Category: Featured

I have to agree with these sentiments from Sophia Bush: “Life is too short…I’d much rather eat pasta and drink wine than be a size 0.” The One Tree Hill was right on, especially after my visit to Alpine Bakery and Trattoria. Located in the historic Crabapple district of Alpharetta, this restaurant and bakery will make even the most disciplined dieter forget about Weight Watchers points plus counting carbs and calories to simply enjoy a delicious meal in great company.

I recently dined in the Trattoria, Alpine’s newest addition to their Bakery. My gastronomic journey began with a wonderful, fresh Caprese Salad. If you are a lover of cheese you must try their Burrata Mozzarella which is made specifically for Alpine.

Buratta is a type of fresh mozzarella that when translated means “buttered” in Italian. It is much creamier, richer, and decadent than traditional Buffalo Mozzarellas. Paired with a 12-year-aged balsamic vinegar and heirloom tomatoes, Alpine’s dish is perfection!

For dinner I ordered one of my favorite dishes: Veal Marsala. This is a dish I’ve had many times in different places but at Alpine the care and attention they put into selecting the perfect cuts of meat made the entrée anything but ordinary. All of the meats at Alpine are butchered and cut specifically for their dishes and after five months of testing and perfecting the proper cut for each dish I was able to taste the rewards of a fork tender, juicy, Veal Marsala.

While Alpine is known for their cakes, pastries, and authentic, Italian cookies their cuisine menu is equally as memorable. Other menu selections include Crab Cakes (made entirely of lump crab); Pappardelle Bolognese which highlights homemade egg noodles, fresh goat cheese and a hearty Bolognese sauce; plus a variety of traditional Italian dishes. If you have never been to Alpine you have more than likely tried their baked goods if you have visited any of the “diners” in the Atlanta Area. Their offering of 28 gourmet flavors ranging from White Chocolate Raspberry Mouse to “Million Dollar Cake” are sure to please. Marietta Diner, Landmark Diner, and various establishments from Downtown to far outside the Perimeter carry Alpine’s glorious cakes.

Don’t live in Atlanta? Well, Alpine also supplies baked goods to restaurant across the South. Alpine will also cater for any size gathering. Imagine trays of lasagna followed by a platter of treats and truffles. In addition to their impressive classic layer cakes with a traditional fresh cream icing, Alpine offers hard to find authentic Italian Cookies such as Pignoli. These pine nut covered clusters are the “Perfectly” Southern Italian version of a macaroon.

For more information on Alpine Bakery and Trattoria, check out Alpine’s website, like them on Facebook, and read follow them on Twitter.

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://prettysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Profile-Picture.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Jennifer Eubanks is an Auburn Graduate raised on the golf courses of Augusta. Born to a Chinese mother and New Yorker father, Jennifer is Pretty “uniquely” Southern. She has an eye for style possessing all the grace and charms which only the Southland can offer.[/author_info] [/author]

Once upon a time, a traveling circus came to Atlanta. The troupe ran out of money and could not afford to keep going. A wealthy landowner offered to buy the train cars containing the circus animals, but he only wanted the cars for scrap metal. The creatures were a package deal and stayed put in the city. Officials said Grant Park was the best place to house all the animals; thus, Zoo Atlanta was born.

Fast forward 123 years to our present time. Zoo Atlanta is excited to offer a new opportunity for kids both young and old to experience the wildlife up close and personal. Twiga Terrace is now open at the giraffe exhibit. A beautiful deck allows guests to look the tallest mammals on Earth straight in the face. Plus visitors have the chance to feed the giraffes lettuce, a regular part of their diet. It’s only a $3 donation to access Twiga Terrace although the feeding times are scheduled and on a first-come-first-serve basis.

In addition to Twiga Terrca, there are new behind-the-scenes tours appropriately named Wild Encounters. Imagine feeding a Komodo dragon using giant tweezers (we did y’all and it was so cool!) These will take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m., $35 per guest. African elephant Wild Encounters will run daily at 1:30 p.m., $75 per guest. Giant panda Wild Encounters will run daily at 11 a.m., $150 per guest. All-inclusive programs for all three species will run Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m., $185 per guest. Children under 3 are free, but are not permitted to feed the animals. Children ages 3-8 will be allowed to feed the animals with adult assistance.

Pretty Southern was lucky enough to be invited on a Wild Encounter. We met Tara & Kelly, the Zoo’s pair of elephants. These elephants are smart. They can learn commands, comprehend games, and have powerful memories (remember an elephant never forgets?) Both gals are twenty-somethings who like to have fun with both their keepers and visitors at Zoo Atlanta.

For more information, check out Zoo Atlanta’s website. Prices and hours are available (y’all it’s not expensive at all for an amazing experience!) Zoo Atlanta’s mission is to return as much of the revenue it takes in back to conservation. Due to deforestation, human expansion to find farmland in developing nations, and destroying a food chain supply many of the animals at Zoo Atlanta are either endangered or “vulnerable”. It’s important for us to do our part here in the South by visiting the Zoo to help support the animal kingdom around the world.

There’s also the Wild on the Rocks event series coming up this summer. Ticket prices include two complimentary cocktails, light hors d’oeuvres, exhibit tour and a lesson on love in the animal kingdom. The next Wild on the Rocks (“Flirting with the Future”) is Thursday, April 26, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Zoo Atlanta is plugged in with all you wild things out there. Like them on Facebook, follow on Twitter, and check out more photos here on Pretty Southern.

This chivalrous declaration of debauchery is not for the faint of heart. RowdyGentleman.com is a website dedicated to all things we enjoy about our American independence: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…albeit while partying. Based out of Austin, the Rowdy Gentleman sports products of all kinds showing love for our nation. Just like our Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin, the Rowdy Gentleman’s jokes are to be taken in jest. For sale on their website are tee shirts (a.k.a. “Frocketees”) for ‘Mericans, croakies for sunglasses, and coozies — even ones big enough to wrap around a keg! There’s also a collection of hats and other paraphernalia showing love for the last great Republican ticket: Reagan/Bush ’84.

There’s also gear just for fraternity gents and sorority ladies.
Although it’s not exclusive to the South, RowdyGentleman.com upholds the chivalrous ideals we too treasure here at PrettySouthern.com. From the Rowdy Gentleman website: “A Rowdy Gentleman is equal parts sophisticated and sophomoric. He drinks the finest liquors and the cheapest beer. He blacks out in a black tie. He works hard but plays harder. He loves women, though he commits to none, save for Lady Liberty. Because above all else a Rowdy Gentleman loves America.”

Here are just a few of our favorite sayings from @RowdyGentleman:

“A Rowdy Gentleman has never lost and laughed, unless you count his maniacal laughter as he burns down the arena he lost in.”

“A Rowdy Gentleman only surrenders to his inhibitions.”

“Bloody Marys & Mimosas for breakfast, lunch beers, scotch in the evening & throw a steak in there at some point. The Rowdy Gentleman diet.”

“If a Rowdy Gentleman doesn’t outrun the police he’ll surely outargue the prosecutor.”

“A nacho cheese stained tuxedo is a sure sign a Rowdy Gentleman was at one point drunk and hungry.”

Have any of y’all out there ordered gear from RowdyGentleman.com? If so, we’d love to hear about it! While y’all are at it, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. We certainly are!