Mmmmmm Chocolate! 2009

In less than a month, Atlanta’s top bakers, chefs, vintners and caterers will come together and create chocolate delights for The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's ninth annual fundraiser.The sinful event will take place on Thursday, June 18 at Villa Christina.

Contributing restaurants this year include:

Aqua Blue

Bold American Events & Catering

Canoe

City Grill

Dailey’s

Dantanna’s

JD Rothschild & Co.

Jim ‘N Nick’s BBQ

Kheesekakes by Kelli

Kozmo Gastro Pub

Max Lager’s Wood-Fired Grille & Brewery

Pacci Ristorante

Rathbun’s

Silk Restaurant

The Capital Grille

The Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton-Buckhead

The Land of 1,000 Hills Coffee

The Melting Pot

Veni Vidi Vici

Villa Christina

Wildfire

The team at Melissa Libby and Associates is proud to support and attend this annual event. The exclusive evening features two live bands, a chocolate martini bar, a chocolate lager and a chocolate cappuccino tasting, full dinner buffet, silent auction and, of course, all-you-can-eat chocolate treats. To purchase tickets, visit http://www.chocolateforcf.org/.

~~ GIVEAWAY ALERT~~ Kozmo Gastro Pub Giving Away Kenny Chesney Tickets!!!

Country music fans, listen up: Kozmo Gastro Pub in Johns Creek has a special treat! Everyone who dines at the restaurant from Friday, May 22 and until Wednesday, May 27, 2009 will be entered to win a Kenny Chesney prize pack. The pack includes dinner for two at the restaurant on the day of the concert (May 28, 2009 at 8 p.m.), two tickets to the concert and a VIP parking pass at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre for the show.

The winner will be announced Wednesday, May 27 via phone and Facebook. Be sure to become a fan of Kozmo if you have not already! Send them a message on Facebook for more information.

Good Luck, and be sure to try the house poutine when you go!

A New Fish Coming to Town!

This is Gil. He's with RA Sushi and here's here to tell you that there's a new fish in town!

RA Sushi is opening June 8 in Midtown and it's going to be awesome. I took a tour recently and was blown away by how big and pretty the space was. It's two stories but the upstairs overlooks the downstairs so it's really open. The decor just screams "have fun" and I'm looking forward to doing just that. This is no stuffy sushi joint - MF is safe. This is a place to meet friends after work, have some great drinks, yummy apps, and fun.

Gil and I will see you there!

Dogwood Offers New Bloom Plate Special

Tuesday through Friday Dogwood restaurant's Bloom Plate Special blossoms at lunch or dinner with three courses for $25. This includes a choice of any soup or salad, the daily entrée and a choice of dessert. We've listed daily entrées here so you can plan your week accordingly: Tuesday - half roasted chicken with new potatoes, asparagus and natural jus; Wednesday - Southern-fried catfish served with creamy yellow grits and pimentos topped with fresh herb tartar sauce; Thursday - Kobe beef meatloaf with buttermilk-bacon smashed potatoes and squash casserole; Friday - prime rib with sweet corn pudding and buttermilk-horseradish whipped potatoes. (This special deal cannot be combined with any other offers or coupons).

Also, don't forget about Dogwood's "Toss Up Tuesday and Thursday." There's a 50/50 chance that the appetizers you order at the bar are on the house!

Dogwood: In the Reynolds condominium building at 565 Peachtree Street, Suite A; 404-835-1410.

Malbec Tasting at Morton's Downtown

Last night, Morton's Downtown hosted its "Greetings from Argentina: Malbec Tasting." The event ran from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., and I have to say it was a little more than just a "tasting". The bartender poured pretty full glasses of each wine, and the wine importer himself was there to answer questions. Morton's passed around cheese and crackers, scallops with apricot chutney, sliced tenderloin with a Chimichurri sauce and Morton's miniature Legendary Hot Chocolate Cakes. YUM! There's another malbec tasting tomorrow night, May 20, at the Buckhead location - I may have to make it to that one too!

Tuesday Trivia at The Nook

Not only will The Nook, On Piedmont Park begin hosting Tuesday night Trivia tomorrow, but the restaurant just started serving Fat Tire Beer! Trivia starts at 8 p.m. and Fat Tire is served all day long. Gotta love it! The fun happens at 1144 Piedmont Avenue, NE in Midtown; 404-745-9222.

WaterHaven's Grand Opening VIP Party

Last night, WaterHaven restaurant hosted its grand opening VIP party. Located in the old GLOBE space, this restaurant is sure to be a hit with the locals. The cozy environment, reasonably-priced menu and cocktails are sure to draw a crowd.

Servers passed around tons of appetizers. Highlights included mini Cuban sandwiches, mini crab cakes and fried green tomato wedges. I like bite-sized portions - it makes me feel like I'm eating less (even though I'm probably not).

The popular cocktail of the evening was the strawberry caipirinha -- fresh strawberries, strawberry lemonade and rum. Very refreshing! I'm not one that likes the extra-sugary-type drinks, so this was perfect.

Sunday Paper Reader's Choice Awards

The Sunday Paper has announced the winners of the Reader's Choice Awards and a few of our favorite places around town have received recognition. Congratulations to everyone - click here to view the complete list of winners in the categories of Food and Drink, Style and Shopping, City Living, Arts and Entertainment, Health and Body and Sports.

Best Tapas: Eclipse di Luna

Best Southern: South City Kitchen

Best Restaurant to See and be Seen runner-up and Best Wine List runner-up: Ecco

Best Fried Chicken runner-up: JCT Kitchen & Bar

Best Patio runner-up: The Nook

Best Health Food, Best Eco-Friendly Goods and runner-up for Best Buffet: Whole Foods Market

Summer Cocktails

As the spring weather in Georgia winds down and I begin dreaming of quality time at the pool and in the sun, I realize that I am in need of the perfect cocktail to accompany my pool time. This morning Tamih from Running with Tweezers posted a recipe (courtesy of MixShakeStir by Danny Meyer) that looked divine and definitely worthy of cocktail hour this spring and summer. Bust out your shakers and give this tasty Mojito a try:

Kumquat Mojitos
•2 1/2 kumquats, halved
•8 fresh mint leaves
•ice
•2 oz. white rum, preferably Myers's
•1 oz. fresh lime juice
•1 oz. Simple Syrup
- Muddle the kumquats and mint leaves in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and the rum, lime juice and simple syrup and shake vigorously. Pour the contents - including the fruit and mint - into a Collins glass and serve.

Save 20% When Dining at the Bar at Aria!

If you’re in the middle of reserving a seat in the dining room at Aria, you might want to hold that thought. Consider dining in the chic Buckhead restaurant’s bar area instead and get a discount on the same food you would order at a table. With comfortably chic lounge sofas and bar stools, the look is just as sexy, the cuisine is equally divine, and the food tab is 20 percent less! This offer doesn't apply to beverages, but guests can still choose anything on Chef Gerry Klaskala's regular, seasonally-driven menu anytime, from open to close, for the food discount.

Aria: 490 East Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead; 404-233-7673.

Pacci Ristorante Opens for Lunch

Let's face it, lunch often gets overlooked.
We're always hearing about awesome dinner destinations or booming breakfast spots; but what about that meal in between? That's why I am so glad the newly-opened Pacci Ristorante is now offering lunch! From 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Chef Keira Moritz is serving up robust Italian flavors and steakhouse classics for a midday meal to savor. Her lunch menu includes items like Vidalia onion soup; wagyu salad; chicken scallopini; seasonal seafood stew with basil and lobster broth; and a selection of paninis such as caprese and turkey. Now, you don't have to wait until dinner for an incredible dining experience. Head to the corner of West Peachtree Street and Abercrmbie Street and try lunch at Pacci today!


Pacci Ristorante: 866 West Peachtree Street, NW; 678- 412-2402. Breakfast - 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; lunch - 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; and dinner - 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. The bar is open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Reservations are accepted; complimentary valet at Hotel Palomar next door.

Wine Your Way Through The Week

I'm considering attending each of these because 1. I am always looking for a place to meet up with friends after work and 2. I am a certified wine-o. So get your date books ready and jot down these wine tastings and dinners going on in Atlanta in the next week.

Wednesday, May 13 - Woodfire Grill will host a Rosé wine tasting led by Co-Owner and Wine Director Nicolas Quinones. Beginning at 6 p.m. and lasting until 8 p.m., taste through eight rosés from Georgia, Spain, France and California. These are perfect when you are craving red wine aromas and flavors, but desire a chilled and refreshing glass of vino. During Woodfire's tastings you can take a seat anywhere in the restaurant, from dinner table to bar top, and enjoy for $15 per person. Make reservations now by calling 404-347-9055.

Sunday, May 17 - If you live on a tight wine budget, you may ignore the "reserved" list when picking a bottle to accompany dinner. Find out what you’re missing at Toulouse's wine tasting of 15 reserve bottles. Toulouse Wine Guy Michael Gallant spills all of the information during the two-hour tasting beginning at 6:30 p.m. $40 per person includes wines and palate cleansing appetizers. Reservations are encouraged. 2293 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-351-9533.


Monday, May 18 – Morton’s The Steakhouse Downtown explores the versatility of Malbec wines during the May tasting. Guests will sip on Trapiche, Torrontes, 2008; Trapiche, "Oak Cask," Malbec 2007; Michel Torino, "Don David," Malbec 2006; Broquel, Malbec 2006; and Trapiche, "Adriana Venturin," Malbec 2006 with the restaurant’s signature hors d'oeuvres to compliment each glass. $45 per person excluding tax and gratuity. SunTrust Plaza Building, 303 Peachtree Center Avenue; 404-577-4366.

Wednesday, May 20 – If you missed the Malbec tasting at Morton’s downtown location or if you just want to double up, Morton’s The Steakhouse Buckhead will host the same tasting the following Wednesday. Peachtree Lenox Building, 3379 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-816-6535.

AltoRex is the King of Rooftops!

Last night was perfect for a little MLA outing to AltoRex, the rooftop lounge located atop the new Pacci Ristorante in Midtown. The team has been working hard so we took advantage of the warm sun, cool breezes and stiff cocktails! We all tried something different. My cherry apple whiskey sour was so good that I forgot to write down what the others ordered. But those drinks look tasty, don't they? (MacKenzie and Marissa)
And the bar bites were awesome too! Definitely get the tacos tartare (pictured). We enjoyed the lobster deviled eggs and the pimento cheese grits balls too. Very cool choices and priced for sharing. There is no question that I plan to be a regular here!

2nd Annual Wine and Dine at Marlow's Tavern Northlake

Marlow’s Tavern Northlake and the Doubletree Hotel have teamed up for a night full of flavors and fun with the 2nd annual Wine and Dine on Monday, May 11 at 7 p.m. Marlow’s Executive Chef Ben Krawiecki has planned a four-course meal paired with Argentinean wines from Crios de Susana Balbo. Steve Hinternhoff from Quality Wine and Spirits will serve as master sommelier. The event will be held in the Doubletree’s Cabernet Sauvignon room, and cost is $61.99 (includes tax and gratuity). For a feel good treat, the famous Doubletree chocolate chip cookies will be available for purchase for $1 per cookie with 100 percent of the proceeds being donated to Midvale Elementary School’s Dollars for Dreams program. Dress is business casual, and reservations are requested by May 7. Don't miss out on this great event!

Marlow’s Tavern – Northlake and Doubletree Hotel - Northlake: 4156 LaVista Road in Tucker; 678-987-1197.

Chefs Know How to Party!

Yesterday, I attended Share Our Stength's Taste of the Nation event. I had been looking forward to the event, held at the Georgia Aquarium, for quite some time. Participating chefs included John Metz of Aqua Blue; Gerry Klaskala of Aria; Micah Willix of Ecco; Keira Moritz of Pacci (pictured below), Kevin Rathbun and Scott Serpas.
While I had a great time rubbing elbows the likes of Kenny Rogers and his lovely wife Wanda (below), and “sampled” much more than I should have, there is another, less publicized part of the evening that stole the show for me.
The chef after party is where the chefs go to let their hair down, and apparently, let their diets down, too. The night was full of catching up with old friends, making new ones and relaxing after a great Taste of the Nation event.
On the menu: Cheese Wiz and crackers, Slim Jims, Pringles, Gummy Bears on a stick, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, pimento cheese sandwiches, Ho-Hos, Twinkies, Little Debbie Oatmeal sandwiches and Cracker Jacks. But, the night was all about everyone’s favorite menu item: Jell-o shots with Pop Rocks!! Who’d have thought a childhood candy like that could be the star of a party of chefs!?
With a menu that sounds eerily like my 9th birthday sleepover, a room full of chefs and a belly full of tastings from Atlanta’s most celebrated chefs, I had a full night! Can’t wait until next year; I heart chefs!

Grand Zinfandel Tasting May 12

From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, Zin lovers and those who want to learn more about the richness and versatility of the wine get the opportunity to taste from more than 30 wineries at the The Grand Zinfandel Tasting. The event will be held in The Piedmont Room at Park Tavern overlooking Piedmont Park where guests can chat with winemakers and winery owners and nosh on wine-complementing hors d'oeuvres prepared by chefs from Haven, iGourmet.com, Park Tavern, Taverna Fioretina, Valenza and other noteworthy Atlanta restaurants.

This evening is hosted by Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP) and sponsored by iGourmet.com, the Irish Dairy Board and the Atlanta Wine School. Advance purchase tickets start at $45 per person and are $50 at the door; tickets for ZAP members are $37 each.

The Piedmont Room at Park Tavern: 500 Tenth Street, NE; 404-294-0001.

Mom Always Knows Best!

Still unsure of where to take mom for her big day? Here are some more suggestions of our favorite restaurants and places to celebrate your mama!

Send mom to Sunday Supper at JCT. Kitchen & Bar for a savory Mother's Day celebration! Chef Ford Fry has whipped up a special menu priced at $36 per person, full of their famous Southern farmstead fare. Moms can start their meal with a selection of warm biscuits, house made jams, deviled eggs and Benton's country ham, followed by a local "farm stand" salad. Some of the menu's meat items include slow-cooked rabbit, pan-roasted halibut and cider braised short rib "pot roast," while scrumptious side items include Carolina golden rice, fried artichokes and squash casserole. For a sweet treat, moms can take their pick of the two dessert options: coconut rum cake or local strawberries and cream. JCT. Kitchen & Bar is located at 1198 Howell Mill Road in Suite 18; 404-355-2252.

Uncle Julio's Casa Grande spices up mom's week, May 4 - May 10, with Plato de Madre (20.95)--mesquite grilled carne asada (beef fajita steak) smothered with sautéed seasoned vegetables, melted Monterrey Jack cheese and three mesquite grilled shrimp diablo (butterflied jumbo shrimp) plus guacamole, pico de gallo, Mexican rice and frijoles a la charra. Knowing that moms crave chocolate, Uncle Julio's will have plenty of chocolate empanadas and chocolate flan on Mother's Day. 1860 Peachtree Road; 404-350-6767.

Woodfire Grill thrills the mom who loves to dine on the season's freshest and locally grown foods whenever she can. In addition to enjoying a memorable meal selected from the regular menu or the special prix fixe Mother's Day menu, mom will take home a complimentary box of homemade truffles. We can't say whether or not she'll share them! Serving Mother's Day dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road; 404-347-9055.

Make Your Mom's Day!

Mother's Day is right around the corner, leaving many in a last-minute scramble to find the perfect gift. Well, have no fear! We have some great ideas to make the perfect Mother's Day memory. Check out the cool events and specials that some of Atlanta's hottest restaurants are offering in honor of this special holiday!

The way to Mom's heart is with a hug...and a meal out to make her feel like a queen. Atlanta restaurants are here to help you thank your special gal! Aqua blue spreads a special brunch buffet from 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. for $29.95 per person, $9.95 for children under 14 and free for children under four. Carved strip steak and turkey, roasted pork tenderloin, omelettes-to-order, and decadent desserts and pastries will make her happy. A bottomless mimosa ($15 per person) will keep her in good cheer. If she prefers dinner out, bring her to Aqua blue for the regular dinner menu plus seasonal specials from 5:30 - 9 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 770-643-8886. 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road.

When she's a cosmopolitan gal at heart with roots in the suburbs, take her to Kozmo Gastro Pub in Johns Creek for a chic and subtly healthy meal. From noon until 8 p.m., enjoy a special prix fixe menu designated heart healthy by the Queen of Hearts Foundation for $19.95 per person. Choose a starter of roasted pepper gazpacho soup or Kozmo mixed green salad with lemon thyme vinaigrette; an entrée of organic free range roasted chicken served over sautéed green beans with garlic and shallots or pan roasted filet of salmon with white bean ragout and sautéed spinach with shallots; and end with seasonal berries with dark chocolate swirls or flourless dark chocolate cake. Mom gets a gift from Kozmo and the Queen of Hearts Foundation. Reservations not required. 11890 Douglas Road, 678-526-6094.

Visit a Marlow's Tavern location in Kennesaw, Midtown or Vinings for a Mother's Day Brunch that's both tasty and easy on the wallet. At only $14.95 plus tax and gratuity, Marlow's buffet includes an array of specialties including crab cake Benedict, made-to-order omelettes and French toast plus a selection of Marlow's Tavern favorites. And $15 bottomless mimosas are sure to keep a smile on mom's face all day long. Marlow's Tavern: 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.

To give mom that mountain-top experience, surprise her with a scenic drive to Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery for a getaway brunch. She can choose her favorite Wolf Mountain wine, priced separately by the glass or bottle. $30 per person (excluding wine, tax and gratuity). Reserve a seating time of 12:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. by calling 706-867-9862. 180 Wolf Mountain Trail in Dahlonega.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo

In case you still don't have plans for Cinco de Mayo tonight, check out the festivities we mentioned last week....

Atlanta Dish: So Many Choices, So Little Time! Here's a Peek at What's Coming Up for Cinco de Mayo Next Week!

There is one more fiesta to add to the list! JCT Bar will celebrate Cinco de Mayo with great specials, tequila punch, fresh lime margaritas and tex-mex from Houston native Executive Chef Ford Fry. 1198 Howell Mill Road.

Hardy Wallace's Quest To Get "A Really Goode Job"

Hardy Wallace from Dirty South Wine is looking to land his dream job, the Murphy-Goode Winery's "A Really Goode Job." It's a six month contract with Murphy-Goode Winery working on their web 2.0 presence like videos, blogs, Twitter and Facebook to tell about their wines from the Sonoma County Wine Country.

Hardy is perfect for this job and once you start following him around online, you will see. Help him build his online presence so the Murphy-Goode Winery will choose the first guy in line at their infomration session last week in San Francisco. Yes, he caught a red-eye and was the first one waiting to hear more about the dream job.

Read more about it on his new blog, Goode To Be First, and follow him on twitter, facebook, youtube, viddler and blip.fm!

No Way Mole!

This Wednesday, I got to attend the McDonald’s Perfect Pairing - an event where six culinary students from the International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Atlanta competed for a scholarship—Top Chef style. Each student paired an item off of McDonald’s menu with one of their new McCafe drinks. The McCafe items feature drinks such as an iced mocha, latte and cappuccino. Each pairing was then presented to a panel of judges who tasted and scored each student’s entry.

Needless to say I was skeptical from the beginning. To be honest--I just can’t imagine sitting down to eat lunch and thinking that a latte would best complement my chicken nuggets. Admittedly, I am a coffee snob and addict--yet some things just don’t work well with coffee. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised to see how much innovation and thought went into some of the pairings that the culinary students presented.

Some of the students paired what I found to be more common sense items together. For example, an iced caramel latte with an apple walnut salad, or a bacon, egg and cheese with hot chocolate. Neither of these seemed too far out of the realm of a normal meal. One student, Phillip McCrillis, branched out and truly impressed me... it also seemed to be the one meal the judges continued to nibble at while scoring and listening to Phillip talk.

Phillip’s pairing, No Way Mole, was a winner, not only in my book but also for the judges who selected Phillip as the winner. He paired a Southwestern chicken sandwich (Southwest BBQ sauce on the side), baked apple pie with vanilla ice-cream adorned with a crushed sugar cone on top, with an iced mocha. He came upon the flavor as he was experimenting with different menu items and put all of these items in his mouth at the same time. With all the items together he exclaimed “No way mole!" Mole is a popular Mexican sauce tinged with a chocolate flavor that Phillip swears you can recreate with these common McDonald’s items.


Congratulations Phillip on your scholarship! For all of you who didn’t see Phillip’s pairing, head on over to McDonald's and experiment with your own pairings of the new McCafe--the options are endless.

Preview of Pacci

Friends, family and I wined and dined at Pacci last night, and I am still full. After sipping drinks in the lively bar, we were seated in a private nook towards the back of the restaurant. From the moment we sat down, our waiter tended to our every need. From fabulous wine, soft bread and tapenade to filet, rack of lamb and short ribs, indulgence is an understatement. The list goes on to include beef carPACCIo, gnocchi, bread pudding, shrimp carbonara (with house-made pancetta, fried egg, sweet peas and onion), and my favorite, halibut with fava beans in a sweet corn broth. The ristorante opens tonight for all of Atlanta to enjoy.

Pimento Cheese

Thought I would share that I discovered the most heavenly pimento cheese in Atlanta at JCT bar. And the best part is that it only cost me $1 on Thursday night. Delish.