P. F. Chang's Airport Location Opening

P.F. Chang’s lovers, the first P.F. Chang’s Airport location will open on 8/27. As the popular Asian chain’s first airport location, the restaurant features a new décor concept which is also being unveiled at other locations this year as P.F. Chang’s celebrates its 20^th anniversary.

Airport P.F. Chang’s  will offer Breakfast – I love breakfast!

• Breakfast Fried Rice—Chicken apple sausage, julienne carrots, bean sprouts and scallions, tossed in savory sauce topped with a sunny-side egg
• Classic Bacon & Eggs—Two eggs served with chicken apple sausage or bacon, a toasted bagel and a side of mixed fruit or home fries drizzled with our signature spicy sauce
• Apple Smoothie—Greek yogurt blended with fresh Granny Smith apples, honey and orange juice, finished with a swirl of honey

The P.F. Chang’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport menu includes classic favorites such as:

• Chang’s Famous Chicken Lettuce Wraps—Consistently P.F. Chang’s most popular dish worldwide, this signature appetizer features wok-seared chicken, mushrooms, green onions and water chestnuts served over crispy rice sticks with cool, crisp lettuce cups.
• Mongolian Beef—Another best-selling dish, P.F. Chang’s Mongolian Beef is a savory entrée with a sweet, soy-glazed flank steak wok-seared with scallions and garlic.
• Dynamite Shrimp—P.F. Chang’s presents a spicy take on seafood with its Dynamite Shrimp, featuring tempura-battered shrimp tossed in a light, spicy Sriracha aioli.
• Walnut Shrimp with Melon—For a milder shrimp option, P.F. Chang’s offers Walnut Shrimp with Melon, highlighting tender shrimp tossed in a creamy sauce with candied walnuts and honeydew melon.
• Oolong Chilean Sea Bass—For more from the sea, P.F. Chang’s also serves an Asian take on sea bass with a line-caught, tea-marinated filet broiled in sweet ginger-soy over warm spinach.

Cocktails!

• Asian Mary—Absolut Peppar Vodka mixed with a blend of spices and tomato juice
• Coconut Mojito—Cruzan Coconut Rum muddled with fresh mint, coconut cream and lime juice
• Rock Melon Margarita—1800 Reposado Tequila, sour mix, orange juice and a hint of Rock Melon syrup

The new location is located in the upper level of Concourse A. P.F. Chang’s will open at 6:30 a.m. daily. For more information, visit www.pfchangs.com or call 404-763-2550. 

Also...

Three Markets will run at AmericasMart

Tuesday through Thursday, September 17–19, 2013.

The ATLANTA FALL GIFT & HOME FURNISHINGS MARKET presents AmericasMart’s complete HOME and GIFT collections.

THE ATLANTA GOURMET MARKET celebrates the best of the gourmet foods, gourmet housewares and tabletop industries.

VOW | NEW WORLD OF BRIDAL is the nation’s new premier bridal and social occasion apparel market.

AmericasMart Atlanta
240 Peachtree Street, NW
Atlanta, GA  30303

Italian Turkey Burger Fun and Red Gold Sweepstakes on Facebook

We made tasty and healthy Italian Turkey Burgers this week with Red Gold Tomatoes. There are several flavors of Red Gold tomatoes you can get, including Tomatoes with Basil, Garlic, and Oregano; Garlic and Olive Oil; Chili-Ready; or with Green Chilies.

It was really easy to make these aromatic burgers since the herbs were included in the tomatoes, but make sure you add plenty of egg and breadcrumbs since turkey does not hold together as well as beef. The recipe suggests serving them on Italian bread with pasta sauce and Italian cheese. Dan and I enjoyed them for dinner last night with tomatoes and spinach and Martin’s buns. I love Martin’s buns! The Mama Selita’s Jalapeno Ketchup went well, too.

It’s good to know about Red Gold tomatoes since they are so easy to combine with other ingredients to make a simple yet delicious recipe. They also have really cute red aprons, and I love that they are still family-owned. There are a couple of other burger recipes below. I am trying the Spicy Burgers next. Yum! Also, they are hosting a sweepstakes right now - see below.

Red Gold is hosting a sweepstakes on Facebook till Aug. 30th  https://www.facebook.com/RedGold?fref=ts

You can win a Green Egg Ceramic Grill Smoker, as well as 5000 aprons

Italian Turkey Burgers

Ingredients

1	pound ground turkey
1	(14.5 ounce) can Red Gold® Diced Tomatoes With Basil, Garlic & Oregano, drained very well or 1 (14.5 ounce) can Red Gold® Petite Diced Tomatoes With Garlic & Olive Oil, drained very well
1	egg, beaten
1/4	cup bread crumbs
	Salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

Combine ground turkey, RED GOLD® DICED TOMATOES with BASIL, GARLIC & OREGANO, egg and bread crumbs in a bowl.  Form into patties and season with salt and black pepper.

Place on grill and cook to desired temperature, 160o for completely cooked burgers.

Option: For added flavor put ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese into the center of each patty.

 Suggested Accompaniments:

Serve on toasted Italian bread

Top with a thick pasta sauce (heated)

Sprinkle with shredded Italian blend cheese

Spicy Tomato Burger

1 lb ground beef

1 14.5 oz can of Red Gold Tomato w/Green Chilies

Salt and Pepper

Option: Pepper Jack Cheese

Combine beef and tomatoes (drained). Form into patties. Season. Add cheese to center of each patty for an added kick. Grill.

As desired, serve on toasted bun. use Jalapeño Ketchup or Chipotle Mayo. Layer spicy peppers.

Caribbean Chicken Burger

1 lb. ground chicken

1 14.5 oz can of Red Gold Lime Juice & Cilantro

Salt & Pepper

Combine ground chicken and Red Gold tomatoes (drained). Form into patties. Season. Grill

As desired, served on Toasted bun or lettuce. Layer guacamole or avocado or roasted pineapple slice. Top with a mango chutney or fruit salsa.

J. Christopher's Opening in Marietta at East Lake

A new J. Christopher's is now open in Marietta. It is located at the Pavilions at East Lake, located at 2100 Roswell Road. Our family has always enjoyed the Johnson Ferry location, so this one is a welcome addition.

Tuesday Recipe: Green Tomato Pickles

Green Tomato Pickles

“That’s almost two quarts of green tomato pickle. Even if it’s only our first garden on the sod and nothing could grow well, these pickles will be a treat with baked beans this winter,” Ma gloated. (From The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder)

For four 1-pint jars of pickles you will need:

Small green tomatoes, 5 pounds (about 22 tomatoes, 2 ½ inches each)

Salt,  tablespoons

Mixed pickling spice, 3 tablespoons

Cider vinegar, 2 cups

Enameled kettle, 6-quart or larger; sterilizing kettle; 1-pint canning jars, with lids, 4;  

ladle, tongs, and wide-mouth funnel; slotted spoon

Wash the tomatoes well and divide them into six equal groups, slice tomatoes in the first group crosswise, about ¼ inch thick and arrange them in a layer covering the bottom of the enameled kettle. Sprinkle with a scant teaspoon of salt and 1 ½ teaspoons and spices. Pour in the vinegar and 2 cups of water slowly, without disturbing the layers, until the liquid reaches the top layer (add more water if needed). Heat to boiling; reduce heat, and simmer uncovered about 15 minutes, or until a slice will cut easily with a fork.

Meanwhile sterilize jars.

If scum forms on bubbling surface of pickles skim it off with spoon edge.

Using the funnel, with the slotted spoon fill the jars with slices and spices to within ½ inch of the rims. Distribute the last spoonful with spice residue evenly among all jars. Ladle in liquid to fill. Apply lids and seal.

When jars are cool tighten lids, wipe jars clean, label and date, and store in cool dark place for at least two weeks.

Recipe by Barbara Walker from The Little House Cookbook

What's Up Atlanta? Week of 8/19/2013

Caffé Gio Opening

Highly-acclaimed Maestro Pizzaiolo Giovanni Di Palma, of Antico Pizza Napoletana fame, just opened the highly anticipated Caffé Gio, a traditional Neapolitan caffé and gelateria. Located behind Gio’s Chicken Amalfitano and adjacent to Antico, Caffé Gio will offer lunch daily with traditional Neapolitan street food like fresh-to-order Parmigiano or Meatball Panini’s on crispy Ciabatta with San Marzano marinara sauce and melted mozzarella. With al fresco seating, Caffé Gio will also serve 10 original, handcrafted gelato flavors imported from Bologna, Italy, a variety of sorbet and few speciality concoctions such as the Neapolitan.

With the addition of Caffé Gio, Antico and Gio’s Chicken will form a Westside Italian Quartiere. It will be a natural progression extending the Antico experience to all-day dining. Opening in Fall 2013, a limoncello bar and Italian market will be the beginnings of Piazza San Gennaro that sits in the heart of the Italian neighborhood to be created by Giovanni Di Palma. Caffé Gio is located at 1099 Hemphill Ave, Atlanta, GA 30318 and guests will enter through the alley next to Antico. It will be open for lunch daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Opening

Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint, the “original and fastest-growing fast casual pizza chain in North America,” announced the opening of its 18th unit on August 17th in East Cobb County at 4101 Roswell Road, Suite 1100 in the Providence Square Home Depot Shopping Center. The East Cobb Uncle Maddio’s location is the second unit for franchisees John Dayton and David Tracht, who own and operate an Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint in Woodstock, which was the first franchised location in the system.

The first annual Southern Classic Food and Beverage Show will cater to both the general public and the trade in the South’s hub, Atlanta, GA.

On Saturday, August 31, 2013, Labor Day Weekend, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM at the Rialto Center for the Arts, sample foods and beverages from black-owned restaurants, chefs, caterers, bakeries and beverage companies in Atlanta and a few other areas. This event will showcase the culinary skills of these business owners by allowing attendees to sample items and vote for the fan favorites. Once inside all samples are complimentary. Healthy Choices, Vegan and Gluten-Free options will be available, along with an updated version of the southern favorites. Tickets are $25 

THE 5th ANNUAL ATLANTA BAR-B-Q FESTIVAL RETURNS

Atlanta’s largest competitive BBQ Cook-Off event is set for September 13-14 at Atlantic Station’s special event site. Experience a world of BBQ at your fingertips at the 5^th Annual Atlanta BAR-B-Q Festival which offers amazing BBQ, cooking demos, live music, a kids activity village, and much more.   More than 50 BBQ teams from across the country will cook up their best “Q” and compete for cash prizes, highly coveted trophies and the ultimate reward - bragging rights.   Atlanta’s top BBQ restaurants will also be featured serving up their specialties.      www.atlbbqfest.com

SOHO Vinings All-American Lobster Boil

Each Sunday in August, from 5:30 to 9:30 pm, SOHO hosts an All-American Lobster Boil. For $28, each guest receives Maine lobster (1.5 lbs.), Andouille sausage, corn on the cob, red bliss potatoes and a green salad. Reservations are recommended. Lobsters are limited, so those reservations placed Friday by 5:00 pm for Sunday dinner will be assured their lobster. Of course, SOHO is still hosting flight night every Wednesday as well. This August, the wines and flavors of Oregon will be showcased.

Spanish & Italian Wine Tasting at Lobby Bar and Bistro
When: Thursday, August 29th from 6-8 p.m. Cost: Just $25 per person. Includes tastes of 5 featured wines and paired hors d’oeuvres:

·         Bottega Vinia Pinot Grigio

·         Bottega Vinia Pinot Noir

·         Pere Ventura Tresor Rose Cava

·         Feudi Rose

·         Feudi Primitivo

 Call Lobby Bar and Bistro for reservations at 404.961.7370. Lobby Bar and Bistro | 361 17^th Street, Atlanta, GA 30363 | lobbyattwelve.com

TAP and Red Brick Brewing

6 course beer dinner next Tuesday, August 20^th at TAP - The festivities will start promptly at 7:30 p.m. and the cost per person is just $55, all inclusive. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here

MAR  

MAR is continuing to bring the coast to the city with the addition of fresh, new menu items. Try the new dishes for lunch or dinner beginning Monday, August 19 as the Decatur hot spot will be open for lunch every day at noon. The new dishes include:

 ·         White Wine Mussels  with White Wine, Red Chile Crema, Lime and Cracked Black Pepper

·         Fried Shrimp  with Garlic and Spicy Tomato Cream

·         Calamari Romana with Chipotle Aioli

·         Octopus – Calamari Salad with Spinach, Olive and Lemon-Balsamic Vinaigrette

·         Sopa Verde de Mariscos with Mariscos, Tomatillo, Serrano and Cilantro

·         Shrimp Cocktail with Lime and Red Onion

·         Shrimp + Scallop Aguachile with Lime, Salsa Verde, Cucumber and Avocado

·         Blue Point Oysters served on the Half Shell