It's Follow Friday: Meet our Tweep of the Week @alisonlewis

Drop in on this fresh blog and find all kinds of food info.  Alison Lewis tweets for those who prefer shortcuts.  And boy, does Lewis have a long list of ingredients in her own life recipe:  food TV and media spokesperson, recipe developer, cookbook author, mom, food blogger, food educator, food photographer/stylist, nutritionist and president of Ingredients, Inc. in Birmingham, Ala. -- and lots more!  

Visit her blog, Ingredients, Inc., to add an extra dash of healthy, family friendly recipes and a generous shake of entertaining ideas to your bookmark list!

Ray's at Killer Creek Rolls Out New Sunday Brunch Menu This Weekend

Ray's at Killer Creek is changin’ things up a little bit with a new à la carte Sunday brunch menu starting this weekend. Executive Chef Tracey Bloom is making this mid-morning meal to-die-for with delicious new dishes like mascarpone-stuffed brioche French toast, green eggs and ham, steak and eggs and a homemade veggie frittata. Head on up to Alpharetta and be the first to check it out! Brunch is served from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

Ray's at Killer Creek: 1700 Mansell Road; 770-649-0064

Hey mom! Can we get some meatloaf?!

This summer, Marlow's Tavern held its "Red, White and Brew" grilling recipe contest and had some great recipes to choose from. The big winner though is Steve Hartsock for his blue ribbon-winning Big Daddy's BBQ grilled meatloaf. This Saturday, October 16 from 3 to 5 p.m., Marlow's Tavern in Tucker is honoring contest winners with an open-to-all celebration featuring complimentary tastings of all winning recipes, drink specials and live music. In addition to tasting Hartsock's meatloaf, guests can try out recipes from the runners up: Jonathan LaLiberty's famous inside out burger; Jason Gates' root beer BBQ pork sandwich; peachy smoked pork loin from Lauren Cox; the teriyaki burger with chili ketchup from Lisa Mary Anglese; and Lisa Rodebush's grilled green beans.

Top winner Hartsock wins a Big Green Egg and has the honor of seeing his meatloaf on the tavern's fall/winter menu and knowing that Special Olympics Georgia will receive a donation each time a Marlow's guest orders his dish. So come out and enjoy all these contestants’ great recipes, grab yourself a few drinks, enjoy the live music and stay after to watch a game or two on TV.

Marlow's Tavern-Tucker: 4156 LaVista Road; 678-987-1197.

Pinkberry Party Tonight!

We're getting another Pinkberry in Atlanta - yay! Well, actually, in Marietta, but that's a technicality. Tonight is the party and tomorrow is the first day of business. Come to the new location in Merchant's Walk Shopping Center from 6 - 10 p.m., take in tunes from DJ Black Dominoes and sample your favorite flavors. There will be several chances to win FREE Pinkberry for a year: either be the first person in line when the party starts at 6 p.m. or enter your name for the three drawings that night. See you there!


Pinkberry Marietta: 1281 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta; 770-977-9770.

A Taste of France Comes to Ray's On The River with Trimbach Wine Dinner

Ray's Restaurants Corporate Executive Chef Tom McEachern has put together the ultimate autumnal menu for the upcoming Trimbach wine dinner slated for Ray's on the River on Monday, October 18.  Maison Trimbach has been making fine French wines in the French region of Alsace since 1626.  

 The five-course dinner includes pairings of Trimbach's 2008 vintage.  McEachern starts the evening with hamachi tartare, a warm scallion compote and caviar, paired with Trimbach Pinot Gris, Reserve followed by a seafood sausage with peppered pineapple vinaigrette paired with Trimbach Riesling.  Miso-glazed sea bass with kimchee and steamed rice finds friendship with Trimbach Gewurztraminer.  

The next course, seared venison with elderberry gastrique and roasted root vegetables, is a warm companion for Trimbach Pinot Noir, Personelle.  Alsatian apple and plum strudel add the final sweet fall note.  $85 per person, all inclusive.  Make reservations by calling Julie at 770-952-4209 or by email.

We’ll Drink To That: Wine Wednesdays at Davio’s

More please!

This week brings a great new tradition to the middle of your work week when you stop by Davio’s in Phipps Plaza; Wine Wednesdays will have shoppers, diners and movie-goers alike cheering with a glass in hand!   

Each Wednesday night starting at 5 p.m. in their bar area, Davio’s will be featuring four wines and serve complimentary appetizers to snack on while you taste. The cost is $25 per person/ $40 per couple (plus tax & tip) with complimentary parking. 

What a perfect way to end a busy day of shopping or to start a great date night before hitting the movie theatre!  Make sure to visit Davio’s Facebook page for more information about the wines they’ll be featuring each week.

Cocktails for a Cure at Pacci Ristorante

Be a H.E.R.O. at Pacci Ristorante, a Kimpton restaurant, in October and November by ordering a Red Ribbon-themed cocktail. Pacci will donate $1 for each one of the three "Cocktails for a Cure" purchased from now through World AIDS Day on December 1 to non-profit HIV/AIDS service organization H.E.R.O. for Children (Hearts Everywhere Reaching Out for Children, Inc.). The three $10 cocktails for this year's Red Ribbon Campaign include:

•Rouge: Belvedere Vodka, Grand Marnier, Campari and fresh orange juice shaken with fresh raspberries
•Ruby Red: Belvedere Pink Grapefruit Vodka, Lillet Blanc, fresh grapefruit juice and simple syrup muddled with ginger coins and sparked with club soda
•VS Smash: Hennessy VS, Grand Marnier, 10yr Tawny Port and lemon juice muddled with pineapple and dusted with grated nutmeg

Money raised for H.E.R.O. will help improve the quality of life for children infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS across the state of Georgia.

Pacci Ristorante: 866 West Peachtree Street, NW, adjacent to the Hotel Palomar; 678-412-2402

This Friday Brings Aqua blue’s Beer Festival

Don’t forget about Aqua blue’s second annual Beer Festival this Friday, October 15. The Roswell restaurant and festival sponsor Eagle Rock Distributing Company are taking advantage of fabulous fall evenings by hosting the party outside on the restaurant's patio and lawn areas starting at 5 p.m. and adding live music from The Moonlight Band at 7 p.m. Festival attendees can savor the night's prix fixe tapas menu of eight dishes paired with eight different beers for $44 per person, including tax and gratuity. Menu items include hoisin BBQ ribs, sweet and spicy tuna roll, spicy pumpkin soup, smoked lamb lollipops, fried Gouda ravioli, oatmeal-crusted chicken tenders, Port-Salut beef sliders and a mocha German chocolate brownie. Beer pairings will include Magner's Irish Cider, Mothership Wit, Magic Hat #9, Southern Tier 2XIPA, Red Hook Late Harvest Autumn Ale, Southern Tier Harvest Ale, Magic Hat Hex and Kona Pipeline Porter.

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