DINNER WITH CHRIS HASTINGS OF BIRMINGHAM’S THE HOT AND HOT FISH CLUB AT ARIA

Tuesday, December 1 at 7 p.m.

Start the holiday season with dinner with Chris Hastings, author of "The Hot and Hot Fish Club Cookbook, A Celebration of Food, Family and Traditions" and Chef/Owner of The Hot and Hot Fish Club, Birmingham, Alabama’s fine dining “hot” spot. Hastings’ passion for Southern cuisine and local, seasonal ingredients is contagious!

Join us and Chef Hastings for dinner at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 1, at Aria as Owner/Executive Chef Gerry Klaskala prepares a four-course menu using recipes from the book and wine pairings provided by renowned wine importer Vineyard Brands. Cost is $125 per person, including a signed copy of Hastings’ cookbook, or $100 for dinner only (both prices include tax and gratuity).

Please call 404.233.7673 or email andres@aria-atl.com for reservation; we look forward to seeing you.

Hors d’Oeuvres
•Seared Foie Gras on Brioche with Persimmon Jam
•Oyster Shooters
•Bloody Orange Martinis
•Roasted Chestnuts with Red Mountain Honey
Mohua, Pinot Gris, Central Otago, New Zealand

Amuse
•Smoked and Grilled Quail with Roasted Vegetables and White BBQ Sauce (breast half only)

First Course
•Hearts of Palm Salad with Pink Grapefruit, Avocado and Herb Vinaigrette
Domaine Vincent Delaporte, Sancerre

Second Course
•Pan-Seared Flounder with Shaved Fennel Salad, Picholine Olives, and Satsuma Oranges
Hamilton Russell, Chardonnay, Hemel-En-Aarde , South Africa

Third Course
•Fudge Farms Pork and Beans with Braised Greens, Cracklin’ Cornbread and Chow Chow
Perrin et Fils, Vinsobres, Rhone

Fourth Course
•Chocolate Pot de Crème with Chocolate-Cardamom Cookie and Candied Peanuts
Domaine du Mas Blanc, Banyuls

Miner Family Vineyards SB @ ARIA

It's been a month now since Andrés returned from his California trip and we're starting to see some of those contacts pay off here at ARIA. Our newest addition to the by-the-glass list is a wine that can't be found at any store in Atlanta, let alone any store in the US. It's Miner Family Vineyards' Sauvignon Blanc, a wine normally only sold in their tasting room in Napa. Andrés, a long time Miner fan, tasted this juice, and insisted we get some for ARIA. A few weeks later and blam, here it is:

Miner Family Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Napa Valley, all from their Oakville property. Bright citrus nose with a little dried herb, fresh, clean, and zippy in the mouth, a simple but classic SB style. Please come in and try this great wine, especially while we are still serving Roast Halibut from Maine (sushi grade stuff) with poblanos.

Contributor: George Kientzy III

Robert Sinskey Wine Dinner

Join us Thursday, September 17, for an intimate dinner with great wines from Robert Sinskey Vineyards. The reception begins at 7 p.m. and dinner is served at 7:30 p.m.

We have selected some of our favorite wines to be paired with an inspired seasonal menu. All Robert Sinskey wines are organically grown and most of them are farmed under biodynamic practices.

Featured wines include:

Abraxas, Vin de Terroir, Los Carneros 07
Pinot Blanc, Los Carneros 08
Pinot Noir, Three Amigos Vineyard,
Los Carneros, Napa Valley 04
Merlot, Los Carneros, Napa Valley 05
Point of View, Napa Valley 05
Pinot Gris Late, A Late Harvest Gris,
Los Carneros 06


Dinner is $85 per person, plus tax and gratuity. For reservations call 404.233.7673.

We look forward to seeing you!

Peter Michael on ARIA's wine list

We are excited to be one of the lucky few to have added two wines from the legendary Peter Michael Winery to our Cellar list.
As one of the best run wineries in the world, Sir Peter Michael employs Nicolas Morlet as winemaker and Javier Avina as vineyard manager, both famous for their meticulous work.

'Les Pavots' 2006 is Peter Michael's flagship Bordeaux blend known for a very Pomerol-like mouth feel, very lush, full bodied and opulent.
'Belle Cote' 2007, a single vineyard estate Chardonnay famous for being ultrarich and concentrated, but still graceful with a crisp natural acidity.

For those of us who love great Napa Valley wines, this is an exciting time to be part of Atlanta's burgeoning wine scene as wines of the caliber of Peter Michael become more readily available.
Please come visit us at ARIA and celebrate these wines along with a terrific meal

Contributor: George Kientzy III

Schug Wine Maker Dinner

On Monday, August 31 at 7 p.m., enjoy with us the wines of esteemed Schug Winery from Carneros in Sonoma. Axel Schug, son of winemaker Walter Schug, will join us for a five-course menu of Gerry's delicious seasonal cooking.
The dinner is $85 per person (plus tax and gratuity).

Featured wines include:

2008 Sonoma Coast Sauvignon Blanc

2007 Carneros Chardonnay

2007 Carneros Pinot Noir

2005 Sonoma Coast Merlot

2005 Heritage Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Seats are limited. Email Andres or call us at 404-233-7673 to make advance reservations.

Attack of the Killer Tomato Fest!

This Sunday, August 9, Gerry will join several of Atlanta’s well-known chefs at JCT. Kitchen & Bar's Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival. Chefs will be teaming up with local farmers making creative tomato dishes to benefit Georgia Organics. Gerry will be making “Tomatoes on the Half Shell”:
Ice cold, freshly shucked middleneck clams with an heirloom
tomato bloody mary mignonette, featuring tomatoes, freshly
picked by Charlotte & Wes of Riverview Farms.

Killer Tomatoes on the Loose

Guests of the event will get to sample dishes with cocktails crafted by featured mixologists. High-profile judges including Restaurant Editor Andrew Knowlton of Bon Appetit, Restaurant Editor Kate Krader of Food + Wine, Senior Food Writer Donna Florio of Southern Living and Danny Bonvissuto, freelance food writer for Food + Wine, will be choosing the best dish and best beverage, and an award will also be given to the chef with the best table decorations. For more information click here.

Pahlmeyer Wine Maker Dinner Recap

Special thanks, again, to Paige Pahlmeyer! What a pleasure and honor it was to have you with us last Wednesday night. Thanks also to everyone that joined us for dinner; I have a feeling you had as much fun as we did.



*All photos courtesy of Mike and Nancy Ellsworth.

Amuse: seared yellow fin tuna, avocado

Roasted Wild Sockeye Salmon
zipper peas, golden oak mushrooms, applewood bacon
Pinot Noir, Jayson, Sonoma Coast 06

Australian Winter Truffle Risotto
carnaroli and reggiano parmigiano
Merlot, Pahlmeyer, Napa Valley 05

Gerry shaving truffles table-side

American Bison Ribeye
silver queen corn, heirloom red peppers, fingerlings
Proprietary Red, Pahlmeyer, Napa Valley 05

Black Plum Tart
ginger brown butter and vanilla bean ice cream