Thursday, August 6, 2009

Did you know it was tomato season?

You'd have to be living under a rock not to know that now's the time to eat tomatoes! Everyone is blogging about them, putting photos of juicy blt's on their Facebook pages, and all the restaurants are doing tomato events. Is this the best time of the year or what?

LaTavola has been doing TomatoFeast for several years now. Chef Craig Richards always gets creative with the menu and it really should not be missed. But speaking of missing it, the specials end on Saturday, August 8.

They have a 3-course menu (with choices) that is $29 (a deal!) or you can just order what you want a la carte. I took a look and made my selections:
  • Crispy Pig's Trotter, frisee and plum tomato preserve
  • Bucatini, tomatoes, anchovies, mint, Parmesan, black pepper
  • Vanilla Panna Cotta, tomato-pineapple jam

If only every week were tomato week!


Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Marlow's Tavern Midtown Turns Two

It's time to celebrate two years of good food and good times at Marlow's Tavern Midtown. On Friday, August 7 at 5 p.m. they are offering specials like $5 appetizers, $4 local microbrews and $5 wine drinks in honor of this anniversary. Marshall Seese will jam with live music from 8 p.m. until midnight. Be sure to scope out the drawing box and register to win a free dinner every week for one year! (Must be present to win. Prize consists of one $30 Marlow's Tavern gift card every week for one year. Only one gift card may be used in a seven-day period. Gratuity not included.)



Marlow's Tavern Midtown: 950 West Peachtree Street; 404-815-0323.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

A Killer Dish


Gerry Klaskala of Aria will be one of the many well-known chefs creating a delicious tomato dish for JCT. Kitchen & Bar's Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival this Sunday. Here is a tasty sneak peek at what Klaskala will be whipping up:
Pan con tomate--oak grilled country bread rubbed with garlic, smashed with heirloom tomatoes slathered with freshly made ricotta with a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkled with a handful of Ambergris Cay sea salt.

Melissa's Famous Julia Child Story


In the late 80s I was the very young PR director at Hyatt Regency Ravinia charged with the task of setting up media interviews for Julia Child. She and Robert Mondavi were coming to Atlanta for an American Institute of Wine and Food (AIWF) event. My heart was pounding as I dialed her Boston telephone number but I had to giggle when she trilled "Hellooooooooooooooo" on the other end. She was so accommodating with my requests and agreed to spend one day with me during her visit, going from TV station to print media to radio station interviews. As you can guess, that was the easiest press trip I have ever booked as all the Atlanta media wanted to meet her!
Imagine my surprise when, after an early morning TV gig, she announced that she'd like to go have her hair done at Carter-Barnes at Phipps. I had booked her every minute of the day and now I had to reschedule everything, leaving us very little time for lunch. She left for her 2 hour wash-and-set and I started making phone calls! When she was finished we had a mere 30 minutes before our next appointment, a ribbon cutting at the Gwinnett Daily News test kitchen, something I could not change. I suggested a deli at Phipps but in her shrill voice she said, "I always find those sandwiches quite soggy, don't you?" Nervous, I agreed that maybe it wasn't the best but mentioned that we were on a bit of a schedule and needed to eat quickly. This is when she said, "Well, is there a McDonald's nearby?" I was horrified! But she assured me that would be perfect. "I like McDonald's. It's always consistent. Plus we can eat in the car." Oh my. So, I drove Julia Child through the McDonald's drive-thru, with her newly coiffed hair grazing the roof of my little Honda Civic. She had a cheeseburger, fries and a shake and insisted on paying for my meal too.
That afternoon, at our last appointment of the day, I was sitting in the sound booth of WSB radio station while the DJ interviewed Julia Child. I told my story to the sound guys who loved it and tipped off the DJ at the break. Her last question to Julia Child was, "So, Mrs. Child, in our city with all our fine, fine restaurants, please, tell us where you had lunch today." Without missing a beat, Julia proudly answered, "Ooooooh, McDonald's!

Monday, August 3, 2009

It's Tomato Time at JCT. Kitchen & Bar!

It’s prime time for tomatoes, and they'll be dangerously good this Sunday, August 9 at the first annual “Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival” at JCT. Kitchen & Bar. From 1 - 6 p.m., some of Atlanta’s best chefs and mixologists will pair up with local farmers to turn tomato varieties into tasty dishes and cocktails to benefit Georgia Organics. Guests will get to sample these tomato creations and see how their palates compare with those of the high-profile judges in attendance, including Andrew Knowlton of Bon Appetit, Donna Florio of Southern Living and Kate Krader of Food + Wine, who will be choosing a winning dish. Cold beer from 5 Seasons Brewing and free Bionade organic soda from Germany will also be available, along with live music from The Spazmatics.

JCT. Kitchen & Bar's Chef/Owner Ford Fry organized the event and gave us a sneak preview of the festivities this morning on WAGA-TV's Good Day Atlanta. Check out the video below to see how he takes tomatoes to the next level at JCT.


Tickets can be purchased at www.georgiaorganics.org ($50 per person/$45 for Georgia Organics’ members/$90 VIP package includes entry and access to an expanded open bar). Buy yours today!

JCT. Kitchen & Bar is located in Atlanta’s Westside Urban Market at 1198 Howell Mill Road, Suite 18; 404-355-2252.