One More Day to Buy Attack of the Killer Tomato Tickets

Y'all. This is a really fun event. And I'm not just saying that. Last year was a blast and I am sure it will only be better this year. It's Sunday, August 8 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at JCT Kitchen. You've got 28 of the best chefs in town plus 8 of the most creative mixologists, plus beer, a great band and it benefits Georgia Organics. Okay, it could be a little cooler, but other than that it's a perfect day!

The $50 ticket price is a real bargain. It goes up to $65 on Sunday so buy yours today! You can get them online or at the Peachtree Road Farmers Market from 8:30 - 12:30 Saturday.

Oh, and I almost forgot - a few of the chefs have gotten together to form a band and they'll be playing in between the "real" band's sets. They have even practiced! Hope to see you there!

It's Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep of the Week @PeachPromise

Don't know about you, but we'd rather our peaches take their own sweet time getting juicy and ripe in orchards than resting on trucks blazing across the lower 48.  After all, Georgia is the "Peach State."  Join the bushels of Georgians who are making the Georgia Peach Promise this summer, pledging to purchase Georgia peaches instead of those from other states.  

Peachy-keen Georgians can learn more on the Georgia Peach Commission's Twitter page, website or by becoming a fan of "Georgia Peaches" on Facebook. Then click your pick of recipes, storage tips and other info bites on our state's official fruit! 

Lights, Camera, Action! Food Network Heads to Town

Are there stars in your eyes when you see a camera nearby?  Do you love to educate friends and family on your newest cooking technique discoveries in your kitchen?  Maybe you aspire to see your name in Food Network lights?  Well, your moment to shine might be coming! 

With your personality and pans in hand, you can show Food Network you’ve got the perfect ingredients required to be The Next Food Network Star when they come to Atlanta on Monday, August 9.  Details are below – good luck!

The Next Food Network Star

 is NOW CASTING Season 7 in Atlanta!

Do you think you have what it takes to host your own show on the Food Network?

Calling all Chefs, Line Cooks, Home Cooks, Caterers and Culinary Enthusiasts!

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Strong Culinary Skills                             Personality that Pops

Passion for Cooking                              Food Knowledge

Lots of Energy and Enthusiasm

Atlanta Open Casting Call

Monday, August 9, 2010

Time: 10am-3pm

Location: W Hotel Midtown

188 14^th Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30361

What to Bring:

1. Two recent photos

2. A copy of your resume

3. A COMPLETED application (found at www.FoodNetwork.com/star)     

For more information or questions please e-mail us at nfns7atlanta@gmail.com or visit www.nfns7casting.com.

Farmer's Markets are the New Kitchens, for Chefs That Is!

What else are you going to do in the Georgia heat besides going to a fresh and fabulous farmer’s market! Atlanta chefs are leaving the kitchens and heading out to the farmer’s market, too.

Mark your calendar for Thursday night and watch Woodfire Grill Executive Chef and Owner Kevin Gillespie slice and dice at the East Atlanta Village Farmers Market (1231 Glenwood Avenue) on July 29. Other than his colorful tattoos, we never know what Kevin Gillespie has up his sleeve for a farmers market demo. See Kevin in action and glean kitchen pointers at 6:30 p.m. The Thursday evening market, open from 4 - 8 p.m., is timely for those of you who can't make it to a morning market. Meet friends for a summer's night of eating, learning and shopping at vendors such as Love is Love Farm, Gaia Gardens, Scharko Farms, Decimal Place Farms, H & F Bread and Hidden Springs Honey.

Over in Buckhead at the Peachtree Road Farmers Market, Gerry Klaskala of Aria will command the demo action at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 31. Even better, you can now take in all of the award-winning chef's tips under the soothing shade of the market's new tent. Market hours for the Saturday shopping tradition are 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in the parking lot of The Cathedral of St. Philip (2744 Peachtree Road, NW). Fill your shopping bag with local goods and garden-grown produce and pick up a couple of tickets to the Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival. This all-out tomato bash will take over JCT. Kitchen & Bar from 1 - 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 8 -- tasty, harmless, fun and for Georgia Organics.

Up north at the Riverside Farmers Market in Roswell, chefs from Roswell's own Aqua blue will show guests how to roll sushi on July 31. Freshly made sushi is just one of the many items offered at Aqua blue. Watch how to make the healthy and delicious favorite at 11 a.m. This weekly Saturday morning market is held from 8 a.m. - noon at Roswell City Hall (38 Hill Street).

Chef Julia LeRoy gets the early bird demo award. Her demo at the Morningside Farmers Market starts at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 7 (1393 N. Highland Avenue across from Alon's Bakery) and features her working with produce from Crystal Organic Farm. The market is open from 8 - 11:30 a.m. Time it right and you can shop, watch and then stop in for a hot cup of joe or brunch at one of the nearby restaurants.

Head out on a sustainable adventure with Worthwhile Wine

Craving an eco-adventure across the world this summer?  We are, too!  We’ll be following along and living vicariously as Worthwhile Wine Founder Tom Lynch heads from his Atlanta headquarters to South Africa on July 28 through August 15 on a sustainable adventure through gardens and grapevines.  Readers are invited to follow along with Lynch’s travels through his guest blog posts at Eat.  Drink… Better, a great website devoted to food, drink and the environmental impact that both bring to our planet, as well as via his posts on the Worthwhile Wine blog.

During his first week of traveling, he will be working in the remote village of iNzinga in the community gardens in conjunction with the inspirational non-profit program Isipho founded by Lynch and his daughter Miranda.  Lynch and Isipho will also be partnering in iNzinga with Water For All, an organization that helps improve access to clean water in sub-Saharan Africa, to help establish wells powered by both solar power and energy generated by simple playground equipment to be enjoyed by local children.  Pretty amazing stuff!

His second week will involve visits to many of the area’s wine regions, including Robertson, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Swartland, among others.  Lynch will be sampling soon-to-be released vintages and barrel samples that South Africa’s best sustainable and Fair Trade vineyards are producing, as well as getting a fresh glimpse of the current state of affairs in the South African wine industry.  We can’t wait to hear about the latest sips and steps that Lynch takes on this adventure – stay tuned for more!

You Say Tomato...

You would think with all the canning, ketchup-making and BLT-eating I've been doing in an effort to keep up with my overly-enthusiastic tomato plant that I would be all tomato-ed out. In actuality, I still can't get enough of them, which is why I've already made my reservations for La Tavola Trattoria's 8th annual Tomatofeast!

From Wednesday, July 28 (that is tomorrow!) through Saturday, August 7, tomato-obsessed Atlantans can load up on favorites à la carte or choose the $30 three-course prix fixe menu. Be sure to check out the entire menu online and make your reservations early because once Tomatofeast is gone there is a whole lot of waiting until next year's season returns.

Now back to that canning...

Downtown Restaurant Week Kicks Off Today

As if you really need another reason to hit the Atlanta restaurant scene, Downtown Atlanta Restaurant Week starts today! Join in the fine dining experience and save! The two-week-long celebration continues through Sunday, August 8 at restaurants in the heart of Atlanta, including Ray’s in the City and Truva. Reserve your table online; prix fixe dinner prices do not include alcohol, tax or gratuity. Ray's in the City offers metropolitan appeal for $35 per person. Choose from two appetizers -- chilled jumbo shrimp with watermelon, feta cheese, fresh mint and ginger syrup or a vegetable sushi roll with wasabi and pickled ginger; field greens salad with pecans, dried cranberries, blue cheese, roasted red onion and balsamic vinaigrette; and entrées of Parmesan-crusted flounder, campanelle shrimp pasta with wilted spinach and diced tomatoes, or grilled flat iron steak with macaroni and cheese, sautéed spinach and red wine demi-glace. Truva's Mediterranean menu runs $25 per person and includes your choice of appetizer -- red lentil soup, Mediterranean salad or shepherd's salad; an entrée of lamb shank braised in coriander and mint sauce on a pillow of roasted eggplant, a nine-ounce Black Angus filet or swordfish kebab and Adana kebab; and Chocolate Fantasy, rice pudding or baklava for dessert.

Ray's in the City: 240 Peachtree Street, NW; 404-524-9224.
Truva: 60 Andrew Young International Boulevard, NE; 404-577-8788.