Be Back Soon!

Atlanta Foodies is on hiatus for a couple of months.

See you again in Summer 2013!

Meanwhile, Bon Appetit! :)

Congratulations to our Winner, Richard T. Blake!

Congratulations, Richard T. Blake, WINNER of our Atlanta Foodies Firehouse Subs Contest!!!

Way to go, Richard!

Firehouse Subs

Atlanta Foodies' Firehouse Subs Sweepstakes!

Enter to win $30 worth of Firehouse Subs delicious subs! Simply follow us at Atlanta Foodies Blog or like us on facebook at Atlanta Foodies on Facebook for a chance to win! Contest ends January 31st at midnight.

Winner will receive $30 in Firehouse Subs gift cards!

Coca-Cola Freestyle Machine - The Latest in Soda Fountain Technology

This week, Dan and I went to check out the latest in soda fountain technology – the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine. I had heard a lot of buzz about them and really wanted to try one. We headed over to Firehouse Subs where they have an amazing number of drink options. Check out the menus! We loved the Cherry and Raspberry Coca-Cola options, and the Cherry Limeade! There are over 70 options for diet drink preferences, too. Once you go Freestyle, I don’t think you would ever go back.

 

These futuristic-looking soda fountains are appearing in even more in Atlanta restaurants lately. You can find them at various Burger King, Moe’s, and Taco Mac locations, and a Coca-Cola Freestyle truck visits other venues. To find the one nearest you, use the zip code finder on the Freestyle website here - Coca-Cola Freestyle

These Coca-Cola Freestyle machines are just cool and unique enough that they’re worth checking out. Not only are they sexy, but they are also fun to use and have something for everyone – imagine a world where no matter what you’re craving or feeling, its readily available at your fingertips Each Freestyle machine has a full-color touch screen that allows you to choose over 100+ different brands, including flavors and sodas not available anywhere else; there is literally something for everyone. From sodas and energy drinks to flavored waters and juices, the Coke Freestyle machine has it all. http://www.coca-colafreestyle.com/ 

Twitter- @ccfreestyle



Sweepstakes! Stoney River Sonoma County Wine Country Sweepstakes

Enter to win Stoney River Sonoma County Wine Country Sweepstakes! It is simple opportunity to enter in for a chance to win a well-deserved trip and other prizes. The sweepstakes ends in exactly two weeks so there is still ample time to enter the sweepstakes and to get a great meal at Stoney River!









By going here and entering your email address, you will be entered to win a four-day, three-night, all expenses paid trip for four to Sonoma County wine country.

In addition, 50 additional runner-up packages will be awarded. Those packages will either be dinner at Stoney River Steaks for one year, a Foley Wine Dinner for four guests, Decanter and four Stoney River Glasses, one magnum of Foley Family Wine, and two $50 Stoney River gift cards.

To better one’s chances of winning, you can also receive three additional entries into the sweepstakes by entering the code number from a Stoney River guest check on the website. Readers can receive five additional entries by joining Stoney River’s Red Canoe Society (again, all they have to do is enter an email address, except this time, they’ll enter it here). The sweepstakes end Oct. 31, so hurry!

The Capital Grille - Review of NEW Perimeter Location

The Capital Grille

94 Perimeter Center West
Dunwoody, GA 30346

P: 770-730-8447

Lunch: Monday – Friday
11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Dinner: Monday – Thursday
5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Friday – Saturday
5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Sunday
4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

http://www.thecapitalgrille.com/Locations/Atlanta-Dunwoody/Main.asp

Dan and I tried the new Perimeter location of The Capital Grille a couple of weeks ago. I had always wanted to try it, but it is often hard for us to get to Buckhead or downtown locations since we live OTP. Now that The Capital Grille is at Perimeter right next to Seasons 52, we can get there easily. How convenient!

What did you order? How was your food?

Dan sampled the Stoli Doli cocktail, their specialty drink which is straight pineapple-infused Stolichnaya Vodka. He really liked it. There was a gigantic container filled with pineapple slices and Stoli Vodka on the bar. We didn’t try wine this time, but The Capital Grille is renowned for their wines and has “5000 Bottles on Wine on the Wall.”

We started our meal with bread and salads. The bread basket was impressive with an assortment of Onion Bread, Poppyseed Rolls, and Lavash. Lavash is a is a soft, thin flatbread popular in several countries such as Turkey, Iran, and Armenia. It is gaining in popularity here as well.

I tried the Mozzarella and Tomato Salad, a caprese salad with balsamic vinegar, which was a very large portion, and tasted wonderful. Dan tried the Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing with tender, baby spinach leaves, onions and mushrooms with warm signature bacon dressing and chopped egg and smoked bacon sprinkled on top. He really loved this salad.

For our entrees, Dan ordered Bone-In Kona Crusted Dry Aged Sirloin with Caramelized Shallot Butter. It comes with caramelized shallots, seasonings and coffee rub. Dan really enjoyed his steak, and Dan knows steaks since he is a chef. He had the Parmesan Truffle Fries as well. I tried the Filet Oscar, which is an 8 oz Filet Mignon, served with steamed asparagus spears, colossal lump crabmeat, and drizzled with housemade Béarnaise. I had never had the Oscar treatment before, although I had heard a lot about it from Dan. I thought that it was very decadent and delicious.

Our dessert was a Coconut Cream Pie. “A delightful vanilla flavored crust is layered with luscious whipped and coconut pastry cream. A caramel rum sauce topping makes it even more irresistible.” It really was very delectable, and I had never had anything similar before.

Describe your impressions of the service. Was anything exceptionally good (or bad) about the quality of service you received?

We were helped by a couple of servers who were very attentive and pleasant. We never wanted for anything, and our water was always filled.

What do you think of the décor and atmosphere?

Décor at The Capital Grille is upscale and chic. As the website mentions, “Rich African mahogany paneling and warm lighting from one-of-a-kind art deco chandeliers set the tone for a comfortably elegant evening.” This would be perfect for any business lunch or elegant date.

Do you consider this a good value for the money you spent? If no, why not?

Yes. The prices are on point, and you do get the quality you pay for.

This restaurant is best for...

Business Lunch or Dinner, Family Outings, Special Occasions, Romantic Evenings. The Capital Grille is a very popular, classic, and elegant institution in Atlanta.

Taste of Atlanta is coming - October 5-7!

Returning for its 11^th year, Taste of Atlanta gears up for a landmark weekend in Tech Square. Anxious epicureans can get gourmet at the city’s most anticipated culinary event on October 5-7. With a distinct recipe for success, Taste of Atlanta offers an array of diversions for the culinary curious. From fan favorites to new experiences and more, the festival brings the annual action to back to Midtown for a tasty trek.

On Friday, October 5, The Big Grill: Grills Gone Wild fires up the weekend. Attendees can enjoy all-inclusive access to the city’s best grilled grub, chilled cocktails, beer and wine. Yacht Rock Schooner will perform while attendees sample bites from some of Atlanta’s most renowned chefs including Ford Fry, Kevin Rathbun, Jay Swift and more. Tickets for the Friday night fete are all-inclusive and can be purchased by visiting http://tasteofatlanta.com/bigGrill.php. 

On Saturday and Sunday, more than 80 of Atlanta’s favorite restaurants and most exciting chefs serve up their specialties at this year's festival. From international cuisine to under-the-radar eats, Taste of Atlanta spotlights the incredible energy and diversity of Atlanta's shining food scene. For a complete list of participating restaurants, visit http://tasteofatlanta.com/restaurants.php.

Festival highlights, featuring participating restaurants, include:

·         Barcraft Competition – It’s back! Guests can channel their inner mixologist and sample cocktails from Atlanta’s best bartenders as they compete for the top spot. Open to VIP ticket holders only.

·         Family Food Zone – Step right up for demos and cooking lessons from national and local chefs in an interactive environment. Returning to the lineup this year, the Top Chef Kids Competition offers hands-on experience for chefs in training.

·         Inside the Food Studio – Experience the fascinating world of the professional chef to discover secrets of the craft. Returning for its third year, this intimate experience is hosted by Tom Sullivan. Patrons can enjoy beverages and bites while learning valuable cooking skills and insight into the Atlanta restaurant scene. Whether highlighting the most unique condiments or Atlanta’s top spots for midnight munchies, this behind-the-scenes look offers unrivaled insight into the professional kitchen.

·         Grill Dome –Kamado Grills are bringing the heat to this year’s festival. With demonstrations throughout the day, local grill-masters can watch as chefs cook up their specialties on these amazing ceramic grills. 

·         The Kitchen Workshop – Hosted by Mara Davis, The Kitchen Workshop is a hands-on cooking experience offering patrons a unique and enriching opportunity to learn how to create delicious dishes in their own kitchen. A wide range of classes and instructors provide the ideal interaction for patrons to enjoy themselves and learn interesting twists on basic cooking concepts and techniques. Open to VIP ticket holders only.

·         Home Plate Main Stage – This year, get ready for a throw down. Renowned chefs battle it out and go head-to-head on the main stage. These culinary craftsmen tackle secret ingredients, themed challenges, unique recipes and more.

·         Barnes & Noble Bookstore – Stroll through this tent to pick up the latest copies of today’s most popular cookbooks and other food-related titles. Check out the cookbook signing schedule to meet notable chefs like Adam Roberts, Kathleen Flinn and more.

Taste of Atlanta founder Dale DeSena takes great pride in the fact that the festival has so much to offer for everyone’s distinct appetite.  “Most people hear ‘Taste of Atlanta’ and they think they’ll get lots of great food – and they’re right!” says DeSena.  “We love when people also discover how educational the festival is.  With the addition of The Kitchen Workshop this year and the continued success of Inside the Food Studio, we’re one of the few festivals that really encourages the attendees to engage with the chefs, the food and the programming.  We are so proud to serve the city in this capacity and to show the world the amazing restaurants and chefs that help define Atlanta.  We can’t wait to transform Tech Square into foodie heaven once again this year!”

Taste of Atlanta ticket information:

·         General admission tickets (includes 10 taste coupons) are $25 in advance; $35 at the gate. Kids ages 13 and under receive FREE admission (excluding taste coupons) when accompanied by a paid adult.

·         VIP tickets (includes 15 taste coupons and access to Wine+Beer+Cocktail Experience) are $75 in advance; $85 at the gate. A limited number of VIP tickets are available, and the first 300 ticket holders each day receive a festival gift bag.

·         Taste coupons are used to purchase food from participating restaurants. Menu items are valued at one, two or three taste coupons. Additional taste coupons are sold in increments of 10 coupons for $10 or 20 coupons for $20.

·         Tickets are sold at locations throughout Atlanta, including select Whole Foods Market outlets. Advance tickets must be purchased by midnight on October 5. For more information, visit http://tasteofatlanta.com/tickets.php.

About Taste of Atlanta:

Taste of Atlanta is a three-day festival that attracts food lovers from throughout Atlanta, the Southeast and beyond to enjoy tastes from more than 80 restaurants from all over the Atlanta Metropolitan area.  Guests can sample delicious dishes; sip robust wines, craft beers, and innovative cocktails; be entertained by demos from celebrity chefs; and enjoy interactive sponsor experiences and family-friendly entertainment, all while uncovering the incredible dining treasures the city has to offer. Join us Friday through Sunday, October 5-7 in Technology Square. Stay connected to Taste of Atlanta 2012:

• Sign up for the Taste of Atlanta newsletter at www.tasteofatlanta.com
• Follow Taste on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tasteofatlanta
• Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tasteofatlanta