A Sweet Day! ARIA's Gerry Klaskala at Vidalia Onion Museum

What a sweet day!  A great time was had by all at the Grand Opening of the Vidalia Onion Museum in Vidalia, Georgia last Friday and Chef Gerry was proud to take part.  Take a look at Chef Gerry and the festivities in the slideshow and plan your visit to learn more about Georgia’s sweet onion crop.

Peter Michael Winery Dinner

Our Second wine dinner in partnership with The Fine Wine Connection is Peter Michael Winery on April 20th at 6.30pm.  We will feature new releases of their award-wining Chardonnays as well as their acclaimed Bordeaux style blends “Les Pavots” and “L’esprit des Pavots”

Reception

Champagne Pierre Morlet, France NV 

First Course

East Coast Halibut Fillet

vidalia spring onion & yukon gold gratin, pea shoots

2009 Chardonnay Belle Cote, Knights Valley, Sonoma County

 2009 Chardonnay La Carriere, Knights Valley, Sonoma County

Second Course

Breast of South Carolina Squab

baby spinach, golden oak mushrooms, sweet garlic

2006  L’Esprit de Pavots, Knights Valley, Sonoma County

2007 L’Esprit de Pavots, Knights Valley, Sonoma County

Entree

Roasted 1st Chop of Spring Lamb

fava beans, babette carrots, leeks

2007 Les Pavots, Knights Valley, Sonoma County

2008 Les Pavots, Knights Valley, Sonoma County

Dessert

Valrhona Chocolate Hazelnut Cake

crisped chocolate and drambuie crème anglaise

Please keep in mind that all availability and payments are handled directly by Chris Soluri at The Fine Wine Connection.

$190.00 per person (includes tax and gratuity).
For further information and reservation, please contact Chris at 770.984.9663

Atlanta Food & Wine Festival: ARIA's Vidalia Onion Dinner

Atlanta is beaming with excitement and pride for the upcoming Atlanta Food & Wine Festival this May! 

Our Executive Chef Gerry Klaskala is a member of the founding council and ARIA is pleased to be hosting a Vidalia Onion Dinner on May 20 at 7:30 p.m.  Those attending will find Chef Gerry collaborating with Chef Jeffrey Buben of Washington D.C.’s Bistro Bis & Vidalia, as well as Chef Daniel Lindley of Chattanooga’s St. John’s Restaurant & Meeting Place.  The three will pay homage to America’s favorite sweet onion, which has been inspiring chefs since its discovery in southeast Georgia in the 1930’s.

For tickets and information about all festival activities, please visit atlfoodandwinefestival.com

ARIA's Vidalia Onion Dinner is now sold out.

TABLAS CREEK WINERY DINNER

It’s time again to mark the calendar for another great wine dinner at Aria!


Join us on April 6th at 7 p.m. for our Tablas Creek Winery Dinner.  We’ll be joined by the Tablas resident foodie, Tommy Oldre, who will tell us more about these organic, award-winning wines, all of which are 100% estate grown and bottled on their 120 acre property in California.  Chef Gerry will be preparing a delicious menu to perfectly pair with each vintage from Tablas Creek.

Wines featured include:

-Patelin de Tablas Blanc 2010
-Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc 2009
-Cotes de Tablas Red 2008
-Esprit de Beaucastel Red 2008
-Vin de Paille “Quintessence” 2006

$100 per person (includes tax and gratuity)
Please call 404-233-7673 to reserve your spot for the evening!

Update:

Dinner Menu

Amuse 

Chilled White Asparagus Soup

soft whipped cream, sevruga caviar

First Course

Seared Sea Scallop

cumin roasted celeriac , carrots, avocado, fennel vinaigrette

2010 Patelin de Tablas Blanc

Second Course

Shallot Roasted Maine Lobster

spring peas, pea shoots, preserved tomato

2008 Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc

Third Course 

Cold Smoked & Then Roasted Breast of Duck

red cabbage, applewood smoked bacon, ginger lemongrass 

2009 Côtes de Tablas

Entree

Braised Shank of Colorado Spring Lamb

parsnip puree, fava beans, royal black trumpets, natural jus

2008 Esprit de Beaucastel

Dessert

Black Plum Tart

ginger brown butter

lemon ice cream

2006 Vin de Paille, Quintessence

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!