Spring fling

{Patio at Tap, photo courtesy of Tap}

Mixologist Lara Creasy of JCT Kitchen & Bar whips up some mean libations, such as the Back Porch, a blend of vodka, thyme syrup, citrus and crushed ice; Patio Punch, a shared drink which incorporates fresh fruit, tea, spirit, wine and local honeys; Ryebarb, a concoction of Old Overholt rye, rhubarb bitters, spice ginger and peppercorn syrup served on the rocks; and the Rough Rider, a smooth beverage of vanilla-infused 10Cane rum, Mexican cola and velvet falernum. JCT Kitchen is located at 1198 Howell Mill Road NW. 404-355-2252. www.jctkitchen.com.

Partying at home, but crave restaurant-quality cocktails? Eclipse di Luna’s sangria can be purchased from the Buckhead restaurant in an Igloo cooler for $125 for five gallons. On Sundays, the restaurant offers bottomless sangria for $10 per person from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Eclipse di Luna serves up tapas seven nights a week and offers a patio area that holds up to 70 guests and is just as lively as the rest of the restaurant. This energetic eatery specializes in Latin influenced tapas and offers nightly live entertainment, as well as lunch Tuesday through Saturday. Eclipse di Luna in Buckhead is located at 764 Miami Circle, 404-846-0449. The restaurant’s Dunwoody location at 4505 Ashford-Dunwoody Road also offers a large patio, 678-205-5862. For more information, visit www.eclipsediluna.com. SP


MORE GREAT AL FRESCO DINING

Apres Diem
Great place to gather with the girls
931 Monroe Drive NE
404-872-3333
www.apresdiem.com

Cowtippers
Best Texas margarita in town
1600 Piedmont Ave. NE
404-874-3751
www.cowtippersatlanta.com

Joe’s on Juniper
Trivia, drag queens and terrific pub grub
1049 Juniper St. NE

404-875-6634
www.joesatlanta.com

Murphy’s
Best bet for brunch
997 Virginia Ave. NE

404-872-0904
www.murphysvh.com

Nava
Where Buckhead peeps relax
3060 Peachtree Road NW

404-240-1987
www.buckheadrestaurants.com

Portofino
Fantastic wine and a romantic outdoor terrace
3199 Paces Ferry Place
404-231-1136
www.portofinobistro.com

Six Feet Under
Casual rooftop dining at its finest
685 11th St. NW

404-810-0040
www.sixfeetunderatlanta.com


Stats
Place your bets on this rooftop patio.
300 Marietta St. NW

404-885-1472
www.statsatl.com

Steamhouse Lounge
Nosh on oysters under the sun.
1051 W. Peachtree St. NW

404-233-7980
www.steamhouselounge.com

Tap
Single? Try this flirting hot spot.
1180 Peachtree St. NE

404-347-2220
www.tapat1180.com

The Nook
New dining destination by Piedmont Park
1144 Piedmont Ave.
404-745-9222
www.thenookatlanta.com

Tin Lizzy’s
We're so thankful for a second location of this taco-and-margarita hangout.
415 Memorial Drive
404-554-8220
www.tinlizzyscantina.com

SPLASH INTO THIS
My new favorite spring cocktail comes courtesy of Absolut Mango vodka. It’s the freshest, juiciest liquor I’ve tasted in a long while. Make a batch of this refreshing libation for hanging out with friends in the backyard or fill a travel bottle for a walk in the park. Delish.



ABSOLUT MANGO FIZZ
2 parts Absolut Mango vodka
¾ parts lemon juice
½ parts simple syrup
Top with lemon-lime soda.
Build over ice in a tall glass, and garnish with a lime.

Off the vine

Every year, wine connoisseurs converge to take part in the High Museum of Art’s wine auction. Swillers and sippers are united with purveyors and sommeliers of esteemed excellence. The auction isn’t the only event, though—the High is offering a smorgasbord of vinocentric opportunities, beginning with “The Artist Dinner—The Genius Behind” on Wednesday, March 25. A bus departs at 5:30 to an intimate dinner at artist Thomas Arvid’s cabin studio. Jayson Woodbridge of Hundred Acre pairs wines with the specialties of Chef Jay Swift of 4th & Swift. Each couple will leave with an Arvid Limited Edition watercolor exclusively created for this event. $1500 per couple, sold by couples only (of which $600 is a charitable contribution).

On Thursday, March 26, are the winemakers’ dinners at 15 of Atlanta’s finest homes with Atlanta chefs cooking while some of the world’s greatest wines are poured by the winemakers themselves. $350 per person ($125 is charitable contribution.)

Friday, March 27, is for educating purposes. The seminar series include “Riesling Renegades” at 11 a.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel, Atlanta, with Chateau Ste. Michelle and Dr. Loosen Estate of Germany; “Martine Saunier & the Wines of Burgundy,” at 11 a.m. at Above Trois, where wine-lovers can taste the likes of Michel Gay & Fils 2004 Beaune-Greves 1er Cru, Chevalier Pere & Fils 2005 Ladoix Rouge “Les Corvees” 1er Cru, Denis Mortet 2006 Gevrey-Chambertin and Bruno Clavelier 2006 Chambolle-Musigny “La Combe d’Orveau” 1er Cru, among others; “Louis Latour & the Legacy of Corton Charlemagne,” at 2 p.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel, Atlanta, with the seventh Louis, Louis-Fabrice Latour and his label’s Grand Cru of Corton Charlemagne; and “Passion on the Vine: Wines that Inspired the Book,” at 2 p.m. at Above Trois, with author Sergio Espositio, whose evocative memoir details his journey from Italy to America. All seminars are $100, with $25 as a charitable contribution.

Friday evening is a brilliant blend of wine, food and music at the gala and lot preview, held under the tents in Atlantic Station. A Champagne de Venoge reception and auction preview kicks off the night at 7 p.m., followed by dinner at 8. Caterer A Legendary Event and local chefs Linton Hopkins, Scott Boswell, Sean Brock and Sam Mason partner up for this memorable meal. Dinner is served simultaneously to more than 700 guests. Reservations for this event are limited to Wine Auction Benefactors. 


Saturday, March 28, is the final and perhaps the most anticipated event of this four-day adventure. The day begins with the Vintners’ Reception at 11 a.m., followed by the live auction at 1 p.m. As you sample wine from scores of world-class wineries while tasting gourmet goodies from the region’s top chefs, bid on a selection of rare wines, fantastic dinners, exotic trips and artwork. Tickets are $400 per person (with $175 as a charitable contribution).

Later, if you’re not utterly exhausted, tasting and dancing commences under the tents in Atlantic Station, beginning at 7 p.m. “The Big Finish” includes a culmination of everything the Wine Auction represents: great wine, exotic beers and ales, delicious food from Atlanta’s top restaurants, a silent auction and live music. Tickets are $100 for non-members and $75 for museum members ($25 is a charitable contribution).

For tickets to any of the events or for more information, e-mail reservations@atlanta-wineauction.org, visit www.atlanta-wineauction.org or call 404-733-5335.

Going green

GET JIGGY WITH IT
Do you have the Riverdance spirit? Showing it off could score you some free java. On St. Patrick’s Day, Danneman’s coffee shop in the Old Fourth Ward is rewarding its brave customers who will do an Irish jig upon placing their order with a free medium cup of coffee. Can’t dance? You’re still going to get lucky, since all green tea is 50 percent off the regular price all day long. Flavors of loose-leaf tea include City Harvest Green (green tea with jasmine and apple), Mao Jian (Chinese green tea) and Fiji (organic green tea with pineapple and papaya). With free Wi-Fi, freshly baked breads and breakfast treats, sandwiches and salads, and fun entertainment (the dancers, remember?), this is one fun neighborhood coffee shop you’ll never want to leave. Danneman’s is located at 466 Edgewood Ave. 404-380-1393. www.dannemans.com.

FRIENDLY COMPETITION
Atlanta chefs go head to head at Arts in Bloom, a fundraiser for the Dogwood Festival, Thursday, March 19, from 7 to 10 p.m. at LIT Kitchen. Creative culinary experts, including Shaun Doty of Shaun’s and Chip Ulbrich of South City Kitchen, will square off in a multi-round cook-off at the party. Winners will be chosen by a panel of judges, which consists of myself, Tiffany Davis, editor of Atlanta’s DailyCandy, food writer Sarah Gleim and Suchita Vadlamani from "Good Day Atlanta." Guests at the ticketed event can taste food from a variety of Atlanta’s favorite restaurants, like Shaun’s, South City Kitchen, Dolce, Geisha House and Melting Pot. Other highlights include interactive demonstrations, a beer and wine tasting selected to highlight the special cuisine, a silent auction and a first look at the 2009 High School Art Exhibit winners. Tickets are $75 in advance, $85 at the door, and include wine and beer tasting, and hors d’oeuvres. Parking is free. LIT Kitchen is located at 433-C Bishop St. NW. To purchase tickets and learn more, visit www.dogwood.org.

PRACTICALLY A STEAL
Sometimes it’s not easy being green, especially in this penny-pinching economy. Keeping Mother Earth happy while minding your cents and dollars can be tough, like buying organic, all-natural products or dining at restaurants that source regional ingredients. Luckily, someone’s thinking about us in that very way: Chef Carvel Grant Gould at Canoe Restaurant. With the “Local Yokel” three-course prix fixe menu offered nightly, diners can partake in an ever-changing rotation of dishes prepared from local farmers’ and fishermen’s ingredients. The meal is $30 without alcohol, and $40 with pre-selected organic wine pairings for the first two courses. I recently dined at Canoe and was delighted that the dishes are just as intensely flavorful as the rest of the regular menu offerings. Chef Gould’s a member of Slow Food Atlanta, so her treatment and respect of local and regional purveyors is nothing new. But this menu directly highlights some of the Southeast’s best producers, such as Riverview Farms in Ranger, Ga. (the pork cheek soup is heartwarming and perfect on a chilly night); Cimino Farms in Reynolds, Ga.; Mt. Airy, Ga.’s Springer Mountain Chicken, which Chef Gould roasts in tangerines from Hanes City, Fla.; Wayne Daily Farms, in Chadburn, N.C.; and Stone Mountain Pecans, in Stone Mountain, Ga., where Canoe sources its nuts for the pecan panna cotta in strawberry-thyme syrup. Canoe is located at 4199 Paces Ferry Road NW. 770-432-2663. www.canoe-atl.com.

SHAMROCKTAILS
From Tullamore Dew, the last Irish whiskey owned and managed by an Irish company.

Shamrocked

* 2 ounces Midori Melon Liqueur
* ½ ounce Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey
* ½ ounce Carolan’s Irish cream liqueur
* Shake incredibly well. Serve in a 3-ounce shot glass.


The Original Irish Coffee
Fill an Irish coffee glass with very hot water to pre-heat, then empty. Pour hot coffee into hot glass until it is about 3/4 full. Drop in 2 cocktail sugar cubes; stir until sugar is thoroughly dissolved. Add full jigger of Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey for proper taste and body. Top with a collar of lightly whipped cream by pouring gently over a spoon. Enjoy it while piping hot.

Tully Tea

* 2 parts Tullamore Dew
* 1 part Irish Mist
* Top with cola, and a splash of sour mix.
* Serve over ice in a highball glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge or wheel.

Don't confuse Joël with JOËL

Chef and managing partner of JOËL Restaurant Cyrille Holota speaks out about Chef Joël Antunes departing the Oak Room at the Plaza Hotel. His publicist released the following press release today:

Over the last two days numerous media outlets have reported that Chef Joël Antunes has stepped down as Executive Chef at New York’s lauded Plaza Hotel’s Oak Room, leaving many to wonder if he will return to his namesake restaurant in Atlanta. Holota confirms that Antunes will not be returing to JOËL Restaurant and is not affiliated with the restaurant any longer.

Antunes announced his move to the Oak Room on February 26, 2008 and named longtime friend and Chef de Cuisine, Holota, Executive Chef of JOËL. The restaurant’s ownership was so pleased with Holota’s impressive performance that he was named Managing Patner in the following months. Antunes departure from the Oak Room has no relevance to the happenings of JOËL Restaurant in Atlanta.


“Joël was and always will be a magnificant chef and friend. My staff and I wish him the best of luck in whatever he does in the future. I am very pleased with the new direction that JOËL has been going and I believe that we have added menu items that will please guests,” says Holota.


JOËL Restaurant remains a star on the Atlanta dining scene, new menu items combined with the culinary excellence of Holota make the restaurant one of Atlanta’s finest.

About JOËL Restaurant

Since 2001, national accolades for JOËL Restaurant include “Best New Restaurant” by Esquire Magazine and one of “America’s Best Restaurants” by Gourmet Magazine. Regional awards include being named one of Atlanta Magazine’s top 100 restaurants and named as one of “Atlanta’s Top 25 Chefs” by The Sunday Paper. In October 2008 the Atlanta Journal-Constitution awarded JOËL Restaurant the highest honor in the city – their coveted five-star rating. JOËL Restaurant is located at 3290 Northside Parkway in the Piazza at Paces just .5 miles off the West Paces Ferry exit of Highway 75. Complimentary valet is available during dinner service; otherwise, ample self-parking is available in the adjacent office building. JOËL serves lunch Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; the restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays. For information or reservations call 404.233.3500 or visit www.joelrestaurant.com.

Win a year's worth of Kiehl's shave cream

With spring almost here, cult favorite beauty label Kiehl's is re-launching its “Close Shaverettes” Simply Mahvelous Legs Shave Cream. Fans and newbies alike are invited to have some fun with the usually-daily task of shaving. To coincide with the re-launch, Kiehl's has teamed up with Svetlana Pankratova, holder of the world record for Woman with the Longest Legs, to create an entertaining contest. The bounty? A year's supply of Kiehl's “Close Shaverettes” Shave Cream.

Here's the low-down:

Guess how long it takes Svetlana to shave her legs, and you can win. Through March 15, customers in Kiehl's bricks-and-mortar stores and on Kiehls.com can guess exactly how long it takes Svetlana to shave her legs, down to the second. There will be one winner per store, and one winner from Kiehls.com. The customer in each store and Kiehls.com who comes closest to the exact answer, above or below, will win.

So what's so fabulous about Kiehl's Shave Cream that you'd want a full year's worth? “Close Shaverettes” nourishes your legs with a combination of allantoin, chamomile and sesame seed oil, which soothes and calms skin, leaving legs silky smooth. The rich, creamy formulation, combined with protection against the discomforts often associated with the impact of shaving, has made “Close Shaverettes” a Kiehl's favorite for nearly 65 years.

Try your luck at Kiehl's, located in Lenox Square, 3393 Peachtree Road NE, 404-816-7636

Want to enter online? Click here to visit the contest page.