RAIN DELAY? BUCKHEAD'S "TAKE YOUR FEET TO EAT" WALK AND DINE OUT WEEK EXTENDED UNTIL NOVEMBER 5 DUE TO LAST WEEK'S RAINY DAYS
Have to admit it, last week was pretty soggy. Buckhead restaurants maintain a sunny outlook for all by extending their first "Take Your Feet to Eat" Walk Week through Friday, November 5. Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse is offering a special $15 three-course menu for the pedestrian event. You can view the menu on the Buckhead Area Transportation Management Association's (BATMA) website and sign the pledge on Facebook. You know what a snarl the streets are when everyone has to drive to lunch. Do your part to reduce congestion, reduce greenhouse emissions and increase your body's energy needs by walking instead of driving this week and maybe the week after that . . . and maybe . . .
Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse: Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-844-4810.
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BLOCKBUSTER CELEBRATES "TOY STORY 3" WITH A PIZZA-FILLED ELECTION DAY PARTY
 With the DVD release of "Toy Story 3" on Tuesday, November 2, the Blockbuster store at 6660 Roswell Road and Abernathy has a different Election Day strategy in the works from 4 - 6 p.m. -- and it's one that will make the whole family buzz. Kids can enter the "voting booth" to cast ballots for their favorite character from the movie: Woody, Buzz, Jessie or a write in. Each voter receives an "I Voted" sticker, and every ballot goes into the box for a drawing of fabulous "Toy Story" prizes.
Pizza Planet? Oh yeah, pizza for sure, along with face painting, a costume contest and visits from costumed characters, games and a balloon artist to keep things popping. Star 94 will be onsite spinning tunes and giving away a PS3 and the PS3 "Toy Story 3" game and other awesome Blockbuster prizes. Gotta see it? Rent the movie or buy it to laugh with over and over. DVDs are just $19.99, and Blu-Ray versions are only $29.99 at Blockbuster, your headquarters for all the best "Toy Story 3" gear, games and gadgets.
Blockbuster: 6660 Roswell Road; 404-705-1980.
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GOOD MEAT, LET'S EAT! CHEF ANNE QUATRANO HOSTS "LOCAL MEAT DINNER" ON NOVEMBER 2
 To close out Emory University's "Good Meat, Know the Meat You Eat!" event, Anne Quatrano, executive chef and owner of Floataway Caf�, hosts a special "Local Meat Dinner" at the restaurant on Tuesday, November 2 at 7:30 p.m. The meaty menu includes Riverview Farms Berkshire pork porchetta; house-preserved prune and chestnuts; White Oak Pastures Red Ranger paillard with liver crostini and autumn vegetable salad; wood-grilled Riverview Farms beef burger served on foccacia with pickled red onion and Kenny's Blue Summerland Farm yard egg pie. Cost is $105 per person with wine pairings and includes a copy of Chef and James Beard Award Winner Deborah Krasner's book, "Good Meat: The Complete Guide to Sourcing and Cooking Sustainable Meat." A portion of the evening's proceeds benefits Slow Food Emory and Emory Dining Green Team. Call the restaurant at 404-892-1414 for reservations.
Floataway Caf�: 1123 Zonolite Road, NE, Suite 15; 404-892-1414.
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JULIA CHILD (AKA ATLANTA OPERA'S SUSAN NICELY) SINGS "BON APP�TIT" NOVEMBER 4 AT THE COOK'S WAREHOUSE ANSLEY MALL
 Julia would love this! Atlanta Opera mezzo soprano Susan Nicely stands in for the beloved television chef during "Bon App�tit!" on Thursday, November 4 at 7:30 p.m. at The Cook's Warehouse at Ansley Mall. The lighthearted, 30-minute musical by Lee Hoiby turns back time to Julia Child's famous 1960's kitchen-studio and a cooking class bubbling over with cheesy comedy, song and samples for the audience. Guests will receive a 10 percent discount on in-store purchases that evening as well as have the opportunity to sign up for future cooking classes, receive take home giveaways and enjoy desserts from West Egg Caf�. Admission is a tax-deductible $25 donation to The Atlanta Opera. Contact Amanda Wilborn, 404-591-2928, to obtain your tickets. Special pricing is available for Comprimarios members.
The Cook's Warehouse, Ansley Mall: 1544 Piedmont Road, NE (behind Blockbuster); 404-815-4993.
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KEVIN GILLESPIE DEMOS WITH PRODUCE FROM CRYSTAL ORGANIC FARM AT NOVEMBER 6 MORNINGSIDE FARMERS MARKET
 Even though his restaurant has the word "grill" in its name, Woodfire Grill Executive Chef/Partner and "Top Chef" celebrity Kevin Gillespie is best buds with fresh vegetables -- especially locally grown organic vegetables.
Roll out of bed, grab your mug and market basket and head to the Morningside Farmers Market on Saturday, November 6 to see Gillespie's 9:30 a.m. demo using the season's harvest from Crystal Organic Farm. The market, located at 1393 North Highland Avenue, is open from 8 - 11:30 a.m. so there's still plenty of time to shop for those inspirational ingredients at this neighborly market.
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HEY SANTA! WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT PHIPPS ON NOVEMBER 6, WHISPER TO MOMS AND DADS THAT KIDS EAT FREE AT DAVIO'S ON SUNDAYS
 Santa's crew alights at Phipps Plaza on Saturday, November 6, and appointments to sit on Santa's lap filled up faster than a trip back up the chimney. When you made your Santa-do list, hopefully you snagged a Sunday visit with the big guy so you can come to Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse at Phipps before or after. Elfkin appetites, i.e. children, eat free from Davio's kids' menu on Sundays when joining adults for their meal. And speaking of grown ups, Davio's has quite the range of goodies from spring rolls and salads to steaks and tiramisu. Anxious about whether little Bobby and Suzy will laugh or cry on Santa's lap? Calm those pre- or post-Santa jitters by enjoying a glass of wine or beer from Davio's primo selection with your meal.
Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse: Phipps Plaza, 3500 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-844-4810. |
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TOULOUSE'S NOVEMBER 7 WINE TASTING "RESERVES" THE BEST FOR YOU
 Exploring Reserve wines is one of the most popular topics at Toulouse's monthly wine tastings. With the holiday wining and dining season fast approaching, the timing on this month's Sunday, November 7 tasting is impeccable!
The Toulouse Wine Guy will direct your tasting spree of 15 wines interspersed with light appetizers starting at 6:30 p.m. $40 per person. Be sure to make your reservations by calling 404-351-9533.
Toulouse: 2293 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite B; 404-351-9533.
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THE GLASS IS HALF FULL ON NOVEMBER 13, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR WINE LOVERS AND THE GEORGIA TRANSPLANT FOUNDATION
 See the world through rose-colored wine glasses -- or ruby red or sparkling white glasses for that matter -- at the second Glass Half Full wine tasting event on Saturday, November 13 from 7 - 10 p.m. at Jim Ellis Chevrolet of Atlanta. The evening of high-end wines from around the world will definitely lead to a positive, glass-half-full outlook for the event's beneficiary -- Georgia Transplant Foundation -- and its mission of meeting the needs of organ transplant candidates, recipients and donors. Wines to be tasted included Renato Ratti Barbera, Torres Chile Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon, Tedeschi Lucchine Valpolicella, Tedeschi Amarone, Cloudline Pinot Noir, 3 Stones Sauvignon Blanc and Novelty Hill Chardonnay. Yes, liquid pleasures will abound along with a solid foundation of fine foods prepared by some of Atlanta's best chefs. Tickets are $125 each or $200 for two.
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WILL YOUR TEAM HAVE A SHOT AT DEADWOOD SALOON'S MAKER'S MARK ULTIMATE COLLEGE GAME-DAY DIPPING PARTY ON NOVEMBER 13?
 Pom poms are so old school. Shot glass dipping in team colors? Now we're talking football, Deadwood Saloon-style. Football fans who make the Midtown hotspot their end zone for football viewing on Saturday, November 13 can have fun with the folks from Maker's Mark as they give away 500 signature wax-dipped shot glasses -- dipped in collegiate colors, of course! At the noon 'til 9 p.m. "dipping party," fans can choose from an array of options including University of Georgia, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Clemson, Auburn, The University of Tennessee, Louisiana State and The University of Alabama. Some of the ultimate Maker's Mark football fans will win specialty wax-dipped pigskins! Food, drinks and fine football viewing join the party for the ultimate football game-day experience!
Deadwood Saloon: 66 12th Street in Midtown; 404-671-4290. |
ORDER A WHITE OAK PASTURES TURKEY FOR THANKSGIVING . . . YOU AND YOUR GUESTS WILL BE EVER THANKFUL FOR YOUR GREAT TASTE IN BIRDS
 Chances are, back in Pilgrim days, wild turkeys roamed freely. Guess you could consider these Toms the original "free range turkeys." Modern-day Thanksgiving feasters rejoice because White Oak Pastures has several hundred Free Range Bronze turkeys on the farm! These birds are raised following the same open pasture lifestyle as White Pastures' cattle: roaming in a natural setting and living naturally without antibiotics or added hormones. They actually work on the farm, contributing in their own special way to pasture management. White Oak Pastures practices the Serengeti Model, which means large ruminant (cows) followed by small ruminant (sheep) followed by bird (chickens and turkeys), so pastures are grazed and fertilized in three different ways. We digress. Bottom line on these birds is that you need to order your turkey now for your holiday table. Turkeys average 15 pounds each at processing and cost $7.49 per pound. The last day to order is November 15; last ship day is November 17. |
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JCT. KITCHEN & BAR HOSTS LAST 2010 "FARM TO TABLE AND BACK" QUARTERLY GUEST CHEF DINNER AND GEORGIA ORGANICS BENEFITS
 It's been a delicious 2010 for "Farm to Table and Back" followers at JCT. Kitchen & Bar. Regional cooking using fresh, locally raised and produced ingredients is the year-round headliner at Executive Chef Ford Fry's Westside restaurant. The quarterly guest chef dinners only amplify the goodness! So far, this year's guest chef dinners have included Hugh Acheson of Atlanta's Empire State South and Five and Ten, The National and Gosford Wine in Athens, Ga., and Chris Hastings of Hot and Hot Fish Club in Birmingham, Ala. Mike Lata of FIG in Charleston, S.C. chefs the last quarterly dinner of the 2010 series on Thursday, December 9. The cost of his special four-course, prix fixe menu is $75 per person and includes wine pairings. As with all of the "Farm to Table and Back" dinners, Georgia Organics will receive 100 percent of the night's proceeds! December 9 sounds a ways away, yet it will be here before you know it. Go ahead and reserve a table by calling 404-355-2252 and mentioning you want the special "Farm to Table and Back" menu for everyone at your table. Yes, JCT.'s regular menu will be available, but who wants to be left out?
JCT. Kitchen & Bar: In Atlanta's Westside Urban Market at 1198 Howell Mill Road, Suite 18; 404-355-2252.
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CHRISTIANE LAUTERBACH WINS SOUTHERN FOODWAYS ALLIANCE AWARD
 Atlanta food critic, journalist and food blogger Christiane Lauterbach recently received the Southern Foodways Alliance (SFA) Craig Claiborne Lifetime Achievement Award. The key ingredient here is that the award "goes to an individual whom all thinking eaters should know, the sort of person who has made an indelible mark upon our cuisine and our culture, the sort of person who has set regional standards and catalyzed national dialogues." Add that to the theme of this year's SFA symposium -- the Global South and how culinary traditions have shaped and continue to redefine Southern food culture -- and you have a tale of Lauterbach's life work documenting Atlanta's global food scene. As part of her award, Lauterbach's portrait, inspired by a 1985 photograph, was drawn by Mississippi artist Blair Hobbs. |
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THE GREAT PUMPKIN IS TASTEFULLY APPEARING AND DISAPPEARING AT ATLANTA-AREA RESTAURANTS
 Squash any rumors you've heard about pumpkins belonging solely in pumpkin pies and pumpkin bread or going straight from patch to Halloween porch. Those big orange globes with their creamy innards pumped up with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals have so much more to give both taste- and health-wise. Thankfully, our friends in the kitchen have equally big savory and sweet plans. Aqua blue, for instance, makes its daily soup from the freshest seasonal ingredients available, which happens to be pumpkin right now. You guessed it; guests are pouncing on the Roswell restaurant's spicy pumpkin soup ($6). Amigos at Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food locations in Buckhead and Sandy Springs are picking pumpkin flan ($5.25) as their fall dessert. There'll be no procrastinating on choosing this flan -- it's only on the menu through Monday, November 29.
Aqua blue: 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell; 770-643-8886.
Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food: In Buckhead at 1860 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-350-6767. To-go line: 404-974-2991. In Sandy Springs at 1140 Hammond Drive, NE, Building K, Suite 100; 678-736-8260. To-go line: 678-736-8261.
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YELPER GIVES BLUE MOON PIZZA THE GLUTEN-FREE BUMP
 Yelper Ivan S. loves his gluten-free wife, and therefore, he appreciates Blue Moon Pizza for its gluten-free menu without a funky gluten-free aftertaste or that big gluten-free menu price mark-up. Apparently, these are rare qualities in the gluten-free pizza marketplace that will make Blue Moon a regular in your g-f pizza list.
Blue Moon Pizza: 2359 Windy Hill Road, SE, Marietta; 770-984-2444.
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EAT IT AND TWEEP: "FARM TO TABLE AND BACK" GUEST CHEF MIKE LATA TWEETS AT FIG IN CHARLESTON, S.C.
 It's always nice to know a little bit about who you're having dinner with . . . and since FIG Chef Mike Lata is coming for JCT. Kitchen & Bar's "Farm To Table And Back" dinner on December 9, we thought we'd give you some background reads and point you toward his blog and tweets. Lata keeps it simple at unpretentious FIG, passionately working with Lowcountry farmers, growers and purveyors to capture the essence of the region and season. His staff is well educated in food and wine culture and well versed in the art of hospitality. New England-native Lata is a self-taught chef who sharpened his restaurant focus on farm-to-table philosophies and European-style cooking using the highest quality seasonal ingredients while he honed his culinary skills in Boston, Martha's Vineyard, New Orleans, Atlanta and France before heading to Charleston. The 2009 James Beard Award winner for "Best Chef in the Southeast" helps with several Charleston organizations, is an active member of the Southern Foodways Alliance and co-found the local Charleston convivium of Slow Food in 2004. All that, and he cooks and tweets, too!
Sample Tweet: Today: bloody mary at charleston international. Tomorrow: risotto in Milan.
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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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