UGA Young Alum Take Over Harry Bissett's

Last night the UGA Young Alumni Council hosted a Back to Work party at Harry Bissett's in Atlanta as an excuse to party one more time before we officially say goodbye to the holidays. It was a great event! Nearly 100 young alumni showed up to eat, drink and boo the Gators.

Bissett's set up a nice buffet for the group - red beans and rice, a gumbo and some of the best wings I've ever had (I don't usually even like wings). There were actually several different events going on at the restaurant last night (everyone was watching the National Championship game) but Bissett's did a great job making sure each party had plenty of private space, attentive servers and lots of TVs.

Go Dawgs!

Happy Hour at Il Mulino

Yesterday evening I ventured downtown for the American Institute of Wine and Food Wonderful Wednesday event at Il Mulino. The Italian restaurant, originally out of Greenwich Village in New York City, recently opened in the 191 building on Peachtree. Il Mulino served us a tasty spread of ratatouille, lamb meat balls, bruschetta, melon with prosciutto and a selection of fresh breads. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay for dinner but enjoyed the appetizers and glass of wine. Il Mulino will stay on my list of restaurants to try.
Il Mulino

191 Peachtree St
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 524-5777

http://www.ilmulino.com/

Redbook Loves Tsp Spices

Looks like we aren't the only ones who *love* tsp spices. Redbook Deputy Editor Melanie Mannarino talks here about the individually packaged, organic spices. Sage and marjoram are the stars of her segment, but there are several more to choose from on their website. A must have for any cook's kitchen.

Recession Proof Drink Deals

Who doesn't love a good time, or a night out on the town? Lots of restaurants in the area are making it more affordable than ever to head out and enjoy one of your favorite cocktails or a glass of wine. Here are some of the great deals hitting the Atlanta area. This way, you won't have to skimp on your beverages, or a night out with the girls.

Good times at Eclipse di Luna - Miami Circle are affordably endless. Bottomless, you might say, when you consider the $10 bottomless glasses of sangria on Sundays followed by buy-one-get-one-free Monday Mojito Madness. Friends can easily find their way to Buckhead's congenial tapas restaurant and bar where laughter flows as readily as the sangria, and sharing specialty tapas is a cinch.

Midway through the week you may find yourself in need of some relaxation. What better way to enjoy a Wednesday night than with Aqua blue Restaurant's wine flight? The $14 wine flight will consist of 3 different types of wine paired with a delicious cheese plate. Each Wednesday, a different wine and cheese pairing will be offered so don't be afraid to go more than once!

Half-off wine can never go wrong in my book, that is why I am so glad I heard about Woodfire Grill's deal to offer their wine list at half price every Thursday night through March! This 50 percent discount will be taken off every wine, both by the glass and by the bottle. The diverse list changes weekly to stay current with the best new releases from all over the world as well as to complement Chef Kevin Gillespie's ever changing menu.

Eclipse di Luna - Miami Circle: 764 Miami Circle; 404-846-0449.
Aqua blue Restaurant: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road; 770-643-8886.
Woodfire Grill: 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road; 404-347-9055.

Cocido at Ecco: Que Bueno!

My Spanish friends are always saying, "que bueeeeeeeeeno" whenever they think something is great. So last night when I tried the cocido at Ecco that was the first phrase that came to mind.

I must admit that I had forgotten Tuesdays were the special night for this hearty Spanish stew. Ecco does a deal where you get cocido and a glass of wine for $24. Only on Tuesdays. Because that's the traditional Tuesday dish in Spain.

It changes up each week but last night the meats were two types of sausage and two types of beef. The brisket was melt-in-your-mouth good. Que bueno! Then there were beans and potatoes too. It's served on a plate with the broth in a small bowl on the side. Eating instructions were not included so I spooned the broth onto the meats. YUM.

They were pretty busy so you'll probably want to make a rez, but it's not a must. See you there next week! Que bueeeeeeeno!

Shane Tuohy of Dogwood to Cook at the Famous James Beard House

The year 2009 is already off to a great start for one of our favorite local chefs. Shane Tuohy of Dogwood has been invited by the James Beard Foundation to be a guest chef at the prestigious James Beard House. The mission of the James Beard Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, is to celebrate, preserve, and nurture America's culinary heritage and diversity in order to elevate the appreciation of our culinary excellence. It is an honor to have Chef Tuohy representing Atlanta when he presents his unique Southern culinary perspective at the storied house.

The April 18 dinner will be a five-course affair, complete with wine and dessert. One can only hope Chef Tuohy finds a way to incorporate his famous grits bar into the menu! Congratulations to Dogwood and to Chef Tuohy.

CHEERS!!

DailyCandy Definition

The DailyCandy Lexicon affectionately dubs these chef idolizers “Kitchen Aids.” Clever, clever! Foodie fans that we are, where do we buy the tee-shirts?

Kitchen Aid n. a chef groupie.

Michael Tuohy's California Restaurant Gets 4 Stars!

Big woo hoo to Michael Tuohy and the great review of his new restaurant Grange in The Sacramento Bee! We were happy to see Michael's great talents so quickly recognized in his new city and more than a little proud that his Atlanta roots and Woodfire Grill also got a shout-out in the article!

Congrats, Michael! We miss you, but we're so happy for you!

BCS National Championship Match-Up at Marlow's

I'm back from a long holiday vacation of eating, traveling and watching football. While the traveling is over and the left-overs are long gone, I still have football.

You better believe that I am anxiously awaiting the The FedEx BCS National Championship this Thursday between Oklahoma and Florida. If you aren't going to be in Miami for the match-up, Marlow's Tavern will be broadcasting on multiple big screens. Kick off is at 8 p.m. - see you there!

Signing up for Marlow’s e-blast newsletter will earn you $10 to go toward a purchase of $30 or more at any Marlow’s location around Atlanta. Simply visit Marlow’s website, click on “Join our Email List,” type in your e-mail address and voila, a $10 gift certificate is sent to your inbox. Print it out before the big game this Thursday!

Marlow’s Tavern locations: Alpharetta at 3719 Old Alabama Road, 770-475-1800; Kennesaw at 745 Chastain Road, NW, 770-425-8777; Midtown at 950 West Peachtree Street, 404-815-0323; Vinings at 2355 Cumberland Parkway, 770-432-2526; Northlake at 4156 LaVista Road; 678-987-1197; and coming in January to Duluth at 1950 Satellite Boulevard.