It's Time to Salute Soup!

January is National Soup Month and we’ve got a list of soups to help you celebrate! Grab a bowl and warm up at one of Atlanta’s top restaurants!

• Park your sale bags and take a soup break at Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse in Phipps Plaza -- a bowl of roasted tomato soup with goat cheese-chive crostini ($6) is calling your name.

• We can be cheesy when bringing up the cheddar-based queso soup ($5) on the menu at all seven Marlow's Tavern locations. Chili-roasted chicken, tomatoes and crunchy tortilla strips thicken the spicy plot.

• In the Italian tradition, Pacci Ristorante keeps soup bubbling on the stove, including classic minestrone ($6) and Tuscan white bean soup with pancetta, pecorino cheese, crostini and rosemary oil ($7).

• RA Sushi has several soups to warm your tummy without weighing you down: tofu, seaweed and green onions swim in miso soup ($4); Miso Hot! soup spices up the broth and adds shiitake mushrooms, bok choy and shrimp ($6.75); potsticker soup adds pork potstickers, snow peas, carrots, bok choy and green onion to a lightly seasoned chicken broth ($7); and Nabeyaki udon brings on tempura shrimp, kani kama crab and scallops in a seafood broth ($13.75).

• Will your spoon stand up in a bowl of seafood gumbo at Ray's on the River or Ray's in the City ($7)? Ray's at Killer Creek offers another favorite -- classic French onion soup ($7). Like surprises? All three Ray's Restaurants have their own soup of the day ($5/cup, $7/bowl).

• Cross the globe by crossing Peachtree to the W Atlanta Midtown for a tasty trip through Spice Market's exotic chicken and coconut milk soup ($7) and butternut squash soup with ginger and pumpkin seeds ($7.50).

• Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food has a steaming hot tortilla soup that's the ultimate cold day cure -- diced chicken fajita paired with fresh vegetables and tortilla strips in a zesty chicken broth. The good uncle has five other "souper" soups-of-the-day reasons to bring out the bowls: Monday, it's Mexican corn chowder; Tuesday brings on poblano beef fajita soup; Wednesday doles out thick black bean soup; Thursday tempts with poblano cream soup; and Friday's little luxury is shrimp and lobster soup. All of Uncle Julio's soups are $5.95 a bowl.

• Soup in a burger joint? One spoon and you'll have the hots for Shaun's red chili ($2.99/cup) at YEAH! BURGER.

• Do-it-yourselfers can thank Gena Knox for keeping the home fires burning with a simmering soup pot of Gena's sweet corn chowder with crumbled bacon. The hearty recipe is on her website and also in her recently released cookbook, "Southern My Way."

Setting Delicious Goals for 2011

We don't know who said it, but we do know that too often it's true:  a New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.  That's why we're impressed with the thoughtful and attainable resolutions set by some of our favorite Atlanta chefs and foodies.  Here's to your success!

• Gena Knox, author of "Southern My Way," has an organizational goal that may even be on your list (it's on ours)!  "One major resolution is to get organized at work and home.  Cleaning out my emails, closets and getting my kitchen organized will reduce my stress tremendously!  I also want to try a new recipe (that is not mine) twice a week -- exploring new flavors and cuisines I don't normally prepare at home."
• Claude Guillaume, general manager of Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse in Phipps Plaza, pledges "to run a half marathon by March 31, 2011."
• Kevin Gillespie, executive chef/partner of Woodfire Grill and "Top Chef" fame, has plans "to finally open Terminus City, my barbecue restaurant."  We're tying on our bibs and licking our fingers in anticipation!
• Gerry Klaskala, Aria owner and executive chef, aims to get fit.  "I need to get back down to six-pack abs."
• Jenny Levison of Souper Jenny keeps a finger in every pot and refuses to be tied to one resolution, vowing "to stretch as far outside the box as possible!"

Heading Back to School This Winter

In need of a last minute gift for that foodie friend? How about a cooking class at The Cook's Warehouse? The Cook's Warehouse has released its Winter 2011 class schedule offering almost 150 classes across a broad spectrum of culinary interests and skill levels. Classes cover everything from basic knife skills to global cuisines to gluten-free cooking. Some of the upcoming guest chef instructors include Chef Ronen Skinezes of Manta Ray in Tel Aviv, Chef Jay Swift of 4th and Swift, Chef Khaled Chebbi of Social Resto, Chef Bennett Hollberg of Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse and Shane Thompson of Shane's Rib Shack.

If you want to build on your gift - add a cookbook from one of the visiting cookbook authors slated to visit such as Rebecca Lang, "Quick-Fix Southern;" Angie Mosier, Virginia Willis, Steven Satterfield and Lynne Sawicki, "Southern Foodways Alliance Community Cookbook;" Gena Knox, "Southern My Way: Simple Recipes, Fresh Flavors;" and Anne Byrn, "The Cake Mix Doctor® Bakes Gluten-Free."

Entertaining Made Easy with Gena Knox and Salud! Cooking School

Join Gena Knox for a demonstration and book signing at Salud! Cooking School at Harry's Farmers Market in Alpharetta on Tuesday, December 14.  Knox will prepare some of her favorite recipes from her new cookbook "Southern My Way:  Simple Recipes, Fresh Flavors."   

She has selected recipes that are perfect for entertaining, whether for New Year's Eve or a fun weekend get together and will show students how to easily entertain at home from start to finish.   On the menu are manchego-stuffed dates, an orange-avocado salad with poppyseed dressing, shrimp and artichoke bake with creamy stone-ground grits and milk flips, a frozen vanilla ice cream drink with brandy.  Register for the 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. demonstration online; cost is $39 per person.  

Harry's Farmers Market - Alpharetta: 1180 Upper Hembree Road; 770-664-6300.

Gena Knox and Country Living: A Perfect Pairing in Stone Mountain

Want to know more about the cook behind the book?  Gena Knox and her soon-to-be-released cookbook “Southern My Way” ($34.95, Atlas Books) will be out at Country Living magazine’s three-day Country Living Fair at Stone Mountain Park Friday, October 22 through Sunday, October 24.  You can watch Knox in action on the Country Living kitchen stage as she gives cooking demos at 11 a.m. on Friday and noon on Saturday.  Then, after the demos you can get your book signed in the Country Living book signing venue adjacent to the Country Living General Store where Knox will be from 2 - 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.  In addition to Knox’s booth, there will also be artisans, country skill demonstrations, antiques, and food, so come out (rain or shine – exhibits are under cover) for what is sure to be a deliciously enjoyable event!  You can get your tickets in advance ($12 daily/$15 weekend pass) or at the door ($15 daily/$20 weekend pass).  Early bird passes are also available.

It's Follow Friday - Meet Our Tweep of the Week @GenaKnox

With one cookbook under her apron and another on the way this fall ("Gourmet Made Simple" and "Southern My Way," respectively), Gena Knox has plenty to tweet and blog about. When she's not writing, tweeting and blogging, Knox keeps the fires burning with her husband and their grill-mastering Fire & Flavor business. Follow her on Twitter and read her blog to keep up with Southern people and flavors past, present and upcoming, as well as plenty of simple, fresh recipes.

It's Time to Salute Sandwiches!

Since August is National Sandwich Month, we here at Melissa Libby & Associates are providing you with a list of the city’s top sandwich options. Get out there and celebrate today!

For an awesome handful in Roswell, go for the grilled chicken club at Aqua blue. Joining grilled chicken between the bread are applewood smoked bacon, tomato, butter lettuce and honey mustard.

The hearty American tavern fare at area Marlow's Tavern locations is exemplified by the prime rib French dip boasting thinly shaved roasted prime rib, Swiss cheese, caramelized onions and mayonnaise on a soft Cuban roll.

Atkins Park toys with spicy yet cool Texas fried chicken and wing sauce topped with lettuce, tomato and blue cheese dressing.

We're crazy about the classic pressed Cuban and all of its relatives with mojo on the sandwich menu at the Crazy Cuban on 14th Street in Midtown. Enough said.

With the kids heading back to school, adults can indulge in the "Grown-up" grilled cheese at JCT. Kitchen & Bar: assorted cheeses and roasted tomato on buttered semolina toast, accompanied by a lycopene-laden cup of tomato soup.

All three Ray's Restaurants offer the beloved grouper sandwich, served your way -- fried, blackened or grilled and topped with lettuce, tomato, Swiss cheese and house-made tartar sauce. Enjoy it over lunch at Ray's in the City; you can relish it at lunch or dinner at Ray's on the River and Ray's Killer Creek.

Gracing the weekend brunch menu at La Tavola Trattoria in Virginia Highland, the hot chicken panino bursts with grilled chicken, pesto, tomato, fontina cheese and comes with a refreshing zucchini and tomato salad.

Small packages yield big, tender bites when you bite into the petite filet mignon sandwiches from the Bar Bites menu at Morton's The Steakhouse.

How about some art appreciation at Ormsby's? "The art of the Reuben" (Uncle Art that is), piled with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Thousand Island on grilled pumpernickel.

Pacci Ristorante in Midtown has their own special panino, a turkey panino filled with turkey, provolone and tomato enhanced with basil aioli.

Y'all come to South City Kitchen Midtown (lunch) and South City Kitchen Vinings (dinner) to sink your teeth into a mouth of the South classic -- the catfish Reuben with its crispy Old Bay-dusted catfish, Swiss cheese, shaved Benton's ham, cole slaw and Thousand Island remoulade piled on griddled rye and served with house-made chips.

For a mini vacation on a croissant, zip up to Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery in Dahlonega for the apple basil chicken salad sandwich. Mouthwatering, homemade chicken salad with Granny Smith apples, toasted almonds and fresh basil spills out of a flaky croissant and shares the plate with Mediterranean pasta salad.

And if you want to DIY for the friends gathering at your place tonight, try this recipe for open-faced egg sandwiches with tomato basil salsa from cookbook author Gena Knox.

Southern My Way Coming Your Way

We’re big fans of Gena Knox’s laidback, contemporary Southern cooking style, and lucky for us (and you) she has a new cookbook Southern My Way coming out this November!  Take a look at this video of Gena as she visits some of her favorite spots for Southern culinary inspiration, including White Oak Pastures, Belle Chevre, Lane Southern Orchards,  Nora Mill Granary and more. 

We can’t decide if we want to hit the road to visit all these delicious locations or start cooking up her recipes after watching this video!  Until the cookbook comes out, you can find out what’s cooking with Gena by following her on her website, Facebook or Twitter.  Bon Appetit, y’all!