Jezebel Magazine's Most Eligible Bachelors & Bachelorettes Party

Last night I attended Jezebel magazine's party to celebrate the magazine's "Most Eligible Bachelors & Bachelorettes". One of my friends, Carolyn Sloss (the one in purple in the photo), was selected as one of this year's bachelorettes. The party was held at the newly-opened Tongue & Groove in Lindbergh Center. There was a VIP reception from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. with tasty appetizers provided by Aquaknox and tons of Michelob Ultra. When you first walk in the door, they asked everyone if they were "single" or "taken." If you were single, you were given a glowing yellow wristband, and if you were taken, you were given a glowing purple wristband. What a clever little idea to go along with the theme of the party! And, what an easy way to find out who was available in the crowd.

Bookers, Baker's, Basil Hayden's, and Knob Creek

Let me start off by saying I don't usually drink bourbon. Never the less, on the promise that I would be missing out on something fabulous, I attended last night's bourbon tasting at Morton's The Steakhouse Downtown. I learned three very important lessons last night during this tasting: bourbon can be significantly better than the hangover-inducing stuff you drank in college, bourbon lovers are just as fanatical about their bourbon as wine drinkers are about wine, and never tell a bourbon drinker that you usually drink vodka (you will immediately be deemed to have very bad taste and unworthy of conversation).

The tasting was led by Whiskey Professor (yep, it is a REAL job) David Mays, who did an incredible job of explaining many of the intricacies of bourbon. Did you know bourbon can be made anywhere in the United States, not just Kentucky?

During his hilarious and informative lecture, we tasted four bourbon cocktails: Basil Hayden's citrus smash, Knob Creek's mint julep (my favorite of the four), Baker's Kentucky peach (similar to a Washington apple), and Bookers' Manhattan (way to strong for my vodka-loving palate).

We also enjoyed some of Morton's hors d'oeuvre: scallops, crab cakes, mini lamb chops and the unbelievable delicious steak sandwiches.

Overall, it was an incredible evening full of fun people, great cocktails and too many steak sandwiches!

Michael Tuohy's Final Farewell Party at Murphy's

Last night Michael and Patty Tuohy got their final send-off with a small party of friends at Murphy's. While there have been numerous get-togethers to celebrate/commiserate Michael's leaving Atlanta, at least he didn't have to cook at this one! Tom Murphy generously set up his back room and kept the group happy with Prosecco and yummy snacks from Chef Greg McCarthy.

It was a low-key event where we all got to spend a little quality time with Michael. Before it was over, we had all decided to charter a jet and head to Sacramento for the opening of the restaurant! Who else is in?

Everyone there was an old friend of Michael's, including Kevin Rathbun who stopped by before heading to work, corporate restaurateur Phil Hickey, Barbara Petit and Alice Rolls of Georgia Organics, Chris and Jan Schroder of Schroder PR. We all had fun reminiscing about the Chefs' Cafe days - Michael's come a long way from the La Quinta Inn to The Citizen Hotel! Ha!

We will all miss Michael and Patty and are so glad that they promised to come back and visit. And we can keep up with Michael on his Frontburner blog. Our team is now working with the new owners of Woodfire Grill, Bernard Moussa and Nicolas Quinones - they are super smart and nice and realize the importance of carrying on Michael's passion for local, sustainable and delicious food. While Woodfire will never be exactly the same without Michael, I am sure that it will continue to be a great restaurant doing great things.

Bye, Michael! We love you! Don't forget to book our rooms for the opening!

Dogwood Restaurant Open for Lunch

As of today, Atlanta's newest refined Southern restaurant, Dogwood, is open for lunch. The lunch menu includes starters ($3-$15) such as fried green tomatoes, a grits bar selection and smoked Georgia Trout cakes. Entrees ($11-$18) like a duck club sandwich on pecan-raisin bread, the delicious Dogwood burger and an Atlantic salmon “BLT” have my mouth watering (it's almost lunchtime!). Lastly, the desserts ($6) include grilled lemon pound cake and a classic crème brûlée. Click here for a full lunch menu.

Dogwood is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The restaurant’s dinner hours are Monday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Dogwood is located in the Reynolds condominium building at 565 Peachtree Street, Suite A.

A Whiskey Professor Leads Small Batch Bourbon Study – From Barrel To Bottle To Glass On August 14!

My husband and I are always looking for something unique to do in this city. So, when I heard that Morton’s The Steakhouse Downtown was dedicating a night to learning all about bourbon, it was a no brainer.

Join us tomorrow, August 14, from 6 – 7:30 p.m. for night school. Whiskey Professor David Mays, one of only three Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey Professors, is traveling the American Whiskey Trail, educating and entertaining those along the way about the American Native Spirit. Mays is a man who knows bourbon’s nuances and history. He’s one of only three Whiskey Professors to undergo in-depth training at Kentucky’s Jim Beam distillery and represent Beam Global Spirits and Wine. School never sounded so good!

Bourbons to be served at the Small Batch Bourbon tasting include:

Knob Creek – a nine-year aged bourbon drawing from its charred American white oak barrels for its sweeter taste and full body. You’ll taste it in a mint julep that night.
Bookers – uncut, unfiltered, intense with oak tannin and smoky vanilla. Created by the late Booker Noe, master distiller and grandson of Jim Beam, this bourbon fills out a Manhattan at the tasting.

Basil Hayden’s - spicy from rye, sweet from corn, enriched with peppermint, Basil Hayden’s recipe was developed in 1796! This light-bodied bourbon speaks in a Southern Citrus Smash.

Baker’s - draws its name from Baker Beam, grandnephew of Jim Beam, and its mellow flavor from a mix of corn, rye, barley, yeast and seven years of rest in new oak. Try it in a Washington Apple!

It’s a one-of-a-kind evening for only $45, which includes tax and gratuity. Space is limited; reservations are a must. Morton’s The Steakhouse Downtown: SunTrust Plaza Building at 303 Peachtree Center Avenue; 404-577-4366.

Baby, They're Back! BBQ and Blues Return to South City Kitchen Vinings on August 17!

BBQ is always a tasty treat and when you add some swingin' sounds, you've got a combination that can't go wrong! That is the idea behind South City Kitchen® Vinings BBQ and Blues night coming up on Sunday, August 17. Yes, every Sunday night is BBQ Night; however, while you're chowing down on Southern barbeque and sides at this Fifth Group Restaurant® on August 17, the Breeze Kings will jam from 6 to 10 p.m. Pile up the plate with slow-smoked beef brisket, molasses and spice- crusted pork shoulder, country-style ribs and sides - all served family style. Mop them with three signature BBQ sauces - Carolina-style mustard sauce, vinegar sauce and sweet red barbeque sauce - then dig in and sing praises that it's Sunday night! Cost is $19.95 for adults and $9.95 for children 12 and under. Reservations are recommended.
Serving dinner nightly and Sunday brunch, South City Kitchen Vinings is located at 1675 Cumberland Parkway; 770-435-0700.

DailyCandy Definitions

We're going to help you build up your vocabulary DailyCandy-style. Last month, Caryn and I went to the launch party for The DailyCandy Lexicon: Words That Don't Exist but Should. The book has made it around the whole office and we want to share some of the new words we're using. Keep an eye out each week on Atlanta Dish as well as in our newsletter The Dish (sign up on our website).


This week’s DailyCandy word: Palet – n. a valet who takes especially good care of your car. (Aw. You parked it right up front. What a palet.)

Taste of Asia Week in Atlanta

Chop suey, phooey! Sushi, samosas, pho and fusion are more like it in Atlanta’s huge rice bowl of Asian dining options. Teaming up Atlanta’s Asian culinary prowess with the Olympic Games in Beijing, the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) invites diners to pick up their chopsticks for a “Taste of Asia” during its inaugural Dine-Out Week, August 10-16. Aqua Blue -- scoring some of the best sushi in town -- is on the team of participating restaurants with a special $28 three-course dinner menu (tax and gratuity not included). Begin with crispy ginger salad, move on to miso-glazed shiro magura – white tuna, baby bok choy, fresh spinach and a lush shitake mushroom broth. Finish with a warm brownie à la mode (okay, so brownies are not Asian, but we’re not complaining).


Participating restaurants will offer a three-course meal for $28 or other Asian dining specials. A portion of the proceeds from GRA’s Taste of Asia will go toward a merit-based internship for a culinary student who wants specialty training in Asian cuisine.

Aqua Blue: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell; 770-643-8886.