First of all, it’s in a great spot. Though not visible from the road, it’s nestled in the strip where B.Braithwaite, Dry Bar, and Flywheel are located…good company indeed! AND only a stone’s throw from the glorious St. Regis Hotel – I’d say this little resto has some primo real estate!

Secondly, it is ADORABLE. The design is so fresh and clean. You walk through the wine cellar straight into the fresh and sleek interior like the world’s most amazing tunnel.

Photo lovingly ripped off from my girl over at Baxter Bark Twice. Thanks, lady.

There are a few small tables, but most of the seating is a large U-shaped double-sided bar with this super cool riser for your pies! Bonus: your wine glass fits neatly underneath

They also have a pretty fantastic wine list with some very affordable vinos – which our server said was by design. (um, THANK YOU.) You can also choose your wine via their wine pairing app loaded onto an iPad at the table.

You had Greg at “iPad.” I loved watching him “help” my mom figure out how to use it:

Most importantly…the food was fantastic.  We started with the spring pea, prociutto, mozzarella, and rosemary bruschetta and it was DELISH. Witness:

Then…onto the pies. We went with

Pomodorini, oregano, garlic, and mozzarella

And

Mozzarella, fontina, taleggio, gorgonzola, and thyme

You’d think that 2 huge pizzas would be way too much for 3 people… but you’d be wrong. We ate almost every last bite. In our defense, they were surprisingly light.

You guys, I really liked this place a lot and can see where I could easily become addicted. (and um, hello – Flywheel, then Drybar, then STG? Sounds a little TOO convenient.)

And although I’m done with first dates, it did occur to me that this would be an excellent first date spot – it’s lively and sleek yet causal enough – and pizza is always a crowd pleaser. Plus – you can dash over to the bar at the St. Reg for an après dinner nightcap… I’m just saying.

Two enthusiastic thumbs up for STG Trattoria. I WILL be back.

xx, L

STG Trattoria
102 West Paces Ferry
Atlanta, GA
404 – 844 – 2879

Anyway, I had a lovely dinner with The Jessicas recently at Kyma, and two of their already-delicious menu items stood out to me even more than usual because they were topped off with a delightful dollop of sorbet.  They were divine.  Witness:

1 – Watermelon Salad: dodonis feta, vidalia onions, Kyma garden herbs + watermelon sorbet.

2 – Kyma’s Baklava: baklava with pistachio sorbet.

AHHH-mazingggg!

I wonder how sorbet will do on my Lean Cuisines… 

xx, L

Kyma
3085 Piedmont Road NE
Atlanta, GA  30305
404.262.0702
http://www.buckheadrestaurants.com/kyma/

The Q+DD on Junior Achievement:
Junior Achievement is the only organization focused on economic, education, and workforce development.  We believe that inspiring and preparing Georgia’s young people to succeed in a global economy will result in a skilled workforce that will allow Georgia’s business community to flourish and grow.  We strive to impact tomorrow’s business and community leaders by bridging the gap between the business and education communities, encouraging Georgia’s youth to set long term career goals and showing them the value of education.  Our turn-key curriculum aligns to the Georgia Performance Standards, enhancing what students are learning in the classroom with real world examples and hands-on application of knowledge. 

Junior Achievement of Georgia partners with corporations, organizations, schools, and individuals concerned about the success of our students and our state.  Our volunteer-led programs teach K-12 students about business and entrepreneurship, personal financial literacy, and workforce readiness.  Volunteers share their personal and business experience to bring JA curriculum to life, helping students understand the real-world application of what they are learning in school.  This added relevancy inspires and prepares young people to succeed in a global economy.

Pretty amazing, right? 

Well, Junior Achievement has teamed up with Fogo de Chao to bring financial literacy education to even more metro Atlanta students.

Mmmmmmmm…Fogo….

Here’s the deal: You and as many guests as you like can dine at Fogo de Chao on Thursday, April 26, 2012 for a discounted meal to raise money for Junior Achievement.  All you need to do is call JA of Georgia to make a reservation anytime between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.  Your meal will include a whopping 15 cuts of meat, all you can eat salad bar, soft drinks, dessert, and a cocktail.  The price of the meal is normally $75 per person, but by making a reservation through JA your meal will be ONLY $50 per person!  JA will receive 100% of the proceeds from the evening.

Seating is limited to 150 people + seats are filling up quickly, so make your reservation ASAP, y’all.  Reservations can only be made through the Junior Achievement office by calling 404-257-1932 x 210 or e-mailing cmajors@georgia.ja.org. 

Major beef-age + serious do-gooding.  Sounds excellent to me!  BRING ON THE BEEF! 

xx, L

Fogo de Chao
3101 Piedmont Road NE
Atlanta, GA  30305
404.266.9988
http://www.fogodechao.com/

Hope to see you at Tulipano this Thursday!

xx, L

Tulipano Boutique
3145 Peachtree Rd NE Ste 185
Atlanta, Georgia 30305

Hope to see you at Tulipano this Thursday!

xx, L

Tulipano Boutique
3145 Peachtree Rd NE Ste 185
Atlanta, Georgia 30305

b. braithwaite

Well, they’re moving on UP + into Buckhead!  On Saturday, March 3, B. Braithwaite is having a little grand re-opening party in their new space next to DryBar + the St. Regis.  (Two of my favorite places in Atlanta.  Perrrrrrfect.)

JUST keepin’ you up on what’s going down…  You’re welcome. 

xx, L

B. Braithwaite (new location!)
102 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta, GA  30305
404.869.8665
www.bbraithwaite.com 

I’ve said it once; I’ll say it again…  St. Patty’s Day is the greatest holiday all year long!  It’s science, actually.  You don’t have to celebrate it with your family – so no potential arguments.  Everyone’s drunk.  Again, everyone’s drunk.  You get to deck yourself out in GREEN (which is a pretty flattering color on most people – also science).  And, pinching is socially acceptable.  Y’all admit it: It’s a solid way to celebrate a holiday.

I love St. Pat’s so much I once named a dog, “Guinness.”  Fact.

Anyway, this year Kev and I are taking our St. Patty’s Day party on the road to the Ritz Lodge at Lake Oconee.  We may be far away from a lot of the green debauchery, but we are still sure to celebrate!

ritz at lake oconee

If we were going to be in town, though, we’d absolutely, 100%, without a doubt, be at Fado Irish Pub + Restaurant for their annual St. Patty’s party!

Fado Irish Pub & Restaurant was the first Irish pub to be designed and constructed in Ireland and shipped and installed in Atlanta.  It is distinguished by its genuine Irish hospitality, the quality of its pints + authentic Irish food and fun.

Fado is hosting the city’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration!  On Saturday, March 17, Fado will open at 7:00 a.m., and rugby fans will enjoy non-stop live action including Ireland vs. England in the exciting final match of the RBS 6 Nations Rugby tournament.  There will be a $10 cover charge starting at 8:00 a.m., which grants fans access to a viewing area that has been sectioned off for the game.  The rest of Fado is open with no cover charge for guests until noon.

At noon, the Buckhead pub will open its doors to the street festival that includes beer tents, bagpipers and Irish dancers along with live music throughout the day and night!  Pre-sale tickets are available for $10 online (these sold out fast last year!), and tickets will also be sold for $15 at the door. 

Astral Freaks (Van Morrison cover band), Desire (Atlanta’s own U2 cover band), and Justin will all perform live for the crowd outside the pub, and a DJ will be inside spinning tracks for inside partygoers.  Since St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, partygoers can start early and stay out late.  It’s a full day session that the pub likes to call a “Paddython!”

Fado will also be hosting exciting events leading up to the St. Patrick’s day festival, and interested guests can get more information by visiting the pub’s online event schedule.

Fado serves a menu of authentic Irish food and beverages including corned beef and cabbage, traditional Irish boxty and fish n’ chips, Guinness, Harp, Smithwicks, Bailey’s Irish Cream, proper Irish coffees, and a wide selection of Irish whiskeys.  Yummmmm.

So plan ahead + don’t miss out on the fun at Fado from 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m on Saturday, March 17 – Sunday, March 18!  OR you may be making this face on St. Patty’s when the tickets are completely sold out…

Happy (early) St. Pat’s!  Wishing green-awesomeness to you all! 

xx, L

Fado Irish Pub + Restaurant
273 Buckhead Avenue
Atlanta, GA  30305
404.841.0066
www.fadoirishpub.com/atlanta

A really radical DJ will be spinning your favorite 80′s tunes, and the bar will be pouring classic 80′s cocktails.  For $6 each, try a Long Island iced tea, Mai Tai, Blue Hawaiian or one of the new concoctions from Fadó’s winter drink menu. 

don't forget these bad boys!

Start the evening with the Atlanta Dance Marathon from 7:00-10:00 p.m.!  Join this fun-lovin’ group donning their best 80′s outfits for non-stop dancing to raise money for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. 

Cost is ONLY $15 per person + includes a pint of beer and all-you-can-eat complimentary appetizers.

yessssssss

There are few things that LK + I love more than a good 80′s party…

rock? ON!!

Sounds so super fun! 

xx, L

Fado Irish Pub + Restaurant
273 Buckhead Ave.
Atlanta, Georgia  30305
404.841.0066
http://www.fadoirishpub.com/atlanta/

Also FACT: My most delicious meal was eaten at Aria. 

This Buckhead institution is known for its delicious food, excellent service, extensive wine list, and super-exclusive wine room table.  It’s a restaurant that I think of for celebrations.  Turning 30 was an appropriate one.  I was treated to this fantastic dinner by my fantastic friend, Gorms.  You are going to be so disgusted impressed by how much we ate!

We began our feast by polishing off Pastry Chef Kathryn King’s Warm Focaccia Bread and a glass of pinot gris.  If there was a such thing as a winter coat made out of bread – I’d want it to be this bread. 

Next up was Aria’s Creamless Celery Root Soup with black truffles and parmesan.

Potato and Goat Cheese Ravioli with lamb and mushroom bolognese and reggiano parmigiano followed.

Warm Lobster Cocktail with butter braised Maine lobster, broccoli, and black truffle potatoes were next.  This was incredibly delish!  Gorm’s favorite, in fact.

For entrees, we shared the Blue Ridge Mountain Trout with sweet potatoes, black trumpet mushrooms, Maine lobster, and white corn…

…and the Painted Hills Ranch Natural Beef Short Rib with celery root whipped potatoes, tender carrots, sugar snap peas, and celery hearts.

They were cooked to perfection.  So many lovely flavors!

Dessert began with a sensational Warm Apple Tart with caramel ice cream to share…

…and ended with a delightful birthday plate of chocolate surprises! 

The meal was OUT OF THIS WORLD (as predicted)!  If you have something to celebrate – celebrate here.  I would also tell you to order exactly like we did.  We had such a nice variety of savory and pastry, and I really feel like it was an excellent sampling of Aria’s menu.  I’ve never heard anything negative about this restaurant, and I only have very positive praise to add!  So well done! 

Enjoy, restaurant-goers!  And, thank you Gormsie, for such a delicious night!

xx, L

Aria
490 E. Paces Ferry Rd. NE
Atlanta, Georgia  30305
404.233.7673
www.aria-atl.com

…and the space that was once inhabited by Au Pied de Cochon has now become Art Smith’s new restaurant, Southern Art.

The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous and our meal was good…but allow me to skip to the best part:

12. Layer. Red. Velvet. Cake.

Is this real life?

xx, L

Southern Art and Bourbon Bar
(404) 946-9070
3315 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30305