Last Chance to Get Schooled in Sake and Sushi This Season!

If you've been contemplating learning some new culinary tricks or are in need of a creative date night idea, RA Sushi is giving you one last chance to attend the restaurant's Sake Sushi Social tomorrow. The Midtown restaurant is rolling out one more class this week and then taking a break until fall. We've tested the waters and can assure you that it's a great way to break the ice on a first date or spend some QT with longtime loved ones while learning something new. This last Sake Sushi Social for the season takes place on Tuesday, May 1 beginning at 7 p.m. $35 per person or $60 per couple includes the informative sushi-rolling lesson and a four-course sampling menu paired with the perfect sake. Space is limited so reserve a spot now by calling 404-267-0114. If the Tupac hologram were here, he'd picture you rollin'.

Yelp Holiday Party

Last night I had the chance to attend the fabulous Yelp Holiday Event at The Loft in midtown. The Loft was the perfect choice for this event because it provided ample room for the amount of attendees (including room to get your groove on) and provided a funky backdrop to highlight all of the generous sponsors of the party. I had only been to The Loft for a concert, but found that this was a perfect place for a party. The place was packed with holiday adorned yelpers, all ready to check out some of the great food that was provided, all from a wide variety of sponsors. I came prepared to sample as much as possible!

Some of my personal favorites were there, Legal Sea Foods, Marlow’s Tavern, Toulouse, Ecco, La Tavola Trattoria, the new Italian restaurant Il Mulino, as well as many others. Ask me how I ate all this food? Good question. To be honest, it was all so tasty I decided to stuff myself against my better judgment. Some of the restaurants served their classic dishes, like Marlow’s Tavern, who were serving shrimp and grits while others branched out and served less traditional dishes such as flavored popcorn. Toulouse was another one of the other favorites for the night, preparing perfectly paired butternut squash ravioli and duck. The party not only provided food but a chance to smoke hookah, receive a tarot card reading, and get a free massage, all while drinking a Yelptini, courtesy of 3am vodka. Needless to say there was something for everyone here at this event.

This was my first event that I had attended, and I can say for sure it definitely won’t be the last- I had a great time! It was fun to enjoy a night with people whose reviews I read periodically and put a face with the name, as well as a great kick-off to the holiday season!

Perfect Patio Weather For Lunching At South City Kitchen Midtown

Yesterday, fellow MLA team member Meryl and I had a meeting with Fifth Group Restaurants Marketing Director Michael Erickson over lunch at South City Kitchen in Midtown, and it was the perfect day for dining on the patio. I opted for the vegetable plate (pictured left) with roasted corn, cucumber salad, local field peas, green beans and tomato "mac & cheese" ($12.75); Meryl had the salad and sandwich combo with a mixed baby lettuces salad and the BBQ pork sandwich ($10.25; sandwich pictured below on right); and Michael had Dorothy's chicken salad sandwich with melted Swiss cheese, house chips and cole slaw ($8.25; pictured below on left).

South City Kitchen is always packed for lunch, so go grab a seat on the sidewalk patio pronto and enjoy this gorgeous fall weather along with Chef Dean Dupuis' delicious menu. And don't forget to sample the cornbread in the restaurant's bread basket - our sources tell us it's a new recipe from the company's Beverage Director Vajra Stratigos!

South City Kitchen Midtown is located at 1144 Crescent Avenue in Midtown; 404-873-7358; www.fifthgroup.com.