ABOUT THE DISH
Looking for the latest restaurant openings, 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.
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up-to-date on new and ongoing restaurant events around Atlanta!
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Cocktail Trivia: Piña Coladas are National Drink of Puerto Rico and They're Turning 60.
Sip and Go Coconuts at Trader Vic's,
Nikolai's Roof and Southern Elements
Toss that nutty nugget out there when conversation lulls. The year was 1954, and Ramón "Monchito" Marrero, bartender at the Caribe Hilton San Juan in Puerto Rico, yearned to create a cocktail that epitomized the true aura of Puerto Rico. It took him three months, but in the end, Marrero coaxed the coconut out of its shell and into that smooth Caribbean classic, the piña colada. In 1978, Puerto Rico named the cocktail its national drink. Six decades later, we still pine for piña coladas when we crave a tropical vacation in a tall glass. Through November 23, Trader Vic's Atlanta, Nikolai's Roof and Southern Elements -- all located in the Atlanta Hilton -- are celebrating 60 years of piña coladas along with the Caribe Hilton and other Hilton Hotels by sharing the Caribe Hilton's original recipe, offering piña coladas for $9 each and palming off information about a sweepstakes to win a six-day, five-night trip for two to the Caribe Hilton (includes airfare and a Bacardi distillery tour).
Caribe Hilton's Original Piña Colada Recipe
2 oz. rum
1 oz. coconut cream
1 oz. heavy cream
6 oz. fresh pineapple juice
1/2 cup crushed ice
Mix rum, coconut cream, heavy cream and pineapple juice in a blender. Add ice and mix for 15 seconds. Serve in a 12-oz. glass and garnish with fresh pineapple and a cherry.
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Park Yourself at Ink & Elm on November 19 When The Giving Tree Steers Toward
Meals on Wheels
This week, The Giving Tree at Ink & Elm reaches out to help Meals On Wheels Atlanta (MOWA) on Wednesday, November 19. MOWA rides off with 10 percent of all food and beverage sales generated on the tavern side of the restaurant between 6-10 p.m. MOWA has been delivering meals to Atlanta's senior population since 1970. The organization first began assisting seniors in 1965 under the moniker of Senior Citizen Services. Envisioning that no Atlanta area senior should be hungry, cold or forgotten, MOWA supports senior independence by assisting with meals, shelter, education, community and helping families manage Alzheimer's disease and dementia. If The Giving Tree event at Ink & Elm moves you to take the wheel and get involved, volunteer to assist MOWA with holiday meal delivery, home repairs and more.
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Ebenezer Approved: Alliance Theatre
"A Christmas Carol" Ticket and Chick-a-Biddy Dinner for $50 Starting November 21
Scrooge spooned gruel on that fateful night of spiritual theatrics. Guess he didn't know about the $50 package for dinner and a ticket to see "A Christmas Carol," dreamed up by the Alliance Theatre and Chick-a-Biddy for select Friday and Sunday nights during the production's November 21-December 24 run. The Atlantic Station restaurant is a stone's throw across the expressway from the Alliance, making it an ideal stopover for dinner and chat before the show. The special chef's menu includes an appetizer choice of plantain chips or fried chicken tenders; entrée choice of either a quarter of piri piri chicken with two sides, chicken and waffles or the vegetable plate; any dessert from Chick-a-Biddy's daily selection and one cocktail, glass of wine, soda or tea. Tax and fees included; gratuity not included. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and 5:45 p.m. on Sunday. Show times are 8:00 p.m. Friday and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Read package details and dates online. Use promo code BIDDY50 to purchase at alliancetheatre.org/christmas or call 404-733-5000 for reservations.
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Moxie Kitchen & Cocktails and Intuition Ale Works Throw a Brunch for Dinner Anniversary
on November 21
When it's your party, eat and drink what you want, when you want. Moxie Kitchen & Cocktails and Intuition Ale Works in Jacksonville, Florida multiply that notion by two, linking up to celebrate their November anniversaries over Brunch for Dinner on Friday, November 21 from 8-11 p.m. Moxie marks year one, and Intuition hits four this month. Their Brunch for Dinner party embraces a happy union of Intuition Ale Works beers with Moxie chef Tom Gray's brunchy small plates. Several brunch-themed beers are being brewed specifically for this occasion. On the menu: mini Duuuvaaal pancakes with Shotgun Shack pastrami and chive crème fraîche; beer growler chicken saison; jalapeño-cheddar breakfast biscuit with a farm egg and American cheese; Moxie sliders of a beef-pork-bacon blend with comeback sauce; mini chicken and waffles of fried chicken and waffle pudding, maple mousse, pepper jelly and quail egg; bourbon-spiked mini Mississippi mud pie malts; and a mini bag o'doughnuts. $55 per person; over 21 crowd only. Buy tickets online.
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You'll Fall for the New Menu at Marlow's Tavern
Craving the intense, rich flavors that roasting and searing develop? Marlow's Tavern is right with you, rolling out a new fall and winter menu to appease cool weather appetites. A quick peek points to wild mushroom toast bearing seared oyster, shiitake and button mushrooms with roast thyme brandy cream ($7.50); lump crabcake with baby arugula, grapefruit, fresh avocado and jalapeño ($12.50); Asian ahi tuna on mixed greens with miso-soy vinaigrette and crispy wonton ($16); pan-seared snapper ($18); BBQ blazed lamb ($16); crispy short rib with jalapeño and corn grits, sautéed kale and red wine demi reduction ($17.50); and perfectly seasoned, grilled "center cut" filet with roasted fingerling potato, seared butternut squash and a red wine shallot reduction ($20). Bird lovers land on the roast turkey club featuring Golden Farms organic turkey, avocado spread, roma tomato, baby arugula, applewood smoked bacon and provolone on toasted ciabatta ($12) or the crispy chicken stack of grilled Prestige Farms chicken, Parmesan barley risotto, caramelized mirepoix, seared wild mushroom, sautéed spinach and roasted thyme gravy ($14). There's a Marlow's Tavern location near you, and this is a super excuse to visit the newest one at Avalon in Alpharetta.
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Exercise your Gratitude Muscle in RA Sushi's #ThankfulThursday Contest
Shorter days mean you can take off those hard-core dark shades. RA Sushi Bar Restaurant encourages replacing them with rose-colored ones then taking a fresh look around. RA ha! See -- there's so much to be thankful for and not take for granted. Traffic tribulations morph into automobile appreciation. Scorching supper is a good excuse to chillax at RA Sushi in Midtown. Living in gratitude for every little thing can be transforming. Spread thanksgiving around this month through RA Sushi's #ThankfulThursday promotion. Tap out those thankful thoughts on your keyboard, phone or tablet (being thankful for any of those options) using "#rasushi" and "#ThankfulThursday." RA Sushi will select a #ThankfulThursday entry each week during November to receive $50 in RA Bucks!
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Be Blessed, Not Stressed over Thanksgiving Dinner at Atlanta Restaurants
This Thanksgiving, our gratitude jar overflows with grace notes. Among them, the names of restaurants and stores where chefs and their teams are cooking up Thanksgiving Day dinners abounding with good eats. Which leads us to add notes to our jar for free time enjoying friends and family and no dishpan hands.
10th & Piedmont and G's Midtown are both hosting Thanksgiving buffets boasting traditional favorites from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Scope out the carving station with herb and butter roasted turkey breast and prime rib; hot items such as dressing, roasted jalapeño mac and cheese, creamy Parmesan mashed potatoes, garlic green beans and roasted sweet potato; and cold sides including cranberry sauce, Southern-style potato salad and a selection of fresh fruit and cheeses. A pilgrimage to the dessert buffet finds cheesecake bites, chocolate lava cake, pumpkin pie, pecan pie and more. $34.95 per adult and $13.95 for children 10 years old and younger. Details here. Call the respective restaurant to make reservations.
Join Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, November 27, served from 4-11 p.m. Choose Big Green Egg-smoked turkey breast or braised pork shoulder with sides of green bean casserole, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, cranberry Grand Marnier compote and sweet potato biscuits. Dessert options include pumpkin cheesecake or Southern pecan pie. $28 for adults, $18 for ages 11-16 and $10 for children 10 and under (tax and gratuity not included). Reservations recommended, 404-876-7249.
Call on Bantam + Biddy to cater your Thanksgiving dinner (Crescent location only) and feed 10-12 people for $180. Meal includes one 12-15 lb. roasted Amish turkey, classic mashed potatoes, braised collard greens, cornbread, sage and wild rice stuffing, homemade giblet gravy, a quart of spicy cranberry sauce and a North Georgia apple pie. Place orders by 9 p.m. on Tuesday, November 25 and pick up food Wednesday, November 26 from 5 p.m. to close. Phone 404-835-6450 or email wecater@bantamandbiddy.com.
In historic Crabapple, Milton's Cuisine & Cocktails is fixing Thanksgiving turkeys and a boatload of sides to-go. Pre-order a brined, smoked turkey weighing between 12-14 lbs. and priced at $75. Each turkey serves 6-8 guests and comes with sage-corn spoon bread. Additional side items are available for pre-order purchase. Order turkeys here by Friday, November 21 for pick-up on Tuesday, November 25 and Wednesday, November 26 at the restaurant.
Hosting dinner is a cinch thanks to The Pig & the Pearl in Atlantic Station and its full Thanksgiving feast to-go. À la carte ordering lists everything from the 12-14 lb. fresh, whole smoked turkey with gravy for $65 each to additional sides such as cheddar mac and cheese, smoked sweet potatoes, sweet potato pie and a cranberry-apple streusel pie. Each side item is portioned to feed four to six people. Orders must be placed by November 24. Gather details and pre-order your dinner here.
Go over the river, by the woods or downtown to partake of Ray's Restaurants' Thanksgiving buffets abundant with Turkey Day and signature recipes. Phone individual restaurants for preferred seating. Ray's on the River will serve dinner from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. priced at $42.95 per adult and $21.95 per child ages 5-10; 770-955-1187. Feast at Ray's at Killer Creek between 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. for $34.95 per adult and $17.95 per child ages 5-10; 770-649-0064. Ray's in the City's Thanksgiving buffet will be offered from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. priced at $34.95 per adult and $17.95 per child; regular dinner menu offered at 5 p.m. with à la carte pricing and extra Thanksgiving specials; 404-524-9224.
Head to The Shed at Glenwood for a Thanksgiving buffet resplendent with savory meats including Gum Creek Farms ham, salmon croquettes and fried Springer Mountain chicken plus sides of sweet potato soufflé, mac and cheese gratin, B.L.T. sliders, beet salad and zucchini and squash casseroles. Dessert table joy: decadent oatmeal and cranberry whoopie pies, red velvet cupcakes, bourbon-roasted banana pudding, chocolate mousse tart and more. $50 per adult, $20 for children ages 4-10. Served from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Reserve your table online.
Be the host with the most free time for family and friends. Let Whole Foods Market handle the menu with fresh pre-order/pick-up offerings prepared especially for Thanksgiving. Be it for a large or small gathering, shop Whole Foods Market for Turkey Dinner Packages stuffed with a pre-cooked turkey rubbed with savory herbs plus side options of green bean casserole, cranberry-orange relish and homestyle mashed potatoes, à la carte shrimp, cheese platters, oysters and more. This is your "dessert island" destination for gorgeous and decadent classic, vegan and gluten-free baked goods. Whole Foods offers a convenient online ordering form and timesaving Instacart delivery service. Gobble Turkey Day menu details here.
Just want to talk turkey? Buy White Oak Pastures free-roaming turkeys at Whole Foods Markets. These birds live the life, going from pasture to slaughter without leaving the farm. Taste the difference by choosing these over traditional grocery store birds. Select a Broad Breasted Bronze, Auburn or Black turkey breed in small, medium and large varieties. $5.99 per pound at all Atlanta-area Whole Foods Markets. Supplies are limited.
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Trisha, a mom of four and food photographer, found herself yearning for healthy foods her kids would love to make and eat and a simple, minimalist style beyond yoga pants. Goeatyourbeets comes through, "getting families back to their roots." Dig deep on her blog for recipes kids devour, advice and activities to help readers make peace with crazy days.
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Appetizing Aperture
You think it's cold here? 10th & Piedmont knows some Mainers who brave Maine-stream ocean depths and colder weather than Georgia will ever know to provide sweet, succulent Maine lobster tails for the Midtown restaurant's new winter menu. Chef Javier Viera treats the shellfish to some Southern heat, enhancing the tender meat and bringing color to its cheeks, err, tails. Four 2.5-ounce tails touch base on a plate along with a duo of saffron and clarified butter. Squeeze on lemon for a sunny pop of citrus and vitamin C ($39). Visit 10th & Piedmont soon to meet and eat these guys and their warm-you-up compadres.
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What's New on Pinterest
Gratitude is an attitude. One of our writers is thankful for this week's Thanksgiving Favorites board because she's planning her whole menu from it. You'll see her cruising the grocery aisles, iPad in hand, gathering ingredients for fall corn pudding with white cheddar and thyme, farro pilaf with wild mushrooms, spiced roasted root vegetables with apples and walnuts, Brussels sprout salad with avocado and pumpkin seeds, cranberry chutney and pumpkin crisp. The hubs will thrill over a bird to grill, and that will keep both bird and grillmaster out of kitchen congestion.
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