National Margarita Day

As if anyone really needs an excuse to grab a margarita on a Monday, it’s still good to know that today is actually National Margarita Day! There’s no way better to celebrate this special holiday than with a delicious Swirl margarita from Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food. This famous concoction includes frozen margarita swirled with homemade frozen sangria in a tall frosty mug. Looks gorgeous, tastes phenomenal and goes with everything on Uncle Julio's well-endowed menu.

Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food: In Buckhead at 1860 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-350-6767. To-go line: 404-974-2991. In Sandy Springs at 1140 Hammond Drive, NE, Building K, Suite 100; 678-736-8260. To-go line: 404-974-2991.

It’s Follow Friday! Our Tweep of the Week @Timthecheeseman

Every man needs a passion in life. As the cheese monger for Star Provisions, @Timthecheeseman shares his passion with the world about all things cheese. Whether he’s tweeting about new arrivals of cheese or upcoming cheese-tastic events that Atlantans won’t want to miss, he’s definitely worth a follow! It ain’t easy being cheesy… or is it? Follow @Timthecheeseman to find out!

Join in the Georgia Organics Conference Online!

Although the Georgia Organics 13th Annual Conference and Expo that is taking place in Athens this weekend is sold out, the state's largest sustainable food and farms event is still at your fingertips with the Conference's social media hub, where interested persons can still participate online .

On this site you will be able to view what people are saying on Twitter and add to the conversation, join in a live chat on Facebook, see and post conference photos on Flickr, and view videos about the conference on YouTube. For a little social media 101, check out the How to Participate Online page.

If this is your first time hearing about the Conference, check out this video from Georgia Organics Communications Director Michael Wall to learn more.

Celebrate the New Year at Spice Market

The Chinese New Year that is...

Don't have plans for Saturday yet? Consider joining Spice Market and Whiskey Park for a celebration of the Chinese New Year. Start the night off at Spice Market and enjoy their unique Bento Box offerings for $25 per person. Menu options include a choice of a soup, salad, satay, entree and dessert!

Following dinner, continue the evening with prizes, dancing and drinks when Whiskey Park and the Living Room celebrate the Year of the Tiger beginning at 9 p.m. Special offerings include tea-infused specialty cocktails with Svedka vodka, chowing down on dim sum, laughing over Chinese fortunes and applauding Chinese dragon dancers. And, some lucky guests will win red money envelopes stuffed with cash, a Chinese New Year tradition. Sounds like your Saturday night plans are set!

We let the good times roll at Mardi RA

Atlantans celebrated Mardi Gras all over the city last night, and RA Sushi was hopping with their Mardi RA celebration!  We were SO excited to meet and get our picture snapped with Baton Bob, the party's official Ambassador of Mirth, and thought we'd share our party pictures with you.  Until next year, Mardi RA!

Let the good times roll at Marlow's Tavern!

It’s Fat Tuesday, and with that brings practically a national celebration of the fantastic flavors of New Orleans!  Marlow’s Tavern have created their own special new menu items to celebrate with “Bayou ‘n Bourbon” – take a big, easy look right below to check them out!  These special dishes will only be around from today until March 29th, so don’t miss out.

Wolf Mountain is a Winner

2010 is off to a good start for Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery. The North Georgia winery recently brought home a Gold medal and two Silver medals from January's 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Wolf Mountain was judged against national powerhouses such as Kendall Jackson, Folie à Deux and Dry Creek. Five days, 63 professional wine experts/judges and a world-record breaking 4,913 entrees made this competition the largest competition of American wines in the world! Judges awarded a Gold medal to the Wolf Mountain’s 2008 Chanteloup, a French oak-aged blend of Chardonnay and Viognier, in the "Other White Varietals and Blends" category. The 2007 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon earned Silver in the "Cabernet Sauvignon - $35.00 to $39.99" category, as did Kenwood, Jack London, Simi and Artesa. The 2008 Blanc de Blancs Brut won Silver in the "Dry Sparkling" category alongside Mumm Napa, Gloria Ferrer and Domaine Carneros.

In addition to these exciting awards, Wolf Mountain released its first ever port-style wine, Delicieux, over Valentine's Day weekend. In March, the winery will release its 2009 vintage of the Chardonnay/Viognier blend Plentitude, a sell-out selection. Wolf Mountain is located in Dahlonega at 180 Wolf Mountain Trail; 706-867-9862. Click here to visit the Winery on Facebook.

It's Easy Being Green - Sokol Blosser Wine Dinner at Aria

There’s no rule that says you can’t enjoy a glass of excellent wine and be a good steward to the environment at the same time – Oregon’s Sokol Blosser Winery has been letting people do just that by making their winemaking program green, including farming organically and being the first winery in the country to earn the prestigious LEED certification!

Now Atlantans will have a great opportunity to enjoy the Sokol Blosser line of wines with an intimate wine dinner at Aria on February 18th. There will be six Sokol Blosser wines featured, along with six deliciously paired courses for $80 (excluding tax and gratuity). Perfect way to warm up a February week!

To El With Valentine's Day!!

They don’t call it Singles Awareness Day (S.A.D.) for no reason – Valentine’s Day can feel like a cold, grouchy day for Atlanta singletons. The drugstores are full of cheap chocolate and teddy bears and every restaurant around town is filled with disgustingly swoony couples. Every restaurant except Virginia Highlands’ The Original El Taco, who will be flipping the holiday on its head and declaring “To El With Valentine’s Day!”.

On both Saturday, February 13th and Sunday, February 14th , The Original El Taco will be hopelessly devoted to making the weekend awesome with $2 Miller High Lifes, $4 Hornitos Mischieve tequila shots, plus $5 champagne mojitos and house margaritas! Ladies will get a chance to spin the Wheel of Taco for fantastic prizes like Natural Body Spa and Helmet Salon gift cards. Who needs roses?!

Extra fun on Sunday: a photobooth will be ready to snap your picture with any “new friends” you might happen to make, and you can get a reading from a tarot card reader to see what’s in your cards!

It’s Follow Friday – Our Tweep of The Week @SeriousEats

You’d think with a name like @SeriousEats, their twitter feed and website would be down-to-business culinary industry news. But there’s nothing serious about this delightful celebration of food and cooking!
Between featuring restaurants to tickle any foodie’s fancy and recipes like these adorable homemade conversation hearts, it’s a site I could easily wile away WAY too much time on. Join the fun!

Chocolate & Champagne Tasting Recap

What I learned at LW Chocolatier's Truffle & Champagne tasting last night:

1. The owner is a 3rd generation chocolatier from Argentina. His father is still in charge of all the chocolate making for their stores (internationally and in the States).

2. LW Chocolatier's chocolates are made by them directly from the bean in Argentina and shipped to them every Thursday.

3. When they ask you what you want to try first, go straight for the dulce de leche chocolate. O.M.G.

Perhaps I'll see you at next month's tasting?

Mardi RA, Mardi RA, Mardi RA

Next Tuesday, RA Sushi is throwing the Mack Daddy of all Mardi Gras parties. Ahem, I mean Mardi RA parties! With a DJ, drink specials and a costume contest judged by Atlanta's favorite - Baton Bob, what is not to love about this party?! Party starts at 8 p.m. and the costume contest will go down between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.

I'm ready. Are you?

Aria Chef /Owner Gerry Klaskala Brings His Skills to Boca Raton

For all you food and wine lovers out there who are also in need of some warmer weather, the Eighth Annual Boca Bacchanal Winefest & Auction could be your ticket to an adult spring break. Atlanta's very own Aria Chef/Owner Gerry Klaskala will be participating in the Florida event from March 19-21 and will link up with Royal Palm Resort Chef Lee Hillson, a Phoenix phenom and "Iron Chef" standout performer, to create a multi-course menu for Friday night's vintner dinner series. Bill Cascio of Talbott Vineyards and Ignacio Arzuaga Navarro of Spain's Bodegas Arzuaga Navarro will work with the two award-winning chefs to select the ideal wine for each course. South Florida's premier food and wine event continues through the weekend with Saturday night's spirited bacchanal and auction and a lavish dinner at the Boca Raton Resort & Club and Sunday's alfresco grand tasting and wine seminar. The historic preservation and heritage education programs of the Boca Raton Historical Society will benefit from event proceeds. For more info and tickets, visit www.bocabacchanal.com. To get a taste of Klaskala's cuisine without leaving Atlanta, visit Aria at 490 East Paces Ferry Road;404-233-7673.

Saskatoon Brings Wild Game to Buckhead

We have been trying to keep this quiet so the restaurant could have a few days to get ready, but when people hear there's elk, wild boar, and ostrich being served in Buckhead, well, they just want to tell someone. We'll go on and make it official and let you know that Saskatoon is now open, serving up something a little different.

I've been to a couple of soft opening dinners and have had some great dishes. The wild boar sausage is outstanding. The elk is absolutely delicious. My friends are raving about the ostrich. Last week I ordered the cedar plank salmon and it came out flaming on the plank and perfectly cooked. So yummy! The portions are huge and I enjoyed salmon for lunch the next day too - bonus!

Saskatoon has a great bar. The restaurant is definitely upscale - like a steakhouse but with a lodge-like, less stuffy feel. Service is friendly and professional. The bar opens at 3:30 daily and dinner starts at 5. Valet is on the side street, clearly marked. Or you can self-park in the adjacent garage.

Hope you'll give it a try!

Saskatoon: 360 Pharr Road; 404-891-1911.

New Menu Specials at Ray's

Ray’s on the River and Ray’s Killer Creek are making winter weekdays a little more exciting with a reason to celebrate. Served from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., both restaurants are offering a selection of half price appetizers like shrimp cocktail ($7), crispy calamari ($5) and Ray’s “New Orleans” BBQ shrimp ($6). Drink specials include a variety of red and white value price wines ranging from $6 to $9 a glass and $17 to $27 a bottle. In addition to budget-savvy small plates and wine deals, the menu includes Ray’s famous $5 Absolut martinis and $3 draft beer. Ray's on the River: 6700 Powers Ferry Road; 770-955-1187. Ray's Killer Creek: 1700 Mansell Road, Alpharetta; 770-649-0064.

Stay In The Know with Noon Midtown

There’s lots going on at Noon Midtown these days – so much so that owner/ chef Katie Birmingham and her team have started a newsletter to keep hungry fans up to date on what’s shaking there! The newsletter will feature everything from Katie’s recipes to the latest Noon news – including the fact that they now have their liquor license and will be open on evenings very soon! Stay in the know by signing up here.

It’s Follow Friday – our Tweep of the Week @Scoutmob

If you’re looking for more ways to save a little moolah on your favorite Atlanta restaurants, and keep in the know about local businesses, Scoutmob is a must-follow on Twitter and in your inbox! For you iPhone users, they even have a free app that sends their deals straight to your phone for instant savings. Sweet!

Need to spice up your Thursday nights?

Thursday night is here and the weekend is around the corner. If you're like me, you like a good deal on drinks and Spice Market is here to offer me a place to unwind in Midtown. Spice Market's $5 drink specials will certainly enhance your Thursday nights, as they do mine. Guests can enjoy the combo of exotic flair and metropolitan finesse at this restaurant and lounge in the W Atlanta Midtown, but they can also down $5 specialty cocktails, beer and wine in the Spice Market Lounge every Thursday from 5 - 8 p.m. On top of this drink special you'll have a DJ to keep the party going. Just what I need to get my head start into the weekend!

Spice Market: In the W Atlanta Midtown, 188 14th Street, NE; 404.724.2550

Follow Your Heart....to These Restaurants on Valentine's Day!

If you're still looking for something special to do on the day of love, here are a couple more heart-y options for dining with your sweetheart on Valentine's Day:

At all six locations of Marlow's Tavern™ , a special Valentine’s weekend tasting menu is priced for one ($30) or two ($55) from February 12 through 14. Menu items include New England-style roast shrimp and corn chowder; the popular Tavern salad; a Surf & Turf platter of grilled filet mignon, tempura lobster tail and shrimp with a crispy potato cake and jumbo asparagus; chocolate crème brûlée; and decadent Napa Valley cheesecake. Visit www.marlowstavern.com for locations.

For some southeast Asian flavors, check out Spice Market’s Valentine’s weekend menu. For $65 per person, guests get a five-course menu complete with a glass of champagne. The night’s five courses include dishes like black pepper shrimp with sun-dried pineapple; mussels steamed with lemongrass, Thai basil, dried chili and coconut juice; charred chili rubbed beef skewer with Thai basil dipping sauce; char-grilled chicken with kumquat lemongrass dressing and ginger fried rice; and chocolate tart with coffee ice cream. Guests can also order à la carte. If you are a fortune cookie fanatic like me, you'll love the green tea-, chocolate- and coffee-flavored fortune cookies that the restaurant is giving away at the end of the meal on Valentine's Day. Reservations can be made through Open Table or by calling the restaurant at 404-724-2550 . Spice Market is located in the W Atlanta Midtown, 188 14th Street, NE; 404-724-2550 .

AltoRex Offers an Escape

If you’re like me, these chilly temperatures are getting old. I am so ready for spring and warm nights out on the town. That’s why I am excited that AltoRex Rooftop Lounge, located above Pacci Ristorante, is curing my spring fever by reopening part of its Midtown perch today! AltoRex is offering plates from Pacci’s tasty bar menu and will have heaters and tented ceilings to keep the rooftop cabana portion of the terrace bar nice and cozy. It’s a perfect way to escape these winter winds, even if it’s just for one night.

AltoRex Rooftop Lounge: 866 West Peachtree Street, NW; 678-412-2402.

Pacci Brings In the Queen of Hearts

Whether you love it or hate it, Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Happily, this year Pacci is thinking of everyone on Thursday, February 11, during their Queen of Hearts Night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Join us at the bar and meet Blane Bachelor, The Sunday Paper's sage advice columnist, and enjoy a reading from her favorite essays. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers along with great drink specials, plenty of free appetizers and cool raffle prizes, including a weekend stay at Hotel Palomar, if you draw the Queen of Hearts from the deck of cards!

Get card crazy and wear red if you love Vday or black if you hate it and stick around for complimentary tarot card readings. All in all, it is a good night to celebrate your love, or hate, of Valentine's Day!

Another Reason I'm Glad I'm Southern: Chess Pie Recipe

When you grow up with such deliciousness as chess pie you tend to take it for granted. Much to my surprise I recently learned that many of my friends had never had this wonderful, sugary treat. Seems it's a Southern thing. That led me to ask my mother for a recipe to share. She had a blast looking through all her versions to find my great-grandmother Tootie's version. She said she found coconut and pineapple chess pies, one that called for Damson preserves and a meringue on top (as if it isn't rich enough!), and one that called for "1/2 eggshell" milk!

Here's Tootie's version. It's soooo easy that I might even try it myself!

CHESS PIE

1/3 c. butter
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 T cornmeal
2 T milk
1 tsp. vanilla
Sprinkle of nutmeg

Cream butter & sugar; add cornmeal. Add eggs, one at a time; add milk. Add vanilla & nutmeg.
Pour mixture into readymade piecrust, either homemade or purchased.
Bake 375 degrees until brown.

(thanks to RoadFood for the photo that looks most like the ones I remember)

It's Follow Friday! Meet our Tweep of the Week @WineKulers

Sometimes the world of wine can be a tricky one to navigate...  Do I want something oaky? Something floral? Something lush? Or do I just choose the coolest label??

Luckily for you, our tweep of the week Gil Kulers keeps followers and readers on the straight and narrow when choosing the best wine to fill your glass. Between his tweets and his AJC & Golf Digest Index columns, he’s a great guide and stays away from any stereotypical wine pretentiousness. Cheers to @WineKulers!

Georgia Organics "Reclaiming Agriculture" just around the corner

For those of you who have a green thumb or want to learn about farm fresh foods will be delighted to find out that “Reclaiming Agriculture,” Georgia Organics’ 13th annual conference is coming to Athens, GA the weekend of February 19-20. Take part in all the garden-fresh offerings, including tours of farms, ag research stations, gardens and restaurants; presentations and exhibits; workshops and classes on everything from composting to cheese making; and local meals and a “Farmers Feast” featuring keynote speaker Carlo Petrini founder of the Slow Food movement, the “international face of joyful eating and agricultural insight.” Last year’s conference in Decatur topped more than 1,100 attendees from 14 states and nearly every county in Georgia. For the first time ever, the exhibitor’s expo area will be open to the public. Athens is planning film, music and food events to complement the conference. UGA students get a perk -- discounted student rates to attend conference classes.

ServeHAITI Fundraiser at Toulouse

On Tuesday, February 9, Toulouse Restaurant offers a great chance to combine fine wine, fine art and a good cause by hosting a Steve Penley Wine Dinner to benefit the ServeHAITI Foundation. The dinner will feature a five-course meal with two glasses of wine and the chance to meet artist Steve Penley and view his artwork.

Throughout the evening, you'll be able to view and purchase Penley’s paintings, reproduction posters and book with illustrations, as well as view photographs of Haiti from Donna Williams, a photographer who has been working with ServeHAITI. Meet the artist and get books autographed starting at 6:30 p.m. and be ready for dinner by 7:15 p.m. The menu will feature a field green salad with red wine vinaigrette; seared scallops served with broccoli and sundried tomatoes in a rosemary-citrus reduction; wild mushroom ravioli atop arugula sprinkled with gorgonzola cheese, cranberries and pistachios drizzled with a white balsamic sauce; beef tenderloin filet with mushroom cream sauce coupled with grilled salmon in a balsamic beurre blanc; and flourless chocolate cake with chocolate glaze for dessert. The cost is $125 per person and includes tax and gratuity. A portion of the art proceeds as well as a sizeable portion of the nightly proceeds will be donated to the ServeHAITI Foundation. To make a reservation, please call 404-351-9533.

Simply The Best - Metromix Releases Winner List

The votes have been counted and the verdict is in!

This morning, Metromix released the winners of their “Best of Atlanta” contest… and we’re quite excited to see that Woodfire Grill won Best Restaurant and their executive chef/ co-owner/ Top Chef fan favorite Kevin Gillespie won Best Chef! It’s been an exciting year for Woodfire Grill and we’re excited to see what they’ll cook up next.

We're in Love...with the Fish Tacos at Uncle Julio's!

Since it’s the season for love at first bite, we thought you should know about the yummy new fish tacos that will be making an appearance at Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food come Monday, February 8: white corn tortillas filled with tilapia, shredded cabbage, carrots and pico de gallo, drizzled with tangy avocado cream sauce and served with black beans. You can get the grilled fish version every day or visit the restaurant on Thursdays and Sundays to snag the fried fish version. At lunchtime, the fish tacos come two to a plate for $8.95; at dinner they’re $11.95 for three tacos.

Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food: In Buckhead at 1860 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-350-6767. To-go line: 404-974-2991. In Sandy Springs at 1140 Hammond Drive, NE, Building K, Suite 100; 678-736-8260. To-go line: 404-974-2991.

The Day of Love Lurks Around the Corner

Valentine’s Day is almost here (just 19 days away) and even if you’re not a big fan of the lovey-dovey holiday, Atlanta restaurants have some cool options lined up this year. Whether you’re looking for intimate evening for two or a singles celebration, we’ve got the low-down on this year’s Valentine’s Day deals. Click here for all the information.

Lights! Camera! Flickr at RA Sushi!

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words… make it true with your very own entry in RA Sushi’s “It’s A Hot Mess” Flickr contest starting today until February 28th, and you could walk away with a $100 gift certificate to RA, or a complimentary appetizer card! Just head to RA for their new delicious Hot Mess roll (featuring crispy rice balls topped with spicy king crab mix, baked and finished with jalapenos and cilantro, and strike a pose!

There are four equally fun photo challenges you can aim for: “Hottest Hot Mess,” “Messiest Hot Mess,” “Biggest Hot Mess,” and those with the creative bug can try for “Anything Goes!” Encourage your friends to comment on your picture on Flickr and you could be well on your way to victory and fame – in addition to the prize, winning photos will also go up on their Facebook page.

Extra bonus: during the contest, RA Sushi is having Hot Mess Mondays, where you can share this tasty dish for just $10! Now get to snapping…

Weekend Must-Do: "Beat It" To Center Stage tonight!

We know we usually focus on bringing you the latest culinary news. But it’s Friday, and we could all use a little boogie in our step after this busy winter week, so we’ll digress for a moment about a special duo of events coming up in the next few days!
It’s been less than a year since the King of Pop made his exit from our world, and audiences everywhere were glad that the film “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” gave us all a last glimpse into his world. Tonight, you can celebrate his legacy of music (and get your moonwalk on) at Center Stage Atlanta with Who’s Bad – the ultimate Michael Jackson cover band!
And in an extra special deal for you Michael fans, you can take your ticket stubs from the concert to the Brookhaven Blockbuster for their “This Is It” DVD release party on Monday night between 9 and midnight, and win a prize! There will also be dance lessons for classic routines to Jacko’s hits from Dance101’s Desiree Nathanson, and a glove (and coat) drive held by Atlanta Coats Of Love going on. For more about either event, check out Center Stage Atlanta and the Blockbuster event page. Who’s bad, indeed!

Follow Friday: Our Tweep Of The Week @ATLCheap

Everybody is looking for a way to save a buck or two where they can these days, and Jennifer Maciejewski brings Atlantans a way to hold on to their money and still have fun in the big city practically every day. We love that!

Whether it’s a museum exhibit ticket deal or a way to eat out for less you’re looking for these days, you’ll definitely want to follow her on twitter and keep up with her blog for the best tips on keeping your hard-earned cheddar securely in your wallet!

It's Sublime

Between RA Sushi and Noon Midtown I spend more time than is healthy at the 1010 Midtown building. RA Sushi has become my go to spot for post-work cocktails and delish sushi dinners - seriously, go try the Tootsy Maki and then just try not to go back... But, Noon Midtown has become my favorite spot for breakfast meetings. I love the central location and easy parking, but what I really love is that now I can get my Sublime Doughnuts fix while I'm there. Yep, you heard right; Noon Midtown offers Sublime Doughnuts (ahem, AND Counter Culture coffee) so there is really no excuse to go anywhere else in the mornings. After my breakfast of sugar and caffeine, I'm happy to stay the day working off of Noon's free Wi-Fi until I'm hungry for lunch and then it's hellllloooo roast beef sandwich! Can you beat a day like that?

A festival for feathers?

Do you love chicken, turkey, duck, hen or any other type of feathered meats? If you said yes, then you're in for a treat because it's time for Featherfest 2010. Nearly 40 Atlanta restaurants are taking part in the friendly culinary competition during the week of January 22 - 27 by creating egg-ceptional appetizers, entrées and desserts using poultry meat or eggs. Tweet, cluck or sweetly henpeck your wingman or roost mates to fly the coop and alight with you at participating nests of nourishment, including Ray's in the City, Truva and Fifth Group Restaurants'® Ecco, La Tavola Trattoria, South City Kitchen Midtown and The Original El Taco.

So grab your knife and fork and feel free to join me when I chow down on some of my fallen feathered friends.

Mark Your Calendar: Unite For Haiti!

If you’re like me, the images I’ve seen in the past week from Haiti’s devastation have tugged at my heart in an intense way, and it’s easy to feel helpless when you’re so far removed. This Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m., Atlantans will have an opportunity to help, through a great fundraiser Unite For Haiti! being held at Aurum Lounge in Midtown.

Your check or cash donations get you in the door and will be given to Care International, Partners In Health, and Save The Children. All money raised at the party will be given to these very worthy organizations who are helping in big ways in Haiti.

DJ Y will be keeping the crowd entertained, as will the delicious nibbles from favorite Atlanta restaurants. There will also be a can’t-miss raffle featuring great prizes from fantastic local business like Spice Market, Decatur Yoga, Decatur CD, The W Midtown and more. For more information, check out their Facebook event page. It’s going to be a long road to recovery for Haiti and every penny counts!

What Does Dunwoody Taste Like?

Circle Feb. 5 on your calendar so you can be at the W Perimeter to sample Dunwoody's finest fare. Not only will you be nibbling your way through 25 restaurants' specialties, but it's a benefit for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta to boot. It's always a sell-out event so buy your Taste of Dunwoody tickets this week! The new Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food in Sandy Springs and Roswell’s upscale Aqua blue will be there. Details: 7 – 10:30 p.m. on Friday, February 5 at the W Atlanta Perimeter. Cash bar. Silent Auction. Live music by RELIX . Contact Julianna Rue or call 404-785-7337.

Get Three Courses of Comfort for Only $35 at Ray's Restaurants

Come in from the cold to Ray's Restaurants (Ray's on the River, Ray's in the City and Ray's Killer Creek) where you can warm up with Ray’s Wonderful Winter dinner menu for a sizzling price of $35 per person. This definitely beats curling up on the couch with hot cocoa and a Snuggie! Choose a selection from each of the three menu courses. Start with a soup or salad, with options such as crab bisque with aged sherry or Ray’s house salad. Then move on to the entrée course which features garlic shrimp penne pasta, a six-ounce petite filet, a 12-ounce New York strip or Chef Tom’s award-winning 10-ounce Niman Ranch Frenched bone pork chop. The sweet finale includes the classics: chocolate cake or crème brûlée. Wine is not included in the menu price, but wine pairings are suggested on the menu for those guests who would like to add them to the meal. Substitutions are not permitted for this prix fixe menu, and items cannot be split.

Ray’s on the River: 6700 Powers Ferry Road; 770-955-1187.
Ray’s Killer Creek: 1700 Mansell Road, Alpharetta; 770-649-0064.
Ray’s in the City: 240 Peachtree Street, NW; 404-524-9224.

Throwdown at Le Cordon Bleu Challenge

As a big Top Chef/ Iron Chef/ insert any cooking competition here fan, I was more than thrilled to be able to participate in the Le Cordon Bleu Challenge last week at their school in Tucker, Georgia! The event was held to celebrate the national re-naming of the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts and to benefit Ronald McDonald House. And as it turns out, it’s just as much fun to participate in a challenge as it is to watch, even though I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous.

We were given the challenge of creating Poulet Sauté aux Fines Herbes (Sautéed Chicken with Herbs) and lucky for me, I was paired with talented local chef Jeff Sigler from River Room, Fox 5’s Blaze, and quite a few VERY capable Le Cordon Bleu students who more than knew their way around the school’s huge restaurant kitchen. We got to work with the clock ticking down from 60 minutes as a hungry audience of more than 60 people watched and waited to judge our creations!

The dish our chef had in mind was inspired by a classic mirepoix combination – the celery, onion, carrot goodness that makes up every delicious chicken stock you’ve ever tasted. Our sautéed chicken sat atop an insanely good celery root cream, accompanied by pearl onions and shaved celery with pickled white beech mushroom salad. Some light and airy carrot foam (that yours truly whipped up) topped the dish off for a little extra flair.

Our hands were flying over pots and pans as the timer quickly counted down… I felt the true sense of stress and urgency the contestants on those shows feel as I piped the last of the celery root cream into our samples for the audience! Luckily, the audience enjoyed our flavor combinations – and our team walked away with the 1st place “Bleu” Ribbon! I’ll have a special sense of appreciation now when I’m watching other challenges, and will always remember my one night as a Le Cordon Bleu chef.

Cast Your Vote

It’s election time at Metromix, with a full ballot of "Best of" categories to be filled. Here are some of our prime picks: Morton's The Steakhouse -- Best Steak Restaurant; AltoRex -- Best Hotel Bar; Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food -- Best Margarita; Pacci Ristorante -- Best New Restaurant. We're also excited to see that Woodfire Grill snagged nominations in two categories: one for Best Restaurant and another for Kevin Gillespie for Best Local Chef. Take a look and make your picks today!

Follow Friday Tweep of The Week - @DatealiciousATL

Dating is hard enough in Atlanta without knowing where to go to make it both a special night and a fun time for all parties involved. That’s where our Tweep of the Week comes in to save the day!

Follow @Datealiciousatl and check out her blog to catch all of interior designer Lindsey’s Atlanta restaurant picks and pans. Her suggestions will help you find the best setting to get your love story off to a good start, or if it’s not a love match, you know at the least you’ll have a delicious meal!

Just in time to start planning your Valentines’ Day dates – now that’s amore.

Sneak Peek At Saskatoon

We got a chance to check out new Buckhead restaurant Saskatoon's progress yesterday and wanted to share it with all of you! It's looking great and we are very excited that it's opening soon. Can't wait to try their steak, wild game, and seafood dishes!

In the mood for a "Burger N' Beer"?

With the cold weather you may have decided that standing outside to grill burgers isn’t the warmest idea. If you’re still craving some burgers though, then I highly recommend you try JCT. Bar’s pimento cheese burger. For $10 you can get a “Burger N’ Beer” at JCT. This isn’t your usual college student deal with a budget Natty Light either. JCT.’s deal hooks you up with an ale from Brooklyn Brewery. The “Burger N’ Beer” deal goes on Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. so make sure to stop by. Just looking at this picture has my stomach grumbling for another one. Hurry up 5 p.m.!

JCT. Bar is located in Atlanta’s Westside Urban Market at 1198 Howell Mill Road, Suite 18, 30318.

Truva's $10 Lunch Buffet Brings Turkish Delight to Downtown Atlanta

Knowing our wallets need a break after all the holiday spending, Truva is serving up a financially feasible feast for Downtown lunchgoers. The new restaurant near Peachtree Center is now offering a $10 lunch buffet laden with a variety of Turkish dishes and salads. Guests also can order from the regular menu and even add the lunch buffet to any sandwich, flatbread or kebap order for $6. Lunch is served Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

If you don't have a chance to leave your office for lunch, Truva is also a great place to grab drinks and appetizers after work. The spacious interior, friendly bartenders and exotic belly dancers make for a fun evening!

Truva is located at 60 Andrew Young International Boulevard, NE; 404-577-8788.

Saving Corks Adds More To Your Fork

I don't know about you but I have a gigantic vase full of saved wine corks sitting in my kitchen. I have no idea why I save corks I just do, but, happily, now my saved corks have a purpose thanks to Pacci Ristorante’s new Cork to Fork promotion. Midtown’s authentic Italian steakhouse is teaming up with ReCork America, an organization that reuses wine corks in everything from shoe soles, flooring, building insulation, automotive gaskets, bulletin boards, sports equipment and even soil conditioner. Pacci is asking patrons to bring in real corks from wine bottles and to buy a bottle of wine with their dinner. Pacci will deduct 2 percent off the total bill for every cork brought in up to a maximum of 20 percent off. I've got enough corks saved up to score 20 percent off on my next couple visits!

Most of us are already recycling our wine bottles at home; why not recycle those corks and save some dough at the same time? I'll be seeing you at Pacci - I'll be the one with a purse full of corks!

Eight Months Till Tomato Time

Brrr…. It’s cold outside! We’re only 11 days into January and I am already tired of this wintry weather. I’ve decided to thaw my thoughts out and think about summer and all the fun food events that come along with it. My favorite is the JCT. Kitchen & Bar "Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival"and although it’s still about eight months away (Sunday, August 8, 2010), some of Atlanta’s top chefs have already signed up to participate.

To date, the following chefs have signed on to brave the killer tomatoes:
Ford Fry of JCT. Kitchen & Bar; Kevin Gillespie of Woodfire Grill (and "Top Chef Las Vegas" fame!); Kevin Rathbun of Rathbun's, Krog Bar and Kevin Rathbun Steak; Anne Quatrano of Abattoir, Bacchanalia and Floataway Café; Gary Mennie of Livingston; and Carvel Grant Gould of Canoe.

JCT. Kitchen & Bar: In Atlanta's Westside Urban Market at 1198 Howell Mill Road, Suite 18; 404-355-2252.

Noon Midtown's Katie Birmingham on Atlanta & Company

The Metromix Meals segment we mentioned earlier this week is now up - take a few minutes to check out Katie reviewing two local restaurants, along with Chef Kevin Rathbun!

It’s Follow Friday! Meet Our Tweep of the Week – @MidtownMile

Subscribers of our weekly newsletter The Dish may have noticed a new addition to our line-up this year – Tweep of the Week! Each week, we will focus on one person on Twitter who is definitely worth a follow.

Our first Tweep of the Week was the vivacious @brokesocialite, and this week our Tweep of the Week goes to @midtownmile!

Shelbi Saine keeps one finger on the pulse of all things Midtown and another on Twitter, ready to reach out and fill you in on shopping, restaurants, jobs, events and more. You can also follow along at her blog for even more information about your favorite Midtown hotspots.

To make sure you get the latest Tweep of the Week in your inbox every Tuesday morning, along with the latest news in the Atlanta restaurant and culinary world, just sign up in the handy box here on our blog!

Is that an engagement ring on your finger?

The new year has just begun and if you're sporting a new ring on that special finger, then holiday bells are giving way to wedding bells. For soon-to-be brides and grooms intending to tie the knot in 2010, you'll want to save this useful info for planning pre-nuptial parties, rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions and all of those wedding social events.

For a list of restaurants to consider for wedding festivities, check out The Dish. Restaurants inside and outside the perimeter offer a plethora of ideas that are sure to delight each bridal party’s preferences.

Fifth Group Rocks at Hotel Help

Congratulations to Fifth Group Restaurants for winning the Concierge Society of Atlanta's "Affiliate of the Year" award for 2009. This award is a members' choice award and it goes to the affiliate member who best understands and supports the concierge of Atlanta. Whether it is hosting a business luncheon at Atlanta's iconic South City Kitchen for a visiting guest or coordinating a bachelorette's visit to the always rockin' El Taco, Atlanta's concierge know they can count on Fifth Group to make each visit spectacular, and, luckily for us, all of us in-town diners can count on Fifth Group to take care of us too. Affiliate of the year, indeed!

Katie Birmingham of Noon Midtown Talks Food Tomorrow on 11Alive's Atlanta & Co.

Get restaurant tips from the pros by watching Noon Midtown’s Owner/Chef Katie Birmingham on “Atlanta & Company’s” Metromix Meals segment airing around 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, January 6. Katie will join Kevin Rathbun to discuss their favorite places to eat in Atlanta. If you miss Wednesday’s showing, catch the segment online the following day to hear Katie dish about where she eats when she’s not at her own restaurant.

To get a taste of Katie's cuisine, head to Noon Midtown, located at 1080 Peachtree Street, Suite 6, on Crescent Avenue between 11th and 12th streets; 404-496-4891.

Lunchtime Lotto at Pacci

It’s time to test your luck during lunch at Pacci Ristorante. The restaurant is now offering “Lunchtime Lotto” where guests receive a lotto ticket to scratch and see if they’ve won something nifty. Prizes include a weekend stay at the Hotel Palomar Atlanta – Midtown, a 50-inch plasma TV, an iPod, a cocktail party for eight at AltoRex Rooftop Lounge, dinner for two at Pacci, a $50 Pacci gift certificate or 20 percent off lunch at Pacci. Guests who fill out the back of their lotto card can turn it in and enter to win a three-day, two-night weekend trip to a Kimpton property of their choice in Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Dallas or Vero Beach. This awesome getaway includes airfare, a bottle of champagne upon arrival, breakfast both mornings and dinner for two one evening.

Pacci Ristorante: 866 West Peachtree Street, NW; 678-412-2402