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.