Taste of Atlanta 2009: Part II!

Hi Everyone! It has taken me a while to post the rest of my pics from Taste of Atlanta, but here they are. The last few are Jamika Pessoa from The Next Food Network Star - she was beautiful and fabulous! - and the rest are just scenes from our wonderful day! Click to see a larger size. Enjoy! :)

Taste of Atlanta 2009 Photos - Part 1

This year’s Taste of Atlanta festival was fabulous! My mom, Pattie, and I went on Saturday, October 10th. These are some of the photos we took of the amazing VIP Wine and Beer Experience. Click to see a LARGER size. More posts to follow with the rest of our ToA photos.


















The Scene at Taste of Atlanta's VIP Wine and Beer Experience




























Richard Blais' Flip Burger Boutique's Liquid Nitrogen Milkshakes























Getting a Liquid Nitrogen Milkshake




















The Guys at Flip Burger Boutique

























A Flip Burger - Looks Delicious! Yep, it is!





























The Famed Flip Nitrogen Milkshake - Pumpkin Pie Flavor























Blue Moon's Billboard Painting Tent




















The Guys of Buckhead Diner




















Scrumptious Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes from Buckhead Diner!






























Shrimp with Buffalo Sauce from Atlanta Fish Market - Yummy, but very hot!





















Heidsieck Champagne - I took this blurry pic. You can tell I'm not a photographer like my mom!





















The Lovely Ladies of Montpellier Wines





















Trying Spaten Beer with the help of our new friend



















Atlanta's own Sweetwater Brewery




















Estampa Wines - This is how you do it
























Three cute little Falcons Fans!






















UFO Beer tent - Wonderful Beer!





















Sapporo Beer Tent - Dionne and Michelle were very sweet, and the beer was great as always!


What a fantastic time! Can't wait to go back next year!

Taste of Atlanta - This Weekend!!!

It’s that time of year again – time for Atlanta’s biggest and best food festival, Taste of Atlanta! You can see Richard Blais and Carla Hall from Top Chef, or Jamika from Next Food Network Star! There are so many things to do, it’s hard to decide! This is the 8th annual Taste of Atlanta. It’s a dynamic, flavor-filled 2-day outdoor festival that showcases the diversity of Atlanta’s food scene and attracts food lovers from all over! I will be there Saturday, and maybe Sunday, too. See you there!




When:
Saturday October 10th 11am–6pm
Sunday October 11th 11am–6pm

Where:
The festival will take place at Tech Square in Midtown Atlanta at Spring Street and 5th Street

Cost:
General Admission Tickets including
15 taste coupons
$25 through October 9th
$30 after October 9th
$30 at Festival
VIP Tickets including
20 taste coupons $65

A limited number of tickets are available and attendees must be over the age of 21. Access into the Wine & Beer Experience is included and the first 500 ticket holders each day will receive a festival gift bag. Kids 13 and under receive FREE admission when
accompanied by a paid adult but taste food coupons are required for food purchase.
The event will be gated so a ticket is necessary to enjoy the festival.

Taste of Atlanta Highlights:

■ Festival goers will experience good eats from
more than 80 of Atlanta’s favorite restaurants!
■ National and Local Celebrity Chefs on three
Cooking Stages
■ A Farm to Festival Village showcasing the
local sustainable movement with live cooking
demonstrations
■ A farmers market filled with locally grown
products
■ The Amica Insurance Kids Avenue with
interactive cooking demonstrations for kids
and hands on activities
■ Live music and entertainment and more!

http://www.tasteofatlanta.net/

Five Points Free MARTA Ride, Free Burger!

On Wednesday, September 30 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., a McDonald’s street team will assemble outside the main entrances of the MARTA Five Points Station to treat people to a free one-way Breeze ticket and a coupon for a free McDonald’s Angus Third Pounder premium burger. The “Try Free, Ride Free” offer, sponsored by McDonald’s, will include a free one-way trip on MARTA, and one Angus burger coupon per person while supplies last.

My Article at The Honeyline!

Hi!
Please check out my new article about eating healthy and eating well at Gabby Reece's site, The Honeyline -

The Honeyline

I love her website and am thrilled to be a guest blogger for the next couple of months!

Taste of Atlanta 2009!

Get ready for Taste of Atlanta 2009
on October 10 & 11!

Advance tickets go ON SALE AUGUST 17, 2009!

Taste of Atlanta is a 2 day outdoor food festival in Technology Square featuring more than 70 of Atlanta's best restaurants, live cooking demonstrations from national and local celebrity chefs and live entertainment.

Kids 13 and under receive FREE admission when accompanied by a paid adult but taste food coupons are required for food purchase.
This year the event will be gated so a ticket will be required to gain access.

Taste of Atlanta website -
http://tasteofatlanta.net/

Buy tickets here! -
http://ticketalternative.com/Events/7624.aspx

• Taste of Atlanta is a rain or shine event.

Two Ticket Types Are Available:

• General Admission Ticket:
General Admission Tickets include 15 Taste Coupons

$20 early discount Aug 17 – Sept 7
$25 advance price Sept 8 – Oct 9 at midnight
$30 on site at the event


• VIP Ticket:
VIP Ticket includes 20 Taste Coupons, access into the wine, beer & cocktail experience and the first 500 ticket holders each day receive a festival gift bag.

$65. Limited availability / On Sale August 17

Must be 21 or older to purchase VIP tickets.


Taste Coupons

Taste Coupons are used to purchase food from participating restaurants. Menu items are valued at 1, 2 or 3 taste coupons. Additional taste coupons valued at $1 per coupon can be purchased for 10 for $10. or 20 tickets for $20.


Where to Purchase Tickets

Advance tickets go ON SALE AUGUST 17
Tickets are available online, by phone, or at one of the outlets below:
• Cook’s Warehouse - 549-I Amsterdam Ave.
• Cook’s Warehouse - 4062 Peachtree Road
• Cook’s Warehouse - 180 West Ponce de Leon Avenue
• CD Warehouse* – Mall of Georgia / 3260 Buford Hwy
• CD Warehouse* – 2180 Pleasant Hills Road, Duluth
• CD Warehouse* - 860 Duluth Hwy; Lawrenceville
• CD Warehouse* - 10800 Alpharetta Hwy, Roswell
• CD Warehouse* – 50 Barrett Parkway, Kennesaw
• Decatur CD* – 356 West Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur
• Fantasyland Records* – 2839 Peachtree Road, Buckhead
*Denotes TicketAlternative outlets; service fees may apply

Taste of Asia - Atlanta Food Festival!

I love food festivals, and Asian food is probably my favorite cuisine, so I am very excited about Taste of Asia in Atlanta! The kickoff event is August 5th at Macy’s Lenox from 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM. It will be a Public Tasting with food from 20+ local restaurants. Live entertainment and dancing will add to the excitement.

Then, from August 10-16, there is a week-long celebration of Asian culinary tradition. Over 30 Atlanta restaurants will participate in the 2nd Annual Taste of Asia Dine-Out Week, during which diners will get the chance to sample Asian cuisine from specially priced menus, like a three-course meal for $19.95 - $28.00 per dinner. Taste of Asia is presented by The Coca-Cola Company, Georgia Power, Infinite Energy, Sysco Foodservice of Atlanta, and U.S. Foodservice.

Tickets to the Public Tasting are available from www.TasteofAsiaWeek.com and participating restaurants for $10 – which can be redeemed at the event for 10 taste coupons. Additional coupons are available at the tasting for $1 each. A portion of the proceeds from the Public Tasting will benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

This year’s participating Dine Out Week restaurants include: Aqua Blue Restaurant, Bar, Bhojanic Restaurant, The Cloves Restaurant, Doc Chey's Noodle House - Emory Village, Doc Chey's Noodle House - Virginia-Highlands, Eurasia Bistro, Geisha House, Genki Noodles; Sushi, Grand China Restaurant, Hsu's Restaurant, Kani House Japanese Steak, Sushi - Duluth, Lee's Golden Buddha - Buckhead, Lime Juice Thai Bistro, Mo Mo Ya - Buckhead, Nakato Japanese Restaurant, PF Chang's China Bistro - Perimeter, Cumberland, Alpharetta; Buford, Pacific Rim Bistro, Rice Bowl Thai; Sushi, Roy’s Atlanta, Savu Restaurant at the W Hotel Perimeter, Silk Restaurant, Spice Market at W Atlanta Midtown, Steel Restaurant; Lounge, Straits Atlanta, Sushi House Buckhead, The Real Chow Baby - Cumberland, The Real Chow Baby- Howell Mill, The Tenth Thai Cuisine; Lounge, Trader Vic's at Hilton Atlanta and Wan Lai Chinese Restaurant.

A portion of the proceeds from the dine-out week will support a merit-based scholarship for a culinary student who wants to pursue specialized training in Asian cuisine. To learn more about Taste of Asia, and for a full list of participating restaurants, visit
http://www.tasteofasiaweek.com/.

- Becca

Meet 4 Atlanta Chefs! & More ATL News

Make sure you check out the fantastic new restaurant Rosebud in Virginia-Highlands!

Atlanta News

FOUR COOKING CLASSES IN ATLANTA THIS SUMMER AND FALL
(photo is Chef Shaun Doty)

The below schedule highlights upcoming cooking classes that begin in July and continue through September 2009. The Atlanta Community Food Bank’s Simple Abundance Cooking Class series provides the community with the unique opportunity to interact with Atlanta’s top chefs, learn the secrets of exquisite dishes, have fun, and help feed Atlanta’s hungry. One hundred percent of class tuition benefits Atlanta’s Table, a project of the Food Bank that collects food from our local hospitality industry and delivers it to more than 40 nonprofit partner agencies that provide meals for those in need. For details or to register, visit www.ACFB.org or call 404-892-FEED, ext. 1444.

A Celebration of Corn
Chef David Craine of AquaKnox
July 27, 7-9 p.m.
Location: The Cook’s Warehouse - Brookhaven
4062 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA 30319
$55 – Demonstration and Tasting
Do you love sweet summer corn? Try it with the delicious taste of seafood at this corn and seafood inspired class given by Chef David Craine of AquaKnox. He’ll combine AquaKnox’s specialty, global water cuisine, with corn to create incredible summer dishes. Chef Craine will demonstrate how to prepare Corn and Crab Chowder, Carolina Flounder with lobster succotash and corn sauce, and Corn Cake with local mountain blueberries. The evening includes wine tastings sponsored by Sherlock’s Wine Merchant and a chance to win fabulous door prizes provided by Atlanta Beverage, Bella Cucina Artful Foods, Cabot Cheese and Via Elisa Authentic Fresh Pasta.

Pork Three Ways
Chef Kevin Gillespie of Woodfire Grill
August 24, 7-9 p.m.
Location: The Cook’s Warehouse - Midtown
549-1 Amsterdam Avenue, Atlanta GA 30306
$55 – Demonstration and Tasting
Are you a POP? (Pal of Pork) If so, this class is for you! Recently chosen as a contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef, Chef Gillespie has maintained a focus on using the fresh, organic and sustainable ingredients that Woodfire Grill has long been known for, while also putting his own youthful, attention-getting stamp on this popular restaurant. Tonight he will demonstrate three delicious ways to prepare pork. Visit www.ACFB.org for the complete menu. The evening includes wine tastings sponsored by National Distributors and a chance to win fabulous door prizes provided by Atlanta Beverage, Bella Cucina Artful Foods, Cabot Cheese and Via Elisa Authentic Fresh Pasta.

Summer Seafood Feast
Chef Joey Riley of Buckhead Diner
September 14, 7-9 p.m.
Location: The Cook’s Warehouse – Brookhaven
4062 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA 30319
$55 – Demonstration and Tasting
Tonight is all about seafood. Do you have questions about seafood preparation, sourcing or selection? Then you’ll want to be at this class. With an impressive culinary resume and an unmistakable passion for food and cooking Chef Joey, of the renowned Buckhead Diner, will not only demonstrate how to prepare scrumptious seafood dishes, but he will also share his wealth of knowledge of all things seafood with attendees. Visit www.ACFB.org for the complete menu. The evening includes wine tastings sponsored by Sherlock's Wine Merchant and a chance to win fabulous door prizes provided by Atlanta Beverage, Bella Cucina Artful Foods, Cabot Cheese and Via Elisa Authentic Fresh Pasta.

Shaun’s
Chef Shaun Doty of Shaun’s
September 21, 7-9 p.m.
The Cook’s Warehouse - Midtown
549-1 Amsterdam Ave., Atlanta, GA 30306
$55 – Demonstration and Tasting
Chef Doty, one of Atlanta’s most well-known chefs, brings the taste of his popular Inman Park restaurant to Simple Abundance with a menu of Local Tomato Gazpacho with horseradish oil and Ashland Farms micro basil, Georgia Shrimp and Grits, and Vanilla Panacotta with muscadines. The evening includes wine tastings sponsored by National Distributors and a chance to win fabulous door prizes provided by Atlanta Beverage, Bella Cucina Artful Foods, Cabot Cheese and Via Elisa Authentic Fresh Pasta.



Celebrate National Ice Cream Month in Atlanta!

Try these tasty ice cream treats at Atlanta restaurants this summer!

Village Tavern
11555 Rainwater Drive
Alpharetta, GA 30009
770.777.6490
www.villagetavern.com

Banana Crepes
Celebrate National Ice Cream Month with Banana Crepes at Village Tavern, Alpharetta’s neighborhood mainstay. French crepes are layered with Nutella and Bassett’s Banana Ice Cream, fresh bananas, caramel and chocolate sauces with chocolate covered espresso beans to create a deliciously sweet, yet light and refreshing summer dessert.

Alon's Bakery & Market
4505 Ashford Dunwoody Road
Atlanta, GA 30306
678.397.1781
www.alons.com

Homemade Gelato
In addition to delectable pastries, breads, cakes and cookies, Alon’s Bakery & Market features gelato that Alon Balshan makes fresh in his bakery each week using the freshest ingredients, the finest cream and a greater proportion of whole milk. Alon’s offers over 20 changing flavors of the Italian-inspired dessert including the traditional vanilla bean and mint chocolate chip as well as mango, passion fruit, almond, straticella and peanut butter chocolate. There’s no better way to relax and cool down during the hot Atlanta summer than with a delicious cup of this homemade delicacy!

Craft Atlanta
3376 Peachtree Road
Atlanta, GA 30326
404.995.7580
www.craftrestaurant.com

Select from Craft’s uniquely-flavored ice cream line up, including Milk Chocolate Malt, Vanilla Bean, Caramel-Orange, Candied Ginger or Toasted Pecan. Enjoy the cool treats on the restaurant’s patio and pair them with delicious desserts made by Pastry Chef Pamela Moxley.

Spice Market
W Atlanta Midtown
188 14th Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30361
www.spicemarketatlanta.com

Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream
July is national ice cream month, and what better way to celebrate than with a bite of Vietnamese coffee ice cream at Spice Market. Dine al fresco and enjoy this delectable dessert perfect for sharing on a warm summer afternoon.

Green Tea Ice Cream
Sit back and relax as you dine al fresco and celebrate national ice cream month with Spice Market. Inspired by Asian flavor, this ice cream extracts the natural sweetness of green tea to create a dessert that will melt in your mouth.

Market
W Atlanta – Buckhead
3377 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30326
404.523.3600
www.marketbuckhead.com

Sour Cream Cheesecake Blueberry Verjus Compote Pink Grapefruit Sorbet
Relax on the patio at Market, while indulging yourself in a piece of sour cream cheesecake. This sweet concoction is topped with a blueberry verjus compote served over pink grapefruit sorbet, creating the perfect mixture of flavors to satisfy your sweet tooth.

FLIP Burger Boutique
1587 Howell Mill Road
Atlanta, GA 30318
404.352.FLIP (3547)
www.flipburgerboutique.com

Liquid Nitrogen Milkshakes
FLIP Burger Boutique is the ideal destination to celebrate national ice cream month. With a variety of liquid nitrogen milkshakes such as spicy chocolate mole, nutella + burnt marshmallow, or krispy kreme, your taste buds will leave wanting more!


New Restaurant on Marietta St.!

Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria

Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria features an authentic coal oven that produces quality New York-style pizza with a perfect crust topped off with fresh seasonal toppings and mozzarella. Executive Chef Nick Oltarsh brings authentic knowledge of New York-style pizza to his role in the kitchen. Located in the heart of the Luckie Marietta District, Max’s is within walking distance of the Georgia Aquarium, CNN Center, Georgia Dome, Philips Arena and Georgia World Congress Center. With convenient to-go, Max’s fresh flavors can be enjoyed throughout the city. Located next to STATS at 300 Marietta Street, Atlanta, Ga., Max’s is open seven days a week, serving lunch, dinner and to-go from 11 am to 9 pm Sunday through Wednesday and 11 am to 11 pm Thursday through Saturday. For more information on Max’s call 404.974.2941 or visit www.maxsATL.com.

ROSEBUD Review - Local Folks, Kind Flavors

rosebud
1397 North Highland Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30306
404-347-9747
www.rosebudatlanta.com








My mother, Pattie, and I were lucky enough to attend a menu preview last week for the new restaurant, Rosebud, and we were thrilled with the experience! Chef Ron Eyester will open Rosebud on July 6th, and we can’t wait to go back! Rosebud was formerly Food 101 Morningside, and now former chef Eyester is the Owner/Chef. He will feature fresh food with local ingredients, enjoyed in a comfortable, beautiful atmosphere. Specials will utilize the freshest local ingredients available, and the menu will change once a month to take advantage of seasonal offerings.

At the menu preview, Chef Eyester served up an amazing palette of original flavors. First, we sampled Jose’s Mozzarella, a spicy tomato and mozzarella salad accented subtly with a vanilla-balsamic reduction. Next was House Cured Bay of Fundi Salmon, which was exquisite and served with a very fresh-tasting potato salad. And then we had my favorite, the Chicken Liver Toast! This dish was so flavorful and interesting that everyone at the table was gushing and rolling their eyes in delight.

After that, we had an Asian-inspired dish, Ahi Tuna Wonton. I loved the spicy orange sesame glaze in this dish, and the tuna was perfect in flavor and texture. Morningside “Chowda” followed, which was another scrumptious flavor combination. The Chowda contained local sweet corn, Peekytoe Crab, fresh chopped clams, and Benton’s smoked bacon. It was another smash hit, with everyone trying to save room for the other dishes, but helplessly continuing to eat the Chowda because it was so good!

Our next dish was a Simple Green Salad, which was just that, and was a wonderful palate cleanser. The dressing was a red wine vinaigrette, and there were crunchy, crispy potatoes that added a nice extra dimension. Our entrees were Pan Roasted Halibut and Riverview Farms Pork Loin. The Halibut was served with a Succotash and Sun Gold Tomato Vinaigrette and was another wonderful dish. The Pork Loin was served with Smoked Bacon Creamed Cabbage, and was to die for. The Creamed Cabbage was rich, sweet, creamy and delicious. The Pork Loin was seasoned perfectly, just enough to bring out the inherently delicious flavor. I also tried a very refreshing non-alcoholic beverage, which I believe is called an Aranciata, and consists of San Pellegrino and orange juice.

By the time I had eaten all of these heavenly delights, I hardly had any room left for dessert, but I did manage to try these offerings, with happy results – Pamela’s Chocolate Covered Pretzels & Caramel Corn, Carolina Plantation Rice Pudding, and Orange Rosemary Poundcake with Local Blueberries & Soft Whipped Cream. I think that the snack-inspired desserts were my favorites, but they were all amazing!

Chef Eyester and his staff were gracious and charming, and their commitment to fresh, seasonal ingredients is one I hope they continue, and that others emulate, because it really does produce the best food. I will definitely be back, and I am sure that Rosebud will be a popular staple on the Atlanta scene!















Wild Georgia Shrimp
















FIVE out of Five Peaches!

Fourth of July in Atlanta!

Hi Guys, I have a lot of information about things to do in Atlanta on July 4th. Check it out! Also, Atlanta Foodies is the #8 Blog on the Urbanspoon Atlanta Leaderboard. If you are a Foodies fan, check out my reviews on Urbanspoon - http://www.urbanspoon.com/br/9/614/Atlanta/Atlanta-Foodies.html

FOURTH OF JULY

Fourth of July in Atlanta!

On the 4th of July, watch the fireworks while being in the midst of the show 72 stories high at The Sun Dial Bar & View. This year, each level offers patrons something different: for $69, the Restaurant Level features a three course menu of Chef Messier’s summer favorites; the View Level caters to casual crowd with a buffet of picnic themed fare— $45 for adults, $20 for children 6-12 , kids 5 and under eat free; access to the Bar Level includes a $30 cover charge, which comes with one alcoholic beverage.















VIEWS

Get a first-class look at the Peachtree Road Race and the fireworks at these hot spots!

Market
W Atlanta – Buckhead
3377 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30326
404.523.3600
www.marketbuckhead.com

Hot Off the Grill

Join chef de cuisine Ian Winslade as he fires up the grill at Market at the W Atlanta Buckhead on the Fourth of July. Dining al fresco is ideal for those looking to enjoy a skyline view perfect for watching the fireworks. Spend the day on the patio with Market as we kick off the festivities bright and early. For breakfast, Market will be offering a $4 special on pastries, juices, coffee, water, tea and much more. But stick around because beginning at noon and on into dinner, Market will feature $4 sliders and domestic beer. When the sun has set, head up to Whiskey Blue for a great view of the fireworks, where hot dogs and burgers from Market will be on the grill until midnight for only $10. Market is located Peachtree Road, making it the ultimate destination to cheer on the runners and enjoy a mouth-watering meal with an ice cold beer. So, sit back and relax all day on the tranquil patio where the sensational smell of burgers hot off the grill will set the perfect mood for the Fourth of July celebrations.

TAP
1180 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30309
404.347.2220
tapat1180.com

TAP will open at 6:30 a.m. Come watch the world famous Peachtree Road Race on our large patio and enjoy a special Fourth of July brunch and lunch menu. Celebrate with our Annual Block Party featuring smoked BBQ Ribs, hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches, our classic summer sides and Georgia beers, cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn live radio, live band, kid’s entertainment, super soakers and barrels of bottled water for runners and fans. Dinner and happy hour to follow. For reservations, call 404.347.2220.

TWO urban licks
820 Ralph McGill Blvd.
Atlanta, GA 30306
404.522.4622
twourbanlicks.com

TWO urban licks will be open regular hours. Enjoy live music and a great view of the Downtown fireworks on our patio. The fireworks will be in the kitchen as well with TWO’s signature Fiery American cooking! For reservations, call 404.522.4622.


The Melting Pot Midtown
754 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, Ga. 30308
404.389.0099
http://www.meltingpot.com/


Red, Wine and Brew Block Party!

Looking to party with a purpose this Independence Day? Celebrate Fourth of July in the heart of Midtown on Peachtree Street, and spend the day with The Melting Pot, Gordon Biersch and Livingston! Guests will enjoy block party festivities including; live music, great food, and a chance to win great prizes. In honor of the holiday, all three restaurants will feature $4 drinks and $4 menu specials, and The Melting Pot will take a “fourth” off your entire bill (25 percent off) when you purchase any four-course fondue dinner for two! No need to worry about driving home, as The Georgian Terrace is offering a special $114 “Race, Play & Stay” room rate. Convenient Marta access makes viewing Centennial Olympic Park’s fireworks show easy. Head back to the block party on Peachtree after the fireworks and party with us until midnight! Whether you’re looking for a party after the Peachtree Road Race or a place to spend the day with friends, Red, Wine and Brew is for you! Tickets will be available for purchase the day of the event from 11a.m. – 5 p.m. at The Melting Pot Midtown for $10 or $5 with your 2009 Peachtree Road Race t-shirt or number. All ticket sales will be donated to Bert’s Big Adventure. For advance ticket purchase information, visit bertsbigadventure.com.

STATS
300 Marietta St.
Atlanta, GA 30313
404.885.1472
statsatl.com

Come to STATS for $3 XX and enjoy the great rooftop view of the fireworks over Centennial Park Towers and cheer on the Atlanta Braves as they play the Nationals on the big screen TVs!. For reservations, call 404.885.1472.

30 Tables and 11 Stories
at the Glenn Hotel
110 Marietta Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
404.469.0700
30Tables.com
11StoriesAtlanta.com

30 Tables and 11 Stories will be open regular hours. Enjoy Atlanta’s premier rooftop view of Downtown’s fireworks - there’s no better view in the city! Sip on $3 High Life and $5 daily shots. For reservations, call 404.469.0700.



BREWS
Why not beat the heat with a delicious and refreshing cocktail from the city’s best mixologists who have created special holiday cocktails.

Room at TWELVE
400 W. Peachtree St.
Atlanta, GA 30308
404.418.1250
roomattwelve.com



Mixologist Steven Kowalczuk, named one of the Top 100 Mixologists at the 2008 Grand Marnier and NAVAN Summit, voted Tanqueray’s 2005 Most Wanted Bartender in Atlanta and featured in the November 2002 issue of InStyle magazine, created the following lemonade cocktails to offer refreshing relief during the hot Atlanta summers.

Lemon Raspberry:
Build in a tin ¾ filled with ice
2 oz UV Blue Raspberry Vodka
4 oz Fresh lemonade
¾ oz simple syrup
Juice of 1 fresh lemon
Shake and pour contents into 22 pilsner glass
Top with sprite and 3 jumbo cherries

Lemon Cherry:
Build in a tin ¾ filled with ice
2 oz UV Cherry Vodka
4 oz. Fresh lemonade
¾ oz simple syrup
Juice of 1 fresh lemon
Shake and pour contents into 22 pilsner glass
Top with Sprite and 3 jumbo cherries

Watermelonade:
Build in a tin ¾ filled with ice
1 ½ oz Ouzo (anise-flavored liquor)
2 oz. Fresh lemonade
¾ oz. Watermelon Schnapps
juice of a whole lemon
¾ oz. simple syrup
Shake and pour contents into tall Collins glass
Garnish with thick lemon wheel on rim of glass

The Melting Pot
Four Atlanta Locations
Meltingpot.com

Champagne Cocktail Flight
Celebrate Fourth of July at The Melting Pot with their Red, White and Blue Champagne Cocktail Flight. For $12, this enjoy this festive cocktail while gearing up for Atlanta’s fireworks show. Available at all Atlanta locations while supplies last.

Red - .5oz Monin Raspberry, 1oz cranberry juice, top with sparkling.
Build: Combine ingredients in mixing tin with minimal ice and stir. Strain drink into champagne flute.

White - 1oz Bombay Gin, .25 lemon squeezed, .5oz simple syrup, top with sparkling.
Build: Combine ingredients in mixing tin with minimal ice and stir. Strain drink into champagne flute.

Blue - .75oz Hiram Walker Blue Curacao, .75oz UV Blue Raspberry Flavored Vodka, top with sparkling.
Build: Combine ingredients in mixing tin with minimal ice and stir. Strain drink into champagne flute.


MORE
Haven’t found your Fourth fit? Have some dining independence at any of the following restaurants!

Murphy’s
997 Virginia Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30306
404.872.0904
murphysvh.com

Enjoy Murphy’s world-famous brunch from 8 am to 4 pm. No reservations. First come, first serve. Murphy’s will be open regular hours for dinner. For dinner reservations, call 404.872.0904.

Lobby at TWELVE
361 17th Street
Atlanta, GA 30363
404.961.7370
lobbyattwelve.com

Lobby at TWELVE will serve breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30 am, lunch from 11:30 am to 2 pm and dinner from 6 to 9 pm. The bar/bistro will serve from 11 am to 11 pm. For reservations, call 404.961.7370.

Room at TWELVE
400 W. Peachtree St.
Atlanta, GA 30308
404.418.1250
roomattwelve.com

Room at TWELVE’s dining room will open at 7:30 am and close at 11 pm. The bar will open at 5 pm and close at 12 am. For reservations, call 404.418.1250.

Alon's Bakery & Market
4505 Ashford Dunwoody Road 1394 N. Highland Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30346 Atlanta, GA 30306
678.397.1781 404.872.6000
www.alons.com

Celebrate the 4th of July with a delicious picnic from Alon’s. Savor succulent grill-ready meats and choose from a variety of signature sides, from Fingerling Potato Salad and Black Bean and Fresh Corn Salad to Fresh Caprese Salad and Roasted Summer Vegetables. Alon’s even has the baskets, plates, napkins and other accessories to make the perfect patriotic picnic. And don’t forget to cool down with Alon’s delicious homemade gelato!

Craft Atlanta and Craftbar
3376 Peachtree Road
Atlanta, GA 30326
404.995.7580
www.craftrestaurant.com

Get ready for the 2009 Peachtree Road Race on July 4, 2009, by fueling up at Craft. Craft will be open from 7am – 11am the morning of the race for spectators to enjoy. Included in its breakfast spread are granola yogurt parfaits with berries, sausage biscuits, morning glory muffins, fresh coffee, orange juice and water. Craft will be closed for brunch and dinner, but come out to Craftbar on the first floor, which will open for dinner from 2p.m. until 10 p.m. Choose from the extensive wine list or sample specialty cocktails, including “Fat in the Hat”: Bacon-Infused Four Roses Bourbon, Antica Formula & Angostura Bitters; “Rum Old Fashioned”: Zacapa Centenario 23 Year Rum, Regan’s Orange Bitters, Cherry and Orange; “Sunshine Squeeze #1”: Prairie Organic Vodka, Fresh Ginger, Depaz Cane Syrup, Lemon and Lime; and a wide array of beers, ciders and champagnes to go around!

Gourmet Magazine’s DRINKS WITH SPIRIT

If you want to kick off your celebration of America's birthday at cocktail hour, mix up a Blue Hawaii, or try a Red Apple: In a cocktail shaker ¾ full of ice, shake 1 oz vodka, 1 oz apple juice, ½ oz fresh lemon juice, ½ oz grenadine, and a dash of orange bitters and strain it into a chilled cocktail glass. Or you could just open a bottle of Allagash White, straight from the great state of Maine.

Fine Living’s BLUEBERRY TEA

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries 5 cups brewed and cooled black or green tea Combine blueberries and about a cup of iced tea in a blender and puree until smooth. Strain through a fine sieve into a pitcher and add remaining iced tea. To serve, pour into glasses over ice.

Marietta Fish Market

Marietta Fish Market
3185 Canton Rd.
Marietta, GA 30066
770-218-FISH
http://www.mariettafishmarket.net/

Photo of Food Network's Guy Fieri at Marietta Fish Market


I went to the new restaurant, Marietta Fish Market, recently with my parents and their dinner club, which consists of good friends who were all employees of Southern Company's IT division at some point. We all came away very pleased with our meals.


What did you order? How was your food?

MFM's menu is available online. I ordered the Seashore Combo, which was delicious and perfectly seasoned. It is a platter with Flounder, Baby Shrimp, Stuffed Clam & Deviled Crab for $13.95.


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

Wow! The service was amazing!!! Our server was a young man who checked on us constantly. The dinner club's tickets were split into several groups, but he handled it with finesse. As we left the establishment, every employee said that they hoped we had a good time and said goodnight.


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

Yes. It was a mid-range restaurant, and the plates were full of delicious food. You will not leave hungry!


On a scale of 1-5 peaches (with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best), how would you rate this restaurant compared to the other restaurants you visit on a regular basis.

I would give it 4 out of 5 peaches, for a very nice neighborhood seafood restaurant. I liked it better than Red Lobster, that's for sure. We are going to be tougher critics from now on, by the way! :)

This restaurant is best for (Choose all that apply)


• Good food • Quick bite • Family-friendly

• Outdoor • Romantic • Special occasion

Doug's Place

Doug's Place
696 Highway 293
Emerson, GA 30137
(770) 382-9063











Linda and her son Sean visited Doug's Place recently for lunch.

What did you order? How was your food?

Linda had turnip greens, macaroni and cheese, and chicken livers. Sean ordered fried okra, mashed potatoes, chicken fingers. Linda drank sweet tea, and Sean drank Sprite. "The chicken livers are crispy and delicious. There's more food than you could eat. The sweet tea was just perfect."


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

"Service was very fast, friendly, and efficient."


What do you think of the décor and atmosphere?

"The decor is homey and country - no frills. It's just a place to sit and eat. It's just like eating at your mama's."


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

"It's very reasonably priced - the best deal in town."


On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best), how would you rate this restaurant compared to the other restaurants you visit on a regular basis.

"I would give it a 9, because the food, service, and price can't be beat."


This restaurant is best for (Choose all that apply)

• Good food • Quick bite • Family-friendly
• Outdoor • Romantic • Special occasion

Everybody's Pizza

Everybody's Pizza
Decatur Location
1593 North Decatur Rd.
Decatur, GA 30307
(404)377-7766
http://www.everybodyspizza.com/

My mom and I went to Everybody's Pizza the other day after visiting the King Tut exhibit at the Civic Center. Why did we head over to Decatur? Because we used to live there. Plus, Decatur is awesome! I remember visiting Everybody's Pizza as a very small child. We also used to go to Athens Pizza. Both of these restaurants rock! Everybody's is a very atmospheric, college-town, casual pizza parlor. It also has a beautiful outside eating area. After our delicious meal, my mom showed me around Emory, where she used to go to school. A very pretty campus. Well, here is my review of Everybody's.



What did you order? How was your food?

We both ordered a pint of Warsteiner, which was frosty cold and wonderful. For our meal, we ordered "Pizza Crisps" which have very thin crusts. Mine was a Florentine with "fresh spinach, Roma tomato, mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, sharp cheddar, and vinaigrette," and Mom's was a Key Largo with "shrimp, bacon, sesame seeds, mozzarella, provolone, ricotta, parmesan, Roma tomato, and vinaigrette." We loved both of them, and they sure tasted fantastic with a cold beer! For dessert, we had bread pudding, and it was scrumptious!


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

Service was good. The waitresses were very friendly.



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

Yes. Both of our pizzas were around 13 or 14 bucks, but they were pretty big and the ingredients were fresh and gourmet.



This restaurant is best for... Families, Casual Dining, Romantic Pizza Night. :)


Atlanta Foodies gives Everybody's Pizza 5/5 peaches for perfect Decatur pizza!