stay current with the best new releases from all over the world as well as to complement Chef Kevin Gillespie's ever changing menu.

Eclipse di Luna - Miami Circle: 764 Miami Circle; 404-846-0449.
Aqua blue Restaurant: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road; 770-643-8886.
Woodfire Grill: 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road; 404-347-9055.

Cocido at Ecco: Que Bueno!

My Spanish friends are always saying, "que bueeeeeeeeeno" whenever they think something is great. So last night when I tried the cocido at Ecco that was the first phrase that came to mind.

I must admit that I had forgotten Tuesdays were the special night for this hearty Spanish stew. Ecco does a deal where you get cocido and a glass of wine for $24. Only on Tuesdays. Because that's the traditional Tuesday dish in Spain.

It changes up each week but last night the meats were two types of sausage and two types of beef. The brisket was melt-in-your-mouth good. Que bueno! Then there were beans and potatoes too. It's served on a plate with the broth in a small bowl on the side. Eating instructions were not included so I spooned the broth onto the meats. YUM.

They were pretty busy so you'll probably want to make a rez, but it's not a must. See you there next week! Que bueeeeeeeno!

Shane Tuohy of Dogwood to Cook at the Famous James Beard House

The year 2009 is already off to a great start for one of our favorite local chefs. Shane Tuohy of Dogwood has been invited by the James Beard Foundation to be a guest chef at the prestigious James Beard House. The mission of the James Beard Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, is to celebrate, preserve, and nurture America's culinary heritage and diversity in order to elevate the appreciation of our culinary excellence. It is an honor to have Chef Tuohy representing Atlanta when he presents his unique Southern culinary perspective at the storied house.

The April 18 dinner will be a five-course affair, complete with wine and dessert. One can only hope Chef Tuohy finds a way to incorporate his famous grits bar into the menu! Congratulations to Dogwood and to Chef Tuohy.

CHEERS!!

DailyCandy Definition

The DailyCandy Lexicon affectionately dubs these chef idolizers “Kitchen Aids.” Clever, clever! Foodie fans that we are, where do we buy the tee-shirts?

Kitchen Aid n. a chef groupie.

Michael Tuohy's California Restaurant Gets 4 Stars!

Big woo hoo to Michael Tuohy and the great review of his new restaurant Grange in The Sacramento Bee! We were happy to see Michael's great talents so quickly recognized in his new city and more than a little proud that his Atlanta roots and Woodfire Grill also got a shout-out in the article!

Congrats, Michael! We miss you, but we're so happy for you!

BCS National Championship Match-Up at Marlow's

I'm back from a long holiday vacation of eating, traveling and watching football. While the traveling is over and the left-overs are long gone, I still have football.

You better believe that I am anxiously awaiting the The FedEx BCS National Championship this Thursday between Oklahoma and Florida. If you aren't going to be in Miami for the match-up, Marlow's Tavern will be broadcasting on multiple big screens. Kick off is at 8 p.m. - see you there!

Signing up for Marlow’s e-blast newsletter will earn you $10 to go toward a purchase of $30 or more at any Marlow’s location around Atlanta. Simply visit Marlow’s website, click on “Join our Email List,” type in your e-mail address and voila, a $10 gift certificate is sent to your inbox. Print it out before the big game this Thursday!

Marlow’s Tavern locations: 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; Vinings at 2355 Cumberland Parkway, 770-432-2526; Northlake at 4156 LaVista Road; 678-987-1197; and coming in January to Duluth at 1950 Satellite Boulevard.

Riding Dirty Rates the Best Wine and Food Pairings in Atlanta

Eight weeks ago one of our favorite Atlanta bloggers Dirty South Wine, began a quest to get some of Atlanta’s top restaurants to compete in a wine pairing contest; this challenge became known as “Riding Dirty”. Dirty and two of his friends began Riding Dirty by setting some ground rules. They wanted to find the best demonstration of wine and food working together, but at an affordable price. Therefore, all the entries had to be paired with the glass of wine totaling under $25. Each pairing was documented by photos, videos and each restaurant had a chance to tell their story behind the wine and dish. At the end of the contest, Dirty selected the best wines and pairings from the restaurants. Here are some of our favorite picks by Dirty!

Best Traditional Pairing: Dogwood Restaurant
Dogwood paired a Rutz Maison Grand Cru Chardonnay with Lobster Grits.

Best Dish: Woodfire Grill
Pan roasted diver scallops, braised leeks and fennel, Bouillabaisse sauce, and herb salad.

Best Value: Toulouse

Best Belly Pairing: La Tavola

I think it is fair to say I have lots of new food and wine to try in 2009! With Dirty’s advice I know to expect nothing but the best!

Put a Little Mexican Food Into Your Resolutions

I'm an everything-in-moderation type of girl. Life's too short to pass on the pork belly in favor of a plate of lettuce with dressing on the side. But this is the time of year when we all evaluate our lives, especially our health, and make resolutions to do better. The thought of eliminating Mexican food from my life is enough to ruin my day so how happy was I to learn about Uncle Julio's "heart healthy" selections? Think mesquite grilled salmon filet, ensalada especial or grilled vegetable platter. The salmon comes with sautéed veggies and fresh pineapple pico de gallo. The ensalada boasts mixed field greens with grape tomatoes, jicama, cucumber, red onions and red cabbage plus a cap of grilled salmon or portobello mushrooms and citrus vinaigrette dressing. Loading up on veggies is no problemo with the scrumptious grilled veggie platter piled with zucchini, yellow squash, portobello mushrooms, red potatoes, red and yellow onions, roasted red and poblano peppers and a side of pineapple pico de gallo. Back in Uncle Julio’s hometown of Dallas, the restaurant’s chefs collaborated with medical and nutrition experts at Medical City Heart of Medical City Hospital to develop these tantalizingly good-for-you dishes.

Just think, if you get one of these dishes you can have an extra margarita! Just saying.