Sunday, November 16, 2008
Food, "Dish"
Rising spirits
Share a laugh at four well-known restaurateurs, sip fine wine, and build your dream holiday house out of sugar
B Hathaway
Find your holiday magic in gingerbread-home construction at the Gingerbread Party.By Kirsten Ott
FIRE IT UP
You have to be a legend to earn a good roasting, as attested by recent ribbings of Cheech and Chong in Las Vegas, as well as Matt Lauer, performed by a strangely funny Tom Cruise. On the local front, Atlanta restaurateur luminaries Pano Karatassos, Bob Amick, Tom Catherall and George McKerrow will be honored with a roast of their own on Monday, Nov. 17. The event, which includes dinner and dessert prepared by top-notch chefs Carvel Gould, Peter Kaiser, Jamie Adams and Jonathan St. Hilaire, takes place at its beneficiary, the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Ticket prices range from $300 to $500. The event begins at 6 p.m. For tickets or sponsorship, visit www.acfb.org/roast or call 678-538-9000.
SUGAR & SPICE
For me and most everyone else I know, holidays and cookies go hand in hand. Every year since I can remember, the children in my family have attempted to create a gingerbread house. The sweet creations aren’t much to look at to an outsider, but we know they’re made with love. With the arrival of the Gingerbread Party this weekend, children and adults alike can hone their cookie construction skills by decorating and taking home their own gingerbread house. But the fun doesn’t stop there. Other activities include participating in an interactive holiday tale by a storyteller, coloring on Santa’s wall, indulging in unlimited candy, watching holiday movies, visiting with Santa Claus and taking home a 4x6 photo and getting into the holiday spirit. The Gingerbread Party is open Nov. 15 through Jan. 4, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. It’s located in Underground Atlanta at 50 Upper Alabama Street. Package prices begin at $30 per child. www.thegingerbreadparty.com.
Salude!
One of the premier destinations for a fine glass of wine, Eno is starting the holidays off nicely with its annual Piedmont tasting. Held Thursday, Nov. 20, at 6:30 p.m., the event, led by Tony Ridings, Italian wine expert and on-premise director for Quality Wine and Spirits, and Doug Strickland, wine director of Eno, focuses on the top Barbarescos and Barolos in the market. These winning wines include: 2003 Cascina la Spinetta, Barbaresco, Gallina, which, at $93, is a very delicate and pretty wine, with open, expressive aromatics; 2001 Marchesi di Gresy, Barbaresco, Gaiun, which sells for $103.50, and abounds with attractive aromas of strawberries and plum skin, with a subtle, fruity finish; and a $119 2004 Clerico, Barolo, C.M. Ginestra, a lightly perfumed, full-bodied vino with blackberry, truffle and hints of Spanish cedar. $85 per person, fee is credited toward case purchases. To reserve your spot or place an order, call Julia at 404-228-8817 or e-mail enotria@mindspring.com.
SP
When she’s not checking out restaurants, interviewing chefs or nodding off after her fifth glass of wine, Life, Food & Style Editor Kirsten Ott dishes culinary and cocktail insights. E-mail her at kirstenott@sundaypaper.com.