Valentine’s Day addresses the “dears” of our lives. The Federal in Midtown handles the deer. Succulent West Texas venison is masterful in its own right, joined by cheese pierogi, red cabbage, sour cherries and leek ash butter ($38). It’s magnificent.
The word’s out, the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) has announced the 2017 Restaurant Neighbor award state recipients. We’re not surprised that Ray’s Restaurants, Sterling Spoon Hospitality, Hojeij Branded Foods and Willy’s Mexicana Grill comprise four of the five Georgia winners. Congratulations to these restaurants for being, well, such good neighbors in Georgia communities.
Ray Schoenbaum and Ray’s on the River have supported Fragile Kids Foundation each year since 1988 through events at the riverside restaurant, including the Tastings Under the Tent fundraiser and an annual Santa breakfast. John C. Metz and Sterling Spoon Hospitality have raised more than $730k for Special Olympics Georgia since the partnership began. The 2016 golf tournament alone raised $95k. Nourishment ranks high on the list for Metz and Sterling Spoon, evident in hosting fundraising events for the Atlanta Community Food Bank and participating in the annual Hunger Run/Walk as well as the annual dine-out event for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry Campaign. In 2015, Regynald Washington of Hojeij Branded Foods gave a $1 million endowment to the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration at Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business to go toward graduate student scholarships, enhancing global experiences and expanding teaching technology. Since 2014, Willy Bitter and Willy’s Mexicana Grill have actively sponsored the Boys & Girls Club, supporting the annual “Salsa, Salsa” culinary challenge and Healthy Lifestyles Garden Program. When Willy’s anniversary rolls around, the restaurants raise money for the Boys & Girls Club, pulling in $20k in 20 days in 2015 and $21k in 21 days in 2016.
From all state winners, three national Restaurant Neighbor Award winners are chosen by industry professionals and are honored in Washington, D.C. in March 2017 during the National Restaurant Association’s Public Affairs Conference.
Brown bag or sunny Italy? Betting Italy wins on the office lunch poll. Order lunch to go at Storico Fresco Alimentari e Ristorante in Buckhead. Turn the conference table into a communal table and enjoy lunch together like one big family. Say “Viva Italia!” to antipasti like callipo tuna with cannellini beans, lemon olive oil, red onion and parsley ($13) or an assortment of arancini fried rice balls ($12). Pasta, all freshly made at Storico Fresco, satiates winter comfort food needs with specialties of tagliatelle alla Bolognese with classic beef, pork and veal ragu ($13) or pi fasaac with ricotta, spinach, Grana Padano filling and brown butter sage ($12). Pressing matters at hand? Pick up a panini like focaccia with mortadella, mozzarella di bufala and arugula ($10); ceci with chickpea puree, braised greens, red onion and mozzarella di bufala ($10); or the invernale with broccolini, winter squash, radicchio, red onion and Woodsman & Wife ricotta ($11). Storico Fresco has something for everyone, even ones who want to fly solo and enjoy a quiet Italian retreat lunching in their own office or cubicle.
Breckenridge Brewery skis into Taco Mac as February’s beer-of-the-month, available at all Taco Mac locations. Valentine’s Day becomes even “hoppier” beginning at 11 a.m. on Feb. 14. That’s when Taco Mac taps into a special whiskey barrel-aged Breckenridge 471 IPA dry-hopped with Citra, one of Breckenridge’s annual IPAs. Kiss this sweetheart at all locations except Philips Arena and Stockbridge.
Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails has popped the top on their new “Corks & Forks” promotion. Bar area guests who buy a bottle of wine Sunday through Thursday will receive a complimentary appetizer of their choice from the menu. Warm crab dip or the chef’s signature pimento cheese “dip,” sweet potato shrimp fritters, smoked duck confit and deviled farm eggs with avocado and Applewood smoked bacon are among the app options. Milton’s wine list pulls in an abundance of great “grapes” from all over the globe — California, Oregon, France, Spain, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other wine locales.
Cards, so cute. Chocolates, so sweet. If you really want hugs, whisk your Val out to eat. Make reservations early for hearty Valentine’s Day and weekend specials at Atlanta’s loveliest restaurants. Our blog’s your main squeeze for menu info. Menu prices do not reflect tax or gratuity.
Perfecto! Eat like a roamin’ Roman when Rome-based street food chefs and Ape Fritto food truck operators David Argenti and Fabrizio Masciotti visit Storico Fresco Alimentari e Ristorante Monday, Feb. 6- through Saturday, Feb. 18 for a special Cibo di Strada (translation, “street food”) menu. Alas, the two friends and former colleagues of Storico Fresco co-owner Pietro Gianni are leaving their vintage, three-wheel yellow Piaggio utility truck in Italy. They’re packing their skills though, so Atlantans can experience all the golden goodness of fritto -- Italian fried delicacies. Start salivating for traditional suppli (stuffed rice fritters) -- cacio e pepe and all’amatriciana; delizie cacio e ovo -- mini pasta with pecorino, bread, egg, parsley and tomato sugo; and baccalà (salt cod) in three batter versions -- traditional flour and water, mint and pistachios, and cinnamon. Sink teeth into pizzelle (mini fried pizza) fashioned with tomato sugo, Parmesan and basil; ricotta salata and honey; or ricotta fresca and pancetta. Sing wing praises over pollo fritto -- Italian-style fried wings and drums with spices and marinade. Add the crunch of patatine (homemade spiced chips) in sea salt, paprika, rosemary and cacio e pepe flavors. Ape Fritto prices range from $7-$18. Reservations can be made by calling the restaurant at 404-500-2181 or visiting OpenTable
Super Bowl LI is only a few days away. With the Atlanta Falcons taking the field, fans will want to catch every great gridiron moment. What’s your game plan, as far as fan fare and viewing? Take the weight off of home or clubhouse party planning by ordering take-away wings, barbecue, sides and other nourishing noshes. And if the crew wants 50-yard line seats that are a lot closer to the bar, big screens and real food, well Atlanta restaurants soar with scores of game-day specials. Land a first down on our blog for details.
Lotta Hot Chocolate has us going loco over cocoa. Prep here for National Hot Chocolate Day, Jan. 31. Dunk puff pastry cinnamon sticks in Mexican hot cocoa. Make and wrap up hot chocolate on a stick or hot chocolate spoons for sweet gifts. Hot chocolate floats with ice cream are pretty cool, as is “Serendipity” frozen hot chocolate. Hotties? Got those, too: s’mores, caramel, peppermint, cookies and cream, pink or red velvet, cardamom rose and mug shots of many more.
Bow ties, midnight baking sessions, food photographer. Phillip, a.k.a. @SouthernFatty, is a food- and travel-loving Southerner outta Nashville, Tennessee. And he likes jalapeños on his pimento cheese chicken biscuits. Hot stuff. Can you handle it?
Instead of saying “Cowabunga,” exclaim “Calabaza!” If you’re at Jefe’s Tacos and Tequila in Brookhaven, Calabaza tacos are on the way. Corn tortillas hug butternut squash, kale, beech mushrooms, pepitas and chili honey brown butter ($3.25 each). The next question is, “How many?”
Known for its tavern fare with a Southern flair, HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern is opening a second location in Town Brookhaven this May. The newest location will be located in the former Smash Kitchen & Bar space, bringing tavern specialties, signature cocktails and an expansive bourbon selection to Brookhaven.
