DINE OUT FOR SAFETY AUGUST 18 AND TAKE A
BITE OUT OF CRIME
 Crime
bites. Bite back by joining in the
second annual "Dine out
for a Safer Atlanta" on Wednesday, August 18. This "steak" out relies on you and some
tantalizing secret weapons for its success. Ecco, La Tavola Trattoria and Woodfire Grill are three of the
restaurants across Atlanta that will donate 10 percent of their proceeds to the
Crime Stoppers Atlanta reward fund. Thanks to Crime Stoppers, which began in 2007, more than 149 dangerous
criminals are off the streets. Goes to
show, crime doesn't pay...but dining out for safety does!
Ecco: 40 7th Street, NE; 404-347-9555. La Tavola Trattoria: 992 Virginia Ave, NE;
404-873-5430. Woodfire Grill: 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road; 404-347-9055.
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$5 APPS AND DRINKS HEADLINE WEDNESDAY'S
GIRLS NIGHT OUT AT AQUA BLUE Girls,
get over pink. Aqua blue is your shade of fun on
Wednesdays as Girls Night Out rules the Roswell restaurant and bar. Catch up with your girlfriends over a
selection of $5 appetizers and drinks. The
fun starts at 5 p.m., and if apps should lead into dinner, Aqua blue's global
menu has something for everyone from cool, crisp salads to fresh Blue Ribbon
sushi and grilled meats. So, what do you
say? Is it a date?
Aqua blue: 1564 Holcomb
Bridge Road in Roswell; 770-643-8886. |
WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS, RAISE A TOAST
WITH JCT. COCKTAIL RECIPE
 Be
sure to squeeze National Lemonade Day into your Friday, August 20 agenda! Leave the lemonade stands to the under-21 crowd
and shake up a couple of Shandy-0 cocktails. JCT. Kitchen & Bar Mixologist Lara Creasy starts with two ounces of lemonade -- after that,
adult-only ingredients up the chillax factor immensely. Thank goodness the recipe fills an
adult-sized glass and not one of those little lemonade stand kiddie cups! Of course, you're welcome to cool off with
Shandy-O and a full menu of cold beverages at JCT.
Shandy-O
1 oz. Wild Turkey American Honey
2 oz. Allagash White beer
2 oz. fresh lemonade
Combine all in a tall glass with plenty of
ice. Toss briefly in a cocktail shaker to mix and serve with a lemon wedge for
garnish.
JCT.
Kitchen & Bar: In Atlanta's Westside Urban Market at 1198
Howell Mill Road, Suite 18; 404-355-2252.
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MEET DAVIO'S CHEF
BENNETT HOLLBERG AT THE PIEDMONT PARK GREEN MARKET ON AUGUST 21
 Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse,
soon to open in Phipps Plaza, is new to the neighborhood. Davio's Executive Chef Bennett Hollberg is
not. The Atlanta native and Paideia
School graduate has been a part of the Atlanta fine dining scene since 2002,
when he apprenticed at The Dining Room at The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead. Hollberg was quickly promoted to chef de
partie and soon became the restaurant's sous chef before moving up in 2006 as
the chef de cuisine for Atlanta Grill located inside The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta. During his time there, Atlanta Grill was
named "Best Restaurant Downtown" by Zagat for 2008-2009, and Hollberg's cuisine
was recognized by several publications including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jezebel, Southern Seasonsand Georgia Trend. Not only that, Hollberg was named one of Atlanta magazine's "Rising Star Chefs"
in 2008.
Fast
forward to Saturday, August 21, and you'll find Chef Hollberg working in the
demo kitchen at the Piedmont
Park Green Market from 11 a.m. until noon on the Community Center patio. Come say "hello" and garner some healthy
ideas for summertime eating. Otherwise,
you'll have to wait until Davio's opens in Phipps Plaza on August 25 to enjoy
lunch or dinner by Hollbert. Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse: Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree Road, NE;
404-844-4810. |
GIVE ME FIVE: FIVE CHEFS AND FIVE SOMMELIERS MEET AT EAST
LAKE GOLF CLUB TO FIGHT CHILDHOOD HUNGER
 On
any other night you'd find these five top Atlanta chefs and five sommeliers in
the kitchens and wine cellars of some of Atlanta's best restaurants. On Sunday, August 22, they'll be at East Lake
Golf Club helping Share Our Strength carry out its "No Kid Hungry" goal. Give Me Five: Five Chefs and Five Sommeliers pulls out all the stops to serve a six-course dinner by Georgia's top chefs
with exquisite wine pairings and sommelier commentary by Aria Sommelier Andrés Loaiza and four
others. Jenn Hobby, co-host of Q100's
The Bert Show, will emcee the evening, and live and silent auctions will round
out the big night. Cocktails begin at 5
p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Tickets are $275 per person or $2,500 for a table of 10. Aria: 490
East Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead; 404-233-7673. |
ARIA
HOSTS WINE DINNER WITH ENOLOGIST SUSANA BALBO FROM ARGENTINA
 Meet Susana Balbo, Argentina's most-recognized and
famous female enologist, at a special Tuesday, August 24 wine dinner at Aria in Buckhead. Balbo's philosophy, developed during more
than 25 years as a domestic and international winemaker consultant and then as
an Argentinean winemaker, focuses on sustainable agriculture, precision
viticulture, superior skills and wine-crafting passion. The fascinating evening starts at 7 p.m. and
unfolds around Balbo's handcrafted wines, and Aria's to-dine-for cuisine. Don't miss out -- make your reservations
today by calling 404-233-7673. Read more
on Facebook. Aria: 490 East Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead;
404-233-7673. |
GOLDENS
IN THE GALLERIES ON BENNETT STREET HELPS ADOPT A GOLDEN
 How can you resist those big brown eyes and that
jovial grin? Goldens in the Galleries will snap you right out of any dog days of summer doldrums
and set your tail wagging from 5:30 - 8 p.m. on Friday, August 27. The artsy evening in the Bennett Street
Galleries in Buckhead benefits Adopt a Golden Atlanta, a rescue organization for golden retrievers. Appropriately, nearby Thirsty Dog Tavern will be participating in the dog lovers' night out. $20
per person covers wine, martinis, hors d'oeuvre and music. Tickets are available
online or at the door, and parking is free. Afterward, chill your dogs over a huge menu of people chow and more cold
drinks. Thirsty Dog Tavern is calling
your name!
Thirsty
Dog Tavern: 2110 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-367-8482.
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MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT! SHARE YOUR OPINION ON
ATLANTA'S FAVORITE RESTAURANTS IN THE "BEST OF CITYSEARCH"
 Voting comes to an end in just a few days in the "Best of Citysearch 2010" restaurant poll. Check in and check
off your favorites in the local specialties and food/dining categories
including "Best" restaurant, pizza, steak, romantic, people watching . . . the
list goes on. Don't put down your fork or mouse until
you're all done voting!
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MAKE ATLANTA TOPS IN TRAVEL + LEISURE'S ANNUAL "AMERICA'S FAVORITE CITIES" SURVEY
 Travel
+ Leisure
magazine's annual "America's Favorite Cities" survey is in full swing, and they want your take on the
state of America's cities. The ATL tops our list of favorite cities so let's
spread the word. Check out the survey
and rate Atlanta's restaurant scene, attractions, hotels, diversity, culture
and more. But hurry, survey ends August
31.
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SHAKE IT UP
ORGANICALLY WITH YEAH! BURGER'S SHAKE OF THE MONTH
 Oh,
what a quandary you'll be in when you have to make the big decision. To sip, spoon or slurp up the frosty vanilla
coconut shake that's staring you in the face at YEAH! BURGER. Always up for organic and sustainable
ingredients, YEAH! BURGER blends their August shake of the month with Straus
Family Creamery organic vanilla ice cream and coconut milk. Each month whips a different shake flavor in
the limelight, available for a smooth $5.49.
Come by and order your frothy treat from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
on Sunday. More info on Facebook and Twitter.
YEAH! BURGER:
1168 Howell Mill Road, Suite E; 404-496-4393.
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IN THE END, THE
KILLER TOMATOES COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH THE FEROCIOUS CHEFS
 They
came, they chopped, they conquered thousands of pounds of tomatoes. And nothing was left over but legends of the
super hero chefs and mixologists who were victorious during Atlanta's second annual
Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival.
Generations will tell of the conquests of winners including Aria Executive Chef Gerry Klaskala, a.k.a.
"King of Taste," and Pacci Executive
Chef Keira Moritz, a.k.a. "Fan Favorite."
Kevin Gillespie, executive chef and co-owner of Woodfire Grill, churned up tomato ice
cream sandwiches. Aria's grilled cheese
with roof-top dried tomatoes earned the rank of "Best Tasting," and JCT. Kitchen & Bar's Killer Tomato
jelly doughnuts filled with bacon fat custard were pure genius, nabbing "Most
Creative." Ultimately, Georgia Organics came out on top as
the event beneficiary of this historically delectable battle. Rematch next summer? Stay tuned!
JCT.
Kitchen & Bar: In Atlanta's Westside Urban Market at 1198
Howell Mill Road, Suite 18; 404-355-2252.
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YELPER IS COCONUTS
OVER LUNCH AT RAMA 5 OF THAILAND
 Yelper Carrie Neal W. is soon to be a
regular at Rama 5 of Thailand. The writer's new office digs are nearby, generating daily opportunities
to share high fives and to "Thai" one on in Buckhead. Go for it. Maybe you'll be bonkers for the coconut soup and run into Carrie there.
Love this place! Now that I'm pretty much down the
street and a pebble's throw away, I'll definitely be by more frequently.
Met my new editor (gosh, I just love saying that!!) for lunch today and am
happy to report that, yes, it was the Pad Woon Sen (with chicken) that I got
when the fabulous David K and ate there last winter, and it is just as
delicious as ever. There's just something about those silver sliver noodles
(heh, try saying silver sliver three times fast and see how silly you sound!).
This time around, I went for the coconut soup - yum! Just a big enough cup-size
serving, and included with your lunch special. Good stuff for $8. I have
leftovers again, just like last time. My dining companion got one of the
curries with chicken (I'm not so good at knowing all of them apart but it
looked delish and he enjoyed it).
Only downside, if you feel like imbibing, is that curiously, they are still
sans liquor license. Seems like a long time since they've been
"temporarily without" as I heard a server explain, and the bar looks
really funny *naked*, but then again, not such a big deal since you're probably
not going to Rama 5 - especially at lunch- for the drinks!
Yay, go Team Thai!!
Rama 5 of Thailand: 318 E. Paces Ferry Road, NE;
404-442-7522.
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EAT IT AND
TWEEP: THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR ONE MORE
TWEEP ON FIFTHGROUPER
 Fifth Group Restaurants Director of
Marketing Michael Erickson has one thumb on what's going on in his restaurants
and the other thumb on his Twitter keys.
How he divides his "restaurant thumb between South City
Kitchen Midtown, South City Kitchen Vinings, La Tavola Trattoria, Ecco, The
Original El Taco and Bold American Events & Catering -- we don't know, but
he does it very well. Follow Erickson @fifthgrouper and on Facebook.
Sample Tweet:Don't miss the Morningside Summer Block Party on August 28. Details at the link below.
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| Looking for the latest restaurant opening, weekly wine tastings and drink specials, or other culinary happenings? Whatever makes your mouth water, Melissa Libby & Associates will point you in the right direction. Our monthly calendar, blog, flickr, Facebook page and Twitter feed will keep you up-to-date on new and ongoing restaurant events around Atlanta. |
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 Melissa Libby & Associates is an Atlanta-based public relations firm specializing in the restaurant, retail and hospitality industries.
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