Sunday, December 09, 2007
Food, "Dish"
On the menu
The comings and goings in Atlanta’s expansive restaurant scene
Fleece blankets warm up al fresco diners at TAP and piebar.
CREDIT: Craig Brimanson
By Kirsten Ott
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
After five and a half years of serving West Midtown with delicious lunches and brunches with an international flair, Pangaea closes its doors on Dec. 14. The exotic Bahn Mi sandwich—which has its roots in Saigon—with pickled daikon, fresh jalapeños, carrots, cucumbers, mayo and a choice of meat or tofu—will be sorely missed. We hope owner Tuan “Butch” Raphael will open something similar very soon. www.globalgrubbin.com.
UNCORKED
Decisions, decisions. Craving a romantic date night without the pain of choosing an entrée or not knowing how much the night’s going to hit your wallet? Pleasant Peasant offers its first-ever prix fixe dinner event. On Dec. 13, enjoy the Midtown restaurant’s Champagne and Sparkling Wine Dinner, which includes four courses and five wines for $75 per person (tip and tax not included). From 7 to 9 p.m., guests will sip on some bubbly from Nicolas Feuillatte Gastronomique Brut Champagne and dine on inviting fare. The French-inspired menu for the night includes the amuse bouche (before the hors d’oeuvres) of butter-poached shrimp centered atop stone-ground grit cake with tomato sauce vierge paired with Henriot Brut Souverain Champagne; salmon gravlox accompanied by celeriac salade with lemon vinaigrette paired with Perrier Jouet Brut Champagne; a surf and turf entrée of braised veal shank over pomme puree, served alongside porcini dusted ahi tuna seared rare with caraway spaetzle paired with
Henriot Brut Rose Champagne; and to finish off the night, a ginger panna cotta served with a lemon-passionfruit curd and brandy crunch paired with Schramsberg Cremant Sparkling Wine. Space is limited at this intimate event. For reservations, call 404-874-3223.
BLANKET STATEMENT
Baby, it’s cold outside. Maybe it’s the Southern thrill of sitting on the front porch, but we’re still dining al fresco, even though the temps are dropping. But who wants to bring a bulky jacket along when going out on the town? Concentrics Restaurants feels your pain and now offer patrons at piebar and TAP fleece blankets to warm up with. www.concentricsrestaurants.com.
RISING SUN
Boasting a new menu for la maison Française is the 11-year-old Soleil, a quaint Buckhead nook full of charm and delicious dishes. When I dined there recently, I started with the soup du jour, which was a satisfying bowl full of goodness, creamy potatoes and blue cheese. I couldn’t put the spoon down until the very last drop. The duck confit—the day’s filling of the Ravioli Piemontese—complements the palate-pleasing composition of sage butter, walnuts and tomato coulis. Perfect with a crisp Chardonnay. The restaurant’s new menu highlights also include Red Snapper Saint Tropez, a seared filet with a cilantro vinaigrette, cherry tomatoes, olive oil and shitake mushrooms, served over vegetables, and Truite aux Noyers, sautéed trout with lemon, walnuts, garlic, parsley and butter reduction. We sat inside on the chilly evening, but the enclosed patio on the front of the house-turned-restaurant seemed like it’d be great for a bridal shower or birthday party. www.soleilbistro.com. SP
When she’s not checking out restaurants, interviewing chefs or nodding off after her fifth glass of wine, Food, Life & Style Editor Kirsten Ott dishes culinary and cocktail insights. E-mail her at kirstenott@sundaypaper.com.