Introducing Lenox Square Grill!

Grape Crush Productions welcomes new partner - Lenox Square Grill!

The new Buckhead eatery is a concept from CentraArchy, the company that brought Atlantans The Tavern at Phipps, Joey D's, and New York Prime.The full-service restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner daily in a lively, stylish atmosphere and since opening this Fall has quickly come a celebrity spotting site. The menu features imaginative, yet classic comfort foods such as the signature Mac Skillets - Cajun Shrimp, Barbecue Chicken, or Cheeseburger - the creative side of homemade macaroni and cheese. The signature cocktails and great wine list make it a new favorite for both business gatherings and social events alike.

Lenox Square Grill is located at Lenox Square Mall in the space formerly occupied by Clubhouse. It features seating for more than 300 guests, an extensive outdoor patio and private dining rooms.

Location: 3393 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30326

Phone: 404.841.2377

They're open daily until 2a.m. and have a live DJ on the weekends. The Grape Girls invite you to sample tasty tidbits from Lenox Square Grill at Bloomingdale's Shopping Benefit (Lenox Square Mall) on October 29th and other upcoming events. RSVP required - click here to visit our blog for more information.

We'll see YOU there!

Get a Taste of Atlanta!

Grape Crush Productions is a proud partner of Taste of Atlanta's VIP Wine & Beer Experience!

We invite you to enjoy the ultimate experience
at Taste of Atlanta 2009 - upgrade to a VIP pass for this year's event!


Click here to use our special discount code GRAPE to save $5 OFF your VIP or General Admission tickets!

VIP ticket holders will enjoy the exclusive Wine & Beer Experience featuring scheduled seminars led by top industry professionals, tastings from more than 100 different wine varietals and beer types not to mention tastes from some of Atlanta most prestigious restaurants. You'll also receive 5 bonus Taste Coupons (total of 20) and the first 500 VIP ticket holders on site each day will receive Taste of Atlanta's VIP gift bag filled with special merchandise, samples and discount offers.

The series of scheduled wine seminars will cover a diverse array of topics. Limited to 60 people per session, patrons will be able to sample select wines and beers, along with food pairings from Taste of Atlanta restaurants, as the moderators and guest speakers discuss them. Seminar registration begins at 11:00 at the Seminar tent and spots will fill up early! The wine and beer seminars will be moderated by Gil Kulers and Bob Townsend. Gil Kulers is a Certified Wine Educator, writes the popular wine column, Kulers Uncorked, for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is a contributor to Golf Index Digest magazine on all matters of food and wine. Bob Townsend has been writing about beer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for the better part of a decade and is currently editor of Southern Brew News, a bimonthly beer publication distributed throughout the Southeast.

Here's a sneak peek of topics and guest speakers:

Saturday, October 10

12:30 - 1:15
The Zen and the Art of Pairing Wine with Spicy Asian Dishes
Kristen Cooper Vinifera Wines
Tastings from Top Flr

2:00 - 2:45
The History of Sparkling Wine in 45 Minutes
Eric Crane

3:30 - 4:15
Chefs and Brewers, Ruminations on Beer and Food Recipes
Dave Larkworthy, 5 Seasons Brewing
John Roberts, Max Lagers

5:00 - 5:45
Farm to Cocktail
Greg Best, Holeman & Finch Public House
Eric Simpkins, DRINKSHOP

Sunday, October 11

12:30 - 1:15
The Kings of Pinot-Burgundy and Oregon
Gina Hopkins, Restaurant Eugene and Holeman & Finch Public House
Gil Kulers, WineKulers.com

2:00 - 2:45
Country Fried Wine-Powerful Pairings for Soulful Southern Food
Seth Roskind, 4th and Swift

3:30 - 4:15
Beer vs. Wine, A Food Pairing Showdown
Crawford Moran, 5 Seasons Brewing
Todd Rushing, Concentrics Restaurants

5:00 - 5:45
Single Malt & Scotch Whiskey Tasting
Michael McLaren, Chivas Brothers

Click here for full details on this year's Wine & Beer Experience. Don't forget, save $5 with our special discount code GRAPE!

VIP tickets are limited and generally sell out prior to the festival so get yours today! Tickets are on sale now at www.tasteofatlanta.com.

Three Atlanta Chefs Journey to Sin City

Bravo TV's Top Chef, the #1 food show on cable, has announced its sixth season - and the competition will be sinfully delicious!





Top Chef: Las Vegas, premiers Wednesday, August 26th at 9 p.m. ET/PT.


The new chef'testants take on Sin City this season to see if they have what it takes to become Top Chef.

Three of the hopefuls are from Atlanta - Kevin Gillespie from Woodfire Grill, Hector Santiago from Pura Vida, and Eli Kirshtein from Eno.

Top Chef offers a fascinating window into the competitive, pressure-filled environment of world-class cookery and the restaurant business at the highest level. The series features seventeen aspiring chefs who compete for their shot at culinary stardom and the chance to earn the prestigious title of "Top Chef."

Will one of Atlanta's own make the cut, or will all three be asked to pack up their knives and go home? Stay tuned!


NOTE: Be sure to take our latest blog poll and cast your vote for favorite "Foodie TV" challenge series.

The Best Thing I Ever Ate!

What makes everything better? Well, according to Food Network stars like Guy, Duff and Aida it's BACON! We'd like to think it's wine, but to each his own. :)


Tune in tonight (Tuesday, June 30 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT) as our favorite foodies chat about The Best Thing I Ever Ate and where to get these pork-a-licious dishes. Featured is Atlanta neighborhood bistro JCT. Kitchen & Bar's "Angry" mussels made with peppered bacon, Serrano chile and onion.

The episode will air again on July 1 at 12:30 a.m. ET/PT and July 11 at 6 p.m. ET/PT.

TIP: Check out JCT. Kitchen's Thursdays on the Terrace for live music and drink specials, or Sunday Suppers for a fancy meat and three deal of gourmet comfort foods!


JCT. Kitchen & Bar
Westside Urban Market
1198 Howell Mill Road Suite #18
Atlanta, GA 30318
404-355-2252
www.jctkitchen.com

Chef Rob's Caribbean Cafe - Journey to Jamaica!

We recently had the pleasure of dining at Chef Rob's Caribbean Cafe, a cozy restaurant in the heart of Sandy Springs, at the owner's invitation. We knew we were in for a treat, but little did we know we would be transported on a culinary journey straight to Jamaica!

Chef Rob is an expert at caribbean-fusion cuisine. Jamaican, Asian and southern American flavor inspirations merged into unique dishes that tantalized our taste buds. We munched on the sampler platter which included conch fritters, coconut shrimp, jerk chicken egg rolls and jerk chicken wings with a variety of house-made dipping sauces. Customer favorites include the jerk chicken caesar salad, cajun seafood pasta and curried goat. Vegetarians will enjoy the "Rasta Pasta" and Bob Marley's "Vegetarian Delight" - assorted grilled vegetables, fresh rosemary, butter beans in a light vegetable broth served over fettuccine pasta with a sweet chili sauce or caribbean jerk.

Now, when one thinks of the Caribbean, wine is definitely not the first thing that comes to mind. Chef Rob's is best known for pouring marvelous mojitos, but the bar manager treated us to a special flight from the new wine list. Although the list is small and still being fine-tuned, they offer a few options that traditionally pair best with spicy foods. Look for aromatic whites like Gewürtztraminer (pronounced guh-VOORTS-truh-MEE-nur), Pinot Grigio (PEA-no GREE-jzhee-o) and Riesling (REEZ-ling).

TIP: Well-chilled, crisp, fruity whites work better than reds overall to combat the rich, spicy flavors of caribbean dishes. Hot food in general should be paired with wines that have a somewhat sweet element to them. Look for refreshing dry-sweet or lightly sweet wines for a great pairing experience.

We now understand why music moguls (Chef Rob developed the concept of Justin's Restaurant for Sean "P-Diddy" Combs) and locals alike flock here when they need a culinary escape. Lively music, vibrant decor, daily food and drink specials, nightly events and a courteous staff are awaiting you. So, if you can't take a quick getaway to Jamaica, Chef Rob's Caribbean Cafe is the next best thing!

Oh yeah, did we mention they cater? Visit www.chefrobscafe.com for the address, menu and event schedule.

Ask the Grape Girls: Vino Libro?

QUESTION
C. Judge wrote: I heard about this great spot called “Vino Libre”, what part of Atlanta is this place located? Would love to visit on my next trip...

ANSWER
Hey, we think you mean Vino Libro!

Vino Libro is located in the heart of Atlanta’s newest mixed-used community, Glenwood Park! It's a hip, but cozy eatery serving wine and tasting plates, perfect for urbanites who are seeking a little relaxation with their wine instead of large crowds and lots of noise. Go during the day and bring a good book, newspaper or even your laptop to catch up on emails. Or, stop by at night to experience a wine tasting and lounge on the comfy sofas while listening to live jazz and enjoying the occasional book signing or special event. It's open 7 days a week from 4pm to midnight and even has an adjacent wine retail store so guests can purchase their favorite wines to savor later. Visit them online for directions and a schedule of weekly events, www.vinolibro.com.

What's on YOUR mind? If you've got a question for the Grape Girls, just send an email to info@GrapeCrushEvents.com and you could be included in an upcoming blog post!