8/19/13

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 5th 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 17th Street, Atlanta, GA 30363 | lobbyattwelve.com

TAP and Red Brick Brewing

6 course beer dinner next Tuesday, August 20th 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




8/13/13

Mary Mac's Tea Room Recipe from 1988 - Pork, Peaches, and Peanuts Dip


Mary Mac's Tea Room has been an Atlanta landmark for about 70 years. The library has the 1988 edition of their cookbook, and here is a gem of a recipe, which I don't believe is in the current cookbook. How Southern can you get?

Pork, Peaches, and Peanuts Dip

Yield: Six Cups

Cut into 1-inch cubes:
4 pounds boneless lean pork

Mix:
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup red wine vinegar
3 garlic cloves, chopped

Add pork to marinade and leave at room temperature for 1 hour or cover and refrigerate overnight. Preheat oven to 300̊.

Place in 3-quart ovenproof casserole and add:

3 cups water

Cover and bake for 2 hours.

Remove meat; cool meat and drippings separately. Chop pork. To get the right texture, do this by hand. It should not be too fine.

Add: 

1 cup cooled, skimmed pan drippings
1 cup hot sweet mustard
1 cup peach conserve or peeled fresh chopped peaches (not jelly or preserves)
1 pinch hot red pepper flakes

Mixture should spread easily.

Coarsely chop:

1/2 pound salted roasted peanuts

Mix into the pork mixture if you plan to use it immediately, or use the peanuts to garnish the dip.

This is dark and spicy, so use toasted plain bagel rings or any plain crackers.

Recipe by Margaret Lupo "Mary Mac"

8/6/13

What's Up Atlanta? Upcoming Events and News in Atlanta



NIBBLE AND NOSHFEST 2013
RETURNS TO EAST COBB OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND!

Sunday, September 1 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Monday, September 2 11:00 am to 4:00 pm

The festival takes place in the parking of lot of: TEMPLE KOL EMETH
1415 Old Canton Rd, Marietta, GA, 30062
For the fourth year, Nibble and Noshfest entices the community with food and entertainment over Labor Day weekend. It provides visitors with a taste of Jewish and related ethnic foods sold in “sample size” portions, priced from $1 to $4. Children will
be wowed by huge jump castles and other great activities. 


Dine Out to Benefit the Humane Society

Also on Tuesday, August 13, you can dine out for a paws cause at The Lawrence, where a percentage of your bill will benefit the 1873 Society Club, the Atlanta Humane Society's junior board. http://www.thelawrenceatlanta.com/


Comedy at Laughing Skull and Atlanta Improv August 8-10th
Erik Griffin, a main character in Comedy Central's "Workaholics," also seen on Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham" and NBC's "Last Comic Driving," will be bringing his talents to Atlanta Improv Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and again at 10 p.m. on Saturday.  

Chris Franjola, a regular roundtable guest on E!'s late-night hit show "Chelsea Lately," will be hitting the Laughing Skull Lounge stage Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and again at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday.http://laughingskulllounge.com/


BANTAM + BIDDY & CHICK-A-BIDDY HOST THE ATLANTA COMMUNITY FOOD BANK’S AUGUST SUPPER CLUB FUNDRAISER Tuesday, August 13 from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Bantam + Biddy and Chick-a-Biddy, two of Chef Shaun Doty’s newest restaurants, invite the community to help raise money for the Atlanta Community Food Bank.  Each restaurant will host the Food Bank’s regular Supper Club fundraiser on Tuesday, August 13 from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. Supper Club provides diners the pleasure of enjoying a meal at some of Atlanta’s hottest restaurants while supporting hunger relief. Each month a different restaurant serves as host and 20 percent of each diner’s tab for the evening benefits the Food Bank.

Bantam + Biddy is located at 1544 Piedmont Ave, Suite 301, Atlanta, GA 30324. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 9 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. For more information, call 404-907-3469 or visit www.bantamandbiddy.com.
Chick-a-Biddy is located at 264 19th Street NW, Suite 2140, Atlanta, GA 30363. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m. – 12 a.m., Saturday 10:30 a.m. – 12 a.m. and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. For more information, call 404-588-1888 or visitwww.chickabiddyatl.com.


Benefit the AIDS Walk Atlanta
Next Tuesday, August 13 from 7-9 p.m. be at Tantra during a celebrity bartender competition called CeleBARate.   Tips raised will benefit the cause. You can enjoy signature cocktails and light bites while our favorite celeBARities sling drinks including blogger, Shameeka Ayers aka The Broke Socialite; Mara Davis - co-host, Atlanta Eats; Ashley Hesseltine - DailyCandy editor and Witty + Pretty Blogger; Bill Kaelin - owner, Bill Kaelin Marketing; and Raisa Lefe' Rouse -- Mrs. Georgia U.S. United 2013. CLICK HERE for more info.


Taco Mac now carries Frozen Pints Beer Ice Cream
Introducing two of Frozen Pints most popular flavors – Malted Milk Chocolate Stout and Honey IPA – patrons will be able to experience and savor the unique frozen treat as a dessert or atop their favorite, go-to beer. Patrons will also be able to receive a Taco Mac Brewniversity credit with purchase of either Frozen Pints flavor.
Woodstock:               9020 Hwy 92, Suite 100, Woodstock, Georgia 30189
Kennesaw:                 600 Chastain Road, Suite 310, Kennesaw, Georgia 30144
Perimeter:                  1211 Ashford Crossing, Atlanta, Georgia 30346
Canton:                       1810 Cumming Hwy, Suite 1100, Canton, Georgia 30114
Duluth:                        3543 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Duluth, Georgia 30096
East Roswell:            2630 Holcomb Bridge Road, Alpharetta, Georgia 30022
For more information, to find retail and restaurant partners, or to place an order, visit www.frozenpints.com or www.Facebook.com/FrozenPints 


Savor Wine Boutique Shopping & Tasting Experiences Slated to Begin September 2013 at Kirkwood Station
Savor Wine Boutique to be uncorked late this summer. The store is located in Atlanta’s historic Kirkwood neighborhood, joining art galleries, spas and restaurants in the mixed-use development of Kirkwood Station at 1963 Hosea L. Williams Drive, Suite R-103. Operating hours will be from 11:00a.m. to 8:00p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 12:30p.m. to 6:00p.m. on Sundays and closed on Mondays. http://savorwineboutique.com/about-us/

7/29/13

Burger 21 Opening!




Burger 21 Opens First Restaurant in Georgia
TAMPA, Fla. (July 29, 2013) – Burger 21®, founded by the owners of The Melting Pot® Restaurants, Inc., announced it has expanded the brand to Georgia with the opening of its first Metro Atlanta restaurant in the Mall of Georgia area, located at 3385 Woodward Crossing Blvd., Suite 350, in Buford. http://www.burger21.com http://www.burger21.com/menu.aspx

These sound good!

The Shroom
lettuce, tomato, crimini mushrooms, onions, fontina cheese, toasted brioche bun
Black & Bleu*
blackened to perfection, lettuce, tomato, applewood-smoked bacon, bleu cheese spread and crumbles, toasted brioche bun
Tex-Mex Haystack
lettuce, tomato, applewood-smoked bacon, Gouda, guacamole, onion strings, chipotle-jalapeño sauce, toasted brioche bun
Cinco Burger
lettuce, tomato, guacamole, salsa, jalapeños, Monterey jack cheese, cilantro cream, sesame bun


Farm to Fido: Dog Food Goes Local (NPR) – “Many producers offering farm-to-fido dog food say it's a healthful option for pets that also helps farmers and ranchers while cutting down on food waste. It can also help the environment. For instance, the product Wendy is developing is made from wild blue catfish, an in the Chesapeake Bay.”

Flying Biscuit Recipe Contest ends Friday! http://www.flyingbiscuit.com/cookbook/
“We’re looking for recipes that fit the Flying Biscuit mold: Southern charm with a twist of fun. Recipes like a Pecan Pie that has some spicy heat to it, or something like our famous chicken sausage.” We’re accepting these entries under these categories:
• Breakfast
• Appetizers
• Soups & Salads
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Desserts
• Kids
• Biscuits

Key Dates & Deadlines
June 28th, 2013 – Submissions begin
July 25th, 2013 – Submissions close