Simple Abundance Cooking Classes

The Atlanta Community Food Bank’s Simple Abundance Cooking Class series provides the community the unique opportunity to interact with Atlanta’s top chefs, learn the secrets of exquisite dishes, have fun, and help feed Atlanta’s hungry. One hundred percent of class tuition benefits Atlanta’s Table, a project of the Food Bank that collects food from our local hospitality industry and delivers it to more than 40 nonprofit partner agencies that provide meals for those in need. For details or to register, visit www.ACFB.org, or call 404-892-FEED, ext. 1444. 

Here are the classes for February and March. Still looking for fun way to celebrate Valentine's? Check out the class Feb. 7 with JCT's Ford Fry, and spend the holiday wowing your honey at home with your newfound skills (wow, that sounds inappropriate in the context of V-day, doesn't it?)

Valentine’s Day with JCT Kitchen

Chef Ford Fry of JCT Kitchen

Monday, February 7, 7-9 p.m.

Location: The Cook’s Warehouse – Midtown/Ansley Mall

1544 Piedmont Road, Suite 403-R, Atlanta, GA 30324

$55 – Demonstration and Tasting

Planning to cook on Valentine’s Day? If so, JCT Kitchen’s Chef and owner Ford Fry has some ideas you might want to try. Chef Fry will help you impress that special someone by demonstrating how to prepare Local Arugula Salad with bacon wrapped figs, Thomasville bleu and burnt honey vinaigrette; Poached Oyster & Brunswick White Shrimp Creamed Carolina Gold Rice Risotto; and Warm Chocolate and Banana Brown Butter Almond Cake with crème fraiche ice cream. The evening includes wine tastings sponsored by National Distributors and a chance to win tasty door prizes provided by Bella Cucina Artful Foods and Cabot Cheese.

What’s Cooking at Wahoo

Chef Christian Speigal of Wahoo

Monday, February 21, 7-9 p.m.

Location: The Cook’s Warehouse – Decatur

180 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030

$55 – Demonstration and Tasting

As one of Decatur’s popular neighborhood eateries, Wahoo continues to deliver traditional Southern and bistro cuisine with a pop of European flare thanks to Chef Speigal. Participants will learn how to make Organic Beet Salad – oven roasted and thin-sliced with toasted walnuts, goat cheese, arugula and mint vinaigrette; Scallop Picatta – lightly breaded and sautéed sea scallops with lemon caper butter; and Bread Pudding – Southern bread pudding served warm with Kentucky bourbon glaze. The evening includes wine tastings sponsored by Sherlock’s Wine Merchant and a chance to win tasty door prizes provided by Bella Cucina Artful Foods and Cabot Cheese.

Easy Italian

Chef Keira Moritz of Pacci Ristorante

Monday, February 28, 7-9 p.m.

The Cook’s Warehouse – Midtown/Ansley Mall

1544 Piedmont Road, Suite 403-R, Atlanta, GA 30324

$55 – Demonstration and Tasting

Wish making classic Italian food at home wasn’t so hard? It’s not! Chef Keira Moritz, known for her delicious seasonal Northern Italian cuisine, will show you how easy it is and have you preparing Caesar Salad with Pacci’s homemade dressing, Gnocchi with sage brown butter, and Rustic Crostada in your own kitchen in no time. The evening includes wine tastings sponsored by National Distributors and a chance to win tasty door prizes provided by Bella Cucina Artful Foods and Cabot Cheese.

Dogwood

Chef Shane Touhy of Dogwood

Monday, March 7, 7-9 p.m.

The Cook’s Warehouse – Midtown/Ansley Mall

1544 Piedmont Road, Suite 403-R, Atlanta, GA 30324

$55 – Demonstration and Tasting

With Spring and blossoming dogwood trees are just around the corner, what better way to usher them in than with a seasonal class menu from Chef Touhy? Get some great tips from Chef Touhy on how to make She Crab Soup, Spring Vegetable Salad with preserved lemon and rosemary vinaigrette, and Pan Roast “Catch of the Day” served with Napa cabbage, mushrooms, champagne butter and peekytoe crab. The evening includes wine tastings sponsored by National Distributors and a chance to win tasty door prizes provided by Bella Cucina Artful Foods and Cabot Cheese.

Gluten Free Dining

Chef Shaun Doty of YEAH! BURGER

Monday, March 21, 7-9 p.m.

The Cook’s Warehouse – Midtown/Ansley Mall

1544 Piedmont Road, Suite 403-R, Atlanta, GA 30324

$55 – Demonstration and Tasting

By popular demand, Simple Abundance brings you its first ever gluten free cooking class. And who better to teach this class than ‘Mr. Gluten Free’ himself, Chef Shaun Doty? From his monthly Celiac Dinners, and gluten free menus, to offering gluten free buns at YEAH! BURGER, Chef Doty is proof positive that gluten free cuisine is delicious as well as healthy. If you are or have been thinking of going gluten free, this class is for you! Chef Doty will demonstrate how to make Loch Daurt Salmon Crudo with fresh ginger and spicy chili oil, Gluten Free Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes with grainy mustard sauce, and Classic Chocolate Mousse with local cream and sweet rice crepe. The evening includes wine tastings sponsored by National Distributors and a chance to win tasty door prizes provided by Bella Cucina Artful Foods and Cabot Cheese.

Get Your Southern On!

Chef Jason Hill of Wisteria

Monday, March 28, 7-9 p.m.

The Cook’s Warehouse – Decatur

180 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030

$55 – Demonstration and Tasting

Chef Hill, from the ever popular Atlanta mainstay Wisteria, offers up his take on the following mouthwatering Southern dishes for tonight’s class: Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs, All Natural Iron Skillet Fried Chicken with bacon braised collard greens and sweet corn pudding, Southern Fried Tennessee Blue Catfish with green tomato, okra and spicy crawfish ragout with remoulade; and Citrus & Basil Granita for dessert. The evening includes wine tastings sponsored by Sherlock’s Wine Merchant and a chance to win tasty door prizes provided by Bella Cucina Artful Foods and Cabot Cheese.

More Valentine's Dining Options

Aqua Blue is offering a special four-course menu from Friday, February 11 - Monday, February 14. The menu is priced at $50 per person. The Roswell restaurant will also offer its regular menu. For reservations, call 770-643-8886.

Aria is offering a festive four-course menu for $85 per person with wine pairings available at an additional cost. For reservations, call the restaurant at 404-233-7673.


BLT Steak is offering a special 4-course prix fixe blackboard menu on Monday, February 14. This menu will be served in addition to the regular menu. Two handcrafted cocktails will be offered for $12 each. The Cherub's Cup is made with Hendricks Gin and Rose sparkling wine and Love Potion #9 is prepared with strawberry vodka and Conitreau. In addition to the dessert included in the 4-course menu, they will also treat each table to the cehf's selection of a complimentary dessert of profieroles with Madagascar vanilla ice cream, hot fudge and candied violets. The menu is $60/person.

Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse is offering a special Valentine’s three course menu from Friday, February 11 - Monday, February 14. The savory selection from Executive Chef Bennett Hollberg is priced at $48 per person. For reservations, call 404-844-4810.

JCT Kitchen and Bar is offering a $55 four-course menu (a “taste”+ three courses) filled with Chef Ford Fry’s Southern favorites on Monday, February14 only. For reservations, call 404-355-2252.

Spice Market is celebrating with a Valentine’s Day special on Sunday, February 13 and Monday, February 14. On those days, guests will have a choice of any appetizer, entrée and dessert for just $30 (with an up charge of $8 for lobster or steak). Guests will also receive a special red fortune cookie that could include offers like a free dessert or free appetizer. For reservations, call 404-724 2550.

Woodfire Grill is kicking off its Valentine’s Day celebration with its annual “Fools for Love” event on Sunday, February 13 at 7 p.m. This special dinner party pairs a delicious dinner with an exciting performance from Georgia Shakespeare for one unforgettable evening. Tickets for the event are $125 and can be purchased online. On Valentine’s Day, Woodfire Grill is offering five-course vegetarian and pescatarian menus in addition to the regular five-course menu. The regular and pescatarian menus are priced at $100 and the vegetarian menu is priced at $85. Guests can choose to include wine pairings for an additional $50. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 404-347-9055.

For those Atlantans who want to dodge the Valentine’s Day restaurant traffic, the New York Butcher Shoppe has a delicious deal for a romantic at-home celebration. All three locations are offering a “Valentine’s Day Meal Deal” that includes two 8 oz. filets, two loaded potatoes, salad for two and a loaf of bread for $29.99. Guests can also add two 4 oz. lobster tails to their Valentine’s Day spread for just $15. The New York Butcher Shoppe has three locations in Alpharetta, Buckhead and Dunwoody.  

Atlanta Valentine's Dining Options

No sooner do the Christmas decorations get put away than out come the hearts and proclamations of "be mine!" That's right, folks, V-day is right around the corner, and that means those of us who are coupled have lots o' pressure to show our honey just how much we care, and those who aren't are repeatedly reminded of their singleton status. Never fear, there's nothing like food to make things all better. And not to stress you out even more, but don't delay, you know tables are booking up fast!


Single? 

Don't miss Pacci's 2nd annual Queen of Hearts Social on Feb. 10. The event is a free cocktail party, featuring complimentary apps, drink specials, free tarot card readings, raffle prizes, and a chance to  have relationship questions answered by advice columnist Blane Bachelor. Guests are encourage to wear red if they like V-day and black if they don't. Raffle prizes include dinner for 2 at Pacci and a cocktail part at AltoRex for 6.

Want to avoid all the fuss? A number of restaurants will just be serving their regular menu, such as Rosebud, Restaurant Eugene, and Chops.

Got a date?

La Tavola 3-courses for $49 on Feb. 14. Duck liver crostini and veal saltimbocca? Yes please!

W Perimeter is celebrating love with a Vampy Valentine celebration throughout the month of February. Dessert selections are perfect for sharing with each item containing a juicy red fruit (get it vampires and red juice?!), such as chocolate dipped dark chocolate and hazelnut cake drizzled with pomegranite syrup or a parfait of blood orange. For $38 couples can enjoy their choice of desserts and two cocktails from their special V-day collection.

Enticing elixirs available include:

• Seduction – This sweet sip is the perfect ending to a romantic evening – or perhaps the start of one. A smooth blend of Godiva white and dark chocolate liquor, Stoli Vanilla Vodka and cream is shaken and served in a chocolate swirled martini glass, garnished with a juicy strawberry.
• French Kiss – More serious than a stealing a schoolyard kiss, this combination of Jean Louis champagne, pomegranate and strawberry purees, is sure to entice any valentine.
• Sweet Heart – This sweet combination of dragonberry rum, pineapple juice and grenadine with a cherry garnish is sure to feel like one’s been hit by cupid’s arrow.

OpenTable has a great roundup of restaurant dining options. Here are a few of the most enticing:

4th & Swift
We will be offering a special 5-Course Menu for $75/person, non-inclusive. Add to the night by selecting our optional Wine Pairing for an additional $35/person, non-inclusive

Ecco
Thank you for choosing Ecco for Valentine's' Day. We will be offering a prix fixe menu for $50 a person.

Eleven at The Loews Atlanta
Friday-Monday we will be offering a 4-course menu for $45 per person. Entree options include Orchids Vanilla Butter Lobster and Filet Mignon with Artichoke Heart Ragout.

The Iberian Pig
Have a memorable Valentine's day at The Iberian Pig with a 3-course meal including a special gift from the CHG family of restaurants. The regular menu will also be available.

JCT Kitchen
JCT will be offering a 4 course menu with choices for $55.

Pura Vida
Our Valentine's Day package: Each couple will get to select 6 tapas, a dessert & a bottle of wine to share, from our Valentine's Day Aphrodisiac Menu. Cost is $85 per couple. Most Romantic Dish: Roses & Date Ice Cream

Serpas
Serpas True Food will be offering our regular menu, as well as, a 3-course prix fixe dinner for $30/person (available Fri., Feb. 11 through Mon., Feb 14)

The SHED at Glenwood
Join us for a romantic 3 course Prix Fixe Dinner/$45 per person! Includes a glass of Bubbles for Dessert! Or Join us over the weekend with our regular menu & Special Items!

Valentine's dining tips courtesty of OpenTable

Tips:

1. If your favorite or first choice restaurant is booked on Valentine’s Day (Monday, 2/14), try booking during Valentine’s Weekend instead…. Friday, 2/11 or Saturday, 2/12… there’s greater availability on these dates (especially on Friday).
2. If your favorite restaurant is booked… it pays to keep checking back to see if a cancellation has freed up a reservation slot. If you have the OpenTable app on your mobile (we have them available on seven platforms, including the iPhone, Android, and Blackberry platforms) you can be checking anytime, anywhere.
3. It takes seconds to search for restaurants in your city with availability on Valentine’s Day… and seconds to reserve a table (on your computer or mobile). So if you think or know you’ll be dining out on Valentine’s Day, book it now while availability provides you with lots of options… waiting means contending with limited or no availability at your favorite spots.

Atlanta Underground Market

Secret events come with automatic cachet. But the trick is you have to actually be in the know to get in on the fun.

Well consider me your fairy godmother of awesome secretiveness. Coming up on Feb. 26, local foodies and artisans will set up shop in a secret location to dish out gourmet slow food. These events first took place in San Fran, home of many cool food trends. Read about one such event here.

Here's the idea-- typically food vendors, even very small ones whipping up treats in their kitchens, are subject to all sorts of requirements to make sure they don't poison you. Laws are mighty stifling to the indie vendor, so this is your chance to throw caution to the wind and sample homemade treats without all the red tape. Sign up for the underground market, and two days before the event, you'll get an email letting you know where the market will be. Day of, pay $2 to join this "private club" and enjoy treats from pros and home cooks alike.

How fun is that? I'll be there with bells on. But shhhhh don't tell, it's a secret!

Say What? Atlantans vote an OTP chain as the best Atlanta newcomer?!

It is a sad, sad day for Atlanta foodies when a chain, an OTP chain outpost no less, that ranks as Atlanta's "Top Newcomer." But that's exactly what just happened in the newest addition of Zagat's. According to their survey of Atlanta eaters, the top newcomer is Roswell's branch of The Counter. In a city chock full of good restaurants, it's horrifying to find that the one getting attention is neither locally based nor even inside the city limits, and just like so many better restaurants - Flip, Farm Burger, Yeah Burger et all, this restaurant dishes up burgers.  Is this what we've come to?

First of all, The Counter opened in July 2008, as evidenced by this August '08 Creative Loafing Review. To put this into context, in the 2.5 years since The Counter's opening, here are just a few of the far superior restaurants that have opened in our fair city:

• Abattoir
• Bocado
• Dogwood
• Empire State South
• Flip Burger
• Holeman & Finch
• La Pietra Cucina
• Leon's Full Service
• Miller Union
• Miso Izakaya
• Pacci
• Serpas
• Sound Table

Now I realize that many people, especially those living OTP might not have eaten at any of these restaurants. And if that's the case, please hop in your car, brave the highway, and come experience the best of what Atlanta has to offer. I love a good burger as much as the next gal, and I even visited The Counter once when I was visiting my parents, but that does not make it a restaurant worthy of national attention. I can't help but think it makes us look like a bunch of chain restaurant rubes who can't tell a great restaurant from a good enough one. What kills me is the idea that people took the time to fill out Zagat's survey and when posed with the question, "what is Atlanta's best new comer?" thought to themselves, "Oh I sure did love that burger I had after shopping at North Point the other day. The Counter it is."

BURGERS....BURRRRGERRRSS

Fortunately I've long known that Zagat's is a poor reflection of actual quality. I know it's ironic that a food blogger would question the wisdom of the masses, but I prefer to take my restaurant advice from trusted resources, be it a blog or a professional reviewer. A popularity contest always seems to sink to the lower end of the spectrum in chain mad towns.

I don't have a problem with chains existing nor with the idea of eating in the suburbs. But it's simply a crime for so many great restaurants both high-end and reasonably priced, haute and down home to get ignored in favor of a carpetbagger chain.

So just like John Kessler and Chef Nick Oltarsh recently urged people, support great local restaurants. I know we're all pinching pennies these days, but try to vote with your dollars whenever possible. And if you're dying for a burger, at least give one of the locally owned restaurants a shot! At a minimum, go onto zagat.com and log your vote for something more exciting than The Counter!

Here's the offending blurb:

Zagat's Top Up-and-Coming Restaurants

Top newcomer: The Counter

Fans say the best burger in Roswell can be found at this link in a California-based chain where a lot of toppings (purportedly enough to make 312,120-plus different combinations, including vegetarian options) make their build-your-own concept a gourmet occasion, one made even more interesting by amazing onion rings and sweet potato fries and enjoyable milkshakes. It's a good place for families and fun for all ages.

Red Queen Tarts

 

When I first heard about Red Queen Tarts, an Atlanta gal making artisinal pop tarts, I thought IMUSTHAVEONERIGHTNOW. Yes, in my own stream of consciousness, screaming in my own head sort of way, I knew that fancy pants pop tarts were simply something I couldn't live without.

Clearly the NY Times agrees since they have already published a lovely write up on the Red Queen herself, Candice Reynolds, and her locally sourced, organic, seasonal toaster treats. Currently Reynolds, who's day job is with Fifth Group's catering arm is distributing the treats primarily through farmer's markets, such as Serenbe's, and selling them through online orders.

Reynolds's was unimpressed when her boyfriend was serving up real deal pop tarts - high fructose corn syrup and all - for an event, and she knew she could do better. And she does indeed. The tarts were delivered to me in a sweet little box, each individually wrapped and labeled with care. The packaging is simple but still perfect for a gift or a little treat for yourself.

My assortment included hazelnut chocolate, port poached pear, lemon blueberry, and red ruby marmalade. They can be heated in the oven or like regular pop tarts, in the toaster. Her ingredients are fresh, as local as possible, and remarkably healthy for something called a tart. The tart itself is made from heirloom cold-milled whole wheat from North Carolina, while the filling is flavorful with real fruits sweetened with evaporated cane sugar.

These tarts are subtle, appropriate for breakfast, or as we ate them, as a light dessert. The crust is flaky and buttery, perfect after a quick toasting. Unlike the traditional dessert tarts you might be picturing that are bursting with filling, these have just enough filling to make the flavors shine through. The port poached pear was sophisticated and distinctive, while the red ruby marmalade offered the bitter bite of grapefruit balanced with sweetness. Our personal favorite was the hazelnut chocolate. The richness of this filling made the boldest statement of any we tried, and it was gone in no time.

I love the idea of upscale pop tarts. With cupcakes jumping the shark, and fro-yo so passe, it's about time for a clever new twist on an old favorite, and all the better if you can actually feel good about eating them.

Tarts are packaged 6 per box, $19.00/box. Get yours at Serenbe Farmer's Market or by emailing Candace at redqueentarts@gmail.com or calling (770)789-5258. Find out more on http://www.facebook.com/redqueentarts or follow her on http://twitter.com/redqueentarts

Amazon Gift Cards for 50% Off

I love me some amazon. Mr. AT and I get nearly everything you could imagine from there - the obvious books of course, but also kitchen gear, vitamins, electronics, you name it! You can see on the site that I have my own a-store where you can buy everything a foodie could hope for.

Now get 50% off on whatever you want to buy by purchasing a $20 gift card for $10. The deal is only on today so get it while you can, and hook a sister up by purchasing it through my link here. Just imagine all the great goodies you can get with that! Check out the Adventurous Tastes a-store while you're at it for a few of my favorite things...

Upcoming Atlanta Dining Events

Now that Atlanta is slowly but surely thawing out,  you can escape your empty refrigerator and say goodbye to cabin fever at one of these upcoming dining events...


BLT Cooking Class
On Saturday, January 22, chef de cuisine Jean-Luc Mongodin hosts the downtown steakhouse’s inaugural interactive cooking and wine pairing class. From 2 -4 p.m., Mongodin will lead the group through the preparation and plating of three signature dishes, tuna tartare with avocado and soy-lime dressing appetizer, acacia honey marinated Alaskan black cod and 14 oz. rib eye entrées.

The cooking class will be complimented by a wine tasting and instruction course. Guests will sample three classic French wine varietals: a white Burgundy, red Burgundy and red Bordeaux from the 2005 vintage, paired by sommelier Dorine Buche and Mongodin with each dish. The class will learn how to marry a range of wines with certain dishes, as French native Buche discusses tips on paring with main ingredients, sauces, spices and overall flavor profiles. 

Seats for BLT Steak’s cooking class are $45 per person. Maximum capacity is 20 guests. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 404.577.7601.

Celebrate Chinese New Year at Doc Chey's

The year of the Rabbit is fast approaching, and Doc Chey’s invites you to join in on the festivities and enjoy the food! The two-week long Chinese New Year celebration involves three parties. Doc Chey’s 6th annual Chinese New Year celebration kicks off on February 3, Chinese New Year Day, with a party at Doc Chey’s Virginia Highland. There will be two parties following, on February 12 at Doc Chey’s Emory Village and on February 17 at the Doc Chey’s Grant Park, which will also be celebrating their one year anniversary. During these events, guests who dine for lunch or dinner will receive a fortune cookie with a special prize inside and enjoy Chinese beer specials and traditional lucky foods. There will also be a lion dance performance (7 p.m. Virginia Highland and Grant Park, 5:30 p.m. Emory Village).

Parish 3rd Annual Mardi Gras Celebration

This year, this favorite event will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2011. Details are still being worked out, but you can guarantee there will be music, oysters, crawfish and plenty of pork.

For more information visit parishatl.com or call 404.681.4434.

Celebrate Your St. Patty’s Day at TAP

The Irish party will be in full jig at TAP - Complete with giveaways and Irish-themed food and drink specials.

Drink Specials

• $5 Guinness
• $5 Irish Coffee
• $5 Irish Eyes Cocktail
• $8 Irish Car Bombs

Menu Specials:

• $6 St. Patty's Green Deviled Eggs
• $13 Irish Burger-100% Angus beef topped with corn beef and crispy shoestring potatoes

Try your luck to win TAPs Pot of Gold! Pull the lucky gold piece from TAPs pot and your bar tab is on them! Don your leprechaun wear and get a free pint of Guinness. For more information visit tapat1180.com or call 404.347.2220.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Murphy’s

Murphy’s continues its 30-year tradition of the finest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Atlanta with the best in Irish entertainment and classic Irish fare.

Enjoy Irish specialties including:

• Finnen Haddie Soup
• Irish Soda Bread
• Lamb Stew
• Corned Beef with Kolcannon Potatoes
• Irish Whiskey Bread Pudding

For more information visit murphys-atlanta-restaurant.com or call 404.872.0904.

A Cake for Grandma

In the midst of an otherwise delightfully slow and snowy week, my grandmother passed away, and I found myself baking a cake for our family to eat after the funeral. I didn't have time, inclination, or ingredients to make the cake very fancy, but that's not the point. Food is comfort, both cooking it and eating it. And for me, in a difficult time, it offered a chocolatey catharsis.

Baking, for me at least, takes intense focus, and so for that hour, I didn't think about anything else. I measured, and stirred, beat and folded. The experience wasn't perfect - I cracked an egg too aggressively and got yoke in my whites and later managed to create a choc-splosion in which I got chocolate nearly everywhere. But as I slipped the cake into the oven and licked my fingers, the spatula and the bowl, for a brief moment I didn't have a care in the world beyond cleaning up the mess I'd made. Baking took me away from reality, and for that I'm very thankful.

And tomorrow as we say goodbye to my grandmother and comfort each other with kind words, I hope my chocolate cake will do its part and offer some fudgy solace to those who loved her. Grandma always did love sweets, and although my cake didn't turn out very pretty, I bet she would have liked it.

Breadmaker Honey Wheat Pizza

Mr. AT and I are the proud owners of a new Zojirushi breadmaker, courtesy of his parents. So far we are loving it. My hubby is obsessed with making fresh whole wheat bread, and I must admit it's much tastier and more gratifying than store bought.

We've discovered King Arthur's White Wheat, which is an albino version of wheat without the taste drawbacks of regular wheat. I found that many recipes for whole wheat pizza really mix traditional flour with whole wheat flour, which didn't really suit my desire to eat whole grains, so I was thrilled to discover white wheat can replace regular flour entirely. Guilt free pizza!

We have had a couple of misfires with the breadmaker, so it's worth noting that these machines are sensitive. Improperly measured ingredients or opening the machine during the process (or poking the rising loaf as Mr. AT did once) can result in shape and textural issues. We've taken to weighing ingredients instead of trusting measuring cups since overly packed flour can ruin your results.

Fortunately this dough came off without a hitch. The hardest part is actually rolling out the sticky dough without too much of it ending up on your hands or counter. Do not be afraid to dust your hands, your counter and the dough with plenty of flour to make it easier to handle. I loved the chewy texture and light honey flavor of the dough. This is healthier than regular pizza but doesn't taste healthy, which is a good thing in my book! I didn't roll it out enough, so it was a bit thicker than it's meant to be, but even so it was quite delicious, and I was oh so proud of myself for making my very own pizza from scratch.

So many possibilities now that I've got this figured out!

Breadmaker Honey Wheat Pizza Dough (adapted from KingArthurFlour.com - see link for the non-breadmachine version)

Ingredients

Dough
2 teaspoonsquick instant yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water (100°F to 115°F)
2 tablespoons honey
3 1/2-3 3/4 cups King Arthur 100% Organic White Whole Wheat Flour
1 tablespoon vital wheat gluten
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Preparation
Preheat the oven to 425°F. If you're using a baking stone, preheat the oven to 450°F.

To make the dough: Follow instructions for your breadmaker model. For the Zojirushi: Put water, olive oil and honey into breadmaker. Then add flour, gluten, and salt. Make a dent in the top of the dry ingredients and place yeast there. Do not let yeast touch the wet ingredients. Turn breadmaker on quick rise, dough setting, and let the machine do its magic.

Assembling the pizza: Put flour on your hands before handling the dough. It's sticky! Divide the dough in half, roll each piece on a floured surface into a 13" to 15" round (depending on the size of your pizza pans), and place the rounds on lightly oiled pans. (A 13" diameter yields a thin crust; a 15" diameter yields a cracker-thin crust.) Turn in the overhanging edge to form a rim. If you plan to use a baking stone to bake the pizza, place the dough on two baker's peels, dusted with cornmeal or surfaced with parchment.

Brush each round with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Based on other comments I'd read, I opted to bake just the dough for 8 minutes before putting any toppings on.

Add sauce, cheese and other toppings. There are so many options! I went with homemade tomato sauce leftover from spaghetti night, fresh and grated mozzarella, and a bit of basil as garnish.

Bake the pizzas in the pans for 12 to 20 minutes, or until the top and bottom crusts are nicely browned. If you're using baking stones, bake for 15 to 25 minutes (leaving the pizza on the parchment), or until the crust is nicely browned on the bottom. Cut into wedges and serve immediately. Yield: 2 pizzas, about a dozen large slices.

To freeze extra dough, roll it in a ball and lightly cover it with olive oil and seal in plastic wrap or a bag. When I was ready to make it, I just took it out of the fridge and rolled it out. It will last 4-5 days if refrigerated, longer if frozen.

Want to try your hand at the Zojirushi? Get yours from the Adventurous Tastes Amazon Store.

Holeman & Finch Burger Named One of Serious Eats Best of 2010

Photo Credit: Iain Bagwell, Food Styling Angie Mosier, Southern Living Magazine

Whenever someone asks me for my favorite burger in Atlanta, I am often surprised that they have not even heard of my beloved Holeman & Finch, let alone dined on their renowned burger. I am shocked, shocked I tell you that anyone has missed out on all the H&F hype and obsessive blogging on a national scale.

Seriously, this place inspires great passion and serves up some of the tastiest grub around. If you haven't eaten there yet, you are missing out in a big way. Alas, I say that with some concern since the place is already impossible to get a seat in, so I hate playing a part in making it even more impossible to get a table!

H&F makes you work for it, too, serving it only after 10 and at brunch.  They only make 24 of these heavenly burgers a night, and when they're gone, they're gone, which can happen in as little as a minute. So it's no surprise that their burger has shown up on another best list.

I love this burger and am reminded as I write this that it's been far too long since I've enjoyed one. Each ingredient is made with care, and although simple, this hard won burger is pure bliss.

Here's what Serious Eats has to say...

The griddled burger cooked to medium at Atlanta's Holeman & Finch rocked my grilled rare burger-loving mind. The juicy patties are simply exploding with a beefiness that sings freshness. The bread and butter pickles, ketchup, and mustard are all impeccably made in-house and are joined by melted American cheese and red onions. The whole thing is served on an unsweetened brioche made next door at the company bakery, which Bon Appetit just named one of the 10 best in America. I'm hesitant to call any burger perfect, but improving this thing does not seem possible.

Not to be outdone, Epicurious and Food and Wine also listed the burger on their best list, and Food Network Magazine called it the nation's best late night burger.


Make your own with these tips from H&F's Executive Sous Chef Jason Paolini here.


Get yours:

Holeman and Finch
2277 Peachtree Road, Suite B
Atlanta, GA 30309

It's Hot Cocoa Time

Baby it's cold outside, and that means it's the perfect time for hot cocoa.

Alton Brown's Hot Cocoa

Mexican Hot Chocolate

Hot Chocolate on a Stick

Serendipity's Frozen Hot Chocolate

Chai Spiced Hot Chocolate

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Atlanta Restaurant Review: Las Brasas

Great googly moogly, have you been to Las Brasas? I for one had not ventured to the Decatur palace o' Peruvian chicken until this past week, and man do I regret that I didn't go sooner.

The restaurant itself is a tiny little takeout joint with some outdoor seating. Mr. AT lived in DC way back when and used to scarf down Peruvian chicken on a regular basis at Pollo Rico in Arlington, so he has a long standing love affair with South American poultry.

We opted to share the whole rotisserie chicken, which comes with an aji sauce (apparently made of cilantro and jalapeno) and a side of potatoes with huancaina sauce (a creamy spicy sauce made with cheese and Peruvian pepper). I am not kidding when I say this relatively simple food was epic. Peruvian chicken is heavily seasoned. I'm not clear on what mix Las Brasas uses but a quick google search of Peruvian chicken suggests spices like cumin, garlic powder, paprika and lemon are de rigueur. Regardless of what they're using, it's heavenly. The crispy skin crackles with flavor and the meat is oh so moist. I usually like to keep some semblance of manners when I eat, but this was dig your hands in, face covered in chicken grease kind of eating!

The side of potatoes was nothing complicated, but the sauce made the dish. How can you go wrong with a rich creamy, spicy, cheesy sauce? Seriously, when I wasn't dipping the chicken in aji sauce, I was using the huancaina sauce, too.

When I was done I was actually sad that the feeding frenzy was over. It was that good. When I went to wash my dish, I found a single renegade potato slice hiding under a lettuce leaf and I practically wept for joy. Las Brasas, I love you, for reals. Even Mr. AT had to admit that he'd be hard pressed to decide which was better - Las Brasas or El Pollo Rico, and considering how many times I've heard him mention that restaurant - some 8 years after he left DC, that is a big compliment indeed!

Las Brasas
310 East Howard Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030
Tel: (404) 377-9121

 

Atlanta Restaurant Preview: Peter Chang's

The elusive Peter Chang is back! The Chang-er has been bouncing around the southeast for years, much to the chagrin of his devoted followers. Mr. AT and I were lucky enough to catch a rare Tasty China appearance last year, and our luck continued as we got an invite to a media dinner at his new venture, Peter Chang Chinese Cuisine in Sandy Springs. 

Chang used a translator to chat with the crowd of PR peeps, bloggers, journalists, and a Top Chef alum. Just as during our previous meeting, Chang was all smiles and decked out in full chef regalia, including a giant chef's hat. Love. Him.

Snow peas

The  meal was a free for all with plate after plate coming out to our tables, placed on a lazy susan, vaguely explained in broken English, and quickly scarfed down whether we knew what it was or not.

This is not your momma's Chinese food. They certainly have some dishes you'll recognize, like sweet and sour fish, a mild flavored crystal shrimp and simple veggie dishes like snow peas. But who needs to schlep to Sandy Springs for that? Much more exciting, and totally worth the drive, are the dishes you don't see elsewhere.

Crystal Shrimp

Chang is a big fan of numbing peppers, which is a unique sensation for most American diners. It's not jalapeno hot, rather it inspires a pleasantly numb feeling that allows you to chow down without overheating. The spicy cilantro beef was just such a dish. Definitely some heat, but nothing even a wuss like me couldn't handle. Many of Chang's best dishes are chock full of flavor and heat - there's nothing subtle about these dishes.

Spicy cilantro beef

Other dishes, like the tofu skin stuffed with sticky rice, pork, and mushrooms are incredibly subtle but still oh so tasty. This dish didn't sound that exciting, but it was in fact one of my favorites of the night.The earthy potatoes and hot seasoned rice were comfort food Chang style.

Tofu skin stuffed with sticky rice, pork and mushrooms

Fried pork belly

Speaking of favorites, fried pork belly was exactly as awesome as it sounds. Ever wished for Asian pork rinds? Here you go. Brady Lowe was sharing wines from his personal stash with us, but I can imagine that this dish would be pure bliss with an ice cold beer.

Smoked tofu

A huge surprise for me was perhaps my favorite dish of the meal - smoked tofu. I am an avowed hater of food that imitates other food, so tofu is usually on my no-go list. But I'll be darned, this tofu had such a lovely texture and pleasing taste, that it was the only dish I took seconds of. Wow! Think you don't like tofu? Definitely try this dish.

Not ever dish was a hit. My table lamented the lack of fish in the sweet and sour fish, but considering the bacchanal we experienced, even that wasn't that bad. It just tasted like fried dough and sweet and sour sauce, which all things considered isn't all that terrible.

A few of the dishes were dim sum classics such as pork dumplings and sesame balls with red bean paste for dessert. Mr. AT and I love us some dim sum so these were welcome dishes if not particularly original. I especially love the texture of sesame balls because they have a chewy sweetness so unlike nearly anything else you've ever eaten outside of Chinese food.

Sesame balls with red bean paste

Peter Chang's just opened on December 18, but he's not known for his longevity at a given restaurant, so I suggest you high tail it out there before it's too late. The restaurant is airy and comfortable in a 80's suburban  kind of way and has notably better ambiance than Tasty China.Considering the hype that Chang creates whenever he lands somewhere, I consider us lucky indeed to have his eponymous outpost in the ATL.

Salivating yet? Here is some more food porn for your viewing enjoyment...

Tofu skin with chili oil and cilantro

Peter's Rolls

Cumin lamb chops over fried onions

Sesame oil chicken

Our waitress serves up pork and taro soup

An interesting note - if you look up the Chang-er on Wikipedia, that is Mr. AT's arm next to him.


Peter Chang's 
6450 Powers Ferry Road
Sandy Springs, GA