Quick Bites

You can now get breakfast anytime at Einstein's in Midtown. Items such as the Spinach-Feta Omelette, Veranda Platter, Smoked Salmon Bagel, Grand Marnier French Toast and Yogurt-Granola Parfait are featured. All items are served with a choice of side and a toasted English Muffin. www.einsteinsatlanta.com.

City Grill will present a tasting of red wines from South Africa on Wednesday, July 9, at 6:30 p.m.  The guest speaker will be be  Michael O’Conner of Empire Distributors and the restaurant will offer a sampling of light hors d’oeuvres to compliment the wines. $25 per person. www.citygrillatlanta.com. 


Highland Bakery in the Old Fourth Ward has expanded -- temporarily -- to the Lake Claire Pool. The pool is only open to members, but those who are will be able to enjoy sandwiches, pizza, bagels, smoothies, fruits and much more. The Highland Bakery at The Pool will be operate Thursday and Friday from 3 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. www.highlandbakery.com.

Studioplex Green Market Begins July 12

Studioplex will begin hosting a weekly green market starting Saturday, July 12, from 8 a.m. to noon (rain or shine). The Studioplex Green market will be held every Saturday through the fall, and will be set up across from the main entrance to Studioplex on Irwin Street near the corner of Auburn Avenue (at the water tower triangle) in the Old Fourth Ward. Proceeds from the market will benefit City Church-Eastside (www.citychurcheastside.org ), led by Pastor Scott Armstrong, which regularly meets in the community room at Studioplex.

“This green market will be especially convenient for the residents of Studioplex and our neighbors in the Historic Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park and the surrounding communities,” said Dillon Baynes, principal of Studioplex LLC and one of the three partners in the in-town development. “It may even save some shopping trips!”

“In following the farm-to-table concept, our goal is to efficiently bring an abundance of fresh produce from farmers in Habersham and Rabun counties in North Georgia to the heart of Atlanta. We are all eager to do our part to promote sustainability,” said Baynes.

Tomatoes, cucumbers, corn and squash will be some of the initial produce available and will be “competitively priced,” according to Baynes. Vegetables not sold during market hours will be donated to Open Hand, an Atlanta-based non-profit organization (www.projectopenhand.org ).

Danneman’s Coffee in the Old Fourth Ward ( www.dannemans.com) will have their coffee available for purchase at the Studioplex Green market.

www.studioplexlofts.com

Wal-Mart Gets Local

Wal-Mart has announced its commitment to source more local fruits and vegetables to keep produce prices down and provide affordable selections that are fresh and healthful. The retailer also reported that partnerships with local farmers have grown by 50 percent over the past two years – one example of the company’s efforts to support local economies, cut shipping costs and provide fresh food offerings.

Today, hundreds of growers across the United States provide produce sold in Wal-Mart Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets, making Wal-Mart the nation’s largest purchaser of local produce. During summer months, locally sourced fruits and vegetables that are both grown and available for purchase within a state’s borders make up a fifth of the produce available in Wal-Mart stores.

“Offering local produce has been a Wal-Mart priority for years, and we’re taking it to a new level with a pledge to grow our partnerships with local farmers. We’re committed to purchasing locally grown produce whenever possible,” said Pam Kohn, Wal-Mart’s senior vice president and general merchandise manager for grocery. “Increasing the amount of local produce in our grocery aisles – and adding clear locally grown signage – reflects our dedication to offer the freshest products possible at great prices.”

Wal-Mart announced its locally grown commitment in a Supercenter in DeKalb County. The event featured an in-store farmers’ market with growers on hand to educate customers about produce. Just in time for the Fourth of July, Georgia Wal-Mart Supercenters have many of the ingredients customers need for a locally grown celebration: sweet Georgia-grown Vidalia onions for their Independence Day burgers, Georgia cantaloupes and watermelons for a fabulous fruit salad, and Georgia peaches for cobbler. A complete list of locally grown produce available by state is at www.livebetterindex.com.

“Georgia is proud of its family farmers who lead the production of many important fruits and vegetables like our famous Georgia peaches and watermelons,” said Donnie Smith, Governor Sonny Perdue's Agriculture Liaison. “Thanks to Georgia producers and companies like Wal-Mart, Georgia will continue to be recognized as a trusted provider of high quality fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products to feed America’s families.”

Georgia onion farmer Delbert Bland is one of the growers who participated in the Decatur event. His family farm has been in operation in Glennville, Ga. since the 1940s, and he is featured on in-store signage in the Atlanta area.

“We are proud to see our onions sold in Wal-Mart stores across Georgia and knowing that we are helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is an added value,” said Bland. “Our business would not be where it is today without the support of Wal-Mart.”

Wal-Mart estimates that it purchases more than 70 percent of its produce from U.S.-based suppliers, making the company the biggest customer of American agriculture. This year, Wal-Mart expects to source about $400 million in locally grown produce from farmers across the United States.

Wal-Mart’s relationships with U.S. suppliers also extend beyond its support of local agriculture. Beyond produce, Wal-Mart partnered with 61,000 U.S. suppliers in 2007 and supported millions of supplier jobs nationally.

Beyond the benefits to consumers and economic opportunities for farmers, Wal-Mart’s commitment to locally grown produce is helping to reduce “food miles” – the distance food travels from farm to fork. It is estimated that in the United States, produce travels an average of 1,500 miles from farms to the homes of consumers. Through better logistics planning, better packing of trucks and local sourcing, Wal-Mart expects to save millions of food miles each year.

In addition, Wal-Mart is working with state departments of agriculture and local farmers to develop or revitalize growing areas for products like corn in Mississippi and cilantro in Southern Florida which had not grown there before or which were once native crops.

Wal-Mart now highlights locally grown produce in its stores across the country. Customers will find it easy to recognize locally grown fruits and vegetables with signs that include official state-grown marks, indicating approval by their state’s agriculture department.

The company is also dedicating space on its web site to locally grown produce, including farmer profiles and recipes. For more information, visit www.walmart.com/locallygrown.

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.

Buy Taste of East Atlanta Tickets

The Taste of East Atlanta is set for Thursday, July 17, from 5 to 8 p.m. You can purchase $1 tickets now at Bound to Be Read Books, East Atlanta Village Farmers' Market, Graveyard Tavern or Origins Realty. Each $1 ticket buys a taste from the participating restaurants:

Australian Bakery

Blue Frog Cantina

Cenci

The Earl

East Atlanta Thai & Sushi

EAV Farmers' Market

Flat Iron

The Glenwood

Graveyard Tavern

Gravity Pub

Holy Taco

Joe's Coffee

Kasan Red

La Casita

The Midway

Slush

Village Ice Cream

For more information about the event and a map, visit www.tasteofeastatlanta.com.

Redfish Offering 4th of July Special

Click the image above for more details or visit www.redfishcreole.com.

Sex and the Kitchen

Part foodie diary, part sexual memoir, part indie business manual -- A Decade of Dish: Volume I is local restauranteur Michele Niesen's bold and unapologetic memoir about her life in the cooking business. Niesen opened the Supper Club in 1997 in Decatur with no start-up capital, but a passion for food and pleasure. 

After ten years, Niesen sold her underground bistro and retreated from the restaurant business without regret. A Decade of Dish chronicles the early years of start up - France, Mexico, boys, sex, staffing and yes, even some cooking.

Niesen opened Billy Goat’s Cantina in 2003, and the forthcoming Volume II (Amor en mi Cocina) will feature travelogues of Mexico and recipes of the beloved cantina, which she sold in 2006.

The book is available at blurb.com for $21.95.

Niesen currently lives and writes in the North Georgia mountains where she holds classes in both cooking and writing. Visit her blog amidlifeisis.blogspot.com, where she reflects on her almost-grown-up views on sex, creative career paths, and social issues.