Bouchon Bakery Book Signing and Tasting with Thomas Keller & Sebastian Rouxel

On Monday, December 3, 2012 at 11:00 a.m., we will welcome Chef Thomas Keller of The French Laundry, Per Se, Ad Hoc, Bouchon and Bouchon Bakery for a meet and greet to celebrate the release of his fifth book, Bouchon Bakery, which features recipes from the bakery’s five locations in California, New York and Las Vegas.

Co-Author Sebastien Rouxel, who is the executive pastry chef for the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group, will also be in attendance and will join Aria Pastry Chef Kathryn King to prepare some sweet treats found in the cookbook. King is highly regarded for creating innovative twists on classic American desserts, and, as one of the city’s top pastry chefs, she produces a memorable grand finale at Aria.

Guests will have the opportunity to meet Keller and Rouxel while enjoying their pastries and desserts along with bubbly and coffee. The cost to attend this event is $35, which includes pastries and beverages. Copies of the book are available for purchase at the event for $50.

To purchase tickets, please visit Xorbia.com!

Released on October 23, Bouchon Bakery (Artisan Books) is a dazzling amalgam of American and French baked goods, including all the classics that Keller fell in love with as a young chef apprenticing in Paris.

“I do know this: a bakery is an anchor; it draws a community around it. Whether we visit them for croissants in the morning or for cookies and an afternoon coffee, bakeries have a central place in our lives.” – Thomas Keller

Neil Ellis Wine Dinner on May 23

Please Join us at Aria for an evening of delicious food and wine as we experience the wines of the South African districts of Stellenbosch and Elgin with wine maker Neil Ellis.

Wednesday May 23 at 7pm.

Neil Ellis began his career at Groot Constantia Estate and Zevenwacht, and before at KWV, a South African co-op.  In 1986, he set out on his own as a negociant, buying and vinifying grapes,  and selling  the wines under his own label .  That same year, Hans Schroder purchased Oude Nektar Farm, 98 acres of vines in the deep, red clay soils of Jonkershoek , Stellenbosch.

In 1993, after great demand and accolades, Neil and Hans formed a joint venture to produce Neil Ellis Wines.  Today Oude Nektar is the primary source for Neil Ellis reds.

Reception

Groenkloof, Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Dinner

first course

Georgia White Shrimp

georgia peach, vidalia onion salad

white balsamic vinaigrette

Elgin, Chardonnay 2009

second course

Pan Roasted Carolina Quail

foie gras and brioche

Stellenbosch, Pinotage 2008

third course

Garganelli with Ragu of Wild Boar & Mushrooms

reggiano parmigiano

Elgin, Shiraz 2008

entree

Porcini Crusted Loin of Spring Lamb 

creamy leeks and fava beans

Stellenbosch, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

dessert

Blueberry Creme Fraiche Cake

lemon custard  buttermilk ice cream

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Dinner will be $100.00 per person (includes tax and gratuity).
For reservations, please call 404.233.7673.

We hope to see you then.

Cheers

Peay Vineyards Wine Dinner on March 26

A tremendous thank you to Andy Peay and to everyone that joined us on Monday, March 26 for our Peay Vineyards wine dinner; what a great evening!

reception

Rosé of Pinot Noir, Cep Vineyards, Russian River Valley 2011

first course

Seared New Bedford Jumbo Sea Scallop

passion fruit, serrano and red onion

Sauvignon Blanc, Cep Vineyards, Hopkins Ranch
Russian River Valley 2011

second course

First of Spring White Asparagus

butter poached maine lobster and blood orange hollandaise

Chardonnay, Peay Vineyards, Sonoma Coast 2009

third course

Slow Braised Berkshire Pork

green olives, preserved tomatoes and crispy egg

Pinot Noir, Peay Vineyards, Scallop Shelf
Sonoma Coast 2009

Pinot Noir, Peay Vineyards, Ama
Sonoma Coast 2009

entree

Grilled Sliced Kobe Flank “Cheese Steak”

portabello, aged gruyere, celery hearts &  chips, syrah foie gras sauce

Syrah, Peay Vineyards, La Bruma, Sonoma Coast 2009

dessert

Early Georgia Strawberry Angel Cake

peppermint ice cream

Our next wine dinner will be on May 23 with South Africa's own Neil Ellis.  Hope to see you then.

From the Cellar: Nicolas Girard, Menetou-Salon 2010

Located in the heart of France, on the banks of the Loire River is the tiny village of Menetou-Salon. Specializing in producing elegant and mineral driven whites wines from the Sauvignon Blanc grape. 

We are featuring Domaine Nicolas Girard and his 2009 Menetou-Salon. The wine is made from 100% estate grown grapes, and a tiny estate it is, coming in at just 1.2 acres in Menetou-Salon and an additional 2.4 acres in Sancerre. This tiny amount of production allows the winemaker to take the utmost time and care in making the wine. 

Try it with Chef Gerry's flash fried Beau Soleil oysters with whole grain mustard remoulade and pickled shallots.

jacob gragg - certified sommelier

aria wine team

Buckhead Restaurant Week 2012

It’s time for Buckhead’s restaurants to shine during Buckhead Restaurant Week from Saturday, February 25 to Sunday, March 4!

Visit Aria throughout the week to enjoy a three course, prix-fixe menu for $35 per person.  (Our regular nightly dinner menu will be available as well). Be sure to call us for reservations at 404-233-7673.

And remember that when you dine at the bar, you receive 20% off your food bill.

Hope to see you this week!

Eyrie Vineyards Wine Dinner

It’s time for our first wine dinner of the year, and we’re pleased to feature Eyrie Vineyards on February 22 at 7 p.m.

After earning a degree in viticulture and enology from U.C. Davis, 25 year old David “Papa Pinot” Lett planted the first Pinot Noir vines in the Willamette Valley back in 1965. Since 1970, Eyrie Vineyards has been producing wonderfully classic wines, all based on the philosophy of trying to interfere as little as possible with what nature had in mind.

We’re proud to have David’s son, Jason Lett, joining us for this wine dinner.  Jason took over his father’s role as winemaker and vineyard manager in 2005, and we look forward to hearing firsthand about his family’s legacy.

Featured wines include:


- Pinot Blanc, Estate, Dundee Hills 2009
- Pinot Gris, Estate, Dundee Hills 2009
- Chardonnay, Original Vines Reserve, Willamette Valley 2009
- Pinot Noir, Original Vines Reserve, Dundee Hills 2009
- Pinot Noir, La Luz, Oregon NV
- Equation of Time vII (A blend of 40 vintages of Chardonnay)


Chef Gerry is pairing five special courses with these fantastic wines.
Dinner will be $100.00 (excluding tax and gratuity). Call us at 404-233-7673 for more details or to make your reservation.

Hope to see you then!

Aria - Bravo, February!

Hope to see you this month at Aria!

From the Cellar: Chateau Pradeaux, Bandol Rouge 2005

From one of the oldest and most traditional wine estates in Bandol (which is itself one of the oldest growing regions in France) comes this week’s highlight from Aria’s wine list.

Offered on half bottle (375mL), this bottling from Pradeaux is made almost entirely from Mouvedre, and from vines which have been under the careful watch of the Portalis family since before the French revolution.

The wine has a core of ripe fruit, tempered with smoked meat under tones and firm tannin.  Fantastic with Chef Gerry’s braised beef short ribs. Cheers!

andrés loaiza – certified sommelier
aria wine team

From the Cellar: Au Bon Climat "Hildegard" 2007

From Santa Maria Valley, in California's Central Coast, comes this bold and delicious blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Aligoté.

Au Bon Climat's winemaker, the legendary Jim Clendenen, uses Burgundian-inspired techniques to produce this 'chardonnay alternative' which we now offer by the glass at Aria.

Toasty, mineral and fresh, 'Hildegard" is extremely versatile with food.  Cheers!

andrés loaiza - certified sommelier
aria wine team

From our Cellar: Giaconda Estate Chardonnay 2008

Giaconda is quite possibly my favorite wine producer in Australia; winemaker Rick Kinzbrunner has been producing wine in the tiny little region of Beechworth Australia in northern Victoria since 1985.

Before returning to the land down under, Rick studied enology at UC Davis and during the 1970’s helped make wine at Stag’s Leap, Matanzas Creek, and for Bordeaux legend Christian Moueix of Chateau Petrus fame.

The 2008 Giaconda Chardonnay is a beautiful wine that bursts with apple and tree fruit and shows an amazing minerality and sense of place. The wine is tasting great now, but has a longevity that will allow it to age for a decade or longer.

jacob gragg - certified sommelier
aria wine team

From our Cellar: Clos de Ursules 2007

We are really excited to have a few Magnums of 2007 Domaine des Heritiers Louis Jadot 1er Cru 'Clos de Ursules'. The 2007 vintage of 'Clos de Ursules' marks the 150th anniversary of the Jadot's sole ownership of the historic walled vineyard and the entire production from 2007 was bottled solely in Magnum in celebration. Planted in the 17th century by the Ursuline Convent, 'Clos de Ursules' is one of my favorite Vineyards in all of Burgundy, producing rich deeply colored Pinot Noir with ripe succulent red cherry and fresh raspberry notes with great acidity year after year. The wine is a versatile match for the lighter fare on Chef Gerry's ever changing menu.


jacob gragg - certified sommelier
aria wine team