Omnivore Atlanta

Tonight Chef Martin Burge of Lola Bellini Bar & Restaurant hosts a cooking class. From 7-9 p.m. participants will learn how to prepare crab and kale Italian style. Wine will be provided by Sherlock’s Wine Merchant to keep the buzz alive along with yummy door prizes. 100% of the proceeds benefit Atlanta’s Table, an Atlanta Food Bank project aiding the inner-city hungry. The class will be held in the Cook’s Warehouse in Brookhaven and is $50. To register, log on to www.ACFB.org or call 404-892-FEED ext. 1444.

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Morton’s is hosting a beef and beer dinner. The beer is made by Cistercian Trappist monks at the Abbey of Scourmont in Chimay, so don’t feel guilty slurping down these blessed brews. It’s $45 per beer lover ($5 a ticket going to the Make A Wish Foundation) on Thurs., Oct. 16 from 6-7 p.m. For tickets and info call: 404-816-6535.

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My friend Broderick Smylie, the camera-toting foodie extraordinare, hit Amuse Cochon at 5 Seasons Brewing on Sept. 29.

The Slow Food Atlanta benefit featured Chefs Todd Mussman (Muss and Turner’s), Jay Swift (4th and Swift), Allan Benton (Benton Smoky Mountain Country Hams) and Kevin Rathbun of Rathbun’s. They competed to make the best use of five Heritage pigs. Rathbun took the top prize.

Below are some of Broderick’s pictures. You can see more here. And check out Broderick’s site here.

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The Edgewood Corner Tavern is jump-starting their monthly Saturday Night Supper Club; 3 to 4 prixe-fixe courses for $30 per person. The drinks aren’t included, but you’ll want to buy them anyway. The taproom suggests beer and wine pairings for every course; reislings, pints of Magic Hat Circus Boy, goblets of Heron Chardonnay, and Left Hand Jack Porter…sound tasty? For more information call 404-577-2310 or click here.

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On Thurs. Oct. 9th, chef Shaun Doty is offering Inman Park Neighborhood Association members half-off on their dinners at Shaun’s (but they have to flash their Inman Park Patrol Membership Card or it’s a no-go).

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On Oct. 9, Cafe 458 welcomes Pura Vida’s Chef Hector Santiago to prepare a three-course meal for $28. Santiago will be cooking Thursday night from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Reservations ARE required people, so call now: 404-525-3276 or go online: http://www.cafe458atl.com.

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Homegrown Restaurants is celebrating peace, pride and pasta throughout the month of October. Every Wednesday, Rich Chey restaurants (Doc Chey’s Noodle House, Osteria 832, and Stella Neighborhood Trattoria) will donate 15 percent of their revenue to The Pride Committee Inc. The organization promotes unity in the community and also encourages fellow Atlantans to speak their minds. All proceeds go toward the 2009 Atlanta Pride Festival. The schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, October 8th at Osteria 832
Wednesday, October 15th at Doc Chey’s Emory
Wednesday, October 22 at Stella Neighborhood Trattoria
Wednesday, Octobert 29th at Doc Chey’s Virginia-Highland

For more information, log on to http://www.homegrownrestaurants.com.

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On Thursday, Oct. 9th, S.N.O.B. Wine and Spirits hosts their first Inaugural Beer Dinner featuring beer from Stone Brewing. Chef Lenny Robinson’s four-course dinner menu includes: wild boar terrine with onion jam and hazelnuts, seared venison tenderloin with gala apples, chard and pan jus, pan fried kumamoto oysters, and roasted blackberry tart with “Arrogant Bastard” ice cream. Each plate is paired with one of four S.B. brews, such as Stone IPA, Stone Smoked Porter, Arrogant Bastard Ale, and Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard. The dinner begins at 7:00 p.m. and is $69.99 per person. S.N.O.B. is only accepting 16 bodies so reserve your spot! The cut-off date for reservations is Oct. 6th. Contact Greg at 404-252-8173 or gsisto@atlwines.com.

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Rathbun’s 2009 cooking classes were announced this morning - you can take a look at the lineup here. Last year, 75% of these classes sold out in the first 3 days and the rest sold out over the following few weeks.

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We hit Saturday’s pig roast at Cabbagetown Market. Here’s farmer Mike Aiken of Waco, Ga., at the smoker, which was placed in the lot next to the market, along with a community table. I’ve never heard of a Waco in Georgia, but Mr. Aiken told me it’s off the last exit of I-20 west, just before you cross the state line into Alabama.

The pulled barbecue was lightly smoky, just enough on the fatty side to provide a full blast of flavor. I confess I didn’t much care for the sauce served with it — one of those ketchupy-like, sweet sauces. I prefer the coastal Carolina types, with plenty of vinegar.

Cabbagtown Market provided side dishes, including cheese grits with collards and some especially good cornbread. I also ordered some sliced tomatoes. (The Market buys its eggs from Mr. Aiken, by the way.)

I ran into Jennifer Zyman, the Blissful Glutton, and her boyfriend Mr. Moonie. Jennifer, who also writes CL’s Cheap Eats column, said she is leaving to visit India in a few days. She’ll be stopping in Turin, for the truffle festivities there. I’m not jealous, really I’m not.

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Don’t miss this: Cabbagetown Market (198 Carroll St.) will host a pig roast 12 noon-6 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 27. It’s part of Eat Local Week.

The event will feature a Tamworth pig, smoked and served by farmer Mike Aiken. Plates, with two side dishes prepared by the Market, will cost $10. Sandwiches, made with the Bread Garden’s brioche, will cost $7.50, with one side included.

You’ll also find local beer, local music and lotsa local yokels.

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Taste Network sponsors the Slow & Smoky Sunday Supper (a Slow Food Fundraising event) on Sun. Sept. 28th at 6 p.m. Held in the TROIS private dining room, this pork-tastic five-course dinner includes French wine pairings and meat from Split Cedar Farms and Smoky Mountain Country Hams. Mixologist Eric Simpkins will be stirring up some conceptual cocktails in the bar, while guests meet with local farmers and chefs, Jeremy Leib and Matt Harris. Walk-ups are welcome as long as you’re carrying checks or cash. Click here to buy your ticket online. ($105 per person).

(Photo from Wikimedia Commons)

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5 chefs, 5 pigs, at 5 Seasons Brewing. Find out who of Atlanta’s kitchen kings will be crowned the “Prince of Pork” or the “Sultan of Swine,” Mon. Sept. 29th from 6-10 p.m. ($60 per person) at 5 Seasons Prado. Proceeds support farmers and chefs attending the Terra Madre Conference in Turin, Italy.

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On September 27th, chef Carmen Cappello will prepare five farm-fresh Southern courses to be paired with five local brews. The dinner will feature produce from Georgia’s Terra Madre farmer delegates. This Slow Food Event is located at the Studioplex and begins at 7:30 p.m. Planning on attending? Mail a check for $75 (which includes tax and tip) to:

Slow Food Atlanta, 4148 Kings Troop Rd. Stone Mountain, GA 30083

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Stone Mountain Park hosts the grandest chili fest east of Texas, Sat., Sept. 27. More than $10,000 in prize money will be awarded, so if you have a taste for competitive chili, you’ll love this. Cooks will compete for titles like Best Of, Peoples Choice, and Showmanship. All proceeds support Camp Twin Lakes, a non-profit organization for children with mental and physical disabilities. For directions or additional information, click here.

(Photo by KyleandMelissa22)

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Georgia Organics and the Atlanta Local Food Initiative are throwing CHEWS LOCAL!, an organic soirée in East Atlanta Village, Thurs., Sept. 25. The event, which celebrates the launch of Georgia Organics’ new local food guide, takes place at the Glenwood. A reception will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m, where chefs from the Glenwood, Dynamic Dish, Slush, Kasan Red and the Graveyard Tavern will join forces to whip up some seriously nutritious and delicious apps. Cost for the reception is $15. Immediately following the reception is dinner for $65, beginning at 8 p.m. Reservations for both the reception and/or the dinner are required via www.georgiaorganics.org/events. Don’t miss out!

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Like bratwurst and beer? Oktoberfest is tomorrow, homie! It’s at a church, but when has hallowed ground ever stopped the Germans from drinking? Plus, the whole festival is FREE FREE FREE. And what Bavarian blow-out is complete without the Gootman Sauerkraut Band? The band will be performing well into the fest from 3-8 p.m. Drink up!

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The 4^th Annual Budweiser Pigskin Palooza, sponsored by 790 Sports Radio The Zone, kicks off tomorrow at Perimeter Mall. It’s a non-stop tailgate, so feel free to drop in any time for SEC highlights, booze and musical guests Brantley Gilbert, Colt Ford, Ocean Street, and Slip Tripman. Heads up: it’s 21 up with a $10 cover fee.

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It seems like ages ago, but probably just the late 90s, that I wandered in to the liquor side of a package store in Lebanon, Tennessee of all places, and found among the Chimays and Duvels a gargoyle-adorned bottle that dared to call itself Arrogant Bastard. On the back was a lengthy manifesto that declared:

This is an aggressive beer. You probably won’t like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. We suggest you stick to safer and more familiar territory–maybe something with a multimillion dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it’s made in a little brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless fizzy yellow beer will give you more sex appeal. Perhaps you think that multimillion dollar ad campaigns make a beer taste better. Perhaps you’re mouthing your words as you read this.

This was exactly the kind of challenge that appealed to my then rapidly expanding beer ego, as well as my childish sense of humor. I immediately purchased one of the big, 22-oz. bottles and took it back to my hotel room to drink it out of one of the plastic cups wrapped in plastic on the sink. A swirl of flavors greeted my tongue from caramel stickiness to pungent funkiness. It was like the nectar of the Gods.

I went back the next day and bought two more to take home. Whenever I was in Tennessee, I made it a point to pick some up. When the repeal of the 6 percent cap on beer in Georgia came, the first thing I looked for was Arrogant Bastard, but it was not to be found. Now, after 4 excruciating years, it is finally here.

After much anticipation, Stone Brewing Company of San Diego County, California is finally bringing its attitude-laced portfolio of beers to Georgia. Rumor was that the brewery did not feel that they could meet the demand in Georgia, and that may still be true, as many are chomping at the bit now to have a regular supply of Arrogant Bastard Ale, the quintessential West Coast-style IPA, and the highly-rated Russian Imperial Stout.

The official kick-off party is scheduled for Mon., Sept. 22 at the new Taco Mac Metropolis in Midtown. They will have 12 Stone beers on tap: the aforementioned varieties, plus Pale Ale, Smoked Porter, Ruination DIPA, Levitation Ale, Oaked Arrogant Bastard, 2006 Double Bastard, 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout, 2007 Old Guardian Barleywine, and the recently released 08.08.08 Vertical Epic (they have produced one of these each year starting with 02.02.02).

The event kicks off at 5 p.m., but the kegs will be available all day. Scott Sheridan from Stone will be on hand to answer questions. I plan to report further on this when I get my hands on some of these beers. Stone beer dinners are also scheduled for the Brick Store Pub on Tues., Sept. 23 and Trappeze Pub in Athens on Wed., Sept. 24.

Are you worthy?

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Downtown Decatur’s spacious bar/pool hall/brewery, Twain’s, is hosting their Early Autumn Beer Dinner, Wed., Sept. 24. The dinner is four courses, paired with Twain’s beer. Twain’s is showcasing two fresh brews; an imperial brown ale and a strawberry-steeped kristalweizen. When buying your ticket at the bar, note that there are three different seating times: 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30 p.m., so make sure your friends buy the same ticket or you’re eating alone. Check out the entire food and beer menu here.