Tantra Restaurant

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Watershed's Fried Chicken & Biscuits

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I-75 Salad

This fun salad is on the menu at The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead:

It's comprised of ingredients all sourced in Georgia along Interstate 75, hence the name.

It features peaches from Lane Orchard, pecan brittle, Thomasville thome cheese from Sweet Grass Dairy, olive oil and Cabernet vinegar.

Bottom Line: A tasty, creative spin on eating local.

Kaleidoscope Bistro & Pub

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Strawberry Sagra menu at FIGO Pasta

Don't give up on summer flavors just yet. Throughout August, FIGO Pasta is showcasing fresh Florida strawberries on Saturdays and Sundays with a special strawberry sagra (or festival) menu. Make it a themed three-course feast or pair a dish or two with other tasty menu offerings.

The strawberry flavor enhances each dish, yet doesn't punch you in the taste buds.

Tester's Tip: Treat yourself with a cocktail to start, and if you're feeling adventurous or can't decide what to order just go with Stephanie's recommendation.

Antipasti: Bruschetta alla Fragola ($5.95)

Credit: Hope S. Philbrick

This scrumptious bruschetta pairs Georgia-grown cherry tomatoes with fresh Florida sugar-soaked strawberries that are then rested atop a thin layer of goat cheese on toasted ciabatta slices. Basil strips and a drizzle of strawberry balsamic glaze complete the dish. Order more than one if you're hungry and have greedy dining companions.

Ravioli: Ossobuco Ravioli ($12)

Credit: Hope S. Philbrick

Veal shanks are braised until fork tender and then stuffed into ravioli cooked to al dente. A rich butter Parmesan emulsion is drizzled on top followed by a robust strawberry black pepper glaze. Delicious!

Dolci: Ravioli di Nutella ($5)

Credit: Hope S. Philbrick

OK, I admit it: They had me at Nutella. Is there a more perfect flavor? Doubtful. Here Nutella is blended with creamy ricotta and mascarpone then stuffed into pasta dough that's been infused with fresh strawberries, formed into two-bite ravioli and then lightly fried and topped with fresh whipped cream and sliced strawberries along with a shake of powdered sugar. Yum.

Bottom Line: Don't miss your chance to savor this delicious meal.

FIGO Pasta boasts seven Atlanta-area locations: Collier Road in Buckhead, Howell Mill Road on the Westside, Hammond Drive in Dunwoody, Caroline Street in Little Five Points, East College Avenue in Decatur, Paces Ferry Road in Vinings and North Point Parkway in Alpharetta.

Mark your calendar: Next month (September 2012), FIGO will offer a Grape Sagra menu.

National Rum Day

Thursday, August 16 is National Rum Day

Jesse Card, Cruzan's mixologist from the island of St. Croix, has created specialty cocktails to help celebrate this "holiday." Mix one up, kick back, relax and embrace the "Don't Hurry" Cruzan rum attitude. Cheers!

CRUZAN "DON'T HURRY" CANE

1 part Cruzan Vanilla Rum

2 parts Cruzan Aged Light Rum

1 tsp Sugar

3 Lime Wedges

Combine 2 of the lime wedges, sugar & Cruzan Vanilla Rum in a tumbler and lightly muddle for ten seconds. Add Cruzan Aged Light Rum and a scoop of ice and shake hard for 20 seconds. Strain into a chilled Hurricane glass and garnish with the final lime wedge.

CRUZAN TAKE 9

1 1/2 parts Cruzan 9 Spiced Rum

3/4 part Dry Vermouth

1/4 part Curacao

1/2 tsp Grenadine

Orange Twist

Combine all ingredients over ice in a tumbler and stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled Martini coupe. Garnish with an orange twist.



CRUZAN COCONUT OLD FASHIONED

2 parts Cruzan Single Barrel Rum

1/2 part Rich Simple Syrup

3 dashes of Bitters

Coconut water ice cubes (see additional recipe below)

Cut a wide swath of orange peel and lightly press it in the bottom of a rocks glass. Add rum, syrup and bitters. Now drop in a few Coconut Water Ice Cubes and stir gently.

To make the coconut water ice cubes: Pour a can of coconut water through a strainer to remove the pulp (if needed), then pour the clear coconut water into an ice cube tray - the bigger the cube the better - and freeze for several hours.

The Spence

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Czar Ice Bar

Czar Ice Bar is worth going to, even if only to get a good look at the décor—which gives a Hollywood spin to imagined old-timey Russia, the sort of stylish space in which you might reasonably expect to see Keira Knightly waltz.

Located at 56 East Andrews Dr., it's a space that will surely lure the stylishly dressed, before or after an evening of dancing, perhaps.

Featuring vodka and sushi, the impressive menu is not suited to those who find it difficult to make a decision: The "Build Your Own Vodka Flight" section alone offers 330,791,175 possibilities.

I opted for a flight of four Russian vodkas infused with seasonal flavors ($24): crisp cucumber, jalapeno, brown sugar-pineapple-cinnamon, and toasted coconut arrived in a block of ice. While it's available, I most heartily recommend the cucumber, which was light, refreshing and worked with food. Over the course of the meal, Dean sipped a couple different cocktails ($12 each), most likely ordering his drinks for their James Bond-inspired names: 7even-7even-Oh and Violet But Deadly. Both were well-balanced and tasty.

Photo Credit: Hope S. Philbrick

When ordering sushi, we favor cooked items and asked our server for guidance. She recommended the lobster roll ($15) and it was delicious with lobster, avocado, cream cheese, mango and sweet chili sauce.


Chef Saito Saito, a world-acclaimed master sushi chef, helms the kitchen. He also charmingly works the dining room--at least early in the evening when it's not too busy--to welcome guests, solicit feedback and offer recommendations. He sent out this beautiful presentation of seared tuna ($15.50):

Photo Credit: Hope S. Philbrick

We also tried the Mango roll ($15), with shrimp tempura, crab, mango and sweet and sour sauce. It was, as the ingredients suggest, sweet and yummy.


If you already love sushi, this is where you need to feast: Czar Ice Bar is home to the only Master Sushi Chef in Georgia. Even if you don't think you like sushi, this chef will win you over.

Bottom Line: A whopping success.

STG Trattoria

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