Monthly Archives: March 2010

Join SOHO for a Final Taste of Italy

30 Tuesday Mar 2010

Posted by in Food and Drink, Miscellaneous Musings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

SOHO will finish its Italian tour on flight night Wednesday, March 31.

Vineyards_in_Valpolicella Vineyards in Valpolicella 

This week, SOHO will first pour a 2008 Maso Canali Pinot Grigio. Pinot Grigio grapes have been grown on the Maso Canali estate since 1893. SOHO’s resident wine expert, Lars Snavely, notes the winery produces a unique Pinot Grigio due to two factors – the grapes are all from late harvests and 8% are dried on racks for eight weeks, then vinified and added to the final blend. The result is a rich, deep and complex wine.

 

SOHO will also pour a 2007 Zenato Valpolicella Classico Superiore this week. The family owned and operated Zenato winery produces one of the best Valpolicellas on the market, according to Lars. Finally, SOHO will pour an Il Borro “Pian di Nova.”  Owned by Ferruccio Ferragamo (well-known for luxury goods such as shoes and handbags), the vineyard produces exceptional Super-Tuscan wines, including the “Pian di Nova,” which offers a full bodied taste with a spicy, fruity finish.

 

SOHO’s Chef Joe has prepared three new tapas plates to pair with each Italian wine. The following will be available until April 7:

 

2008 Maso Canali Pinot Grigio, Trentino, Italy

91.6% Pinot Grigio, 8.4.% Chardonnay

Seafood stew of shrimp, mussels, mahi, and calamari in a saffron broth

 

2007 Zenato Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Veneto, Italy

80% Corvina, 10% Rondinella, 10% Sangiovese

Rosemary-grilled flat iron steak with goat’s cheese potatoes and a red wine jus

 

Il Borro “Pian di Nova”, Arezzo, Italy

75% Syrah, 25% Sangiovese

Grilled elk tenderloin with butternut squash and a balsamic jus

 

Sample each wine in a flight (three three-ounce glasses and a cheese plate) for $18. Or, pair a wine and tapas for $12. Of course, the wines and tapas are available individually as well ($9/glass and $6/tapas). Please join us this week for a taste of Italy!

The Low Down Lobster Boil Returns to SOHO

30 Tuesday Mar 2010

Posted by in Food and Drink, Miscellaneous Musings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Spring is here; summer is near; and SOHO is celebrating the sunshine with the Low Down Lobster Boil.

 

Lobster (AA) 

 

SOHO will host the Low Down Lobster Boil every Sunday, from 5 – 9pm, beginning April 11. For $25, guests receive a meal of Maine lobster (1 ½ lbs), andouille sausage, fresh corn, creamer potatoes and a green salad.

 

Pair the lobster feast with a pint of Sweetwater 420 and you're set for a fabulous evening! Sweetwater 420 pints are only $3 every Sunday this spring and summer at SOHO.

 

We hope you’ll join us soon for a fun and casual lobster dinner. Please click here to make reservations or call 770-801-0069. (Please be sure to mention the lobster dinner when making reservations, so we can reserve your lobster in advance).

Italian Delights

22 Monday Mar 2010

Posted by in Food and Drink, Miscellaneous Musings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

The flavors and wines of Italy will again take center stage on flight night Wednesday, March 24, at SOHO.

 

Frescobaldi(2) The Frescobaldi vineyards 

 

The first wine SOHO will pour this week is a 2008 San Quirico Vernaccia from Tuscany. Since 2005, all wines from the San Quirico vineyard have been made with organic grapes. The Vernaccia is an excellent food wine and will pair well with Chef Joe’s tapas, notes SOHO's wine expert Lars Snavely. SOHO will also pour a 2006 Sant’Antonio Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso “Monti Garbi” this week. To produce a Ripasso, a winery first makes a Valpolicella. The wine is then re-fermented with the dried grapes used to produce Amarone. The Sant’Antonio Ripasso offers tastes of fruit and aromas of cherry liqueur, spice and chocolate.

 

Finally, SOHO will pour a 2007 Frescobaldi Tenuta Di Castiglioni this week. Wine Spectator awarded this wine 93 points and it is another example of the terrific 2007 Tuscan vintage. The taste features rich fruits – strawberry and raspberry - with touches of espresso, cocoa and vanilla.

 

Chef Joe has created three new tapas plates to pair with each Italian wine this week. The following wine and tapas will be available until March 31.

 

2008 San Quirico Vernaccia, Tuscany

100% Vernaccia

Baby shrimp ravioli with roasted peppers tossed in basil-pistachio cream sauce

 

2006 Sant’Antionio Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso “Monti Garbi”, Veneto

70% Corvina, 20% Rondinella, 5% Croatina, 5% Oseletta

Duck and mushroom ragout with pappardelle pasta and truffle oil

 

2007 Frescobaldi Tenuta Di Castiglioni, Tuscany

50% Cabernet, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Sangiovese

Roasted Berkshire pork with ricotta gnocchi and cherry-laced jus

 

Sample each wine in a flight (three three-ounce glasses and a cheese plate) for $18. Or, pair a wine and tapas for $12. Of course, the wines and tapas are available individually as well ($9/glass and $6/tapas). See you soon!

SOHO Joins the Circus of Flavor

22 Monday Mar 2010

Posted by in Food and Drink

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

SOHO is proud to announce Chef Joe Ahn will be part of the 2010 Flavors of Atlanta event on Wednesday, April 21. The annual fundraiser brings 25 of Atlanta’s top chefs together for an evening of epicurean excellence to raise funds for liver disease awareness, education and research. This year’s event, featuring a Circus of Flavor to benefit the Southeast Division of the American Liver Foundation, will be the 12th anniversary of Flavors of Atlanta.

 

N361896100391_6639 

 

Chef Joe, will join other Atlanta chefs – including from Kevin Gillespie of Woodfire Grill, Kevin Rathbun of Rathbun’s, and Jay Swift of 4th and Swift – for this wonderful fundraiser. (Here’s a complete list of participating chefs.) Each chef will prepare a four-course dinner with complementary wines for a table of 10 guests. Adding a fun twist to the event? The guests will not know which chef has prepared their meal until the end of the evening. The chefs will also design the table setting to reflect their cuisine and personal flair.

 

The 2010 Flavors of Atlanta event will be held at The Foundry at Puritan Mill. The gala will feature an opening cocktail reception, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction and live auction items preview. The evening will truly be a culinary adventure benefiting a great cause. Please click here to purchase tickets to the Circus of Flavor!

Experience Italy at SOHO

16 Tuesday Mar 2010

Posted by in Food and Drink, Miscellaneous Musings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

SOHO’s exploration of Italy continues this week on flight night Wednesday, March 17.

 

DA vineyards The Degli Azzoni winery in Italy 

 

This week, SOHO will pour a 2007 Degli Azzoni Grechetto. Used in the past primarily as a blending grape, Grechetto is now gaining a following as a varietal. The white wine works well with seafood, and the taste is big and full of fresh fruit. SOHO will also offer a 2006 Dante Rivetti “Mara” Barbera d’Alba this week. Long known as an everyday pasta wine in Italy, this Barbera d’Alba stays true to tradition and pairs very well with pasta. The wine is deep ruby in color and offers a rich ripe fruit aroma.

 

Finally, SOHO will offer a 2007 Tenuta Dell Ornellaia Le Volte from Tuscany. This wine is a Super Tuscan – a wine that does not adhere to the traditional blending laws of Tuscany. The Le Volte is from the excellent Tuscan 2007 vintage. It is a rich and complex wine – and not to be missed, according to SOHO’s resident wine expert, Lars Snavely.

 

Chef Joe has prepared three tapas plates to pair with each Italian wine this week. The following will be available until March 24.

 

2007 Degli Azzoni Grechetto, Marche, Italy

100% Grechetto

Warm olive oil poached shrimp with an orange supreme salad

 

2006 Dante Rivetti Mara Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont, Italy

100% Barbera

Braised beef risotto with sun-dried tomatoes, arugula and fontina cheese

 

2007 Tenuta Dell Ornellaia Le Volte

51% Sangiovese, 34% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

Veal parmigiana with grilled romaine and balsamic vinegar

 

Sample each wine in a flight (three three-ounce glasses and a cheese plate) for $18. Or, pair a wine and tapas for $12. Of course, the wines and tapas are available individually as well ($9/glass and $6/tapas). Please join us soon for a taste of Italy!

SOHO News Bites

16 Tuesday Mar 2010

Posted by in Miscellaneous Musings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

It’s been a great – and busy – few weeks at SOHO and, with spring in the air, we are eagerly anticipating more exciting days and events. Here’s a quick rundown of the latest news from SOHO, including upcoming events at the restaurant and in the neighborhood.

 

63 

 

Tonight is the opening of Fiddler on the Roof starring Harvey Fierstein at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Remaining tickets can be purchased for $40 through Ticketmaster – simply click here and enter the code TEVYE. SOHO will offer a special prix fixe menu from 5:30-7:00 pm for guests attending the Fiddler shows March 16-21. The three-course $32 menu includes a choice of soup or salad, entrée, and dessert. To see the full menu, please click here. To make reservations and enjoy this special offer, simply call 770-801-0069 or click here and reference Fiddler.

 

There are plenty of upcoming shows at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre to look forward to this spring and summer. In addition to the Atlanta Ballet’s presentation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, the Atlanta Opera will present The Magic Flute in April and Norah Jones will perform on May 15. With SOHO located only 1.2 miles from the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, it’s easy to grab dinner, appetizers, or drinks with us before a performance, so we hope to see you soon! (Here’s a link to a calendar of upcoming shows at CEPAC).

 

If you’re looking for a fun family event for Easter, consider the Vinings Historic Preservation Society’s Historic Easter Egg Hunt on Thursday, April 1, from 4:00-5:00pm. Children can participate in an Easter egg hunt at the Pace House and Old Pavilion, followed by fun games led by Vinings resident, Anne Cox. Space is limited, so please RSVP. The event is free for VHPS members and $5 per child for non-members. To RSVP, please email the Vinings Historic Preservation Society at vhps1874 [at] bellsouth.net or call 770-432-3343.

 

Finally, with warmer weather arriving, it’s an ideal time to enjoy an appetizer and cocktail on the SOHO patio. We’ve added a few new cocktails to our menu, including my new favorite – the Bahama Holiday martini. The drink mixes Malibu banana rum, Canton ginger cognac, coconut juice, fresh lime and a hint of cardamom. Hope to see you soon!

Indulge in the Tastes of Italy at SOHO

09 Tuesday Mar 2010

Posted by in Food and Drink, Miscellaneous Musings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

SOHO is pleased to continue its Italian journey this week on flight night, Wednesday, March 10.

 

Sangiovese_grapes_for_chianti Sangiovese grapes on the vine

 

First, SOHO will pour a 2007 Brancaia Tre – another example of the exceptional 2007 vintage in Tuscany. The year produced spectacular wines due to good weather conditions and the Brancaia Tre is no exception. The taste is deep and rich with dark fruits. SOHO will also pour a 2006 Brancaia Chianti Classico this week. In 1983, the winery took first place in a major Chianti Classico tasting and, since then, has been producing wonderful Chianti. Lars Snavely, SOHO wine expert, tells me that this wine is rarely offered by the glass, so it is not to be missed this week.

 

Finally, even though Italy is the featured country this month, SOHO will take a short jaunt to Argentina for the week’s third wine – a 2007 Colome Estate Malbec. Founded in 1831, Colome is considered the oldest existing winery in Argentina. After nearly two hundred years, the winery is still producing amazing wine. The 2006 Malbec was number 38 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list. SOHO couldn’t pass on the opportunity to share this Malbec with guests – hence, this week’s small detour to Argentina.

 

To complement each wine, Chef Joe has created three new tapas plates. The following will be available through March 17:

 

2007 Brancaia Tre, Tuscany, Italy

80% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

Duck ravioli with mushrooms and a marsala cream sauce

 

2007 Colome Estate Malbec, Calchaqui Valley, Argentina

85% Malbec, 8% Tannat, 5% Cabernet Sauvignong, 2% Syrah

Chicken cacciatore with saffron risotto

 

2006 Brancaia Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy

85% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot

Slow braised lamb shanks with herbed puff pastry and diced vegetables

 

Sample each wine in a flight (three three-ounce glasses and a cheese plate) for $18. Or, pair a wine and tapas for $12. Of course, the wines and tapas are available individually as well ($9/glass and $6/tapas). Please join us soon for a taste of Italy!

SOHO Partners with the Atlanta Ballet

09 Tuesday Mar 2010

Posted by in Food and Drink

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

SOHO has teamed up with the Atlanta Ballet and invites you to indulge in the beauty of dance and fine dining with our Four Seasons dinner package.

 

First, enjoy a three-course dinner at SOHO. Then, sit back and experience the Atlanta Ballet’s breathtaking presentation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons from priority seats at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, located only minutes from SOHO.

 

62 

 

Interested in a few more details about the evening?

 

The three-course meal at SOHO will include a choice of appetizer – silky butternut squash soup or field green salad; entrée – Springer Mountain Chicken Milanese, Salmon Napoleon, Painted Hills Beef Short Ribs or Farfalle Pasta; and dessert – chocolate bread pudding or Sciabica’s lemon olive oil pound cake. Yum!

 

The performance of Four Seasons, choreographed by James Kudelka and performed live with the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra, will rivet you with its exploration of beauty and “everyman’s” passage from the springtime of youth to the winter of death.

 

We hope you’ll take advantage of this special package offered for the following Four Seasons performances: Thursday, March 25, 7:30pm; Friday, March 26, 8:00pm; Saturday, March 27, 8:00pm.

 

To reserve your evening with Four Seasons and SOHO for only $95, please click here.

Viva Italia

02 Tuesday Mar 2010

Posted by in Food and Drink, Miscellaneous Musings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

SOHO will showcase the wines and flavors of Italy throughout the month of March. The Italian tour begins on flight night Wednesday, March 3.

 

Caparzo vineyards The vineyards of the Caparzo winery

 

This week, SOHO will first pour a 2008 Attems Pinot Grigio. The Attems family has been producing wine for centuries – they were granted an estate in 1106 from the Bishop of Salzburg for the purpose of cultivating vineyards. The 2008 is an exceptional wine according to resident SOHO wine expert Lars Snavely, as the climate that year allowed for the grapes to ripen slowly and develop complex, concentrated aromatic compounds.

 

SOHO will also pour a 2005 Caparzo Rosso di Montalcino this week. The Caparzo winery is the only estate bottled producer of Brunello di Montalcino to have estate vineyards on all five sides of the hill of Montalcino – ensuring that regardless of climate challenges, the winery is still able to harvest great grapes. The Rosso di Montalcino is light ruby in color with a lovely soft bouquet. Finally, SOHO will offer a 2007 Castello Romitorio. This is the first of several great wines from the excellent 2007 vintage in Tuscany that SOHO will be presenting this month. The Castello Romitorio has big flavors of plum and other stone fruits, a good acid balance, and a very nice finish.

 

Chef Joe has created three Italian tapas plates to pair with each wine this week. The following will be available through March 10:

 

2008 Attems Pinot Grigio, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy

100% Pinot Grigio

Roasted chicken stuffed with prosciutto and leeks with a roasted red pepper coulis

 

2005 Caparzo Rosso di Montalcino, Montalcino, Italy

100% Sangiovese

Veal and porcini mushroom baci with sweet peas, sun dried tomatoes, in a spicy tomato and vodka cream sauce

 

2007 Castello Romitorio, Morrelino di Scansano, Italy

85% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

Mini grilled soppressata pizza with asiago cheese

 

Sample each wine in a flight (three three-ounce glasses and a cheese plate) for $18. Or, pair a wine and tapas for $12. Of course, the wines and tapas are available individually as well ($9/glass and $6/tapas). Please join us soon for a taste of Italy!

SOHO to Host Terrapin Beer Dinner

02 Tuesday Mar 2010

Posted by in Food and Drink, Miscellaneous Musings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Mark your calendars! March 30 is SOHO’s Terrapin Beer Dinner. Brewmaster “Spike” Buckowski and SOHO Executive Chef Joe Ahn invite you to enjoy a four-course feast perfectly paired with award-winning Terrapin Beer brewed in Athens, Georgia.

 

Terrapin

The event will begin at 7pm with a welcome reception and tasty hors d’oeuvres – shrimp basil rolls with thai peanut sauce and skewered jerk chicken with mango aioli – served with Terrapin Rye Pale Ale. Then, it’s on to the main event! Here’s the evening’s mouth-watering dinner menu:

 

First Course

Hot smoked sockeye salmon with a salad of grilled romaine, pickled red onions and avocado vinaigrette

Paired with Terrapin Hopsecutioner

 

Second Course

Springer Mountain chicken vindaloo with saffron basmati rice and raita

Paired with Terrapin Hop Karma IPA

 

Main Course

Horseradish-encrusted Berkshire pork tenderloin with celery mashed potatoes, fava beans and rye squared molasses

Paired with Terrapin Rye Squared

 

Dessert

Red velvet and homemade marshmallow moon pie served with a mini Godiva chocolate malted milk shake

Paired with Terrapin Side Project

 

We hope you’ll join us Tuesday, March, 30, at 7pm for the Terrapin Beer Dinner. It’s sure to be a memorable evening. The cost is $42 per person and reservations can be made here or by calling 770-801-0069.