Crustacean Nation -- Prep For National Crabmeat Day With Cookbook Featuring South City Kitchen Chef Chip Ulbrich's Recipes

Surimi (or imitation crab) is absent from the ingredient list from all of South City Kitchen Executive Chef Chip Ulbrich's crab-centric recipes. The award-winning chef uses fresh lump crabmeat in his recipes for crab and shrimp ceviche with watermelon relish, South City Kitchen crab hash, crab cakes and she-crab soup. You'll find all of these recipes alongside Ulbrich's anecdotes in Judy Colbert's book "Chesapeake Bay Crabs." With National Crabmeat Day skedaddling in today, this book and Ulbrich's recipes will cause more swooning than Jack Sparrow. Go ahead and get crabby with Ulbrich's recipe for crab and shrimp ceviche with watermelon relish:

Relish: 

4 cups seedless watermelon, finely diced

½ cup red onion, finely diced

1 cup red bell pepper, finely diced

l jalapeño or poblano chile (depending on your spice level), finely diced

2 thumb-sized pieces of ginger, peeled and grated

2 limes, juiced and zested

¼ cup champagne vinegar

¼ cup garlic, chopped

1 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tsp. ground cumin

2 tsp. ground coriander

¼ cup honey

salt & pepper to taste

2 lb. fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined 

1 lb. lump crabmeat, picked clean

Relish: Mix all relish ingredients and allow to rest in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight.

Shrimp: To blanch shrimp, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and season with a healthy dose of salt. The water should taste like seawater. Add shrimp and cook for no more than 10 seconds. Remove shrimp and shock in ice water to cool rapidly; shrimp should still be a little raw on the inside. Once cool, drain well.

Assemble:  Toss shrimp, crab and relish in a bowl and allow to marinate for at least 10 minutes but no more than 30 minutes. Serve with fresh watermelon and lime wedges.

It's Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep Of The Week @ahamburgertoday

Hold the pickle, hold the lettuce, we just want A Hamburger Today. This is the tweet spot for the bold burger crowd.  More than 7,000 burger-meisters and misses follow the latest on hot burger spots and meaty news "with ketchup, mustard and opinion" on Twitter (@ahamburgertoday). For more meat, bite into the juicy blog.

Amber R. Is Our Lucky Fadó Limerick Champ

The luck of the Irish has smiled on our limerick winner in our Fadó Bushmills Whiskey Tasting contest! Congrats to Amber Raley for her winning entry below! Please email us at atlantadish@gmail.com by Friday at 2 p.m. to claim your prize.

The Winning Limerick:

There once was a woman from Kirkwood

Who wondered if Whiskey would taste good.

Bushmills and Dish

Please grant this wish

My lovely Irish date said that you would.

If you didn’t win, don’t worry – you can still join the fun at Fadó on Tuesday, March 13! Beginning at 7 p.m., 92.9 davefm radio host Rich Sullivan will kick off the event, which includes a tasting of five whiskeys and six dishes guided by Master of Whisky Kevin Mulcahy of Diageo, the world's leading premium spirits distributor. The food portion of the menu includes salmon bites, lamb and bleu cheese sliders, hot brie rarebit, rasher- and Irish cheddar-stuffed mushrooms and mini cheesecakes. 

Cost is $39.95 per person and twenty percent of the night's proceeds will go to the Atlanta chapter of St. Baldrick's Foundation, a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization that supports childhood cancer research. Only 75 people can attend this rooftop-level event so don’t forget to get your tickets here ASAP!

MLA On The Town

Our team had a great time last week at the American Spirit Whiskey tasting events during Buckhead Restaurant Week. Thanks to everybody who joined us at Ocean Prime and Latitude!

Crab-tastic Times Await at Aqua blue Starting March 16

Stone crab season really rocks, especially when we're talking about the upcoming Crabfest bonanza at Aqua blue in Roswell. From Tuesday, March 13 through Monday, April 16, Executive Chef/Co-founder John C. Metz will offer the crab-tastic cuisine featuring stone crabs raised under sustainable methods in wild fisheries. Get stoned, in the culinary sense, on dishes such as sherry-spiked she-crab soup with spiced hominy frite ($7); jumbo lump crab cakes with avocado, mango, chili aioli, rice wine vinegar and wasabi honey mustard ($15); soft-shell crab rolls made with thin asparagus, crab cake, sweet herb, futomaki, soy paper and red tobiko ($14); chilled Florida stone crab claws (MP); drunken crab legs -- a combo of king and snow crab legs served with tri-color tiny potatoes, corn on the cob slather and jicama slaw ($30); and large Florida stone crab claws served with green peppercorn cocktail, traditional mustard sauce, tri-color tiny potatoes, corn on the cob slather and jicama slaw (MP). The USDA says stone crabs pack in low-fat protein, vitamin B6, selenium and magnesium so come out of your shell and get crabby with the rest of them at Aqua blue. 

Party with the "Best of Atlanta" and Help Camp Twin Lakes

It's almost time for Atlanta Magazine's 25th Annual "Best of Atlanta" bash, spotlighting restaurants and food trucks featured in the magazine's Cheap Eats, BBQ, Best New Restaraunts and December Best of Atlanta issues. This year's event will be on Monday, March 12 at the Cobb Galleria Centre from 7-10 p.m., with a VIP Preview Party from 6-7 p.m. Guests can sample signature dishes from restaurants like Spice Market in Midtown and enjoy sips from breweries, wineries and distilleries across Georgia. The "Best of Atlanta" party benefits Camp Twin Lakes, a not-for-profit organization that provides year-round camp programs for children facing serious illnesses, disabilities and other life challenges. Tickets are all inclusive and can be purchased online. General admission is $65 per person and VIP are $125.

Start Celebrating St. Pat's Early at Fadó - Enter To Win Passes To The Bushmills Whiskey Tasting

Fadó Irish Pub& Restaurant is known for having the best St. Patrick’s Day party in Atlanta. This year is no exception; the party will fill Fadó and spill out onto Peachtree starting in the pre-dawn hours on Saturday, March 17. The day will be packed with Super Saturday 6 Nations Rugby, Irish dancers, a U2 tribute band and lots more. Buy tickets in advance here.

Fadó is preparing for this unforgettable party by having several tasting events this week. Some of the “pre-gaming” events include a Guinness Black Lager and Foreign Extra Stout tasting that begins at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 9; Paddy Pickleback shots are $3 each starting at 10 p.m. on Saturday, March 10; and the Paddy's Day Irish Session is not to be missed at 8 p.m. on Monday, March 12. 

If you're over 21, you're the perfect age to have fun at the upcoming spirit tastings at Fadó and to help fight childhood cancer in the process. On Tuesday, March 13, 92.9 davefm radio host Rich Sullivan will be at Fadó for a Bushmills Whiskey tasting beginning at 7 p.m. For $39.95 per person, guests will enjoy a tasting of five whiskeys and six dishes guided by Master of Whisky Kevin Mulcahy of Diageo, the world's leading premium spirits distributor. The food portion of the menu includes salmon bites, lamb and bleu cheese sliders, hot brie rarebit, rasher- and Irish cheddar-stuffed mushrooms and mini cheesecakes.  Twenty percent of the night's proceeds will go to the Atlanta chapter of St. Baldrick's Foundation, a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization that supports childhood cancer research. Only 75 people can attend this rooftop-level event so be sure to grab tickets here ASAP.

However, if you’re feeling the luck of the Irish, then we have a proposition for you – we are giving one person and a guest a chance to win passes to attend the Bushmills Whiskey Tasting. In order to win this coveted prize, submit a limerick in the comment box below this post. Not sure what a limerick is? Click here for a quick explanation. Your limerick should tell us why you and your guest should get to attend the Bushmills Whiskey Tasting. Also, be sure to leave your full name or twitter handle along with the limerick in the comment box. The winner will be chosen tomorrow afternoon, so be sure to check back on the blog to see who is our lucky winner. Sláinte and may the luck of the Irish be with you!

Run (Or Walk!) to Local Restaurants to Help End Hunger

Help kick hunger by walking or running in the 2012 Hunger Walk/Run on Sunday, March 11, or top off your tab with a donation to the cause when dining at Aqua blue, Aria, Double Zero Napoletana, The Iberian Pig, JCT. Kitchen & Bar, Marlow's Tavernand No. 246 through March 11. Fifth Group Restaurants are not going to be left in anyone's dust -- they're also in the middle of fundraising for the event. For the past three years "running," Fifth Group has been the Hunger Walk/Run's top corporate fundraiser, thanks to loyal and passionate patrons and staff members. This year the group -- including Alma Cocina, Ecco, South City KitchenMidtown, South City Kitchen Vinings, The Original El Taco and La Tavola Trattoria -- has set a goal of raising $25,000. Join in the event that takes place from noon until 4 p.m. this Sunday at the Turner Field green lot. While participants come from all walks of life, fitness levels, socio-economic levels and faiths, they all share a desire to prevent hunger. In 1984, the first Hunger Walk/Run garnered $30,000. Last year's event raised more than $500,000 toward beating local and global hunger through six benefiting partners:  Action Ministries United Methodists, Atlanta Community Food Bank, Episcopal Charities Foundation, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Lutheran Services of Georgia and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Double the Fun at Double Zero Napoletana Next Week

Since March 17 is dedicated to Irish food, you should probably hold off on the corned beef and cabbage the rest of the week and switch it up with an Italian meal. Luckily, Double Zero Napoletana happens to be the place to wine and dine next week. Take your pick between the Atlanta Community Food Bank Supper Club on Tuesday, March 13 or a five-course wine dinner paired with Sant' Elena wines on Friday, March 16 at 7:30 pm - or do both!

On March 13, guests can make a reservation any time during dinner hours and 20 percent of each tab (the whole menu is fair game!) goes to the Atlanta Community Food Bank to help fight hunger.

For the wine dinner, Dominic Nocerino, Jr., owner of Sant' Elena estate in northern Italy, will join guests at the Sandy Springs restaurant for this Italian spread. The background of Gradisca d'Isonzo, the town where the Sant' Elena estate is located, is fascinating in itself, so you'll get a dose of history, too. The menu for the evening includes dishes like tuna crudo with caper aioli, watermelon radish, micro cilantro, pineapple caviar and verjus vinaigrette paired with Sant' Elena Chardonnay 2009; egg yolk-stuffed ravioli with Swiss chard, brown butter balsamic emulsion and smoky carrot foam served with Sant' Elena Cabernet 2002; and grilled flat iron steak with roasted cauliflower, pesto and crispy prosciutto accompanied by Sant' Elena "Tato" 2006 (Cabernet/Merlot blend). The dinner costs $75 per person, excluding tax and tip.

Call 404-991-3666 for reservations for both events.

Come out of your shell for Aqua blue's Crabfest - and more - in this week's Dish

Good morning, Atlanta! It's time to get caught up on the week's best culinary news in The Dish. If you're not receiving the Dish every Tuesday morning in your inbox, you can sign up either here on our blog or on our Facebook page.

Sake and Sushi Make Me Social

There’s more than one reason why March 6 is Super Tuesday in Georgia. RA Sushi hosts its monthly Sake & Sushi Social tomorrow, and you’ll have a super time if you’re there. It’ll be a super-duper time if you gather some friends to come along. The hands-on event unfolds at 7 p.m. with a sushi rolling lesson chased by appetizer samplings and sake pairings. $35 per person or $60 per couple. Reserve your spot ASAP by calling 404-267-0114. Learn more on Facebook.

Chicken and The Egg + Beer, Bourbon & BBQ = FUN!

Marietta's own Chicken and the Egg is heading to Atlantic Station on Saturday afternoon, March 3 to strut its stuff (Southern farmstead fare) at the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival. There's a whole schedule of big-top festival events from entertainment and bands to BBQ, tastings of more than 40 bourbons and 60 brews, the BBQ Sauce Challenge and exhibitors such as Scoutmob and the Atlanta Hawks. Look for Chicken and the Egg Owner/Chef Marc Taft who will be preparing a porchetta brined in bourbon and sorghum and covered in a bourbon BBQ glaze with onions, house-made pickles and beer mustard. Click here for hog-wild ticket options.

Our Appetizing Aperture of the Week: Cherry Classic

Cheers to Buckhead Restaurant Week! You have to try the Cherry Classic - it's the official cocktail for the event and is made with American Spirit Whiskey, Cherry Herring, Fernet Branca and cola. Come out for a special tasting event to celebrate the finale of Buckhead Restaurant Week this Sunday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Latitude - be sure to RSVP today if you'd like to join the fun!

It's Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep of the Week @stbaldricksatl

St. Baldrick's bares all on Twitter! Bares all scalps and noggins, that is, as this Tweep follows the St. Baldrick's Atlanta event that's shaving the way toward a cure for childhood cancer. Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant holds a big St. Baldrick's shave-a-thon before St. Patrick's Day, and it's always a hair-raising experience, for a few minutes per person anyway. After that, heads are clean as a whistle, and Fadó is pushing the edge closer to curing childhood cancer. So far this year, Fadó Irish Pubs have raised $229,080 for the cause. Follow along on Twitter (@stbaldricksatl).

March into Ray's Restaurants for Sensational Specials

The month of March is here and Ray's Resaurants are giving you plenty of reasons to march into one of their locations. All three Ray's locations - Ray's on the River, Ray's in the City and Ray's at Killer Creek - are bringing back their popular $10 lunch menus. The special $10 lunch menu includes a beverage choice of soft drinks, coffee or tea. Enjoy your Saturday alongside the Chattahoochee River when Ray's on the River opens for lunch on Saturdays at noon beginning March 3. If you're craving fresh seafood, visit the sushi bar for daily sushi specials at Ray's in the City - all prepared by Sudo, the downtown restaurant's full-time sushi chef. Buy one sushi roll, get one half off on weekends in March from 4 p.m. Friday until closing time on Sunday (half off sushi rolls must be of equal or lesser value).

RA Sushi Says "Aloha" to its Spring Cocktails

Cases of “spring fever” are starting to pop-up in Atlanta, and we all know Midtown isn’t known for its palm trees or sandy beaches. Fortunately, RA Sushi will kick-off its patio season today by introducing new tropical cocktails that will reduce most “spring fever” symptoms. If you’re in the mood for a “hula”-va time, taste their Pineapple Express featuring Kai Young Coconut Shochu, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, pineapple juice, a hint of lemon juice and bubbly prosecco. Not quite ready to jump on the Pineapple Express? Then try a Bikini Martini – a dash of Blue Curacao, Kai Young Coconut Shochu, vanilla vodka, pineapple juice and a splash of lemon-lime soda. RA's spring cocktails are $8 each from March 1 to April 30. So Ladies put on your grass skirts and gents rock those loud shirts and join in on these tropical celebrations. And, if you've been hibernating all winter, RA Sushi's Sushi and Sake Social on March 6 is the perfect excuse to come out of your cave and be sociable while honing sushi-making and sake-tasting skills.  Make reservations online or call 404-267-0114. 

Bocce Ballin': Sign up for the Spring League at Double Zero Napoletana and Ormsby's by March 1

Good thing it's a Leap Year, because that means you have an extra day to sign up for the Atlanta Bocce League. The spring season gets rolling on Sunday, March 11 and tomorrow at 10 p.m. is the deadline to sign your team up! In Sandy Springs, Double Zero Napoletana tournaments are on Wednesday nights on the restaurant's two regulation bocce courts. Grab five of your best bocce balling friends to play. If you'd rather be a spectator on the sidelines, come enjoy the food and drink specials. On the Westside, Ormsby's court (pictured on the left) hosts bocce games on Monday nights. Sign up for singles, doubles or four-person team tournament play on the restaurant's website.

Got the Luck of the Irish? Win a Trip to Ireland from Fadó!

Lads and lassies, your eyes will be smiling after you sign up for Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant's newsletter. At least two reasons why: you might win a trip for two to Ireland, including flights, hotel and a tour of the Guinness Brewery at St. James Gate in Dublin, and you'll keep up with all of the events and specials at Fadó via e-news. With St. Pat's Day on the horizon, that's really important. Sign up online through St. Patrick's Day or at the Paddython party at Fadó on March 17. Winner will be announced on March 30, 2012.

Who Remembers Prohibition? Atlanta's Oldest Continuously Licensed Tavern Does -- Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia Highland Hosts 1920s-Themed Prohibition Dinner and Party

Anyone remember prohibition?  Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia Highland does, because next month Atlanta’s oldest continuously licensed tavern turns the big 9-0 on Wednesday, February 29. That’s right; this tavern has been serving up great drinks and great food since the prohibition days of 1922. But unlike back in the day, this Prohibition dinner is no secret, so feel free to tell the whole gang! Guests will go bold with four cocktails and four plates including speakeasy snacks such as Devils on Horseback, Welsh rarebit, deviled eggs and salt roasted nuts paired with a Black Velvet cocktail; clams casino with Terrapin cask-conditioned rye pale ale (brewed with orange peel by Terrapin Owner/Brewmaster Spike Buckowski); medallions of lamb with sauce chasseur and asparagus au gratin with an Old Fashioned; and Chocolate Charlotte with burnt almond caramel and a Mint Julep. It’s no wonder there are only a few seats left; you get all this for only $40 per person! Hurry and call 404-876-7249 to secure your spot!

If you do miss out on the dinner, you get a second chance to join in on the fun! On Thursday, March 8 Atkins Park is hosting a Prohibition Party at 6 p.m. with a limited, open bar and a complimentary buffet until 7 p.m. A special Prohibition menu will replace the regular menu during dinner with specials including Scotch eggs, oysters Rockefeller, stuffed broiled lobster and suckling pig porchetta ($5-$24). Blair Crimmins & The Hookers will perform 1920s jazz, ragtime and blues beginning at 9 p.m. Want to win cash and prizes? Then wear roaring '20s attire and take part in the 10:30 p.m. costume contest. Prizes include $100 cash, a $25 Atkins Park gift certificate and 90^th anniversary bags will be awarded to the best-dressed male and female.  Then you can look good and feel good in the Photobooth sponsored by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LSS). Each $5 photo donation will go to the 2012 Georgia Chain Gang and the team's endurance Race Across America for LLS. Visit this flapper-happy website or take a peek at some 1920s Atlanta photos to help prep yourself for this evening of fine, old-fashioned fun!

March Into The Week's Best Culinary News with Atlanta Dish

It's time to corral that coffee and head to The Dish for your weekly fix of culinary news around town! If you're not receiving the Dish every Tuesday morning in your inbox, you can sign up either here on our blog or on our Facebook page.