In the Travel Channel's new series, Man vs. Food, host Adam Richman sets out to travel the country in search of the best places to do some serious indulging. This Wednesday, Jan. 7, the show's set in Atlanta. The three restaurants featured are Gladys Knight's Chicken & Waffles, Big Pie in the Sky Pizzeria and the Vortex Bar & Grill.

Tune into the Travel Channel on Wednesday at 10 p.m. to see Adam chat with Vortex customers, staff and co-owners Michael and Suzanne. Or, head down to either Vortex location, where the show will be airing, volume up. (Full article and comments)

I just went to check out FLIP, and here are some of my shots from lunch. I was thoroughly impressed with the creativity that is Richard Blais; the man continues to shine.


The bar at FLIP. Barry (owner) says the frames are to minimize the fact that there are TVs. He seemed torn about it since he didn't want TVs in there, but he wanted to make the lunch crowd happy. All I was upset about is that John Mayer got in my picture.


These delicious fries and onion rings are fried in duck lard. rB says "the more fat, the better the taste," and I'm inclined to agree, though my waistline isn't as agreeable with my menu choices today.


Po boyger, a clever take on the shrimp po' boy. Ground shrimp is actually quite tasty.




Richard Blais and me (Full article and comments)

Draft Magazine just put out a fun lineup of its 9 essential holiday cocktails in its November/December issue. Try some of these for your Christmas/Hanukkuh/Kwanzaa festivities, and be bored with your drink no more.

Snowflake
2 ounces Leblon Cachaça
2 ounces coconut milk
2 ounces canned lychee syrup
1 teaspoon simple syrup
Pour all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously, and strain into a martini glass.

Yule Berry Tini
1 ounce DeKuyper Pucker Berry Fusion Schnapps
2 ounces VOX Vodka
splash of sweet and sour mix
splash of cranberry juice
squeeze of lime
Pour all ingredients over ice and mix thoroughly.

Peppermint Froth
1 1/2 ounces Grey Goose Vodka
1 ounce peppermint schnapps
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1/2 ounce cream
Candy cane or peppermint patty, for garnish
Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted and beaded with sweat. Strain into glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with candy cane or peppermint patty.

Eggnog White Holiday
1 ounce White Chocolate Godiva Liqueur
1 ounce Navan Cognac
eggnog
Shake all ingredients in a shaker with ice and strain into a glass. Garnish with gold flakes.

Poinsettia Cocktail
3 ounces cranberry juice
1/2 ounce Cointreau
Champagne
orange peel curl
Combine Cointreau and chilled cranberry juice in a flute. Add orange twist and finish with a splash of Champagne.

Chocolate Eggnog Martini
2 ounces Ketel One Vodka
1 ounce Amsterdam Chocolate Liquor
1 ounce eggnog
Combine ingredients in a shaker; shake with ice and strain into a glass. Garnish with nutmeg and chocolate syrup. Serve in a chilled martini glass.

Baked Apple Pie Cocktail
1 1/2 ounces Cruzan Coconut Rum
½ ounce apple juice
dash Apple Pucker liqueur
whipped cream, for garnish
Set aside whipped creap; pour remaining ingredients into a shaker filled with ice and shake thoroughly. Strain into a glass and top with a dollop of whipped cream.

World Peace Cocktail
1 1/2 ounces Bombay Sapphire Gin
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
¼ ounce elderflower syrup
¼ ounce almond syrup
3 drops blue curaçao
Pour ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish, as the World Bar does, with a white chocolate dove on the rim.

Cranberry Sauced
2 1/2 ounces Grey Goose L’Orange
1 segment fresh orange, muddled
1 tablespoon organic cranberry sauce
Shake ingredients eight times over ice, and garnish with a rosemary sprig and three fresh organic cranberries.

(Full article and comments)

Big congrats to Chef Todd Ginsberg, formerly of TAP, who's been named as Jeremy Lieb's successor at TROIS. A Concentrics press release states that Lieb left TROIS to return to Cincinnati to be closer to family. 

(Full article and comments)

If you're heading to Atlantic Station this week for Taste of Atlanta (and why wouldn't you be?), don't forget to stop by The Sunday Paper booth to say hello and perhaps walk away with gift certificates courtesy of Half-Off Depot. See you there! (Full article and comments)

One of my favorite Southwestern dining destinations, Agave Restaurant, is having a fantastic Partida tequila tasting dinner tonight, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. $65 per person, plus tax and gratuity. For reservations call Agave Restaurant at 404-588-0006 (242 Boulevard SE, www.agaverestaurant.com)

The menu:
The Elegante Tequila Dinner Featuring Partida Super Premium Tequilas & The Cuisine Of Chefs Jack Sobel & Richard Silvey

Seared Lamb Shank Taco with Hatch Chili with Sweet Yellow Corn Puree, Lobster & Poblano Sauce and a Smoked Jalepeno & Red Pepper Drizzle
served with Partida Blanco Traditional Margarita

Seared Gulf Shrimp in a Ginger, Butter & Cilantro Sauce over Arugula and Homemade Flatbread topped with Red Chili Oil & Citrus Crema
served with Fresh Fruit Mango & Partida Blanco Margarita with Partida Agave Nectar

Spicy Fall Chicken Soup with Pasta, Basil & Tortilla Strips
served with Partida Reposado Top Shelf Margarita

Chile Seared Wild Salmon over Fire Roasted & Crushed Local Heirloom Tomatoes & Baby Spinach topped with Fresh Lemon and Poblano Crema

served with Partida Perfecto Anejo

A Rich Chocolate Ganache and Caramel Torte with Belgian Chocolate Chips & Fresh Cream
served with a shot of the Exquisite Elegante

(Full article and comments)

The Melting Pot in Atlanta invites you to the 2nd annual Paint the Town charity event at Vinings Gallery to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  On September 19 and 20, 2008 from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m., guests will take part in an exquisite evening while experiencing the artistic innovations of Eric Waugh and Thomas Arvid, while sampling carefully selected wines, perfectly paired with tasty gourmet fare. 

Tickets are $50 per person for one evening and $125 per person for the VIP weekend. The VIP weekend is the premiere ticket to Paint the Town as it allows guests to have all access to each evening at 6 p.m. instead of 7 p.m., presenting the opportunity for intimate conversation with the artists. VIP ticket holders are also offered special cellar selection wines to reward the palate. In addition to the wine and the artist meet and greet, Paint the Town’s VIPs are invited to a private silent auction offering the most premiere items, while, of course, benefiting the patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  Tickets are going fast! To purchase tickets online, please visit www.stjude.org/paintthetown.

(Full article and comments)

He might be raking in millions from his musical artistry, but Jermaine Dupri can't seem to share the wealth with his employees of Café Dupri, which mysteriously shut down last week. “The economy has changed dramatically and people just aren’t eating out as much anymore,” Dupri told AllHipHop.com. “People are cutting back everywhere and a lot of companies, including Café Dupri, are feeling the effect. For the past two months business at the Café has been down and if the business isn’t making money, I feel its a smart move to shut it down. Bottom line: if it doesn't make money, it doesn't make sense.” Employees of the cafe recently appeared on local television station WSB-TV saying they weren't paid for their work after showing up last week and seeing a sign that read, "Thanks for patronizing Café Dupri. We have closed indefinitely." 

(Full article and comments)

HEY, I KNOW THAT GUY … You probably know KEVIN POLLAK from his roles in more than 50 films including “The Usual Suspects,” “Casino” and, uh, “Dr. Doolittle 2.” But you might not know him as a comedian and impressionist, known for dead-on takes on Christopher Walken and William Shatner. The actor, writer and producer appears Friday and Saturday at the Punchline for a rare engagement. So what do you need, an engraved invitation? 404-252-5233. www.punchline.com.

THREE GOOD THINGS THE GERMANS GAVE US: And no, we’re not talking about Volkswagens. German food, German music and (best of all) German beer—they’re all waiting for you at the fifth annual GERMAN BIERFEST Saturday afternoon at Woodruff Park. A ticket ($30 in advance, $35 at the door) gets you a sampling glass and all the beer (more than 30 German brews) you can drink. Kids and designated drivers get in free (although no one under 21 will be allowed to drink, of course). There’s also fare from popular local restaurants. It all starts at 2 p.m. Vunderbar! 678-244-1528. www.germanbierfest.com.

BREAK OUT THE ZOLOFT: If you’re a fan of live music and have a hard time making decisions, Saturday night is just plain going to be a problem. Do you rock out to the mildly dangerous, derivative ’90s alterna-rock of the reunited STONE TEMPLE PILOTS at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (404-249-6400, www.vzwamp.com)? Do you take things down a couple of notches and mellow out to soft rockers SISTER HAZEL performing with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at Chastain Park Amphitheatre (404-733-4800, www.classicchastain.org)? Or do you opt for a rare appearance by country music living legend LORETTA LYNN at the Cobb Energy Centre (404-249-6400, www.cobbenergycentre.com)? See? We told you it was going to be rough …

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE … So prescribe yourself a heavy dose of frivolity Sunday at the Punchline’s COMEDY FOR A CURE event. Hosted by child cancer survivor Jay Eichelberger, the festivities include headliner Tom Simmons and at least one other comic, as well as a raffle and live auction of such items as an iPod, a Nintendo Wii, sports tickets and a week at a Florida vacation home. All proceeds benefit CURE Childhood Cancer. For more information, call 404-252-5233 or visit www.punchline.com.

(Full article and comments)

Food from around here just tastes better. It's riper, sweeter, juicier, perkier and more flavorful. It's time for a farm-to-table meal in all its glory, yes? On Tuesday, August 12, at 7 p.m., Inman Park's Parish presents a four-course meal comprised of entirely local ingredients perfectly paired with local wines and served family style at the Communal Table. Join farmer Bill Yoder for a special grower’s dinner. Check out the menu lineup:
First course: Broadbean and crispy pancetta salad, tomato, pecorino, mint vinaigrette. Broadbeans are from Stillwater Farms. Tomatoes from Bill Yoder. Mint is from Parish’s garden.
Second course: Apple-walnut risotto, gorgonzola cheese. Apples are from Ellijay, GA. Cheese is from Sweet Grass Dairy in Thomasville, GA.
Third course: Roasted Springer Mountain chicken, sweet sausage, Yukon gold potato, pearl onion, balsamic butter. Chicken from Springer Mountain Farms in Mt. Airy, GA. Sausages are handcrafted at Parish from Riverview Pork. Potatoes are from Waverly Bros in Forest Park, GA
Fourth course: Peach crostata, ginger ice cream. Peaches are from Neil Taylor and Split Cedar Farms in Ellenwood, GA

Tickets cost $60 per person, not including tax and gratuity. Space is limited. Call Parish at 404.681.4434 to make a reservation. Parish is at 240 N. Highland Ave. Atlanta, 30307
(Full article and comments)