Monthly Archives: April 2010

A Final Taste of Washington and Oregon

27 Tuesday Apr 2010

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This week, SOHO will finish its tour of Washington and Oregon on flight night, Wednesday, April 28.

 

Red Mountain_Washington_Kiona vineyardRed Mountain, Washington 

 

First, SOHO will pour a 2008 Barnard Griffin Fume Blanc from Columbia Valley, Washington. The 2008 growing season in Columbia Valley featured a cool, late spring, and moderate summer. A warm autumn allowed the grapes to mature fully but without an excess of sugar and alcohol. The Barnard Griffin Fume Blanc offers a dry and crisp taste, with flavors of lime and tangerine.

 

Next, SOHO will pour a 2003 Kiona Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain, Washington. Produced from 30 year-old vines on Red Mountain, the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon offers flavors of blackberry, cassis, and blueberry.

 

Finally, SOHO will pour a 2006 Eyrie Estate Pinot Noir from Dundee Hills, Oregon. One of the Eyrie Estate founders, David Lett, was known as “Papa Pinot” for his love of the grape and his pioneering work in Oregon. The 2006 Eyrie Estate Pinot Noir is an example of the great Pinots produced by the winery, according to SOHO wine expert Lars Snavely. The wine offers flavors of savory red fruits and spice.

 

Chef Joe has prepared three new tapas plates to pair with each wine. The following will be available until Wednesday, May 5:

 

2008 Barnard Griffin Fume Blanc, Columbia Valley, Washington

100% Sauvignon Blanc

Thai coconut vegetable curry with purple sticky rice

 

2003 Kiona Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain, Washington

Grilled lollipop lamb chops with fava beans and a Cabernet reduction

 

2006 Eyrie Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, Oregon

100% Pinot Noir

Roasted chicken stuffed with veal sausage and a blackberry 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 at the Circus

27 Tuesday Apr 2010

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Last Wednesday, April 21, SOHO was thrilled to join the Circus of Flavor. The annual event, featuring 25 top Atlanta chefs, raised funds for the American Liver Foundation. For those interested in more details of the spectatcular evening, I’ve recapped SOHO’s culinary creations below. Most importantly, there’s still a chance to participate in the Circus of Flavor silent auction and help a great cause. Click here to bid on items (bidding closes at 5:00pm on Friday, April 30).

 

SOHO Executive Chef Joe Ahn and Sous Chef Jeff Haegar, created an unforgettable dining experience for ten guests during the Circus of Flavor event. In addition to great food, guests enjoyed a table decorated with the circus-themed artwork of Emmy Dudley, Laura Bowman, Priscilla Nelson and Cheryl Burgess.

 

25668_388815855783_54694435783_4190704_1758905_nArtwork by Priscilla Nelson 

 

Chef Joe began his feast with taste of SOHO “popcorn” calamari with a ginger soy glaze. Next, guests enjoyed a fresh mozzarella balloon with shaved prosciutto de parma and aged balsamic drizzle.

 

 

20100421_FLAVORS_3930 Chef Joe's mozzarella balloon 

 

Chef Joe then served up a seared scallop with micro greens, caramelized plantains, and a raspberry vinaigrette. The main course was a delicious blackberry stuffed filet topped with foie gras, and served with fingerling potatoes and tri-color cauliflower. Finally, the meal ended with a slice of candy apple spice cake and homespun cotton candy.

 

20100421_FLAVORS_3948 Chef Joe's candy apple spice cake

 

The Circus of Flavor was full of delicious food, great wine, and amazing company. The team at SOHO is already looking forward to next year's event!

 

Westward Bound

20 Tuesday Apr 2010

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SOHO continues to explore the flavors of the U.S. Northwest, specifically Oregon and Washington, on flight night Wednesday, April 21.

 

Columbia Valley AVA Columbia Valley, Washington

 

First, SOHO will pour a 2006 Eyrie Estate Chardonnay from Willamette, Oregon. Eyrie Estate produces a unique and distinctly European Chardonnay, due to the fact that the vineyards were planted with vines originally imported from Burgundy, France, and the climate of the Willamette Valley closely mirrors that of Burgundy. Only 200 cases of the 2006 Chardonnay were produced, so please join us this week for a taste!

 

Next, SOHO will pour a 2007 Snoqualmie “Naked” Cabernet Sauvignon from Columbia Valley, Washington. The grapes for this Cabernet are certified organically grown and the wines are produced in a certified organic facility. The resulting wine offers a sweet berry fruit taste and soft finish.

 

Finally, SOHO will pour a 2007 Henry Estate Pinot Noir from Umpqua Valley, Oregon. SOHO wine expert Lars Snavely notes this wine is an excellent example of Oregon Pinot Noirs. The Henry Estate Pinot offers flavors of cherries and black pepper mixed with light overtones from the oak aging.

 

Chef Joe has created three new tapas plates to complement each wine. The following will be available through Wednesday, April 28:

 

2006 Eyrie Estate Chardonnay, Willamette, Oregon

100% Chardonnay

Wild boar chili with shaved Tillamook cheddar and crème fraiche

 

2007 Snoqualmie “Naked” Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington

100% organically grown Cabernet Sauvignon

Painted Hills pot roast with mashed Yukon potatoes and fried onions

 

2007 Henry Estate Pinot Noir, Umpqua Valley, Oregon

100% Pinot Noir

Mandarin orange glazed duck breast with stir fried noodles

 

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!

SOHO Celebrates Mom

20 Tuesday Apr 2010

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May is just around the corner – and so is Mother’s Day! SOHO invites you to celebrate Mom with brunch – or dinner – on Sunday, May 9.

 

Bandel_Rose1 

 

SOHO will be open for brunch from 11am to 3pm on Mother’s Day and offer a special menu for guests. The menu will include numerous brunch specials created by SOHO’s Chef Joe Ahn for the occasion. The specials include: SOHO Benedict served with hash browns; Smoked Salmon Hash topped with fried eggs; Fried Green Tomato and Goat’s Cheese BLT with roasted pepper remoulade;  Buttermilk blueberry pancakes served with scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, and warm maple syrup; Belgian-style pecan waffles topped with fresh strawberries and served with crisped bacon and warm maple syrup; and a SOHO omelet filled with mushrooms, prosciutto, tomato, scallions, and brie cheese, and served with hash browns and fresh fruit.

 

The Mother’s Day menu will also feature regular SOHO favorites, including the following starters: chicken tortilla soup, calamari, egg rolls, mozzarella and tomato salad; green salad and spinach salad. The menu will also include the following popular sandwiches and entrees: maple grilled salmon salad, crab cake salad, thai salmon, SOHO burger, black and blue chicken sandwich, Sweetwater Farms Bolognese, and the turkey tortilla. (Full descriptions for each of these menu items can be found here).

 

SOHO will also be open for dinner Sunday, May 9, from 5-9pm. The evening’s featured special will be the Low Down Lobster Boil. For $25, each guest receives a 1 1/2 lb Maine lobster, Andouille sausage, fresh corn, creamer potatoes and a green salad. If Mom loves lobster, this might be the perfect meal.

 

We hope to see you on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 9! (You can make a reservation for brunch or dinner by clicking here).

 

One other option for celebrating Mom? A SOHO dinner and show package. If Mom is an opera enthusiast, why not indulge in a three-course dinner at SOHO, and then enjoy the Atlanta Opera’s performance of “The Magic Flute” at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre? (The Arts Centre is located only 1.2 miles from SOHO.) The dinner and theatre package costs $63.80 per person and is available for performances of “The Magic Flute” on Saturday, April 24, Tuesday, April 2, and Friday, April 30. Please find more details here or by calling 404-881-6866.

 

SOHO is also offering a dinner and theatre package in partnership with the Atlanta Ballet. The Atlanta Ballet will perform “Sheer Exhilaration” May 6-9, at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Guests can enjoy a three-course dinner at SOHO and then take in a performance of “Sheer Exhilaration” for only $95. Please click here for more details.

 

Happy Mother’s Day!

SOHO Spotlights Washington and Oregon

13 Tuesday Apr 2010

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SOHO will continue to spotlight the wines and flavors of Oregon and Washington on flight night Wednesday, April 14.

 

Stillwater Creek Vineyard (NH)

The vineyards of Novelty Hill

 

This week SOHO will pour three wines from Columbia Valley, Washington. The first is a 2006 Chateau St. Michelle Cold Creek Chardonnay. Planted in 1973, the Cold Creek Vineyard has weak soil which produces concentrated grapes. Lars Snavely, SOHO’s resident wine expert, notes the 2006 is a big Chardonnay and earned ninety points from both Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast.

 

Next, SOHO will pour a 2007 Novelty Hill Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2007 growing season in Washington was near ideal, with warm days and cool nights. The resulting wines have excellent natural acidity and deep, intense flavor. The Novelty Hill Cabernet offers flavors of blackberry, dark cherry and red currant.

 

Finally, SOHO will pour a 2007 Chateau St. Michelle Indian Wells Merlot. The grapes for this Merlot were sourced from vineyards on the Wahluke Slope, a region that consistently produces high-quality ripe fruit – yielding wines with intense color and flavor. The full bodied 2007 Indian Wells Merlot offers ripe berry fruit aromas and jammy flavors.

 

SOHO’s Chef Joe has created three new tapas plates to pair with each Washington wine. The following will be available until Wednesday, April 21.

 

2007 Chateau St. Michelle Cold Creek Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, Washington

100% Chardonnay

Washington Manila clams with a saffron-Chardonnay broth and pesto crouton

 

2007 Novelty Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington

90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot

Chimmi-churri grilled Oregon flat iron steak with roasted fingerlings

 

2007 Chateau St. Michelle Indian Wells Merlot, Columbia Valley, Washington

80% Merlot, 19% Syrah, 1% Malbec

Potato gnocchi Bolognese with black truffles

 

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 and the Atlanta Opera Offer Dinner and a Show

13 Tuesday Apr 2010

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SOHO is teaming with the Atlanta Opera and Encore Atlanta Magazine to offer guests a special dinner and show package. The Atlanta Opera will perform Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” at the Cobb Energy Centre on April 24, 27, 30 and May 2.

 

09 

 

We invite you to dine at SOHO and enjoy a special 3-course prix fixe menu before the shows on Saturday, April 24; Tuesday, April 27; and Friday, April 30. Then head to the Cobb Energy Centre, located only 1.2 miles from the restaurant, for an enchanting performance of “The Magic Flute.” The cost for dinner and a show ticket is only $63.80 per person. To book a dinner and show package, please call Charles Swint at 404-881-6866. More details (and the SOHO prix fixe menu) can be found here.

 

In addition to proudly partnering with the Atlanta Opera, SOHO has been able to participate in two great events this past week. On Thursday, April 8, Executive Chef Joe Ahn served up Burgundy braised beef short ribs at the Georgia Aquarium for Wine Enthusiast’s Toast of the Town event. Over 500 wines and gourmet dishes were served in the Ocean’s Ballroom, and it was a delight to be a part of the fun. Then, on Saturday, April 10, the 4th annual Vinings International Wine Crawl kicked off at SOHO. The weather was spectacular – and turnout was great. Best of all, the event supported a great cause – a portion of proceeds from the event benefited the Small Dog Rescue and Humane Society. 
 

Next on the agenda? SOHO's Chef Joe Ahn will join 24 other top Atlanta chefs for the “Circus of Flavor” on Wednesday, April 21. The event will benefit the Georgia Chapter of the American Liver Foundation – and we hope to see you there!

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Tastes of the Northwest

06 Tuesday Apr 2010

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In April, SOHO will explore the flavors and wines of Washington and Oregon. The journey begins with flight night on Wednesday, April 7.

 

PonziVineyards-AuroraVineyard_PolaraStudio Ponzi Estate Vineyards 

 

This week, SOHO will first pour a 2007 Eyrie Estate Pinot Gris from Willamette Valley, Oregon. Pinot Gris is the most widely planted grape in Oregon and second only to Chardonnay as the most popular white wine in the US. The Eyrie Estate Pinot Gris is sourced from four different vineyards and offers rich varietal character and complexity. The taste is dry, but with excellent acidity, and it pairs well with food – so please try it with Chef Joe’s tapas!

 

SOHO will also pour a 2007 Hedges CSM Red from Columbia Valley, Washington, this week. The Hedges Family Estate is located on Red Mountain in Washington, considered to be the premier growing region in the state. The CSM Red offers tastes of black cherry and blackberry fruit. Finally, SOHO will pour a 2007 Ponzi “Tavola” Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon. Due to climate conditions, 2007 was not an easy vintage in Oregon. However, according to SOHO wine expert Lars Snavely, the experienced winemakers at Ponzi have crafted an excellent Pinot from the vintage.

 

Chef Joe has prepare three new tapas plates to pair with each wine. The following will be available until April 14:

 

2007 Eyrie Estate Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, Oregon

100% Pinot Gris

Hot smoked sockeye salmon with a slaw of Asian pear and Washington apple

 

2007 Hedges CSM Red, Columbia Valley, Washington

42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 51% Merlot, 7% Syrah

Grilled chicken paillard with herb roasted potatoes and shaved gouda

 

2007 Ponzi “Tavola” Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon

100% Pinot Noir

Tillamook cheddar “mac-n-cheese” with crisped pancetta

 

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!