$2 menu @ BLT Steak

BLT Steak is treating Atlantans to a refreshing summer escape with its new “Bar 2 Bar” menu offering chilled $2 oysters, $2 oyster shooters and handcrafted Flying Dog Pale Ale for $2 every Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., beginning Thursday, May 27. BLT Steak is located at W Atlanta Downtown, 45 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. 404.577.7601. www.bltrestaurants.com

Sinless Margarita Launch Party Tonight

Sinless Margarita, the all-natural and sugar-free margarita mix with only five calories per serving, is pretty tasty. It's naturally sweetened with stevia and is made from real lemon and lime juice. I voted it damn near perfect in a recent taste test I conducted (and if you know me, you know I take my margarita consumption very seriously). And now the homegrown company is throwing a party. Join them tonight at Twisted Taco (located directly across from Perimeter Mall at 4505 Ashford Dunwoody Road). The party will be from 6 to 9 p.m. and will host Antoine Dove and Alexandra Whit, the two recently engaged contestants from NBC’s The Biggest Loser, and the Sinless Margarita Angels. Everyone who attends can enter to win a free bottle Sinless Margaritas. Drawings are every 15 minutes!
What: The launch party of the Sinless Margarita
When: May 20, 2010; 6-9 p.m.
Where: Twisted Taco Perimeter, 4505 Ashford Dunwoody Road (Directly across from Perimeter Mall)
Why: With only 5 calories and no sugar, you can drink margaritas anytime, guilt-free.

Heather Heron Trunk Show Tonight

The Heather Heron trunk show takes place tonight, Wed. May 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the environment furniture showroom (1170 Howell Mill Road #P-18, Atlanta, GA 30318). An eco-accessories pioneer, the L.A.-based designer specializes in handcrafted bags and scarves made with organic hemp textiles, reclaimed vintage U.S. military textiles and surplus Japanese denim. A self-taught designer, Heather was previously a photographer for Alanis Morissette (pictured wearing a Heather Heron scarf) and assistant to director Brian de Palma. She lives/works in Los Angeles and this will be her first show in Atlanta. Visit www.heatherheron.org for more info.

Honor Thy Mother

It always feels good to shop and do good for the world at the same time. That's why when I spotted this wire-wrapped brass-cuff bracelet at eco-smart Green Heart Shop's online store, I knew it was the one for moms and special ladies alike. The fair trade cuff bracelet, $16, was made through World Finds, a Chicago-based organization that partners with fair trade organizations, women's self-help groups, and small families of artisans in India, Nepal, and Indonesia. This bracelet was made in India by artisans that received a fair wage for their products from World Finds. By purchasing this bracelet, you're helping Indian women have a higher standard of living—and making the women in your life super happy. Happy Mother's Day to fantastic moms everywhere.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Why not switch things up with a rum-based margarita?

Abuelo’s RumRita

Ingredients;
2 ounces Ron Abuelo Añejo Rum
1 ounce triple sec
1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed

Instructions:
In a shaker filled with ice add all ingredients and shake vigorously. Strain into an ice filled rocks glass and garnish with lime wedge.

AVENUE Q comes to Atlanta

So this is what I am doing with my B.A. in English...

The fun-loving Tony Award–winning musical AVENUE Q is coming to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre May 18-23, and you might just get a chance to score stellar tickets for cheap.

In keeping with thematic issues in the show such as living in New York with big dreams and a tiny bank account, the producers of the show are committed to offering these special priced seats in each city the show will play. A limited number of seats in the first 10 rows of the orchestra will be made available for $25 for every performance.

The tickets go on sale at the Cobb Energy Centre box office, on the day of performance only, two hours prior to the show and are available through a ticket lottery with a limit of two tickets per person, while supplies last.

AVENUE Q is a lively performance that tips its hat to people who are different and unique. Adult in nature (the show features a few full-puppet nudity scenes, so the age recommendation is 13 and up), it's wildly funny and educational, with thought- and laugh-provoking songs such as "Everybody's a Little Bit Racist," "My Girlfriend, Who Lives In Canada," "There Is Life Outside Your Apartment" and "If You Were Gay."

For general ticket information, call 800-982-2787 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Viva México

Photo/Courtesy of Corzo

Corzo Evolutionary Margarita
By Jonathan Pogash
Ingredients:
2 parts Corzo Reposado Tequila
1/2 part Grand Marnier
½ parts agave nectar
3/4 parts fresh lime juice
6-8 small chunks of your choice of pepper (yellow, red or orange)
Instructions:
In a mixing glass, muddle the pepper in the agave nectar and lime juice. Add remaining ingredients, and shake well with ice. Strain over ice into rocks glass. Garnish with pepper “flag” and lime “bow tie” and optional salt rim.

Despite our government’s and our society’s overall treatment of people moving to the United States from south of the border, this country continues to embrace the culinary creations and libations from Mexico. And what’s not to love? Creamy, tangy guacamole; dance-on-your-tongue salsas derived from chiles, herbs and onions; filled carnitas, tacos, burritos and chile rellenos; melt-in-your-mouth doused pork; baked-in-the-sun corn tortillas; chocolate with spicy chile; flavorful cerveza (beer); and, of course, the sacred ever-refreshing margarita. We’ve rounded up a few authentic joints in town celebrating Cinco de Mayo, the holiday that celebrates the Mexican victory over the French in the 1862 Battle of Puebla, as well as some killer margaritas.

Fiesta Atlanta holds its annual celebration of Cinco de Mayo Sunday, May 2, in Centennial Olympic Park with a free, all-day festival featuring Latin cuisine such as tacos and aguas frescas, live Latin music, artisans selling traditional crafts, and a children’s stage with Mexican folkloric dancers, clowns and storytellers.

North of the Atlanta border, the recently opened INC Street Food features street and market fare from Latin America, including a taco stand serving favorites such as adobo-braised chicken tacos, chili-rubbed skirt steak tacos and crispy shrimp tacos. 948 Canton St., Roswell. 770-998-3114. www.incstreetfood.com.

In Midtown, the Original El Taco is throwing a culinary fiesta of its own with drink specials including $18 buckets of Dos Equis Amber or Lager, $6 margaritas, $4 pineapple-infused tequila shots and $3 Tecates. Be a responsible drinker, and grab some casual gourmet grub, too, like the smoked trout with spicy masa cake and salsa borracho. 1186 N. Highland Ave. 404-873-4656.

Southwestern star restaurant Agave is going all out this Cinco de Mayo with Dos Equis, 1800 tequila and margarita drink specials, as well as traditional Mexican dinner specials on May 3, 4 and 5. On Monday, May 3, the Cabbagetown restaurant hosts a Dine-Out for ARCA (AIDS Research Consortium of Atlanta), and will give a portion of the night’s sales directly to the organization. 242 Boulevard SE. 404-588-0006. www.agaverestaurant.com.

Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food makes drinking even more fun with its signature Swirl cocktail (frozen marg swirled with frozen sangria). Share some sizzling fajitas with amigos on the lively patio at either Atlanta location: 1860 Peachtree Road NW (404-350-6767) or 1140 Hammond Dr. NE (678-736-8260). www.unclejulios.com.

Though not technically a Mexican restaurant, the newly minted Thirsty Dog Tavern is getting in on the action with a taco bar from 5 to 7 p.m., and drink specials all day long, including $5 margaritas, $14 sangria pitchers and $3 Coronas. I think we’re all taking a personal day for this, no? 2110 Peachtree Road NW. 404-367-8482. www.thirstydogtavern.com.

Over on the West side of town, Bone Garden Cantina is throwing a fiesta of its own on its recently expanded patio with Sonoran hot dogs (bacon-wrapped dog stuffed into a bolillo and topped with seasoned pinto beans, grilled onions, jalapeños, pico de gallo and mayo), brochetas (mini grilled shish kabobs), $6.50 Herradura margaritas, $5.50 La Vida Baja (a can of Tecate with a shot of tequila), Mexican beer specials and Sister Louisa sangria, as well as live music from 6:30 p.m. to close and a promised visit from Dames Aflame dancers. 1425 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd. 404- 418-9072. www.bonegardencantina.com.

While a typical from-scratch margarita certainly isn’t as harmful to your diet as a one made from a mix, an easy-to-make limeade-triple-sec-tequila margarita nets you around 750 calories in one refreshing sugary, additive-laden cocktail. When you’re scarfing down chips and queso and you’re craving a lime-y beverage but don’t feel confident in your mixology abilities, don’t succumb to the limeade. There’s a better option in town now. Marietta-based Sinless Margaritas has just launched its five-calorie margarita mix … and it’s darn near perfect in flavor. The sugar-free cocktail assistant is made from stevia extract, a natural ingredient hailing from a South American plant. Add two parts Sinless Margaritas to one part tequila and ice, and you’ll be saying adios to worrying about counting calories. $7.99 a bottle. Sold at Mac’s Beer and Wine Shop, as well as other local retail locations. www.sinlesscocktails.com.

Free Family Night at the Fox Theatre

Broadway Across America–Atlanta is throwing a fun-filled family event at the Fox Theatre on Sunday, May 2. Hosted by Radio Disney AM 590 Atlanta, the Kids Night on Broadway celebration will take place in the Egyptian Ballroom (located inside the Fox Theatre at 660 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30308) from 5 to 6 p.m. Kiddos and their guardians can indulge in cookie decorating, face painting, arts and crafts, a prize wheel and ice cream sundaes during the free event. Plus, the four actors who alternate the roles of Jane and Michael Banks in Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s “Mary Poppins” will stop by to sign autographs. To sweeten the deal, there will also be a special buy one, get one free ticket deal for the 6:30 p.m. performance of “Mary Poppins” that evening.

Entry to Kids Night is free. The Buy One, Get One Free Tickets for the 6:30 p.m. performance of "Mary Poppins" on May 2 can be purchased using the code ATLFAM at www.ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-982-2787 or at the Fox Theatre box office.

For more information, visit www.broadwayacrossamerica.com.

Steeplechase Soiree at Market

Ladies, grab the biggest hat you can find. Gents, shave that scruff and clean yourself up. We're going to the races! Or at least, let's look like we are, but just do the more humane, fun thing by drinking instead. Market at the W Atlanta Buckhead hosts a Steeplechase party on the patio on Saturday, April 24 from 6 to 10 p.m. It promises to be a fun evening of live music, $5 cocktails, including lemongrass mint juleps, as well as $5 menu items including sliders from the outdoor grill, pizzas and crab fritters. Guests are encouraged to wear their derby hats and race day attire. All guests for the event will receive VIP access to Whiskey Blue before 11 p.m.

Earth Day fun in Atlanta and beyond

Souper Jenny and the Atlanta Street Food Coalition get in on the Earth Day action with a fun, family-friendly festival on Thursday to support the campaign to bring safe, affordable and legal access to street food in Atlanta. More than 10 vendors —including Souper Jenny’s Incredible Flying Soup Mobile, the Good Food Truck, Taqueria del Sol, the Pickle, Artichoke Bliss and King of Pops—will gather in the Souper Jenny parking lot at 56 E. Andrews Drive in Buckhead and offer guests a wide variety of fun, inexpensive and wholesome fare—including items with kid appeal. Each of the participating businesses is committed to environmental responsibility, so there will be plenty of green-themed giveaways Complimentary wine also will be served while supplies last. The Super-Secret Underground Food Truck Extravaganza takes place Thursday, April 22, 6-9p.m. at Souper Jenny, 56 E. Andrews Drive. www.souperjennyatl.com

GEORGIA ON MY MIND

Pacci Ristorante shows its passion about preserving the environment by celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on Thursday, April 22 with a special three-course menu from Chef Keira Moritz. For $35 per person, excluding tax and gratuity, guests will dine on a menu featuring many Georgia grown ingredients, such as Sweet Grass Dairy goat cheese croutons, Georgia peaches, Georgia shrimp, Springer Mountain chicken breast and Savannah tupelo honey. The regular menu will be available as well. Pacci does a lot more to support sustainability: All seafood served is solely sustainable, and 30 percent of Pacci’s wine lists feature eco-friendly selections. The restaurant also has partnered with ReCork America (www.recorkamerica.com). To help ReCork America obtain more corks for reuse, Pacci is asking patrons to bring in real corks from wine bottles and to buy a bottle of wine with their dinner. The restaurant will deduct 2 percent off the total bill for every cork brought in up to a maximum of 20 percent off. Only natural corks need apply—no plastic or metal. Wine corks are 100 percent natural, biodegradable and renewable. The ReCork program runs through April. 866 West Peachtree St. NW. 678-412-2402. www.pacciatlanta.com.

BREAK OUT THE BUBBLY

Mother Earth deserves a toast, doesn’t she? France’s champagne house Pommery has introduced the new POP Earth NV Champagne ($55/750 ml), an eco-friendly Brut-style addition blended from 70 percent pinot noir, 20 percent chardonnay and 10 percent pinot Meunier. The new champagne is intended to reflect Pommery’s ongoing commitment to making outstanding champagne while using sustainable practices. For example, the house practices sustainable wine growing, managing waste and limiting water and energy consumption. To be kinder to Mother Nature, the new POP Earth bottle uses lighter glass (only 1.85 pounds) than conventional champagne bottles (2 pounds), which in turn reduces pollution and energy costs during shipping. The bottle features a label made from some recycled materials and is printed with water-soluble inks. Pommery also uses sea transportation instead of air, which saves on fuel costs and energy usage. Available at most fine wine stores and www.sherry-lehmann.com.

FARM-TO-TABLE
Miller Union continues to walk the walk with its fresh, sustainable menu. Executive Chef Steven Satterfield’s culinary offerings change very often, sometimes even daily, based on the freshest harvest of local farmers. Miller Union features a complete composting and recycling system, which in its first two months of being open diverted more than three tons of waste. Ninety-four percent landfill-free, Miller Union composts fish, fruit, meat and vegetable scraps. With the exception of non-recyclable metal bottle tops and plastic wrap, Miller Union recycles paper products, cans, bottles and all other recyclable packaging. Not only adding to the restaurant’s rustic and relaxed atmosphere, the lack of tablecloths greatly reduces water usage and the need for detergent, as well as saves energy from using washers and dryers needed to clean them. Also, by sourcing from local farms and growers, Miller Union helps cut down on the transportation effects and pollution from products being shipped across country. Satterfield’s farm-fresh dishes are now available for lunch, so you can stretch your Earth Day celebrations throughout the day. 999 Brady Ave. 678-733-8550.
 www.millerunion.com.

Pollen got you parched? We've got just the thing for that.

By the looks of that thick layer of pollen on your throat, your car, your home and even your scruffy pooch, spring has definitely sprung. With the arrival my favorite drinking season (I have four altogether), I rounded up a few new items, events and places to celebrate with.

FARM TO BOTTLE
SweetWater, one of Atlanta’s well-known breweries, is throwing a big, fun carbon-neutral party this weekend (April 17 and 18) in Candler Park. The beer-filled event, which attracts nearly 20,000 visitors per day, is a platform for nonprofits and environmental organizations to share their products and “going green” strategies, with exhibitions, workshops and creative interactive events taking place in the Planet 420 tent throughout the weekend.  Of course, there’s a ton of music, too. You can learn more about that aspect at www.sweetwater420fest.com.

DOGGIE STYLE
Man’s best friend has somewhere to hang out while you get your drink on with the opening of Thirsty Dog Tavern. The new restaurant, which opened March 25, is housed in the old Vita space. The extensive menu at Thirsty Dog Tavern features an Italian twist on upscale pub favorites. Prices range from $4 to $16, and 90 percent of the menu options are under $10. Thirsty Dog is both child- and canine-friendly, and features a menu for each set. The lower patio offers a space for puppy prancing and dining. The drinking fun contines with two beer pong tables, 15 big-screen TVs tuned into a variety of sports games, and a separate smoking bar and dining area (which we really hope stays separate). Open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Lot parking. 2110 Peachtree Road NW. 404-367-8482. www.thirstydogtavern.com.

ON THE MENU
I’ve just spotted the new spring cocktail menus at two great watering holes: JCT Kitchen & Bar and Diesel Filling Station.

Mixologist Lara Creasy at JCT (1198 Howell Mill Road, 404-355-2252, www.jctkitchen.com) has created a few new masterpieces for spring sipping. The JCTea combines iced tea–infused gin, Grand Marnier, lemon and Fee Brothers orange bitters, served up, $10. For a clean feeling, try Leaves of Grass: Bison Grass Vodka, Dolin Blanc, lemongrass syrup and fresh tarragon, served up, $11. Get your Kentucky on with the Westside Smash, a simple but terrific beverage of Elijah Craig 12-year old bourbon, Meyer lemons and mint, on crushed ice, $9. Creasy takes rhubarb to a new level with Crimson and Clover, a blend of rhubarb puree, gin, lemon, tonic water and candied rhubarb, served tall and on the rocks, $10. I’m probably most excited about the Strawberry Alarm Clock, which speaks to several of my favorite flavors with fresh strawberries, lime, cachaca, brown sugar and Balsamic syrup, served on the rocks, $10. For the grown-ups who loved Applejacks as a kid, try Ginger Jack Rose, a sophisticated gentlemen’s drink of Laird’s Applejack, housemade grenadine, lemon and Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur, served up, $10.

Inspired by the Virginia Highland filling station that once stood in its place, Diesel Filling Station (870 N. Highland Ave., 404-815-1820, www.dieselatlanta.com) is a neighborhood destination that is equal parts pub, restaurant and late night hangout. In addition to a 50-plus beer menu featuring craft and high-gravity beers, Diesel just rolled out its new spring cocktail lineup, including the Motor Oil Martini (Level Vodka, raspberry liqueur, blue Curacao, $8), Jalapeno Margarita (a little spice with a lotta Jose Cuervo, $7), Cherry Cosmo (cherry vodka, orange liqueur, lime juice and sour mix, $8), Pink Lemonade (so decidedly Southern with Absolut Citron and Diesel’s secret mix, $6), Peach Drop (shot of sweet tea vodka and peach schnapps dropped into a glass of lemonade, $6) and shots: Rope Candy (vanilla vodka, Frangelico, raspberry liqueur, orange juice and cranberry, $7) and Sugar Daddy (Catdaddy Moonshine Kamikaze, $6). 

Sustainable Sandwiches

Finally a way to get rid of plastic sandwich baggies! Greenheart, an online eco-friendly shop that has a brick-and-mortar version in Chicago, sells these handy dandy reusable sandwich sacks from Snack Taxis. Just think of all the lunches moms and dads make for their kids, as well as folks who take their lunch to work who could benefit from this one little envelope for their pastrami on rye or old school PB&J—saving tons of money each year, as well as taking an extra step to reduce plastic from our growing landfills.

The exterior is made from 100 percent cotton and is lined with a waterproof material that consists of nylon with a polyurethane coating. Both the cotton and the lining have been tested to ensure that they are free of heavy metals (including lead), phthalates, PBBs, and PBDEs.

Clean in your washer or your dishwasher. $8.99. Greenheart Shop

Smart Glass Jewelry Trunk & Sample Show

Kathleen Plate, founder/designer of Smart Glass Jewelry, hosts a sale at her studio in Candler Park this Friday, April 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

If you have a piece of Smart Glass that needs to be replaced, have an exchange or just want a great deal on a new necklace, drop by this Friday. The address is below, and the parking is free. She will have different boxes of necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, cufflinks and more marked down with special pricing–so a great opportunity to add multiple pieces to your wardrobe for a great price.


Smart Glass Jewelry Sale
This Friday, April 9
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Smart Glass Jewelry
195 Arizona Ave. NE #LW5
Atlanta, GA 30307
Free parking

http://www.smartglassjewelry.com

Name That Burger Joint

BLT Restaurant Group has launched a national online “Name Game” contest. The acclaimed restaurant group is in search of a great name for the three new burger restaurants it plans to open later this year in New York City, Los Angeles and Washington, DC. (Fingers crossed for Atlanta next year!) Contestants can enter online at www.bltrestaurants.com, and one lucky winner will claim a $4,000 grand prize.

These new burger restaurants will be updated versions of the classic American burger joint, including hand-scooped milkshakes and plenty of beer (more than 20 beers on tap), as well as cocktails. The casual restaurants will feature exposed brick walls, naturally worn wooden floors and a dark pressed tin ceiling. Rock ‘n’ roll music and flat-screen televisions with live sports will make these fun, energetic spots for lunch, dinner or a late-night bite.

All they need is a name. From now through Friday, April 30, contestants can enter their suggestions for the name of the new burger joints. From the entries, the BLT Restaurant Group partners will select their top three choices, which will be posted on Wednesday, May 5 and opened up to the public for a final vote. After five days of heated competition, the $4,000 cash prize winner will be announced online at www.bltrestaurants.com on Monday, May 10. The two runners-up will also be announced and each awarded $250 gift certificates to BLT Restaurants.

To play the Name Game and view contest rules, please visit www.bltrestaurants.com. Contestants must be 13 years or older to enter.

BLT Restaurant Group currently operates 17 restaurants around the world with several projects slated for 2010.

BLT Steak is located in the W Atlanta-Downtown. 45 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. Atlanta, GA 30308-3052. 404-577-7601.

"Glee" comes to Atlantic Station

The feel-good singing show "Glee" is coming to Atlantic Station on Tuesday, April 13,, with a free outdoor screening of the season premiere. The award-winning series will kick off the first of nine all-new episodes at 9 p.m., and Atlantic Station is inviting fans of the show to enjoy a free viewing of the premiere from Central Park.

As a part of the special screening, Atlantic Station restaurants will offer meal deals from 6 to 9 pm. And, prior to the start of the premiere, attendees will have the chance to win prizes from FOX 5 and Atlantic Station restaurants.


WHEN: Tuesday, April 13, premiere begins at 9 p.m.


WHERE: Central Park in Atlantic Station

PARKING: Visitors may park in Atlantic Station’s parking deck; first two hours of parking are free

For additional details regarding the spring premiere of "Glee" in Atlantic Station, visit http://www.atlanticstation.com/events.php.

Help Atlanta's newest public school go green

Atlanta Public Schools has decided to go green and has applied for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification when building its newest elementary school, Springdale Park (SPARK), located at 1274 Ponce de Leon Ave. between Briarcliff and Springdale roads.

Local restaurant owners Fifth Group (La Tavola, El Taco, Ecco, South  City Kitchen (Vinings and Midtown) and Bold American Catering) are supporting the school with a special fundraiser at El Taco. El Taco is one of Atlanta's first zero-waste restaurants, which mean no waste at the end of the night--all materials are either recycled or put to compost--so it's the perfect choice for this special dine-out night. The Va-Hi Mexican restaurant is donating 20 percent of the night's food sales back to SPARK to help make their vision a reality.

For reservations of seven or more, please call 404.873.4656--please make sure to identify yourself by saying "I'm dining out for SPARK!"

WHEN: Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 5-10 p.m.
WHERE: El Taco, 1186 N. Highland Avenue (at Amsterdam Ave.)
MORE INFO: Visit the Facebook event page

Travel with Chef Hector Santiago

Chef Hector Santiago of Pura Vida Tapas & Bar and his wife Leslie are going home to Puerto Rico for a Gastro Trek and are inviting anyone who wants to join to come along. From Wednesday, April 7 until Monday, April 12, the Santiagos invite you to eat, sleep and breathe Puerto Rican culture for $2,600.00 per person. The cost of the trip includes everything but the airfare; meals, tour of markets, dinner at Santiago’s home in Puerto Rico, and a tour of historic kitchens of Old San Juan, including the former home of the island’s first governor, Poncé de Leon. Chef Santiago’s goal for this Gastro Trek is to raise the awareness of the Latino culture and cuisine in the States. Future trips include a September 2010 excursion to Peru and spring 2011 trip to Spain. To register for the trip, learn about the Santiagos, or consider future Gastro Treks, visit the Pura Vida restaurant Web site at www.puravidatapas.com and click on the Gastro Trek link. For more information or questions, contact Leslie Santiago at 404-870-9797 or their travel partner, Tammy Zacks, with Travel by Design at 404-467-0980.

The Gastro Trek will include a historic kitchen tour in Old San Juan, an interactive market experience at Rio Piedras, a street party in La Placita de Santurce and dinners at various restaurants. The chef will also treat guests to a cooking demonstration and dinner at the Santiago family home. The highlight of the event is Saborea, an extravagant food festival annually held in Puerto Rico. Derived from the Spanish word for “taste,” Saborea is a culinary experience that brings together chefs and fans from all over the world. Along with Santiago, some of today’s most notable chefs will be presenting cooking demos on stage at the festival, such as Food Network star Chef Anne Burrell and talented Pastry Chef Keegan Gerhard.

Repast wine dinner with Iron Horse Vineyards, March 2

Repast Restaurant (620 Glen Iris Drive NE, Atlanta) hosts an Iron Horse Vineyards wine dinner on Tuesday, March 2, with special guest, winemaker Joy Sterling.

Chef Joe Truex has designed a tempting five-course feast to complement the wines of Iron Horse Vineyards.

The Menu
Passed hors d'oeuvres
Black truffle gougères
Wine pairing: Iron Horse, classic vintage brut, '05


First course
Smoke-cured salmon
Crunchy salad, fried capers, lemon cream
Wine pairing: Iron Horse, Russian Cuvée, '05

Second course
Sea scallop and pork belly
Glazed root vegetables, black garlic jus
Wine pairing: Iron Horse, chardonnay, estate bottled, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, '06

Third course
Duck and "dirty rice"
Carolina Gold rice, foie gras, wild burgundian escargot, red wine
Wine pairing: Iron Horse, pinot noir, estate bottled, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, '07

Dessert course
Gorgonzola dulce brûlée
Wild flower honey, dates, marcona almonds
Wine pairing: Iron Horse, bdx, cabernet sauvignon, Alexander Valley, '05

Price is $85 per person inclusive of tax & gratuity.

Call 404.870.8707 to make a reservation or for additional information. Space is limited.

Reception begins at 7 p.m.

Comedian Sherri D. Sutton returns to her Southern roots

Sherri D. Sutton, a dear friend of mine and one of the finest female comedians I've ever seen, is coming to Atlanta to perform a set at The Laughing Skull Lounge on March 2 at 8 p.m.

Sherri has opened for Roseanne Barr, performed all over the world (including Caroline's in NYC, where Rosie O'Donnell and Jay Leno got their breaks).

This show is an audition for Just For Laughs, one of the biggest comedy festivals in the world. This is an awesome opportunity for Sherri to further her comedic career, as well as a fantastic chance for you to wet your pants in public from laughing so hard.

Tickets are cheap and worth buying immediately. Go to http://www.vortexcomedy.com
Scroll down to Montreal Just For Laughs to order tickets.

$6 general admission
$8 VIP

(You must be 18 up to get in the club.)

Think you can bake? Prove it.

Share Our Strength invites Atlantans to tie on their aprons and join the fun for the Great American Baking Contest on Thursday, March 11, at The Cook’s Warehouse—Midtown. Emceed by Q100’s Jenn Hobby, this kickoff event for the seventh annual Great American Bake Sale presented by Domino Sugar and C&H will feature professional pastry chefs, amateurs and children vying to win the title for “Atlanta’s Best Dessert.” All proceeds will benefit Share Our Strength, the leading national organization working to end childhood hunger by 2015.

Guests will have the opportunity to sample confectionary creations of some of Atlanta’s best pastry chefs, sip flavorful wines and participate in a silent auction. At the end of the evening, contestants in each group level will be judged on originality, taste and appearance. Atlanta Journal-Constitution food writer John Kessler and Mary Moore, founder and owner of The Cook’s Warehouse, will judge the professionals’ desserts, while Pastry Chefs Jonathan St. Hilaire, chef and owner of Bakeshop and last year’s professional first-place winner, Alon Balshan, chef and owner of Alon’s Bakery and Market and Cocoa Barry Chocolate Ambassador and Kathryn King from Aria, will judge the amateur and children’s confections.

The festivities will continue from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Great American Baking Contest general admission costs $25 per person and begins at 7:30 p.m. VIP admission costs $35 and includes a champagne reception at 6:30 p.m. with Q100’s Jenn Hobby and a sampling of her own special baked treat. Tickets are also available at www.strength.org/bakingcontest.

Contestant entry fees are $25 for children and amateur bakers and $95 for professionals. First-, second- and third-place bakers will be recognized with prizes including $500 for the first-place professional winner and $250 for the first-place amateur and child baker, courtesy of Domino’s Sugar. Deadline for all entries is Thursday, February 25, 2010, and all entries must include contact information, detailed recipe summary or recipe and the non-refundable, tax-exempt entry fee. To see the full contest rules or to enter, visit www.strength.org/bakingcontest or contact Amy Crowell at acrowell@strength.org or 770-436-5151 for additional information.

Celeb Chocolate Buffet at Park 75 kicks off this Friday, Feb. 19

Rub elbows with celebs and indulge in chocolate decadence? Um, what's not to love about that combo? Especially when it's held at the posh Four Seasons Atlanta.

Starting this Friday, Feb. 19, and then every Friday thereafter, Four Seasons Executive Chef Robert Gerstenecker invites a local celebrity to join him in the kitchen to share their favorite chocolate dessert along with other decadent creations on the Chocolate Buffet. Kicking it off is Frank Ski, on-air personality and host of the top rated Frank & Wanda in the Morning Show on V103 The People's Station. Ski is also the chairman of the Frank Ski Kids Foundation which provides financial assistance to low-income youth applicants and youth-serving agencies to expand opportunities for educational, athletic and cultural learning.

The Celebrity Chocolate Buffet is available at Park 75 at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta 9 p.m. to midnight every Friday evening beginning February 19 through March 26.

Cost is $20 per person (valet parking is included).

For more information, call 404-253-3840.

Park 75 at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta is located at  75 Fourteenth St. Atlanta, GA 30309

Atlantan restaurants band together

I got wind of this crazy situation from Rathbun's co-owner Cliff Bramble late the night before we went to press at The Sunday Paper, so I couldn't pursue a story in time to make deadline. But essentially a Web site was selling reservations to the top echelon of Atlanta restaurants for Valentine's Day. Unthinkable, no? Thank goodness for Jennifer Boozer, PR maven of Buckhead Life Restaurant Group for realizing what was happening. Restaurant owners started communicating, and they were able to get the site shut down. John Kessler of the AJC did a great job of covering it more fully here.

Love bites: Where to eat in Atlanta on Valentine's Day

Whether you’re easily caught up in the Hallmark-heavy balloons-and-cards day of smoochy-shmoo or you just want to have a nice, romantic dinner with the object of your affection, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a rundown of how some of our beloved restaurants are celebrating Valentine’s Day.

Amuse! Four-course prix-fixe menu, $48. 560 Dutch Valley Road. 404-888-1890.
www.amuseatlanta.com.

Alon’s Bakery and Market Order a basket of freshly prepared food, roses and candles for $99 by Feb. 12 and pick up Feb. 13 or 14. Two locations.
www.alons.com.

Atlanta Grill at The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta Four-course prix-fixe menu, $79, Feb. 12-14. 181 Peachtree St. 404-659-0400. www.ritzcarlton.com/atlanta.

Anis Café and Bistro Four-course prix-fixe menu, $60, complimentary champagne and rose. 2974 Grandview Ave. 404-233-9889. www.anisbistro.com.

Aqua Blue Prix-fixe menu of three courses for $50 Feb. 12-14. Add champagne and a long stem rose to the evening for $15. Kristin Tinsley sings Friday at 8 p.m. 1564 Holcomb Bridge Road. 770-643-8886. www.aquablueatl.com.

Aria Four-course menu, $85 per person, on Feb. 14. 490 East Paces Ferry Road. 404-233-7673. www.aria-atl.com.

CamiCakes Cupcakes Create your own V-Day variety pack of a dozen delicious cupcakes, tied with a brown satin ribbon and a card, $33. 2221 Peachtree Road. 404-748-4288. www.camicakes.com.

C & S Seafood and Oyster Bar Four-course menu, $35 ($45 with wine pairings). 3240 Cobb Parkway.
770-272-0999. www.candsoysterbar.com.

Doc Chey’s For every adult entrée purchased on Feb. 14, get one kid’s meal free. All locations. www.doccheys.com.

Highland Bakery Stop by between Feb. 8 and 14 to pick up some decadent sweets for your amore, like heart-shaped whoopee pies, cheesecake lollipops and anti-Valentine’s Day cakes with messages such as “Lose my number.” 55 Highland Ave. 404-586-0772. www.highlandbakery.com

JCT Kitchen & Bar $55 four-course menu. 1198 Howell Mill Road.
404-355-2252. www.jctkitchen.com.

La Tavola Trattoria Four-course menu, $49. Regular menu also available. Feb. 12-14. 992 Virginia Ave. NE. 404-873-5430. www.latavolatrattoria.com

Market Five-course menu, $65. W-Atlanta Buckhead, 3377 Peachtree Road NE. www.marketbuckhead.com.

Miller Union Not normally open on Sundays, but it’s serving dinner on Valentine’s Day, and that’s pretty special. 999 Brady Ave. 678-733-8550. www.millerunion.com.

Morton’s The Steakhouse Four-course menu, $99.99 for two. Wine and cocktail specials. Feb. 14. Buckhead, 3379 Peachtree Road NE. 404-816-6535. Downtown, 303 Peachtree Center Ave. NE. 404-577-4366‎. www.mortons.com.

Pacci Ristorante “Italy is for Lovers” four-course menu, $40, includes wine pairings, from Feb. 8-14. Special gift for Sat. and Sun. diners. Palomar Hotel, 866 West Peachtree St. NW. 678-412-2402‎.
www.pacciatlanta.com.

Park 75 at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta Four-course menu, $75, Feb. 12-14. 75 14th St. 404-253-3840. www.fourseasons.com.

Paces 88 Six-course aphrodisiac dinner, $125, Feb. 14. Violinist. The St. Regis Atlanta, 88 West Paces Ferry Road. 404-563-7910. www.paces88.com.

Pizzeria Venti Four-course meal with one glass of wine, $25. Feb. 14. 2770 Lenox Road. 404-228-2013.
www.pizzeriaventi-atlanta.com.

Ray’s Restaurants (Ray’s on the River, Ray’s in the City and Ray’s Killer Creek) No prix fixe, but great giveaways (trips, diamonds, chocolates), Feb. 12-14. www.raysrestaurants.com.

Serpas True Food Three-course prix-fixe dinner for two. Feb. 13 and 14, plus prix-fixe brunch on Feb. 14. 659 Auburn Ave. 404-688-0040.
www.serpasrestaurant.com.

SHULA’s 347 Grill Three-course prix-fixe meal, plus champagne toast, $29.95. Feb. 12-14. A la carte menu also available. 3405 Lenox Road NE. 404-848-7345. www.shulas347atlanta.com.

Social Resto Café Bar Four-course menu and wine pairing, $55. Feb. 14. 12 West Peachtree Place. 404-525 2246.
www.socialintown.com.

St. Regis Bar and Wine Bar Valentine’s Day cocktail menu spotlights literary libations and romantic quotes. The St. Regis also serves daily teas themed around Shakespeare’s love sonnets each afternoon, Feb. 12-14 in the Long Gallery. The St. Regis Atlanta, 88 West Paces Ferry Road. 404-563-7910. www.paces88.com.

Star Provisions Offering a full meal to go for $145. Add $50 for a bottle of Veuve Cliquot Rose. Place orders by Feb. 12. 1198 Howell Mill Road. 404-365-0410. www.starprovisions.com.

The Cafe at The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead Four-course prix-fixe menu of aphrodisiac cuisine, $79, Feb. 12-14. 3434 Peachtree Road NE. 404-240-7035.
www.ritzcarlton.com/buckhead.

The Melting Pot Five-course menu, $65 (add $20 for wine pairing). Feb. 12-14. www.meltingpot.com.

The Original El Taco Singles can head to “To El With Valentine’s Day” weekend event (Feb. 13-14) fueled by drink specials, ladies-only wheel of taco spins for salon and spa prizes. 1186 North Highland Ave. 404-873-4656. www.eltaco-atlanta.com.

Village Tavern Four-course prix-fixe dinner, $50, Feb. 13-14. A la carte also available Feb. 14. 11555 Rainwater Drive, Alpharetta. 770-777-6490. www.villagetavern.com.

Yoforia Couples receive a buy one get one free special on Feb. 14. Valentine’s Day-themed toppings available. All locations. www.yoforia.com

Dining out for Haiti

Atlanta restaurants are helping in the relief efforts in Haiti by raising funds. Here's a roundup of benevolent dining deals and ways to help the earthquake victims in Haiti.

Got a tip for me? E-mail me at kpalladino@sundaypaper.com.


Online, 24/7
The Melting Pot Atlanta Area makes it easy to help Haiti. Post your words of encouragement for the people of Haiti to the Melting Pot's Facebook Fan Page wall at https://www.facebook.com/meltingpotatl. The restaurant is donating $1 per post to the American Red Cross and one lucky fan will receive a $100 Gift Certificate.

Tuesday, Jan. 26
The Mellow Mushroom at Ivan Plaza in Downtown Atlanta will be donating 100 percent of their sales all day to the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer in Haiti.

Amuse, Anis, Village Pizza, Carroll St. Café, Carpe Diem and Apres Diem are actually hosting a Dine Out for lunch and dinner. They will donate 20 percent of all their profits to Doctors Without Borders.

Tuesday, Feb. 9
Toulouse Restaurant is hosting a Steve Penley Wine Dinner to benefit the ServeHAITI Foundation. The dinner will feature a five-course meal with two glasses of wine and the chance to meet artist Steve Penley and view his artwork. Throughout the evening, guests will be able to view and purchase Penley’s paintings, reproduction posters and book with illustrations. In addition to Penley’s artwork, guests will also get to see photographs of Haiti from Donna Williams, a photographer who has been working with ServeHAITI. Guests can meet the artist and get books autographed at 6:30 p.m., and dinner begins at 7:15 p.m.

The menu will feature a field green salad with red wine vinaigrette; seared scallops served with broccoli and sundried tomatoes in a rosemary-citrus reduction; wild mushroom ravioli atop arugula sprinkled with gorgonzola cheese, cranberries and pistachios drizzled with a white balsamic sauce; beef tenderloin filet with mushroom cream sauce coupled with grilled salmon in a balsamic beurre blanc; and Robert’s flourless chocolate cake with chocolate glaze for dessert.

The cost is $125 per person and includes tax and gratuity. A portion of the art proceeds as well as a sizeable portion of the nightly proceeds will be donated to the ServeHAITI Foundation. Toulouse is located at 2293 Peachtree Road NE. To make a reservation, please call 404-351-9533. For more information on Toulouse, visit www.toulouserestaurant.com.

Sushi saves

Looking to start your weekend early? Head to Genki Noodles & Sushi in The Prado tonight, Thursday, Jan. 14 from 7 to 10 p.m. for Genki Gives. The FREE event features guest bartenders, Sully from Dave FM, Thrillist Atlanta editor Michael Jordan, and Stephanie Davis - skirt.com's National web editor.

Nosh on Genki's regular menu, sample speciality items created by certified master chef Kevin Walker of Cherokee Town & Country Club or enjoy a four-course prix fixe dinner with wine pairings for $75. Proceeds from Genki Gives (bar & food sales) will be donated to Autism Gives & Steps to Grow On - a CHOA initiative to help fight childhood obesity.

Special guest and Atlanta resident Daniel Wilcox of the Baltimore Ravens is also going to stop by before he heads to the playoffs.

RSVP to Caren West PR at 404.614.0006 and rsvp@carenwestpr.com

If you would like to make a reservation for the prix fixe dinner, call Genki at 404.843.8319 or email Saffold Barksdale at saffold@genkiatl.com.

Take a deep breath

We’re busy creatures, us humans. Everything’s whizzing by as we rush out the door in the morning to work, race to beat the clock on projects and deadlines, shoveling our quick meals in our hungry mouths as we go. We extend this frantic lifestyle to our children, as our parents did to us. We're always on the go. It's the American way. Achieving success takes all our time, and we have none of it left to give ourselves. Or do we?

What would we gain if we were to stop, sit and be absolutely silent and completely still? The world would not leave us, as we might fear. It would wait for us, available as soon as we came back, but we would return to it differently, with a heightened sense of self-awareness, better able to connect to the world and its inhabitants. This is just one aspect of the practice of meditation, but it is a very important one, as it is a major draw for people who are drowning in life, for whatever reason. But you don’t have to be in inner turmoil to meditate. “I think most people come to meditation because they have a feeling that they’d like to connect more in their lives, and they’d like to have more sense that they’re actually living their lives, that it’s not just passing them by,” says Jackie Muse, practice and education director of the Atlanta Shambhala Center, of which she is a founding member. “Especially in our culture, it seems like life gets speedier and speedier as we go along, so people have a feeling that their mind is racing. Some people that I instruct say they don’t feel like they have control of their mind, like their mind is driving them crazy, pulling them along.”

So what does it mean to meditate? The basic practice of meditation begins with sitting cross-legged, spine upright, eyes closed and concentrating on your breathing—and nothing else. From there, the world of meditation is your oyster. There are guided meditations, solitary silence, walking meditation circles, retreats, temples and entire communities devoted to finding inner peace through meditation. A plethora of meditation variations exists, and a trip to a bookstore or the Internet will provide the education if you yearn to know the 2,000-year story of Buddhism. Though it’s important to note that you needn’t change your religion to enjoy the grounding powers of meditation. Swamiji Nithyananda, a world-renowned leader in the practice, is quoted as saying, “Meditation is nothing but a preparation to rediscover the state of bliss that is already inside you.” A visit to a meditation center, a yoga class or a retreat will provide the beginning of a new life or could be the catalyst for change in your life.

In addition to helping us deal with the emotional stress of life, meditation offers a multitude of other health benefits. Along with having better posture and lowered blood pressure, which can lower your risk for heart disease, Muse says meditation is “helpful with sickness and dying—for both the patient and the caretaker. There’s a lot of anxiety involved, but meditation helps you relax and let go.”

One draw for meditation, then, is the allure of silence and stillness. “The first thing that happens with meditation is you sit down and stop the body. Then the mind has a place to come home to. So we’re really talking about making friends with ourselves, taking a journey inward and rediscovering ourselves,” Muse says, “And then you can see what’s going on around you.”  By Kirsten Palladino

MEDITATING IN ATLANTA

Atlanta Shambhala Center
1447 Church Street, Decatur
404-370-9650
www.atlanta.shambhala.org

Balance Yoga
524 East Paces Ferry Road NE
404-869-7575
www.balanceyogaatlanta.com

Kashi Atlanta Ashram
1681 McLendon Ave. NE
404-687-3353
www.kashiatlanta.org

Peachtree Yoga Center
6050 Sandy Springs Circle
404-847-9642
www.peachtreeyoga.com

Pierce Yoga
1164 N. Highland Ave. NE
404-875-7110
www.pierceyoga.com

Siddha Yoga Meditation Center of Atlanta
2531 Briarcliff Road NE
www.symca.org

Urban Yoga
At Danneman’s Coffee
466 Edgewood Ave.
404-380-1393
www.dannemans.com

Kitchen confidential

{Published in The Sunday Paper on Dec. 13, 2009}
Atlanta’s “Top Chef” Kevin Gillespie

/Photo by Fredrik Brauer

By Kirsten Ott Palladino
As I walked into Woodfire Grill the morning after the finale of “Top Chef: Las Vegas” aired last week, I noticed half-full glasses and empty bottles of wine strewn about the bar—signs that, perhaps, a festive and celebratory viewing party had ensued just hours before, with Atlantans and the rest of the nation holding on with baited breath to see if Kevin Gillespie, the final of three Atlanta competitors, would win the last and most important challenge in the competition.

According to head judge Tom Colicchio, host Padma Lakshmi and food critic and author Toby Young, Michael Voltaggio was the winner, and his older brother Bryan came in second place. The competition is a series of challenges, and each one has a winner. Gillespie, executive chef and partner of Woodfire Grill, won the most throughout, and had the show’s winner been judged cumulatively, he certainly would have been crowned Top Chef.

Still, though, in Atlanta’s heart—and optimistically speaking, in all of America’s, too—Gillespie is our Top Chef. He played the game with restrained grace, humility, heart, refined skill and an innate understanding of the purest essence of food and its ability to speak to the soul. Gillespie invited me in for a chat, and here’s what he had to say for himself.
Q /
You’ve won five challenges before the finale. Which one were you most proud of?

A /Probably the Bocuse d’Or. It was certainly the most challenging.


In the final challenge, you doubted Preeti after drawing her name first, and you got mad at her when she wasn't pulling her weight. How’s your kitchen-management style at Woodfire?

I’m fairly easygoing in the kitchen here. And I really feel like I owe Preeti [Mistry] an apology, because it wasn’t her fault. I was misdirecting my emotions at her, and it was unfair of me. 


Who would you rather have drawn?

Jennifer [Carroll] and Eli [Kirshtein]—because I’m the most comfortable with them and they know my philosophy and vision for my food.


What are the main reasons you entered the competition? And looking back, did you meet that goal?

I entered to see how I would perform. Of course, I wanted to win. And in my opinion, I did win. 



Tell me about your simple, Southern style. Has it evolved over the course of this show?

My food style is to use traditions that I grew up with combined with techniques I’ve honed in my career. I cook food I believe in. But it didn’t really change during the show.
 


During the airing of the finale, you Tweeted that you were the first Top Chef in history to receive third place.

Yes, I do feel like I was robbed of my moment there, because normally in the final, you have the winner and the runners up. You don’t get sent home. And that was really embarrassing. 


You said on the show, “Pork is my jam.” What’s the allure of pork for you?

Ha! I love pork. Pork, as an animal, is the most utilitarian—it’s the most usable. Pork has the capacity to be a leading act or to play a supporting role.
 


When you started the competition, who did you feel would be your biggest competitor?

From the very beginning, I felt like brothers Michael and Bryan Voltaggio would be my biggest competition. … Isn’t that funny?


On the show, Padma seemed to be a big fan of yours. How were she and Tom off the air?

You know, I didn’t get to spend a lot time with them until the show was over, but they’re both really great. Tom also is a chef, so he and I have a mutual respect for different cooking styles. There’s no “my method is better than yours.” And Padma is a really lovely person.

You said on the finale that you were an underdog in this competition. Do you still feel that way?

I came into this with no celebrity experience. Though I have plenty of experience, it’s a little bit more modest. People viewed me as just some kid from the South. People don’t always realize that [in the South], we’re not just about comfort food. I intended to show that we have fancy food, too—with focus, flavor and execution.


I hear you—and your beard—are now single. What dish or dinner could a woman make to impress you on a date?

Anything! Everyone is scared s**tless to cook for me. Please cook for me! No one cooks for me. I would love to not have to cook for myself one night or have to go out to eat. I’d be impressed with any dish she knew how to make. 
 


How has the volume of sales at Woodfire Grill increased since this season of “Top Chef” started?

We’re up by 300 percent and booked almost three months 
in advance. I’ve talked to some of the others [competitors], and their restaurants are busier, too. But I really think we’re the busiest. And we’ve risen to the challenge. 
 


What did you think about that “biscuit and gravy” comment from Tom?

I thought it was funny. People do generally think the South is full of common folk who cook food that doesn’t belong in a culinary competition. And I want to change that. The South has the richest, longest storied food history, and we should celebrate that. There is elegance and refinement in the tradition of Southern cooking that we can be proud of. 
 


Tell me about the matsutake mushroom. It seemed to be the downfall of the evening.

The mushroom was tricky. I wouldn’t have used it after seeing the way it came out, but I had to use it. That comment from Tom last night about “Why did he put it on the plate?” … Tom knows exactly why I put it on the plate. It was either get [in trouble] for not using it or for using it. My cooking technique for it was my best perception, and it turned out not to be right. Frankly, the mystery box pissed me off because what was inside was garbage.



Regardless of how the show ended, Atlanta loves you and you’re our top chef. You really do have a gift. Out of all the chefs on the show, you cooked with the most heart, and it really comes through in the food you serve here at Woodfire Grill.

I think it’s about staying focused and honing in on my skill set. I feel like cooking is the birth of my body, soul and mind … that food is a tangible art.



In your senior year of high school in Henry County, you hid your acceptance and full scholarship to MIT from your friends and family and ultimately decided you wanted to be a chef. What was the turning point for you?

I had an epiphany. There was a moment of clarity when I realized that my happiness was not based on a fiscally sound career choice. I have to use my brain doing something that 
I believe in and have my choice of work allow me to live the way I want.
 


Where do you go from here?

I’m staying at the restaurant. I want to continue to focus on improving the quality and achieve five stars. There’s a lot that I want to do though that I can’t talk about quite yet. I want to write books. I feel like I have a gift for speaking and educating. All I wanted to do was to tell my story through food, and I think I’ve done that.

Woodfire Grill is located at 1782 Cheshire Bridge Road NE. 404-347-9055. 
www.woodfiregrill.com.