Taste of the A: Atlanta Food & Wine Events
Dinner dates, arguably the most frequently planned first dates, provide couples an opportunity to converse with some distraction. The dinner and drinks menus serve as thankful props when you find yourself searching for topics to discuss. Servers, however, are not always mindful of your frantic looks—your silent pleas for them to return and save you from an icy conversation. Staring at one another across the table feels formal at times, and intimidating. Why not ditch the formality and enjoy your dinner with a wine tasting or while strolling from one food station to another? You preserve all the accoutrements of a dinner date (food and drinks) minus the awkward table stare. You might even save some cash on the deal.
Consider The Atlantan’s “To Live & Dine in Atlanta” event as an example. For $25 per person, guests enjoyed dishes from Atlanta’s finest restaurant kitchens, including BLT Steak, Dogwood, The Terrace on Peachtree, and Velenza to name a few. Chefs from 20 restaurants served main dishes and sides at this unique dining event; plus, two restaurants created hand-crafted cocktails, three restaurants dished up desserts, and three food trucks doled out delectable bites outside. All the food and drink you could consume and live entertainment by The Dappled Grays and Flippity-doo-da for only $25. What a deal! Not only was the evening extremely price-effective, but the event layout allowed for moving and mingling, offering conversation pieces at every station.
Similarly, The Atlanta Food Rave offered guests a night of unlimited food, an open bar, and musical entertainment for a reasonable cost of $55 per person. Held at Mason Murer Fine Art Gallery, guests had the opportunity to eat, drink, dance, and peruse the Gallery’s beautiful artwork. The Atlanta Food Rave melded several date activities into one evening, thereby providing an array of distractions and chances for couples to connect.
Wine tastings offer another twist on the traditional dinner date. Parish Food and Goods in Inman Park schedules tastings throughout the month that feature four to five wines, accompanied by the chef’s assortment of charcuterie from the Market at Parish for just $25. Every Tuesday, The Wine Shop at Murphy’s Virginia Highland restaurant charges $20 per person for a tasting of approximately eight wines, and Toulouse restaurant in Buckhead hosts monthly wine tastings priced $35-$40.
For a truly unique dining experience, reserve your spot at {three} sheets in Sandy Springs for “flavor tripping.” Limited to 20 guests, the restaurant’s “flavor tripping” parties allow diners to experience the effects of The Miracle Fruit, a small berry that rewires the way the palate perceives sour flavors. You roll the berry around in your mouth for a couple of minutes and miraculously everything you eat with acidic properties becomes sweet. Lemon tastes like lemonade, goat cheese turns into cheesecake, and Guinness with lemon sorbet tastes like a chocolate milkshake. The effects are amazing, and the cost is a mere $20.
Dinner dates needn’t cost an arm and a leg, nor should they put couples ill at ease. If you’re someone who becomes suddenly shy or tongue-tied when confronted with first-date conversation, plan a dinner-and-drinks outing that involves a little distraction and a lot of fun.
September Tasting Events
Midtown Restaurant Week
September 4th through September 12th. Participating restaurants include Dogwood, 4th and Swift, Murphy’s, Amuse!, Atmosphere French Restaurant, Ra, Serpas True Food, and many more. $25 per person for three-course menu. www.atlrestaurantweek.com
{three} sheets, Sandy Springs
Every Wednesday—Flavor Tripping: Guests will be able to test the berry and enjoy a selection of small plates created by Executive Chef Josh Carden to complement the Miracle Fruit. $20 per person. www.threesheetsatlanta.com
Shaun’s, Inman Park
9/8/10 Southern Beer Dinner: five-courses pairing regional brews with foods. $55 per person or $40 per person for food only. www.shaunsrestaurant.com
Mason Murer Fine Art Gallery
9/9/10 Party in the Kitchen: an evening of food and drink to benefit Open Hand. $150 per single ticket. www.projectopenhand.org
Parish Food and Goods, Inman Park
9/1/10 The Wines of Spain: 2 Spanish white wines and 3 reds will be served with the Chef’s assortment of charcuterie from the Market at Parish. $25 per person.
9/29/10 The Wines of Italy: 1 Italian white wine and 4 reds will be served with the Chef’s assortment of charcuterie from the Market at Parish. $25 per person. www.parishatl.com
Murphy’s, Virginia Highland
Every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., the Wine Shop pours approximately eight wines. $20 per person. Visit website for wine selection schedule. www.murphysvh.com
October Tasting Events
Morton’s The Steakhouse, Buckhead
10/7/10 “Morton’s and the Mondavi Families: Celebrating the Legendary Blend” Wine Dinner: The entire third and fourth generations of Napa Valley’s Mondavi family will hold a dinner and charity auction at Charles Krug Winery Carriage House in Napa Valley to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Morton’s The Steakhouse in Buckhead will serve the exact same menu and wine as guests at the Charles Krug Carriage House. $175 per person. www.mortons.com/celebratingthelegendaryblend
Parish Food and Goods, Inman Park
10/27/10 Discovering California’s Central Coast: 2 white wines and 3 reds will be served with the Chef’s assortment of charcuterie from the Market at Parish. $25 per person. www.parishatl.com
Westside Provisions District
10/31/10 Sunday Supper South: a collection of the South’s most distinguished culinary icons host a family-style charity dinner. 150 guests will gather around one long communal table to enjoy a shared, gourmet dinner. $175 per person. www.sundaysuppersouth.com
Photo courtesy of Atlanta Food Rave. Photography by Jessica Lewis
