Sunday, September 28, 2008
Food, "Dish"

A fall feast and harvest treats

Crisp, cooler weather brings out a different type of eater in all of us...

Courtesy of Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen’s new pumpkin pie blizzard

By Kirsten Ott

Crisp, cooler weather brings out a different type of eater in all of us. Perhaps it’s the farmer’s harvest this time of year, or our preparation for hibernation, but when fall hits, our natural inclination seems to be to indulge in the finer slice of life. With perfect timing, the fifth annual Harvest Midtown returns to showcase the cuisine of top in-town fine dining establishments with select wines from hundreds of producers around the globe. Participating restaurants include Beleza, Cuerno, Dogwood, Ecco, Eno, the Globe, South City Kitchen, Straits, Steel and Top Flr. 

Harvest Midtown also will feature a VIP area inside Eno with special hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment from Rio Negro and Blakes, and an art show. Each year, Harvest Midtown partners with a local nonprofit organization to raise money during the event. Also at the show will be self-sustaining vintners and an organic farmers market. Harvest Midtown takes place on Fifth Street between Peachtree and W. Peachtree on Sunday, Oct. 4, from 1 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $50 and up. For tickets and more information, visit ENO and Barrelman (800 Peachtree St.), call 404-841-8335 or visit www.harvestmidtown.com

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

Also toasting fall’s arrival is Beck’s, which has launched its Oktoberfest brew, a classic caramel-colored German pilsner with a sweet, full-bodied taste. The limited-edition beer is actually quite special. It’s brewed in Bremen, Germany, and is made in accordance with the Reinheitsgebot, the German Purity Law of 1516. It’s brewed using only top-grade barley, hand-selected hops from the Bavarian Hallertau region, fresh glacier water and Beck’s exclusive strain of yeast that’s been nurtured and cultivated for generations. www.becksbeer.com.

SWEETIE PIE


For the second year in a row, Woodfire Grill’s Pastry Chef Kristina Tweems took first place at Best Dessert Atlanta, an event benefiting Adoption Discovery. Her sweet potato panna cotta topped with marshmallow sauce and candied pecans beat out the competition, making her the crowd favorite once again. For those who missed this sweet soirée, the award-winning dessert is currently featured on the menu at Woodfire Grill. Last year’s winner was Tweems’ caramel panna cotta with an apple brandy sauce and fresh glazed apples. This year’s Best Dessert Atlanta was held Sept. 18 at a private estate in Buckhead.  The evening was filled with live cooking demonstrations by some of Atlanta’s top pastry chefs, musical entertainment, a dessert tasting and silent auction.  Other participating restaurants included Ecco, Rathbun’s, Home, Blue Pointe, Café Intermezzo, Restaurant Eugene, C&S Seafood and Oyster Bar, and Baronda. Tweems’ culinary creation will be available at Woodfire Grill for at least three weeks. www.woodfiregrill.com.

THE GREAT PUMPKIN

Dairy Queen also is getting into the autumnal spirit by bringing back its pumpkin pie blizzard, which debuted in 1991. Made with pumpkin pie mix and pieces of flaky pie crust blended with creamy DQ vanilla soft-serve and capped with whipped topping and a sprinkle of nutmeg, the chilly fall treat is available at all Dairy Queen and DQ Grill & Chill restaurants nationwide beginning Oct. 1. www.dq.com. SP

When she’s not checking out restaurants, interviewing chefs or nodding off after her fifth glass of wine, Life, Food & Style Editor Kirsten Ott dishes culinary and cocktail insights. E-mail her at kirstenott@sundaypaper.com.