Bounty Dinner

On a Monday night no less! The night began with a reception and I met up with my mom at the bar for a glass of wine. We watched the 5 chefs preparing our bountiful feast and the farmers were seated among us. Each farm and chef was given the mic to speak about who they are and what they do, so it was entertaining, educational AND delicious. I can't say enough about the warm atmosphere at M&T. If we could eat there nightly I think we would!

So here's how the 5 courses went down:

Apple radish salad

The cheddar made it for me - very salty and perfectly off-set the tanginess of the vinaigrette. I am not typically a radish lover but everything came together so well. I could have gone for smaller walnut pieces so I cold have engaged some into every bite, but that was the only complaint. We enjoyed watching the slice off of the apples during the reception:

I am not a big salad person, but this inspired me to make more - the key seems to be these amazing, but simple, homemade vinaigrettes though so we will see if I can master one.

This was served with the Frogtown Cellars Vineauz Blanc. Frogtown is the most awarded vineyard on the East Coast and they were a fun addition to the evening's festivities.

The Shrimp BLT salad.

This was actually our favorite course. The Gum Creek Farm bacon was cubed and perfectly crispy on the outside and chewy and salty delicious on the inside. The whole of Muss&Turner's smelled like it at one point which was divine. The arugula was perfectly fresh (Taylor Family Farms in Rabun county) and the tomatoes were perfect. I could have eaten this for an entree and left happy. The 3 shrimp were great for one of five courses, but so good I could have easily eaten 3 more.....

This was served with a 5 Seasons Brewery Hefeweizen, which had warm ginger flavors. I loved it, mom thought it tasted like Christmas and beer and wasn't such a fan.

Pork & Beans with corn cob smoked Bacon.

(corn muffin, bacon, friend cob/husky thing)

The Beans.

This was a fun dish. The beans were served in a hot iron pot and we spooned them onto the bacon, corn muffin and corn husk. They were the heaviest thing on the menu, but great if it was a little cooler out! I liked that you could make a big soup of it all or, as many people did, spoon the beans onto the bacon like a cracker. I mean what's better than a bacon cracker??

This was served with the Frogtown Sangiovese, which they make from a 90/10 Sangiovese/Cab blend. Went very well with the beans - super rich.

4th Course: Slow smoked brisket with braised greens and fried sweet potatoes.

First of all the brisket was from Riverview Farms, where the ground beef of the burger hails. They have some amazing pork too and are responsible for the Swifty's dream sandwich. Rock Star farms, which doubles as a recording studio, supplied the swiss chard, mizuna, and greens. This was, as I wrote on my menu, F-ing delish. I was worried about this course after the beans being so thick, but it tasted like a house smells when you're making pot roast and was so perfectly seasoned and light. The brisket was spoon tender and the potatoes were crispy. I don't know how they managed to perfectly time and execute over 75 plates at once and everything turn out so beautifully, but they succeeded beyond my expectations!

The Frogtown Cellars Touche was a big winner at several California competitions, but a little syrupy for my taste, especially with the more delicate dish. A brisket more heavy on sauce may have fared better with the wain, but I was too happy with the course to be concerned.

Butternut squash ice cream "sandwiches" (w/flour less chocolate cakes)

I seriously could have eaten a gallon of this ice cream. I want to attempt something like it. It was soooo creamy and fall-tasting and magically good. I am not a chocolate lover, so I was more into the ice cream than the housing for it.... but it was a perfect finish to the meal.

The farmers and chefs.

I know they did a summer harvest dinner, so here's hoping they continue the feasts throughout the seasons!

A preview of my next post...Farm Bounty dinner at M&T

I am so looking forward to this meal! 5 Chefs : 5 Farms : 5 Course Dinner
Tickets are still left if you want to join us - it will be wirth it!!!! I am so excited to be a customer of Muss and Turner's and soon Local Three. They make everyone feel like family and I am excited for the local wine and beer too.

FALL FARM BOUNTY DINNER MENU

Apple radish salad with walnuts, arugula, Fiscalini cheddar and herb vinaigrette
(Apples & radish= Riverview Farms) (arugula= Taylor Family Farms)
Frogtown Cellars Vineaux Blanc

Shrimp BLT salad
(shrimp= Tybee Island, Georgia) (bacon= Gum Creek Farm) (Lettuce= Taylor Family Farm) (tomatoes= Rockin S Farms)
Five Seasons (Prado) Hefeweizen

Pork & Beans with corn cob smoked bacon
(bacon= Gum creek farms)
Frogtown Cellars Sangiovese

Slow Smoked Brisket with braised greens and fried sweet potatoes
(brisket= Riverview Farms) (greens, swiss chard, mizuna, mustard greens= Rock Star Farms) (sweet pots= Rockin S Farms)
Frogtown Cellars Touche

Butternut Squash ice cream sandwiches
(butternuts= Riverview Farms)
Frogtown Cellars Cachet Vidal Dessert Wine

Featuring the Chefs in our kitchen and the Farmers who supply us with great Georgia-grown product alongside Georgia’s Frogtown Cellars and Five Seasons Brewing.
The farmers will be here together to share their story and connect with those of you who love what they do.

Each course will be paired with a great Georgia wine and/or beer. 
Reception- 6:30pm
Dinner-7:00pm
Dress: Always Casual
Ticket Cost: $63.00 (includes sales tax and gratuity)
Plus Service Fee: $1.99

Tickets available here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/133988

Buckhead Bottle Bar and St. Regis bar and patio

Patio dining. I love it this time of year. The Buckhead Bottle Bar has street side (though not aromatic, fun for people watching) dining just across the street from Capital Grill. The restaurant apparently becomes a nightclub with DJ Mike B later in the evening. I met some girlfriends for snacks and drinks, and we were pleasantly surprised. It was fun, easy and cheap. They also have a roof-top patio with a Miami vibe and decent views.

5-7 pm daily they have $1 mini pizzas and sliders. You can choose from the shrimp, sausage or beef slider. The cocktail list is plentiful and well-priced. Basically the perfect place for a girl's night for happy hour! We scarfed down the $1 sliders and pizza, but still wanted to indulge.....

Calamari, fries(homemade) and Goat-Cheese Gnocci. Carbo-loading? Yes.

Afterwards we headed to the cozy (and cougarlicious) bar at the St. Regis Hotel. Eric and I spent our 3rd wedding anniversary at the hotel and fell in love with the place. They passed the milkshake test and the entire evening was flawless. I like the (Five Star) service attitude where they let you get away with just about anything. We settled into a leather couch, ordered champagne and then hightailed it to the private fireside patio outside Paces 88 and continued our chat. No one minded and a group of older cigar-smoking (married) gentlemen even sent the cocktail waitress over with a free round! I ran into a friend at the bar (felt rather swanky) and enjoyed the French bubbly by-the-glass like only a five star hotel can offer.

All in all a very different night than what I used to experience in Buckhead. What a difference a decade and a recession can make. I like the new phase of my life and the city's and look forward to more nights out with the girls!



Pure Taqueria...but you don't have to take my word for it!

We went to a birthday dinner recently at Pure Taqueria in Inman Park. This cute little space used to be a location of the Grape franchise. I hadn't heard great things, and I don't love Mexican food, nor do I drink Tequila. That being said it was pretty bad. We were a big group and the wait staff was kind enough to break out our tabs and the service, while not outstanding, didn't lack. The food just wasn't worth the drive, the $$ or the calories.

We started with the queso fundido with chorizo and jalepenos. It was too hot to touch at delivery, and a hard rubbery glob shortly after.The chips and salsa were plentiful, but again, nothing special.

Fish tacos, looked pretty, tasted so-so.

I had the taquitos, which you can barely see under there....they were basically what you'd find at QuikTrip....though I should have ordered something less fried I love chipotle pork. But the teaspoon in each was hard to find.....

The best part was the dessert delivery with the Mexican Wrestler Masks. And the sangria was very good. I don't recommend the menu for much more though with so many amazing mexican restaurants around town.

If you're looking for atmosphere AND authentic food try Bonegarden Cantina for fresh and delicious - and even better Sangria;)



Hal's...."You'll come for the food, you'll come back for life."

I had the pleasure of being treated to a work dinner at Hal's Restaurant in Buckhead. The atmosphere is a little old boy's club for me, but the service and food were impeccable. http://www.hals.net/

At the urging of my waiter, I had the filet oscar with asparagus. I did NOT finish it, but I wish I had. The meat was cooked perfectly, the crab was fresh and the hollandaise was perfect.

We also had oysters, calamari and assorted appetizers and sides for the table. I wasn't able to snap pictures as I typically would due to the dining companions, but I would recommend this legendary meat-market meets neighborhood bistro for drinks, dinner or a romantic night out. The private rooms are great, the wine list is very good and the steaks are cooked perfectly. The valet took forever and the crowd at the bar was overwhelming, but you won't regret the food. They also have live music Thursdays-Sundays, though the crowd is a little older and smoking is allowed at the bar. And should the mood strike you, you can walk to Johnny's hideaway and finish off a legendary Atlanta night out with a spin on the dance floor....we did!