Halloween cocktails that put your candy to shame

Too old to trick-or-treat? Get into the spirit another way by mixing up some of these Halloween candy-inspired cocktails from Van Gogh Vodka. Just don't be a monster by handing 'em to the kiddies, and don't drink and drive. Happy Halloween!

Almond Joy Martini
1-1/2 oz Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka
1 oz Coconut Rum
1/2 oz Hazelnut Liqueur
1/2 oz Chocolate Liqueur
Dip the rim of a chilled martini glass into chocolate syrup and roll in shaved coconut. Place glass into the refrigerator until ready to serve the cocktail. Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into chilled martini glass with chocolate-coconut rim.

PepperMint Pattini
1-1/2 oz Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka
1/2 oz Crème de menthe
1/2 oz Chocolate Liqueur
1/2 oz Cream
Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a Peppermint Pattie candy wedge.

Peanut Butter Cup
1-1/2 oz Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate Vodka
1 oz Castries Crème Peanut Rum
3/4 oz Chocolate Liqueur
1/2 oz Cream
Drizzle chocolate syrup into the bottom of a martini glass. Place the glass into the refrigerator until ready to use. Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into the chilled martini glass and garnish with a peanut butter cup.


Snickertini
1/2 oz Bailey's
1-1/2 oz Van Gogh Dutch Caramel Vodka
1/2 oz Chocolate Liqueur
1/2 oz Amaretto
Splash of cream
Drizzle a thin line of both caramel and chocolate sauce on the inside of a rocks glass and place in refrigerator to chill. Combine all ingredients into a shaker and shake over ice. Pour entire contents of shaker into glass and add straw.

Candy Corn Shooter
Combine Oranje Van Gogh Vodka and Banana Liqueur into a mixer with ice. Shake and pour into the bottom of the shot glass. Combine Coconut Rum, Orange Curacao, Cream, and dash of Grenadine (for color). Shake in shaker with ice and gently layer on top using a spoon. Top with whipped cream.

Spot on: Five beauty treatments to indulge in for the winter

The Spa at Four Seasons Atlanta

Gray skies, chilly air and buckets of rain can do a number on your skin, hair and spirit. Flakes fly, hair frizzes, and it’s easy to get down in the dumps. But cheer up, kid. We’ve gathered five quick fixes to cure those cold-weather blues.

MADE FOR YOU
Authentic Beauty helps you discover your true self with an explorative service called Image Journey. Founded by owner Alyson Hoag (Laura Turner Seydel’s personal makeup artist), the Image Journey digs deeper than the average makeover. Using her own line of pure and natural cosmetics, Hoag and her team teach clients to bring out their inner beauty with professional application techniques and a lot of self-discovery. It begins with about 30 minutes of homework on your part: gathering a few magazines, cutting out photos of women that speak to you—whether you identify with their looks or aspire to—and arranging them in a collage around a photo of you. The process teaches you to look inward and focus on who you really are—not just who the money-dominated advertising industry wants you to think you are. Then you bring your collage and all your makeup to Hoag and her team to explore yourself through cosmetics. It’s an inspirational and educational experience. But be prepared to say goodbye to some outdated application tricks (hasta la vista, powder for women older than 40) and products you thought you loved (surprise, the color of prunes is not your best shade of lipstick). Price ranges from $150 to $200. Authentic Beauty is located at 4674 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs. 404-849-0443. www.authenticbeautyllc.com.

HEAD CASE
Celebrity stylist and Muse Salon and Spa owner Daniel Jones isn’t messing around when it comes to hair. The globe-trotter jet-sets to lofty locales such as Tuscany, Monaco and Paris to find inspiration for next season’s hair hues for L’Oreal International (he’s one of the iconic brand’s 10 master trainers in the country). It’s because of this lauded connection that Muse is one of only five salons in the state of Georgia to offer L’Oreal’s new ammonia-free hair color: INOA. What does this mean for you? It’s kinder to your hair fibers, less fading, has evenly distributed color, and, after nine applications, your hair returns to a virgin-like state: more natural and stronger. And since Jones is a cut above the rest when it comes to the latest in trends and looks, you’ll be rocking this season’s hottest hair shades, like warm honey and caramel tones, with subtly inverted cuts. Or, if you prefer your standard regular look, the team at Muse can expertly handle that, too. 4620 Kimball Bridge Road, Alpharetta. 678-393-2214. www.musesalonandspa.com.

HONEY POT

Baby, it’s cold outside. Warm up with the comfort of natural honey and oatmeal at the Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, a retreat of luxury. The new Honey Delight treatment starts with a signature scrub of locally farmed Georgia honey and soothing oatmeal from Virtues of Nature in Norcross. This process gently exfoliates and softens the skin. After a quick shower, the service is finished off with a complete body application of honey and oatmeal lotion, also from Virtues of Nature. The moisturizer has a hint of lemon to it, making the experience like a virtual cup of hot tea paired with an oatmeal cookie. Once you’re polished, pampered and relaxed, your technician guides you to a calming sitting room, where an actual cup of hot tea awaits you. The accompanying honey and honeycomb is straight from the fifth-floor beehive at Four Seasons. Fifty to 80 minutes, $140-$165. 75 14th St. 404-253-3848. www.fourseasons.com.

BODY GLOVE
Cold weather and skin can be BFFs with the help of Lush’s Dream Cream, a light and herbal vegan body cream that miraculously restores dry skin beaten up by the elements. This epidermal treat of oat milk, rose water, olive oil, cocoa butter and essential oils banishes alligator elbows, potato feet and snake scales without leaving you greasy. Make sure your skin is still moist when you apply it—it’ll lock in the cream. $22.55. Lush stores are popping up all over. Find a stand-alone boutique in Lenox Square Mall and Perimeter Mall, as well as in Macy’s at Town Center and Cumberland Mall. Order online at www.lush.com.

HEAT WAVE
Straightening your hair used to be so destructive to your follicles. When your hair’s already suffering from the cold air, why add to it with a product that’ll tear into the fibers? Seek out an iron with ceramic plates that are coated to protect hair from heat. The Solano SleekHeat 450 Flat Iron heats to 450 degrees F., but with ceramic, four-sided beveled plates to give your mane the protection it needs. Bonus: It’s ready to use in less than 60 seconds. The variable temperature settings and instant heat recovery provide you with more control, versatility and better overall performance while styling. The SleekHeat 450 iron also features ionic, tourmaline and far infrared heat technologies to ensure you a beautiful, straight coif. $139. Visit www.solanopower.com for retail locations.

Spirits rising: A roundup of hauntingly fun Halloween-themed cocktails, brews and scary soirees

Midori Halloween Harvest
By mixologist Victoria D’Amato-Moran
Ingredients:
1 part Midori Melon Liqueur
1 part dark rum
1 part light rum
2 part white cranberry juice
1 part unfiltered apple juice
1 part simple syrup
Juice of one lemon
Instructions:
For a punch bowl (32 ounces), use this recipe multiplied by eight. Add the liquid ingredients, and mix well. Top with apple slices, blueberries and melon balls.

Midori Green Ghoul
Ingredients:
1 part Midori Melon Liqueur
½ part Strega Liqueur or Yellow Chartreuse
½ part Canton Ginger Liqueur
Ginger beer or ginger ale
Instructions:
Add first three ingredients into a shaker glass. Add ice. Shake. Line the inside of the glass with strands of black licorice. Strain shaker contents over ice in a Collins glass. Fill with ginger beer or ginger ale.

Midori Spider’s Kiss
Ingredients:
1 part Midori Melon Liqueur
1 part Skyy Vodka
Fresh lemon juice
Chocolate syrup (garnish)
Orange slice (garnish)
Grenadine (garnish)
Instructions:
Draw a chocolate web into a martini glass. Place in freezer, and chill for a ghostly effect. Shake first three ingredients, and strain into glass. For a blood effect, drizzle grenadine down the side of the glass. Garnish with a chocolate-dipped orange slice.

Witches Brew
At the Gerber Bars in W Atlanta-Midtown and W Atlanta-Buckhead for $35
Serves 2
Ingredients:
4 ounces Bacardi Light
4 ounces Meyers Rum
4 ounces Bacardi 151
2 ounces pineapple juice
2 ounces orange juice
4 ounces sour mix
4 ounces grenadine
Instructions :
Garnish with sour or regular Gummi Worms. Place necessary amount of silly straws. Fill 48-ounce goblet completely with ice. Add all ingredients. Use a bar spoon to stir the drink until all ingredients are combined. It will be a pinkish-red color. Throw in a handful of Gummi Worms and the appropriate amount of silly straws needed and drink up!

IT TAKES TWO
Livingston Restaurant + Bar offers Atlantans an innovative, bold reflection of local flavor and history and has the ghost story to prove it. The restaurant takes its name from Livingston Mims, who served as Atlanta’s mayor during the early 20th century. Mims’ two-story residence was located on the northeast corner of Peachtree Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue. A consummate entertainer with a passion for wine a food, his spirit is said to reside within the walls of the restaurant infusing the space with the strong legacy of Atlanta’s character and history. Every evening, the Livingston staff honors the spirit of Mims by placing his favorite nightcap of sherry and warm pecan sandies at his bust that sits atop the Livingston Bar. For the rest of the month, Livingston Bar will offer a sherry and warm pecan sandie pairing to guests who wish to enjoy a nightcap with the spirit of Livingston Mims.
Livingston Restaurant + Bar is at 659 Peachtree St. NE. www.livingstonrestaurant.com.

Troll Under the Bridge
Served at Rosebud (1397 N. Highland Ave. www.rosebudatlanta.com) during Halloween weekend for $8
Ingredients:
2 parts Troll liquor
3 parts house-infused apple brandy
1 slice local apple
1 cinnamon stick
Ice
Instructions:
Combine Troll liquor, apple brandy and ice in shaker, and shake until cold. Pour into a Collins glass over ice, and garnish with apple slice and cinnamon stick.

Goblin Espresso Martini
Served at Kozmo Gastro Pub (11890 Douglas Road, John’s Creek. www.kozmogastropub.com) on Halloween for $9
Ingredients:
1 ounces espresso vodka
1/2 ounces vanilla vodka
1/4 ounces dark creme de cacao
1/4 ounces Grand Marnier
Instructions:
Fill pint glass with ice, and combine all ingredients. Strain into martini glass. Garnish with a orange twist.

Peek-a-Boo Peach Martini
Served at Kozmo Gastro Pub on Halloween for $8
Ingredients:
1 1/2 ounces vanilla vodka
1/4 ounces Peach Schnapps
1 tablespoon peach puree
2 leaves of fresh chopped basil
Instructions:
Fill pint glass with ice, and combine all ingredients. Serve in a Collins glass. Cap with club soda.

Message in a Bottle
Prefer beer to liquor? Laughing Skull Ale, the once beloved brew with a huge Atlanta cult following, is back. Atlanta Brewing Company, in collaboration with the owners of the Vortex Bar and Grill, are resurrecting Laughing Skull beer, which was last produced in 2005. Laughing Skull will be reincarnated as a special amber ale. With its light body, amber hue and an interesting hop finish, it’s serious enough for beer connoisseurs and easy enough on the palate for everyone else. Laughing Skull Amber will make its debut this month at the Little Five Points and Midtown locations of the Vortex Bar and Grill, as well as Bone Garden Cantina. It will be available city-wide on Halloween. For more information, visit www.atlantabrewing.com.

Boo-ya
Several Atlanta restaurants are getting in on the scary fun this Halloween. The Original El Taco is calling on all Atlantans to come up with the most creative costumes this Halloween. From 6 p.m. to close on Saturday, Oct. 31, the restaurant will be holding a costume contest for adults. Guests who come to El Taco in their hippest Halloween attire on this haunted holiday will have their picture taken for future judging on the restaurant’s Facebook page. The photos will be posted on Sunday, Nov. 1, and fans will get to vote on their favorites. The winners will be announced on Monday, Nov. 2. First place takes home a $100 dining card, and second place gets a $50 dining card. El Taco didn’t forget about those precious tikes getting all dressed up for the big day, either. Kids who come to the restaurant in costume on Halloween from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. will eat free. El Taco is located at 1186 North Highland Ave. NE. 678-302-3251.

In Midtown, Ra Sushi is sharpening its fangs for a freakish night of fun with its Boo Bash on Saturday, Oct. 31. The evening includes spooky holiday decorations, food and drink specials and a costume contest for guests. Throughout the evening, DJ Scott will be spinning a monster mix of Top 40 tracks and horror movie theme songs. There will be no cover charge for guests, and the restaurant’s kitchen will remain open until 1 a.m. The DJ will announce the costume contest champions at 10 p.m. and first, second and third place winners will receive RA Sushi gift certificates ranging from $25 to $100. “Potent Potions” for the evening include Vampire’s Kiss, Bloody Brain and Skullini, ranging from $5 to $7. The special “Boo Bites” menu will feature the Creepy Cali Roll ($6), Voodoo Roll ($7) and Spider Roll ($7). RA Sushi is located at 1080 Peachtree St.

New & noteworthy

When one door closes, another one opens, right? Only if you’re proactive like Riccardo Ullio, whose Spanish restaurant Cuerno closed earlier this year. The sexy Italian restaurateur is opening Lupe, a Mexican taqueria, later this month in the same space (next to his still-thriving Brazilian hot spot, Beleza). Named after the Virgin of Guadalupe, an iconic symbol of Mexico, Lupe will serve the bold and customary tastes, ingredients and dishes of Mexico. Helming the kitchen is Darvelio Palma, the former chef de cuisine at Sotto Sotto, who’s a native of Acapulco, a large city on the Pacific coast of Mexico with a rich culture and deep Spanish Colonial history. Lupe is located in Midtown at 905 Juniper St. The taqueria will serve dinner and cocktails Tuesday through Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Valet parking is available at the front door.

It came as a shock to many, including some employees, when Dominic Minniti, general manager for Disney Regional Entertainment, posted a notice on Oct. 1 on the front door of ESPN Zone that it was closed for business. The Buckhead restaurant opened almost 10 years ago. Management blamed the economy for the closing. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reported that the 140 employees of ESPN Zone received a 60-day administrative leave package.

The current economic environment also proved to be too much for Elisa Gambino, proprietor of Via Elisa, a beloved pasta shop in West Midtown. Gambino sent out a note to her customers last week alerting them that she’s discontinuing her store’s namesake brand of handmade pasta and will close her store on Oct. 17. However, she will continue selling her line of jarred pasta sauces, Passionately Perfect Tomato, Diavoletta and Sofia’s Sicilian Caper, through Whole Foods Markets and other outlets.

A staple for upscale men’s reading, Esquire magazine has produced its annual list of 20 Best New Restaurants for its November issue. Among the recipients to receive this honor are two of Atlanta’s fine dining establishments: Paces 88, an American bistro situated in the luxe St. Regis Atlanta, and Pacci, an upscale Italian restaurant in the newly minted Hotel Palomar. The last Atlanta restaurants to achieve this honor were Trois (now closed) and Shaun’s, both in 2007.

Last week, publishing giant Condé Nast shuttered Gourmet magazine, a 68-year-old publication focused on “good living.” Despite its literary approach to palate-pleasing food, advertisers perhaps took a better liking to the company’s other, more modern food title, Bon Appetit. We subscribe to both at my home and love both for different reasons. We’re definitely sad about Gourmet’s departure.

WaterHaven hosts the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s next Supper Club dining event on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Created in the late ’90s, Supper Club is a socially conscious way to dine out at Atlanta’s hottest restaurants while supporting hunger relief. Each month a different restaurant serves as host, and 20 percent of the evening’s proceeds benefits Atlanta’s Table, the prepared food rescue project of the Food Bank, which provides approximately 40,000 pounds of prepared food for Atlanta’s hungry each month. WaterHaven Restaurant is located in Midtown’s Technology Square at 75 5th St. NW. For more information, or to make reservations for the WaterHaven Supper Club, call 404-214-6740 or visit www.waterhavenatl.com. Visit www.acfb.org to learn more about the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
Kirsten Palladino is the Life & Food Editor at The Sunday Paper. Talk to her on Twitter @ATLsocialbyte.

Give a hoot

October is breast-cancer awareness month. Eat, drink and raise money for the cause at these caring restaurants

Courtesy of TRG/The Pink Paws cocktail at 30 Tables raises money for the American Cancer Society.

30 TABLES

For each $8 Pink Paws cocktail sold, 30 Tables (110 Marietta St. NW, www.30tables.com) will donate $1 to the American Cancer Society. In addition, 30 Tables will be offering a special $25 three-course prix fixe menu throughout October, of which $1 will be donated to the American Cancer Society, as well.

PINK PAWS COCKTAIL

• 1-1/2 oz P.I.N.K vodka
• 3/4 oz lemon juice
• 3/4 oz simple syrup
• ¼ oz grenadine
• 2-3 mint leaves
• 2 drops of angostura orange
• Top with bubbles

SERPAS TRUE FOOD

Serpas True Food (659 Auburn Ave., www.serpasrestaurant.com) hosts the first Fashion Plates event benefiting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Expect a champagne brunch of Southern comfort fare, while checking out stylish fall and holiday fashions from Meringue, the Fickle Manor, Mickey Lynn and Drea James Designs. A portion of ticket sales ($40 per guest) and proceeds at retail sponsors after the show will be donated to the Susan G. Komen foundation. To purchase tickets, call 404-888-9348.

VILLAGE TAVERN

Village Tavern (11555 Rainwater Drive, Alpharetta, www.villagetavern.com) is shaking things up north with its Hope-tini cocktail, a fun mix of vodka, Tuaca Italian liquer and Malibu rum with a splash of cranberry juice and cream. When all ingredients come together, the color matches the soft pink of the Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon. For each drink sold, the restaurant will donate $2 to support breast cancer research. Fear not, non-drinkers: A non-alcoholic version is available, too.

FIGO PASTA

Of course the big-hearted Italians are getting involved. Throughout October, Figo Pasta (multiple locations, www.figopasta.com) offers diners Ravioli della Salute (translation: healthy ravioli), an antioxidant-rich dish of kale, broccoli and spinach ravioli tossed with a honey walnut and all spice compound butter. Figo will donate $1 from the sale of this $10 dish to the American Cancer Society to help support breast cancer research.

JoEL BRASSERIE

The contemporary French restaurant is singing a "drink pink" mantra with two specialty drinks during October, and donating 25 percent of sales to a local breast cancer charity. Sommelier Perrine Prier has created a pink specialty martini ($9) that the restaurant will feature along with a sparkling rose wine ($12). 3290 Northside Pkwy NW.
www.joelbrasserie.com.

RATHBUN’S

Though you’d be remiss not to visit Rathbun’s, Kevin Rathbun Steak and Krog Bar, you don’t even have to go in to support breast cancer research. The restaurant group has posted a PayPal link on all its Web sites for you to donate to breast cancer research. Money collected will be given to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, where co-owner Cliff Bramble’s sister recently was succesfully treated for stage-four cancer and is now cancer-free. www.rathbunsrestaurant.com. www.kevinrathbunsteak.com. www.krogbar.com.

RAY’S ON THE RIVER

In conjunction with its 25th anniversary, Ray’s (6700 Powers Ferry Road, Sandy Springs, www.raysrestaurants.com) is really getting into the spirit of supporting breast cancer research. Its focus is Northside Hospital’s Breast Care Program, and each week in October, the restaurant will kick off different anniversary specials. During the last week (Oct. 26–31), Ray’s will offer a special heart-healthy menu, of which 25 percent of the proceeds with be donated to Northside’s program. Plus, guests wearing pink will receive a complimentary appetizer with the purchase of an entrŽe, and the restaurant will be serving $5 pink martinis to show its support for breast cancer research.

Grab a crab

Yes! P'cheen is bringing back its wildly popular “all-you-can-eat jumbo snow crab legs” night every Wednesday, beginning October 7, 2009. The all-you-can-eat weekly special features fresh, seasoned snow crab legs accompanied by boiled potatoes, corn on the cob, drawn butter and a crusty baguette for $25. Reservations are recommended. P’cheen International Bistro & Pub is a neighborhood favorite known for its extensive beer and spirit selection, critically acclaimed Monday night BBQ, and its international hybrid cuisine. Featuring nightly specials, favorite menu items include the Guinness beer battered fish ‘n’ chips with homemade tartar sauce and mushy peas, smoked mozzarella ravioli with spicy tomato coulis and crispy onions, the chef’s curry trio, and the grilled angus and portabella hamburger with harissa aioli and Wisconsin cheddar.

P’cheen is located at 701-5 Highland Ave. For more information, visit www.pcheen.com or call 404-529-8800.