FoodieBuddha.com

So the Mushroom Channel is a blog dedicated to all things funghi.  It’s a pretty good read despite it’s lack of diversity.  Yesterday, I noticed they had an interview with Riccardo Ullio, the owner of notable Atlanta restaurants Sotto Sotto, Fritti, Cuerno, and Beleza.  In that interview, Ullio shares with the crowd the method behind his Funghi Fritti.  Enjoy!

Chef Riccardo’s Funghi Fritti

• 12 pounds assorted mushrooms (such as white, crimini, portobello, shiitake)
• 4 1/2 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups white wine
• 6 cups rice flour
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh rosemary
• Truffle oil, as needed
• Canola oil, as needed
• Salt, to taste Pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Stem and cut the mushrooms into bite-sized pieces.
2. In a large bowl, add the water and wine, then slowly whisk in the rice flour until the batter is the consistency of a thick gravy.
3. Add the rosemary and season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Add the mushrooms and toss until the mushrooms are lightly and evenly coated.
5. For each serving to order: Fry 8 ounces of the mushrooms at 350 degrees F, using a metal spoon to keep them from clumping, 3 to 4 minutes, or until the batter is crisp.
6. Drain the mushrooms on a paper towel, then drizzle very lightly with truffle oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

Though I’ve always found the idea of “buying something on sale in order to save money” to be laughable, buying things at a discounted rate is a good thing.  Enter the “Intown [sic] Restaurant Stimulus” (betcha thought I was talking about the other IRS).  From April 19-23, and again on the 26-30th, a handful of in town Atlanta restaurants are offering up a 15% discount. What’s better, the total based on the pre-tax amount of your bill!  Boo ya!

The event is sponsored by the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, a nonprofit that has been in our city for almost a century.  The coupon and list of restaurants is available after the jump!

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For those that are scratching their heads by the title of this post, John Henderson was an employee at the Standard on Memorial Drive.   He was gunned down during an early morning robbery.  Though I only “knew him” in the loosest sense of the term, I denoted his warm affect the two or three times he waited on me.  Well, several Atlanta restaurants are uniting to help honor John’s memory.

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