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