7/31/11

It's the Last Week of Peach Season!


Don’t miss the chance to taste a delicious Georgia-grown peach this year. Great taste and nutritious qualities make Georgia peaches a sumptuous summer treat in Atlanta, and this is the last official week of peach season, so let’s support our Georgia farmers and buy some tasty peaches before our chance is gone!


Peach County native Gena Knox worked with the Peach Council this year and devoted a section of her latest cookbook, Southern My Way: Simple Recipes, Fresh Flavors to recipes featuring sweet Georgia peaches. While the cookbook features more than 250 pages of seasonal recipes streamlined for busy lives, Gena feels a special passion for the Peach State’s favorite fruit. Try her Cream Cheese Peach Tart Recipe!


For those residents equally in love with the state fruit, there is the Peach Promise – a pledge that individuals sign to support Georgia’s peach farmers and only purchase peaches home grown in Georgia. Thousands of residents have made their commitments over the past three years, including celebrities and several government officials. To learn more about Georgia Peaches, get recipe ideas and sign the “Peach Promise”, visit the Georgia Peach Council here, and on Facebook. The Georgia Peach Council is the promotional arm of the Georgia peach packers, including Pearson Farms, Taylor Orchards, Lane Southern Orchards and Dickey Farms. These packers produce over 63 million pounds and more than 40 different varieties of peaches each year. Let's support our Georgia Peach growers!

7/21/11

Meehan's Public House - Vinings


Branden Holte, Executive Chef of Meehan’s Public House - Vinings, is definitely one of the hottest chefs in Atlanta right now. My husband Dan and I attended one of his beer dinners recently, and we had a great time. The food was amazing, the crowd there was a lot of fun (we sat next to the manager of Paul’s), and the Terrapin Beer was excellent. If you are interested in trying Chef Branden’s innovative cuisine, Meehan’s in Vinings is hosting a Hard Cider Dinner on Tuesday, July 26th, 2011 at 7:00 P.M., which will feature dishes like Spiced Poached Pear Salad, and Smoked Beef Short Rib with Roasted Red Pepper Whipped Potatoes served with Crispin Lansdowne Unflitered Reserve Cider. The Hard Cider Dinner costs $45 per Guests (excluding tax and Gratuity), which is a steal for so much good food and drink. Meehan's Public House - Vinings Hard Cider Dinner

At the Terrapin Beer Dinner we attended, Chef Holte’s menu began with a refreshing amuse bouche Mini Lump Crab Cake with Lemon Saffron Yogurt paired with Monk’s Revenge Belgian IPA. Next we were regaled with a course of Roasted Red & Golden Beets served with Goat Cheese, Arugula, Micro Mint & Peppercorn Champagne Vinaigrette and a tall glass of Terrapin’s Rye Pale Ale, followed by delicious Walnut Encrusted Lamb Lollipops with Parsnip Puree, Crispy Local Kale, & a Home Grown Basil Puree paired with Hop Karma Brown IPA.

The pièce de résistance of the Meehan’s Terrapin Beer Dinner was a very, very generous half-rack portion of Smoked Hopsecutioner BBQ Pork Ribs, Citrus Jalapeno Slaw, and Twice-Baked Yukon Gold Potatoes served with, of course, flavorful Hopsecutioner IPA. And lastly, ahhh, dessert, which we barely managed to stuff down, was a scrumptious Coffee Chocolate Tart with Walnut Crust and Bacon Infused Caramel Sauce, beautifully paired with Big Daddy Vlady’s Russian Imperial Stout. I can’t wait to attend more of Chef Holte’s events and sample his fine cuisine paired with delicious drinks. What better way to “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry” than at a Beer or Hard Cider Dinner?



Meehan's Public House - Vinings on Urbanspoon

7/16/11

McDonald's Contest Winner


And the winner is...
Ladytink_534! Congratulations Ladytink, and thanks for playing everyone!

Our next contest begins tomorrow - win free gift cards to Willy's! :)

7/4/11

Fun Fourth of July Events in Atlanta


4th of July at The Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View - Chef Christian Messier will serve a prix fixe menu on the Restaurant Level for $69. Reservations are available 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. “Red White & Blue With a View Level” is a great option for the kids - $45 buys a buffet of seasonal favorites. Kids ages 6 -12 dine for half price and children 5 and under eat free. There will be an additional cash bar for all other beverages including sodas, bottled water and alcohol. The View Level is open from 6:30 - 9 p.m. The Bar Level opens from 5 until 11 p.m. There will be a $30 cover charge including a nacho station available from 6 - 9:30 p.m. Drink specials will be offered and the bar appetizer menu will also be available for sale from 5-11pm.

21 and up only - Red, White and Brew at the Georgia Aquarium from 6:00 - 10:30 p.m. on the parking deck rooftop. Sample great beer and enjoy a classic 4th of July barbeque at the coolest location in the city to view the Centennial Olympic Park firework show. Live music compliments of the Yacht Rock Revue. Proceeds benefit Georgia Aquarium education initiatives including SEA: Sponsored Education Admissions. Through the SEA program, students are given free or reduced admission, allowing deserving students across Georgia the opportunity to learn about aquatic life and how to make a difference.

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s All American Celebration includes patriotic standards and sing-along anthems and features the U.S. Army Chorus and fireworks. The show starts at 8 p.m. July 4 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Alpharetta.

Diana DeGarmo and Trace Adkins headline Lenox Square’s 52nd Annual Legendary 4th celebration, but the real star is probably the fireworks display. A carnival begins at 10 a.m.; Taste of the 4th is 2-6 p.m. ($10); live entertainment begins at 6 p.m.; and the fireworks start after 9:30 p.m. July 4.

Marietta Fourth in the Park begins with a parade that kicks off at 10 a.m. July 4 at Roswell St. Baptist Church and ends at Glover Park, featuring the Cobb County Public Library Book Cart Drill Team! There will also be free live concerts, museum tours, arts and crafts show, food, carnival games and a fireworks finale.

Gates open at 2 p.m. July 4 for Centennial Olympic Park’s 4th of July Celebration. Live entertainment begins at 4 p.m. with Alpharetta quartet von Grey and concludes with “American Idol” runner-up Crystal Bowersox.

Braves vs. the Rockies at 7:10 p.m. July 4 followed by Independence Day fireworks at Turner Field.

Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers will light up for the 8th Annual Fabulous 4th Festival. The fun begins at 5 p.m. July 4.

(photo of cake by Chef_Joodles.)