W Hotel Grand Opening Party

Last night, I was one of the lucky folks in Atlanta that was invited to attend the W Hotel Grand Opening party in Midtown. And, boy, was it a party! One could only imagine with a dress code specified as "chic cocktail" on the invitation - this would certainly be a very posh event. Three or four different levels of bars, lounges and entertainment. Girls dancing, fancy drinks being passed around, tons of food. Rumor has it that some of the celebs on the A-list included George Clooney, Paula Abdul, Cindy Crawford. I didn't see any of them, but I was able to see C-Lo make his grand entrance! Very cool place - I highly recommend visting if you're one of those that are on top of the social scene - it's certainly the new place to see and be seen.

Natural Bacon Salt is a Real Ham at Playing Up Flavor for Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Low-Sodium and Kosher Diets

And we thought things couldn't get any better then the zero calorie, zero fat, vegetarian and kosher seasoning that makes everything taste like delicious bacon. Well, the guys behind Bacon Salt have done it again. Justin Esch and Dave Lefkow have just rolled out a new product called Natural Bacon Salt – a premium version of the original Bacon Salt that was developed based on direct feedback from customers.

Short ingredient list, BIG flavor! J&D's Natural Bacon Salt is a pig-free, bacon-y wonder with so much to offer that bacon lovers will go hog wild sprinkling it on veggies, popcorn, eggs and you-name- it, no matter what their dietary preferences. Customer feedback prodded "bacontrepreneurs" Justin Esch and Dave Lefkow to develop this premium version of the original Bacon Salt. One oink at their website squeals that Natural Bacon Salt's brief, all-natural ingredient list yields a seasoning that is 100 percent bacon flavor and zero percent calories, fat, gluten, sodium or meat. Even vegetarians and those keeping a kosher kitchen can sprinkle with abandon!

Seattle-based J&D's Bacon Salt has become a godsend for the more than three million Americans dealing with celiac disease. Additionally, thanks to Operation Bacon Salt, our service men and women overseas in the Middle East can perk up their meals with the All-American flavor of bacon, even in areas where the culture prohibits pork products. Purchase Natural Bacon Salt as well as Original, Peppered and Hickory Bacon Salt at more than 2,000 retailers nationwide or at www.baconsalt.com .

Cool Loans From Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market aims to keep good things growing in Georgia at Harris Family Heritage Beef, Sweetwater Growers and Via Elisa Fresh Pasta. The company has a Local Producer Loan Program and, in Georgia, these three local producers will receive more than $500,000 in low-interest loans to achieve their goals. These loans pack a lot of bang in each buck, and each brings a bounty of sought-after foods back to Whole Foods Market shelves -- and ultimately to our plates.

Harris Family Heritage Beef at White Oak Pastures, Georgia’s leading grass-fed beef producer, was able to use the loan to complete a long-awaited on-farm facility designed to process beef according to rigorous humane animal treatment standards and to minimize environmental impact. Besides enabling White Oak Pastures to expand beef production and distribution of its 2008 Flavors of Georgia Grand Prize-winning products, the on-farm plant will nix farm-to-processing cattle stress and do away with the need for fuel-guzzling 18-wheelers to transport cattle. Sweetwater Growers, Inc. is using its loan to add two new greenhouses, thus increasing the farm’s harvest of high quality, fresh micro greens, basil and other herbs. Via Elisa Fresh Pasta, a genuine fresh pasta shop in Atlanta, has purchased a pasta cutter with its loan. The new cutter will enable more efficient pasta cutting, which translates to more plentiful pasta for you and me. The ingredients for the authentic, homemade pasta remain the same: 100% organic flours, 100% organic semolina, eggs from free-range hens and luxurious cheeses imported directly from Italy. Find products from these conscientious producers and others at area Whole Foods Markets and Harry’s Farmers Markets.

For more inspiring stories about the people and places behind our food sources, visit Whole Foods Market’s Farm to Market Blog.

Birthday's at Work Are a Piece of Cake

Just a little post saying "thank you" to everyone at work for my wonderful birthday celebration. As most of you know I keep everything so you better believe that the birthday card will be around for years to come! Now on to the food - Hollie ordered a cake from Piece of Cake in Buckhead. I admit that I am a picky eater especially when it comes to birthday cake so she had to customize it. We had the chocolate layer cake with cream cheese icing and no pecan topping - yum! Every year my mom used to make me a chocolate layered cake with vanilla icing and this brought me back to those days. Piece of Cake beats out her Betty Crocker cake from the box (sorry Mom!). Thanks again everyone and especially Hollie for finding the best cake!

Stake Your Claim to Fame By Entering the First-Ever Morton's The Steakhouse Guest Prime Recipe Contest

Calling all cooks! Morton's The Steakhouse will host a Guest Prime Recipe Contest giving any amateur chef or guest of Morton's a shot at creating "The Best Recipe Anywhere." Those are some pretty beefy bragging rights! Not only will the winner have his or her recipe included in the restaurant's upcoming cookbook (to be published by Random House in 2009), they will also win a trip for two to Chicago where they will dine with Morton's The Steak House Co-founder Klaus Fritsch at the original Morton's Steakhouse. The new cookbook, to be published by Random House in 2009, will be a sizzling sequel to the restaurant’s original treasure trove of legendary recipes and grilling secrets, Morton’s Steak Bible.

Recipes need to be submitted by June 2 so get a move on. For more contest rules click here. Klaus Fritsch himself will head up the panel of experts in reviewing recipes submitted for beef, chicken or seafood entrees; appetizers; salads; sauces; marinades and dressings; soups; side dishes; desserts ;and cocktails.

This year, Morton’s 79 steakhouses and 5,000 employees around the globe are celebrating the restaurant’s 30th anniversary. Join the celebration at both Atlanta Morton’s The Steakhouse locations. Buckhead: Peachtree Lenox Building at 3379 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-816-6535. Downtown: 303 Peachtree Center Avenue in the SunTrust Plaza Building; 404-577-4366.