$25 Three-Course Dinner Menu at Ray’s Restaurants

In celebration of Ray’s on the River’s 25th Anniversary, guests are invited to sit down to a special $25 three-course dinner through October 11. The celebratory menu will be offered at Ray’s on the River as well as Ray’s Killer Creek and Ray’s in the City.

Choose a starter from three salad selections -- house, Caesar or Ray’s Anniversary Salad -- or a cup of crab bisque or New England-style clam chowder. Select an entrée of grilled salmon with mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus; a six-ounce filet served with mashed potatoes and béarnaise; or butternut squash ravioli and grilled shrimp topped with vanilla bean brown butter and grainy mustard beurre blanc and served with grilled asparagus. Dessert options include chocolate cake and crème brûlée. Wine pairing suggestions are listed on the menu and are available at an additional charge. Three-course menu items cannot be split.

Remember to check out Ray’s Restaurants on Facebook because every Friday in October a fan will be awarded a $100 gift card for answering the day’s trivia question correctly.

Ray’s on the River: 6700 Powers Ferry Road, Sandy Springs; 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.

Happy National Taco Day!

It's National Taco Day but don't go to Taco Bell! Get the much yummier version at Uncle Julio's on Peachtree Street. They have tons of options, plus soft and hard shells. Kids like them too! Tacos go great with a Swirl. Just saying.

(Next year you'll have two Uncle Julio's locations to celebrate this day - Buckhead and Perimeter!)

Harvest Midtown is Tomorrow!

Don't forget that tomorrow is Harvest Midtown! This year it has moved from Eno to the Georgian Terrace Hotel with an after party at Publik, which I've been hearing great things about. But I digress.

Harvest Midtown is Sunday, Oct. 4, from 1 to 5 p.m. There's food from great chefs like Keira Moritz at Pacci (shown here with her dog Magnolia). There's wine. There's music. There's fashion. And best of all, the proceeds benefit Camp Twin Lakes.

Tickets are $55 at the door. Check out the website for details.

Date Night at WaterHaven

After moving into my house, I find that most of my money is spent at Home Depot rather than some of my favorite restaurants. That’s why the deal WaterHaven is having throughout the month of October is such a blessing to me! During the restaurant’s Friday and Saturday date night dinner deal, two can dine from the regular menu for $40 (excluding tax and gratuity). This includes a shared appetizer, two entrées, and a shared dessert. My favorite part is that the restaurant is also offering wine and drink specials.

Entrée choices from Chef Chris Lee's menu include shrimp and grit cakes, lamb pappardelle and Georgia trout with applewood smoked bacon and mushroom lasagna. Friday and Saturday night dinner is served from 5 - 11 p.m.; call 404-214-6740 for reservations. Complimentary valet is available in front of the restaurant during dinner hours.

Rainbow Trout Are Jumping At Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food

In fine Mexican culinary fashion, the good uncle butterflies rainbow trout, sautes it with cilantro, white wine and lemon butter sauce, throws in baby bay shrimp for company and serves it all with roasted corn pico de gallo ($16.95). Forget the fly fishing; we're flying to Uncle Julio's because after October 6, the trout are heading back out. 1860 Peachtree Road, NW in Buckhead; 404-350-6767.

Win a $100 Gift Card to Ray’s Restaurants!

Every Friday in October, Facebook fans of Ray’s Restaurants will have a chance to win a $100 gift card. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Ray’s on the River, they will be awarding gift cards every Friday to the Facebook fan that correctly answers the day’s trivia question. I love getting gifts on other people’s birthdays! Now, go to Ray’s Facebook page and answer today’s question.

Film Feastival

This Saturday, beef up your day as well as the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The Greater Atlanta Dietetic Association (GADA) will hold its first film "feastival" from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 3 in the Inman Middle School auditorium in Virginia Highland. Whet your appetite for more information on what we eat by viewing The Sierra Club's "The True Cost of Food" and "The Rise of Southern Cheese" from Southern Foodways Alliance. Hang around for the panel discussion following the viewings -- Woodfire Grill Co-owner and Executive Chef Kevin Gillespie is one of the panelists! Admission is free. Donations will be gratefully accepted for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Inman Middle School is located at 774 Virginia Avenue, NE.

Also, don't forget to support your favorite chef, Kevin Gillespie, tonight as he battles for the title of Top Chef. Word on the street is that Top Chef will be a rerun tonight (darn!) but it is the perfect chance to catch up on an episode you may have missed.

Live Music and Lunch Boxes on September 30

Tomorrow is a good day to forgo your brown bag lunch and pick up one of Pacci Ristorante’s boxed lunches at the Midtown Alliance Lunch Box Concert at Arts District Plaza (Peachtree and 15th Streets). The concert goes from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and guests are encouraged to arrive early to snatch up these Italian boxed goodies. The Midtown Alliance is giving a free drink to each guest who purchases a lunch. Only cash is accepted for payment. Pacci's lunch box options include:
• Smoked turkey and portabella panini with truffle salt potato chips and a chocolate chip cookie ($6)
• Prosciutto and Sweet Grass Dairy goat cheese flatbread served with a salad of mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, shaved carrots and grilled corn and a brownie ($7)
• Chilled smoked shrimp and penne pasta salad with rucola, red onion, kalamata olives, roasted peppers, corn and ricotta salata and a chocolate-dipped Rice Krispies treat ($7)
• Sides and desserts also will be available à la carte.

"Ribs & Whiskey" Starts Tomorrow at Marlow’s Tavern

McCall and I got a sneak-peek (and taste) of some the new Marlow’s Tavern “Ribs & Whiskey” menu items at the kick-off party last week and let me just say, we enjoyed every bit of it. We definitely give it two messy thumbs up! The official “Ribs & Whiskey” bonanza starts tomorrow at all six Marlow's Tavern locations. Menu items include Marlow’s trademark St. Louis-style Maker’s Mark®-glazed ribs, slow cooked and offered daily by the half or full rack ($13.99 and $19.99); and their daily specials ($8.99 - $18.99) like “a pig with buns” on Mondays, “the saucy catch” grilled Atlantic salmon on Tuesday, sweet Georgia BBQ shrimp and grits on Wednesdays, “drunken chicken” roasted with Maker’s Mark® glaze on Thursdays, and Marlow’s “Ribs & Whiskey” combo platter on Fridays and Saturdays. On the whiskey side, order up a glass of “A Kick from Ginger,” bourbon peach iced tea, “Roadside Fruit Stand,” “Marlow’s Rum Buck” or other bold cocktails ($4-$7) featuring Maker’s Mark® whiskeys and other spirits. There are plenty of selections for beer and wine drinkers, too.

Marlow’s Tavern: Alpharetta at 3719 Old Alabama Road, 770-475-1800; Kennesaw at 745 Chastain Road, NW, 770-425-8777; Midtown at 950 West Peachtree Street, 404-815-0323; Vinings at 2355 Cumberland Parkway, 770-432-2526; Northlake at 4156 LaVista Road, 678-987-1197; and Duluth at 1950 Satellite Boulevard, 770-622-2033.

Welcome AltoRex to Facebook!

Facebook followers, take a look-see at the new Facebook page for AltoRex Rooftop Lounge. Show your love for refreshing cocktails and light, flavorful fare all on this rooftop oasis by becoming a fan.

Sweet Stress Relief

If you’re like me, a chocolate chip cookie, or any other dessert for that matter, makes everything better. So we’ve compiled some of our favorite sugar rushes around town for those of you who are looking to de-stress by indulging in your sweet tooth:

- AltoRex Rooftop Lounge serves up AltoS’mores that meld grahams, chocolate and marshmallow meringue into gooey bites.
- Sharing dessert is so romantic at Aria, though you might not want to share Pastry Chef Kathryn King’s warm chocolate cheesecake with walnut crust and vanilla cream (pictured above).
- Beyond the famous margaritas, guac and fajitas at Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food awaits the dessert page with its creamy pumpkin flan –available for a limited time only, get it while you can!
- The ginger bread pudding with Meyer lemon curd at JCT. Kitchen & Bar is pure bliss and as sophisticated as desserts come.
- Tempura for dessert is really tempting…and possible if you visit RA Sushi, where cinnamon tempura ice cream is finished with a chocolate and raspberry glaze.
- Hot chocolate doesn’t always have to be confined to a mug. Morton’s legendary hot chocolate cake oozes molten chocolate and has been the restaurant’s number-one dessert for many years.
- The new macadamia nut blondies at Panera Bread bakery-cafes are a brilliant snack when you need an on-the-go sugar rush.
- Looking for a little sweet and a little salty? The ultimate union lies in Woodfire Grill’s banana fritters joined by milk chocolate mousse, banana Bavarian cream, salted caramel and candied bacon.

It's Wednesday and You Know What That Means

It's Wednesday and that means Top Chef comes on tonight! I swear I have a little extra zip in my step all day just knowing that at 10 p.m. Kevin and Eli will be on TV representing Atlanta. If you're on Twitter, follow my tweets at @melissal and tag your posts #atltopchef. There's always a lot of commentary and a little snark being tweeted!

And if you're a Kevin fan (aren't we all?) then you can see him live, in person, at the Morningside Farmers Market this Saturday at 9:30. The market is located next to Rosebud. Kevin will be doing a demo using okra from Cimino Farms.

RA Sushi Hosts Bacardi Launch Party Today

There is always something going on at RA Sushi in Midtown, and today is no exception! The restaurant is hosting a Bacardi Launch party today, which means FREE Bacardi cocktails will be flowing from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

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

Collector Adds Morton's Cookbook to Her Shelf

Neigher rain nor thunder nor flooding keeps a cookbook collector away from her passion and Ana Raquel is proof. The Atlantan, who estimates she has 5000 cookbooks, braved the floods last night to be first in line at Morton's The Steakhouse in Buckhead. Tylor Field, co-author of Morton's new cookbook, was more than happy to sign her book and snap a photo. She had to leave soon thereafter because, you guessed it, she had another cookbook signing to attend! The rest of us stayed and enjoyed some delicious food and drinks, all from recipes in the cookbook. A silent auction raised over $1,000 for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Not bad for a (very) rainy night in Georgia!

Marlow’s Tavern in Vinings Says Thank You

It’s Guest Appreciation Week at Marlow’s Tavern in Vinings through September 27, and each day brings a new special! Take the Tuesday Tavern Token Challenge and you could win a complimentary dinner! Wednesday night is Girls’ Night Out with $5 drink and appetizer specials for the ladies. Specially priced beer and wine pairing dinners are the big event on Thursday night. Friday, guests will be treated to free happy hour appetizers from 5–6 p.m. On Saturday, the SEC Game of the Week will be broadcast throughout Marlow’s. On Sunday, guests can enjoy a leisurely $14.99 brunch buffet and$15 bottomless mimosas. Don’t miss the deals!

Marlow’s Tavern - Vinings: 2355 Cumberland Parkway, Suite 10; 770-432-2526

Help Fight Childhood Hunger By Visiting Participating Restaurants

Thousands of restaurants across the nation will be helping end childhood hunger by joining together in Share Our Strenth's Great American Dine Out over the week of September 20 - 26. Here in Atlanta, Aqua Blue, Marlow's Tavern, Pacci, WaterHaven and South City Kitchen Vinings have come up with easy ways to help out. Marlow's Tavern and Aqua Blue are giving away a $5 gift card to every guest that donates $1. Pacci is donating $1 from every specialty cocktail purchase to benefit the organization. WaterHaven is donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their famous Georgia Gentleman drink, and South City Kitchen Vinings

is giving back 2 percent of dinner sales for the entire week.

Calling All Chefs

Are people frequently asking to come to your house for dinner? Do you find both neighbors and friends asking for your recipes? If so, submit your tastiest seafood recipe to the Ray's on the River recipe contest. The winner receives dinner for two (value of $250), bragging rights and their recipe as a special entrée served at Ray’s On The River throughout the month of October. The deadline is Monday, September 21 so get those creative vibes flowing and submit your recipe soon! Additional information on the contest can be found on their Facebook page and on Ray's Web site.

Holy Guacamole

Today is National Guacamole Day! Celebrate with friends at Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food or whip up a batch yourself using their famous recipe:

Ingredients

6 avocados

¾ tbsp. guacamole oil (¼ cup of olive oil infused with one peeled clove of finely minced garlic)

2 lemons, juiced

1 tsp. salt (to taste)

½ cup chopped tomatoes

¼ cup chopped white onions

1 large green leaf lettuce for garnish

¼ oz. white and yellow cheese (to serve alongside the guacamole)

1 lemon wedge (to squeeze on guacamole before eating)

Directions:

1. Halve and pit the avocados. With a tablespoon, scoop out the flesh into a bowl.

2. Using the same bowl, mash the avocados with either a fork or potato masher, leaving them a bit chunky.

3. Stir guacamole oil into avocado.

4. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Salt to taste.

5. Serve with tortilla chips.

6. Lay a piece of plastic wrap tight on any remaining guacamole so it doesn't brown and refrigerate.

Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food: 1860 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-350-6767.

Cookbook Tour and Philanthropy Week at Morton's in Buckhead

Morton's The Steakhouse is taking its new “Morton's The Cookbook: 100 Steakhouse Recipes For Every Kitchen” on a 41-market tour, which will stop at the Buckhead location of Morton’s from 6 – 7:30 p.m. on Monday, September 21, for an evening of food, wine and silent auction goodies to raise funds for Feeding America and the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Guests can pick up a copy of the cookbook for $20 and have it signed by one of the co-authors, Morton’s Vice President of Wine & Spirits Tylor Field. Tickets are $39 per person, with a portion of ticket sales and all silent auction proceeds going to help the two nonprofit hunger prevention agencies.

Guests can also dine to make a difference at Morton’s in Buckhead during Philanthropy Week (September 21-25) - a week-long celebration of some of Atlanta’s most respected charities. During the week, the restaurant will offer a three-course, prix fixe menu for $75 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Twenty-five dollars from each meal will be donated to the evening’s featured charity, which are as follows:
Monday, September 21: Atlanta Community Food Bank
Tuesday, September 22: Ovarian Cancer Institute
Wednesday, September 23: Georgia Alliance for Children
Thursday, September 24: Atlanta Humane Society
Friday, September 25: Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia.

Please call 404-816-6535 for reservations. Morton’s The Steakhouse - Buckhead is located at the Peachtree Lenox Building, 3379 Peachtree Road, NE.

Wine Dinners in Atlanta This Week

There are two great wine dinners this week that should not be missed:


On Thursday, September 17, Aria will host an intimate dinner featuring wines from Napa Valley’s Robert Sinskey Vineyards. The neat thing about Robert Sinskey wines is that they are all organically grown and most are farmed under biodynamic practices. Featured wines complementing Gerry Klaskala’s seasonally inspired menu include Abraxas, Vin de Terroir, Los Carneros 07; Pinot Blanc, Los Carneros 08; Pinot Noir, Three Amigos Vineyard, Los Carneros, Napa Valley 04; Merlot, Los Carneros, Napa Valley 05; Point of View, Napa Valley 05; Pinot Gris Late, A Late Harvest Gris, Los Carneros 06. The reception begins at 7 p.m. with dinner following at 7:30 p.m. $85 per person plus tax and gratuity. For reservations, call 404-233-7673. Aria: 490 East Paces Ferry Road; 404-233-7673.

Nationally acclaimed Ross Halleck wines and Aqua blue’s award-winning global cuisine headline in Roswell at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 18. On the menu: spicy tuna maki accompanied by 2006 Halleck “Little Sister” Sauvignon Blanc; jumbo lump crab cake, Asian-green apple slaw and sweet Thai curry balanced with 2006 Halleck Russian River Gewürztraminer; roast lamb loin, black truffled potato, rainbow Swiss chard and rich cherry broth with 2006 Halleck “Three Sons Cuvee” Russian River Pinot Noir; and muscovy duck breast, smoked gouda and spinach, sun-dried tomato polenta with a cassis reduction accompanied by 2006 Halleck Clone 828 Sonoma County Pinot Noir. Black Mission fig upside down cake with maple mascarpone sauce brings the meal to a sweet close. $60 per person, all inclusive. Seating is limited; call for reservations. Aqua blue: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road; 770-643-8886.