Peachtree Road Farmers Market is Back!

Recipe for a great Saturday morning: pick up a cup of Batdorf & Bronson coffee, buy two jars of Hope's Gardens basil pesto for $11, and take a walk in the crisp morning air through the Peachtree Road Farmers Market. See, who says I don't know how to cook?

And what's the perfect morning recipe without bacon? New to the market this year is Avondale Estate's Pine Street Market. They were serving samples of their Applewood Smoked Bacon and Sopressata Salami. Oh. Yes. Must buy this every week.



Also new is the Riverview Farms Meat CSA. Now you can sign up to get monthly deliveries of sustainable meats grown by nearby family farms just like you've signed up to get your regular delivery of produce/eggs/honey from Moore Farms! My friend Suzanne (that's her cool blue truck in the back of the bacon photo) can fill you in: suzanne@grassfedcow.com.









When it's early in the season and there's not a lot of produce yet, the artisans really fill out the market. Tracy Hartley does some cool stuff with recycled materials like the rooster art above. He has some work at Holeman & Finch and I was thinking maybe he should have some work at the new world headquarters of Melissa Libby & Associates. This would look good in a loft, yes? I also loved the ceramic lamb salt/pepper shakers by artist Karen Fincannon - she assured me I could find them on Etsy if I didn't purchase today.
Last stop of the day is always at Taj Ma-Hound. Norma Jean is a big fan, as are all the dogs who visit the market. Her cookies are so healthy and you should see the decorated ones - adorable! Since Norma's on a diet, I got her the Low Fat Cinnabones.
I think Norma Jean pretty much sums up this recipe: A yummy way to start your Saturday!

Uncork A Cure...An Inspi(red) Event

I enjoyed a fun filled night of wine sampling, food tasting, mingling and auction bidding at the ARCA's 19th annual Uncork a Cure. The Foundry at Puritan Mill was a wonderful space to hold such a large event. Although I sipped many fabulous wines, I have to say the most clever was Cabernet Glavingnon, Tom Glavin's new wine.

Now on to the food. My first bite was a trout snack from Shane Touhy at Dogwood.

I was then drawn to a field of strawberry topped sushi from Steel.

While at the sushi plate, I eyed mini beers and chocolate dessert from Gordon Biersch. The beer tasting was refreshing after all the wine.

My sweet tooth was satisfied again with a red velvet cupcake from Highland Bakery.

Back to the savory side for steak and mashed potatoes courtesy of Morton's Steakhouse.

As the night is winding down, I visit El Taco for a pork filled tortilla.

And to end my culinary adventure, I stopped at Eclipse di Luna for a taste of Ben McPherson's unique combination of popcorn and shrimp.

Any event that encourages me to indulge on dessert in between wine tastings and food samplings is a success! Uncork the Cure 2009 proved to be a relaxed yet elegant event for a wonderful cause.

Does it get any better than wine and pizza?

Well, yes, if it's organic wine and organic pizza.

Last night the Atlanta Chapter of the American Institute of Wine and Food (AIWF) had their monthly "Wonderful Wednesday" at Pizza Fusion in Buckhead. Steve Hinternhoff from Quality Wine & Spirits brought Kristin Freund of Terre Rouge Wines. The group was able to taste five wines from their portfolio while sampling delicious pizza and mingling with fellow foodies. The verdict: the wines were awesome and they all went well with pizza!

My personal favorite was 2005 TERRE ROUGE Roussanne - Sierra Foothills. A Rhone Ranger, of course. I think I might stop by after work to see if there's any left ...

(My apologies to Kristin for making her look like she has a huge green bow on her head.)

April Fools!

Whole Foods Market displays their wit and ability not to take themselves too seriously for April Fools Day. Check out their Web site for other "April Fools" and quick quips sure to make you chuckle.

Get Your Very Own James Beard House Dinner at Dogwood Without Leaving Atlanta

Don't miss out on your chance to get first dibs on Chef Shane Touhy's James Beard House menu that he'll be preparing in NYC on April 18. This talented Atlanta chef is serving a sneak preview at Dogwood, his home restaurant, on Tuesday, April 14. He’ll offer the same menu he’s preparing for his April 18 James Beard House Dinner, paired with Swanson Vineyards wines for the fixed price of $95 per person plus tax and gratuity. Shane wants "the people that support us day in and day out to experience this special menu right here at Dogwood.”

Click here to check out Shane's special menu and the Swanson Vineyards wines that will accompany it. Seats are going fast, so call 404-835-1410 to reserve a table for the special evening. Note: all guests at the table must order the James Beard House menu. New York-bound diners can make a reservation at The Beard House for Touhy’s April 18 dinner ($125 members/$165 non members) by calling 212-627-2308. Dogwood is located at 565 Peachtree Street; 404-835-1410. The Beard House is located at 167 West 12th Street in New York City; 212-627-2308.

Attention CPAs - Call Morton's Before Tax Deadline

I used to work for a CPA back in college when I thought that was what I wanted my career to be. Obviously I took a much different route. But years later I can still remember the intensity of the office from January through April. There was no question that I would work on weekends and we all dreaded giving the boss bad news for fear his head would explode. If only we had been able to sign up the boss for Morton's The Steakhouse CPA Appreciation Day on April 16.

Notify all your CPA friends that both locations of Morton's in Atlanta will pick a winner on Wednesday, April 15, to enjoy a complimentary steak and seafood dinner valued at $99.99 during their CPA Appreciation Day celebration on April 16. To enter, call Morton’s Buckhead at 404-816-6535 or Morton’s Downtown at 404-577-4366 before April 14 to submit your name, phone number and email address. Winners will be notified by phone on Tax Day and must bring proof that he/she is a CPA.

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.