Pretty Southern

Author: Lauren

Atlanta Thanksgiving 2014

Thanksgiving dinner from BLT Steak

Don’t feel like cooking this year? Sometimes the best thing to be thankful for is a clean kitchen, and that’s why some of Atlanta’s top restaurants and retailers are providing Atlantans some delicious dining alternatives for Thanksgiving. Ranging from buffets to multi-course dinners and take-away options, below is a savory sampling of offerings this holiday.

Avoid holiday stress and join BLT Steak as family comes first this Thanksgiving. For guests interested in a Thanksgiving meal with a fine dining twist, BTL Steak Atlanta will open its dining room from 1pm to 7pm on November 27. A specialty pre fixe menu prepared by Chef de Cuisine Joseph Macy will include everyone’s favorite traditional dishes, but with BLT Steak flare. Look forward to starters such as the kabocha squash risotto with saffron, pumpkin seeds and pecorino, and the Gem Salad with parsnip, squash and cider vinaigrette. As a main course, select from the roasted turkey with chestnut sausage stuffing, cranberry-grenadine sauce and rosemary gravy, dry aged roasted prime rib with confit garlic jus and caramelized onion bread pudding, or striped bass with Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi and cranberry. Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without indulging in desserts such as the cranberry spiced bread pudding with walnuts and cranberry coulis, a pumpkin tart with maple ice cream, or velvet chocolate rocky road with vanilla anglaise and hazelnuts. The prix fixe menu starts at $50 for adults and $35 for children.

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November 19, 2014
Jason Carter Could Have Won

Jason Carter had his work cut out for him. Even though former President Jimmy Carter is his grandfather, he was going up against a Republican incumbent governor in a red state. But the pundits thought this election could be a close one. Given Carter’s political pedigree, and Governor Nathan Deal’s scandals – including corruption and Snowpocalypse – a runoff was predicted between these two gubernatorial candidates. Alas, the older voters (re: age 45+) almost unanimously voted for Nathan Deal.

When looking at the map of how each county voted in Georgia, the major metropolitan areas – Atlanta, Athens, Augusta, Columbus, Macon and Savannah – all voted blue as they traditionally do. The suburbs and rural counties all voted red. Keep in mind, back in the day the Deep South were “Dixie-crats”. Georgia was diehard Democratic until the great shift in when our Southern leaders – including Nathan Deal – turned Republican. The partisan pride in the Republican party is almost synonymous with the South.

But what about the New South? Jason Carter promised Georgia a fresh start. He’s young, hungry, and much easier on the eyes than Deal. Jason Carter could have won the governor’s seat.

If I’d been Jason Carter’s campaign manager, I would have run him on the hot dad campaign.

Mr. Carter is a fine a specimen of a modern, Southern gentleman. He’s got a precious wife, two cute little boys, and that friendly, outgoing personality that inspires trust. Not to mention he’s scandal free. “A sweet piece of political ass,” as one of my pals put it (note the donkey reference).

What if his stylist had opted for a more GQ look? What if he’d gone to more soccer fields in the suburbs? What if he stopped by more shopping centers in the suburbs where ladies spend their weekends? His winning smile and great sport coat might have inspired women to vote D for “Damn if he isn’t a hot Dad!”

Also, partying has a way of bringing people together. Lord knows there are enough dive bars and honky tonks where Jason could have stopped by, grabbed a beer, and buddied up to a few new friends and garnered those votes. He could have gone to Tomorrow World, Counterpoint, and had his promo team hold up one of his “Carter” signs on a pole in front of the main stage. That would have burned in the eyes of every reveler drugged up on molly.

On the other side of the spectrum, this was noted on radio WSB 750 this past Friday: Jason just started showing up at churches the week before the elections. That was too little too late and his tardiness was noted by the congregations. He should have been at church bake sales back in the spring, and more pumpkin patches this fall.

Georgia backed the Carter family once, and we could have done it again. I really hoped Carter was going to win this one, but hope is not a strategy.

November 8, 2014
High Road Craft Ice Cream Opens New Factory

High Road Craft Ice Cream, made by chefs for chefs and ice cream enthusiasts, is moving from its original location in Chamblee, Ga., into a new and larger factory in Marietta, GA. After four years of growing a loyal following around the country as well as hometown Atlanta, the time was right for High Road to upgrade to a new facility that will be able to accommodate their increased production.

“We can’t wait to welcome our family, friends, and fans to our new headquarters,” says High Road’s founder and CEO, Chef Keith Schroeder. “The need for a more appropriate space was a long time coming.”

Now, in addition to buying their favorite High Road flavors at select grocery stores and online, ice cream lovers will be able to visit the new factory to pick up popular flavors — such as Pistachio Honey Ricotta, Bourbon Burnt Sugar, and Vanilla Fleur de Sel — and get sneak previews of brand new flavors before they hit shelves. High Road’s new factory is primed to become both a local attraction for Atlanta-area residents as well as an entertaining and delicious travel destination for ice cream enthusiasts all over the nation.
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November 5, 2014
CNN Layoffs Inspired Something Amazing

There’s been a series of layoffs going down at CNN’s Atlanta headquarters. Many talented journalists who spent decades working in CNN’s newsroom are being shown the door due to “reshaping for the digital future”. These are newsroom veterans now facing #Funemployment as parent company Time Warner seeks to boost its profitability.

The people who are getting let go gave up vacations, holidays, and time with their families in the pursuit of journalistic excellence. One of the victims in the most recent layoff is our pal, Jason Meucci. He spent 21 years at CNN and was called into a meeting room last week to be told it was over. Jason is a fellow alumni from UGA’s Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication, and a few of his proteges have blogged here at Pretty Southern, including Polina Marinova and Jamie White. His former interns from his 20+ years at CNN have gone on to work at leading journalism institutions such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, and Forbes. As a tribute to Jason’s mentorship, they put together this video.

Did anyone out there work for Jason? What do y’all think of the video?

October 29, 2014
Culinary Matrimony at Taste of Atlanta

The pairing of food and drink is quite possibly older than marriage itself. So when the time came to select a theme for the 2014 Taste of Atlanta’s Friday night kick off party, the team decided to “marry” chefs with cocktails, ingredients, and style to create a harmony for the palette.

Here are just a few foodie moments from Culinary Matrimony at Taste of Atlanta 2014.

Saltyard’s executive chef and partner, Nick Leahy, proffered an oyster trio which was our favorite tasting of the evening. This trifecta included a raw oyster in champagne shooter, fried oyster with slaw, and oyster chowder. Leahy shared his inspiration for the oyster shooter – right after he and his wife said “I do” on their wedding day, the first thing they ate was an oyster and a glass of champagne. Note the adorable picture of Mr. & Mrs. Leahy on their wedding day, which was on display at Saltyard’s booth. Now that’s culinary matrimony.

Speaking of matrimony – for the first time in our relationship of six years, my husband ate collards and liked them! Of course, it was thanks to chef EJ Hodgkinson of JCT Kitchen (where we said “I do” four years ago) with his grilled chicken in a “White Alabama Sauce” topped with the collard greens salsa verde. Kudos to Burge Organic Farm for the tasty ingredients.

Ford Fry’s restaurants brought their A-game to Taste of Atlanta. It was great to see our pal, Chef Craig Richards, executive chef of St. Cecilia, and sample his grilled octopus with chorizo and lemon-bay kale oil. We first met chef Craig back in his days at Ecco when he showed us his rooftop garden. For Culinary Matrimony, the fresh kale came from Tucker Farms a local purveyor of produce and hydroponic greens.

Ron Eyester of Rosebud, The Family Dog, Timone’s, and now Top Chef fame presented a crowd favorite. Our pal Arianne Fielder said it was her favorite dish of the night. Also, apparently she kept sending over shots of Four Roses Bourbon to “The Angry Chef” but he was in the zone. The man has already mastered shrimp & grits, so of course he was going to rock a lobster stuffed twice-baked potato was with chunks of fresh lobster, grain mustard and saffron aioli.

Culinary Matrimony was an awesome way to kickoff the 2014 Taste of Atlanta. The tasting tent was packed with people noshing on tasty treats and sipping bubbly and cocktails. We told y’all a few of our favorites, and we’d love to hear about your foodie moments. Please sign our “guest book” below.

October 26, 2014
Taste of Atlanta 2014 Preview

Editor’s Note Thank you to our newest contributors, Jamie K. White, for covering the Taste of Atlanta Preview!

Taste of Atlanta, a three-day culinary affair featuring over 90 restaurants from all neighborhoods of Atlanta is officially here! The event will take place in Midtown area starting today, Friday, Oct. 24 through Sunday, Oct. 26.

Pretty Southern was privileged to attend a tasting preview at a few of the downtown area participants: Alma Cocina, Smoke Ring, BLT Steak, and Max Lager.

The first stop was Alma Cocina: a cozy place with a sophisticated take on Latin and Mexican cuisine, located downtown next to the Ritz Carlton.
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October 24, 2014