What's cooking this week? 

INSTEAD OF EXCHANGING COOKIES... ROLL YOUR OWN SUSHI AND SIP SAKE OR TRY A POMEGRANATE PAIRING SPREE AT RA SUSHI IN MIDTOWN

 

The DishTonight, try your hand at rolling, layering, sampling and drinking warm beverages. You're fishing in the wrong sea if you think we're suggesting a wassail and office cookie exchange! Learning how to make sushi and sipping sake at RA Sushi's monthly Sake and Sushi Social engages your whole group of friends -- and popping sushi is a whole lot healthier than inhaling a plate of sugar cookies. 

 

December's event begins at 6 p.m. tonight, December 6, and January's social will be on Tuesday, January 10 (plan ahead and snag a spot now to RA-lick your way into the New Year). For $35 a person or $60 per couple, participate in a sushi-rolling lesson and four-course sampling from RA Sushi's menu paired with the perfect sake. Space is limited -- claim a place now at 404-267-0114.

 

RA Sushi has a smooth way for you Dashers and Vixens to take in some antioxidants and omega-3s during this party-full month:  pomegranates, in a sashimi and cocktail pairing spree so cool you'll be thrilled to know it's available for more than 12 days...through December 31 to be exact. Tapas of seared albacore tuna and organic micro greens festively adorned with pomegranate seeds and a splash of yuzu soy vinaigrette packs a protein punch to help you recover from that hectic shopping adventure. Its mate, the Pomegranate Breeze cocktail mix of Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, POM pomegranate juice, PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, pink grapefruit juice and other citrus flavors, will soften any holiday stress. Jot this info on your holiday list:  RA Sushi in Midtown is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m.; the bar is open until midnight Sunday and 1 a.m. or later other nights.

 

RA Sushi:  1080 Peachtree Street at 1010 Midtown; 404-267-0114.

KEEP THOSE NAPKINS HANDY ON DECEMBER 7 -- SMASHBURGER OPENS IN KENNESAW AND ALL FOUR ATLANTA SMASHBURGERS ARE DONATING A PORTION OF SALES TO DREAMWEAVERS

The DishHot and juicy "better burgers" are the buzzwords in Kennesaw this week as Smashburger opens its fourth area location on Wednesday, December 7 at 440 Ernest W. Barrett Parkway. Heed our advice and grab a few napkins to catch the juice from your first bite into the signature Atlanta Smashburger loaded with peach BBQ sauce, Wicked� Pimena cheese, grilled jalape�os and Vidalia coleslaw on an egg bun. Smashburger "smashes" its fresh, never frozen 100 percent Certified Angus Beef burgers and Smashdogs on the grill to seal in those flavorful juices for your chomping pleasure. More flavor-rich fuel includes marinated chicken breasts served grilled or crispy on artisanal buns, handcrafted black bean burgers and salads plus sides such as Smashfries, chili cheese fries, sweet potato fries, haystack onions, fried pickles, flash-fried veggie frites and even steaming bowls of beefy chili with jalape�os and cheese. Kennesaw parents note, Smashburger makes the perfect place to meet friends for lunch or dinner because the fast casual eatery covers the spectrum from kids' meals, hand-spun shakes and IBC root beer floats to buckets of beer and wine by the glass. Open seven days a week, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. 

Don't forget to chow at the Kennesaw store or any one of the other three Atlanta Smashburger locations on Wednesday, December, 7. Each Atlanta-area Smashburger will donate a percentage of sales to DreamWeavers of Georgia. The group creates extracurricular opportunities and produces resources that promote the educational, emotional and social well-being of foster children in Georgia. For Smashburger's complete menu and Atlanta-area locations, click here.

UNCLE JULIO'S GIVES JINGLE JOGGERS $10 OFF THEIR MEAL ON RACE DAY, DECEMBER 10

The DishTie bells on your toes and jog 5K at 8 a.m. this Saturday morning for $10 toward tacos at Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food!  This title sponsor of the 24th annual Jingle Jog is giving runners a certificate for $10 off their meal on Jingle Jog Saturday, December 10. The course runs right by the Uncle Julio's restaurant at Hammond Drive and Peachtree-Dunwoody Road in Sandy Springs. Running wear, holiday wear -- doesn't matter what runners wear when taking Uncle Julio's up on the offer; however, they must take their race-day bib number to either the Sandy Springs or Buckhead location, and only one race discount can be used per check. Uncle Julio's also is giving a $10 gift card to each member of the largest team in the 5K jog. Toys are part of the whole reason for the Jingle Jog each December because the annual event benefits the Salvation Army Angel Giving Tree program. Bring one toy or a sack full to drop off at the Salvation Army collection truck that will be parked near registration in the Costco parking lot from 6:30-9 a.m. There's more to jog your memory about this event at www.jinglejog.com

HE'S NOT SANTA, BUT BEARDED KEVIN GILLESPIE GETS AROUND! HE DEMOS AT PIEDMONT PARK GREEN MARKET ON DECEMBER 10 THEN HOSTS MOROCCAN DINNER ON DECEMBER 12

 

The DishJingle Joggers will finish their 5K in plenty of time to make it to the Piedmont Park Green Market for Kevin Gillespie's chef demo at 11 a.m. on December 10. The Woodfire Grill Co-Owner/Executive Chef and "Top Chef" celebrity will prepare chargrilled oyster mushrooms with hot pepper pork skin and sweet corn grits.


After that, he'll be busy getting ready for Aziza Chef Mourad Lahlou's visit and special Moroccan dinner at Woodfire Grill on Monday, December 12 at 6:30 p.m. Lahlou, owner of Aziza restaurant in San Francisco, will be preparing dishes from his newly released cookbook called "Mourad:  New Moroccan." The dinner is $125 per person ($175 with wine pairings) and includes a copy of the cookbook. The menu begins with the passing of an amuse selection including goat cheese with tomato jam; hirame, turnip and feijoa; roe on crackers with urfa; and eggplant with preserved lemon. This sampling gives you an idea about the cookbook's exotic appetizers that would be fun to add to your own holiday menu. The four-course dinner begins with scallops and cauliflower with vadouvan plus a taste course of hen yolk, charmoula, smoked potato and Tasmanian pepper. Course two brings on duck basteeya with pistachios, plum jam and endive followed by beef cheek served with couscous, carrot jam and harissa emulsion. Gillespie and Chrysta Poulus have dibs on dessert with a
star-anise infused chocolate, cinnamon ice cream, dark chocolate cake and hazelnut tuile. YouTube has more on Lahlou.  

 

Woodfire Grill:  1782 Cheshire Bridge Road; 404-347-9055.

HERE'S A HOLIDAY "HOW TO" FROM SPICE MARKET SO YOU CAN RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY DINNER FOR TWO AND BONUS SPG POINTS WHEN BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY EVENT

 

The DishA complimentary Spice Market dinner for two is a nice gift to give a lucky someone in your office.  All you have to do is mention The Dish while booking your holiday event at Spice Market in the W Atlanta-Midtown. Additionally, earn Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) points with your booking:  a $1,500 food and beverage booking receives 5,000 SPG bonus points; a $2,500 booking receives 10,000 SPG bonus points; $3,500 earns a one-night stay at the W Atlanta-Midtown and 10,000 SPG bonus points; and $5,000 booking receives a one-night stay at the W Atlanta-Midtown - Fantastic Suite (subject to availability) plus 15,000 SPG bonus points.  Good for parties taking place through December 31, 2011. Contact Cristina Perry at [email protected].

 

Spice Market:  In the W Atlanta-Midtown, 188 14th Street, NE; 404-724-2550. 

AVOID THE HOLIDAY BLUES WITH WEEKLY BLUE PLATE SPECIALS AND NIGHTLY DEALS AT AQUA BLUE IN ROSWELL

 

The DishFear of opening a pricey menu shouldn't give you the holiday blues. Order from the "Aqua blue plate menu" at Aqua blue in Roswell and feast on three courses (appetizer, entr�e and dessert) for only $25 per person. There's no chance of "meatloaf again" syndrome either because the restaurant releases new specials each week and adds more nightly deals to boot. Blue plate appetizer specials include AB calamari with sweet chili sauce; tempura green beans with sweet mustard dipping sauce; seared pork dumplings with scallion, leeks and sweet soy glaze; or a hand-made sushi roll. Entr�e options include thyme-crusted grilled pork loin tostada with black bean and sweet corn relish, spinach, white cheddar and crispy tortilla; Asiago-crusted scallops with cheesy ravioli and Roma tomato basil cream; and red Thai curry stir fry with shaved beef tenderloin and soba noodles in a spicy red Thai curry sauce. For dessert, choose house-made cr�me br�l�e-soaked ciabatta bread pudding with cinnamon ice cream, chocolate molten cake, house-made seasonal sorbets or something equally decadent. 

 

Upping the ante without upping the bill too much are more nightly values. Half-priced bottles of wine headline Sundays. Seasonal cocktails take over at the bar on Mondays. Tuesdays, snap up half-priced sushi, $1 nigiri and sashimi plus $5 large sake and $3 Japanese beer. Wednesdays fill up for the chef's featured dish. Thursday brings Girls Night Out with $5 cocktails all day, complimentary appetizers in the bar area from 5:30 - 7 p.m. and live music from 7:30 - 10:30 p.m. Live music also plays Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30 -10:30 p.m.  

 

Aqua blue:  1564 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell; 770-643-8886.

LOBSTERS & LIBATIONS ARE DECADENTLY THE "MAINE" THING ON THIS MONTH'S MARLOW'S TAVERN MENU

 

The DishThere's something soothing and luxurious about dining on succulent lobster accompanied by its ideal mate, a glass of perfectly matched wine. Marlow's Tavern purposely throws its annual all-day, everyday Lobsters & Libations celebration now for some calm during the holiday storm. Besides, it's prime lobster season in Maine! Through January 2, enjoy rich and heartwarming specialties such as Maine lobster and shrimp tavern chowder, a New England-style chowder with applewood-smoked bacon, carrots, corn, sweet onion, Burbank potatoes and fresh herbs ($7); Maine lobster pot pie is simmered perfectly with carrots, peas, green beans, crisp potatoes, sauce velout� and a flakey herb crust ($15); over-stuffed tail brings on a cold water lobster tail stuffed with shrimp, scallops, mascarpone, sweet herbs and garlic pita served with jalape�o corn grits, baby Broccolini and citrus herb sauce ($25); Maine tail and turf pairs grilled filet mignon, tempura lobster tail and shrimp tail, crispy wild mushroom potato cake, baby Broccolini and citrus butter ($26); and finally, chocolate banana bread ($6). Wine, beer and cocktails complete your lunch or dinner date. Try Angeline Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2009 ($9.50/$38); Steele Shooting Star Chardonnay, Mendocino 2009 ($8/$32); Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale ($5); and a holiday spice martini ($8.50). Affordable decadence can be delightful. For a Marlow's Tavern location near you, click here.

FLEMING'S GIFT TO YOU:  $25 DINING CREDIT NOW, $25 GIFT FOR THE NEW YEAR
The DishHow can it be, you ask? Simple! Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar will give you a $25 dining credit to use at any Fleming's location with a minimum purchase of $50 when dining before December 30. To accept this gift, you must make your reservation using this link. This is not a one-time offer -- it's valid every time you follow the link and spend $50 before December 30. The reservation system tracks your credit and deducts it from your dining room bill.

 

Fleming's wants you to come back and celebrate in the New Year, so each time you reserve and use your $25 dining credit before December 30, the restaurant will give you $25 bonus cards to spend in 2012. Spend $150-$299 and receive a $25 bonus card; $300 or more earns you a $50 card. Read more details here.

 

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar:  4501 Olde Perimeter Way in Perimeter Place Village; 770-698-8112.  

DO NEW WEEKEND BRUNCH OR HAVE LUNCH AT NO. 246 BEFORE EXPLORING DECATUR

 

The DishExecutive Chef Drew Belline of No. 246 adds weekend brunch to the list of tempting reasons to visit the intriguing shops in downtown Decatur. He's adding three new Italian-inspired brunch items to the restaurant's weekend lunch menu: wood-oven poached eggs with Georgia white shrimp, San Marzano tomato, toasted garlic, butterbeans, thyme and toast; breakfast pizza with fingerling potatoes, baked eggs, smoky bacon, Gruyere and farm herbs; and pan-fried brioche with cranberry maple syrup, toasted pecans and fresh cream. Weekend lunch/brunch "hour" extends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The restaurant also serves lunch Monday through Friday and dinner nightly.

 

No. 246:  129 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur, 678-399-8246.

BRUNCH AT NEW FRANK SKI'S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE WOWS YELPER

 

The DishSpare no sweet details, it's all good. Yelper Kyra M. and her fianc� are first in for brunch one Sunday at newish Frank Ski's Restaurant & Lounge near Bennett Street in Buckhead. Sounds like this happy couple will soon be back to dally on Frank Ski's dance floor!

 

Ok so this place is new and I don't know if this is why all the workers were angels or what?  Fiance and I pulled the random card and decided to roll up after church round noonish. There wasn't cars parked in the lot so we unsure as to whether they were open or not. I asked the valet guy and he said yes, and parked our car free of charge (of course we tipped) but what a sweetheart.

We walk in, and I am surprised as to how interesting the flow of the restaurant was. Nice polished bar on the right with over a dozen t.v.s  The seating area to the left was spacious, clean white table cloths with lounge couches as well. We sat in the bar area to watch the game. There was also a DJ booth straight across from entrance.

The server was super duper sweet, knowledgable, and efficient. I could kill myself for forgetting her name. After her awesome spill of the menu we decided on Moscato, Sweetwater IPA, Caesar salad, Cedar plank salmon,  and chicken alfredo +  shrimp. Apparently my fiance and I were the first to have their brunch so it felt cool to have the place to ourselves for the first 20 mins. The bartender was friendly as well, joking with us.

Caesar salad was large and came tossed in dressing.  It was fresh and delicious!


The chef brought our delightfully prepared entrees to the table and poured my wine. Salmon was presented gorgeously on the plank and it tasted DIVINE!  It was accompanied by tasty brocolli and rice pilaf. My alfedo sauce was rich and chef inspired with grilled chix and big succulent shrimp. I am embarrassed to say this southern girl can eat and I had to order the Coco's caramel "crack" cake. Our server says "crack" was the nickname so I dove in as soon as I got home. It was fluffy, and had AMAZING taste.  Next time I will try their peach cobbler or their Cami cakes they support. Honestly, my fiance and I throughly enjoyed this dining experience. Gotta hit this place up for their nightlife experience on the weekends!  (They have a dance floor, and DJ and this place gets packed)

 

Frank Ski's Restaurant & Lounge:  2110 Peachtree Road; 404-603-8344. 

EAT IT AND TWEEP:  BEHIND THE KNIFE CUTS INTO THE NITTY GRITTY OF CHEFS WHEN THEY'RE NOT BEHIND THE STOVE

 

The DishNew York Times best-selling author Lisa Rogak has carved a cutting-edge Twitter niche for herself, and tools, food and the secret lives of chefs are all fair game. Catch her sharp quips on Twitter (@behindtheknife) and learn a whole lot more from her "What's in my Toolbox" chef interviews on her Behind the Knife blog. 

 

Sample Tweet:  How Chef Roly Cruz @biltmorehotel uses a power drill to slice 50 pounds of carrots in 5 minutes. http://ow.ly/7iZFr


OUR APPETIZING APERTURE OF THE WEEK 

 

Appetizing Aperture     

 

 

Too much of a good thing is not possible when it comes to guacamole... and Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food has the good stuff! Check out their new pineapple bacon guacamole, roasted corn and lump crab guacamole and three pepper spicy guacamole.

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.
 
Melissa Libby & Associates is an Atlanta-based public relations firm specializing in the restaurant, retail and hospitality industries.
 
For information about these and other great Atlanta restaurants, go to www.melissalibbypr.com, check out our Facebook page, follow AtlantaDish on Twitter or call 404-816-3068.
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