It's Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep of the Week @angieti

Mom Angie, Dad Phin, three kids and one employee are pickling, canning and sending some darn good pickles out into the world from their lil' gourmet pickle company in the small, bustling town of Athens, Ga.  Phickle's Pickles is the name on the label of their locally and sustainably grown and pickled okra, jalapeños, green tomatoes, snap beans, carrots, cukes and asparagus. 
 
Feel like you're living the entrepreneurial dream as you follow Phickle's Pickles' Angie on Twitter (@angieti) and Facebook (pickle-perfect pictures).  Order some jars to keep on hand so you'll never get caught in a gift-giving pickle!

Escape to the North Georgia Mountains as Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery Holds a Holiday Open House

Looking for a relaxing way to escape all of the holiday hustle and bustle and enjoy this holiday season? Make your way north to the delightful little town known as Dahlonega, the home of Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery. Tucked away in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains, this European estate-style winery makes for the perfect holiday destination and on Sunday, December 5, 12, and 19, Wolf Mountain will be holding a holiday open house. The day will feature homemade soup and holiday hors d'oeuvres served around the Christmas tree along with plenty of time to relax by the crackling fireplace and enjoy the beauty that is Wolf Mountain. This special event is $25 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are a must for the 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. seating and can be made today by calling 706-867-9862.

Home Is Where Deadwood Saloon Is!

Now with fall semester at college winding down, some of you will be staying in Atlanta or coming back for the holidays. If you're like me, you're also trying to figure out where you should go eat, grab some drinks or watch the college football and NFL games with friends. Lucky for you, if you show your college I.D. at Deadwood Saloon in Midtown throughout December you will receive a 20 percent discount on food items!

There are multiple LED screens to give everyone a 50-yard-line view and not miss a minute of action in other games too. Deadwood's build-it-yourself burgers, house burger and a big beverage selection are worth coming back for, especially when you get 20 percent off with your college I.D.! Don't forget about Deadwood's nightly events including trivia, poker, live music and karaoke.

Deadwood Saloon: 66 12th Street in Midtown; 404-671-4290.

A Dinner You Don’t Have to See to Believe

They say if you dull one sense, the others are heightened.  Dialog in the Dark is one unique Atlanta event that plays off this very notion, except now, they’re adding food.  Each month a different Atlanta chef acts as host, and at 7:30 p.m. this Thursday, December 9, Aria Executive Chef/Owner Gerry Klaskala will be heading up the kitchen in Dialog in the Dark's new Dining in the Dark dining experience at the Atlantic Station event venue.  After experiencing Dialog in the Dark, guests will then enjoy a four-course, chef’s table meal in complete and total blackness.  With the help of blind or visually impaired Dining in the Dark servers, guests will experience first-hand what it’s like not to rely on sight, allowing them to slow down, concentrate on taste, and enjoy their meal with their taste buds working overtime.  The flavors, aromas, and textures will be intense and enhanced for a dinner undoubtedly different than any you’ve had before!  The dining room holds only 16 diners so don’t delay, reserve your seats today!  The cost is $102.60 per person or $183.60 per couple.

Premier Exhibition Center at Atlantic Station: 265 18th Street; 866-866-8265.

Ahoy, Delicious Gulf Seafood Ahead Tonight!

As we all know, America’s Gulf was hit hard this year and it’s important that we now show our support for Gulf fishermen and the delicious seafood they catch!  You can do just that tonight at several Atlanta restaurants… more than 250 chefs and restaurateurs nationwide are participating in Dine America - Dine Louisiana, "America's Night Out for Gulf Seafood," serving seafood from the Gulf of Mexico in support of those behind the high-quality catch!   Here in Atlanta, "go fish" at Aria, Davio’s, JCT. Kitchen & Bar, South City Kitchen Midtown, South City Kitchen Vinings, Spice Market and Woodfire Grill. 

Aqua Blue Spices Things Up with Their Newest Menu Items

Variety is the spice of life, so Aqua Blue Restaurant & Bar is keeping things fresh with some newly released menu items. The new menu features a Maine Lobster Risotto appetizer, Tomato & Mozarella Tart Salad, Butter Lettuce Wedge Salad, Wild Shrimp & Scallop Grits, Seared Ahi Tuna and a Lollipop Lamb Chop. Be sure to make your way over to one of Roswell's favorite restaurants to try out these new menu items along with many more.

Aqua Blue is located at 1564 Holcomb Bridge Rd in Roswell. For a full list of menu items, visit http://www.aquablueatl.com/

A December Catch: "Lobsters & Libations" at Marlow's Tavern

Marlow's Tavern's limited-time "Lobsters & Libations" menu is back by popular demand and is better than ever after being revamped based on guest feedback from last year. Get your fresh catch now through December 31 because you won't want to miss items like Maine lobster and shrimp tavern chowder ($6); Asiago lobster and crab dip served with toasted pita points ($12); Maine lobster pot pie ($15); lobster tail stuffed with shrimp, scallops, mascarpone and sweet herbs accompanied by stone-ground jalapeño corn grits and jumbo asparagus served with citrus herb sauce ($24); Maine tail and turf with grilled filet mignon, tempura lobster tail and shrimp tail, crispy potato cake, jumbo asparagus and béarnaise sauce ($25); and Napa Valley cheesecake with chocolate butter cake, chocolate mousse, a layer of Marlow's classic cheesecake and chocolate ganache ($6). At the bar, Marlow's Tavern offers new wine and beer selections to complement the lobster dishes and a holiday spice martini ($8) to capture the tastes of the season.

Marlow's Tavern has five Atlanta-area locations and a sixth opening in mid-December. For locations, click here.

It's Decorating Time at Davio’s

Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse is celebrating the holidays with a fun kid-friendly event. On Saturday, December 4 and Saturday, December 11, Pastry Chef Kathleen Miliotis will host a gingerbread-decorating party from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The cost is $25 per child (must be accompanied by an adult) and includes a pre-made gingerbread house that each kid can decorate with Davio’s selection of colored frostings, candy and sprinkles. Space is limited, so guests should call 404-844-4810 to reserve a spot.

Davio’s is located in Phipps Plaza at 3500 Peachtree Road. For more information, visit www.davios.com.

Meet our Tweep of the Week @cpkimball

Christopher Kimball is the founder of America's Test Kitchen, a real 2,500-square-foot test kitchen close to Boston.  Kimball himself has a farm in Vermont.  Click in and keep up with both worlds... from kissing cows to testing unsweetened chocolate for those holiday recipes.  Twitter (@cpkimball) has quick quips and links; blog goes in-depth with links to Cook's Country TV, Cook's Illustrated and more.  

Happy Thanksgiving To All!

Photo from White Oak Pastures

Whether you're over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house or hitting your favorite local restaurant for your feast this year, we here at Melissa Libby & Associates wish you a bright and happy holiday tomorrow!  If you're still deciding where to have your turkey this year, we have lots of great suggestions for you.  We'll see you back here on Atlanta Dish very soon!

Forget the Turkey Leftovers, Give Me Some Wine!

Learn some smooth liquid ways to end the dinner party on a sweet and mellow note at the port and dessert wine tasting on November 28 at Toulouse in Buckhead. As always, the monthly Sunday night tasting starts at 6:30 p.m. and includes a flight of wines and palate cleansing passed hors d'oeuvre. These fortified wines and the humorously informative Toulouse Wine Guy will send you into the cold night warm with good cheer! $30 per person. Call 404-351-9533 for reservations.

Toulouse: 2293 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite B; 404-351-9533.

A Break from Black Friday Shopping at Davio's and Ormsby's

Black Friday shopping can wear down even the most die-hard shoppers. Luckily, Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse and Ormsby's are providing the nourishment needed to bargain hunt with the best (and shelter from the shopping storm for the men while their ladies fight the masses).

If you're heading to Phipps Plaza to do your shopping on November 26, just duck into Davio's to refuel. The Buckhead restaurant is open all day on Black Friday and is conveniently located in the mall. Chef Bennett Hollberg's yummy menu will provide the energy you need to take on the crowds and includes everything from appetizers, salads, homemade pastas and pizzas to the finest cuts of beef, fresh fish, savory sides and classic Italian fare. The restaurant serves lunch on Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., dinner from 5 p.m. to midnight and a bountiful bar menu all day long. Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse: Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-844-4810.


Ormsby's is offering a Black Friday Beer Lunch all day on November 26 for only $18 per person. The price includes a flight of three black beers (five-ounce pours) -- Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Black IPA, Dogfish Head Chicory Stout and Smuttynose Robust Porter -- and a hearty tasting plate with potted chicken liver and toasts, Flat Creek Lodge natural rind cheddar, duck leg confit gnocchi and caramelized grapefruit tart. Ormsby's also has lots of other entertaining pursuits beyond food and drink -- backgammon, bocce, darts, pool, shuffleboard and sports-viewing screens. Ormsby's: 1170 Howell Mill Road, NW; 404-968-2033.

Santa Stops By Ray's at Killer Creek

Don’t miss your chance to meet the jolly man in the red suit this holiday season. Santa will be visiting Ray’s at Killer Creek for Sunday brunch on November 28 and December 19 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. So, head up to Alpharetta to indulge in Executive Chef Tracey Bloom’s new à la carte brunch menu and tell Santa what’s on your wish list this year! Sunday brunch is served from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Don’t miss out; call 770-649-0064 for reservations.

Ray’s at Killer Creek: 1700 Mansell Road, Alpharetta; 770-649-0064.

It's Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep of the Week @Foodimentary

Sometimes you need a meaty quote, and sometimes you want some plain old humor.  Foodimentary offers both, all in the realm of the food world.  For instance, "Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese." (Billie Burke, a.k.a. Glenda the Good Witch in "The Wizard of Oz")  

For a steady stream, follow the Shorty Award-winning food-fact tweeter on Twitter.  It's "guaranteed to pepper your day with fun food facts!"  Those with a hearty appetite for impressive food facts and quotes can dwell on the unabridged web version.

Wine for dinner? Yes please.

Thinking ahead, you can only eat so much leftover turkey. Thankfully, Woodfire Grill is hosting another fine dinner on Tuesday, November 30, featuring Littorai Wines from the coast of California north of San Francisco. The extraordinary landscape has proved ideal for terroir-based Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs crafted by Heidi and Ted Lemon, who founded Littorai in 1993. Meet them and savor a five-course dinner paired with Littorai wines: 2007 Littorai Charles Heintz Vin Chardonnay, 2007 Littorai B.A. Thieriot Vineyard Chardonnay, 2008 Littorai Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, 2007 Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley and a special dessert selection. $160 per person, all inclusive. Limited seating; reservations required. Reception is at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m.

Woodfire Grill: 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road; 404-347-9055.

Half-Price for the Whole Game at Morton’s

Move your tailgate to Morton’s The Steakhouse and you’re sure to score big with their half-price bar bites!  From 5 p.m. to close, every Sunday and Monday during the NFL season those tasty little bites you love so much drop from $12-$13 to $6-$7!  No bites excluded; you can get the smoked salmon pizza, blue cheese steak fries, mini crab cake BLTs, chicken goujonettes, iceberg wedge bites, mini prime cheeseburgers, petite filet mignon sandwiches, oysters on the half shell and the colossal shrimp cocktail.  Pair those bites with the big game on the bar televisions and you’ve got a winning combination!  The bars at both locations are open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Mondays. 

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.

Talking Turkey, or How To Treat Your Family Without Burning Down the Kitchen This Thanksgiving

From http://wordsandtoons.com

Deadwood Saloon is holding a turkey shoot on Friday, November 19.  No ordinary turkey shoot, this one starts at 5 p.m. with half-price turkey burgers, $3 draft beer and Wild Turkey drink specials to put guests in the turkey shoot frame of mind.  The second round of fun, the actual turkey shoot, begins outside at 9 p.m. when contestants fire up the Nerf guns and aim for the restaurant wall plastered with turkey targets.  The winner receives a trophy and free burgers for a year. (66 12^th Street in Midtown; 404-671-4290)

Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse was born in Boston, roots that serve it well when it comes to knowing how to throw a Thanksgiving dinner feast.  Eat early or late -- the restaurant will be open from noon until 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and offering a $35-per-person menu.  Dinner has it all: oven-roasted Vermont free-range organic turkey, Yukon gold mashed potatoes, creamy cipollini onions and fresh peas, roasted butternut squash, glazed yams, cornbread herb stuffing, homemade gravy, cranberry apple chutney and sautéed creamy kale.  Look to Davio's well-chosen wine list for the perfect complement to your meal. Add a special holiday dessert of pumpkin pie with crème fraîche, warm apple pie with homemade ice cream or sweet potato cheesecake for $10.  There's a mini-feast of turkey, stuffing, gravy and cranberry apple chutney for children under age 12 ($13).  If you delight in the day-after, get "Tomorrow's Turkey Sandwich" to go ($12).  Davio's thinks of everything!  Menu prices do not include beverages, tax or gratuity.  (Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-844-4810)

Those looking for a globally inspired Thanksgiving menu should head to Spice Market where they'll be serving their regular breakfast menu from 7 - 11 a.m. followed by dinner from 4 - 9 p.m.  In addition to the regular dinner menu, Spice Market is offering a Thanksgiving tasting menu for $35 per person plus tax and gratuity.  On the menu are roasted baby sweet potatoes with gula jawa glaze; stir-fried Brussels sprouts, shiitakes, snap peas, ginger and soy; gingered cranberry sauce; roasted turkey breast and confit turkey leg; chestnut sausage stuffing; and spiced pumpkin cake, praline cream and pumpkin seed brittle.  (In the W Atlanta Midtown, 188 14^th Street, NE; 404-724-2550)

Let the good folks at Ray’s at Killer Creek or Ray’s On The River take care of your family’s appetite this Thanksgiving. Ray’s at Killer Creek will be serving a special Thanksgiving menu in addition to many of their regular dining offerings from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.  There will be a $25 Turkey Dinner or a Three Course Turkey Dinner starting at $35. Ray's on the River will be serving their Award Winning Thanksgiving Day buffet from 10:30am-9pm.  The buffet will be $40 for adults and $20 for kids.  (Ray’s at Killer Creek -1700 Mansell Rd. (at Highway 400). ; 770-649-0064 ; Ray’s On The River -6700 Powers Ferry Rd; 770-955-1187)

­­Have your feast both ways at South City Kitchen Vinings and South City Kitchen Midtown.  Choose the to-go menu when everyone wants to gather at your house and keep the college games running in the back room.  Order in multiples of eight at $25 per person, plus tax.  You'll receive eight fluffy biscuits and eight sour cream corn muffins; a four-pound boneless roasted turkey breast and a quart of giblet gravy; two cups of whole berry natural cranberry sauce; two quarts each of slow-simmered collard greens, whipped Idaho potatoes and cornbread dressing; and a pumpkin or pecan pie with whipped cream to dollop on top.  Orders must be received by Friday, November 19 for pick-up on Wednesday, November 24.  Call 404-873-7358 for pick-up at the Midtown location or 770-435-0700 for pick-up at the Vinings location.

Both South City Kitchen Midtown and South City Kitchen Vinings will have seatings from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and will offer three-course prix fixe menus for $39.95 for adults and $19.98 for children under 12.  Menus include traditional Thanksgiving fare as well as the restaurants' much-adored Southern favorites.  Choose an appetizer of fried green tomatoes with goat cheese and sweet red pepper coulis; Caesar salad with garlic grit croutons and fried okra; harvest salad of roasted butternutsquash, chopped romaine, shaved red onions,black pepper vinaigrette, candied pecans, dried cranberries and Grana Padano; Charleston she-crab soup; butternut squash ginger bisque; and house-made pimento cheese in Midtown or butterbean hummus in Vinings.  Entrée choices include roasted turkey breast and fixings; seafood jambalaya with shrimp, crawfish, mussels, fish, Carolina Plantation rice, andouille sausage and spicy tomato broth; buttermilk fried chicken with sautéed green beans, buttermilk whipped potatoes and bourbon gravy; smoke-roasted filet of beef withsmashed sweet potatoes, garlicky Swiss chard and brown butter béarnaise; sautéed shrimp and scallops with creamystone-ground grits and garlic gravy; grilled salmon with roasted tomato ragout, Parmesan grits and grilled zucchini-corn salad or a veggie plate of green beans, smashed sweet potatoes, garlicky Swiss chard and zucchini-corn salad.  Dessert brings more delicious decisions: traditional pumpkin pie, Southern chocolate pecan pie, warm apple cobbler with fresh cream or cinnamon-raisin bread pudding with whiskey sauce.  (South City Kitchen Midtown:  1144 Crescent Avenue; 404-873-7358; South City Kitchen Vinings:  1675 Cumberland Parkway; 770-435-0700.)  

Popular neighborhood spot Atkins Park will be serving families and friends alike at both their Virginia Highland and Smyrna locations this year.  Those dining at Atkins Park in Virginia Highlands can enjoy Big Green Egg smoked turkey breast, carmelized apple & sage stuffing, cider gravy, braised pork shoulder, roasted root vegetables in bourbon glaze, green bean casserole with crispy onions and roasted mushrooms, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, cranberry Grand Marnier compote, sweet potato biscuits with pumpkin cheesecake or Southern pecan pie for dessert.  Smyrna diners will enjoy Cajun injected roasted turkey breast, maple and cherry glazed ham, New Orleans dirty rice, fresh cranberry sauce, sweet potato with campfire marshmellow and apple pecan cobbler.  (Atkins Park Tavern – Virginia Highland - 794 N. Highland Ave; 404-876-7250; Atkins Park Tavern – Smyrna - 2840 S. Atlanta Road; 770-435-1887)

One of Atlanta's most popular Thanksgiving Day hot spots, Toulouse American Bistro, is once again offering their famous French-inspired American cuisine on this special day.  From 12 - 7 p.m., the cozy Buckhead bistro will serve holiday classics like oven-roasted turkey and pumpkin pie as well as some of the restaurant's regular menu items including their wild mushroom ravioli and grilled salmon.  (2293 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite B; 404-351-9533)

MLA Seeks Spring Intern

Photo from Etsy/ Blue Bell Bazaar

Do you have a passion for PR and a fanaticism for food and wine culture?  Melissa Libby & Associates is currently looking for a great intern to join our team to work directly with both media communications and social media during the spring semester of 2011.  There also will be opportunities to help with events, client services and video production.

Creativity, positive energy and great writing skills are a plus!    The ideal candidate will receive school credit for their experience with MLA.  The internship is unpaid and 15 hours per week;  we strive to make it a hands-on experience that our interns can definitely benefit from in the future.  

To find out more about Melissa Libby & Associates, please visit our website and our Facebook page.  If you are interested, please send your resume and availability to atlantadish@gmail.com.  Good luck!

Time To Go A Huntin'

Well, maybe not literally but figuratively.... let's go shoot some turkeys!!

On Friday, November 19, Deadwood Saloon is getting into the Thanksgiving spirit by hosting a festive turkey shoot! Starting at 5 p.m. that day, come in for half-price turkey burgers, $3 draft beer and Wild Turkey drink specials. The actual shoot will take place outside at 9 p.m. on the back wall of Deadwood (directly behind the building). You'll get the chance to take your best Nerf Gun shot at turkey targets on the wall. The grand prize winner will receive a frozen turkey and FREE burgers for an entire year! Second and third place win goodies too!

Visit Deadwood Saloon on Facebook for more details.

RA Sushi Puts the Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets on a Roll

RA Sushi is revving up the rivalry between Georgia Tech (GT) and University of Georgia (UGA) with its recent offering of team-inspired sushi rolls. Now through Saturday, November 27, fans can show support for their favorite team by ordering the UGA Bulldogs Roll or GT Yellow Jackets Roll. Normally $8.50 each, the rolls will be half-off on the day of the big UGA-GT showdown, November 27. After game day, the winning team's roll will remain on the menu through the end of the year, and $2 from every winning roll sold during the month of December will be donated to the school's food education program. If Georgia Tech wins this year's game, funds raised will be donated to their Food Processing Technology Division. If University of Georgia wins the game, funds will be donated to the department of Food Science and Technology.



The UGA Bulldogs Roll features crab mix, cucumber, shrimp tempura and spicy mayonnaise rolled in rice and seaweed and topped with red tempura bits with a drizzle of eel sauce on the side. Going for the gold effect instead of red, the GT Yellow Jackets Roll incorporates mango and yellow tempura bits into its roll-play book along with sushi rice, crab mix, cream cheese, calamari tempura and eel sauce. Game day allegiance aside, you'll have to stage your own table-top showdown to determine your favorite.

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