Fifth Group Lassos A New Downtown Spot for Tex-Mex

Downtown is ready for some serious Tex-Mex, and the One Ninety One Peachtree Tower is the spot for it, according to Robby Kukler, Steve Simon and Kris Reinhard, the three partners behind Fifth Group Restaurants.  Business folk, visitors and party planners won't have long to wait for this fresh lunch, dinner and catering option -- the trio will open their newest chef-driven restaurant in fall 2011. 

Fifth Group Restaurants already operates several Atlanta food and bar favorites:  South City Kitchen Midtown, South City Kitchen Vinings, La Tavola Trattoria, Ecco and The Original El Taco, as well as Bold American, a catering and events company with onsite services at Studio 887 and the Event Gallery at the King Plow Arts Center.  We're excited about their latest addition and will keep you posted as Atlanta's own Ai3 and Peace Design work traditional, booth and communal table seating for 195 plus two bar areas into the 5,200-square-foot space!

Summer 2011 Internships Now Available at MLA

Spring hasn’t even sprung yet and we’re already looking ahead to summer!  Melissa Libby & Associates is currently searching for a couple of great interns to join our team this summer 2011 to work directly with media communications, social media and client services. Our internship is a great way to learn the ins and outs of agency life, as well as gaining experience with events and video production.  We strive to make it a hands-on experience that our interns can definitely benefit from in the future!  

College students who have a passion for PR and a fanaticism for food and wine culture are encouraged to send in their resume and summer availability to atlantadish@gmail.com.  Creativity, positive energy, a strong work ethic and great writing skills are a plus!    The ideal candidate will receive school credit for their experience with MLA.  The internship is unpaid and 15 hours per week. 

To find out more about Melissa Libby & Associates, please visit our website and our Facebook page.  Good luck!

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

One-stop tweeting at FoodGodtess (@FoodGodtess) renders a daily helping of food, travel and history trivia.   Beth Robinette, a.k.a. FoodGodtess, is the co-owner of Atlanta Culinary Tours (@ATLCulinaryTour), which promises "not to use the words "holistic," "foodie" or "nouv-cuisine" in any of our tour descriptions. :)."  Robinette also is the Atlanta ethnic food and restaurant writer on Examiner.com and co-writes Naked with: Cooking.    

Sushi Eating Competition at RA Sushi on March 31!

If you’re a sushi lover and that doesn't mind stuffing your face, or know someone that is ... then Maki Madness is your event! Each year, RA Sushi hosts MAKI MADNESS, a sushi-eating contest, that allows for sushi devotees to chow down on as much sushi as they can possibly eat. On Thursday, March 31 from 7 - 10 p.m., participants will compete in rounds and heats to see who can demolish two uncut RA Sushi signature Tootsy Maki rolls the fastest and move up along the bracket system. The "final four" competitors will sit down at the Championship Sushi Showdown to eat as many Tootsy Maki rolls as they can in three minutes, with only one glass of water!

The grand-prize winner will receive sushi for a year -- 12 $50 RA Sushi gift certificates to use (one per month) -- as well as bragging rights as the RA Sushi MAKI MADNESS Champion. Second place wins a $100 gift certificate, third place receives a $50 gift certificate and fourth place gets a $25 gift certificate. All registered participants will receive a complimentary RA Sushi sweatband and appetizer card to use at their next visit.

The contest is open to eaters ages 18+, but is limited to the first 40 entrants. It is free to participate, but you must register prior. Please pick up applications at RA Sushi in Midtown before Friday, March 24 to register. Competitors or non-competitors, everyone can have fun with the inflatable basketball hoop on the patio, $7 Tootsy Maki and drink specials including Free Throw Bomb ($6), 3-Pointer ($8), Rim RA'cker ($7) and Chang Beer ($3). Hope to see you at RA Sushi!

RA Sushi: 1080 Peachtree Street at 1010 Midtown; 404-267-0114.

Hunger Walk 2011 Takes To Atlanta Streets On Sunday, March 13

Atlanta restaurant teams are hitting the streets to join in Hunger Walk 2011 at Turner Field on Sunday, March 13. Event registration, entertainment and activities begin at noon in the Turner Field green lot and conclude at 4 p.m. The 5K Run and Walk takes off at 2 p.m. through downtown Atlanta. Aqua blue, JCT. Kitchen & Bar, Marlow's Tavern and Fifth Group Restaurants are donating and participating, won't you? When you sign up, choose a partner agency to benefit from your efforts: Atlanta Community Food Bank, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Episcopal Charities Foundation, Lutheran Services of Georgia, Presbytery of Greater Atlanta or St. Vincent de Paul Society. Park for free in the Turner Field blue lot. It's even more fun when you bring friends; however, Fido has to sit this one out.

Top Chef Talent Unites at Ray's at Killer Creek on March 27

Want to get a taste of what you watched on season seven of Bravo's "Top Chef" television series? Now is your chance! On March 27, Ray's at Killer Creek is bringing in four of Executive Chef Tracey Bloom's fellow chef-testants - Arnold Myint, Tiffany Derry, Kenny Gilbert and Andrea Curto-Randazzo - to cook up a meal together for guests. The six-course meal paired with wines begins at 6 p.m. and costs $150 per person (including tax and gratuity). A portion of the proceeds benefits AFLAC Cancer Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. There is a limited amount of seats available for this special dinner, so interested guests are encouraged to reserve their spot today online or by calling 770-649-0064.

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

Grow Already!

This weekend marks the 14th annual Georgia Organics' conference in Savannah. Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12, attendees can plant themselves at "Go Grow" in the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center for 32 educational sessions, 10 in-depth workshops and then head out for food and farm tours, sustainable meals and the Farmers Feast.

Renowned food scientist, food activist and author Vandana Shiva takes the mic as keynote speaker on Saturday. Conference goers can gain an insightful look at sustainable farming in Georgia when they view the movie premiere of "Grow!" Other conference activities include book signings, a seed swap, silent auction, farm-to-school conference, children's conference and music jam sessions. Walk-in registration is still available so visit Georgia Organics' website for various ticket prices, event schedules and specific information.

Because Every Tuesday Deserves A Whiskey Dinner...

Why wait until next week to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day when you can start now?  Head to Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant in Buckhead tomorrow at 7 p.m. - the authentic pub is throwing the largest St. Patrick's Day party in the city of Atlanta beginning with the Second Annual Tower Beer, Wine & Spirits Whiskey Dinner!  This Irish whiskey tasting, hosted by Master of Whiskey Kevin Mulcahy, features a selection of delicious hors d'oeuvre paired with festive beers and whiskeys for $39 per person (all inclusive).

The five-course menu includes Smithwick's mini burgers paired with a sampling of Guinness, Harp Lager or Smithwick's Ale; corned beef rolls paired with Bushmills Original; smoked salmon bites paired with Bushmills 10 Year Single Malt; sausage rolls in puff pastry paired with Bushmills Black; and chicken boxty quesadillas paired with Bushmills 16 Year Single Malt.  Everyone will end the evening with Baileys and coffee.  What a delicious way to kick off everyone’s favorite March holiday!

La Tavola Hosts Another Lovely La Grassa Celebration

Strozzapretti with braised rabbit ragu -photo by Alli Royce Soble

You only have five more days to get over to La Tavola Trattoria in Virginia Highland for this year’s La Grassa festivities. In case you didn't know, "La grassa" translates as "the fat one" in Italian and alludes to Bologna, the capital of Italy's Emilia-Romagna farm and food-producing region. The limited-time, three-course menu is available for $35 prix fixe (plus tax and gratuity) or à la carte. Appetizers include cotechino sausage, pickled calf's tongue, spring lettuces, vellutata soup and crispy sweetbreads ($5-12). Entrées range from capelletti filled with truffled mascarpone and tortelli filled with new potatoes, leeks and prosciutto on creamed Parmigiano to roasted goat ribs, strozzapretti with braised rabbit ragu, snapper and Sapelo Island clams and roasted leg of pork ($16-24). Baked ravioli with chestnut cream and tangerine sorbet are like little pillows of flavor for sweet dreams ($7). La Grassa is available through Saturday, March 12.

La Tavola Trattoria: 992 Virginia Ave, NE; 404-873-5430