Food 101 Morningside To Become Rosebud

After purchasing Food 101 Morningside early this year, Executive Chef Ron Eyester has announced that come July 6, 2009, the restaurant will officially become Rosebud, Eyester's image of the "perfect neighborhood restaurant."

The new name comes from the name of a custom guitar belonging to Jerry Garcia, a tribute to Chef Eyester's love of music.

Aside from a few aesthetic changes, Chef Eyester and his staff maintain that the soul of the restaurant will remain the same: friendly, comfortable atmosphere with the familiar great food that patrons have come to love. While favorites like the Springer Mountain fried chicken and Wild Georgia shrimp and grits maintain their premium spots on the menu, new recipes like vanilla and sage grilled Riverview Farms pork loin medallion with smoked bacon-creamed cabbage and grilled cobia with "corn off the cob," citrus chive slaw and peach BBQ jus will highlight the restaurant's dedication to reinventing American classics with local ingredients.

As for those minor aesthetic changes? These updates include a fresh coat of paint, refinished floors, and a new banquet. Chef Eyester would like Rosebud to be an "evolution" of Food 101 Morningside rather than a departure from the original concept.

Rosebud will be open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 am until 2:30 pm. Dinner is served from 5:30 pm until 10 pm Monday through Thursday and until 11 pm on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant also offers a weekend brunch on Saturday from 10 am until 3 pm and Sunday until 4 pm.

For more information about Rosebud, visit www.RosebudAtlanta.com.

Food 101 Hosts Dinner in Athens

Chef Ron Eyester and Food 101 Morningside are hosting a special Farm Dinner at Woodland Gardens in Athens on Sunday, May 17 at 3 p.m. The dinner, a partnership between Food 101 and Woodland Gardens (a favorite farm of Food 101¹s), will offer guests a farm tour, cocktail
reception and a family-style dinner featuring fresh produce from the farm.

Proceeds from the dinner will benefit Grow A Farmer, a non-profit organization dedicated to
teaching new organic farmers. During the dinner, guests will enjoy sharing platters of all the following dishes:

Sliced Beefsteak Tomatoes
Fried Capers, Micro Arugula, Cypress Grove Cheese & Vanilla-Balsamic
Reduction
Marinated Cucumbers & Baby Fennel
Cracked Olives, Oregano & Orange-Honey
Shaved Radishes
Champagne Vinegar, Peppercorns & Fresh Scallion
Baby Shrimp Cocktail
Strawberries, Jalapeno & Aged Red Wine Vinegar
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Chilled Carrot Soup
Pickled Beets & Leeks
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Sweet Tea Brined Local Organic Chicken
Maple-Lemon Jus
Whole Roasted Bay of Fundi Salmon
Salsa Verde
Braised Greens & Fingerling Potatoes
Spiced Tomato-Garlic Broth
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Strawberry Shortcake
Assorted Cheeses From Sweet Grass Dairy

The dinner is $75 per person, including pre-dinner cocktails and wine. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Food 101 Morningside at (404) 347-9747.

http://www.food101morningside.com

Ron Eyester, New Owner of Food 101

Food 101 Morningside's long-standing chef and partner, Ron Eyester, has purchased the neighborhood hotspot from current owners, 101 Concepts, and plans to reintroduce the restaurant as his own.

After working on a detailed business plan, securing financing and arranging a deal with 101 Concepts for the better part of a year, Eyester was able to sign the closing papers on March 3, 2009. Now, despite the tough economic forecasting for the restaurant industry, Eyester is taking over the reins and looking forward to continuing the successful restaurant's legacy.

Fans of Food 101 Morningside will be relieved to know that the heart and soul of Food 101 won't be changing. As chef of the restaurant since day one, Eyester has a great respect and knowledge of the space and what makes it unique. Understanding the history of the restaurant will allow Eyester the chance to turn a corner and avoid becoming stagnant without losing any of the qualities that make Food 101 Morningside a neighborhood favorite.

Eyester's dedication to local and regional suppliers remains unwavering and his commitment to cooking with the seasons has been reinforced since his progression to restaurant ownership. The menu of Food 101 Morningside has always been under Eyester's creative control so neighborhood favorites like Springer Mountain fried chicken, Riverview Farms pork ravioli and Wild Georgia shrimp and grits won't be going anywhere. Instead, diners will see a streamlined menu that continues to offer old favorites alongside a few new stars.

With a passion for music second only to his cooking, Eyester plans to continue offering musically-themed dinners more often than ever. Past successful dinners have included a tribute to Johnny Cash, James Brown and The Allman Brothers. Of course, the first dinner Eyester plans to offer as owner is an extended version of his annual Jerry Garcia dinner in late summer 2009.

Eyester is happy to retain his full staff as well as add some new faces to the team. Jason Chenette, Food 101's longtime bar manager, is being promoted to restaurant manager. Jeff Jackson will step in as bar manager and in-house mixologist, and Meryl Arnett will join the team as director of PR and private event coordinator.

Chef Eyester and his staff look forward to announcing the new name and inviting regulars as well as newcomers to the restaurant over the next few months to experience for themselves a renewed commitment to the restaurant, its farmers and its community.

For more information regarding hours of operation, menu details and location, call 404-347-9747 or, visit www.food101morningside.com.

Thanksgiving Restaurant Round Up

Shop for pumpkins, decorate with corn stalks, and dig out your sweaters, Atlanta Thanksgiving season is just around the corner. On Thursday November 27th, Atlanta restaurants are honoring Turkey Day by offering patrons festive catering, take out, and menu specials. Don't miss the parades, grueling football games, and classic feel good movies hovering over the stove. Leave the cooking to the chefs and sit back and enjoy the family memories.


On Thursday November 27th starting at 5:30 p.m., Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia Highland will serve a traditional family-style Thanksgiving dinner until 10:00 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended. The original Atkins Park Tavern Virginia Highland, which opened in 1922, is located at 794 North Highland Avenue. For more information call (404) 876-7249 or visit www.atkinspark.com

Both locations of Food 101 will offer a Southern-inspired Thanksgiving meal. The three-course meal includes a family-style appetizer and four family-style sides, with each guest selecting their individual meat choice for the main course. The cost is $39 for adults, $20 for kids, and children under 5 eat for free. Food 101 restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Food 101-Morningside is located at 1397 North Highland Avenue Atlanta, GA 30306. Reservations may be made by calling (404) 347-9747. Food 101 Sandy Springs is located at 4969 Roswell Road, Suite 200, Sandy Spring, GA 30342 and will be open 12:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. For reservations call (404) 497-9700. For more information visit www.food101atlanta.com.

Justin's Restaurant makes Thanksgiving easy this year by accepting takeout orders beginning Tuesday, November 25th. The restaurant will offer baked turkeys seasoned with a blend of house herbs and spices, and traditional southern Thanksgiving sides. Orders can be placed over the phone and pick up time will begin at 10:00 a.m. and end at 6:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving day. Justin's will accept custom orders to meet specific holiday requests. Justin's Restaurant is located in Buckhead at 2200 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA, 30309. Phone: (404) 603-5353. www.justinsrestaurant.com

Celebrate The 4th With Food & Drink

Here's a few suggestions on where to celebrate Independence Day if you're looking for food, drink and merriment this busy holiday weekend:

When you're bobbing and weaving your way down Peachtree in the Peachtree Road Race, you'll run right by it... VITA, at Peachtree and Bennett Street (right before "Cardiac Hill," err, Piedmont Hospital). Keep jogging to the finish at the Civic Center, meet your friends under the "V" balloon (for VITA), then swing back to celebrate your accomplishments over VITA's popular Bellini Brunch from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Refuel for the day with a three-egg VITA omelet hugging your choice of fillings, Italian country bread French toast, open-faced spinach frittata or an open-faced chicken frittata omelet loaded with pulled chicken, pancetta and mozzarella cheese. All dishes are $12 and are accompanied by seasonal fresh fruit and roasted potatoes. For hydration beyond sports drinks, try a bubbly Bellini, mimosa or glass of champagne ($6/glass) - or make it a lycopene-loaded Bloody Mary ($5/glass). www.vitaatl.com.

If you're partying at the Atlanta Pride Festival, stop by Marlow's in Midtown on  July 4 and 5. DJ Chris Griswold will be spinning tunes on both nights from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Sponsored by Red Bull energy drink, the restaurant will offer food and drink specials on both days along with $5 Stoli martinis all day on Friday and Saturday. There is no cover charge to attend. 950 West Peachtree Street.www.marlowstavern.com.

Food 101 Morningside is offering Friday brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. followed by a backyard party from 4 to 11:00 p.m. on the patio. All of your favorite summer foods such as burgers, hot dogs, ribs, BBQ chicken and traditional picnic sides will be served. 1397 North Highland Ave. www.food101atlanta.com.

Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia Highland will be roasting a whole hog in the back parking lot as well as serving traditional American sides. Guests can enjoy a slice of Americano for $15 per person which includes a meat and three side items such as baked beans, cole slaw and potato salad. 794 North Highland Ave. www.atkinspark.com.

Justin’s Restaurant kicks off holiday festivities at 8 a.m. by giving Peachtree Road Race runners complimentary Bad Boy Enterprises goodies, including: Sean John t-shirts and cologne, Bad Boy Records cds, water bottles and tons more. The evening party begins at 4 p.m. and will feature drink specials such as the Watermelon Martini served with a slice of locally-grown watermelon, Fourth of July menu specials and Justin’s house DJ spinning live until close. J2200 Peachtree Road. www.justinsrestaurant.com.