Peace, Love and Pizza is made up of Dave and Rich DeSantis. I first wrote about them in April of this year, shortly after Peace, Love and Pizza opened up in Kennesaw.

They’ve grown in popularity at a phenomenal rate. I caught up with Dave DeSantis recently to learn about their newest and one of the most popular pies, the Demon’s Spicy White Pizza. This pizza is made with a white sauce (ricotta) base instead of a red sauce. Toppings are spinach, roasted red peppers, and chicken. But here’s what adds the pizazz to this pizza, it’s got hot sauce drizzled on top.

Dave tells me they are going to enter this recipe at the Pizza convention in Las Vegas later this year. So, tasty, I can’t get enough of this. If you haven’t yet checked out Peace, Love and Pizza you gotta go soon.

The City of Kennesaw, Pigs and Peaches BBQ starts this afternoon at 5pm. Included is musical entertainment, a BBQ Cook Off, Kids Zone and even a Farmer’s Market. On Friday & Saturday, August 20-21, delicious smoke-cooked barbequed meats, tasty desserts, family fun and live entertainment will take center stage during the City of Kennesaw’s annual Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival.

The event features a non-sanctioned Backyard BBQ, Anything Butt and Peach Dessert Contest, as well as a Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned Professional Contest, which is recognized as a Georgia State Championship Barbeque Cookoff. Over $14,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to contest winners. Besides food for sale, and free music from a number of local and national acts, festival goers will be treated to a large Kid Zone, unique vendor booths and sponsor exhibits.

Festival hours are Friday, August 20 from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM, and Saturday, August 21 from 10:00 to 10:00 PM. For more information visit the Pigs and Peaches Page.

Where
Adams Park and the Ben Robertson Community Center
2753 Watts Drive
Kennesaw, GA 30144

Source: http://www.advancedmediawatch.blogspot.com

Atlanta Mother’s Day Weekend Deals

Aqua Blue Roswell
Brunch buffet served from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for $29.95 per person. Children under the age of 14 are $9.95, and children under four eat free. Menu items include carved strip steak and turkey, roasted pork tenderloin, omelets made-to-order, and assorted pastries and desserts. Bottomless mimosas will be served for $15 per person.
Website

Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead
Bouquets and Brunch, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This has got to be the best brunch offering in Atlanta. Not only is there a selection of chilled seafood, meats, cheeses, traditional breakfast favorites among tasty salads and divine desserts but the displays are a work of art. Mother’s Day Brunch includes a small flower bouquet for Mom and valet parking. The cost of Mother’s Brunch is $65 per adult, $40 per child (ages five to 12 years), exclusive of tax and gratuity.
Website

Ritz-Carlton, Downtown
Mom’s royal treatment begins with a complimentary glass of Champagne or a Diamond Tiara cocktail at Mother’s Day Brunch offered in the Grand Ballroom from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Offerings include a selection of salads and appetizers, icy raw bar, caviar and sushi; traditional breakfast favorites; roasted meats and seafood; domestic and imported cheeses; an assortment of freshly baked breads, muffins and croissants; and a regal array of desserts. The cost of A Royal Mother’s Brunch is $59 per adult, $29 per child, exclusive of tax and gratuity. The price includes complimentary valet parking at the hotel.
Website

Chequers Seafood Grill Dunwoody
Mother’s Day brunch buffet all day from 9am-8pm. Adults $25.95, children 4-12 $12.95, under 4 free. Main buffet, chocolate fountain, omelets/ waffle/ and carving station.
Website

Ray’s Killer Creek and Ray’s in the City
Award winning brunch 10am-3pm, $29.95/adults.
Website

Old Vinings Inn Vinings
Mother’s Day Brunch – Three Course Menu – Adults $29.95 Children $14.95. Hours 10:30 til 5 – Dinner Menu 5 til 9.
Recommended for Mom: Shrimp and Grits
Website

Marlow’s Tavern
Looking to save a little green? Then give Marlow’s buffet a try. Priced at only $14.99 (plus tax and tip), Marlow’s buffet doesn’t skimp on offerings. On the buffet are crab cakes Benedict, and made-to-order omelettes plus lots of other goodies. And of course, there’s the bottomless Mimosa for $15. This is good at the Marlow’s in Kennesaw, Vinings, or Midtown.
Website

The Shed at Glenwood Downtown
Sunday Brunch with Mom – a full buffet of Brunch Favorites! $20/person or Sunday Supper & Enjoy a 3 Course Prix Fixe for $20!
Website

Mali Restaurant VA Highland
Looking for something a little different. What about thai food? Mali Restaurant in Virginia Highland is offering a $25/person 3-course prix fixe menu. Recommended for Mom: Seafood in the Clay Pot
Website

Fuengo Mundo Sandy Springs
Brunch de Mami from 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM. $14.99/pp, kids under 11 only $8.99.
Mimosas and Sangria will be flowing. Latin specialities include Arepas de Huevo (a Colombian Egg & Corn Tortilla specialty) and Arepas de Quesa (grilled Corn & Cheese Tortillas).

Cafe di Sol VA Highland
Mother’s Day brunch where Mom and Grandma get a complimentary Bloody Mary or Mimosa.
Website

Pacci Ristorante Midtown
Executive Chef Keira Moritz whips up great offerings including deviled eggs, crab fondue, cheese grits, pesto squash casserole and an assortment of pastries. Pacci’s Mother’s Day brunch buffet is available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is priced at $22 for adults, $12 for kids ages 6 to 12 and free for children under the age of 6.
Website

Not sure where to celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year? I’ve put together a list of some of the top Mexican restaurants around Atlanta. There’s probably one in this list nearby for your Cinco de Mayo Celebration.

Downtown
No Mas!
Located in the heart of historic Castleberry Hill in downtown Atlanta, No Mas! is an award winning 350 seat Mexican Restaurant.
180 Walker St. SW
Atlanta GA 30313
404-574-5678
Website

Virginia Highlands
Pozole
Pozole is sponsoring the 3rd Annual Virginia Highlands Cinco de Mayo Celebration & Block Party. Party is 5 pm to 11 pm. There is a $5 cover. There will be beer and margarita specials and live music. For more information, click the link below.
1044 Greenwood Ave (at N Highland Avenue)
Atlanta, GA 30306
678-973-4779
Website

The Original El Taco
Drink specials include: $18 buckets of Dos Equis Amber or Lager, $6 margaritas, $4 pineapple-infused tequila shots and $3 Tecates. Cinco de Mayo menu items are :smoked trout with a spicy masa cake and salsa borracho ($6.50); shredded savory pork tostadas with lettuce and guacamole ($7.50); and grilled chicken with poblano chile-cream over steamed morisqueta ($11.50).
Website

Westside
Nuevo Laredo
I have to mention Nuevo Laredo as it is a staple as far as Atlanta Mexican restaurants go, but I can’t imagine how crazy busy this place is going to be on Cinco de Mayo when it was packed on a random Tuesday when I visited.
1495 Chattahoochee Ave
Atlanta, GA 30318
Website

Northeast
Pure Taqueria
103 Roswell St
Alpharetta, GA 30004
678-240-0023
Website

Decatur
Raging Burrito
Raging Burrito has a great patio. So, seems to be perfect if you’ll be in Decatur for Cinco de Mayo.
141 Sycamore St
Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 377-3311
Website

Perimeter
LaBotana
Cheap, cheap cheap. I get the impression that this place is kind of a hole in the wall, but with decent food and drinks. Maybe it won’t be totally packed on Cinco de Mayo.
2071 Savoy Dr
Atlanta, GA 30341
770-986-9996

Northwest
Las Palmas
Las Palmas is about 2 miles from my house, so needless to say, I frequent it alot. Their frozen margaritas are fantastic. I never order less than a pitcher (not by myself, course). So, if you are in the Kennesaw area on Cinco de Mayo and don’t want to deal with the hassle of Barrett Parkway, drive up to Las Palmas. It’s in the LA Fitness shopping center.
4200 Wade Green Rd NW
Kennesaw, GA 30144
770-795-0919

Peace, Love and Pizza is a new pizza joint that opened about 2 months ago in Kennesaw. Peace, Love and Pizza is located off of Wade Green Road near I-75. It is a joint venture between brothers Dave and Richie DeSantis.

I stopped to check out Peace, Love and Pizza on a recent Saturday. Full disclosure: Dave DeSantis had me in to review Peace, Love and Pizza. Note that the restaurant is more of a pick-up place rather than a sit-down restaurant. There are a couple tables outside and one inside.

The one available table was taken when I visited. Seems like Peace, Love and Pizza already has some followers. I chatted them up a bit and seems they are pretty loyal customers, even bringing out-of-town guests to check it out.

Checking out the menu, I wanted to order something that would give a broad taste of pizzas. I chose the Margherita, Desperado (BBQ sauce, Mozzarella, onions, bacon, chicken, hot peppers and pineapple) and a traditional with pepperoni, sausage, green peppers and mushrooms. I did ask what the most popular pizzas are and Richie and staff told me the Meatasaurus Rex (traditional sauce with mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, bacon, beef and ham) as well as the Bye Bye…American Pie (traditional sauce with mozzarella, all meats, peppers, olives, onions and tomatoes) were the most popular.

For crusts, Peace, Love and Pizza offers a traditional, thick, thin or whole wheat crust. I chose the traditional and was glad I did. The toppings were so plentiful I don’t think a thin crust could have stood up to them. Not a bad problem to have.

Peace, Love and Pizza has 3 pizza sizes – a 10″, a 14″ and 18″. The 10″ comes with 4 slices and is adequate for 1 person. The 14″ is 8 slices and the 18″ has 12 slices I believe.

As I waited for my pizzas to be ready, I chatted with Richie DeSantis. Seems that restaurants are a family affair, as he and brother Dave, grew up working in family restaurants. You can sense the enthusiasm he has for his restaurant when he talks about it. Not only do they seem passionate about their pizza-making but Richie shared that they are very aware of recycling and have a bin for recycling their aluminum cans as well as a cardboard dumpster for recycling.

As for the pizzas themselves, I found them to be quite delicious. I could actually taste the fresh mozzarella used in the pizzas, as opposed to some pizza joints where you only taste a cheese-like substance. I loved the spicy sausage and pepperoni used on my traditional pizza as well. But my absolute favorite was the Desperado. The mix of ingredients was just right. The chicken and bacon was a good portion of meat without being too “meat-heavy.” And I thought the pineapple was a great balance to the hot
peppers.

Peace Love and Pizza Desperado Pizza

Peace, Love and Pizza also offers a variety of 8 salads and 10 different sandwiches as well. In addition to the Caesar, Greek and Caprese salads, the Frou Frou Salad sounds the best with sunflower seeds, spinach, pineapple and Artichoke Hearts. Hope you get the chance to check out Peace, Love and Pizza soon.

4200 Wade Green Rd. #10
Kennesaw, GA 30144
770 792 8989
Website

Sponsored by Wine Enthusiast Magazine, the Atlanta Toast of the Town is taking place this Thursday, April 8th at the Georgia Aquarium. Toast of the Town is an opportunity to not only taste wines and spirits, but also culinary offerings from Atlanta’s top restaurants. Wine Enthusiast promises there will be over 500 wines and spirits, and signature dishes. You can get discount tickets using the code: PATL10 to get $10 off grand tickets and $20 off VIP tickets.

There are two ticket options.

Grand Tasting Event: 7 – 10 PM, $79
VIP Ticket: Preview and Special Tasting from 5-7 PM, Grand Tasting, Free Aquarium Ticket (for that evening), 6 month subscription to Wine Enthusiast Magazine, $159

My $0.02: Price is a little steep. Sounds like it will be very classy affair, but still a lot of dough. Also, note that the Aquarium pass you get if you purchase the VIP ticket, is only good from 5-7 pm that day. That is the same time as the Preview that you are paying for in the first place. For the price, you should get a ticket to come back another day and visit the Aquarium. Still, if you are really into wine, and mingling with Atlanta chefs, it may be worth checking out at the $79 price option.

Purchase Tickets by clicking here. Use code PATL10 to get $10 off grand tickets and $20 off VIP tickets.

Participating Restaurants Include:

Anis Bistro
Atlanta Grill
BLT Steak
Café Circa
Canoe
Chateau Elan
Crepe Revolution
Eclipse di Luna
Fandangles
Feast
Kurt’s & Vreny’s
Montaluce – Le Vigne
Nori Nori
One Flew South
Pacci
Portofino
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
Saskatoon
Shula’s 347 Grill
Serpas True Food
Soho
Spice Market
Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View Taverna Fiorentina
The Capital Grille
The Melting Pot
The Oceanaire Seafood Room
Toulouse
Village Tavern

Georgia Aquarium
225 Baker Street
Atlanta, GA 30313

Free wine tasting? I’m there. Ok, its not free, they advertise it at $0.01, but they didn’t charge me to get in. And I cajoled my friend Amy to go with me. Be warned the wine tastings start promptly. I got there at 7:04 and it was already underway.

The wines were average and the conductor needs to learn how to pronounce “merlot” He kept pronouncing it as “meer-low”. BTW, the reason they do the wine tastings is that the liquor store that the Cave is attached to owns this establishment. During the wine tastings they push the wines, telling you to go next door and buy them. However they may have done away with these wine tastings since I last visited, as I no longer see it on their website.

I wanted to sample the tapas menu as it did, indeed, look quite appealing, even if The Cave is more of a night club than a restaurant. We started with the crab cakes. They aren’t meant to be an appetizer, but me and Amy shared the two. They were decent and full of crab and light on the breading. A good deal at $14.

We both went for a meat dish for a main entree. Me: Lamb chops, Amy: Steak. Her steak was good, but a little too done or my liking. She seemed to be pleased with it. I thought my lamb chops were tasty. And 4 of them for only $14 seemed like a steal. The spicy pommegranite sauce that came with them was so good I had to ask for an additional side of it too.

They offer chicken wings. My immediate thought was that the wings should be offered with this sauce and it would be a best-seller for them I’m sure.

Service was terrific the entire night. Our waiter was attentive and truly wanted us to have a good experience. After we finished eating we sat on the couches and enjoyed one of their signature martinis.

My only peeve was when their “entertainment tip” line they insist on putting on the bill. Note: The Cave doesn’t force the tip, they just have a line where you can add one should you be so inclined. I was there for a wine tasting and to have dinner, I didn’t ask for entertainment. If The Cave wanted to have a singer, that was their deal. I think it is a little ridiculous that they put a separate line on my bill for entertainment. They either need to pay the entertainer or put a tip jar out for him, but it isn’t my responsibility to pay his wages.

1619 Collins Rd
Kennesaw, GA 30156
(678) 391-7011
www.thecavetapasbar.com

The widely popular (at least in Kennesaw) Whistle Stop cafe has reopened once again. You may remember it caught on fire some several months ago. It’s new diggs are right along Barrett Parkway, at the corner of Barrett and 41. This is located in the large strip mall where Floor and Decor is located.

I sent some of my cohorts over to check it out and report back to me. They said the food is the same quality and the decor is pretty much the same but just a much larger space. This is good, because the Whistle Stop was always crowded and if you didn’t get there by 11:30, you’d almost be guaranteed that there would be a wait.

1200 Ernest W. Barrett Parkway
Kennesaw, GA 30144
770 794-0101

Nearly 45 years ago, Ruth Fertel, a single mother, mortgaged her house and invested her life savings to buy a restaurant named “Chris Steak House.” Shortly after taking ownership, Ruth added her name to the restaurant, becoming Ruth’s Chris Steak House. The Ruth’s Chris empire has expanded to well over 100 restaurants spanning several countries.

Although Ruth’s Chris had humble beginnings, the cooking styles, recipes and overall hospitality and top-notch service are still evident when visiting Ruth’s Chris Steak House. I felt that immediately when walking in the door. Originating in New Orleans, many menu items have a Cajun-style influence to them – shrimp cocktail with Creole remoulade or bread pudding with whiskey sauce. The New Orleans influence is even more evident in the lunch menu with items like French Quarter Steak Skewers and Chicken La Louisianne.

Ruth's Chris Kennesaw Dining Area

I had been to Ruth’s Chris once before and remember it being a fantastic and pleasurable meal. So, I was pretty thrilled when I was invited to check them out for the debut of the Kennesaw location of Ruth’s Chris. Open just over a week, the restaurant was fairly busy on a Wednesday evening when I visited. Most tables seemed to be comprised of business diners, with a few couples scattered in the mix.

The appetizers at Ruth’s Chris are comprised entirely of seafood. You can find the usual suspects – calamari, shrimp cocktail, and stuffed mushrooms. But I decided to veer away from that and order the Crab Cakes and the Ahi Tuna.

Ruth's Chris Ahi Tuna and Crab Cakes

The steaks aren’t the only things that get delivered on a sizzling plate – the Crab Cakes were delivered the same way. These were full of lump crab with not much else and no iota of filler or breading. My only recommendation is to leave them on the sizzling plate and eat off of that. Otherwise, they will tend to get cold rather quickly. Still tasty, mind you, they are just much better when hot.

The Ahi Tuna is equally as delicious served atop a ginger/ mustard sauce. I love sauces, but I would go easy on this one. Don’t drown your tuna in it; otherwise the sauce will tend to overpower the tuna. In fact, I would ask for the sauce on the side, was I to order that again. Then gently dip the tuna slice in the sauce, so as to enhance the tuna NOT overpower it.

Ruth's Chris Mozzarella and Tomato Salad

Up to this point, portions seemed decent – not huge. But that all ended after the appetizers. We ordered the Buffalo Mozzarella and Tomato Salad, which were split between the two of us. At the recommendation of our server, we had them split it in the kitchen and deliver it to us. Nice thick pieces of mozzarella sat on fresh sliced tomatoes. Again, the dressing was little overpowering here, I’d ask for it on the side.

For mains, there truly is something for everyone with seafood selections, lamb, chicken, but of course, steaks are the stars at Ruth’s Chris. They only serve USDA Prime steaks, which are only 2% of the steaks produced in the country. These steaks are cooked at 1800 degrees to lock in the flavor, and then served on sizzling plates to ensure that the meat stays hot the entire meal.

Ruth's Chris Ribeye and mushrooms

The two steaks we sampled were the Ribeye and the Tournedos and Shrimp. The Ribeye was huge and had excellent marbling. Steaks can be complimented with a sauce of your choosing – blue cheese, Au Poivre, Bearnaise, Hollandaise, but I prefer mine just as they are with Ruth’s Chris butter toping and I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest.

Ruth's Chris Tournedos - Filets and Shrimp

The Tournedos with Shrimp are two small 4 oz filets that come with jumbo shrimp on top. The filet was melt in your mouth tender and the shrimp sweet and full of flavor. The side dishes are large and one will most likely be plenty for two people to share. Potatoes come in 7 varieties, and the standout is the sweet potato casserole with pecan crust. The slightly sweet side was a compliment to the buttery steak.

Ruth's Chris Side Dishes

While there is no shortage of au gratin, creamed or cheesy sides, I took a pass on these as I felt they would be too heavy with all I had eaten up to this point, so I opted for the simpler sautéed mushrooms. Simple, yes, but they weren’t lacking any flavor. And they were huge. Ruth’s Chris doesn’t do anything in small way. Had I not had such a filling start to the meal with two starters and the salad, I would have chosen a more rich side like creamed spinach or potatoes au gratin, which are specialties here. But there’s always next time.

When they wrap up your food at the end of the evening, and I say when because it is inevitable, not one group left without taking some food home, they refer to it as a food souvenir rather than a doggy bag. We were no exception, with half of our steaks wrapped and most of the side dishes as well.

Ruth's Chris Apple Crumb Dessert

Ruth's Chris Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake

But we still had to have a bite of dessert. The Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake and the Apple Crumb Tart were colossal and individually more than two people could eat. So, after a couple delicious nibbles we had to pack those up as well.

If you are a coffee lover, don’t miss the French Press coffee at Ruth’s Chris. Served in individual carafes, it is such a treat to have this freshly brewed coffee. My intent was to have one cup as it was already 9 pm, but it was so wonderful, I ended up having 3 cups, hence, here I am at 1 AM writing this article.

It’s nice to have a restaurant like Ruth’s Chris in Atlanta and even closer to us OTPers in Kennesaw. You probably know Ruth’s Chris isn’t cheap. But once in a while, it is worth the splurge to have a steak so high in quality, you’re reminded why you’re a carnivore and prepared so well, it just melts in your mouth. Everyone that we encountered seems to not only be well versed in the menu and professional, but genuinely proud of where they work.

Extras: They are open Thanksgiving Day from noon until 9 pm and are offering a 3-course meal for under $30 per person.

620 Chastain Rd
Kennesaw, GA 30144
www.ruthschris.com

Having been to Keegan’s Irish Pub about 3 times now, I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, Keegan’s is a charming pub, with friendly staff and a decent out door patio. But on the other hand, it seems to be lacking in the food department. I so wish I had my camera with me, but I hadn’t planned on ending up at Keegan’s, so unfortunately I don’t have any pictures.

As far as the crowd, Keegan’s seems to be a mix of young and older, very different from the crowd at Bailey’s up the street which is mostly young and rowdy college kids. This is surprising, given the fact that Kennesaw State University is not far away.

Now the first time I visited Keegan’s I just had a couple beers myself and found the service to be prompt and courteous. My friend had a cup of soup, and thought the quality of was good, the portion was pretty small for the price tag.

On this most recent visit, food seemed promising but ultimately was somewhat of a disappointment. Two of us out of our party of three began with a cup of the Mulligan’s stew. This stew is a mixture of lamb, onions, potatoes and carrots. It is pretty hearty and a cup offers a generous portion of lamb. And at $3.95 per cup it is a great value. You can also get a bowl for $6. If you visit, don’t miss this.

So far so good. I wanted to go with something small as the stew was pretty filling, so I ordered the Irish Egg rolls. Unlike traditional egg rolls, these are wontons filled with cabbage, swiss cheese and corned beef. They also come with thousand island dipping dressing on the side. Very reubenesque.

What a mistake it was to get these! I would tell you how the corned beef tasted but I can’t because the tiny specs they put in there were dwarfed by the cabbage and swiss cheese. I wish I had been able to take a pictures, as no one would believe how pathetic the offering of corned beef was. Although the wonton was crispy, the lack of corned beef left the eggroll unbalanced and was a huge letdown. It is too bad because the idea is a good one- but the actual execution is a failure. As I sit here writing this post, my stomach is punishing me for this meal selection.

Glen ordered the fish tacos for his entree. I’m puzzled as to why Keegan’s lists this an an appetizer, as it is clearly an entree. The portion is large with 3 overstuffed fish tacos. And when I think of appetizers I think of sharing, and these aren’t for sharing. But I digress, the cod was cooked well and there was plenty in each taco. It also comes with a side of tomatoes and onions. Glen went for mouthful and promptly spit them back out – they were rancid. How disgusting.

We also had Glen’s daughter with us and she ordered Shepherd’s pie. Well, actually I’m getting ahead of myself. She really wanted to order the corned beef and cabbage, but was told it was only offered on Sundays, even though it is on the main menu. Ok, so an Irish pub that only has corned beef and cabbage one day of the week, that’s interesting.

So, she settled for the Shepherd’s pie in stead. She only had a couple bites and was not overly impressed. I tasted it as well and thought it was solid, except for the swiss cheese on top. I wasn’t expecting that.

Overall, there are some winners in the mix on this menu, but there are some clear losers as well. However, the service is friendly and reliable. So, although some of the offerings were less than stellar, I would still visit Keegan’s Irish Pub again.

1625 Ridenour Pky NW
Kennesaw, GA 30152
678-213-2460
Website