You have one day, Tuesday, May 25, to tie into a Wisteria bargain on My Daily Thread.  Until midnight that day, you can shell out $15 for $35 worth of purchases at Wisteria Restaurant.  When 100 people purchase, everyone gets a bonus -- a half-price burger during the restaurant's Burger Sunday bar dining special.  Wisteria, in Inman Park, has racked up top 10 awards in 13 categories of CitySearch Best of Atlanta.  Such a deal, such a dinner!

 

Wisteria: 471 North Highland Avenue; 404-525-3363.

 

Last week, Woodfire Grill Executive Chef/Partner and "Top Chef" star Kevin Gillespie was at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  This week, he's giving a cooking demo at the Apron's Cooking School in Publix at Alpharetta Commons.  Gillespie will fire up the cooking jets at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 28 to share how to make a savory and sweet summer supper.  The cinchy menu will empower you to spend more time with dinner guests than the stove. Gillespie has four courses to share:  sweet corn soup with almond butter, watermelon and lime zest; yogurt-marinated skirt steak with roasted garlic and cilantro puree; skillet-roasted green onion, carrots and small tomatoes with green chili sauce; and strawberry and banana pudding. (Publix at Alpharetta Commons:  4305 State Bridge Road in Alpharetta; Cooking School: 770-751-8560.)

That's great, Kevin, but what has your beard been up to?  The coppery chin coif has its own personality and a 7,000-plus member "Fans of Kevin Gillespie's Beard" Facebook page.  Gillespie's beard and its supporting body will step out to meet fans as they fete it up from 8 - 10 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2 in the Living Room at the W Atlanta - Midtown.  The party is open only to those who join the beard's fan page and RSVP by June 1.  Wet your whistle (but don't dribble on the beard) with these drink specials: $7 ginger mojitos and $5 select beer.  Self park at Colony Square for $5.  (W Atlanta - Midtown:  188 14th Street, NE; 404-892-6000.)

 

Pubs and taverns have long been American gathering places, from the days of our nation's founding fathers to the celebratory toasts of victories.  History and beer mugs come together again over Memorial Day weekend at the 2nd Annual Virginia Highland's Classic Bar Tour from 1 - 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 29.  Gallivant through the in-town neighborhood's oldest and wisest bars at this event sponsored by Miller High Life and benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Here are the tour stops and their dates of establishment:  Atkins Park Tavern (originally a 1922 deli; tavern in 1983), George's Restaurant and Bar (1961), Limerick Junction Irish Pub (1988), Manuel's Tavern (1956) and Moe's & Joe's Tavern (1947).  Visit each for food, adult beverages, prizes and a historic peek at Atlanta's oldest neighborhood bar scene along North Highland Avenue.  Tickets are $10 per person in advance and $20 at the door and cover admission, a Classic Bar Tour mug, t-shirt and drink refills at a discounted price at participating bars.  Stops also will offer menu specials priced the same as they were back in the 1960s.

REMEMBER THOSE WHO DIED FOR OUR FREEDOM ON MEMORIAL DAY

Memorial Day is more than the unofficial first day of summer vacation.  Historically, the holiday honors the memory of those men and women who died while fighting for our nation's freedom.  The National Museum of Patriotism in downtown Atlanta will be open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31 with special events, speakers and activities to celebrate our patriots.  Conveniently, nearby Ray's in the City will be open for dinner from 5 - 9 p.m., serving fine American fare and some of the best meats and seafood in town.  Marlow's Tavern, with six locations convenient to wherever you may be spending Memorial Day, will be open serving mouthwatering American Tavern fare in a comfortable neighborhood setting.  Whether you are in the mood for Italian, Mexican or European-inspired cuisine, Fifth Group Restaurants® has what you want on Memorial Day with La Tavola Trattoria, The Original El Taco and Ecco all open during regular dining hours.  Midtown residents will be happy to know that they can celebrate this special day nearby at RA Sushi and Spice Market.  For those who want to participate in a pre-Memorial Day party, the Virginia Highland location of Atkins Park and Ormsby's will be open late until 3 a.m. on Sunday, May 30, thanks to the city of Atlanta liquor laws.  Both locations of Atkins Park and Ormsby's will also be open during regular hours on Memorial Day.  Lastly, both locations of Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food are also open for a tasty Memorial Day lunch or dinner.

 

Ray's in the City:  240 Peachtree Street, NW: 404-524-9224.
Marlow's Tavern: Alpharetta at 3719 Old Alabama Road, 770-475-1800; Kennesaw at 745 Chastain Road, NW, 770-425-8777; Midtown at 950 West Peachtree Street, 404-815-0323; Vinings at 2355 Cumberland Parkway, 770-432-2526; Northlake at 4156 LaVista Road, 678-987-1197; and Duluth at 1950 Satellite Boulevard, 770-622-2033.
La Tavola Trattoria:  992 Virginia Avenue, NE; 404-873-5430.
The Original El Taco:  1186 North Highland Avenue, NE; 404-873-4656

Ecco: 40 7th Street, NE; 404-347-9555

RA Sushi: 1080 Peachtree Street at 1010 Midtown; 404-267-0114.
Spice Market:  In the W Atlanta Midtown, 188 14th Street, NE; 404-724-2550.
Atkins Park:  Virginia-Highland: 794 North Highland Avenue; 404-876-7249 Smyrna: 2840 Atlanta Road Southeast; 770-435-1887.

Ormsby's: 1170 Howell Mill Road; 404-968-2033.

Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food: In Buckhead at 1860 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-350-6767.  In Sandy Springs at 1140 Hammond Drive, NE, Building K, Suite 100; 678-736-8260

IT'S ALWAYS THE RIGHT TIME FOR A GLASS OF WINE AT MORTON'S THE STEAKHOUSE -- EVEN MORE SO WITH NEW BY-THE-GLASS MENU

"There's never been a better time to be a wine consumer," says Tylor Field III, Morton's vice president of wine and spirits.  He's referring to the incredible selections available by the glass on the latest Wine by the Glass menu at Morton's The Steakhouse in Buckhead and downtown Atlanta.  The menu pours it on with a selection of 27 wines that complement the existing award-winning variety of more than 200 bottles.  Spring/Summer 2010 selections by the glass include: the 25^th release of 2010 Vintner's Hall of Fame inductee Randall Grahm's Bonny Doon "Le Cigare Volant" (This California vintage is offered as a special label "Morton's Cuvee."); a single vineyard Pinot Noir from Tony Soter's Willamette estate; and a rich Chardonnay from Dan Goldfield at Dutton Goldfield (Russian River).

 

Morton's The Steakhouse - Buckhead:  Peachtree Lenox Building, 3379 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-816-6535.
Morton's The Steakhouse - Downtown:  SunTrust Plaza Building, 303 Peachtree Center Avenue; 404-577-4366.

 

Yelper Kelly S. has found a dinner spot that hits all the important categories on her list.  Trattoria 141 in Johns Creek qualifies for a business dinner, romantic dinner, special occasion dinner, jeans are okay or I want to dress up dinner, and a by golly the cocktails are delicious and strong before dinner note.  Oh, and the food's "delicioso," too. 

My company had a dinner here Saturday night, and I just need to give my rave review of this place.

I had one of their signature cocktails, called "Irresistible Bliss", made with pomegranate, lime, and vodka.  It was delicious and strong, and not very sweet at all (because I despise sweet cocktails).

We started with the grilled artichokes (with crispy panchetta) and homemade italian sausage appetizers. The homemade italian sausage was absolutely to die for and will haunt my dreams until I get to eat it again.  My boyfriend said we should have ordered 5 of those to go, and I completely agree.

The Cesare salad (Caesar) was delicioso. I ate every last morsel of it.  My boyfriend's Misto salad had terrific flavor, too.

The bread with tomato-y, cheese-y dipping sauce that they provide is amazing. It's deceptively flavorful. I loved it, loved it, loved it.

Sadly (or perhaps unsadly), my least favorite part of the meal was my entree.  But luckily I was pretty full by then. I had the Gamberi - cold water prawns in fra diavolo sauce.  Next time I think I'll get the lamb chops.  I mean, the entree wasn't bad by any means - it just paled in comparison to the many phenomenal items that came before it.

The coffee was delicious, too.  Nice and strong, but "fancy strong".

Service was great, considering we had 20 guests.  This place is going on my "special occasions" list.  Funny thing is, the servers wear jeans - but the place is dimly lit and romantic.  And the jeans don't bother me. For one thing, I think that means I can wear them there if I want to. ;-)

It's kind of hard to find.  If you take 141 north from 285 about 10 miles, cross over Pleasant Hill (which might be State Bridge at that point), it's almost immediately on your left, by the BP. It's worth the effort to find it, though!

 

Trattoria 141:  9810 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek; 770-497-0021.

 

For Kisha Solomon (@ksolo22), the essence of living the good life is doing something you love.  She's made this a serious pursuit...yet not so serious that she can't have a little fun along the way.  The witty and wisecracking ksolo22 writes about food, travel, art, cultural events, recipes and (drum roll), craft beer.  What a line up!  Read all on her blog BonVivant Online or skim the Twitter short version.

Sample tweet:  NEW POST: copycat recipe - tangerine basil mojito inspired by king of pops: Popsicles are for kids, right? Wrong. ... http://bit.ly/cTyW7Z