Food Photography Workshop at Eclipse Di Luna

I want to extend a huge thank you to Frank and Max of Atlanta Photography for teaching the MLA team the tricks of photographing food last night. Eclipse Di Luna was the perfect restaurant to practice taking photos in dim mood light. I quickly discovered that shooting food has unique challenges, and I was not using my point and shoot camera to its full potential. With a few tips on restaurant lighting, camera angles and composition, our photographs drastically improved. The top take away from the workshop was to turn off your flash! From now on, the MLA team and I are ready to take food photos with confidence.

www.atlantaphotography.org

www.eclipsediluna.com

Michael Pollan Does Atlanta

Georgia Organics has just announced their 12th Annual Conference and Trade Show will feature Michael Pollan, renowned advocate of local and sustainable food and best-selling author of The Omnivore's Dilemma, In Defense of Food and The Botany of Desire, as the keynote speaker.

This year’s conference will be held at Agnes Scott college near downtown Decatur. Activities will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 20 and from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 21. Highlights will include local farm tours, educational sessions on whole farm planning, mushrooms, intensive urban agriculture, urban homesteading, children’s and farm-to-school tracks, and trade show exhibits, in addition to farm-fresh food prepared by local chefs for the popular Organic Banquet.

Early registration for Georgia Organics members begins January 7, 2009. Preference will be given to members of Georgia Organics; those interested in becoming members can click here. To be a sponsor or exhibitor, click here.

Craft and Flip: First Bites

I am not a chef groupie. When you work with chefs for a living you quickly realize that they are people just like us. So I leave the celebrity chef worshipping to others. Then how did I end up at both Craft and Flip on their opening nights with all the other sycophants? Coincidence and happenstance, my friends. I swear.

Craft exceeded my expectations which were admittedly low after (not) enjoying many other "celebrity chef" restaurants in town, both recently and in the past. It's a great looking restaurant and the food was spot on. Being with a group of six I tasted over 20 items and nothing failed. My favorite dish: braised beef short ribs. Fork tender, juicy, full of flavor - I believe the whole table (except the vegetarian) proclaimed it one of the best dishes we tried.

Flip was also a winner. The restaurant is hip and fun and the food was delish. We tried the lamb burger, bun mi burger and pork belly with cheese burger. And the fries. And the nutella milkshake. But the winner was: sweet potato tots with blue cheese foam. YUM.

Now that I think about it, the Craft short ribs and the Flip tots would make a great combination. Maybe Chefs Tom and Richard can talk about that. I might even consider becoming a groupie if that happened!

Dark Knight DVD Launch Event at Blockbuster in Brookhaven

Last night I attended the Dark Knight DVD launch event at Blockbuster in Brookhaven from 10 p.m. to midnight. Rock 100.5's Tim Andrews entertained customers with Dark Knight trivia,

Reese's peanut butter cup-eating-contests, and a Heath Ledger scavenger hunt. Prizes included a Dark Knight poster and a Blu-Ray system with Dark Knight DVD. Customers waited patiently in line until midnight so they could purchase the DVD. If you haven't seen it yet, go to your nearest Blockbuster and get a copy!

Toys and Birthdays and Bears, Oh My!

This week is packed with fun events that sure to be beneficial for everyone. Check out these parties at Greazy Spoon's very own Marlow's Tavern and Aqua blue for a good time or a good cause!

Toys for Tots at Marlow's Tavern Midtown

Why toy with a good thing? Last year's Toys for Tots drive at Marlow's Tavern Midtown was such a hit, the Marines are back for more! Grab your friends and have fun picking out some of the hottest new toys, then take the whole kit and caboodle to the Marlow's Midtown drive on Thursday, December 11 beginning at 6 p.m. U.S. Marine Corps Reserve members will be filling their "sleighs" with the toys to deliver to area children who would otherwise go without. What's in it for you? The warmth of knowing you'll make a child smile -- and a cup of cheer for you. Marlow's knows you really want to play with that toy yourself, so they'll give you a ticket to trade for a free glass of house wine or beer when you hand over the toy (one ticket per customer). And aren't those Marines fantastic, serving our country abroad and right here in our community? Be sure to say "thanks" while you're there!

Marlow's Midtown: 950 West Peachtree Street; 404-815-0323.

Marlow's Tavern in Kennesaw Turns 1

Proud parent Marlow's Tavern is planning big times to celebrate the first year of its Kennesaw location. Each time you enjoy a lunch or dinner special at Marlow's Kennesaw through December 10, you'll receive a raffle ticket to redeem for a glass of house wine or draft beer (one per ticket holder) at their anniversary party on Thursday, December 11. Drop your ticket in the hopper for a chance drawing to win one $30 Marlow's gift card each week for one year (one card may be used every seven days; gratuity not included). Party starts at 7 p.m. and runs full steam until 10 p.m. with passed hors d'oeuvres, drink specials and live entertainment.

Marlow's Tavern Kennesaw: 745 Chastain Road, NW; 770-425-8777.

Teddy Bear Brunch at Aqua blue

Hand-in-hand with the medical science of healing comes the soft hugs of a teddy bear to raise the spirits of a hospitalized child. Aqua blue in Roswell wants to help bring smiles to the faces of the young patients at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta by collecting new teddy bears at a Teddy Bear Brunch from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 13. Each family that brings a new teddy bear, with tags still attached, will receive a "blue chip" card for each child, good for a complimentary meal from the children's menu on their next visit. On the Teddy Bear Brunch menu: carved ham, London broil with Marsala mushroom sauce, roasted turkey with giblet gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, sautéed vegetables, macaroni and cheese, house and Caesar salad, a variety of fresh sushi, chicken fingers and desserts. Scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, pancakes, biscuits and sausage gravy, home fries, fresh fruit and assorted pastries round out the menu. $19.95 for adults and $8.95 for children four to 12; children under four eat free. Call 770-643-8886 for reservations.

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing health, hope and happiness to children through philanthropic and volunteer support for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

Aqua blue: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road; 770-643-8886.

DailyCandy Definition

This time of year, thoughts turn to visions of sugarplums dancing in sleeping heads. Good thing, because if you believe in fridea, we think you’ll be out on the lawn, making a clatter – and we bet The DailyCandy Lexicon will back us up.

Fridea - n. the belief that greasy onion rings, quesadillas, fried pickles, and bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches make sensible bedtime snacks.

Please Fasten Your Seats Belts and Put Your Seat Backs And Tray Tables in the Upright and Locked Position…

I love when people know how to party!! Any good party planner knows that the tone of the party is set long before guests begin arriving. That’s why I knew that I was in for a trip when I received my invitation to the Concierge Society of Atlanta’s holiday celebration, which was fashioned to look like an airline ticket. The theme for the event on Thursday, December 4, was “Fly Away with CSA” and the attire was “70s airline chic” …oh, the possibilities were endless.

Needless to say, those wild and crazy concierges did not disappoint. Everyone really got into the spirit!! I don’t think I have seen so many afros since the last time the hubby made me watch Pam Grier (the only woman we have agreed he may leave me for; even though she is twice our age)in Foxy Brown. From the bad wigs and stewardess uniforms (yes stewardess, not flight attendant), to the bellbottoms and flower shirts, I felt like I was in an episode of That 70s Show, minus that adorable Wilmer Valdarrama.

We played games for delicious prizes like dinner for two at City Grill and $50 Visa gift cards before drawing the winner of the door prize – two airline tickets to San Francisco (courtesy of Airtran Airlines), three nights in the Hyatt and a $300 transportation credit from Boston Coach. Although I left without the trip to Frisco, as we Californians call it, the swag bags were no consolation gifts. How could I complain about gifts from Dailey’s, Eclipse di Luna, Morton’s, Uncle Julio’s and Bliss Spa. Peace and happiness; good stuff.