3 Ocak 2013 Perşembe

Gevalia's Velvet Noir

To contact us Click HERE
If dark coffee with no bitter aftertaste is what you crave in your cup, then give Gevalia's Velvet Noir a try.
Made of Arabica beans, Velvet Noir lives up to the promise of its name: It's full bodied, dark, smooth and delicious.

From intense dark roasts to exotic varietals, Gevalia offers over 40 premium coffees. If you're dissatisfied with the selection at your local store--whether you prefer java with or without caffeine, favor whole beans or ground--ordering online with Gevalia can significantly expand your options.

SRP: $6.99

Bottom Line: Thumbs up.

McDonald's New Cheddar Bacon Onion

To contact us Click HERE
Photo Courtesy GAMOA / @McDonaldsATL
McDonald's is introducing a new sandwich that says "fall" in each tasty bite: the Cheddar Bacon Onion.

The Cheddar Bacon Onion sandwich brings new premium toppings of white cheddar and grilled onions, combined with hickory smoked bacon and finished in a creamy mustard sauce to create a one-of-a-kind taste experience for a limited time only.

Made with premium white chicken breast or 100% Angus beef, McDonald's new Cheddar Bacon Onion is a versatile sandwich.

Dean and I both tried the new topping combo atop an Angus burger. Our verdict: Thumbs up. It's very tasty, offering a sophisticated grownup taste. There's lots of bacon--enough to get some bacon flavor in each bite. The caramelized onions lend the sandwich a bit of sweetness while the white cheddar adds some tang.

The Cheddar Bacon Onion will be available at participating McDonald's restaurants nationwide from October 23 through December 16, 2012.

Don't miss your chance to give this tasty topping combo a try.


The Greater Atlanta McDonald’s Operators Association (GAMOA) partnered with bloggers such as me to help educate us all about their lunch menu items. As part of this program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the use of the products. GAMOA believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. GAMOA policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

Braswell's Carafe Dressings

To contact us Click HERE
Courtesy Braswell's Food Company
Some salad dressings beat the competition, inside and out. 

Braswell's most popular all-natural dressings are now packaged in distinctive, reusable glass serving carafes. Available flavors include Italian, Raspberry Vinaigrette and Vidalia Onion Peppercorn, a personal favorite.

To make re-using the carafes even easier, the company also sells salad dressing mixes--just add vinegar, oil, milk, mayo or water following the instructions on the back, shake & serve. Mix flavors include Ranch, Italian, BBQ Ranch and Basil Vinaigrette.

For more information visit Braswell's website.

This year we introduced our new Extra Virgin Italian Dressing & Marinade. Again, we looked at what was available and knew that we could offer something better. We start with smooth extra virgin olive oil and mix in a bold blend of Tuscan spices. It's completely sugar free and makes an amazing marinade for all meats, seafood and vegetables.

The Drafting Table

To contact us Click HERE

The DraftingTable, which opened in October, has a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere. It's thesort of neighborhood place where, if you go often enough, people will know yourname. It's also a gastropub of the sort that is increasingly common in Atlanta.And that's a good thing. To be considered a culinary hotspot--a reputation thatI believe Atlanta deserves--we need fewer steakhouses and chains and moreindependent places like this where a chef can strut his or her stuff.

The Drafting Tableis located near the gold domed capital, so if legislators discover the place itcould become a place to rub elbows with decision makers. But (for now, anyway)it's open from 4 p.m. to Midnight daily, so not a working lunch spot but rathera loosen-that-tie-the-work-day's-finished pub.

The menu isdescribed as modern American with classic influences. It's Southern in thatlocal ingredients are used and regional cooking styles are incorporated. And alsobecause this restaurant is in the Deep South. But it's not Southern in theshrimp and grits, fried chicken sense. Sure, you can order fried green tomatoesif you want. But you'll also find things like duck leg, mussels, Kielbasa andperogi on the menu. Seasonal pizzas feature fresh ingredients like fennel, smoked sausage, peppers, mozzarella,fresh oregano and goat cheese. A selection of aged meats is curedin-house. There's a seared pork bellysandwich with pimento cheese and greens.

During a recentvisit we tried the mussels steeped in beer, butter, herbs and bacon. Yum.

A friedcauliflower starter was among the daily specials and here's hoping it finds apermanent place on the menu.

The curried oxtailwith wilted spinach, sweet potato mash and muscadine grapereduction is delicious.

Better still: Mushroom Perogi with root vegetables, lamb sausageand sour cream.

Bottom Line: Thumbs up. Chef Hunter Keels is someone towatch.


The Drafting Table on Urbanspoon

2 Ocak 2013 Çarşamba

McDonald's New Cheddar Bacon Onion

To contact us Click HERE
Photo Courtesy GAMOA / @McDonaldsATL
McDonald's is introducing a new sandwich that says "fall" in each tasty bite: the Cheddar Bacon Onion.

The Cheddar Bacon Onion sandwich brings new premium toppings of white cheddar and grilled onions, combined with hickory smoked bacon and finished in a creamy mustard sauce to create a one-of-a-kind taste experience for a limited time only.

Made with premium white chicken breast or 100% Angus beef, McDonald's new Cheddar Bacon Onion is a versatile sandwich.

Dean and I both tried the new topping combo atop an Angus burger. Our verdict: Thumbs up. It's very tasty, offering a sophisticated grownup taste. There's lots of bacon--enough to get some bacon flavor in each bite. The caramelized onions lend the sandwich a bit of sweetness while the white cheddar adds some tang.

The Cheddar Bacon Onion will be available at participating McDonald's restaurants nationwide from October 23 through December 16, 2012.

Don't miss your chance to give this tasty topping combo a try.


The Greater Atlanta McDonald’s Operators Association (GAMOA) partnered with bloggers such as me to help educate us all about their lunch menu items. As part of this program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the use of the products. GAMOA believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. GAMOA policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

Braswell's Carafe Dressings

To contact us Click HERE
Courtesy Braswell's Food Company
Some salad dressings beat the competition, inside and out. 

Braswell's most popular all-natural dressings are now packaged in distinctive, reusable glass serving carafes. Available flavors include Italian, Raspberry Vinaigrette and Vidalia Onion Peppercorn, a personal favorite.

To make re-using the carafes even easier, the company also sells salad dressing mixes--just add vinegar, oil, milk, mayo or water following the instructions on the back, shake & serve. Mix flavors include Ranch, Italian, BBQ Ranch and Basil Vinaigrette.

For more information visit Braswell's website.

This year we introduced our new Extra Virgin Italian Dressing & Marinade. Again, we looked at what was available and knew that we could offer something better. We start with smooth extra virgin olive oil and mix in a bold blend of Tuscan spices. It's completely sugar free and makes an amazing marinade for all meats, seafood and vegetables.

Callaway Gardens: Get In Free

To contact us Click HERE
What: Enjoy complimentary admission to Callaway Gardens on weekdays* between January 1 and February 28, 2013.
It may be Winter but there are lots of fun things to do and see at Callaway Gardens, such as witnessing butterflies emerging and taking flight in the warm, tropical Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center and exploring the beautiful John A. Sibley Horticultural Center with gorgeous floral displays. While visiting, get outdoors for a little exercise on one of the many walking trails or meander through the Gardens on the Discovery Bicycle Trail (bicycles are available for rent or bring your own). It’s amazing what wonders nature provides at this time of year.
For those who have visited Callaway Gardens before, we want to show our appreciation for their patronage and support our mission of connecting man and nature with this special offer. For those who have not had the opportunity, we want to invite them at no cost on these special dates to experience and discover Callaway Gardens.
Every season provides a great reason to visit Callaway Gardens!
When:
Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Admission will be charged on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, including New Years Day (January 1), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 21) and Presidents’ Day (February 18), January 1 through February 28, 2013.
The Gardens are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where:
Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia
For More Information, visit www.callawaygardens.com or call 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292).
*Admission will be charged on the holidays of New Years Day (January 1), Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 21) and Presidents’ Day) February 18. -Press Release

Schramsberg Brut Rosé 2008

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We welcomed 2013 with this bottle of Schramsberg Brut Rosé 2008. I hope it's a sign of what the year ahead holds, since this wine proved to be delicious.

This flavorful sparkler is complex and dry. It was yummy sipped on its own and also paired well with our dinner of sea scallops and sides. This wine is made of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. The Pinot Noir is grown in Carneros, Anderson Valley, and the Sonoma and Marin coastal areas. The pink color comes from the fact that some of the Pinot Noir grapes are fermented in contact with their skins.  Ripe raspberry and green apple notes leap out of the glass while pear, orange blossom and grapefruit flavors and aromas follow behind. Bottom Line: Thumbs up. And, since it's a sparkling wine, pinkies out.

Mi Cocina

To contact us Click HERE
In my kitchen I use fresh, seasonal ingredients. And that's the approach at Mi Cocina ("my kitchen" in Spanish) where the Tex-Mex menu features items that are made fresh daily using traditional Mexican cooking techniques.

Mi Cocina is new to Atlanta (the Midtown location opened November 12), but the restaurant chain has approximately 18 locations in theDallas-Fort Worth area.

Mi Cocina serves lunch and dinner daily. Signature dishes include sunset fajitas--which adds a spicy chile-cilantro cheese sauce to the traditional dish--tacos "de brisket," homemade salsa, enchiladas, and margaritas including the Mambo Taxi, which combines a classic frozen margarita featuring Sauza Blanco tequila with house-made sangria. (Though not readily apparent on the menu, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and low-fat options are available; ask your server.)

The contemporary décor of the place is simple and monochromatic, offset by the bright paintings by Mexican artist Luis Sottil that seem to say it's okay not to take life too seriously.

On the late December evening of our visit, we were whisked to a table at 6:30 p.m. Many tables were open at that time, but the dining room filled during our meal so I recommend making a reservation. Our service was excellent--when the manager visited our table to check in, he mentioned that our server was his best employee, and it would be hard to beat the server's enthusiasm let alone attentiveness.

We tried both the Mi Cocina classic margarita (on the rocks, no salt) which is priced at $8 and the Aniversario margarita which is $10 and made with 20-year Sauza Blue Reposado, Cointreau Noir, agave nectar and lime juice. Our verdict: It's totally worth the extra $2 to get the Aniversario version. What the server didn't warn us about was the size of the margaritas--they're huge! At least twice the size of average, but then again this restaurant company is based in Texas where by reputation everything is bigger.

I ordered Cocina Changa ($14.95), which includes two flour tortillas stuffed with picadillo beef or roasted shredded chicken,queso blanco, guacamole, rice, refried beans and a choice of side sauce. I tried Sunset since the server and just about everyone else in the place raved about it. My verdict: It's a tasty cheese sauce, but I personally prefer salsa. The tortillas are grilled, which I didn't expect and would have personally preferred not be the case.

Dean ordered Enchiladas de Pollo con Mole ($12.95) which are served with rice, refried beans and Mexican cole slaw. Between the two entrees, both of which were tasty, we both preferred this one.

While rice is a standard side at such restaurants, it is interesting to note that our two entrees featured different rice preparations. One green and one red, both flavorful and delicious.

Bottom Line: In Atlanta, where Mexican dining options abound, it will be interesting to see how this Tex-Mex import from Dallas fares.

Mi Cocina on Urbanspoon

1 Ocak 2013 Salı

Gevalia's Velvet Noir

To contact us Click HERE
If dark coffee with no bitter aftertaste is what you crave in your cup, then give Gevalia's Velvet Noir a try.
Made of Arabica beans, Velvet Noir lives up to the promise of its name: It's full bodied, dark, smooth and delicious.

From intense dark roasts to exotic varietals, Gevalia offers over 40 premium coffees. If you're dissatisfied with the selection at your local store--whether you prefer java with or without caffeine, favor whole beans or ground--ordering online with Gevalia can significantly expand your options.

SRP: $6.99

Bottom Line: Thumbs up.

McDonald's New Cheddar Bacon Onion

To contact us Click HERE
Photo Courtesy GAMOA / @McDonaldsATL
McDonald's is introducing a new sandwich that says "fall" in each tasty bite: the Cheddar Bacon Onion.

The Cheddar Bacon Onion sandwich brings new premium toppings of white cheddar and grilled onions, combined with hickory smoked bacon and finished in a creamy mustard sauce to create a one-of-a-kind taste experience for a limited time only.

Made with premium white chicken breast or 100% Angus beef, McDonald's new Cheddar Bacon Onion is a versatile sandwich.

Dean and I both tried the new topping combo atop an Angus burger. Our verdict: Thumbs up. It's very tasty, offering a sophisticated grownup taste. There's lots of bacon--enough to get some bacon flavor in each bite. The caramelized onions lend the sandwich a bit of sweetness while the white cheddar adds some tang.

The Cheddar Bacon Onion will be available at participating McDonald's restaurants nationwide from October 23 through December 16, 2012.

Don't miss your chance to give this tasty topping combo a try.


The Greater Atlanta McDonald’s Operators Association (GAMOA) partnered with bloggers such as me to help educate us all about their lunch menu items. As part of this program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the use of the products. GAMOA believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. GAMOA policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

Braswell's Carafe Dressings

To contact us Click HERE
Courtesy Braswell's Food Company
Some salad dressings beat the competition, inside and out. 

Braswell's most popular all-natural dressings are now packaged in distinctive, reusable glass serving carafes. Available flavors include Italian, Raspberry Vinaigrette and Vidalia Onion Peppercorn, a personal favorite.

To make re-using the carafes even easier, the company also sells salad dressing mixes--just add vinegar, oil, milk, mayo or water following the instructions on the back, shake & serve. Mix flavors include Ranch, Italian, BBQ Ranch and Basil Vinaigrette.

For more information visit Braswell's website.

This year we introduced our new Extra Virgin Italian Dressing & Marinade. Again, we looked at what was available and knew that we could offer something better. We start with smooth extra virgin olive oil and mix in a bold blend of Tuscan spices. It's completely sugar free and makes an amazing marinade for all meats, seafood and vegetables.