AltoRex is the King of Rooftops!

Last night was perfect for a little MLA outing to AltoRex, the rooftop lounge located atop the new Pacci Ristorante in Midtown. The team has been working hard so we took advantage of the warm sun, cool breezes and stiff cocktails! We all tried something different. My cherry apple whiskey sour was so good that I forgot to write down what the others ordered. But those drinks look tasty, don't they? (MacKenzie and Marissa)
And the bar bites were awesome too! Definitely get the tacos tartare (pictured). We enjoyed the lobster deviled eggs and the pimento cheese grits balls too. Very cool choices and priced for sharing. There is no question that I plan to be a regular here!

2nd Annual Wine and Dine at Marlow's Tavern Northlake

Marlow’s Tavern Northlake and the Doubletree Hotel have teamed up for a night full of flavors and fun with the 2nd annual Wine and Dine on Monday, May 11 at 7 p.m. Marlow’s Executive Chef Ben Krawiecki has planned a four-course meal paired with Argentinean wines from Crios de Susana Balbo. Steve Hinternhoff from Quality Wine and Spirits will serve as master sommelier. The event will be held in the Doubletree’s Cabernet Sauvignon room, and cost is $61.99 (includes tax and gratuity). For a feel good treat, the famous Doubletree chocolate chip cookies will be available for purchase for $1 per cookie with 100 percent of the proceeds being donated to Midvale Elementary School’s Dollars for Dreams program. Dress is business casual, and reservations are requested by May 7. Don't miss out on this great event!

Marlow’s Tavern – Northlake and Doubletree Hotel - Northlake: 4156 LaVista Road in Tucker; 678-987-1197.

Chefs Know How to Party!

Yesterday, I attended Share Our Stength's Taste of the Nation event. I had been looking forward to the event, held at the Georgia Aquarium, for quite some time. Participating chefs included John Metz of Aqua Blue; Gerry Klaskala of Aria; Micah Willix of Ecco; Keira Moritz of Pacci (pictured below), Kevin Rathbun and Scott Serpas.
While I had a great time rubbing elbows the likes of Kenny Rogers and his lovely wife Wanda (below), and “sampled” much more than I should have, there is another, less publicized part of the evening that stole the show for me.
The chef after party is where the chefs go to let their hair down, and apparently, let their diets down, too. The night was full of catching up with old friends, making new ones and relaxing after a great Taste of the Nation event.
On the menu: Cheese Wiz and crackers, Slim Jims, Pringles, Gummy Bears on a stick, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, pimento cheese sandwiches, Ho-Hos, Twinkies, Little Debbie Oatmeal sandwiches and Cracker Jacks. But, the night was all about everyone’s favorite menu item: Jell-o shots with Pop Rocks!! Who’d have thought a childhood candy like that could be the star of a party of chefs!?
With a menu that sounds eerily like my 9th birthday sleepover, a room full of chefs and a belly full of tastings from Atlanta’s most celebrated chefs, I had a full night! Can’t wait until next year; I heart chefs!

Grand Zinfandel Tasting May 12

From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, Zin lovers and those who want to learn more about the richness and versatility of the wine get the opportunity to taste from more than 30 wineries at the The Grand Zinfandel Tasting. The event will be held in The Piedmont Room at Park Tavern overlooking Piedmont Park where guests can chat with winemakers and winery owners and nosh on wine-complementing hors d'oeuvres prepared by chefs from Haven, iGourmet.com, Park Tavern, Taverna Fioretina, Valenza and other noteworthy Atlanta restaurants.

This evening is hosted by Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP) and sponsored by iGourmet.com, the Irish Dairy Board and the Atlanta Wine School. Advance purchase tickets start at $45 per person and are $50 at the door; tickets for ZAP members are $37 each.

The Piedmont Room at Park Tavern: 500 Tenth Street, NE; 404-294-0001.

Mom Always Knows Best!

Still unsure of where to take mom for her big day? Here are some more suggestions of our favorite restaurants and places to celebrate your mama!

Send mom to Sunday Supper at JCT. Kitchen & Bar for a savory Mother's Day celebration! Chef Ford Fry has whipped up a special menu priced at $36 per person, full of their famous Southern farmstead fare. Moms can start their meal with a selection of warm biscuits, house made jams, deviled eggs and Benton's country ham, followed by a local "farm stand" salad. Some of the menu's meat items include slow-cooked rabbit, pan-roasted halibut and cider braised short rib "pot roast," while scrumptious side items include Carolina golden rice, fried artichokes and squash casserole. For a sweet treat, moms can take their pick of the two dessert options: coconut rum cake or local strawberries and cream. JCT. Kitchen & Bar is located at 1198 Howell Mill Road in Suite 18; 404-355-2252.

Uncle Julio's Casa Grande spices up mom's week, May 4 - May 10, with Plato de Madre (20.95)--mesquite grilled carne asada (beef fajita steak) smothered with sautéed seasoned vegetables, melted Monterrey Jack cheese and three mesquite grilled shrimp diablo (butterflied jumbo shrimp) plus guacamole, pico de gallo, Mexican rice and frijoles a la charra. Knowing that moms crave chocolate, Uncle Julio's will have plenty of chocolate empanadas and chocolate flan on Mother's Day. 1860 Peachtree Road; 404-350-6767.

Woodfire Grill thrills the mom who loves to dine on the season's freshest and locally grown foods whenever she can. In addition to enjoying a memorable meal selected from the regular menu or the special prix fixe Mother's Day menu, mom will take home a complimentary box of homemade truffles. We can't say whether or not she'll share them! Serving Mother's Day dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road; 404-347-9055.

Make Your Mom's Day!

Mother's Day is right around the corner, leaving many in a last-minute scramble to find the perfect gift. Well, have no fear! We have some great ideas to make the perfect Mother's Day memory. Check out the cool events and specials that some of Atlanta's hottest restaurants are offering in honor of this special holiday!

The way to Mom's heart is with a hug...and a meal out to make her feel like a queen. Atlanta restaurants are here to help you thank your special gal! Aqua blue spreads a special brunch buffet from 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. for $29.95 per person, $9.95 for children under 14 and free for children under four. Carved strip steak and turkey, roasted pork tenderloin, omelettes-to-order, and decadent desserts and pastries will make her happy. A bottomless mimosa ($15 per person) will keep her in good cheer. If she prefers dinner out, bring her to Aqua blue for the regular dinner menu plus seasonal specials from 5:30 - 9 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 770-643-8886. 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road.

When she's a cosmopolitan gal at heart with roots in the suburbs, take her to Kozmo Gastro Pub in Johns Creek for a chic and subtly healthy meal. From noon until 8 p.m., enjoy a special prix fixe menu designated heart healthy by the Queen of Hearts Foundation for $19.95 per person. Choose a starter of roasted pepper gazpacho soup or Kozmo mixed green salad with lemon thyme vinaigrette; an entrée of organic free range roasted chicken served over sautéed green beans with garlic and shallots or pan roasted filet of salmon with white bean ragout and sautéed spinach with shallots; and end with seasonal berries with dark chocolate swirls or flourless dark chocolate cake. Mom gets a gift from Kozmo and the Queen of Hearts Foundation. Reservations not required. 11890 Douglas Road, 678-526-6094.

Visit a Marlow's Tavern location in Kennesaw, Midtown or Vinings for a Mother's Day Brunch that's both tasty and easy on the wallet. At only $14.95 plus tax and gratuity, Marlow's buffet includes an array of specialties including crab cake Benedict, made-to-order omelettes and French toast plus a selection of Marlow's Tavern favorites. And $15 bottomless mimosas are sure to keep a smile on mom's face all day long. Marlow's Tavern: Kennesaw at 745 Chastain Road, NW, 770-425-8777; Midtown at 950 West Peachtree Street, 404-815-0323; and Vinings at 2355 Cumberland Parkway, 770-432-2526.

To give mom that mountain-top experience, surprise her with a scenic drive to Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery for a getaway brunch. She can choose her favorite Wolf Mountain wine, priced separately by the glass or bottle. $30 per person (excluding wine, tax and gratuity). Reserve a seating time of 12:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. by calling 706-867-9862. 180 Wolf Mountain Trail in Dahlonega.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo

In case you still don't have plans for Cinco de Mayo tonight, check out the festivities we mentioned last week....

Atlanta Dish: So Many Choices, So Little Time! Here's a Peek at What's Coming Up for Cinco de Mayo Next Week!

There is one more fiesta to add to the list! JCT Bar will celebrate Cinco de Mayo with great specials, tequila punch, fresh lime margaritas and tex-mex from Houston native Executive Chef Ford Fry. 1198 Howell Mill Road.

Hardy Wallace's Quest To Get "A Really Goode Job"

Hardy Wallace from Dirty South Wine is looking to land his dream job, the Murphy-Goode Winery's "A Really Goode Job." It's a six month contract with Murphy-Goode Winery working on their web 2.0 presence like videos, blogs, Twitter and Facebook to tell about their wines from the Sonoma County Wine Country.

Hardy is perfect for this job and once you start following him around online, you will see. Help him build his online presence so the Murphy-Goode Winery will choose the first guy in line at their infomration session last week in San Francisco. Yes, he caught a red-eye and was the first one waiting to hear more about the dream job.

Read more about it on his new blog, Goode To Be First, and follow him on twitter, facebook, youtube, viddler and blip.fm!

No Way Mole!

This Wednesday, I got to attend the McDonald’s Perfect Pairing - an event where six culinary students from the International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Atlanta competed for a scholarship—Top Chef style. Each student paired an item off of McDonald’s menu with one of their new McCafe drinks. The McCafe items feature drinks such as an iced mocha, latte and cappuccino. Each pairing was then presented to a panel of judges who tasted and scored each student’s entry.

Needless to say I was skeptical from the beginning. To be honest--I just can’t imagine sitting down to eat lunch and thinking that a latte would best complement my chicken nuggets. Admittedly, I am a coffee snob and addict--yet some things just don’t work well with coffee. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised to see how much innovation and thought went into some of the pairings that the culinary students presented.

Some of the students paired what I found to be more common sense items together. For example, an iced caramel latte with an apple walnut salad, or a bacon, egg and cheese with hot chocolate. Neither of these seemed too far out of the realm of a normal meal. One student, Phillip McCrillis, branched out and truly impressed me... it also seemed to be the one meal the judges continued to nibble at while scoring and listening to Phillip talk.

Phillip’s pairing, No Way Mole, was a winner, not only in my book but also for the judges who selected Phillip as the winner. He paired a Southwestern chicken sandwich (Southwest BBQ sauce on the side), baked apple pie with vanilla ice-cream adorned with a crushed sugar cone on top, with an iced mocha. He came upon the flavor as he was experimenting with different menu items and put all of these items in his mouth at the same time. With all the items together he exclaimed “No way mole!" Mole is a popular Mexican sauce tinged with a chocolate flavor that Phillip swears you can recreate with these common McDonald’s items.


Congratulations Phillip on your scholarship! For all of you who didn’t see Phillip’s pairing, head on over to McDonald's and experiment with your own pairings of the new McCafe--the options are endless.

Preview of Pacci

Friends, family and I wined and dined at Pacci last night, and I am still full. After sipping drinks in the lively bar, we were seated in a private nook towards the back of the restaurant. From the moment we sat down, our waiter tended to our every need. From fabulous wine, soft bread and tapenade to filet, rack of lamb and short ribs, indulgence is an understatement. The list goes on to include beef carPACCIo, gnocchi, bread pudding, shrimp carbonara (with house-made pancetta, fried egg, sweet peas and onion), and my favorite, halibut with fava beans in a sweet corn broth. The ristorante opens tonight for all of Atlanta to enjoy.

Pimento Cheese

Thought I would share that I discovered the most heavenly pimento cheese in Atlanta at JCT bar. And the best part is that it only cost me $1 on Thursday night. Delish.

So Many Choices, So Little Time! Here's a Peek at What's Coming Up for Cinco de Mayo Next Week!

It's time for margarita mayhem! Cinco de Mayo is just a week from today and it's time to make plans. From drink specials to Mexican mega-meals, Atlanta restaurants are giving us plenty of reasons to head out and enjoy the holiday! Check out what's happening around town!
Marlow's Tavern in Alpharetta celebrates "Marlow's de Mayo" with a cantina party on Saturday, May 2. Festivities begin at 1 p.m. with fiesta food favorites including carne asada, carnitas and grilled chicken and south of the border drink specials of $3 beer and $5 margaritas and sangria. Live music follows from 2-5 p.m. Marlow's Tavern Alpharetta: 3719 Old Alabama Road; 770-475-1800.

The Latin beat comes on strong for Cinco de Mayo festivities at Eclipse di Luna at Park Place on Tuesday, May 5. Always lively, the pulse kicks up a notch or two at 5 p.m. as Fernando Fernandez jockeys up the tunes, and the Winton Peck Band plays throughout the evening. Traditional tortas and burritos are some of the $5 Mexican tapas to devour while gathering $3 Dos Equis, $4 margaritas and $6 Herradura margaritas at the multiple bar locations. There's no cover, but there will be plenty of prizes! Eclipse di Luna - Park Place: 4505 Ashford-Dunwoody Road, Suite 11; 678-205-LUNA (5862).

Say "El Yeah" to the festivities at El Taco in the Highlands. You can't go wrong with buckets of Dos Equis (5 for $15). Or try the "EL-a Tasty!" -- the bartender's special margarita of the day, combining Sauza Blanco tequila, strawberry flavor and house made sour mix -- just $7.25. After a couple of those, your high school Spanish will come right back to you. Add in El Taco's great tacos, some chips and salsa, and a bunch of amigos and you're guaranteed one 'el of a good time! The Original El Taco: 1186 N. Highland Avenue, NE; 404-873-4656.

Uncle Julio's Casa Grande will be home base for Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Buckhead this week. Come casual to this eclectic eatery with its big patio and be ready to imbibe in some of Uncle Julio's signature margaritas, such as the Swirl (frozen margarita swirled with frozen sangria). Go your own way by choosing from more than 15 different tequilas for your margarita or try different Mexican beers from the "grande" selection. For authentic, border-style go-withs, dig into smoky grilled fajitas, sizzling shrimp brochettes or marinated grilled quail served with roasted fresh vegetables and spicy salsa. Uncle Julio's Casa Grande: 1860 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-350-6767.

We've been waiting with anticipation and the time is finally here! Five Seasons Brewing is opening its newest location at the intersection of Howell Mill Road and Marietta Street with a Cinco de Mayo celebration. Georgia Organics will benefit from "Five Alive on the Westside" from 5 - 10 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5. Come help the party grow! There will be plenty of hors d'oeuvre made from farm ingredients to enjoy. Your $5 donation goes straight to Georgia Organics. Five Seasons Brewing: 1000 Marietta Street, NW.

Bark Up the Right Tree at Woodfire Grill on April 29

On Wednesday, April 29, Woodfire Grill is hosting a Dogfish Head beer dinner where the bites are just as strong as the bark! Guests will get to taste three varieties of microwbrews paired with Executive Chef Kevin Gillespie’s three-course menu. Aprihop accompanies the first course of lightly cured wild Alaskan salmon, cucumber and apricot salad and hard-cooked egg. Indian Brown Ale comes next with a wood-smoked loin of beef, braised mushrooms, celery mash, confit garlic cloves, black pepper and lemon jus. The meal ends with Raison d’etre and golden raisin financier with Irish car-bomb ice cream and latte sauce. Cost is $45 per person. Reservations required; call 404-347-9055. Woodfire Grill is located at 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road.

Reminiscing About Last Weekend

It's hard to believe I was in NYC this time last week eagerly anticipating dinner at the James Beard House featuring Chef Shane Touhy of Dogwood. Sigh. But the memories are great. I've posted our pictures on the MLA Flickr account so feel free to check them out.

When I walked into the dining room and saw a table full of wine glasses with dogwoods in the centerpiece and a menu that sounded delicious, well, I knew it would be a good night. And it was.

I swear that I loved every single course. Every one. Maybe, maybe, maybe the venison tartare edged out the others, but I'm not sure. It was all just great.
Shane's wife and parents made the trek to NYC too. It was a wonderful night and I can't wait til next time!

McCafe Give-Away at Melle Cotte

Friend and fellow food blogger, Chris, is hosting a give-away on her blog Melle Cotte. If you don't already read her blog, check it out. I cook vicariously through her. Anyways, I'm sure you have seen the new McDonald's commercials for the McCafe espresso drinks. I love the one with the two guys at the coffee house who confess they have been pretending to be hip to fit into the coffee house crowd and realize they can be themselves by buying the drinks from McDonalds. She is giving away coupon packs for free McCafe drinks so you can try them and get hooked. Check out this post and leave a comment to be one of the selected winners!

I leave you with the commercial - I laugh everytime the guy says "I don't need these glasses. These are fake."

Pizza Fusion Celebrates Earth Day With Captain Planet

Yesterday I attended the Earth Day festivities at Pizza Fusion. Beginning at 11 a.m., the restaurant gave away free personal cheese pizzas to the first 50 adults, and free personal cheese pizzas to the first 50 kids who walked, took Marta or rode their bike to the eatery. Honest Tea was $1 each, and select organic beer was $3 each. And, the highlight of the day -- Captain Planet was there! He entertained all of us by roller blading down the street and waving at the cars on Peachtree. Around 7 p.m., The Drum Cafe showed us their talent by playing African drums outside for an hour or so. What a great show!

For dinner, I had the Purple People Eater pizza (pictured below) - pizza with grilled eggplant and cheese. Yummy!

A percentage of the day's proceeds went to benefit The Captain Planet Foundation.

Happy Anniversary! Marlow's Tavern Vinings Turns Four!

It's time to celebrate another year of delicious tavern fare at everyone's favorite neighborhood gathering place. Join in the fun at Marlow’s Tavern Vinings tonight for their fourth anniversary party! The evening is all planned with a live band from 8 p.m. – midnight, creative drink specials and $3-$5 specially priced appetizers. Just because Marlow’s Vinings is a year older doesn’t mean you are, so come early, stay late and celebrate! Marlow’s Tavern Vinings: 2355 Cumberland Parkway, Suite 10; 770-432-2526.

Wine and More at Morton's The Steakhouse

Last night, I enjoyed an evening of elegance with Morton’s The Steakhouse in Buckhead. I was a fly on the wall at an exclusive party where wine lock holders selected wine to stock their lockers for future visits. Party attendees moved from station to station, tasting wine and discussing quantities. As an added bonus, representatives from Cartier were there to showcase jewelry from both new and classic collections, all of which were amazing. Men who are fourth generation cigar rollers, have been rolling cigars for 25 years and speak very little English made me my first hand rolled cigar. All day, I have been pondering the perfect upcoming occasion to break it out.

The evening was also an opportunity to meet the restaurant’s newly assembled management team. Anthony, the general manager; Alex, assistant general manager; Sarah, sales and marketing manager; and Joel, food and beverage director, all came out and spent some time getting to know the regular guests and their families. By the end of the night, it was clear that the foundation had been laid for long term, and delicious, relationships between Morton’s new managers and their guests.

17th Annual Dining Out for Life

Maybe dining out is a big event for you or maybe it’s something you do several times a week without really thinking about it. Sometimes those who need nutritious food the most can’t get out to get it. That’s where you step in and step out into one of Atlanta’s numerous restaurants participating in the 17th Annual Dining Out for Life on Wednesday, April 22 to benefit Open Hand.

Partcipants include great restaurants such as Fifth Group Restaurants’ South City Kitchen Midtown and Vinings, Ecco, The Original El Taco and La Tavola Trattoria; Eclipse di Luna - Miami Circle and Park Place, Kozmo Gastro Pub, Aria and Portofino and Woodfire Grill.

Click here to make reservations and know that 20 percent of our tab is going straight to Open Hand’s work in our community. The organization helps people prevent or better manage chronic disease through Comprehensive Nutrition Care™, which combines home-delivered meals and nutrition education as a means to reinforce the connection between informed food choices and improved quality of life.