LORING WINE MAKER DINNER

Our second wine dinner of the year is one for Pinot Noir lovers.

On February the 23rd we will welcome Brian Loring of the Loring Wine Company and we will focus on Pinot Noirs from Santa Lucia Highlands and Russian River Valley from the 2009 vintage.

Brian is a self-diagnosed Pinor Noir obsessed and he has been making wine from the top vineyards in California and Oregon since 2000; his Pinots are made in a style similar to those of his mentor Adam Lee of Siduri; softly structured, fruit forward and supple.

Reception starts at 6.30pm promptly followed by dinner at 7pm. $130 per person (includes tax and gratuity)

This wine dinner is a partnership with Chris Soluri, proprietor of Fine Wine Connection; for all reservation please call Chris directly at 770-984-9663.
Hope to see you on the 23rd.

Cheers!


Reception 

Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon , Château Guiraud, Bordeaux 09

Dinner 

Amuse

Ginger Prawn
madras curry aioli and pickled radish

First Course

Warm Smoked Breast of Duck
chicories, toasted walnuts, pecorino toscano
Russian River Valley 09
Santa Lucia Highlands 09

Second Course

Slow Braised Shoulder of Veal
cipollini, sweet red peppers, parsnips
Durell Vineyard, Sonoma Coast 09
Graham Family Vineyard, Green Valley of Russian River Valley 09

Entree

Cervena Venison Chop
black trumpets, hedgehogs & oyster mushrooms
yellow finn and sweet potato gratin
Rosella's Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands 09
Keefer Ranch Vineyard, Green Valley of Russian River 09

Dessert

Arborio Rice Pudding
caramelized mango, coconut ice cream

Upcoming Wine Dinners - IL POGGIONE

We are happy to announce that our first wine dinner of 2011 is almost upon us, with the second one coming up not far behind this February!  From Italy to California, there is much to explore about both of the wineries coming to visit, and we hope you can join us.

IL POGGIONE

February 2 at 7 p.m. marks the first wine dinner of the year, with our featured winery Il Poggione coming to Aria all the way from the village of Sant’Angelo in Tuscany, Italy.
We are honored to have Alessandro Bindocci join us to tell us more about the wonderful history of this legendary winery in the heart of Tuscany.

'Il Poggione owns approximately 250 acres of vineyards in the Brunello di Montalcino zone, with 118 acres producing the Brunello Riserva and Brunello wines. The remaining 132 acres are planted to Sangiovese for Rosso, Cabernet Sauvignon and several white varietals'

Enjoy five courses paired with four wines from Il Poggione, including Rosso di MOntalcino, Mazzoni (Sangiovese-Merlot blend), Brunello di MOntalcino and Brunello Riserva. $100 per person (includes tax and gratuity)

You can reserve your spot by calling us at 404-233-7673.
All featured wines will also be available for purchase through Perrine's Wine Shop

SAVE THE DATE
We’ll be revealing more details about our second February wine dinner very soon, but for now please save the date for February 23!  The wine dinner, focusing on all single vineyard Pinot Noirs from Santa Lucia Highlands and Russian River Valley, is in partnership with Chris Soluri of Fine Wine Connection.  We are excited that Brian Loring of Loring Wine Company, who has a self-diagnosed obsession with Pinot Noir, is joining us for this wine dinner from California to tell us more about each wine.

Stay tuned for more details to come!





Cheers!

A recipe from the files of Gerry Klaskala

The Holiday Season is quickly approaching, and we here at Aria would like to wish you and your families a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving.  Although we will be closed Thursday evening, we will reopen Friday with regular business hours and we look forward to seeing you.

    -Bring a bit of Aria to your Thanksgiving table this year with Chef Gerry’s Warm Wilted Arugula, Chanterelle, and Cranberry Salad recipe.

Enjoy!

Do we smell Smoke ?

Usually here at Aria, the only thing getting roasted is whatever culinary creation Chef Gerry Klaskala might be whipping up in our kitchen.

But come this November 1, the tables will turn as Chef Gerry gets roasted himself at the Legends of Atlanta Roast, along with two other hospitality legends of Atlanta, Anne Quatrano and Kevin Rathbun!  It’s all in the name of both good fun and fundraising for the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

The industrial warehouse space of ACFB will be magically transformed into a red-carpet environment for guests to enjoy a cocktail reception at 6 p.m., as well as a three course meal and dessert reception, which will be prepared by each honorees’ restaurant.

This will definitely be a night to remember!  For more information and tickets, please visit http://www.acfb.org/ROAST

MARTINELLI WINERY DINNER - Wednesday September 22 @ 7pm

Summer of 2010 has brought some of our favorite wineries to Aria for our wine dinners – with featured winemakers from Susana Balbo, Pio Cesare and Hugel & Fils gracing our tables.
 
We’re excited to kick off fall with our next wine dinner, in partnership with Perrine’s Wine Shop,  featuring Martinelli Winery.  This event will be held on September 22nd at 7 p.m.  and we hope you can join us!

Juliana Martinelli will be our special guest at Aria as we feature several of Martinelli Estate’s finest wines.  The Martinelli family has being producing wine in Sonoma County since 1896, through five generations; and their wines are legendary.
 
We look forward to a great evening of delicious food and wine as we learn more about Martinelli’s winemaking techniques and the legacy the family has created.

Some of the featured wines include:

Chardonnay, Zio Tony Ranch, Russian River Valley
Pinot Noir, Moonshine Ranch, Russian River Valley
Syrah, Terra Felice, Russian River Valley
Zinfandel, Giuseppe & Luisa, Russian River Valley
Muscat Alexandria, Jackass Hill, Russian River Valley

Five courses/Five Wines, $100 per person (includes tax and gratuity)

Please call us at 404-233-7673 for reservations; we look forward to seeing you!

Skillet Roasted Okra with Eastern Spices and Lime / Peachtree Farmers Market

It wouldn’t be summer without Atlanta farmers markets, and it wouldn’t be a farmers market without a chef demo!  Chef Gerry Klaskala loves demonstrating cooking techniques with the freshest local ingredients possible to the market crowd. 

Here’s one of Chef Gerry’s recipes from his summer chef demo at Peachtree Road Farmers Market that adds a twist to traditional summer okra.  Enjoy!

Skillet Roasted Okra with Eastern Spices and Lime

Ingredients

Spice Mix

            2 Tbl.   Kosher Salt

            1 Tbl.   Ground Indian Cayenne Pepper

            1 tsp.   Ground Coriander

            1 tsp.   Mango Powder

            ½ tsp. Ground Cumin

            ½ tsp. Ground Cardamom Seeds

            ¼ tsp. Ground Black Pepper

           

                         Okra, cut in half length wise

                         Grape Seed Oil

                         Lime

                         Chives, minced

Preparation

1.)    Thoroughly mix spices and set aside

2.)    Heat a heavy bottom skillet until smoking; add 2 tsp. of grape seed oil. Place okra cut side down. Cook until okra is quite dark and caramelized. Briefly turn over.

3.)    Place on a platter cut side up. Season with spices and a squeeze of lime. Sprinkle with chives and serve.

SUSANA BALBO WINE MAKER DINNER (Updated)

Join us on August 24 at 7 p.m. for a very special wine dinner as we welcome by the legendary Susana Balbo from Argentina! After working more than 25 years as a winemaker consultant for domestic and international wine companies, Susana Balbo struck out on her own to make her winery dreams come true in Luján de Cuyo, in Mendoza.
Now those dreams have sprung to life with Dominio del Plata, which now exports to more than 36 countries all over the world, mostly here in the United States.

By focusing on a philosophy that includes sustainable agriculture, precision viticulture, superior winemaking skills as well as love and passion for the craft, she has been able to produce a variety of amazing high quality, high end wines. Susana Balbo is currently the most recognized and famous female enologist in Argentina and it will be a great opportunity to learn more about her experience with both the wine industry and these special wines that she has crafted.

Six Wines / Five Courses $100.00 per person (includes tax and gratuity)

Call us for more information and reservations at (404) 233-7673.

Menu Update: from the evening of September 24th

Amuse

Sashimi of Fluke

mango, jalapeno, cilantro

First

Coconut Roasted Maine Lobster

green onion, ginger, sweet red pepper

Torrontes, Crios de Susana Balbo, Cafayate-Salta 09

Second

Fillet of Columbia River Sturgeon

applewood smoked bacon, field peas, leeks

Chardonnay, Crios de Susana Balbo, Mendoza 09

Third

Summerfield Farms Veal Ragu

pappardelle, basil, reggiano parmigiano

Malbec, Susana Balbo, Mendoza 08

Fourth

Roasted Georgia Quail

sausage, green grapes, pinenuts

Cabernet Sauvignon, Susana Balbo, Mendoza 06

Entree

Mashima Ranch Wagyu Petite Filet Mignon

lobster mushrooms, rosated shallots

Expresivo (Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah), Ben Marco, Mendoza 06

Dessert

Chocolate Hazelnut Praline Cake

Virtuoso (late Harvest Malbec), Susana Balbo, Mendoza 07