Me and Bogart

(Camera phone photo)

Me and Bogart from tonight at Adam's Restaurant and Piano Bar in Buford!

-The words on the newspaper are..."Drinking in moderation"... 

Yes, Uh Huh, Absolutely!

I was quite amused and had to have a photo!  Notice the kiss on his cheek?  It wasn't from me though!  

We were having a Friday Date Night with Friends and it was our first visit to Adam's.  The food was great and we will definitely go there again!  The piano player looked a lot like Kid Rock and played and sang songs from a wide variety of genres. Some songs were better than others, and it was a bit hard to hear each other at times, but the experience on a whole was very good!

Good times!...

~Tammy~

Taste of Atlanta

Atlanta's Premier Food Festival

We attended the annual Taste of Atlanta food festival yesterday, this was our third year of tasting. A day of food tasting to sample and experience many of Atlanta's favorite restaurants and chefs. A general admission ticket includes 10 taste coupons to use throughout the event. Most tastings require 2 or 3 coupons, and more tasting coupons can be purchased if needed. VIP ticket purchase includes 15 tasting coupons and provides extras such as, attending hands on cooking classes from top chefs and enjoyment of the Wine, Beer,and Cocktail Experience. There are also some freebie tastes, samples and giveaways too!

Located in the heart of Midtown Atlanta on 5th Street and Spring Street, which are blocked off from regular traffic and allowing only foot traffic.  There are taste booths set up along the streets in front of the businesses and restaurants which are also opened and some have a booth participating.

This event packs a crowd of lots of interesting people, and I must mention that there are also some in various types of dress that provoke thoughts as in, "Oh no she didn't!{gasp!}" and "Oh my, what is he wearing?", and also "There's no way she looked in the mirror before she left the house in that, or did she?" I should have taken a few photos of some of them to share here, my goodness me! All of the sights, sounds, tastes and smells have some senses on overload in more ways than one! All adding to the experience of what has always been a fun day for us!

A few items from the event.
Green Mountain Coffee gave out free samples of coffee with hot and iced coffee cups!   A couple of my favorite restaurants to remember were, The Tin Drum-asia cafe, which had some delicious Crab N Cheese Spring Rolls and Cafe Intermezzo had many delicious dessert treats!   I certainly plan to return and dine at these restaurants in the future. 

I've had a Taste of Atlanta!...

~Tammy~

My Hubby's Birthday Celebration

Hubby's Birthday Cake!

A delicious German Chocolate cake purchased from The Village Corner German Restaurant and Bakery in Stone Mountain, GA.  They have great food and some of the best bakery goods around!  If you ever get a chance to dine there I do recommend it!  This was a delicious German Chocolate cake!   He picked this as his birthday cake choice (his favorite cake), and where he wanted to get it from.  Great choice, and I'm so glad I got to enjoy it too!  Yum!

What a beautiful cake!

He says "Why mess it up with candles"

...fingers work too = 53

Having our cake and eating it too...

~Tammy~

Patsy's Sauce

One of our favorite home-cooked meals is pasta, topped with sauce.  I usually serve it along with grilled chicken breast and a salad, and that wouldn't be complete without a nice bottle of wine to enjoy with it.  A while back we discovered a delicious sauce for our pasta that has become a staple in our cupboard ever since we tried it for the first time.

~ Patsy's Sauce ~

Patsy's sauce is delicious!  There are several different flavors of their sauce to choose from, our favorite is Patsy's Fra Diavolo sauce, with ingredients of tomatoes, fresh garlic, parsley, onions, crushed red pepper and fresh basil, it has a bit of heat to it, which we really like.  The Tomato Basil is a second favorite and is rich in flavor without the heat of the Fra Diavolo.  

These sauces are from the famous Patsy's of Patsy's Italian Restaurant in New York, a family owned and operated business, founded in 1944 by Pasquale "Patsy" Scognamillo.  True you get what you pay for, and although Patsy's sauce costs a little more than the other popular brands on the self, I find it better than any other sauces out there!  We often get two nights worth of dinners, for the two of us, from one jar, so in the long run it doesn't seem to be over priced.  Plus with all natural ingredients, I don't mind paying a little extra, especially because it is so delicious!  

We found Patsy's for the first time at our local grocery store, and it has been, like I said, "a staple in our cupboard ever since!"  We love Patsy's, and usually have it at least once a week!  It's a quick and easy meal to prepare, can be a simple dinner or special evening for two, or it's even worthy of a 'wow' from your guests! 

My recipe for a perfect meal using Patsy's Sauce

Pasta with Patsy's Sauce

Ingredients: - Serving for Two

1/2 jar of Patsy's Sauce (of choice)

4 to 6 oz. Pasta (of choice), cooked (will be divided for two)

Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese - grated, for garnish

Directions:

Fill a large pan 3/4 full with water and bring to a boil, add pasta and cook until 'al dente' according to package directions.  Heat Patsy's Sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat, until thoroughly heated.  Drain cooked pasta and place in serving dishes, pour heated pasta sauce over pasta.  Garnish with parmigiano reggiano cheese and serve.
*Serve with Grilled Chicken Breast or top with cooked Shrimp. And a Salad.

It's what's for dinner at our place!

More about Patsy's

Patsy's website - Patsys.com has much to see and learn about Patsy's, and also offers products sales of their Sauces, Pasta, Oils and Vinegars, Patsy's Cookbook and there are many Recipes there too.  Many photos of famous people and celebrities who have dined at Patsy's are shared there also, and Patsy's is known as Frank Sinatra's favorite restaurant, and his family members dine there often.  An interesting fact from the 'Our Story' link: "In over 65 years of existence, Patsy's Restaurant has had only three chefs- the late Patsy himself, his son Joe Scognamillo, who has been at the establishment since the tender age of seven, and Joe's son Sal Scognamillo, who has been manning the kitchen for the past twenty five years."  Maybe one day I'll get to dine at Patsy's Restaurant and also meet Joe and Sal Scognamillo, oh and get a photo too!  Until then I shall continue to enjoy some delicious Patsy's right here in my own home!

Guess what's for dinner tonight?...

~Tammy~

Wine Tasting Dinner

Dominick's Wine Tasting Dinner

We had an enjoyable evening out last night at Dominick's for another of their fantastic wine tasting dinners.  We do enjoy attending these every chance that we get, and Dominick's usually has one about every three months or so.  The food was not from their usual menu, it was prepared specially for this event.  Let me tell you it really was fantastic and very delicious.  I especially enjoyed the King Prawns and the Angus Steak.  The wine featured was from famous golf legend, Greg Norman Estates.  The best wine for me was the Petite Sirah, a very good wine!..(you can read info about it below)  I really enjoy good eats like this, pure joy and satisfaction for the taste buds, it's fine cuisine indeed.  Food and wine, that's my kind of good time!  Also our friends were a blast to be with, lots of laughs and many cheers with clinks of the glasses! I even won a bottle of wine!

Food, Fun and Friends!

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

A few photos of the fun!

Me, Susan, and Joan - Ladies having a good time!  

I like Susan's shirt. "Age gets better with Wine"!  

Greg, Chuck, and Marty - Our Guys/Dates having a great time too!

Cheers & Smiles!...and giggles too!

Yay! I won a bottle of Wine!
Susan and I, so nicely doing the wine presentation!
Actually I won a different bottle of wine, but with a little begging (and a pouty lip face) I persuaded a nice fella that had won this one to trade with me, because this was my favorite wine of the evening!  Win Win!..or Wine Wine!! *giggles*

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The info below is from our invitation!

The Menu

FIRST COURSE

Tempura Jumbo King Prawns

over edamame-napa cabbage slaw with avocado-wasabi aioli. Greg Norman Chardonnay, Aus. The Greg Norman Estates 2009 Chardonnay is pale straw in color with a vibrant green hue. The nose is dominated by ripe stone fruit, mandarin peel and lifted spice. This wine is bright and lively on the palate, with notes of fleshy peach, mandarin peel and fresh vanilla cream. The wine finishes with crisp lemon zest acidity, giving it incredible length.

SECOND COURSE

Roasted Pork Tenderloin Roulade

Stuffed with figs, roasted peppers, spinach and goat cheese with marble potatoes and dark cherry-cocoa jus. Greg Norman Pinot Noir, Ca. The Greg Norman Estates 2010 Santa Barbara Pinot Noir has lifted aromas of straw-berry, black cherry and subtle earthy notes of crushed bay leaf and mushroom. The aromas lead to a flavorful, fruit-forward palate with distinct cherry, raspberry and baking spice flavors. The juicy palate is highlighted by vanilla notes and a touch of cardamom. This well balanced wine is smooth, offers bright acidity and has a lingering finish.

THIRD COURSE

Wood Grilled Angus Flat Iron Steak

over truffled mac & cheese, confit tomatoes and summer leeks with silky bone marrow butter. Greg Norman Petite Sirah, Ca. The 2008 Greg Norman Estates Petite Sirah is an inky, dark garnet color – beautiful in the glass. The wine’s bright aromas of violets and blackberries invite from the glass immediately. The palate is luscious with flavors of ripe blackberry and plum and notes of spice and roasted coffee. This rich and well structured wine has nicely integrated velvet tannins that provide a smooth and lengthy finish.

FOURTH COURSE

Pan Seared Australian Filet

over whipped celeriac, ruby port braised criminis, ginged baby french beans with sticky shallot sauce. Greg Norman Cabernet Merlot, Aus. The Greg Norman Estates 2009 Limestone Coast Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot is a dark crimson color with garnet red hues. On the nose black currant fruit is prominent but hints of lavender add complexity. The palate is soft and inviting and the medium bodied wine has generous flavors of cranberry, cherry, mulberry and plum. Fine, soft tannins make this classic wine blend easy to sip. The focused linear structure creates good length and plush, ripe berry flavors linger on the finish.

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Had a great time with great friends, food and wine!...

~Tammy~

Kurt's Bistro - Spring Cleaning on the patio

~ Kurt's Bistro ~

Spring Cleaning on the Patio

We excepted an invitation from our friends to join them at this event, and we all enjoyed a nice evening on the patio together.  We certainly got our money's worth! 

Kurt's restaurant down-sized about a year ago, changed locations. and the name to Kurt's Bistro.  We had dined at the previous restaurant many times before and it was always excellent. 

We'll surely be returning to Kurt's Bistro again for dinner soon. They have a variety of menu selections from appetizer to dessert. 

I recommend dining at Kurt's Bistro.

(see link below)

 3, May, 2012

      THURSDAY NIGHT

                ...your neighborhood bistro's

S P R I N G   C L E A N I N G

               on the patio

                                c h i l l e d
     bottled biers & select wine
          plus a grilled brat!
          only $15.00/per person
           Tonight Only!

                    

                    We are cleaning out our cellers to

make room for Summer.  Join us as we ice down a varied selection of

bottled biers and bottles of wine.... fire up the grill... and showcase our

improved patio for you to enjoy.

  Only $15.00 to take advantage of our spring cleaning party
starting at 4:30, Thursday, 05/03/2012
               RESERVE A SPOT NOW
          770.623.4128

check out the menu here!

Kurt's Bistro

Kurt's Bistro

3305 peachtree industrial boulevard, duluth ga 30096

770.623.4128

Wine Tasting Dinner

~ Wined & Dined ~

We had a nice evening at a Wine Tasing Dinner at Dominick's Italian restaurant last night!  We enjoyed the delicious food and the wine!  A four course meal was served and a sampling of four different wines, one paired to each course.  We had a great time and even met some new friends that we were happily seated next to for the evening!  We shared many laughs with them! 

The manager said this was the biggest wine dinner they had hosted to date! I think he said they had 140 some reservation requests and they decided to scale it back to about 116 guests, I didn't count but it looked like a lot were there for this occasion!  We have been to many of their wine tasting dinners at two different locations.  The food on this occasion was one of the best to me!  We did enjoy all of the wines, but came away with the Sangiovese being the favorite for the evening! 

The info below is from our invitation!

The Menu

Rock Shrimp & Crab Cocktail Terrine

with heirloom tomato, fire-roasted corn and micro greens. Folie A Deux Sonoma County Chardonnay Seductive, complex aromas of honey, green apple, tropical fruits, vanilla and baking bread introduce juicy apple, pineapple and tropical fruit favors with light butter notes from partial malolactic fermentation and crisp balancing acidity.

SECOND COURSE

Pan Seared Bluefin Tuna

over roasted fingerling potatoes, panko fried asparagus and aged balsamic-truffle reduction. Folie A Deux Sonama County Merlot Crafted primarily from vineyards in the cooler portions of Alexander Valley, this deliciously approachable Merlot offers ripe, juicy, black cherry favors complemented by enticing notes of vanilla, tea and cocoa.

THIRD COURSE

Herb Crusted Lamb Lolipop

over gorgonzola polenta cake, willd mushrooms compote and caramelized shallot jus. Terra D'Oro Sangiovese The 2008 Terra d’Oro Sangiovese is bright and juicy with aromas of cherries, Holiday spices and sweet blueberries. The palate is warm and inviting with silky tannins and a refned fnish.

FOURTH COURSE

Five Peppers Roasted Bistro Filet Mignon

with roasted zucchini ribons, lobster mashed potato-shitaki mushrooms napolean and herb-port demi. Folie A Deux Sonama County Zinfandel Intense, juicy and jammy, our classic Zinfandel’s bright raspberry and blackberry fruit is complemented by the characteristic black pepper spice tones that give the varietal its invigorating zestiness. Tis Dry Creek Valley Zin is the quintessential Folieà Deux wine – i.e., it will impel you to dance and share a bottle with friends, probably simultaneously!

Not so great camera phone photo!  

It was a bit dark in there, but a little memory from the event for us!

I'll be looking forward to our next wine tasting event!...

~Tammy~

Labels: Wine Tasting