Here’s to starting the New Year off right. Think you can’t work restaurants into your resolutions? Think again. No matter what you want to change about your life this year, there’s an eatery that will fit right into your plan.
Spend less, save more: So, you’re planning to spend more wisely in 2009? That makes perfect cents (when it comes to puns, we can’t help ourselves). But no matter how tight your budget is, you can still go out sometimes. Restaurants like Aqua Blue are making it easier than ever to have your cake and eat it too.
From 4 p.m to 7 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, you can dine at the Roswell restaurant for $19, no kidding. You’ll order a three-course meal from the eatery’s Twilight Menu. For starters, try the Aqua Blue house salad, a caesar salad or the soup of the day. Then select an entree like chicken marsala, bourbon-glazed salmon, ginger-glazed yellowfin tuna, pork tenderloin with a creole crawfish sauce or a blackened white tuna with a citrus reduction. Each entree is served with garlic mashed potatoes and thin beans. Then choose a personal-sized dessert to finish out your meal. Do keep in mind that the $19 price doesn’t include tips, tax or beverages.
If you lack the resources for a full meal, don’t despair. In the bar area at Aqua Blue, you can order a $3 draft or check out the drink specials. Stop in on a Tuesday for $5 sake martinis and $1 nigiri and sashimi. On Wednesday, sample the wines in the $14 wine flight, which is served with a cheese plate. If you’re really looking for a good deal, head to Aqua Blue on a Thursday, when free appetizers are offered at the bar from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Call 770-643-8886 or visit www.aquablueatl.com.
Stick to a healthy eating plan: Once again, you’ve vowed to lose weight, eat more vegetables or just cut out the junk. We know you can do it and hope we can too! Still, we’re not giving up on eating out. We’re just concentrating on the lighter side of life—and the menu. Check out restaurants with health-conscious menu items, like Uncle Julio’s Casa Grande in Buckhead.
At Uncle Julio’s, entrees like the grilled salmon fillet, the ensalada special and the grilled vegetable platter can help you stick to your diet goals. The dishes, which are listed on the eatery’s heart-healthy menu, were developed with help from medical and nutrition experts at the Medical City Hospital in Dallas, which where the first Uncle Julio’s opened in 1986. In fact, Medical City Heart has certified the three menu items as heart healthy. Of course, while you’re at Uncle Julio’s, you’ll want to bypass the chip basket and stay away from the chile con queso. If you’d rather remove the temptation, place a to-go order and pick it up instead of sitting at the table trying to resist the chips and dip. The restaurant’s to-go line is 404-974-2991. For more information, call 404-350-6767
Learn a new step: Perhaps this year, you’ll finally find the time for dance lessons. For a start, attend Tapas and Tango at Lit Kitchen at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8. The event begins with instruction on how to make a variety of tapas dishes, followed by tango lessons. Admission is $35. If you haven’t been there, Lit Kitchen is a contemporary event space with a demonstration kitchen and plenty of space for socializing. The venue is located at 433 Bishop Street, which is off 17th Street just past Atlantic Station. Call 404-249-4300 or visit www.litkitchen.com.
Tango, take two: You can also learn to tango at Danneman’s, a coffee shop located in the Old Fourth Ward. While you’re there, be sure to try the shop’s locally roasted coffees and freshly baked breads. Tango Milongas is held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month and features live music by Osvaldo Barrios. Tango lessons start at 8 p.m., with dancing to follow at 9 p.m. The cover charge is $10. Danneman’s is located 466 Edgewood Ave., at the corner of Edgewood and Boulevard. Call 404-380-1393 or visit www.dannemans.com.
Try something different: As far as resolutions go, this one’s easy to keep. Whether you’re thinking baby steps or big moves, you can find something that’s new to you at a nearby restaurant. For culinary exploration, Atlanta is the perfect place to be. You can sample dishes from around the world with a quick trip to Buford Highway or try the latest in kitchen experiments from some of the top chefs in the country. We’re looking forward to sampling the new restaurants set to open this year—and letting you know all about them. But we’re also going to keep a close eye on our favorite chefs and eateries, especially those with seasonal menus. If there’s a dish that you absolutely must try, we’ll definitely let you know about it. In the meantime, happy 2009. May the year bring plenty to your plate.
Got a tip about food-related events, restaurant news or special dishes and drinks? E-mail Rachael Mason at rachaelmason55@gmail.com.
