Restaurant Review - What’s cooking: Saucy singles meet and greet




Events

Enjoy a selection of wines including Benzinger Fume Blanc of Sonoma, Louis Jadot Pinot Noir of Bourgogne, France, as well as a salad, entré and dessert at the Patio Wine Party on Aug. 14. 8 p.m. $40 per person plus tax and gratuity. 1029 Edgewood Ave. 404-584-8945.

Whole Foods Market hosts a Cajun-themed singles night Aug. 15 with a New Orleans style buffet, Cajun music and a meet and greet event. 7-9 p.m. $5. 2111 Briarcliff Road. 404-634-7800.

Sambuca Jazz Café hosts Salsa Thursdays featuring the Latin jazz and salsa tunes of World Mambo Mission. 3102 Piedmont Road. 404-237-5299.

Tom Cook, Shaun Doty and Brent Persall, new owners of Mumbo Jumbo, host a Spanish-themed happy hour Friday evenings with Barcelona-style tapas and Latin DJs. 89 Park Place. 404-523-0330.

Nathaniel’s presents the “After Work Traffic Jam,” a party on the patio featuring live jazz by Damien Cartier and his My Newt Orchestra every Thurs. and Fri. from 5:30-7:30 p.m. 1949 Powers Ferry Road. 770-955-1464.


font face=”Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif” size=”4” color=”#330033”>Openings

Benihana, the international chain of Japanese restaurants, has reopened its remodeled Buckhead location with 18 new hibachi tables and 1,690 square foot sushi bar. Mon.-Thurs. 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 5:30-11 p.m., Sun. 4-10 p.m. $17-$36. 2143 Peachtree Road. 404-355-8565.

Maggiano’s Little Italy opened its second Atlanta location at Perimeter Mall. The family-style Italian restaurant serves an array of pastas, soups, salad, seafood, chicken, steaks and more. 4400 Ashford-Dunwoody Road. Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. 770-804-3313.


font face=”Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif” size=”4” color=”#330033”>Classes

Vino! presents “Wine Wise” classes taught by Atlanta Wine Report columnist Ophelia Santos on the fundamentals of Italian and Spanish wines and popular grape varieties. The Aug. 12 class will explore wines from Northern and Southern Italy and the Aug. 18 class will sample flavors from Spain. 5-7 p.m. $40 per class. Peach Shopping Center, 2900 Peachtree Road. 404-816-0511.

Ian Winslade of Blue Pointe will share his recipes for Maine lobster and asparagus rice paper rolls with Thai curry and bamboo steamed Florida snapper Aug. 15 at a class titled “It’s Too Darn Hot to Turn On the Oven.” 7-9 p.m. $45. 549-I Amsterdam Ave. 404-815-4993.


This and that

J.D. Rothschild has expanded operations and changed the name of his restaurant to “Jake’s.” The gelateria will now serve sandwiches, soups and salads prepared with homemade mustards and dressings sold in the adjacent specialty food shop. The Brown Sugar Vanilla and Chocolate Slap Yo Mama ice creams, as well as other flavors, are still available. 676 Highland Ave. 404-581-0420.

Wyndham Atlanta welcomes Patrick Gebrayel as the new executive chef at its Caliterra restaurant that specializes in a fusion of California and Italian cuisine. New menu items will include sautéed soft-shell crab with scallions and roasted garlic mayonnaise and grilled loin of lamb with baby spinach, Cerignola olives and balsamic vinegar. 160 Spring St. 678-686-3370.

Il Localino, formerly Trattoria Il Localino, has undergone a transformation in the kitchen and the dining room. The space formerly occupied by Johnny’s Pizza is now a dining room with full-service bar. New chef Sean Moran will serve traditional Italian comfort food influenced heavily by Mediterranean flavors. 467 N. Highland. 404-222-0650.

Opentable.com, the San Francisco-based company offering online reservations with instant confirmation, is now offered in Atlanta. Participating restaurants include Van Gogh’s, City Grill, Sotto Sotto, Mumbo Jumbo, Marra’s Grill, Prime, Vino!, Aria, Toulouse and more. Log on to www.opentable.com for information.