She's Leaving On A Jet Plane....

Melissa is heading to NYC for dinner at the James Beard House where Executive Chef and Co-Owner Shane Touhy of Dogwood restaurant will be cooking a spring supper. Tomorrow night Melissa will indulge in a fabulous meal.....

*Mini southern fried quail biscuits with
peppered strawberry compote

*Fingerling potato crisps with boiled peanut mousseline and caviar

*Cold smoked tuna tartare with apples, pecans, cornbread rounds

*Creamy stone-ground yellow “Logan Turnpike” grits with cornmeal dusted gulf oyster, preserved lemon, hazelnut cream, micro lemon mint

*Pan seared Georgia mountain trout with sunchoke puree, spring pea basil sauce and marinated wild mushroom salad

*Charred rare venison tartare with toasted brioche, sunny side up quail egg, caramelized shallot jam and smoked blackberry-merlot reduction

*Berkshire Pork loin confit with a ragout of spring mushrooms and aged country ham, fava bean pesto

*Brown butter- almond financiere with crème brulee ice cream and Grand Marnier-strawberry syrup

Wow, I am jealous. For a preview of Shane's meal, visit Savory Exposure.

Eclipse di Luna Celebrates Administrative Professionals Day

Put down the files and have some fun! Administrative professionals can take a lunch break on Wednesday, April 22 and head over to Eclipse di Luna in Buckhead or Dunwoody for two free tapas. Hold off on taking that last phone call before lunch—the special is available only until 2 p.m.! Take a breather and kick back on the patio…perhaps honor the day with a margarita or glass of sangria.

Love Me, Love My Tree: Earth Day, Week and Month Events Around Town

Remember when Earth Day was just one Day? Well, not anymore! As we have grown to understand the relationship between our actions and the environment, the need to protect the Earth (from ourselves) has become even more apparent. Next week, several of our favorite local spots are highlighting things we can all do to enjoy Mother Earth a little longer:

Basically, every day is Earth Day at LEED-certified Pizza Fusion in Buckhead. So it's no surprise that on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, Pizza Fusion has more green goodies! While Pizza Fusion has been serving pizzas in Atlanta since fall, the team saved the ribbon-cutting celebration to coincide with Earth Day. Live music and food specials will abound, along with $3 select organic beer and $1 Honest Tea. The Captain Planet Foundation will receive a portion of the day’s proceeds, and the good Captain himself will be available for photos between 5-9 p.m. Celebratory giveaways on April 22 include a free personal organic cheese pizza (POCP) and Honest Tea for the first 50 people who walk, run, bike, take MARTA or drive a hybrid/Smart car to the event; a free POCP and Honest Kids beverage for the first 50 kids; a free Pizza Fusion reusable tote to the first 50 people who order a specialty pizza; and an enter-to-win opportunity to win one of six birthday or office parties.

Pizza Fusion: In the Astoria at the Aramore building, 2233 Peachtree Road, Suite M; 404-351-9334.

Whole Foods Markets won't make you dig around for ways to protect the Earth all month. This month, the company marks one whole year without disposable plastic grocery bags, keeping an estimated 150 million bags out of landfills and tripling reusable bag use. Shoppers can pick up Whole Foods Market’s “Make a Green Change: 30 Ways in 30 Days” calendar, crammed with small daily actions that make a big difference over the course of a year. Through month end, enter the “Recycle Your Old Fridge Sweepstakes” online and test your family’s green IQ. You may win a new, ENERGY STAR-qualified Bosch Evolution refrigerator stuffed with natural and organic foods from Whole Foods Market. Earth-loving teens are digging Project Green Prom! Besides creating videos on how they’ll green their proms for Teens Turning Green, they’re attending in-store Prom Prep Day events with eco-makeovers, fashion, flower and decorating tips, and eating right for prom night.

Eclipse di Luna in Buckhead is pouring $15 pitchers of margaritas Monday- Thursday during Earth Week. After all, isn’t this warm weather beverage a lovely shade of green? This high-energy lunch, dinner and night spot tops off your tank with small plates of tapas before you head out to burn some fuel on the dance floor!

Eclipse di Luna - Miami Circle: 764 Miami Circle in Buckhead; 404-846-0449.

Richard Blais at Variety Playhouse

Richard Blais cooking demo at Variety Playhouse on June 27 at 3 p.m. Tickets go on sale this Friday. Thanks for the heads up Ryan!

The Georgia Aquarium Hosts Toast of the Town

Water and wine are coming together for one incredible event on Thursday, April 16 in Atlanta. Wine Enthusiast's premier wine tasting event, Toast of the Town, will be held at the Georgia Aquarium, where more than 500 wines and spirits will be available for tasting. Attendees can also dine on dishes from Atlanta's top restaurants including Aqua blue, Eclipse di Luna, Morton's The Steakhouse in Buckhead and Downtown, Toulouse and Woodfire Grill. In addition to fantastic food and wine, there will be a silent auction benefiting the Georgia Aquarium! Purchase tickets online: $175 VIP Tasting / $95 Grand Tasting. VIP Tasting starts at 5 p.m. with privileged access to reserve and estate wines and Atlanta's best restaurant dishes all in a quieter, more relaxed setting and includes a six-issue subscription to Wine Enthusiast magazine. The Grand Tasting follows from 7-10 p.m.

Georgia Aquarium: 225 Baker Street.

Last Call for CPA's To Sign Up And Win Free Dinner at Morton's

As I posted a couple weeks ago, both locations of Morton's The Steakhouse are taking submissions from local CPAs for a complimentary dinner during CPA Appreciation Day on April 16. The winning CPA will be drawn on Tuesday, April 14, so 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.

The complimentary steak and seafood dinner valued at $99.99 is only offered to official CPAs, so be sure and bring proof of profession. Here are the locations - 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.

Forward on to your stressed out CPA friends that are in need of a little appreciation this April 16!