You would think that after my fiasco of trying to bake two failed cakes for Holly’s birthday that I might just give up. Oh no. I have not learned my lesson yet. Plus, I am hosting a tiny dinner party for my beloved friend Kerry (check out his gorgeous new website here) on Friday night for his belated birthday.
I needed something sassy, sweet and chic, just like Kerry. Lemon layer cake seems to fit the bill. America’s Test Kitchen made it and if they can do it, I should be able to as well, yes? Isn’t it pretty?
Photo courtesy of America's Test Kitchen
Stay tuned. And please cross your fingers for me and say a little prayer to the kitchen goddesses that I can get this one right.
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Average White Band – Pick Up The Pieces
Our fab friend Caren West sent me this info on the equally fab Cafe Circa, which is celebrating its 3rd Anniversary with some fun events. Take a look!
CAFÉ CIRCA CELEBRATES ITS THREE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEK
Specials and Tasting Experiences this Wednesday, January 19 through Saturday, January 22, 2011
Atlanta, Georgia (January 18, 2011) – Café Circa, a distinctly local restaurant and social destination located in the Old Fourth Ward of Atlanta, is celebrating its three-year anniversary by hosting four days of special events and offerings Wednesday, January 19 through Saturday, January 22, 2011. Owned by Randy Hazelton and Kevin Holt, Café Circa offers a casually sophisticated atmosphere that merges classic style and modern elements with scrumptious signature menu items and a premium bar offering classic and innovative cocktails, select spirits, and a full wine list for every taste. The culinary team led by executive chef Hopeton Hibbert prepares fresh, deliciously seasoned food with a Caribbean Latin twist including creative small plates, inspired entreés, and tempting desserts. Café Circa is open Monday through Sunday beginning at 5 p.m. Call (404) 477-0008 or visit www.cafecircaatl.com.
Thursday, January 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. – Three-Year Anniversary Happy Hour
Since Thursday is the new Friday, Café Circa is hosting a special celebratory happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. with sounds provided by DJ SugarCut and $5 Ciroc cocktails, $5 small plates and $10 entreés.
Friday, January 21 and Saturday, January 22 beginning at 5 p.m. – Three-Course Chef’s Special Menu
Executive chef Hopeton Hibbert has created a three-course dinner that includes a glass of champagne for $25 in honor of Café Circa’s three-year anniversary. From Australia to Belize, Amsterdam to Istanbul, tasting new cultural delicacies has been his passion of Hopeton’s, which clearly influences his flavorful cuisine. With a degree in culinary arts from Johnson and Whales, Hopeton has mastered his skills working with The Buckhead Life Group, Eclipise di Sol and Atmosphere – one of Atlnata’s finest French restaurants. In 2010, Hopeton joined Café Circa where he executes Caribbean and Latin cuisine at its finest.
Three Courses to Celebrate Three Years
Chef’s Menu
1st course:
Cuban spiced chicken and plantain spring roll with guava dipping sauce.
2nd course:
Curried goat with peas and a rice cake and buttered baby cabbage.
or
Jerked salmon fillet with tomato and spinach sauté.
3rd course:
Mini chocolate love dessert.
Coconut and rum cupcake w/plantain icing.
For more information on Café Circa visit www.cafecircaatl.com or call (404) 477-0008.
You know, I was thinking about you and how I listed all those yummies Eric and I made for Holly’s birthday Sunday night with nary a recipe for you. I’m sorry, that was mean. Let me fix that today with the recipe for the Caramelized Onion & Goat Cheese Tarts.
They are very similar to the tarts I buy at Trader Joes for $6.99 for 12, but tastier and far less expensive.
Sunday night was a double whammy – the Golden Globes and our beloved Holly’s birthday! A dual reason to celebrate.
Now, you might remember me trying to make Holly a “healthy” cake from black beans, as documented in this video. That didn’t go so well. So, I tried again Sunday morning to make a “real” cake. Not so great, either. Note to self – it is extremely difficult to soften butter at room temperature when it is snowing outside.
Oh, geez, what to do now? Cake Hag to the rescue!! If you remember, they were the star of our dinner with Eddie + Jaithan this past summer, with their luscious red velvet cake. I called Maggie & Katie and even though they had been closed due to the snow/ice storm, they had one perfect cake, just for me. I have never been more relieved. Four layers of rich, dark chocolate cake layered with scrumptious chocolate buttercream. Thanks, Ladies!! Click here to see how it all turned out
There are so many fab blogs out there that I bet you’ve never read. And since being snowed in all week, I’ve had plenty of time to scour the web to find the best cozy recipes for you.
How about spaghetti and mozzarella stuffed meatballs from Babble? Aren’t these gorgeous?
Nom, nom, nom!
And Tessa over at Handle The Heat had me swooning with her chicken wrapped in proscuitto and sage. Golly that sounds scrumptious.
At Let’s Dish they are baking up Snickerdoodle Bread. OMG, are you kidding me? That sounds fantastic!
So, if you are snowed in, there are three recipes to try. Don’t they sound tasty?
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Smokey Robinson and The Miracles – Cruisin’
Yesterday was such fun. With the snow piling up, Atlanta shut down. The neighbors took to the park to sled and just play in the snow. And since all that sledding and snowball fighting works up an appetite, I suggested a pot luck supper at our house around 5pm.
My friend Barry and I made a little video for you on how not to bake. I think you will like it. Take a look as we try to make a special cake for Holly’s birthday.
I don’t know about you, but we are snowed in here in Atlanta. It is so much fun! Eric has the day off and the neighbors are organizing a Winter “Olympics” in the park this morning. Karen loves the snow and Oscar despises it.
But instead of cowering in our homes waiting for the snow to arrive last night, 14 of us packed up and headed out to Pizza Vesuvius for “This Ain’t Yo Mama’s Sunday Dinner”. For $12, it’s all you can eat pizza and salad. You know, one must carb load for the impending snow. And their pizza really is fantastic. They even deliver to our house and no one delivers to our neighborhood. Except Papa John’s. But this is real pizza. And since everyone else was waiting for the snow to come, we just about had the place to ourselves.
I didn’t bring my camera, but my buddy Justin did, so I am nabbing some of the shots he took from last night.
Before the new year we went to the annual holiday party given by Calvin and Steve at their fabulous loft. It is always a wonderful time and we always meet the most fun people. This year’s guests included a designer for Kate Spade from New York and a former news anchor. Fun!
The Big House's Big Tree
This past year the loft played host to the cast of The Vampire Diaries, where they filmed for a few weeks. Come on in for more Big House Fun
I trust you all had a safe and fun New Year’s Eve. Last year we stayed home but this year we attended two parties that blew the doors off. Couldn’t greet the new decade with a pizza and a coke, you know.
The first party was given by our friends Wesley and Mark at their loft, nicknamed “Remark Central”, because of Mark’s considerable dj skills. It was filled with interesting people, images and food. There is always a theme – last year being a masquerade. In anticipation of this year, I picked up several fabulous masks in New Orleans during our travels. But I didn’t consider that the theme changes every year. This year was “Red, White and Black”. And so we all dressed in the appropriate manner. Eric donned his tux with a red tie and I wore a black dress with fabulous new red shoes. And of course, my new red hair.
