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