Welcome AltoRex to Facebook!

Facebook followers, take a look-see at the new Facebook page for AltoRex Rooftop Lounge. Show your love for refreshing cocktails and light, flavorful fare all on this rooftop oasis by becoming a fan.

Sweet Stress Relief

If you’re like me, a chocolate chip cookie, or any other dessert for that matter, makes everything better. So we’ve compiled some of our favorite sugar rushes around town for those of you who are looking to de-stress by indulging in your sweet tooth:

- AltoRex Rooftop Lounge serves up AltoS’mores that meld grahams, chocolate and marshmallow meringue into gooey bites.
- Sharing dessert is so romantic at Aria, though you might not want to share Pastry Chef Kathryn King’s warm chocolate cheesecake with walnut crust and vanilla cream (pictured above).
- Beyond the famous margaritas, guac and fajitas at Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food awaits the dessert page with its creamy pumpkin flan –available for a limited time only, get it while you can!
- The ginger bread pudding with Meyer lemon curd at JCT. Kitchen & Bar is pure bliss and as sophisticated as desserts come.
- Tempura for dessert is really tempting…and possible if you visit RA Sushi, where cinnamon tempura ice cream is finished with a chocolate and raspberry glaze.
- Hot chocolate doesn’t always have to be confined to a mug. Morton’s legendary hot chocolate cake oozes molten chocolate and has been the restaurant’s number-one dessert for many years.
- The new macadamia nut blondies at Panera Bread bakery-cafes are a brilliant snack when you need an on-the-go sugar rush.
- Looking for a little sweet and a little salty? The ultimate union lies in Woodfire Grill’s banana fritters joined by milk chocolate mousse, banana Bavarian cream, salted caramel and candied bacon.

It's Wednesday and You Know What That Means

It's Wednesday and that means Top Chef comes on tonight! I swear I have a little extra zip in my step all day just knowing that at 10 p.m. Kevin and Eli will be on TV representing Atlanta. If you're on Twitter, follow my tweets at @melissal and tag your posts #atltopchef. There's always a lot of commentary and a little snark being tweeted!

And if you're a Kevin fan (aren't we all?) then you can see him live, in person, at the Morningside Farmers Market this Saturday at 9:30. The market is located next to Rosebud. Kevin will be doing a demo using okra from Cimino Farms.

RA Sushi Hosts Bacardi Launch Party Today

There is always something going on at RA Sushi in Midtown, and today is no exception! The restaurant is hosting a Bacardi Launch party today, which means FREE Bacardi cocktails will be flowing from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

RA Sushi is located at 1080 Peachtree Street at 1010 Midtown; 404-267-0114.

Collector Adds Morton's Cookbook to Her Shelf

Neigher rain nor thunder nor flooding keeps a cookbook collector away from her passion and Ana Raquel is proof. The Atlantan, who estimates she has 5000 cookbooks, braved the floods last night to be first in line at Morton's The Steakhouse in Buckhead. Tylor Field, co-author of Morton's new cookbook, was more than happy to sign her book and snap a photo. She had to leave soon thereafter because, you guessed it, she had another cookbook signing to attend! The rest of us stayed and enjoyed some delicious food and drinks, all from recipes in the cookbook. A silent auction raised over $1,000 for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Not bad for a (very) rainy night in Georgia!

Marlow’s Tavern in Vinings Says Thank You

It’s Guest Appreciation Week at Marlow’s Tavern in Vinings through September 27, and each day brings a new special! Take the Tuesday Tavern Token Challenge and you could win a complimentary dinner! Wednesday night is Girls’ Night Out with $5 drink and appetizer specials for the ladies. Specially priced beer and wine pairing dinners are the big event on Thursday night. Friday, guests will be treated to free happy hour appetizers from 5–6 p.m. On Saturday, the SEC Game of the Week will be broadcast throughout Marlow’s. On Sunday, guests can enjoy a leisurely $14.99 brunch buffet and$15 bottomless mimosas. Don’t miss the deals!

Marlow’s Tavern - Vinings: 2355 Cumberland Parkway, Suite 10; 770-432-2526

Help Fight Childhood Hunger By Visiting Participating Restaurants

Thousands of restaurants across the nation will be helping end childhood hunger by joining together in Share Our Strenth's Great American Dine Out over the week of September 20 - 26. Here in Atlanta, Aqua Blue, Marlow's Tavern, Pacci, WaterHaven and South City Kitchen Vinings have come up with easy ways to help out. Marlow's Tavern and Aqua Blue are giving away a $5 gift card to every guest that donates $1. Pacci is donating $1 from every specialty cocktail purchase to benefit the organization. WaterHaven is donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their famous Georgia Gentleman drink, and South City Kitchen Vinings

is giving back 2 percent of dinner sales for the entire week.

Calling All Chefs

Are people frequently asking to come to your house for dinner? Do you find both neighbors and friends asking for your recipes? If so, submit your tastiest seafood recipe to the Ray's on the River recipe contest. The winner receives dinner for two (value of $250), bragging rights and their recipe as a special entrée served at Ray’s On The River throughout the month of October. The deadline is Monday, September 21 so get those creative vibes flowing and submit your recipe soon! Additional information on the contest can be found on their Facebook page and on Ray's Web site.

Holy Guacamole

Today is National Guacamole Day! Celebrate with friends at Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food or whip up a batch yourself using their famous recipe:

Ingredients

6 avocados

¾ tbsp. guacamole oil (¼ cup of olive oil infused with one peeled clove of finely minced garlic)

2 lemons, juiced

1 tsp. salt (to taste)

½ cup chopped tomatoes

¼ cup chopped white onions

1 large green leaf lettuce for garnish

¼ oz. white and yellow cheese (to serve alongside the guacamole)

1 lemon wedge (to squeeze on guacamole before eating)

Directions:

1. Halve and pit the avocados. With a tablespoon, scoop out the flesh into a bowl.

2. Using the same bowl, mash the avocados with either a fork or potato masher, leaving them a bit chunky.

3. Stir guacamole oil into avocado.

4. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Salt to taste.

5. Serve with tortilla chips.

6. Lay a piece of plastic wrap tight on any remaining guacamole so it doesn't brown and refrigerate.

Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food: 1860 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-350-6767.

Cookbook Tour and Philanthropy Week at Morton's in Buckhead

Morton's The Steakhouse is taking its new “Morton's The Cookbook: 100 Steakhouse Recipes For Every Kitchen” on a 41-market tour, which will stop at the Buckhead location of Morton’s from 6 – 7:30 p.m. on Monday, September 21, for an evening of food, wine and silent auction goodies to raise funds for Feeding America and the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Guests can pick up a copy of the cookbook for $20 and have it signed by one of the co-authors, Morton’s Vice President of Wine & Spirits Tylor Field. Tickets are $39 per person, with a portion of ticket sales and all silent auction proceeds going to help the two nonprofit hunger prevention agencies.

Guests can also dine to make a difference at Morton’s in Buckhead during Philanthropy Week (September 21-25) - a week-long celebration of some of Atlanta’s most respected charities. During the week, the restaurant will offer a three-course, prix fixe menu for $75 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Twenty-five dollars from each meal will be donated to the evening’s featured charity, which are as follows:
Monday, September 21: Atlanta Community Food Bank
Tuesday, September 22: Ovarian Cancer Institute
Wednesday, September 23: Georgia Alliance for Children
Thursday, September 24: Atlanta Humane Society
Friday, September 25: Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia.

Please call 404-816-6535 for reservations. Morton’s The Steakhouse - Buckhead is located at the Peachtree Lenox Building, 3379 Peachtree Road, NE.

Wine Dinners in Atlanta This Week

There are two great wine dinners this week that should not be missed:


On Thursday, September 17, Aria will host an intimate dinner featuring wines from Napa Valley’s Robert Sinskey Vineyards. The neat thing about Robert Sinskey wines is that they are all organically grown and most are farmed under biodynamic practices. Featured wines complementing Gerry Klaskala’s seasonally inspired menu include Abraxas, Vin de Terroir, Los Carneros 07; Pinot Blanc, Los Carneros 08; Pinot Noir, Three Amigos Vineyard, Los Carneros, Napa Valley 04; Merlot, Los Carneros, Napa Valley 05; Point of View, Napa Valley 05; Pinot Gris Late, A Late Harvest Gris, Los Carneros 06. The reception begins at 7 p.m. with dinner following at 7:30 p.m. $85 per person plus tax and gratuity. For reservations, call 404-233-7673. Aria: 490 East Paces Ferry Road; 404-233-7673.

Nationally acclaimed Ross Halleck wines and Aqua blue’s award-winning global cuisine headline in Roswell at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 18. On the menu: spicy tuna maki accompanied by 2006 Halleck “Little Sister” Sauvignon Blanc; jumbo lump crab cake, Asian-green apple slaw and sweet Thai curry balanced with 2006 Halleck Russian River Gewürztraminer; roast lamb loin, black truffled potato, rainbow Swiss chard and rich cherry broth with 2006 Halleck “Three Sons Cuvee” Russian River Pinot Noir; and muscovy duck breast, smoked gouda and spinach, sun-dried tomato polenta with a cassis reduction accompanied by 2006 Halleck Clone 828 Sonoma County Pinot Noir. Black Mission fig upside down cake with maple mascarpone sauce brings the meal to a sweet close. $60 per person, all inclusive. Seating is limited; call for reservations. Aqua blue: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road; 770-643-8886.

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

There was plenty of fun for the girls of MLA at RA Sushi's 80s party last night. Anytime you have mullets, PacMan, snap bracelets, breakdancers AND sake in the same room you know you're at the right place! Still waiting to hear how much money we raised for ClubBlue but I have a good feeling about that. Now if I could just get that AquaNet outta my hair ...

Taste New Menu Items at Panera

It’s lunchtime and local Panera Bread locations are offering samples of their new menu items today. What better reason to hit up your local lunch spot?

sample day!

Caryn and I went and tested the new BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad and Napa Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich. We gave them both two thumbs up. Other new items include the grilled Breakfast Power Sandwich with ham, eggs and cheese on whole grain bread; Fudge Brownies; and Macadamia Nut Blondies.

bbq chopped chicken salad samples

napa almond chicken salad sandwich samples

Also today, when customers purchase a loaf of bread or half dozen or more bagels at participating Panera Bread bakery-cafes, Panera will Share the Dough by donating a portion of the proceeds to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, its local Operation Dough-Nation organization.

Bar-B-Q Lovers Rejoice!

The Atlanta Bar-B-Q Festival will be taking over Turner Field's green parking lot from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. this Saturday, September 12. There will be inflatables and rides for the kids as well as live music by the Running Wild Band, Antonia Lawrence, Neal Cooper, Frankie's Blues Mission and the Riki Brooks Band. Professional and backyard barbeque cooks will be competing for cash prizes in their respective categories, and the pro winner will get to sell his or her barbeque at a Braves game in 2010. Braves legend Otis Nixon will be there to chat with fans and sign his new book "The Catch." As a promotion, festival organizers will be giving away free barbeque sauces, rubs and grill accessories to those who have RSVP'd on the event's Facebook page. Admission to the family-friendly festival area is free.

Raise a Toast to Man’s (and Woman’s) Best Friend at Adopt a Golden Wine Tasting

Attention fellow dog lovers: raise your glass and raise funds for Fido (specifically, golden retrievers) at the Adopt a Golden Wine Tasting at the Marietta Wine Market on Saturday, September 12. Make a $10 donation at the door and enjoy wine samples and hors d’oeuvres from 2 – 5 p.m. All proceeds go to Adopt a Golden Atlanta, so you know you’re barking up the right tree by attending this event! For more info, contact juliann@adoptagoldenatlanta.com.

Marietta Wine Market is located at 18 Powder Springs Street, SE in Marietta; 770-919-1574.

Sweets from Scratch

We had the best welcome back present from the holiday weekend brought to the office this morning. Amy from scratch makes delicious baked goods and dropped a few off at MLA for us to taste test.

'scones

And taste test we did. ‘Scones – yum, chocolate chip cookies – delish, "Smacaroons" – genius. Still need to open the "What’s Up Pumpkin?" bread and I’m still not sure what happened to the "Trifection Perfection" brownies. I have a feeling someone read that three kinds of chocolate were included and ran away with them.

pumpkin bread

Check out her website for other desserts and give this local girl a call for ordering!

Come Together

Come Together with fellow Beatles fanatics tonight as Blockbuster in Brookhaven releases the long awaited "The Beatles: Rock Band" at midnight.

Blockbuster will feature Beatles cover band, The Mystery Trip, prior to a special midnight release of the game. While you wait to pick up your copy at midnight you can play along on a pre-release demo with John, Paul, George and Ringo and enter for a chance to win the game software. Fans can also join Rock 100.5 for special games including a Beatles look-a-like contest and Beatles karaoke. Come midnight the game will be available for renting or purchase!

Blockbuster is located at 3944 Peachtree Rd. in Brookhaven. Entertainment begins at 9p.m. for the night and The Mystery Trip will be playing from 9-11p.m.

Chia Pets are Getting Ready for RA Party!

We have long, green sprouts now!

The Chia Pets Are Growing!

With 6 days to go before the 80s party at RA Sushi, I'm starting to think we may have chia success afterall. The sprouts are numerous and some are green! Btw, if you'd like to come to the party, send us a comment and we'll send you an invitation!

Tailgating Time is Finally Here!

For all you football fans, we’ve got some sure bets for tasty tailgate fare that will definitely win points….off the field, at least:

- For a healthier version of football-watching food, EVOS trades grease for fresh ingredients and offers burgers, fries, sandwiches and wraps with half the fat.

- Six locations of Marlow’s Tavern serve as convenient gathering spots with hearty American fare and flat-screen plasma TVs. For pre-game food on the run, Marlow’s also offers a to-go menu.

- For a fumble-free to-go menu, Morton's The Steakhouse - Buckhead and Downtown offer only the best with tuna tartare, colossal shrimp cocktail, double-cut filet mignon or New York strip steak and Key lime pie.

- Pacci Ristorante and AltoRex Rooftop Lounge have a couple of options, especially for those heading to nearby Bobby Dodd Stadium at Georgia Tech. Football fans can pick up fare on the way to the game or let the Midtown restaurant cater their pigskin parties. Pacci’s tailgating menu veers off the restaurant’s Italian steakhouse tradition to include sporty favorites like wings, ribs and pulled pork sandwiches. AltoRex Rooftop Lounge opens at 10 a.m. on game days to cure football fever with a healthy combo of open air, wide-screen viewing, fun beverages and good eats including Johnsonville brats, Italian sausages and soft pretzels. All Pacci catering orders must be placed at least 24 hours before pick-up time.

- Panera Bread’s Via Panera catering menu has about as many choices and Atlanta-area locations as a team roster has players. Bring home sandwiches, salads, soups, bagels, breakfast and brunch foods.

- The Original El Taco catering team can roll out an array of tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, the Grande house salad, appetizers, sides and a salsa bar. Orders include napkins, utensils and plates. Pick up or have your chow delivered ($20 delivery charge). Place your order at least 24 hours in advance by email or calling 404-873-4656.

- Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food knows how to plan a football fiesta with food-to-go, party packs and catering. All menu items can be ordered to go – just call Uncle Julio’s to-go line at 404-974-2991. The staff will load up a party pack with your gridiron favorites, or Uncle Julio’s team can set out the linens, chafing dishes and serving pieces; decorate your buffet; and line up plates, utensils, napkins and food. One glance at the catering menu will get your mojo going.

- WaterHaven, in Midtown’s Technology Square, welcomes Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to touch down for brunch before the game on Saturday, September 5. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.; WaterHaven serves brunch from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. They also offer FREE (validated) parking in the AT&T deck at 5th and West Peachtree streets.

- For prepared foods, Whole Foods Market has what you need including hot pizza, breads, deli items, cheeses, sweets and cold beer… you name it.