Atlanta Food and Events News - April 2nd

Atlanta Food News - Week of April 2nd

Caribbean Party in Stone Mountain today! Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery Grill the most popular Caribbean restaurant chain in the nation (they were recently singled out by New York Times food critic Sam Sifton) has Customer Appreciation Day today (April 2nd), which will run from 1:00PM to Midnight, will feature free samples, giveaways, games, cotton candy, live entertainment and a fashion show.Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery Grill, 1267 South Hairston Rd, Stone Mountain, GA. Golden Crust Bakery - Stone Mountain

Hotel Restaurant Week Atlanta begins today and lasts till next Saturday. Hotel restaurants are offering specials of Three Courses for $25. Hotel Restaurant Week Atlanta

Access Atlanta Food and Restaurants always has the best events news - http://www.accessatlanta.com/atlanta-restaurants-food/

Atlanta native, Culinary author and Time reporter Lisa Abend will be at A Cook's Warehouse and the Atlanta Art Institute on April 4th and 5th to give book talks about her new book The Sorcerer's Apprentices about the renowned molecular gastronomy restaurant elBulli. http://www.lisaabend.com/?page_id=4

Fernbank has a special Tornado Alley event on Sunday, April 3rd. Filmmaker and storm chaser Sean Casey will bring the TIV to Fernbank for visitors to get an up-close look at this incredible vehicle that can travel inside the heart of a tornado. Show times are available April 3 at noon, 2pm and 4pm. The TIV will be on view noon – 5pm. http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/experience-imax/tornado-alley/

If you know a bacon lover, J & D's have everything bacon at their website. http://store.baconsalt.com/ These goofballs sent me an April Fool's press release for "BaconAir."

If you know a commercial beer brewer - I don't - The 2nd Annual Denver International Beer Competition, America's only food focused, professionally sanctioned beer competition has extended its entry deadline to April 10, 2011. All commercial brewers are encouraged to enter their food friendly beers. http://denverbeercomp.com/

I made a new friend at the Atlanta Wine School recently, a Wine Blogger named Katie Phillips. If you are an ATLien and love wine, her blog is ATL Vino http://www.atlvino.com/blog

The Atlanta Wine School is fantastic. They opened the world of wine to me, and now I am very excited about wines. Here is their course schedule - http://www.atlantawineschool.com/courses.php They also have guided tours to wine country around the world.

Have a great week! Eat, drink, and be merry in the ATL!

Help Animals at The Avenue and Vino 100 Today!

Saturday, March 5, 2011, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Wine Tasting Benefitting Local Animal Charity
Alpharetta, GA
131 S. Main Street
(770) 343-8010
www.vino100.com/locations.fx


Our Vino 100 Wine Tasting events are always fun! You'll get to sample a variety of wines, and you can talk wine with our helpful, knowledgeable staff, fellow wine lovers, distributors' reps — and perhaps a vineyard owner from time to time. You'll enjoy our store's warm and relaxing ambience and soothing background jazz music so much, you won't want to leave!

Angels Among Us Pet Rescue

March 5, 2011 - 11:00AM - 3:00PM
The Avenue East Cobb
Angels Among Us Pet Rescue will be onsite hosting Pet Adoptions. This ongoing program is held every other Saturday near the fountain from 11:00AM - 3:00PM. Visit http://www.angelsamonguspetrescue.org or http://www.facebook.com/angelsrescue for more information. In case of inclement weather, event will be canceled.

Atlanta Casting Call - Kitchen Makeover

If you're interested... (I plan to post casting call press releases I receive from now on).

KITCHEN MAKEOVER! CASTING NEW TELEVISION SHOW

Do you have a friend or loved one who has a real passion for cooking but is trapped in an outdated, nonfunctional or just plain ugly kitchen? Now's your chance to nominate him/her to receive a kitchen worthy of a gourmet chef! We are currently casting dynamic homeowners who love to cook but are in desperate need of a completely new kitchen. We're also looking for you...our accomplice in this mission. If selected, you would help our team install a state-of-the-art kitchen for your frustrated foodie.

Please note: If you think YOU and YOUR KITCHEN are the perfect fit for this renovation, please have someone nominate you by sending all the information below to our email address. Also, your nominee must own their home/townhome/condo. Renters need not apply.

If you're interested in nominating a cook and being a part of our exciting new show, please email us the following information:
Your name, address, phone number, occupation, age and relationship to nominee
Your nominee's name, address, occupation and age
Photo of you (2 pictures max)
Photo of nominee (2 pictures max)
Photos of the nominee's kitchen (3 pictures max)
Tell us why you are nominating this person. We want to hear about his/her love of cooking - favorite type of food to cook, favorite restaurants, favorite chefs - and what she/he doesn't like about their current kitchen. The more personality/detail the better!

Only emailed submissions including all of the above will be considered. Please send to kitchenmakeovershow@gmail.com. Please put the name of your city in the subject line and where you saw this posting.

PLEASE NOTE: Although all of the materials and labor for the kitchen makeover are given to the Nominee free of charge, we are required by law to notify the IRS of the transaction. As a result, the Nominee will be responsible to pay taxes on the total cost of the makeover.

Kitchen Makeover Team
Www.kitchenmakeovershow.com

Review of US Cafe - Buckhead

US Cafe
US Cafe Buckhead
2591 Piedmont Rd, Suite 102
Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 233 2233

Hours:
Sun-Thurs: 11am to 11pm
Fri-Sat: 11am to 12am


I meant to write this review a while ago, but I misplaced my photos. I guess I will load them on my home computer next time, and not at my parents' house or somewhere else. These are stock photos, but I will describe the cafe for you.

US Cafe is a very clean, vibrant burger joint in Buckhead (there's also a location in Smyrna). It's all polished chrome and bright red, like a brand-new little sports bar. There's a gaming room with a pool table and video games, and an outdoor patio area that's rather nice. A well-stocked bar gleams near the entrance if you're craving a liquid lunch or want to watch the game there. There are a plethora of large, flat-screen TVs seemingly everywhere, too.

Mom and I went to US Cafe to try it out. We ordered two 1/4 lb. US Cheeseburgers with fresh-cut fries, and a chocolate milkshake that we split. They also offer chicken wings, quesadillas, and other sandwiches, and there's a fun condiment bar with lots of interesting sauces and even sriracha to put on your food (Dan and I are pawing through a can of Sriracha Peas at the moment - Yow!).

The food was better than we expected. The burgers were cooked and seasoned just right - no frills, but delicious, and the fries were truly exceptional. They seemed almost like Canadian fries, which are fried twice and beat American fries hands down (my husband is Canadian). I love to put salt and malt vinegar on my fries.

The milkshake was good - what milkshake isn't? But there was plenty of chocolate. I do have to mention one blip that must have happened since they were brand-new at the time, they had to run next door to get more milk for the milkshakes, but it only took a minute.

Service: You order your food at the counter, and the guys that served us were super-friendly and funny. What more do you need at a burger joint? We had a fabulous time at US Cafe, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a delicious burger with the best fries in town. The restaurant is clean, inviting, fun, and casual. I'm sure we will go back if we happen to be in Smyrna or Buckhead!

Becca

Valentine's Day in Atlanta - 2011

Here are some yummy ideas for this Valentine's Day in Metro Atlanta!

Willy’s Mexicana Grill (Burritos as big as your head) has a sweet treat between Feb. 11-14. Guests ordering two entrees and two beverages can receive a free chocolate silk mini-pie from Willy’s simply by saying “Valentine Pie” to their cashier.

A list of Romantic Atlanta-area restaurants on Open Table -Romantic Restaurants




John Kessler's List of Valentine's Day Desserts
Sweet Valentine's Treats

Recipes for Valentine's Cuisine from Food Network
Valentine's Day Recipes

Happy Valentine's Day! Have a wonderful day whether you're single or taken!

Great NW Atlanta Breakfast Restaurants!

Tired of your Cheerios? Wondering if there's a cool place to eat breakfast that you've never heard of?

Well, recently I asked my friends what they think the best breakfast restaurants are in Marietta and Kennesaw. Here is our conversation. Quite a great list! I hope it helps you, kind readers!







Me (Becca) - Hi Guys, my friend Alma and I are trying to think of good places to eat breakfast in Kennesaw & Marietta. So far, we have J. Christopher's, IHOP, Cracker Barrel, Marietta Diner, and Golden Corral. Rio Bravo used to be good, but it's long gone. I've never tried Stilesboro Biscuits. Any more suggestions or comments on those would help a lot! Thanks!

Responses -

Jessica McC. - Derek's on Old Canton (near Burger's Market);
Mountain Biscuit or Louise's on Old 41 (near the mtn.)
My Country Kitchen on Main Street (downtown Kennesaw)
BTW, I haven't been to Mtn Biscuit, but my favorite is Derek's.

Beth S. - Mountain Biscuits and Waffle House. I would say Flying Biscuit, but I think the one in Marietta closed. Oh, and Douceur de France. I've only been there for lunch, but their lunch is good, and so is their bread.

Deborah McL. - I think Old Ephraim's is serving breakfast now. They used to, anyway. I like Panera. Square Bagel?

Aki U. - Douceur.

Jennifer W. - Sugar Cakes on the square also has excellent breakfast.

Shannon A. P. - Is Le Peep still on the square? That place was RAD!

Deborah McL. - Le Peep is long gone. I liked the food especially the pancakes but sometimes the service was awful.

Jeff G. (My Cousin) - What about the classic... Waffle House?

Alma - Thanks for the info! Great help!

Jennifer T. J. - Have you been to Henry's? Its in Acworth but the BEST cajun in town

Me (Becca) - Aha, Henry's does have a brunch at 9 AM on Saturdays. Goldberg's Deli on Johnson Ferry is good, too.

Jennifer T. J. - Skip Goldbergs and go to Bagelicious (also on J. Ferry in the shopping center where the Dunkin Donuts is). You'll thank me. But they only take cash there.

Me (Becca) - Thanks Jennifer! I will try it. :)

Marcos J. - The pancake house!

Patty L. - Sweet Tomatoes, Square Bagel

Me (Becca) - Wow, these are awesome suggestions! I think I will compile them into a list and put them on my blog next week. Thanks! :)

Sal Grosso Review

My husband and I went to Sal Grosso on New Year's Eve for my birthday dinner.

What did you order? How was your food?

Sal Grosso is a churrascaria with a prix fixe menu, including salad bar. If you have never been to a churrascaria, they are a fun experience. “Gauchos” in Brazilian dress circulate with a variety of meats, and you get a card with a red side and a green side to signal when you would like more meat - “green light” or when you don’t – “red light.” A server comes around with sides as well, including Cheese-stuffed rolls, fried yucca, and fried bananas.

We have been to two other churrascarias – Fogo de Chao and Fire of Brazil. Sal Grosso measured up well to our favorite one, Fogo de Chao. Sal Grosso’s salad bar has delicious salads and antipasto, but is not quite as visually stunning or well-stocked as Fogo. It was fresh and nice, though.

The meats were on par with Fogo. They were scrumptious! Our favorite was the house specialty, the Picanha, or “rump cover.” The Picanha is sometimes thought to be better than filet mignon. Other meats include leg of lamb, filet mignon, garlic beef, bacon-wrapped beef and chicken, swordfish, pork ribs, pork loin, and chicken sausages. The sides were also as good as at Fogo. We were very pleased overall with the food at Sal Grosso.


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

Service was friendly and adequate, although not outstanding. Two servers took care of us, with one much more attentive than the other. We had to wait a little bit for drinks at one point, but there were no major problems. It was also my birthday, and the server remembered, sending over the whole crew to sing “Parabéns pra você” to me, which is the “Happy Birthday” song in Brazilian Portuguese. They also brought us a free chocolate cheesecake slice with a candle, which was rich and wonderful.


What do you think of the décor and atmosphere?

Décor at Sal Grosso is very nice, with sumptuous dark wood and large, leather chairs. The walls are white, and it wasn’t quite as romantic as Fogo de Chao, but it did have an atmosphere of quality and comfort, and makes you feel as if you are in Brazil. There is some sort of animal hide on the floor when you walk in. There are candles at the tables, so it was somewhat romantic.


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

Yes, it was cheaper than Fogo de Chao, and it is also closer to us, since it is on Powers Ferry near Windy Hill. This is a fantastic choice for those of us who live on the north side of town outside of the perimeter. It was much easier than driving to Buckhead from Cobb County.

Any other thoughts or comments?

I am really glad we went to Sal Grosso for my birthday. It was nice to try a new churrascaria.


On a scale of 1 to 5 (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 Sal Grosso 4/5 peaches. It was a very enjoyable evening. Service wasn’t perfect, and I still like the salad bar and décor at Fogo better, but otherwise I think Sal Grosso really came through on our expectations.

This restaurant is best for (Choose all that apply)

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