|
|
|
 Viva la healthy alternatives! This week, Starbucks launched its newest product: smoothies. Except they're called vivanno nourishing blends. Whatever. They're delicious. The 16-ounce cold orange mango banana blend concoction is a blend of one whole banana, whey protein and fiber powder, your choice of milk, ice and Naked juice (an exclusive blend from the Atlanta company made only for Starbucks). The healthy treat is quite filling and is intended to serve as a meal replacement, but it only contains 250 calories (or less, if you adjust your milk choice to non-fat). Plus, it's got 16 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber and one serving of fruit. The banana chocolate blend, which has 270 calories, 21 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber and 5 grams of fat, is made with bittersweet cocoa, a whole banana, whey protein and fiber powder. Caffeine addicts can add a jolt to their drink with a shot of espresso. One more fresh tidbit: Starbucks uses hormone-free milk! The vivanno blend drinks are $3.75, and are available at all Starbucks. Though you probably have no trouble finding a Starbucks near you, visit www.starbucks.com if you want to learn more. Top 5 cupcakes at the Atlanta Cupcake Factory
642 N. Highland Ave. NE, 678-358-9195, www.theatlantacupcakefactory.com 1.Strawberry 2.Chocolate Peanut butter 3.Key Lime (pictured) 4.Carrot Cake 5.Red Velvet We love free stuff, and we're sure you do, too. Sushi Kiku is offering readers to come out and try their fresh sushi for free. Crazy, right? But it's true. They're just trying to get their name out there with their grand opening party and free food. Anyway, we'd be crazy not to get the word out to you that you can confidently fill your gas tank up this Saturday night, because dinner's free!
WHEN: Saturday, July 12, from 7 to 9 p.m.
COST: $0 (but good manners say tip your server)
WHERE: Sushu Kiku, 2770 Lenox Road, Atlanta, 30324
CONTACT: 404-467-4544. www.kikujapanese.com.
DON'T FORGET: Tell 'em you heard it from The Sunday Paper Having a party anytime soon? (Maybe that T-Mobile housewarming thing we just discussed?) Check out this drink calculator I found at Evite. You just enter in the amount of people that are coming, along with how long you'll be partying, and if you'll be serving wine, liquor or beer (we like all three), and if your guests are light, average or heavy drinkers (guess which category we fall under). And voila! You'll instantly know how many bottles of liquor, wine and beer to have on hand. Don't forget to collect everyone's keys at the beginning of the evening! This morning, I received the following e-mail from an SP reader. The scorecard she mentions is in reference to Adam Murphy's monthly Restaurant Report Card (in our current issue): Hi Kirsten, I am a huge proponent of food safety, and I love reading your scorecard each issue. I was at [a major discount chain store] near Perimeter Mall, off Ashford-Dunwoody, and when I saw these English muffins sitting on top of the trash can, I had to take a picture as I was so disgusted. This should deter anyone from eating fast food--no one in their right mind should want to eat food that has been sitting atop a receptacle used for nasty food scraps and who knows what else. This is disgusting and something should be done so I thought of you guys. Thanks, Megan Thanks for being a proactive citizen, Megan! I've forwarded your e-mail on to Adam Murphy, who investigates health inspection violations around Atlanta and surrounding cities. Watch Adam Murphy’s CBS 46 Restaurant Report Card every Thursday at 4 p.m. and Fridays at noon. You can also catch all of his reports in streaming video at www.cbs46.com. 1. LICKING THE SNOW: For just under two bucks, you can’t beat the big-kid sno-cones at Cajun restaurant Just Loaf’n to battle southern summer heat. www.justloafn.net. 2. HIDING OUT AT THE CHOP HOUSE: The best place to be if you want to chill out with a drink during a Braves game. But get there early, because once the outside temp hits 90 degrees, the place fills up fast. www.braves.mlb.com. 3. VISITING THE FROZEN TUNDRA: Fernbank’s IMAX theatre lets you choose between screenings of “Antarctica” (pictured) or “Alaska: Spirit of the Wild” all summer long. Air conditioning included in ticket price. www.fernbankmuseum.org. 4. SAMPLING INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS: Scoops of the tasty Limoncello and Green Tea gelatos at Paolo’s Gelatos sure hit the spot—and watching the irrepressible Paolo Dalla Zorza in action is a treat in itself. www.paolosgelato.com. When tragedy strikes, we huddle around our TVs, our radios and our computers, trying to get more information, shaking our heads in disbelief and wishing there was something we could do. This was the feeling we all shared when Meredith Emerson was kidnapped from the North Georgia mountains on New Year's Day and then subsequently found murdered on January 7. This Wednesday, June 25, Atlantans have an opportunity to honor and remember Meredith Emerson by dining out at any Atlanta and North Georgia Applebee's location anytime during store hours. The restaurant chain will donate 15 percent of diners' total bills to Right to Hike, Inc. However, you must present this invitation to their servers in order for your efforts to count. Right to Hike, Inc. was founded in memoriam of Meredith with plans to support causes close to Meredith's heart, including hiking safety. June 25 is five days after what would have been Meredith's 25th birthday. There are 40 Applebee's in metro Atlanta. Find the one closest to you here. Spice Girls belt out, "Spice up your life." Executive chef and owner Jean-Georges Vongerichten of Spice Market (the new restaurant in the W Hotel Midtown) can do just that. I dined there for lunch this past week with SP contributor Hope Philbrick, and I was excited to see it was more than just a market. When Americans hear "market," they think "store." But Vongerichten grew up visiting real street markets around the globe and has translated some of his favorite vendor treats into gourmet fare for you and me. Lunch guests can be in and out quickly with the "Bento Box," a 20-minute express lunch offered between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. for $15, which includes fragrant miso soup, shrimp dumplings and herbs; avocado and radish salad with Chinese mustard and tempura onions; a choice between beef satay, chicken skewers or pork satay; cod with Malaysian chili sauce and Thai basil; a choice of brown or Jasmine rice; and a choice of ice cream or sorbet. But Hope and I weren't trying to make it quick. We wanted to take our time enjoying our first experience of Spice Market, and that we did. We started with three appetizers: black-pepper shrimp served over sundried pineapple squares, chicken skewers with a lime-dipping sauce and Vietnamese spring rolls, which we wrapped in arugula lettuce leaves. The dishes were small and perfect for lunch-size sharing. Hope and I agreed that the shrimp was by far our fave out of the apps, but I was impressed with the meat provided on the chicken skewers. Next we moved on to cod with Malaysian chili sauce and Thai basil, an entree we shared. The white circle of fish was ensconced in a vivid red halo, which was surrounded by an outer layer of lime green (the basil sauce, I imagine). The dish was mildly spicy, by our standards, which we both thoroughly enjoyed. We paired it with a side of baby corn and broccoli with lemongrass and chili--a completely unexpected twist to veggies and a pleasant surprise. Dessert was a medley of deliciousness: strawberry green tea cake with lychee sorbet, spiced peach tatin with ginger ice cream, Vietnamese coffee ice cream and the Thai jewels and fruits made with crushed coconut ice. The sampling of offerings at Spice was a luxurious way to spend a lunch hour (or two) and get to know the global personality of Jean-Georges. Spice Market is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Valet parking at the W Hotel costs only $6 when your ticket is validated at the restaurant. www.spicemarketatlanta.com. Delicately avoid your breakfast in bed responsibilities this Father’s Day by taking Dad to REAL MEN COOK Sunday afternoon, June 15, at the Georgia Railroad Depot from 3-6 p.m. Check out the culinary talents of over 100 male cooks, chefs, caterers and kitchen maestros as they serve up delicious creations for charity. Entertainment includes R&B artist Tony Terry, Hank Stewart and jazz singer Myrna Clayton. Proceeds benefit Communities in Schools, the Soul Food Museum and the Georgia chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America. Adult admission is $20 in advance and $25 at the door; kids get in for $10 in advance, $15 at the door. 404-344-8496. www.realmencook.com. Eat, drink and make a difference tonight during the 24TH ANNUAL MARCH OF DIMES DINING OUT benefit event. Enjoy a three-course meal at one of the city’s finest restaurants (including City Grill, Parish, Straits and Pricci), followed by an after-party at Opera, featuring specialty cocktails, cupcakes, a silent auction (items for bid include a vacation to Mexico and box seats for an upcoming Dave Matthews Band concert) and dancing into the night. Prices are $1,000 for a table of eight and $1,500 for a table of 10, depending on the restaurant; individual after-party tickets are $40. For tickets, a list of participating eateries, call Jennifer Cobb at 404-350-9800, ext. 208, or visit www.marchofdimes.com/georgia. |