When two people have been madly in love for 13 years, it is certainly cause for celebration, don’t you think? Eric and I met that landmark last week and decided to mark the occasion with dinner at 4th and Swift. A decidedly good choice. My friend, Pedro over at Foodie Atlanta raves about this place, so that seemed like a pretty fair endorsement to me. Open Table provided the reservation (my points are really racking up over there. If you don’t use it, you might want to check it out. Especially if you are the person in your office responsible for making all the dinner and lunch reservations. You can earn dining dollars that translate to cash. And no, I do not work for Open Table.)
Hope you all are having a splendid weekend filled with fun.
You know how I love The Ritz-Carlton. Not only are their properties to die for, but I have made some fabulous friends there, too. And they are always coming up with new and exciting things to delight visitors with. And with the Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day just around the corner, they are planning the most divine scenarios imaginable. Take a look:
From way down south, my friend Paulina at The Ritz-Carlton Cancun shares a unique dining experience at Twelve. With seating for only twelve guests, you are welcome to step into the kitchen with Chef Rory and help prepare the night’s meal, if you would like. The Viking equipped kitchen overlooks the Caribbean Sea – Eric and I were so privileged to indulge in this gourmet fantasy over the Christmas holiday, so you can trust me when I say it is the ultimate foodie experience. Three set menus in Mexican, Southern and Mediterranean cuisine await you in this five course experience that you will never forget. How about that for whisking your darling away for Valentine’s Day? Perhaps to pop the question?
Cook with Chef Rory in this magical kitchen setting.
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.
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.
Arriving from Atlanta on flight 46, Air Tran’s 717 touched down in West Palm Beach in what seemed like minutes from take off to landing.
We stepped out of the airport and were greeted by a warm, steamy breeze, indicative of Florida summers.
As we exited the taxi at The Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach, we were greeted by even more warmth, this time of the human variety. Dustin and crew handled our bags and Lexi at the front desk checked us in and made us feel very welcome.
Steve, our tourist guide/bellman, gave us the low down on every aspect of the property before we ever reached our room. And the room – although standard, was anything but as we gazed at the Atlantic Ocean from our ample balcony. This private spot would continue to be our own respite from the world during our stay.
You know I just love our friend Caren West of Caren West PR. She is into everything! This weekend’s fun tip is actually something you can plan for Monday, Dec. 6th, with your sweetie or a group of your besties. Just to step back from all the holiday madness. With Atlanta’s own Francine Reed and the fabulous Cafe Circa.
Lets get the scoop from Caren, shall we?
CAFÉ CIRCA PRESENTS ‘DINNER AND THE BLUES’ WITH SINGER FRANCINE REED
$20 Two-Course Dinner Special Paired with Live Performance
Monday Evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. on November 8, 22 & December 6, 20 and 27, 2010
Atlanta, Georgia (November 8, 2010) – Café Circa presents Dinner and the Blues, a series of unforgettable Monday evening performances in November and December featuring celebrated Atlanta vocalist Francine Reed. To make the experience even more delicious, Café Circa is offering a two-course dinner special – choice of an appetizer or a dessert and an entrée – on the nights Reed performs created by new executive chef Hopeton S. Hibbert for $20. Music lovers are also invited to relax at the bar and explore Café Circa’s innovative cocktail menu of seasonal signature offerings and timeless classics. Legendary blues singer Francine Reed is slated to perform on Monday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. on November 8 and 22 and December 6, 20 and 27, 2010. For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.cafecircaatl.com or call 404.477.0008.
WHAT: Dinner and the Blues
WITH: Legendary Blues Singer Francine Reed
WHERE: Café Circa
464 Edgewood Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30312
WHEN: Mondays November 8 and 22 & December 6, 20 and 27, 2010
7 to 10 p.m.
CONTACT: For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.cafecircaatl.com or call 404.477.0008.
About Café Circa
Located in the Old Fourth Ward of Atlanta, 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 S. 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.
Go, have some incredible food (try the salted cod – really!), lovely libations and the sultry voice of Francine Reed. You can’t miss with this combination.
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Francine Reed – Wild Women Don’t Get The Blues
I am so excited to share what my friends at The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta are up to. It is so special and fabulous!
In fact, it’s two surprises in one – at Lumen, their fantasy lobby bar.
One – for all your football fans, Lumen has created two cocktails made specifically for the Auburn/South Carolina match up this weekend. So come on by Lumen (it’s right on Peachtree Street, of course…) and sample each of these libations and decide on a winner! Both cocktails are being offered for $12 each. After the recipes, I will show you the dazzling decor you will be enjoying as you sip your beverage.
WAR EAGLE WHAMMY
2 oz Crown Royal
Splash of Triple Sec
Pineapple Juice, Sour mix, Crushed Blue Berries
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into glass filled with crushed ice.
GAMECOCK GOTCHA
2 oz Southern Comfort
1 oz Amaretto Liqueur
Splash of pomegranate juice
Splash of orange juice
Shake all ingredients with ice and pour into a highball glass.
Yum, yum, yummy! And now, when you think it could not get any cooler, may I present to you, The Ice Bar at Lumen? Oh yes, my friends, a bar made entirely of ice, with an ice luge that the vodka is poured into and ends up in your martini glass! There are also special cocktails that are being whipped up just for you. Drinks like the Cranberry Martini and the Winter Solstice.
You have got to see this, so I am offering a sneak peak right here! Right now!
All of these gorgeous photos are straight from my friends at The Ritz-Carlton. You will find me getting chilly tonight there after I attend the Pop Up Shops in Midtown.
Last week my sweet friend, Patricia Tinsley, who knows everybody, invited me to a tasting at Atlanta’s own Imperial Fez. Of course I jumped at the chance to visit the emporium of low seated booths draped in silk and filled with exotic belly dancers. I picked out an appropriate outfit (no shoes necessary, you take them off when you get there so you could show up with flip flops on and no one would notice), realized I was the first from our party to get there and was led to our gorgeous seating area.
Just like being in the movie Casablanca, without the long flight.
The Buckhead Life folks are responsible for some of our city’s most famed restaurants. Their Head Chefs give us a little advice for dealing with the year’s most fretted-over dinner. Don’t fret, Darlings. Grab a beverage and see what our chef buddies have to say.
Daryl Gassmann – Chops Lobster Bar
“The best advice I could give to anyone about cooking Thanksgiving dinner is to ask for help! Don’t try to be Martha Stewart unless going all out is what you’ve been waiting for all year. Most guests love to bring a pie or a side dish. They enjoy it and Thanksgiving is one of those dinners that feels more special when everyone chips in.”
Charles Schwab – Buckhead Diner
“My best tip for Thanksgiving is to brine your turkey in a salt water solution (1 cup of Kosher salt to 1 gallon of water) for 1 hour per pound of turkey two days before cooking. Pull your turkey out of the brine the night before cooking and place it on an oven rack over a baking sheet. Place the unwrapped bird in the fridge and allow it to air dry. On the day of your meal, rub your turkey with butter, sage, and lemon and roast until it reaches 155 degrees internal temperature. No more dry bird.”
Doug Turbush – Bluepointe
“Get creative with your aromatics. Stuff the bird with a split head of garlic, thyme, parsley stems, onion, celery, carrot, ancho chilies & orange zest. This will not only flavor the bird, but give your gravy a little zing too. And, I couldn’t do without the perfect wine to accompany me as I work and the bird when I’m done.”
Piero Premoli – Pricci
“My favorite ingredient for the Thanksgiving Dinner is pumpkin and my favorite kitchen tool is my roasting pan. When pumpkin meets a roasting pan, with the help of fresh chili, aged pecorino cheese and olive oil, it’s magic! You won’t believe how good a vegetable can taste.”
See? Easy! I will be back with all sorts of tips through the week. I wouldn’t dream of letting you go it alone!
Yesterday we talked about running away to Palm Beach for Thanksgiving. Today, let me tell you what my special buddy Chef Matt Murphy and our dear friend Char Thian have planned for you in New Orleans.
The gorgeous lobby. Say hi to Concierge Rudy for me!
Your children will be thrilled. You can sip bubbly and they can pet a goat in the glamorous courtyard. Afterwards, savor gourmet specialties handcrafted by Chef Matt, Chef Bradley and Chef Johnny. Save room, because Chef Thomas is creating some amazing delicious desserts that you just cannot refuse. These guys are the best at what they do. When you are finished with your meal, take a walk down to the river to work off some of those calories, because at dinner you can return for more!
Chef Matt and me, during his Atlanta visit.
At 6 p.m., let M Bistro treat you to a five course meal executed in perfect style by Chef Matt. You won’t even have to leave to work off that extra piece of pie. Jeremy Davenport is in the house for your dancing and listening pleasure. If you book soon enough, you might be able to snag one of the plush cheater’s booths for you and your loved ones. I am not kidding when I say that my meal this past summer in the hands of Chef Matt was one of the very best of my life. He and his staff are incredible and you will be wowed, without a doubt. Pinky swear.
Done dining and dancing? Just stroll out to the lobby, push the elevator button and retire to your oh-so-comfy room for the night.
Mmmmm, just thinking of the meals at M Bistro makes me want to jump in the car and drive the 6 hours it takes from Atlanta, just to eat their cooking.
Go. Don’t hesitate. Make your reservations now.
(504) 670-2828 or no_restaurant.reservations@ritzcarlton.com
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Harry Connick Jr. – Recipe for Love
