El Taco Preview Party

Last night I attended one of the preview parties for Fifth Group Restaurant's newest venture, The Original El Taco (which translates as The Original The Taco). As expected, this place was packed with people who couldn't wait to try out this new Mexican joint. Menu selections included lime-salted corn chips with salsa, "just-crushead" avocado guacamole, Mexican pizza, fajita salad and tacos. Cocktails that were served included beer, wine, margaritas and the favorite of the evening -- a frozen mojito. Fun, funky and fresh are all words I would use to describe this new eatery. Oh, and the best part -- they have a prize wheel! Upon entering, we were handed a chip with a number on it. Every 30 minutes, a server would spin the wheel and call out the winning chip. Customers won items such as a cup of queso, fajitas and I believe they were giving away beer as well. To my surprise, I learned that the prize wheel is going to be part of the restaurant every day.

Carbonara Night at La Tavola Trattoria

Be sure to drop in La Tavola Trattoria on Monday nights for heaping bowls of carbonara. The Virgina Highlands neighborhood trattoria offers a hearty bowl of carbonara and a mixed lettuce salad every Monday night for $15.95. Since this great deal is sure to bring in crowds, the restaurant recommends making a reservation by calling 404-873-5430.

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

Sheryl Crow Bag at Whole Foods

I got my Yelp bag, my Sackaroos bags, and now I'm gonna get my Sheryl Crow bag too. Cuz a girl can never have too many reusable grocery bags, right? Kinda like shoes. And admirers.

Starting this week, stylish Whole Foods Market® shoppers can tote a new reusable bag designed by Sheryl Crow. Her exclusive design supports The Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) Simple Steps program by reminding shoppers that simple lifestyle changes have big results in helping the environment. You can buy the earth-toned bag with a charcoal sketch of a tree for 99 cents (large) or 79 cents (small). They are made from 80 percent post-consumer recycled plastic bottles (about four 20-ounce bottles for each bag).

These will make cute holiday gifts filled with some "green" goodies.

VITA Rocks Your Week With Live Music

Head to Tony LaRocco's VITA for live music and heaping plates of New York Italian-style cuisine every Wednesday through Saturday night starting at 9:30 p.m. The Darren Winters Band plays on Wednesday and Thursday nights, and the Atlanta Soul Band performs on Fridays and Saturdays. No cover charge, and the kitchen cooks until 1 a.m. Reserve your table by calling 404-367-8482.

Be Blessed By The Brew Of Belgian Trappist Monks At Morton's The Steakhouse In Buckhead

In the quiet Abbey of Scourmont, in the small Belgian town of Chimay, Cistercian Trappist monks have been hopping -- brewing Chimay ale on-site from all-natural ingredients and Abbey spring water since 1862. Fast forward to 6 – 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 16 at Morton’s The Steakhouse Buckhead to sample three different Chimay ales – Chimay Première, Chimay Grand Réserve and Chimay Cinq Cents - while also helping the Make-A-Wish Foundation®. Completing the fellowship of the ales will be Morton’s petite filet mignon sandwiches, tuna tartare canapés, sliced smoked salmon and Morton’s legendary hot chocolate cake . . . and a Chimay glass goblet to take home. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Chimay in the U.S.! $45 per person (inclusive of tax and gratuity), with $5 per ticket going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® as part of the restaurant company’s national “30 Wishes for 30 Years” campaign. For tickets or information, call 404-816-6535. Morton’s The Steakhouse Buckhead: Peachtree Lenox Building, 3379 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-816-6535.

Rhone River Valley Wine Tasting at Woodfire Grill

Woodfire Grill's next wine tasting will be through the Rhone River Valley's most distinct red wine making regions on Wednesday, October 15. With the beautiful fall weather we're having, guests can opt to sit on the patio to enjoy Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre based wines from Gigondas, Côtes du Rhône, Chateauneuf du Papes, Côte-Rôtie, Roussillon and Crozes Hermitage along with a couple from South America and Australia.

I like to think of the tastings at Woodfire Grill as laid back learning . You simply sit in the dining room or on the patio with your friends and they bring the wines to you, at your own pace. Commentary included! Pouring beings around 7 p.m. The cost is $15 per person excluding tax and gratuity. The menu that night will be focused on dishes that pair well with the chosen wines. For reservations, click here.

Woodfire Grill: 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road; 404-347-9055.

DailyCandy Definition

Wouldn’t you want to know if you had PST? Thought so. “PST,” this week’s useful word from The DailyCandy Lexicon, is actually an acronym.

PST: Acronym. Poppy Seed in Teeth, pronounced “pssst” so as not to alert everyone else at the table.

Suggested usage: Psst. PST!

Atlanta's Table Supper Club at Dogwood Tomorrow

If you don't have plans this Tuesday, take the night off from cooking and dine out for a good cause. Dogwood is hosting this month's Atlanta's Table Supper Club from 5:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14. Enjoy refined regional cuisine in an elegant atmosphere while benefiting the Atlanta Community Food Bank. On Supper Club night, 20 percent of your tab will go directly to the Atlanta Community Food Bank to help fight hunger in our metro area. Reservations are strongly encouraged for this popular night out; call 404-835-1410.

Date Night With Diver Scallops

Periodically, the hubby and I try our hand at working cooperatively by cooking “together.” We systematically look for a recipe, shop for all the ingredients and spend an evening preparing it. Typically, this means he walks and talks to me while I shop for the ingredients, then, I cook and he assists. This is actually a great system for us since, in the end, it’s mostly about the time we share in the kitchen, and I tend to be more adventurous when it comes to tweaking the recipe.

Our next dish is courtesy of Todd Annis, executive chef of Bold American Catering. This week, his diver scallops with arugula recipe is featured in the “Key Ingredient” column of The Sunday Paper. I can’t wait to try it, since Annis notes that this is a quick and easy recipe, hopefully even we can’t mess it up. According to the chef, the most important things is to make sure to pick good, fresh ingredients, which works well with my effort to buy sustainable products.

Although I am sure they will not look as good as Annis', we're going to give it a whirl. I’ll be sure to keep you updated with photos when we try it…wish us luck!

The 7th Annual Taste of Atlanta

Chefs and food-lovers of all ages will find something to sink their teeth into at this weekend’s 7th Annual Taste of Atlanta on the streets of Atlantic Station. The Southeast’s most anticipated epicurean bonanza ventures beyond the ordinary to embrace green eats, kid-friendly treats, helping others, cleaning our earth and sipping fruits of the vine. With more than 70 restaurants participating in the October 11-12 event, there’s something to tempt you at every turn. Amica Insurance Kid’s Avenue provides hands-on culinary activities for young chefs, cooking demos and “Knights of the Realm” Medieval Times battle re-enactments between demonstrations. Country Road supports local and organic ideologies of the Slow Food Movement through fun and educational opportunities. The Green and Leafy team assures no leftovers, showing eco-friendly cookware and accessories, holding on-site recycling, and making sure extra food goes straight to the Atlanta Community Food Bank. VIP ticket holders can take in the Expanded Wine Experience in TWELVE Atlantic Station and Bowling and Brews in Ten Pin Alley, and all adults can enjoy the Discover Wines with Robert Mondavi Wine Tour (formerly Crush in the City).

$5 Martini Round-Ups Shake Things Up At Aqua Blue,Vita And Dogwood

Five-dollar martinis at Aqua blue, Vita and Dogwood are shaking up cocktail time from Roswell to Buckhead to Midtown! Aqua blue rocks the bar with Smirnoff martinis -- The Dirty South martini with olive juice; the Washington Apple martini with Washington Apple Burst and sour mix; the Tampa Bay martini with pineapple juice, peach schnapps, cranberry juice and a splash of sour; the New York martini with Pom juice, pomegranate schnapps and a splash of sour; and the Blue Martini that brings together Ketel One Citron, Island Blue Pucker, blue Curacao and a splash of sour. In Buckhead, lively NYC-Italianesque Vita shakes up $5 martinis all day, everyday. Down Peachtree in Midtown, Dogwood trades a Lincoln for a martini day in, night out, and backs Abe with heady regional fare.

Aqua blue: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell; 770-643-8886.
Dogwood: 565 Peachtree Street; 404-835-1410.
VITA: 2110 Peachtree Road; 404-367-8482.

A Mouthful To Pronounce, But Worth Every Bite: Abbondanza at La Tavola Trattoria

Beginning today, Virginia-Highland neighborhood favorite La Tavola Trattoria is making it abundantly clear that you and your friends must hurry in to celebrate the bountiful cultural and culinary wealth of Italy’s heartland. The restauant's $39.95 prix fixe Abbondanza menu is available through October 18. Or, if you're craving a particular dish, the special menu is also available à la carte. Watch Executive Chef Craig Richards making the baked ricotta salad from the menu here. Vajra Stratigos, Fifth Group Restaurants’ beverage director, recommends completing your Abbondanza menu selections with Italian wines from La Tavola’s abundant list: Zenato, Valpolicella, Veneto 2006; Avanta, Pinot Grigio, Veneto 2007; Antonio Coscia, Arneis, Piedmont 2005; and Coltibuono, Chianti Classico 2006, are a few to try. For reservations, click here. La Tavola Trattoria: 992 Virginia Avenue, NE; 404-873-5430.

DailyCandy Definition

Would you go fruit-loopy if someone ate your last bowl of Captain Crunch? Well, that’s life if you practice what The DailyCandy Lexicon deems Cereal Monogamy at your breakfast table.

Cereal Monogamy: n. a slavish devotion to one particular breakfast cereal.

Suggested usage: After three boxes of Cocoa Pebbles, I began to suspect he was a cereal monogamist.

Wicked Good Dinner

What seems like months ago, my roommate and I bought tickets to see Wicked for when it came to Atlanta's own Fox Theater. From the day we ordered the tickets, I was already making dinner plans. Before the show we're going to have dinner at my new favorite restaurant, Dogwood. Since we will be within walking distance of the theater, we can valet at the restaurant and not worry about parking. I love it when things are simple!

If you have not ordered tickets yet, then you will be interested in the moneysaving Dinner and Broadway show packages local restaurants will be offering. You can get a ticket and a special three-course menu at Ecco for the shows on Wednesday, October 15 and Wednesday, October 29 ($90 per person). On Tuesday, October 28, Dogwood will offer a three-course dinner package that includes dinner, a ticket to the show and valet parking ($95 per person). Seating times are at 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. at either restaurant and tax, gratuity and alcohol are not included in package pricing.

Dogwood: 565 Peachtree Street; 404-835-1410.
Ecco: 40 7th Street, NE in Midtown; 404-347-9555.

Red Hook Beer Dinner at South City Kitchen Vinings Cures What Ales Ya

Feeling a little under the weather? Or is it that you just aren't ready for the change in weather? Either way South City Kitchen Vinings has the cure. They are hosting a unique Red Hook Beer Dinner on Thursday, October 9, that is sure to satisfy all of the senses . The four-course, prix-fixe dinner paired with Red Hook beer begins at 6:30 p.m. and costs $45 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Enjoy passed hors d'oeuvres of house-made andouille sausage en brioche with passion fruit mustard and smoked trout brandade with apple cabbage slaw and caraway crackers served with Kona Passion and Bud American Ale. The dinner menu includes cane syrup-glazed quail breast with cumin-spiked sweet potato gratin accompanied by Red Hook Blonde Ale; roasted mushroom meatloaf with harvest squash, Yukon gold potatoes, green beans and smoked chili ketchup served with Red Hook ESB; and dessert of apple- pecan tartlette with pumpkin-ale ice cream served with Red Hook Late Harvest Ale.

South City Kitchen Vinings: 1675 Cumberland Parkway; 770-435-0700.

Dogwood's New Menu is Awesome

I love birthdays! Especially mine. These people who don't want to celebrate theirs, well, I just don't get them.

So, last weekend was my birthday and I decided to head to Dogwood. They have a new fall menu I was dying to try and it's just such a pretty, special restaurant. We could not have been happier with the choice. Makes me wish I was getting a year older again this week. Okay, not really.

We started with the grits bar, of course. The Logan Turnpike "Fools Gold" grits have new toppings and we chose the braised forest mushrooms. YUM. Then we had the seared foie gras with smoked pumpkin, pecan-raisin toast and red wine-black pepper gastrique. Y'all. This was unbelievably good. Decadent. A must have. To balance the sinfulness of that dish we chose a soup for our other app - a root vegetable puree with a wild boar-cranberry sausage and lingonberries. Licked the bowl. Sure did.

For entrees I encouraged my friend to have the signature SoCo glazed pork chop with carmelized shallots and the most delicious sweet corn souffle while I tried a new dish - pecan rubbed tuna with fingerling potatoes, applewood smoked bacon, carmelized onions and bar-b-que drizzle. Another hit!

The nice folks at Dogwood insisted that we have dessert since it was my birthday. I chose the coffee gelato which really was the perfect ending. We also had the fried bread pudding that was delicious. On Friday, Meridith Ford Goldman gave the restaurant a glowing review in the Atlanta Journal Constitution - I see she had many of the same dishes I had!

If you haven't been to Dogwood yet, I encourage you to try it, even if it's not your birthday!

New Red Wine at Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery

I've had the privilege to visit Wolf Mountain Vineyards the past few weeks for their fall harvest. I've watched (and videotaped) the grapes come from the vine, get destemmed, crushed and the juices go into fermentation. It's been a very cool experience. I also got to see the first batch of Wolf Mountain's newest wine, Howling Wolf Red, be bottled. The limited-release is a non-vintage blend of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon with elegant tannins and a soft, fruity finish. Yep, I tried it. Howling Wolf Red will be available for purchase ($24.95 per bottle) only through Wolf Mountain beginning tomorrow, Saturday, October 4. Make a weekend trip to Dahlonega to get the first taste or trust mine and buy a bottle from their online store - since wines can now be shipped in Georgia.

Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery is located at 180 Wolf Mountain Trail in Dahlonega, Georgia; 706-867-9862. For driving directions click here.

NiceCream is Really Nice ... and Creamy!

I met Dr. Leon Lashner over a year ago and was soon invited to regular gatherings at the kitchen table in his loft to sample the non-dairy ice cream he was creating. His friends, old and new, would eagerly show up to take a spoonful of the newest flavor, check the progress of their favorites, and share their critiques. Most of all we were a fan club cuz this stuff rocks!

So it was more than awesome to see all that hard work come to fruition with Sunday's NiceCream launch event at Jake's in the Irwin Street Market. Over 200 hundred people came to try six flavors: Coocoo for Coconut, Dave's Chocolate, Tropical Vanilla Bean, Banana Chocolate Chip, Passion Fruit, and Double Cappuccino. All the ingredients are organic and top quality - no wonder it tastes so good. If you know someone who is lactose-intolerant, this will change his/her life! Have you tried the stuff they have to eat? Yuck!

And great news! Leon is dabbling in the sauce biz too. He had four sauces to try: Strawberry Balsamic (my fave), Dark Spicy Chocolate, Sea-Salted Caramel, and Rum Sauce (I think this was a lot of people's fave). Right now you can buy NiceCream at any of the three Jake's Ice Cream locations.

It's pretty easy to have a dream or a grand idea. It's anything but easy to make it become a reality. Heck, it's not even easy to watch someone do it! Leon, who by day is a gifted chiropractor and homeopath, has methodically made this dream happen, one (sometimes difficult) step at a time.

I'm not saying go buy some NiceCream so you can support the American dream. I'm saying go buy it because it's frickin awesome! But doesn't it make it sweeter knowing this was just some guy in his house with an ice cream freezer saying, "Hey, I think I have an idea..."

Ecco Offers Lots of Lovin' Spoonfuls at The Sunday Share on October 5

Now that it's finally cooling off in Atlanta, soup weather is upon us. That delicious, warm feeling, filling you with goose bumps from head to toe? Yes, it’s a heady case of love at the first spoonful and you can get it by digging into that soup bowl at Ecco. More faithful than a Golden, more heartwarming than a Norman Rockwell painting, soup comforts and encourages conversation, without the worry of getting that piece of spinach salad between your teeth. Executive Chef Micah Willix is stirring up a house-made bouillabaisse that’s quite a catch for the bistro’s October 5 Sunday Share menu. $25 per person includes tax and gratuity; additional charge for alcoholic drink specials. Scoop up your friends or come solo to the communal table at 6:30 p.m. For reservations, call 404-347-9555.Ecco is a Fifth Group Restaurant located at 40 7th Street, NE in Midtown; 404-347-9555.

5th Annual Harvest Midtown Festival

This year's cultural event will be held on Saturday, October 4 from 1-5 p.m. Among the participating restaurants are favorites such as Ecco, South City Kitchen, Marlow'sTavern and Dogwood. And if that's not enough to fill a Saturday afternoon, guests will also enjoy a fall fashion show, an organic farmer's market and live chef demos.

The Harvest Midtown festival will be held on 5th Street between Peachtree and West Peachtree streets. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Arthritis Foundation.