Eating Out Sound Better Than Cooking Out? Check Out These Spots!

The year is steadily flying by and I have given up all hopes of trying figure out where all the time has gone. This weekend marks the unofficial end of summer, and, for a change, my husband and I have decided that we are not cooking out for Labor Day this year. It was an executive decision driven by the dread shopping for a grand feast, sweating over the grill (or in the kitchen) picking up half full bottles (of whatever), all the while playing the happy hostess. I think I’ll save all that for Thanksgiving, which at this rate, won’t be long. So, just in case you may be thinking the same thing, here are a few places that will welcome us all with open arms (and bars) on Labor Day:

La Tavola Trattoria: 992 Virginia Avenue, NE; 404-873-5430.

VITA: 2110 Peachtree Road; 404-367-8482.

Marlow’s Tavern, all locations: 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; and Northlake at 4156 LaVista Road; 678-987-1197.

Ecco: 40 7th Street; 404-347-9555.

Marlow's Tavern In Midtown Throws One-Year Anniversary Party on August 28

Marlow's in Midtown turns the corner on a fun-loving first year with an open-to-all celebration on Thursday evening, August 28. Feed on free appetizers from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and fill your glass with drink specials. Live party music is a given... and perhaps you'll win the drawing to receive dinner for a year at Marlow's Midtown.

Marlow's Tavern in Midtown is located at 950 West Peachtree Street and can be reached by calling 404-815-0323.

Woodfire Grill Rhone White Wine Tasting

I couldn't wait to check out Woodfire Grill for the first time since Michael Tuohy left. The first wine tasting by the new owners gave me just the reason I needed to get on over there. It was great!

They are putting a new spin on the classic wine tasting by allowing you to participate from your own table with your own friend(s). So instead of a formal classroom setting, you just go have a seat like a normal guest and they bring the wines to you. Worked great! And the newly promoted exec chef Kevin Gillespie had written the night's menu with the tasting in mind so all the dishes were Rhone white friendly.

Everything was delicious but our fave was the foie gras with these nutty little pancakes. YUM. In addition we had 3 small plates - the vegetable assortment (indian spiced okra and tomatoes, rattlesnake pole beans, fromage blanc stuffed anaheim chile), crisp fried flat creek lodge catfish stuffed with georgia white shrimp with avocado mousseline and dried chile sauce, and pan roasted sonoma artisan duck breast with chanterelle mushrooms, delicata squash, crushed pistachio and duck jus, and two large plates - wood grilled north carolina "poulet rouge" with wood over morels (oh gosh, were they ever delish), sweet herbs, and white cheddar mac and cheese, and the pan roasted south carolina mangrove snapper with crispy vidalia onion fritter, indian spiced okra small tomatoes.

We tasted 8 wines for $15. The fave was 2002 Treana, which is actually a Central Coast California wine, as was the 2007 Bridlewood Viognier. We also sampled and enjoyed the 2007 Yalumba Viognier (South Australia), 2006 Tablas Creek Cotes de Tablas Blanc (Paso Robles), 2007 Perrin & Fils Cotes Du Rhone Reserve, 2006 M. Chapoutier Belleruche blanc, 2006 Eventide Cellar Viognier (South Africa) and the 2005 Perrin & Fils Chateauneuf du Pape Les Sinards.

The new owners are doing some sprucing up decor wise this month. I'm happy to report that the place was busy and the food and service were as good as ever.

I Eat and Drink for a Living...Jealous? You Should Be!

I have such a long day tomorrow! Sure there’s the typical 9-6 workday, but, after that, I “have to” go to a wine tasting. Did I say “have to”? I meant “get to”!! I feel so sorry for my friends who work long hours and at the end of the day, they are too worn out to attend anything social. My days may be long, but my job allows me to merge my social agenda with my career ambition.

On tomorrow’s schedule, Maximilian Riedel himself will host this wine tasting at Morton’s The Steakhouse Buckhead from 6 to 7:30 p.m. (Thursday, August 28). The Austrian native is an 11th generation glassmaker and the CEO of Riedel Crystal USA, so it’s appropriate that he bring his own glasses to the table. And, he’s sending a set of four glasses home with attendees after sipping, supping and usurping tips on how wine glass shapes do affect a wine’s personality. $70 per person (including tax and gratuity) covers wine, appetizers and includes your Riedel glassware gift. For reservations, call 404-816-6535.

Jealous yet? I knew you would be!

Woodfire Grill's August 27 Wine Tasting Showcases Wonderful Whites of the Rhone

What's better than a good glass of wine? Multiple good glasses of wine, all approved by the experts. As the new owners of Woodfire Grill, Nicolas Quinones and Bernard Moussa are keeping with tradition by hosting the next installment of Woodfire's wine tasting series. Quinones and Moussa invite guests to sample wonderful whites of the Rhone including Marsanne, Rousanne and Viognier wines on Wednesday, August 27 from 7-9 p.m. Cost is $15 per person (excluding tax and gratuity). Reservations are recommended as spaces fill quickly. Woodfire Grill: 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road; 404-347-9055

Whet Your Whistle With A Schlocktail

Come on girls, admit it. We’ve all sipped them. Now we know what they’re called, thanks to the The DailyCandy Lexicon. Schlocktail – n. lame, themed drink, often seen at cheesy events and made with some sort of flavored liqueur.



Suggested usage: Keep that Raspberry Beret Bomb away from me. I don’t drink schlocktails.

Simply Fabulous Popcorn Truffles Explode With Flavor

These bite-sized, frozen confections will dispel any notions that popcorn must be served piping hot to be hot. POP! (Passion over Popcorn) is best served ice cold in its sweetly salty, European chocolate-coated state. Choose yours filled with dark or white chocolate and Swiss caramel or try POP! wrapped around Key lime, lemon, peach or strawberry fruit fillings and white chocolate then coated and drizzled with more white chocolate. Give or receive: each cooler box of POP! contains 15 balls and costs $29.99 plus shipping and handling. Not convinced yet? Check out a few images of us enjoying these tasty treats! As you can see in the photo below, I find them irresistible.

The three sisters in 3 Sisters Creative Specialty Foods donate 5 percent of their profits to YNOT Grace, Inc., a nonprofit organization offering at-risk individuals a chance at positive personal and professional development.

Ricky Sparkman from Sparkman's Cream Valley in Moultrie, GA is featured in the most recent slide show at Whole Story (Whole Foods Market's blog). I first found the milk during the Eat Local Challenge at the Buckhead Whole Foods Market. I completely agree that their milk is by far the best I've tasted. Their all-jersey cows are happy because they use no hormones and put comfort first. Sparkman's also bottles their milk in cornstarch containers that are biodegradable. Be sure to watch the slide show!

Midtown Restaurant Week Means Deals for You and Me

As you undoubtedly know by now, Midtown Restaurant Week kicks off this Saturday (August 23) for a week of incredible dining opportunities. Thirty-three stellar Midtown restaurants are offering special three-course menus for $25 (alcohol, tax and gratuity not included). It is an great time to visit old favorites or check out some of those new restaurants on your list.

My plans include visits to Beleza, Dogwood and Ecco. Where are you going?

Riesling and Eggs? You Betcha!

Who would have guessed a game of free word association between a chef de cuisine and a beverage director could be so delicious? Last night Ecco hosted an wine dinner, themed Riesling and Eggs, which was born from pairing these two things, which would not ordinarily be associated. Each course of the wine dinner was the artistic taste explosion that I have come to expect from Ecco and the beverage distributor sitting next to me commented that the wines were so obscure that several had to be flown in from Germany, specifically for our dinner.

The food was a creative twist on classic favorites, such as the ravioli with housemade ricotta and whole yolk (definitely my favorite dish of the evening), paired with Von Buhl, Sekt, which was my first taste of sparkling Riesling. Pictured above is the main course, pan-roasted sturgeon and caviar. Overall, the evening was full of great food, great wine and great company. I look forward to the next dinner.

We Unwrap The DailyCandy Word of the Week: Mean Cuisine

This week’s sweet morsel from The DailyCandy Lexicon is a noun phrase for a tiny portioned, disgusting tasting, frozen food.

A suggested usage: When cruising the grocery aisle, steer clear of the mean cuisine and head, instead, for the field-fresh, local okra.

On the Homefront, Wolf Mountain Wines Flow At Whole Foods Market - Buckhead Wine Tasting

Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery is nestled in the mountains outside Dahlonega - a mere hour north of Atlanta. On the night of Tuesday, August 19 their wines are being served even closer to home at Whole Foods Market-Buckhead. Enjoy Wolf Mountain's Old World-style varietals and tastes of Whole Foods Market savories from 7 - 8:30 p.m. in the Café. Sip, contemplate, discuss... of course you can purchase your favorites to take home!

Whole Foods Market - Buckhead: 77 West Paces Ferry Road, NW; 404-324-4100.

Jezebel Magazine's Most Eligible Bachelors & Bachelorettes Party

Last night I attended Jezebel magazine's party to celebrate the magazine's "Most Eligible Bachelors & Bachelorettes". One of my friends, Carolyn Sloss (the one in purple in the photo), was selected as one of this year's bachelorettes. The party was held at the newly-opened Tongue & Groove in Lindbergh Center. There was a VIP reception from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. with tasty appetizers provided by Aquaknox and tons of Michelob Ultra. When you first walk in the door, they asked everyone if they were "single" or "taken." If you were single, you were given a glowing yellow wristband, and if you were taken, you were given a glowing purple wristband. What a clever little idea to go along with the theme of the party! And, what an easy way to find out who was available in the crowd.

Bookers, Baker's, Basil Hayden's, and Knob Creek

Let me start off by saying I don't usually drink bourbon. Never the less, on the promise that I would be missing out on something fabulous, I attended last night's bourbon tasting at Morton's The Steakhouse Downtown. I learned three very important lessons last night during this tasting: bourbon can be significantly better than the hangover-inducing stuff you drank in college, bourbon lovers are just as fanatical about their bourbon as wine drinkers are about wine, and never tell a bourbon drinker that you usually drink vodka (you will immediately be deemed to have very bad taste and unworthy of conversation).

The tasting was led by Whiskey Professor (yep, it is a REAL job) David Mays, who did an incredible job of explaining many of the intricacies of bourbon. Did you know bourbon can be made anywhere in the United States, not just Kentucky?

During his hilarious and informative lecture, we tasted four bourbon cocktails: Basil Hayden's citrus smash, Knob Creek's mint julep (my favorite of the four), Baker's Kentucky peach (similar to a Washington apple), and Bookers' Manhattan (way to strong for my vodka-loving palate).

We also enjoyed some of Morton's hors d'oeuvre: scallops, crab cakes, mini lamb chops and the unbelievable delicious steak sandwiches.

Overall, it was an incredible evening full of fun people, great cocktails and too many steak sandwiches!

Michael Tuohy's Final Farewell Party at Murphy's

Last night Michael and Patty Tuohy got their final send-off with a small party of friends at Murphy's. While there have been numerous get-togethers to celebrate/commiserate Michael's leaving Atlanta, at least he didn't have to cook at this one! Tom Murphy generously set up his back room and kept the group happy with Prosecco and yummy snacks from Chef Greg McCarthy.

It was a low-key event where we all got to spend a little quality time with Michael. Before it was over, we had all decided to charter a jet and head to Sacramento for the opening of the restaurant! Who else is in?

Everyone there was an old friend of Michael's, including Kevin Rathbun who stopped by before heading to work, corporate restaurateur Phil Hickey, Barbara Petit and Alice Rolls of Georgia Organics, Chris and Jan Schroder of Schroder PR. We all had fun reminiscing about the Chefs' Cafe days - Michael's come a long way from the La Quinta Inn to The Citizen Hotel! Ha!

We will all miss Michael and Patty and are so glad that they promised to come back and visit. And we can keep up with Michael on his Frontburner blog. Our team is now working with the new owners of Woodfire Grill, Bernard Moussa and Nicolas Quinones - they are super smart and nice and realize the importance of carrying on Michael's passion for local, sustainable and delicious food. While Woodfire will never be exactly the same without Michael, I am sure that it will continue to be a great restaurant doing great things.

Bye, Michael! We love you! Don't forget to book our rooms for the opening!

Dogwood Restaurant Open for Lunch

As of today, Atlanta's newest refined Southern restaurant, Dogwood, is open for lunch. The lunch menu includes starters ($3-$15) such as fried green tomatoes, a grits bar selection and smoked Georgia Trout cakes. Entrees ($11-$18) like a duck club sandwich on pecan-raisin bread, the delicious Dogwood burger and an Atlantic salmon “BLT” have my mouth watering (it's almost lunchtime!). Lastly, the desserts ($6) include grilled lemon pound cake and a classic crème brûlée. Click here for a full lunch menu.

Dogwood is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The restaurant’s dinner hours are Monday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Dogwood is located in the Reynolds condominium building at 565 Peachtree Street, Suite A.

A Whiskey Professor Leads Small Batch Bourbon Study – From Barrel To Bottle To Glass On August 14!

My husband and I are always looking for something unique to do in this city. So, when I heard that Morton’s The Steakhouse Downtown was dedicating a night to learning all about bourbon, it was a no brainer.

Join us tomorrow, August 14, from 6 – 7:30 p.m. for night school. Whiskey Professor David Mays, one of only three Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey Professors, is traveling the American Whiskey Trail, educating and entertaining those along the way about the American Native Spirit. Mays is a man who knows bourbon’s nuances and history. He’s one of only three Whiskey Professors to undergo in-depth training at Kentucky’s Jim Beam distillery and represent Beam Global Spirits and Wine. School never sounded so good!

Bourbons to be served at the Small Batch Bourbon tasting include:

Knob Creek – a nine-year aged bourbon drawing from its charred American white oak barrels for its sweeter taste and full body. You’ll taste it in a mint julep that night.
Bookers – uncut, unfiltered, intense with oak tannin and smoky vanilla. Created by the late Booker Noe, master distiller and grandson of Jim Beam, this bourbon fills out a Manhattan at the tasting.

Basil Hayden’s - spicy from rye, sweet from corn, enriched with peppermint, Basil Hayden’s recipe was developed in 1796! This light-bodied bourbon speaks in a Southern Citrus Smash.

Baker’s - draws its name from Baker Beam, grandnephew of Jim Beam, and its mellow flavor from a mix of corn, rye, barley, yeast and seven years of rest in new oak. Try it in a Washington Apple!

It’s a one-of-a-kind evening for only $45, which includes tax and gratuity. Space is limited; reservations are a must. Morton’s The Steakhouse Downtown: SunTrust Plaza Building at 303 Peachtree Center Avenue; 404-577-4366.

Baby, They're Back! BBQ and Blues Return to South City Kitchen Vinings on August 17!

BBQ is always a tasty treat and when you add some swingin' sounds, you've got a combination that can't go wrong! That is the idea behind South City Kitchen® Vinings BBQ and Blues night coming up on Sunday, August 17. Yes, every Sunday night is BBQ Night; however, while you're chowing down on Southern barbeque and sides at this Fifth Group Restaurant® on August 17, the Breeze Kings will jam from 6 to 10 p.m. Pile up the plate with slow-smoked beef brisket, molasses and spice- crusted pork shoulder, country-style ribs and sides - all served family style. Mop them with three signature BBQ sauces - Carolina-style mustard sauce, vinegar sauce and sweet red barbeque sauce - then dig in and sing praises that it's Sunday night! Cost is $19.95 for adults and $9.95 for children 12 and under. Reservations are recommended.
Serving dinner nightly and Sunday brunch, South City Kitchen Vinings is located at 1675 Cumberland Parkway; 770-435-0700.

DailyCandy Definitions

We're going to help you build up your vocabulary DailyCandy-style. Last month, Caryn and I went to the launch party for The DailyCandy Lexicon: Words That Don't Exist but Should. The book has made it around the whole office and we want to share some of the new words we're using. Keep an eye out each week on Atlanta Dish as well as in our newsletter The Dish (sign up on our website).


This week’s DailyCandy word: Palet – n. a valet who takes especially good care of your car. (Aw. You parked it right up front. What a palet.)

Taste of Asia Week in Atlanta

Chop suey, phooey! Sushi, samosas, pho and fusion are more like it in Atlanta’s huge rice bowl of Asian dining options. Teaming up Atlanta’s Asian culinary prowess with the Olympic Games in Beijing, the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) invites diners to pick up their chopsticks for a “Taste of Asia” during its inaugural Dine-Out Week, August 10-16. Aqua Blue -- scoring some of the best sushi in town -- is on the team of participating restaurants with a special $28 three-course dinner menu (tax and gratuity not included). Begin with crispy ginger salad, move on to miso-glazed shiro magura – white tuna, baby bok choy, fresh spinach and a lush shitake mushroom broth. Finish with a warm brownie à la mode (okay, so brownies are not Asian, but we’re not complaining).


Participating restaurants will offer a three-course meal for $28 or other Asian dining specials. A portion of the proceeds from GRA’s Taste of Asia will go toward a merit-based internship for a culinary student who wants specialty training in Asian cuisine.

Aqua Blue: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell; 770-643-8886.